Episode 29. Doana, No One Trusts You
Doana was kneeling miserably in front of the butler, who was pale and pale, and shedding tears.
“I was embarrassed... I just didn’t want to tell anyone, but I don’t think I can go on like this.”
Doana, her face streaked with tears, hugged herself tightly. Her hands trembled, and she stared at the butler with a fearful expression. The butler was speechless, staring at Doana's sudden attack. The servants of the house, who had been in commotion, entered his field of vision. They looked back and forth between him and Doana, their expressions of shock fading into a whisper.
‘...Surely, not everyone believes this?’
A cold sweat soon broke out on the butler's back. He could confidently say he had lived his sixty years without shame. Born the second son of a baronial family, he had followed an elite path and entered the Count's residence at a young age. The title of "butler" had initially weighed heavily on him, but now it was joked that the mansion might not be able to return without him, as he possessed such exceptional abilities.
The doctor nodded, his expression unconcerned. "I'm going to have to inherit the Count's bloodline."
“Yes. It’s still early in the pregnancy, so you’ll need to be extra careful.”
A smile spread across Doana's face at the doctor's voice. The child she had longed for had arrived. The child who would make her a Countess. Unaware of the fate that lay ahead, Doana happily stroked her belly.
Doana was kneeling miserably in front of the butler, who was pale and pale, and shedding tears.
“I was embarrassed... I just didn’t want to tell anyone, but I don’t think I can go on like this.”
Doana, her face streaked with tears, hugged herself tightly. Her hands trembled, and she stared at the butler with a fearful expression. The butler was speechless, staring at Doana's sudden attack. The servants of the house, who had been in commotion, entered his field of vision. They looked back and forth between him and Doana, their expressions of shock fading into a whisper.
‘...Surely, not everyone believes this?’
A cold sweat soon broke out on the butler's back. He could confidently say he had lived his sixty years without shame. Born the second son of a baronial family, he had followed an elite path and entered the Count's residence at a young age. The title of "butler" had initially weighed heavily on him, but now it was joked that the mansion might not be able to return without him, as he possessed such exceptional abilities.
Furthermore, his manners toward his employees were so gentle that everyone followed him. However, the butler wasn't confident they would blindly believe him. He knew better than anyone that the truth wasn't the most important factor in rumors. Gwen's mother, the Baroness, had ultimately taken her own life due to malicious instigation. He was only two years old, too young to fully experience a mother's love.
'...She suffered all kinds of insults due to the absurd rumor that she had another man's child, and eventually took her own life out of shame.'
The Baroness, driven to her knees by unfounded rumors, begged them to believe her, but Gwen's father, the Baron, refused to verify the truth and instead turned a deaf ear. When it became known that she had been neglected by her husband, everyone, regardless of gender, branded her as a blasphemous woman. Raised in a conservative household, she endured the invisible hurling of stones, ultimately leading her to take her own life. Only after the Baroness's death did Gwen's father conduct a DNA test. The Baron, who refused to believe her until he received the results, finally regretted it when he confirmed that the butler was indeed his biological son. People don't care much about the truth of the rumors. They simply need a distraction from their monotonous daily lives. The accusations and insults persist, ignoring pleas to stop. Only after witnessing the deceased victim did they change their tune.
Oh, what a pity.
'...She suffered all kinds of insults due to the absurd rumor that she had another man's child, and eventually took her own life out of shame.'
The Baroness, driven to her knees by unfounded rumors, begged them to believe her, but Gwen's father, the Baron, refused to verify the truth and instead turned a deaf ear. When it became known that she had been neglected by her husband, everyone, regardless of gender, branded her as a blasphemous woman. Raised in a conservative household, she endured the invisible hurling of stones, ultimately leading her to take her own life. Only after the Baroness's death did Gwen's father conduct a DNA test. The Baron, who refused to believe her until he received the results, finally regretted it when he confirmed that the butler was indeed his biological son. People don't care much about the truth of the rumors. They simply need a distraction from their monotonous daily lives. The accusations and insults persist, ignoring pleas to stop. Only after witnessing the deceased victim did they change their tune.
Oh, what a pity.
'I believed from the beginning that the Baroness wouldn't do that.'
'That's right.'
'I feel so bad for you.'
When her innocence was revealed, those who had been the first to insult the Baroness mourned her, one by one, saying they had never suspected her. The Baroness was murdered. Stabbing someone with a knife isn't the only way to be considered murder. She was brutally murdered by dozens, if not hundreds, of sharp tongues. This was not suicide, but murder. Doana shouted harshly before the stiff-faced butler.
“I begged you to spare me... to forgive me! You... you insulted me against my will! You insulted me, saying, ‘What more can you do with that broken face?’”
