“My Lady said that after testing me on a few things, Madam would make me her maid. I tested them-”
“I hope you got through it well. Judging from the price of the pearls you’re wearing, I think you’ll be greatly spared from now on.”
“Miss, I’m actually scared. How can everything go as you say?”
Odette sat down at the tea table, responding only with a smile to Malea's question. The black tea and snacks that Malea had prepared looked delicious.
“During this founding of the nation, you will attend the Empress’s salon in place of my mother. I will write down a list of paintings whose prices will rise significantly in the future, so please choose those and buy them.”
The salon exhibition of the Founding Empress. Mother must have received a handwritten invitation from the Empress, just like in her previous life.
In her previous life, Odette went herself, but this time she couldn't participate, so it was clear that her mother would send Malea, who had a discerning eye, given her mother's personality.
It was too prestigious a place for a maid to attend, but anyone who received a handwritten invitation could be sent in as a proxy.
Normally, a maid or a butler would be sent to protect the Empress's prestige, but a mother who was full of greed for a dowry would not take such care.
After speaking, Odette took a bite of the scone. She took a sip of the black tea and the wonderful flavor filled her mouth.
“That’s ridiculous!”
But Malea's scream interrupted Odette's savoring.
“How can I go to the salon instead of Madam? It’s a day she's been looking forward to so much!”
“My mother is on pension, so she can’t go.”
“Madam’s pension will be released as soon as the master arrives today! There is no way Madam will not go to the salon!”
“There is no way Mother will be released today.”
Odette answered calmly, took out a piece of high-quality paper from the table, and wrote down a list of drawings with a fountain pen.
These were the artist's works whose prices would rise to frightening levels within a few days.
These are works that her mother, who had been to a salon exhibition in her past life, regretted not being able to buy.
'Right after she came back, she kept criticizing the artist's style, saying it was vulgar and eccentric, but when the price went through the roof, she quickly changed her stance.'
“How can you be so sure? No matter how much I think about it, it can’t be...”
“Do you think the maid and the housekeeper would just let it slide after being humiliated by me? With their personalities and feelings of pride.”
After finishing the list, Odette put down her fountain pen and cut off Malea's protest.
"Yes?"
“That means that as soon as Ferdinand gets back today, those two will definitely run to him and beg him to release my mother. Then Ferdinand’s reaction is obvious.”
That town was truly the worst of handshakes. Today is the first day of the nation's founding, and Ferdinand will once again be resenting his mother for not being able to take Odette with him because of his tuberculosis.
Ferdinand was the type of person who was long-suffering and would chew over and over again what had happened and take out his anger on it every time.
'He'll definitely get angry when he sees those two defending my mother. He'll even feel a sense of victimization that, my mother's people dare to ignore him, the next owner.'
So, her mother will be pensioned again. During this period of national foundation.
In addition, one of the landlord's rights will be taken away, such as the right to manage property.
Odette knows them best, as she has tried to be loved. Ferdinand's actions were completely predictable.
“Young Lady...”
Malea had a fearful expression on her face. Odette looked at her expression and took another sip of tea.
“Now that you've become an entourage maid, you've become worthy of blackmail.”
Odette said, crossing her legs so that Malea could see the burn scars clearly.
Odette clasped her hands together with a pale expression. It was the day Ferdinand returned, so it would definitely put pressure on Malea.
“You don’t expect my threats to be a one-time thing, do you? My scars will be permanent, so wouldn’t it be ridiculous to use you only once?”
“Yes, that’s right. I will gladly follow any order, no matter how many orders there are. Give me your orders, my lady.”
Of course, the scar won't last forever, but after a month, it will be smoother than her original skin.
But it didn't matter. Odette was willing to suffer minor burns and be sprinkled with Vesuvius redwood every month just to make this kid obey her properly.
Odette put down her teacup and locked eyes with Malea.
“I have suffered from severe tuberculosis throughout the founding of the country.”
"Yes?"
“Not only you but no one from the mansion is allowed to enter my room during the founding period. Of course, you are not allowed to enter either.”
“Yes, I will. Don’t worry, Miss.”
Instead of asking why Odette was giving such an order, Malea bowed down to her and answered politely.
'Well. From that kid's perspective, it's probably better if no one comes into my room, so I guess she's just suppressing her curiosity.'
She knows that if Odette doesn't show Ferdinand her scar, the chances of her neck being cut off are reduced.
“You’ve been locked up in a dungeon, so it’s only natural that you suffer from severe lung disease. Even now, your cough is still this bad.”
Malea spoke shamelessly to her, who had never coughed before. As if trying to show how well she could talk back.
'It's definitely easier to use Malea.'
Because she is quick-witted and smart, she quickly understands what is being said.
Although Odette was publicly reported to be bedridden with tuberculosis throughout the founding period, she had been planning to wander around the mansion through secret passages during that time.
To dig another trap for the destruction of her family.
“Straighten your back, Malea. You need to serve me my meal.”
At those words, Malea straightened her back and quickly began to serve her.
