Chapter 13

Diena always carried something in her hands.

Warm soup, salads piled high with meat, or sandwiches.

No one knew how she managed to sneak those things out of the kitchen, but the more Bianca met with Diena, the more color gradually returned to her face.

Even more irritating was the fact that Bianca and Diena seemed to be slowly growing closer.

For some strange reason, Bianca was unusually fond of Diena.

“My lady, I think I was mistaken. Diena is having a bad influence on you.”

“A bad influence?”

“You know you’ve gained some weight lately, don’t you? If this keeps up, more nobles will start looking down on you.”

Normally, Bianca would’ve obediently followed her words.

Instead, she shook her head.

“What are you talking about? She isn’t that bad.”

Matilda stared at Bianca in shock.

“She isn’t that bad” was the highest praise Bianca was capable of giving.

It wasn’t even something she said to Matilda once a day.

Pouting unhappily, Bianca continued.

“I have gained a little weight. But Diena said I’m much cuter this way. Matilda, even you shouldn’t speak badly about her in front of me. I don’t think she’s bad at all.”

She had said she wasn’t bad twice.

Seeing Bianca refuse to follow her control, Matilda was flustered.

Suppressing her emotions, she spoke carefully.

“Lady Bianca, unfortunately, I think Diena will be assigned to other duties now.”

“Other duties? Why?”

Normally, Bianca wouldn’t have even asked for a reason.

“Maids move around frequently. That’s just how it is.”

Bianca narrowed her eyes and replied firmly.

“Not unless Diena wants that. Keep her by my side. Diena’s coming to the next tea time too, right?”

At last, Matilda’s anger exploded.

She went to her quarters and retrieved a padlock.

It was something she kept around to discipline insolent maids whenever necessary.

“You insolent little brat…!”

She grabbed Diena’s arm roughly and threw her into a narrow cell.

The door slammed shut with a loud bang that echoed through the corridor.

Matilda immediately locked it securely.

“Stay in there and reflect on your actions. You need to pay for defying me. Understand?”

Usually, by this point, people would’ve been terrified.

They wouldn’t dare talk back.

They’d be begging for forgiveness.

But…

“I don’t understand.”

She talked back again.

That answer was more than enough to fuel Matilda’s fury.

“You don’t understand? Well, of course a commoner like you wouldn’t understand the duties of nobility.”

While Matilda shouted in anger, Diena calmly asked,

“Does Varkan know about this?”

“No. He doesn’t. And he never will.”

“What if I tell him?”

“You’re acting like this because Lord Varkan brought you here, aren’t you?”

A sneer appeared on Matilda’s lips.

“Unfortunately, you won’t get the chance. It’ll be a long time before he returns. And by then, you won’t even be here anymore. You’ll have starved to death.”

“What will you do if people find out you locked me up and starved me to death?”

“You really don’t know anything, do you? Nobles aren’t punished for killing commoners.”

Her eyes gleamed coldly as she answered with satisfaction.

But Diena’s next words froze her expression.

“Then what if they find out you tried to kill Lady Bianca?”

“What?”

“You’re trying to starve her to death just like me.”

Diena knew exactly what she had been planning.

How?

But what did it matter?

“So what are you going to do about it? You’re going to die here. No one will ever learn the truth.”

Matilda had never seen a noble punished for disciplining a commoner.

Many maids had died this way in her own family.

No one had cared.

Diena’s death would probably disappear without a trace.

But when Matilda turned around, her face instantly turned pale.

“What exactly is all this?”

Varkan was staring down at her with a terrifyingly cold expression.

* * *

Even on the way back after escorting Malakar to the Imperial Capital, Varkan’s thoughts were elsewhere.

That brat’s face kept appearing in his mind.

‘Is it because she’s around Bianca’s age?’

He couldn’t stop worrying about her.

The North was especially cold.

Had the Head Maid given her proper clothes?

Thoughts like that kept bothering him.

“Maybe I should have some clothes made for her.”

Hasen was the one who reacted to his muttering.

“Clothes?”

“Yeah. Clothes. She’s still a guest. At the very least, she should have a thick coat.”

Hasen tilted his head in confusion.

“Since when have you cared about things like that?”

“I don’t care. She just looks like she’d freeze to death.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Hasen looked at Varkan with unfamiliar eyes.

He could hardly believe Varkan was worrying about someone.

“Even if she’s only staying temporarily, she should be treated properly while she’s here.”

“You’re awfully kind to guests. Got anything for your subordinate?”

“You’re already annoyingly grown up.”

Despite Varkan’s cold response, Hasen burst out laughing.

“Well, that’s good timing. Since seeing off Lord Malakar ended earlier than expected, we’ll have plenty of time to get clothes made.”

“Yeah. If we hadn’t run into people from the Magic Tower, it probably would’ve taken several more weeks.”

Varkan stared out the window for a moment before frowning.

Diena’s words suddenly resurfaced in his mind.

“You have to come back quickly, Lord Varkan.”

“…Come back quickly?”

“Yes. Absolutely don’t be late. Promise me.”

She seemed mentally strong, but she was still just a young girl.

If she’d said something like that, perhaps she was trembling alone right now.

Had someone with such a frail body even managed to adapt to the estate?

Surely Bianca wasn’t bullying her.

‘Well, getting home quickly isn’t exactly difficult.’

Turning to Hasen, Varkan spoke.

“Hasen, you can go to the shop by yourself, right?”

“Huh? What about you, Lord Varkan?”

“I want to go back first.”

“…What? Did I hear that correctly?”

“More accurately, I have a feeling I need to get back quickly.”

Hasen’s expression immediately turned serious.

“You mean that isn’t because you’re being lazy? You really have that feeling?”

“Yeah.”

Hasen nodded without hesitation.

Ability Users naturally possessed sharp instincts.

And Varkan was especially gifted in that regard.

If he said so, then it was probably true.

Hasen got out of the carriage and headed toward the clothing shop.

Varkan watched him for a moment before turning away.

‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this.’

Soon, his carriage stopped in front of the gates of House Kardian.

As the gates slowly opened, someone unexpected was standing there.

“Bianca?”

Varkan frowned slightly.

He hurried out of the carriage.

Instinctively, he started to approach her before stopping himself.

Keeping his distance, he asked,

“Bianca? Why are you out here?”

The moment she spotted him, Bianca’s anxious expression brightened.

“I heard you’d arrived, so I came.”

“I told you not to come looking for me whenever you want.”

His firm response immediately made her eyes redden.

“I know you hate me, Brother!”

“What? What are you talking about…?”

Startled, Varkan took a step toward her.

“Even so, I came because I have a favor to ask. You know Diena, my maid? They said she’s being assigned somewhere else.”

Taking a step back, Bianca continued.

“At tea time, some other maid came instead. Matilda won’t listen to me, so… bring Diena back. If you do that, I won’t bother you anymore.”