The only sound in the hallway was Doana's sobbing. The butler watched Doana lying to everyone and making fun of him, and he thought it was over.
“Why are you lying like this? I swear to God I didn’t do anything.”
Doana chuckled inwardly as she heard the butler's voice tremble.
'Why, why? Because you messed with me the wrong way.'
Even while lying on the ground, Doana glanced around, checking for reactions. Everyone was muttering, not stepping forward. It was clear to everyone that the winner in this game was Doana herself. Then, a shadow fell over Doana, who was staring at the floor. The Count's men had rushed between the butler and Doana. Doana glanced up and glanced at their legs. Their feet were pointed towards her. Seeing the people facing her, not the butler, Doana let out a silent cheer.
'Yes, now you will embrace me while I sob.'
And he'd lash out at the old, worn-out old man. Doana believed they'd believe her without question. Breaking the long silence, someone spoke.
“Really... I’ve never seen people like that before. This is too much.”
It was the head maid. She said exactly what Doana wanted. Doana smiled bitterly at the situation unfolding as she had planned. But Doana's smile didn't last long.
“Doana, why do you say such things?”
The maid's sharp voice was directed at Doana, not the butler.
'...what?'
Doana's eyes, intoxicated by victory, wavered. Only then did she raise her head and look at the people standing before her.
Everyone in the mansion was glaring at her with expressions of disgust.
“How can a butler be someone like that?”
"I saw you get scolded by the butler last night. Is that all you can do to disparage someone like that?"
“I really didn’t see it that way, but it was so bad?”
“What are you talking about? I thought she was like this from the beginning.”
Doana was flustered. She had thought they would believe her.
'... What, what is it? Why don't you believe me?'
The butler was also embarrassed.
“Butler, you were very surprised, weren’t you?”
“Look at the sweat beading on his forehead. Wipe it off with this.”
The servants spoke to the butler with worried expressions. They not only soothed him with warm words, but also offered him a clean handkerchief, as he was drenched in sweat.
“...Do you all believe me?”
The butler looked bewildered, as if in disbelief. The employees looked at him with eyes full of trust.
“Of course. How could the butler be such a person?”
“That’s right. Ask anyone in this mansion, and no one won’t believe you, sir.”
It was a moment when the butler, known for his upright conduct, truly showed his true worth. Everyone in the Count's household trusted him. This was partly due to his upright conduct, but in reality, Doana's own behavior was more serious. She was already infamous as Eric's mistress. She acted coyly in front of Eric, hiding her true nature, but not in front of his employees. She commanded people as if she were the Countess herself. She would denounce pretty, young maids with outrageous lies, then use Eric to drive them out.
'That's right.'
'I feel so bad for you.'
When her innocence was revealed, those who had been the first to insult the Baroness mourned her, one by one, saying they had never suspected her. The Baroness was murdered. Stabbing someone with a knife isn't the only way to be considered murder. She was brutally murdered by dozens, if not hundreds, of sharp tongues. This was not suicide, but murder. Doana shouted harshly before the stiff-faced butler.
“I begged you to spare me... to forgive me! You... you insulted me against my will! You insulted me, saying, ‘What more can you do with that broken face?’”
The only sound in the hallway was Doana's sobbing. The butler watched Doana lying to everyone and making fun of him, and he thought it was over.
“Why are you lying like this? I swear to God I didn’t do anything.”
Doana chuckled inwardly as she heard the butler's voice tremble.
'Why, why? Because you messed with me the wrong way.'
Even while lying on the ground, Doana glanced around, checking for reactions. Everyone was muttering, not stepping forward. It was clear to everyone that the winner in this game was Doana herself. Then, a shadow fell over Doana, who was staring at the floor. The Count's men had rushed between the butler and Doana. Doana glanced up and glanced at their legs. Their feet were pointed towards her. Seeing the people facing her, not the butler, Doana let out a silent cheer.
'Yes, now you will embrace me while I sob.'
And he'd lash out at the old, worn-out old man. Doana believed they'd believe her without question. Breaking the long silence, someone spoke.
“Really... I’ve never seen people like that before. This is too much.”
It was the head maid. She said exactly what Doana wanted. Doana smiled bitterly at the situation unfolding as she had planned. But Doana's smile didn't last long.
“Doana, why do you say such things?”
The maid's sharp voice was directed at Doana, not the butler.
'...what?'
Doana's eyes, intoxicated by victory, wavered. Only then did she raise her head and look at the people standing before her.
Everyone in the mansion was glaring at her with expressions of disgust.
“How can a butler be someone like that?”
"I saw you get scolded by the butler last night. Is that all you can do to disparage someone like that?"
“I really didn’t see it that way, but it was so bad?”
“What are you talking about? I thought she was like this from the beginning.”
Doana was flustered. She had thought they would believe her.
'... What, what is it? Why don't you believe me?'
The butler was also embarrassed.
“Butler, you were very surprised, weren’t you?”
“Look at the sweat beading on his forehead. Wipe it off with this.”
The servants spoke to the butler with worried expressions. They not only soothed him with warm words, but also offered him a clean handkerchief, as he was drenched in sweat.
“...Do you all believe me?”
The butler looked bewildered, as if in disbelief. The employees looked at him with eyes full of trust.
“Of course. How could the butler be such a person?”
“That’s right. Ask anyone in this mansion, and no one won’t believe you, sir.”
It was a moment when the butler, known for his upright conduct, truly showed his true worth. Everyone in the Count's household trusted him. This was partly due to his upright conduct, but in reality, Doana's own behavior was more serious. She was already infamous as Eric's mistress. She acted coyly in front of Eric, hiding her true nature, but not in front of his employees. She commanded people as if she were the Countess herself. She would denounce pretty, young maids with outrageous lies, then use Eric to drive them out.
To the people, Doana was already no better than a shepherdess. Doana flinched at the harsh gazes directed at her. Then she realized: no matter what she said, they wouldn't believe her. She now regrets using the pretense of trying to please Eric. While she was adept at seducing men, Doana wasn't particularly intelligent. She had always believed that pleasing her superiors was all that mattered. To her, the servants of this mansion were nothing more than slaves, destined to serve her.
Doana's eyes raced, wondering how to handle the situation. Then, Rose, oblivious to the situation, yawned and left the room. She tilted her head, looking at the men confronting Doana, who was kneeling.
“Why are we all gathered here?”
The atmosphere seemed ominous. Rose approached them cautiously.
“The atmosphere has been strange since morning.”
"Ma'am!"
Jane approached Rose, calling her name. Then, she told her everything that had happened. Rose, who had been standing quietly listening to the whole story, could only stare at Doana in shock. As soon as their eyes met, Doana grabbed the hem of Rose's skirt.
“Rose... do you believe me? We’re friends. You know I wouldn’t lie like that.”
She stared at Rose with the most pitiful expression possible. Clear tears welled up in her large eyes, ready to fall at any moment. The servants' expressions hardened at the word "friend." Who dared call Madam friend? Doana clung to hope, hoping Rose would trust her. But Rose had no intention of taking her side. Yesterday, you framed me as the culprit, and now you're asking me to take your side?
'Who do you think you are?'
She might have been a fool in her past life, but not now. The servants looked at Rose anxiously. In their eyes, she was a tactless, kind woman. Everyone held their breath, wondering what would happen if Rose, ignorant of everything, were protecting Doana.
"Doana, why are you acting so recklessly? Are you saying this because you got scolded by the butler yesterday?"
The servants smiled in relief at Rose's words. They looked at each other, wrinkled their noses, and even high-fived each other behind each other, enjoying the situation.
“I’m sorry, I have to manage my subordinates properly.”
Rose turned her back on Doana and apologized to the butler.
“No. Why are you apologizing to me, Madam?”
The butler, startled by Rose's apology, waved his hands. Then, with a hardened expression, he looked at Doana and said.
“The person who should be apologizing to is right there.”
When Doana met the butler's eyes, she unconsciously clenched her fist. Why...? Why doesn't anyone trust me! Doana grumbled, not even reflecting on her own past behavior. And then...
“Ah... Aah!”
Suddenly, Doana felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. She clutched her stomach and began screaming.
“Why are you like that again?”
“Look at him pretending to be sick because it’s disadvantageous.”
“As expected, you’re crazy. You’re living up to your name.”
They clucked their tongues and groaned, not even bothering to help Doana, who was clutching her stomach. But, ironically, Doana wasn't faking it.
“Ah... ahhh! Someone... someone call the doctor. My stomach... my stomach hurts so bad!”
In an instant, Doana's face turned pale. A cold sweat began to form on her face. Rose, seeing Doana's appearance as if she were about to collapse, instinctively knew that this wasn't all a fake.
“...Butler. Bring the doctor.”
"Yes?"
“I don’t think she’s faking it.”
Rose stared at Doana, who was writhing in pain, and spoke to the butler. She was practically her nemesis, someone she never wanted to see again, but Rose's personality made it difficult for her to ignore someone writhing in pain.
“Move Doana to the bedroom.”
The people seemed reluctant to support her, but since it was Rose's order, they had no choice but to hold her from either side. Supported by the people, she was carried to the bedroom.
“Why are we all gathered here?”
