“Butler Demian, what’s going on here?”

Ah, so he was the butler.

I couldn’t recall quickly because Lora didn’t have much interaction with him. Only then did I notice his black suit attire.

“This person tried to harm the young lady. I think we should take him for questioning.”

“Ah. This servant, I understand.”

The knights and other servants, without a single word to check if I was alright, dragged away the man who had tried to attack me.

Even afterward, they continued to tidy up the room as if I didn’t exist, completely excluding me.

As I stood there awkwardly amidst the efficient cleanup, Demian turned to me.

“This time, it was the young lady’s fault.”

“Huh?”

“Please don’t treat the servants too carelessly. The guards are there for situations like this, so please don’t dismiss them recklessly.”

It was a clear statement of concern, different from the attitudes of others.

I looked at him with a gentle expression and replied.

“I understand.”

And Demian hesitated at my response.

“Why?”

“Why are you so compliant?”

“Should I do it the usual way?”

As I tilted my head and asked him, this time he looked at me as if he was seeing something truly bizarre.

A flash of worry even crossed his eyes.

“Are you in shock?”

“Is it that surprising that I’m answering calmly?”

His face seemed to ask, ‘What kind of question is that?’

…It’s already at that level? This is bad.

It was a moment when I could see the challenging future ahead of me.

If they were going to send me, couldn’t they have sent me before Lora went astray? What kind of mess is this?

Regardless of my bewildered feelings, Demian continued with his sharp advice.

“It’s very surprising.”

“What?”

“I’ll arrange for knights to be stationed. You should rest, a lot.”

“A lot?”

Even as I picked out the occasional jarring words, he paid no attention.

“A new maid is coming today. Please, this time, treat her well. No, just don’t chase her away.”

I see. So I’m the one who needs to do better.

By the way, given the circumstances, it seems Lora’s misdeeds have already begun, yet he still lectures like this.

“You’re quite something.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. I understand, so can you close the door you broke for now? I’m tired.”

As I collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted, he said he would call someone and left. All the while sending me a gaze mixed with half worry and half suspicion.

After things were somewhat settled and the servants withdrew, I entered the bedroom in a daze and flopped onto the bed.

“What kind of contract did I make?”

Surely, situations like this won’t continue in the future, right?

It’ll be fine, it’ll be okay.

It had to be okay.

***

It wasn’t okay.

The state of the maid I called by pulling the bell cord due to hunger was terribly bad.

“Umm.”

She approached slowly with her head bowed low, her trembling voice and even more shaky hands tightly clasped together.

It sent chills down my spine as if she was entering the fires of hell.

“What’s your name?”

“Pardon? I, I am…”

Thud-!

The maid fell to her knees without being told to. I felt dizzy enough to want to sit down myself.

“I’m sorry, young lady!”

It was a cliché situation I’d seen many times before, but experiencing it myself made me sigh.

To have such a reaction just from asking for a name.

Pressing my throbbing temples, I bent down to meet her eye level. Then, in the gentlest voice I could muster, I said:

“I’m not trying to punish you. Shouldn’t I at least know the name of the maid who will be attending to me? Come on, stand up and tell me your name.”

Surprised by the unexpected response, she cautiously raised her head.

However, she still didn’t dare to make eye contact, and her hands were still trembling intermittently.

I gestured with my chin for her to speak and straightened my back again.

“I am Irena, young lady. I’m of lowly birth, so I have no surname. From today, I will be your new dedicated maid.”

“I see, now stand up-“

Bang!

At that moment, the door connecting to the drawing room burst open violently and someone barged in.

The timing was impeccable.

“Lorazie, you’re mistreating the maid again, I see.”

I narrowed my eyes at the cliché development and looked the intruder up and down.

Black hair and brown eyes, completely different from Lora, a handsome man with a cold expression but inherently kind features.

It was Calix, the first-born and heir of the Epine family.

In Lora’s memories, he appeared cold but was an exceptionally kind master to his household members.

Even now, he personally came in to save a mere maid from being oppressed, not overlooking it.

Without considering the face of his half-sister who would be publicly humiliated, despite her being an illegitimate daughter.

If it were the original Lora, she would have been hurt and defended herself by becoming even more tyrannical due to her high pride, but I didn’t do that.

“Brother, even though I’m your sister, I’m still a lady about to make her debut. How can you barge into my room without notice? And what do you mean by mistreatment?”

He raised an eyebrow slightly at Lora’s unexpected response but soon spoke in a chilling voice.

“It’s not the first time you’ve oppressed the household members and put them in difficult situations. Today’s incident was bound to happen. You still haven’t come to your senses.”

“How can you be so sure?”

He spoke with an even colder expression.

“Are you trying to play word games with me? If not, why is that maid kneeling?”

Well, that’s because you barged in just as I was about to help her up.

I couldn’t help but sigh at his response, so full of prejudice.

Why do I have to resolve the karma Lora has accumulated?

“That can’t be. Irena, you tell him. Did I make you kneel?”

“The young lady did not do such a thing, Master.”

“Is that true? You can speak honestly. I’ll protect you.”

Oh, come on. What are you doing now?

I looked at them with sour eyes.

In Lora’s memories, Calix had married a commoner from the territory.

Seeing this, Lora became even more desperate, realizing that her mistreatment wasn’t due to her status. That’s why she eventually resorted to forbidden magic to try to kill his wife, Eliza.