After that whole debacle, the entire manor got into a frenzy. Everyone was questioned thoroughly and every door in and out of the manor was kept under tight watch.

What downed me further though was the fact that my training session was delayed. Again! First, it was delayed because of my head bump. Then, it was because I had to go on a trip, which ended with me being kidnapped. Now, it was canceled because of a shady butler!

Like, what the hell? It was as if the world really didn’t want me to train.

Oh well, back to the present.

In front of me and Mother was the maid who allowed ‘Sebastian’ in the manor in the first place. She looked terrified, possibly realizing just how much she had fucked up.

To be honest, I would prefer just sitting through it all in my room since my schedule was cleared for the day. But Mother pulled me before I could even consider that as an option.

I stood behind Mother in her office. Yes, she had her own like Father. Leaning back on her chair with her arms crossed, she eyed down the fidgeting maid before her.

“Anna, you’re one of our best maids. But I fail to theorize any reason why you would let a stranger inside our mansion masquerading as one of our own.”

“I-I’m truly sorry, Your Grace!!” The maid bowed deep. “H-He said he was the head of gardening and had something urgent to discuss with the Duke, something about the budget…”

“You do know our head of gardening is Leila, correct?”

“Y-Yes! But at the time, I probably forgot and I… opened the door for him…”

“Probably? What nonsense are you talking about, Anna?” Mother leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk with intertwined fingers in front of her mouth. “I gave you your life here. Surely you can give a better reason for me not to strip that life away, no?”

Anna’s face paled even more, her fingers dug deep into her apron. “Y-Your Grace! P-P-Please, allow me to explain! I fully believed he was telling the truth back then! I really thought he had something urgent to discuss so I hurriedly let him in!” 

“And why did you believe he was telling the truth?” Mother asked, not moving a budge.

Anna looked down at the polished wooden floor, her faded pink bangs dropped. “N-Now that I think about it… Leila is the head of everything, huh? Now I’m confused… Why did

 I believe him at the time?”

She held a hand against her temple. I couldn’t imagine the level of headache she was experiencing, having your life hanging on the line over something you’re confused about would break down most people.

“H-He must’ve drugged me or something… That’s my only explanation. My mind wasn’t right…” Anna’s words trailed off at the end, it was clear she was mentally exhausted.

Mother, probably noticing this, let out a sigh. “Rest, Anna. We’ll question you more later, I already have Paton bringing over a doctor from the clinic, make sure to consult with them the moment they get here.”

Anna’s tense face broke down into relief. “T-Thank you, Your Grace! I’m really sorry that this all happened because of me!”

“I haven’t deemed you blameless yet, Anna. I need you in full mental capacity before the next set of questions.”

“O-Of course, Your Grace! Truly, thank you so much!”

Anna bowed once more before leaving the room. The doors clicked behind her, which signaled for me to relax my tense shoulders with a silent sigh.

“Next!” Mother shouted.

Mother was determined to question every single person involved in this fiasco, personally. I was pulled here to watch not only because the fiasco in question involved me, but Mother said it was good “learning material”.

That’s right, even with my life possibly on the line, she had found a way to make this into a lesson. 

Give me a break… I miss Mom at times like these…

The next person to be questioned opened the door gently. It was Leila, a face I had been dying to see since morning. So, she was alright… or not?

She looked tired, like she just ran a marathon or something. Even Mother took notice of how uncharacteristically worn out Leila seemed. 

“Leila, what happened?” I asked.

“Ah, Lady Carine. You are well, I’m glad…” Leila replied quietly, her usual robotic energy feeling slightly more soft this time around.

“Leila, where were you this whole morning?” Mother asked. “And what were you doing away from Carine?”

Leila didn’t hesitate to answer. “I was in my room, Lady Reyna. I know I shouldn’t have left Carine’s side, but this morning, just before I was about to bring Lady Carine her breakfast, that man appeared. He stopped me and said a few words.”

Mother leaned forward slightly. “And what were those words?”

“He told me, ‘Lady Carine wished to be served by someone else this morning, for a change of pace. The Duchess approved, so you’re free to enjoy a day off.’”

Both Mother and I exchanged looks. Those words were absolute lies, just like his nonsense about being the head of gardening. At this point, the pattern was clear. 

“So, what were your reaction to his words?” Mother asked.

Leila gave a nod. “At first, I thought, who is this guy?”

I found myself nodding along to Leila’s explanation. You and me, Sis.

“Second, I thought of how impossible the scenario he said to me was. Lady Reyna never gives me a break. Lord Kyrat, maybe, but not you, Lady Reyna.”

I gave a puzzled look to Mother. You seriously never given her a break? I asked internally.

Leila continued. “But then… I started wondering if maybe Lady Carine did want space. She’s growing up, and I thought… maybe she needed a break from me, that she was starting to feel smothered.” Leila’s voice grew quieter, almost pained. “I couldn’t shake the idea that she might’ve been pulling away… and in that moment, I believed him.”

I’m not that spoiled am I?! 

“L-Listen, Leila,” I called out to her. “I would never ditch you, without you I wouldn’t know how I would continue with my life.”

Also, there was the fact that the last time I was separated from Leila, I was kidnapped.

“That’s why, I would love for you to continue serving me for years to come.”

“Lady Carine…” Leila’s tired eyes widened in surprise.

I know it sounded cheesy, but I seriously couldn’t stand this schedule of mine without Leila by my side. I couldn’t imagine anyone other than her by my side as I continue my life as Carine. 

In reaction to my words, I saw something I never thought I would see. A genuine warm smile on Leila’s lips. “Thank you, Lady Carine.”

Mother, who was listening to us, gave a slight nod. “I agree with Carine, Leila. I have assigned you as her personal maid, I expect you to do your job properly, so I wouldn’t exchange you for another no matter how rebellious Carine might grow up to be.”

I’m not in my rebellious phase!

“So,” Mother continued, her voice softening ever so slightly, “rest assured, you won’t be leaving her side anytime soon.”

Leila looked genuinely moved… I think? Her face barely changed, but I could tell she was relieved to hear those words from Mother. 

“Thank you, Lady Reyna.” Leila gave her ever-so-immaculate bow.

“Now, since you have nothing else to do. Return to your duty immediately.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

She stood straighter now, all her tiredness seemingly disappeared into thin air. After a short walk, Leila was staying right beside me, like she always did. I felt like I just recovered a part of me that was missing, my heart eased up a bit.

But then, something clicked in my mind. A question that hadn’t been answered yet.

“Leila,” I blurted out, catching both Mother and Leila’s attention. “What were you doing in your room this whole time?”

It was hard to believe that she would get tired if she was on her day off. I wondered if she worked out or something.

Leila tilted her head slightly. “After that man told me I had the day off, I slumped my way to my room.”

Slumped?

“After that, I began thinking about the meaning of life as I continuously fixing and refixing my bed sheet.”

Continuously?!

“When I realized the sheets couldn’t get any more clean, I just sat down and waited for further orders… that never came…”

“W-Wait, you’re telling me… you got tired from… waiting?”

Leila gave a slight nod. “I suppose that’s correct, Lady Carine.”

How much of a workaholic are you?! I wanted to shout, but I held my tongue. There were more important things to argue about.

For example, the next person to be questioned would be Father. I didn’t know why, but I could feel a storm brewing inside the room as Mother glared at the double doors before her.

Is Father going to be alright?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep