Chapter 38

“…!”

For a brief moment, the butler’s face stiffened.

If he meant that incident, it could only be the one that happened five years ago.

However, among the newly hired servants, there were some who had no idea what that incident was.

‘I have to stop him.’

He needed to keep that man from saying another word.

Just as the butler began to move, Natalianne spoke first.

“It’s… over.”

Her eyes were locked on Orléans.

“It was all settled.”

“You’d like to believe that, wouldn’t you?”

Orléans let out a dry chuckle and pointed at her.

“But the victim is still in a coma after five years. And you say it’s over?”

Natalianne clenched her jaw.

“It was a fair duel.”

“It was a one-sided act of violence.”

“It was a duel, with written consent and witnesses. A proper duel!”

“My lady!”

The butler called out urgently but froze mid-step.

Blood was trickling down from Natalianne’s lips, which she had bitten hard enough to draw it.

Yet she didn’t even seem to notice the pain, biting down harder instead.

“I see!”

Catching on to her unstable state, Orléans raised his voice so everyone could hear.

“A person’s life was destroyed, and still you feel no remorse!”

Natalianne’s voice trembled as she spoke.

“It… was an accident.”

“An accident?”

Orléans threw his arms wide, shouting louder.

“Everyone there saw it. They saw you, Lady Eisenhart, ruin a person’s life!”

“No! That’s not true!”

Her scream echoed through the room, but Orléans only smiled, enjoying every second of her breakdown.

“The Tower’s Ethics Committee is already on its way. We’ll soon find out whether someone like you, the great Lady Eisenhart, truly belongs among us!”

“…!”

Natalianne’s face went pale.

Even through her veil, her agitation was obvious. The butler felt his stomach twist.

‘This is bad.’

If things continued like this, the same tragedy as that day would happen again.

If the young lady lost control, everyone here, including herself, would be in danger.

Just as the butler reached out, his hand trembling, he shouted,

“My lady, please—!”

“Excuse me?”

A cheerful voice suddenly cut through the tension like a splash of cold water.

Everyone turned at once.

Through the slightly open door peeked a head of wavy orange hair, swaying gently.

A woman with bright green eyes blinked in surprise and exclaimed,

“Oh, you have guests!”

Melissa walked in with light steps and beamed at Orléans.

“Welcome! Are you Lady Natalianne’s guest?”

What on earth?

Orléans’s brow furrowed in disbelief.

Just when his provocation was reaching its climax, this fool ruined the mood?

He snapped his head toward her, irritation flaring.

“How disgraceful. The discipline in this Grand Duke’s household is appalling. A servant dares to speak to a professor of the Magic Tower?”

“Oh.”

Melissa blinked, then smiled warmly.

“So you are Lady Natalianne’s guest! Welcome!”

…What is this nonsense?

Orléans stared at her, baffled.

The cheerful orange-haired woman had dust clinging to her curls, as though she had just crawled out of a shed.

And her clothes were rags that no noble servant would ever wear, let alone someone from the Tower.

“Tsk.”

So everyone in this house is just as insolent.

Deciding she wasn’t worth his attention, Orléans clicked his tongue and turned back to Natalianne.

“It seems you’ve lost control of your servants. If you cannot maintain order here, nor even in your own estate, how can I not be concerned, Lady Eisenhart?”

He tried to pick up where he’d left off, but something felt off.

‘…What?’

Her reaction wasn’t what he expected. Normally, his words would have hit their mark by now.

Instead, Natalianne spoke quietly.

“Come here.”

“Lady Natalianne?”

Melissa tilted her head but obediently walked closer.

Natalianne pulled her gently behind her back and murmured,

“Stay behind me.”

“Huh?”

Melissa’s eyes went wide, but Natalianne only wiped the blood from her lips and stared coldly at Orléans.

The sight made Orléans’s eyes narrow.

‘Who is this woman?’

What was she to Natalianne, that she of all people would go out of her way to protect her?

Just then, Melissa clapped her hands as if realizing something.

“Oh, there are two guests!”

Everyone’s attention turned toward her again.

Melissa looked kindly at the trembling reporter sitting on the floor.

“It’s cooler on the floor during summer, but if you sit too long you’ll get cold. Would you like to sit on the sofa instead?”

“…?”

Orléans frowned deeply.

Was this woman insane?

In the middle of this kind of confrontation, she was worried about where people sat?

He stared at her closely.

A commoner, perhaps? Someone close to Natalianne, judging from the butler’s anxious glances.

‘So that’s it.’

A smirk crept across his face.

“Spend too much time with a commoner, and you start picking up their manners, don’t you, my lady?”

It was meant to be another sharp jab, but Natalianne only gave a faint laugh.

“Better that than sounding like someone who says ‘commoner’ every other word.”

“…!”

His eyes narrowed.

Tch.

His plan was falling apart.

A glance at her showed her lips had stopped trembling and her hands were no longer clenched.

All of that changed the moment that woman walked in.

Orléans shot Melissa a brief glare before smiling again.

“I see how it is.”

His eyes shifted toward the reporter, who was half-standing awkwardly.

“So, you’re so noble and refined that you kidnapped a poor civilian into your domain, is that it?”

“Kidnapped?”

Natalianne glanced at the butler, who quietly shook his head.

She turned back to Orléans, her tone icy.

“He came here of his own will.”

“I’ll hear it from him myself.”

Orléans focused on Roben, his voice dripping with mock politeness.

“Did you come here by your own choice, or were you threatened and taken against your will?”

His tone was smooth, but his gaze was sharp enough to pierce skin.

“I… I…”

Roben’s shoulders trembled. Then, with his eyes shut tight, he shouted,

“I… I came—”

“Ta-da!”

Melissa suddenly appeared again, holding a teapot.

“You must be cold!”

She smiled warmly at Roben.

“Please, have some tea to warm up. You’ve been shaking this whole time, I was worried.”

Drip—

Steam rose from the cup as she poured, carrying a soft floral scent through the room.

Roben stared at it, and before he knew it, tears welled in his eyes.

“Oh my, dear guest.”

Startled, Melissa pulled out a handkerchief from her apron.

Roben sniffled, took it, and blew his nose loudly.

Oddly enough, the act left him feeling lighter, like a weight had lifted off his chest.

He sipped the tea, and his dry lips softened. Then, before he realized it, he spoke.

“I… I came here on my own.”

“What?!”

Orléans’s face twisted in disbelief.

Roben flinched and stammered,

“I-I mean, I wasn’t forced or anything—”

“So there you have it, Professor Orléans.”

Natalianne’s lips curved in a cold smirk.

“Seems you’re the one doing the threatening here.”

Damn it.

Orléans gritted his teeth.

But still, he couldn’t let this chance, five years in the making, slip away.

“Absurd!”

He straightened, forcing his voice to boom.

“I will not be deceived by fake news! Besides, I’ve heard that something quite scandalous happened recently at the Grand Duke’s estate!”

“What?”

Natalianne frowned.

But the butler’s expression stiffened, as though he understood the meaning behind it.

Seeing that, Orléans’s smile widened.

He spread his arms dramatically and declared,

“The very day the Lady arrived here, a massive pillar of ice shot up into the sky, and someone was seen flying through the air—”

“Oh my.”

Just as everyone gasped, Melissa cheerfully raised her hand.

“That was me!”