The atmosphere seemed ominous. Rose approached them cautiously.
“The atmosphere has been strange since morning.”
"Ma'am!"
Jane approached Rose, calling her name. Then, she told her everything that had happened. Rose, who had been standing quietly listening to the whole story, could only stare at Doana in shock. As soon as their eyes met, Doana grabbed the hem of Rose's skirt.
“Rose... do you believe me? We’re friends. You know I wouldn’t lie like that.”
She stared at Rose with the most pitiful expression possible. Clear tears welled up in her large eyes, ready to fall at any moment. The servants' expressions hardened at the word "friend." Who dared call Madam friend? Doana clung to hope, hoping Rose would trust her. But Rose had no intention of taking her side. Yesterday, you framed me as the culprit, and now you're asking me to take your side?
'Who do you think you are?'
She might have been a fool in her past life, but not now. The servants looked at Rose anxiously. In their eyes, she was a tactless, kind woman. Everyone held their breath, wondering what would happen if Rose, ignorant of everything, were protecting Doana.
"Doana, why are you acting so recklessly? Are you saying this because you got scolded by the butler yesterday?"
The servants smiled in relief at Rose's words. They looked at each other, wrinkled their noses, and even high-fived each other behind each other, enjoying the situation.
“I’m sorry, I have to manage my subordinates properly.”
Rose turned her back on Doana and apologized to the butler.
“No. Why are you apologizing to me, Madam?”
The butler, startled by Rose's apology, waved his hands. Then, with a hardened expression, he looked at Doana and said.
“The person who should be apologizing to is right there.”
When Doana met the butler's eyes, she unconsciously clenched her fist. Why...? Why doesn't anyone trust me! Doana grumbled, not even reflecting on her own past behavior. And then...
“Ah... Aah!”
Suddenly, Doana felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. She clutched her stomach and began screaming.
“Why are you like that again?”
“Look at him pretending to be sick because it’s disadvantageous.”
“As expected, you’re crazy. You’re living up to your name.”
They clucked their tongues and groaned, not even bothering to help Doana, who was clutching her stomach. But, ironically, Doana wasn't faking it.
“Ah... ahhh! Someone... someone call the doctor. My stomach... my stomach hurts so bad!”
In an instant, Doana's face turned pale. A cold sweat began to form on her face. Rose, seeing Doana's appearance as if she were about to collapse, instinctively knew that this wasn't all a fake.
“...Butler. Bring the doctor.”
"Yes?"
“I don’t think she’s faking it.”
Rose stared at Doana, who was writhing in pain, and spoke to the butler. She was practically her nemesis, someone she never wanted to see again, but Rose's personality made it difficult for her to ignore someone writhing in pain.
“Move Doana to the bedroom.”
The people seemed reluctant to support her, but since it was Rose's order, they had no choice but to hold her from either side. Supported by the people, she was carried to the bedroom.
***
The doctor took Doana's pulse with a serious expression.
“I... I’m not going to die, right?”
She, who seemed poised to die at any moment, regained some composure. The pain from yesterday hadn't even fully subsided, and now this was happening again. It was driving her crazy. Remembering the excruciating pain she's just experienced sent tremors through her body. It was so excruciating that she wouldn't even be surprised if she died, let alone lost consciousness.
“I... I’m not going to die, right?”
She, who seemed poised to die at any moment, regained some composure. The pain from yesterday hadn't even fully subsided, and now this was happening again. It was driving her crazy. Remembering the excruciating pain she's just experienced sent tremors through her body. It was so excruciating that she wouldn't even be surprised if she died, let alone lost consciousness.
Unlike yesterday, when she'd been snarling and demanding immediate treatment for her skin, she was acting quite different. However, the doctor's attitude remained cold. He didn't want to be friendly with Doana, who had treated him so poorly.
“You'd better be careful not to get stressed in the future.”
The doctor continued speaking nonchalantly.
“Now you are not alone.”
Doana, who had been listening to him with a tense expression like someone awaiting a death sentence, began to doubt her ears at the unexpected words from the council member.
“...Am I pregnant?”
“You'd better be careful not to get stressed in the future.”
The doctor continued speaking nonchalantly.
“Now you are not alone.”
Doana, who had been listening to him with a tense expression like someone awaiting a death sentence, began to doubt her ears at the unexpected words from the council member.
“...Am I pregnant?”
The doctor nodded, his expression unconcerned. "I'm going to have to inherit the Count's bloodline."
“Yes. It’s still early in the pregnancy, so you’ll need to be extra careful.”
A smile spread across Doana's face at the doctor's voice. The child she had longed for had arrived. The child who would make her a Countess. Unaware of the fate that lay ahead, Doana happily stroked her belly.
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