When Rosette returned home, she shed tears in front of the maids, just as the Countess had instructed.
There had been no need for such theatrics when the previous staff were around, but now that they had all been replaced, this performance was necessary once again.

“Sniff, sniff.”
“Miss Rosette, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. Espin… Espin did it again… No, never mind.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s my fault for coming into this family when Mother remarried Father. What could Espin have done wrong?”

Rosette carefully observed the reactions of the staff.

“Oh dear, Miss, you must be going through a lot.”

She began to feel irritated by the maid who dared to comfort her. The very idea that a maid thought she could offer her solace was infuriating.
However, she knew she had to endure this much to achieve her goals.

“Thank you. Actually, I like the young duke of the Ameron Ducal Family, but Espin says strange things about me, and now the young duke avoids me.”
“Oh my, how could she do such a thing?”
“Espin hates me, but don’t think too badly of her. Espin is just sensitive. Last time, she fired all the staff because one of them made a single mistake… but that’s just because she’s been hurt before.”

The maid’s face stiffened upon hearing that Espin had dismissed all the staff over a single mistake.

“Don’t worry. As long as Mother is here, Espin won’t be able to fire the maids like that again.”

Only then did the maid’s expression relax, and she offered words of comfort.

“You must have a hard time, Miss.”
“I can’t help it. I’m just the outsider here.”
“That’s not true. You’re a rightful member of this family.”
“Really? But Espin says I’m not a noble.”
“That can’t be true. Your name is clearly on the family register. Don’t believe such things.”

Seeing the gazes of the maids fixed on her, Rosette smiled confidently. Once this rumor spread, there would be maids who wouldn’t think well of Espin. If she created a few more situations like this, Espin would surely become isolated.

“What are you doing right now?”

At that moment, the butler appeared. With a displeased expression, the butler refrained from scolding Rosette directly and instead shouted at the maids.

“Everyone, return to your duties at once. And let me clarify: the previous staff were dismissed because they disrespected Miss Espin and acted inappropriately. Keep your behavior in check.”

“Butler!”

Despite Rosette’s call, the butler gestured for the maids to leave.

“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I was simply instructing the maids to work.”
“Are you saying, in front of the maids, that everything I said was nonsense?”
“I never said that. I only corrected the misinformation.”
“What misinformation? Everyone knows the staff were fired because of something Espin said.”
“That is incorrect. The staff were dismissed because they failed to know their place and neglected their duties.”

The butler’s voice carried weight as he emphasized the words “failed to know their place,” causing Rosette to shout.

“Hey!”

Rosette, trembling with anger, yelled at the butler, who was older than her father.

“….”

The butler remained silent.

“Do you think I’m a pushover too? I could have you replaced with a single word. Just as Espin fired all the maids, I could have you dismissed in an instant. You may look down on me, but I’m still a daughter of this family. If you defy me even once more, I won’t let it slide!”

Rosette screamed at the butler, her voice filled with the pent-up frustration of being ignored for so long.

Still unable to calm her anger, Rosette turned around forcefully, only to find Count Leon standing before her.

“What is the meaning of this?”
“F-Father.”

Her voice immediately changed, and the Count’s brows furrowed.

“This isn’t… I mean….”

“….”

The Count said nothing. The silence was terrifying, and Rosette hurriedly began to explain herself.

“It’s just that the butler was ignoring me. Please, try to understand how unfairly I’ve been treated.”
“What exactly was so unfair?”
“Well….”

Rosette thought this might be her chance.

Mother had always told her to stay quiet, to live as though she didn’t exist, and to never say anything to Father.
But now that things had come to this, she couldn’t just stay silent. If she didn’t speak up now, she would be labeled as an insolent child in her father’s eyes.

“I’m not your real daughter, Father. That’s why I’m being ignored everywhere I go. Even Espin… Espin said it herself today. She admitted she looks down on me.”

There was a slight distortion of the truth, but it wasn’t entirely a lie. Earlier, when Rosette had asked Espin if she was looking down on her, Espin had replied, “Yes.” So this was technically true.

“And at the salon, the nobles mocked Mother and me. Even though we carry the name of the Leon family.”
“I see.”

The Count’s response made Rosette’s eyes widen.
“I see?” Did this mean he believed her? Was he finally taking her side instead of Espin’s?

Rosette waited eagerly for what he would say next.

“You carry the name of the Leon family.”
“Yes. But the way people treat us… it’s unbearable. They don’t even invite us to the auctions that nobles attend, and the humiliation we endure is unbearable.”
“Ha….”

The Count let out a deep sigh as he looked at Rosette.

“So, you caused a commotion at the salon using the name of the Leon family?”
“What?”

The Count’s voice had turned cold. Rosette, who had been filled with anticipation, suddenly felt a wave of confusion.

His sharp gaze showed no affection for his daughter.

“The salon contacted me. They’ve banned you and your mother from entering again.”
“What did we even do?”
“Lack of dignity.”

The Count’s words hit her like a dagger.
“Lack of dignity?” Were these nobles discriminating against them, claiming they weren’t true nobles?

Rosette felt indignation welling up, unable to consider her and her mother’s actions.

“This is so unfair. It’s all slander.”
“You said you carry the name of the Leon family?”
“Yes.”
“Then act accordingly. Do not disgrace that name.”

Rosette had much to say, but she couldn’t utter a word. The Count’s stern expression silenced her.

“And apologize to the butler immediately.”
“What? Why should I?”
“Will you not do it?”

In Rosette’s mind, nobles never apologized to commoners.
Even when she had been a commoner herself, she had never received an apology from a noble.
Now, she was being told to apologize to a commoner butler? Even if it was her father asking, this was unacceptable.

“I won’t do it.”
“Very well.”

The Count walked past her and approached the butler.

“I’ll apologize on her behalf.”
“You don’t need to, Count. There’s no need for you to apologize.”
“It’s my failure as her father. And as a gesture of apology, reduce her budget.”
“Yes, but Miss Rosette has already spent most of her budget, so there’s little left to reduce.”
“Then cease all financial support for her from now on.”
“Why… why are you doing this? What did I do wrong? I’m the victim here!”
“If this happens again…”

The Count took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suppress his anger.

“If this happens again, you will no longer bear the name of Leon.”

“….”

Only then did Rosette fall silent.

This was no joke. The fear that had always lingered in her mind—that this might actually happen—now felt all too real.