KFBRV Ch 18

The slight burn from the tea was a start, but it wasn't enough. To make her plan work, Odette needed a much more striking injury.

Before Malea arrived, Odette glanced at the kitchen table. Bathed in the morning sunlight, various tea leaves were spread out to dry, just as they were every day. Her eyes settled on one pile: the leaves of the Vesuvius red tree.

With a swift, practiced motion, she grabbed a handful of the dried leaves, crushed them into a fine powder, and sprinkled them directly onto her leg. As soon as the red dust touched the damp, burned skin, the wound began to darken. The pale red mark twisted into a deep, angry purple. Blisters began to rise, turning the minor injury into something that looked absolutely horrific.

Even as the wound worsened, Odette felt no pain. It was exactly as the original story, The Only Savior, had described.

In the game, the heroine Charlotte would eventually discover that the Vesuvius red tree was a powerful medicine for burns. While it made the skin look terrible for a month, it would eventually heal the area so perfectly that not even a tiny mark would remain.

At this point, however, people only knew it as a common tea leaf. Malea would have no reason to doubt what she saw.

[Malea] "Why did you call for me, My Lady?"

She stepped into the kitchen right on time.

[Odette] "Do you know what my brother hates most in this world? It's finding even a single scar on my body."

Odette waited until the herb's reaction reached its peak before turning to face the girl. She kept her expression elegant and calm, showing none of the malice behind her scheme.

[Odette] "So, what are we to do, Malea? You have left a permanent scar on my leg. I doubt my brother will let you live for this."

[Malea] "What? What are you talking about? The tea I spilled wasn't nearly hot enough to—"

Odette gracefully lifted the hem of her skirt. Her movements were as fluid as a dancer's, but Malea didn't notice the grace. Her eyes were fixed on the terrifying, bright red wound on Odette's leg.

[Malea] "That's... that's impossible!"

She screamed, her face turning a sickly shade of white. It was a natural reaction; the tea she had spilled should have only caused a slight sting. The shock in her eyes slowly began to suspect.

[Malea] "My Lady, I didn't do that. That isn't the mark I left."

Odette was impressed by how quickly she realized she was being framed, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she sharpened her tone.

[Odette] "You have a lot of nerve, Malea. Half the servants in this house saw you spill that tea on me. Do you really think you can lie your way out of this?"

[Malea] "But my tea was barely hot! I waited for it to cool in the cup. I'm certain of it! A wound like that only comes from boiling water!"

Desperation filled Malea's voice as she continued to argue.

[Malea] "Tell the truth, My Lady. There is no way I caused that."

Malea glared at her, trying to look intimidating. Odette simply let out a soft, mocking laugh.

[Odette] "But it is the wound you caused."

[Malea] "No, it can't be—"

[Odette] "Even if you're right, does it actually matter? The truth isn't what's important here, Malea. What matters is who people will believe."

Malea fell silent.

[Odette] "If you're so confident, why don't you go tell everyone? Tell them that you did spill tea on that exact spot, but you're sure the burn shouldn't look that bad. See if anyone listens to a new maid over a noblewoman."

She offered a relaxed smile that stood in stark contrast to Malea's frantic state. Her voice remained soft, but her green eyes were as sharp as daggers.

Malea finally closed her mouth. The fear and resentment in her eyes told Odette that the girl finally understood: she was trapped.

No one would take the side of a new servant. Everyone would assume the "villainous" Odette was simply a victim of a clumsy, disrespectful maid.

And in this house, hurting Odette was a death sentence. Regardless of how much the family loathed her, Ferdinand was obsessed with her physical perfection. He viewed her as a toy that had to be kept in pristine condition. He had almost reached a point of madness regarding her safety, especially now that the "Fake Purifier" was needed for the Crown Prince's Berserk Incident.

The maid Paula only got away with bullying Odette because she had the Countess' total protection. Malea, however, had no such shield. If Ferdinand saw this scar, he would kill her without hesitation.

Malea, having reached the same conclusion, suddenly dropped to her knees.

[Malea] "My Lady, please! Save me! Please don't let the Young Master find out!"

[Odette] "Malea."

[Malea] "The only reason you called me here to threaten me is that you're willing to hide this, right? I'll do anything! Just tell me what you want!"

Odette felt a flicker of satisfaction.

Malea was just as sharp as she had been in Odette's previous life. She knew how to swallow her pride and grab onto the only lifeline available, even if it was a dangerous one.

[Odette] "Lift your head, Malea."

She gave her a kind, almost motherly smile.

[Odette] "I like people who catch on quickly. You're right. This is the price of my silence. You will follow my orders from now on."

The Countess' wealth mostly came from the massive dowry she had brought into the marriage. Odette planned to use her to steal the money, but for that to work, she first had to win the Countess' trust.

[Malea] "Just tell me what you need me to do—"

[Odette] "Not yet, Malea. I won't give you my orders just yet. First, I need to see if you are actually worth my time."

[Malea] "What do you mean?"

[Odette] "Become my mother's personal maid. Once you have that position, we will discuss your real task."

Malea looked stunned. She had probably expected a simple, one-time favor.

In this house, even the lowest servants looked down on Odette because they believed the lies told by Dolly and Paula. They thought Odette was just a spoiled, foolish girl.

She clearly hadn't expected such a long-term plan.

[Odette] "Did you really think I would trade a scar on my body for one simple favor? You are far too arrogant, Malea."

Malea looked embarrassed, realizing her thoughts had been transparent. However, she quickly tried to protest.

[Malea] "My Lady, that's impossible! The Countess only takes personal maids from her own family's estate. A new maid like me could never get that position."

[Odette] "Nothing is impossible when you are working for me."

The absolute certainty in her voice left Malea speechless.

[Odette] "Go to the first-floor gallery during dinner tonight. The butler, Rolf, will be there checking on the artwork."

[Malea] "The gallery?"

[Odette] "Many of the paintings in that gallery are actually fakes. I want you to point out the forgeries among them. Do that, and you will have a position at my mother's side in no time."

This was exactly how she had been promoted in Odette's previous life. This time, however, she would be rising to power as her puppet.

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