Chapter 20

“Sevar.”

Malakar’s sly voice, as if deliberately trying to get under someone’s skin, interrupted his thoughts.

“That suppressant you just used seems to be one stored by our Magic Tower. Since it put out the immediate fire, you do realize you owe us a favor, don’t you?”

“Ha. That’s ridiculous.”

Despite Sevar’s cold response, Malakar continued unfazed.

“If you’ve received a favor, it’s only proper to repay it. Lending me a seat in your carriage on the way there isn’t exactly difficult, is it?”

“If you’re that desperate to go, use Spatial Movement Magic or something.”

“Why would I need to do that? There’s already someone heading to the same destination.”

A deep crease formed between Sevar’s brows.

“You cheap, shameless old man.”

Sevar muttered through clenched teeth.

His words were harsh, but in the end, he leaned back and jerked his chin toward the inside of the carriage.

“Get in. But keep your mouth shut. If you say one more word than necessary in this carriage, I won’t let it slide.”

Even faced with the icy warning, Malakar simply smiled leisurely and climbed aboard.

The heavy carriage door closed.

The carriage carrying Sevar and Malakar began racing toward House Kardian.

* * *

After Matilda disappeared, Diena was adapting to life in House Kardian surprisingly quickly.

Though the maids still regarded her warily.

After working out the details of her salary with Hasen, Diena left Varkan’s office.

“Are you sure it’s alright to pay me this much?”

At Diena’s question, Hasen replied,

“If it feels burdensome, you could always accept less.”

She shook her head and refused firmly.

“No. I meant I’ll gladly accept it.”

“Honestly… Miss Diena, you’re quite extraordinary in many ways.”

Diena immediately understood what he was thinking.

As the manager of the Kardian Merchant Company, he was probably crying tears of blood inside.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hasen. Maybe someday I’ll repay it with something even greater.”

“I’ve heard many people say that while helping manage the merchant company. Not a single one of them ever succeeded.”

“Then I’ll be the first.”

Hasen stared at Diena in disbelief.

She sounded far too confident.

With heartfelt sincerity, he muttered,

“I truly hope that day comes.”

At that moment, Diena stopped walking around a corner in the corridor.

Whispers from several maids drifted over from behind the marble wall.

“I heard Lady Matilda got locked up in the Underground Prison.”

“You know that new maid Lord Varkan brought in? Diena or whatever her name is. She’s sticking to Lady Bianca’s side all day and acting so full of herself.”

“Even so, once Lady Bianca gets kicked out of the family, that girl will be nothing.”

“Shh. You’ll end up like Lady Matilda if you’re not careful.”

One maid lowered her voice toward the others.

“You never know. Maybe Lady Bianca will awaken an ability late, just like Lord Varkan did.”

“Lord Varkan awakened when he was fifteen. Lady Bianca is already sixteen. She’s too late.”

“Anyway, I really don’t like it. I wanted to become Lord Varkan’s maid too!”

“Having no honor is bad enough. Having no power too is the worst.”

Bianca’s influence within the family wasn’t great.

Because she was a Non-Ability User.

As a result, many maids resented being assigned to her.

Even though she was a young lady of a ducal house, Bianca was being looked down on by servants.

That was the position Non-Ability Users held in the Empire.

‘Lady Bianca must’ve been hurt so many times.’

Diena understood Bianca’s feelings better than anyone.

She had gone through similar experiences countless times while living in House Rothwell.

The rumors that Bianca frequently dismissed maids had probably started because she found herself in situations like this over and over.

‘They even say she has no honor… She must’ve felt so wronged. Lady Bianca cares about her reputation more than anyone.’

House Kardian had originally been a Baron Family.

After Sevar and Varkan were recognized as Top-Tier Ability Users, the Emperor elevated them to a ducal house and granted them several nobles as vassals.

But there was no way a hastily established ducal house could have solid unity.

Among those vassals were some who had joined hands with House Rothwell.

Several of those maids were probably their people.

The reason Bianca couldn’t simply dismiss all of them and only occasionally drove one out at a time was because many had entered the household through recommendations from those vassals.

Dismissing a family maid without a clear reason was considered a disgraceful act.

‘And Lady Bianca wouldn’t want everyone to know she’s dismissing them because they insult her for being a Non-Ability User.’

Then people would gossip that she was an unhonorable noble who refused to acknowledge her own shortcomings.

Nobles never cared about the feelings of Non-Ability Users.

Some even believed Non-Ability Users naturally deserved to be insulted.

They couldn’t even understand why anyone would be upset by it.

Diena felt sorry for Bianca.

Hasen started to step forward, but Diena stopped him and shook her head.

Tap.

Diena deliberately made noise as she stepped out in front of the maids.

The maids visibly flinched in surprise.

But once they realized it was Diena, they sneered dismissively.

“What? I thought it was someone important.”

“And what would’ve happened if I was?”

“What?”

Diena looked directly at the stunned maids.

She had no intention of leaving the authority she now possessed unused.

She had already decided to deal with the obvious troublemakers one by one.

“As Lady Bianca’s favored maid, let me make something clear.”

With her arms crossed, Diena addressed them.

“Starting today, you’re all expelled from this family.”

The maids stared at her with dumbfounded expressions.

“What are you talking about?”

“House Kardian doesn’t need maids who disrespect their master.”

“Ha. What makes you think you can act so high and mighty?”

One of the maids stepped forward threateningly.

“Do you really think Lady Bianca will listen to you and throw us out?”

She was speaking boldly because she knew Bianca’s personality.

The other maids giggled as if they agreed.

Watching them, Diena tilted her head.

“Of course Lady Bianca won’t throw you out. She’s someone who values honor.”

“Exactly. So…”

“But Lord Varkan is different.”

Cutting the maid off, Diena smiled brightly.

“The person backing me is Lord Varkan. He doesn’t care about honor at all.”

The maids merely blinked, unable to understand what she meant.

But Diena didn’t feel any need to explain.

Turning her head, she called out,

“Mr. Hasen.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it exactly as you requested.”

Hasen, who had been hiding nearby, stepped forward at Diena’s call.

The color drained from the maids’ faces in an instant.