She carefully cut the bacon to please Odette.
“What was the atmosphere in the mansion like while I was sleeping?”
“It seems like there’s something wrong with my master’s business. The business associates keep bringing him bad news every day. My master is in the palace and can’t be reached, and Madam is under house arrest... We’re the only ones dying.”
As expected, it was.
'It's useful to organize only the mansion information I want to hear.'
But it's hard to trust and use someone who's quick-witted without any weaknesses. She thought about how to use Malea and took a bite of bread spread with butter using a knife.
“Then, is Mrs. Becker busy too?”
“That’s right... Right? Madam was suddenly given a pension. Mrs. Becker already had a lot of work to do, but now she have to do all the little things that Madam used to do. I heard her complaining that she doesn’t even have time to go back to her room and rest.”
“Then what would be good to steal from Mrs. Becker’s room?”
Odette put the warm scrambled eggs in her mouth, looking at Malea's puzzled expression.
There is a lesson she learned from the life of a beggar. Theft should always be done by the most cunning of the bunch.
It's not just because they steal things neatly. Those sly guys are always ready to strike at the back of her head like a bat whenever they get a chance, so she needs to find out their weaknesses in advance.
“Steal the most expensive clothes from Mrs. Becker’s room.”
Of course, Odette have a weakness called a scar, but that alone doesn't give her peace of mind.
If she do something like this, Malea will at least not be able to cling to Mrs. Becker in the future.
The founding of the nation was expected to be spectacular from the first day. Orange lights adorning the bridges over the river, and lively processions.
Looking out the window at the beautiful scenery, Wolfgang, the owner of the pawn shop, banged happily on the fully-filled safe.
'We're probably the only pawn shop that has this much money prepared. How could we miss this part?'
In the face of music, plenty of alcohol, and fun betting, many people are quick to give up their valuables for cheap.
At that moment, the door opened with a chime. A white-skinned girl with a hood pulled down low over her cloak came in.
“Come on in!”
Wolfgang was much better at judging people than he was at judging jewels. He could tell a person just by looking at their clothes.
A neat two-piece outfit with a white lantern-sleeved blouse and a dark green skirt. Over it, an expensive brown cloak.
'Hmm. Judging from her clothes, she looks like the daughter of a gentry family.'
Although they were all quite expensive clothes, Wolfgang somehow felt that they looked cheap on this woman.
'What, okay? Does that matter? Anyway, if you've come all the way to a pawn shop like this, doesn't that mean you need money urgently?!'
Besides, the fact that she was wearing her hat pulled down low meant that she couldn't be caught coming to a place like this.
Wolfgang, who had never imagined that Count Albrecht's daughter would be in a place like this, had his eyes sparkling at the thought of catching her.
'What a naive young lady who doesn't know anything about the world. How lucky is she to be my first customer?'
While he was licking his lips, intent on having a bite to eat, the girl stood in front of the stall. Her hand placed two pieces of jewelry on the stall.
“Please give me the price of these jewels.”
There is a lesson she learned from the life of a beggar. Theft should always be done by the most cunning of the bunch.
It's not just because they steal things neatly. Those sly guys are always ready to strike at the back of her head like a bat whenever they get a chance, so she needs to find out their weaknesses in advance.
“Steal the most expensive clothes from Mrs. Becker’s room.”
Of course, Odette have a weakness called a scar, but that alone doesn't give her peace of mind.
If she do something like this, Malea will at least not be able to cling to Mrs. Becker in the future.
***
The founding of the nation was expected to be spectacular from the first day. Orange lights adorning the bridges over the river, and lively processions.
Looking out the window at the beautiful scenery, Wolfgang, the owner of the pawn shop, banged happily on the fully-filled safe.
'We're probably the only pawn shop that has this much money prepared. How could we miss this part?'
In the face of music, plenty of alcohol, and fun betting, many people are quick to give up their valuables for cheap.
At that moment, the door opened with a chime. A white-skinned girl with a hood pulled down low over her cloak came in.
“Come on in!”
Wolfgang was much better at judging people than he was at judging jewels. He could tell a person just by looking at their clothes.
A neat two-piece outfit with a white lantern-sleeved blouse and a dark green skirt. Over it, an expensive brown cloak.
'Hmm. Judging from her clothes, she looks like the daughter of a gentry family.'
Although they were all quite expensive clothes, Wolfgang somehow felt that they looked cheap on this woman.
'What, okay? Does that matter? Anyway, if you've come all the way to a pawn shop like this, doesn't that mean you need money urgently?!'
Besides, the fact that she was wearing her hat pulled down low meant that she couldn't be caught coming to a place like this.
Wolfgang, who had never imagined that Count Albrecht's daughter would be in a place like this, had his eyes sparkling at the thought of catching her.
'What a naive young lady who doesn't know anything about the world. How lucky is she to be my first customer?'
While he was licking his lips, intent on having a bite to eat, the girl stood in front of the stall. Her hand placed two pieces of jewelry on the stall.
“Please give me the price of these jewels.”
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