KFBRV Ch 54

The housekeeper and the head maid stood behind the Countess like soldiers awaiting orders, their faces set as if they had been anticipating this day for a long time.

[Sasha] "Search that woman's room! Every inch of it!"

[Becker] "Madam! This is too much! You are only doing this because you envy the authority the Young Master granted me!"

The uproar drew the rest of the household. Servants and maids abandoned their chores, rushing to witness the scandalous scene unfolding in the hallway.

[Becker] "Madam! You cannot act so recklessly while the Young Master and the Count are away! I was rightfully delegated this power! How can you persecute an innocent woman like this?"

Aware of the growing audience, Mrs. Becker sobbed loudly, ensuring her voice carried to every corner.

[Becker] "No matter how much authority the mistress of this house holds, the master is the foundation of power! You cannot strip away the authority he recognized just because of your petty jealousy!"

The servants’ expressions shifted. Many looked on with sympathy. After all, if a servant could be harassed like this for simply exercising their legitimate rights, who among them could ever trust their employers again?

However, Sasha remained unmoved. A sharp, mocking smirk quirked her lips.

[Sasha] "Do you really think I’m doing this because I’m jealous of a creature like you?"

She pulled a crisp, stiff piece of stationery from her pocket, flourishing it for the crowd to see.

[Sasha] "Persecuting an innocent woman, you say? Then I wonder... who sent this anonymous letter accusing you?"

She cleared her throat. She began to read the letter aloud, her voice ringing clearly so that every servant present could hear the indictment.

[Sasha] "To my dear Madam. I cannot remain silent while knowing the truth. Do you know where your missing garnet earrings and your sapphire necklace are? I witnessed them hidden in Mrs. Becker’s room."

The color drained from Mrs. Becker's face. She turned a sickly shade of white.

That letter...

It was exactly what Odette had said when she threatened her before.

[Odette] “I’ll tell Mother immediately. I'll ask if she knows where her precious garnet earrings and sapphire necklace are.”

She had planned to move the stolen items to Lize’s room before Odette could speak, but so much had happened since then that she had delayed the task. Sasha had locked Odette in the dungeon, and their relationship had fractured so completely that Mrs. Becker assumed the threat had lost its teeth.

I didn’t think there was a need to hurry...!

Furthermore, those two pieces weren’t the only things she had stolen. Over the years, she had amassed a vast collection of jewelry. Moving them all, one by one, was a tedious chore she had foolishly postponed.

But Odette doesn’t even know how to write. How could she have sent an anonymous letter?

Panic seized her. Her sobbing stopped abruptly as her mind raced to find an excuse. She glanced around and saw the sympathy in the servants' eyes curdling into dark suspicion.

[Sasha] "Judging by your reaction, it seems the contents of this letter are true."

Her lips curled into a predatory smile.

[Sasha] "If I hadn’t taken you in as a lady’s maid, you would be nothing more than a pathetic widow! And yet, you grew bold enough to covet your master's things?"

[Becker] "I... That is..."

[Sasha] "You strutted around as if you were the mistress of this house, you thieving wretch! You dared to wear dresses that mimicked mine! You stole my right to manage the estate, you stole my authority over the staff, and now you steal my jewelry? This is no different from trying to steal my very seat!"

She was clearly determined to cast Mrs. Becker out permanently.

If I am branded a thief, she really can expel me.

It wouldn't end there. By the law of the nobility, the mistress had the authority to order a thief’s wrists severed for stealing such high-value items.

Would it be better to confess and beg for mercy than to keep denying it?

Just as Mrs. Becker was about to scream, "Madam, I was wrong!", she caught sight of Odette among the maids.

She stood there, blending naturally into the crowd, her eyes fixed on Mrs. Becker. She gave a faint, almost imperceptible shake of her head. Then, she raised a single finger to her lips.

Keep quiet.

What is she...?

At that moment, a maid hurried out of the room.

[Maid] "Madam! We found nothing in any of the drawers!"

[Sasha] "Tear the bed and the wardrobes apart! Smash them if you have to! Find those necklaces and earrings!"

Mrs. Becker realized it instinctively. Odette had played a trick. She chose to keep her mouth shut instead of confessing.

[Sasha] "Drag that thief away and lock her in the dungeon! Do not give her a single drop of water!"

Before the guards could seize her, Odette turned and walked away from the chaotic scene. Everyone was too focused on the raging Countess to notice her, but Mrs. Becker couldn't take her eyes off Odette's retreating figure.

Even in her nightgown and robe, Odette's movements were fluid and graceful. She looked more noble than any high-born lady.

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Sasha had spent the entire day, from dawn until dusk, ransacking Mrs. Becker’s room.

By nine o’clock that night, she finally collapsed into bed, exhausted by her own fury. The servants, who had been scrambled around by her frantic orders, had also fallen into a deep sleep.

As soon as Odette confirmed the house was quiet, she headed toward the main building's dungeon.

I certainly spend a lot of time in the dungeon lately.

She had been visiting Karl frequently over the past few days to bring him meals.

At least it was worth it. I managed to lower his Loathing by another 20 points. That clears the extra Loathing I gained during the imprinting.

When she reached the cells, she found Mrs. Becker moaning in distress.

[Becker] "Ugh... Please, someone, get me out of here. What did I do wrong? It’s so scary... Stay away!"

To Odette—someone who had been locked in this place since the age of six—the sight was pathetic. Mrs. Becker used to tell her to stop whining, yet here she was, acting worse than a six-year-old.

[Odette] "Mrs. Becker."

When she called her name, the woman scrambled to the bars, clinging to them desperately.

[Becker] "My lady! Please, get me out of here! The smell of blood is nauseating, and the cold is seeping into my bones. There are sharp needles on the bars; I can’t even lean against them!"

[Odette] "It’s noisy, so stop whining."

Odette threw the woman's own words back at her. Mrs. Becker fell silent immediately. She looked miserable, but she clearly understood who held the power in this moment.

Odette pulled out twelve black-and-white photographs and fanned them out in front of her.

[Odette] "I think you have a natural talent for theft, Mrs. Becker. Perhaps you should consider a career change?"

[Becker] "M-My lady..."

[Odette] "You stole quite a lot, bit by bit, didn't you? Do you know how hard I worked to find all these jewels in your room? Taking the photos was a task in itself. Twelve pieces... how bold of you. I had quite a time getting these developed."

Of course, Goetz was the one who actually suffered through the developing process, not Odette.

[Odette] "But the hard work paid off. The photos came out beautifully. Anyone can tell this is your room, and the jewelry is clearly visible."

Mrs. Becker’s face turned ghostly white.

[Odette] "Don't worry. I’ve tucked the jewelry away in a safe place. As long as you stay on my good side, they’ll never find their way into my mother’s hands."

[Becker] "W-What do you want, my lady?"

Her voice, which used to be so sharp when she argued, was now weak and submissive. It was a pleasant change.

[Odette] "I can’t keep hiding in my own home forever, can I? Since you happen to have the authority over personnel, I’d like to share that power. I want to replace the gatekeeper, the coachman, and a few of the maids."

Mrs. Becker gulped.

[Becker] "O-Of course! Please do! We can share it. No, you can have all of it! I’ll just stamp the seal whenever you tell me to."

She agreed with lightning speed. Odette could see the gears turning in the woman's head; she was already looking for a way out of this.

It’s so obvious. The moment I keep my mouth shut, and she’s declared innocent, she’ll try to wash her hands of this. She might even use these photos to claim I framed her.

Mrs. Becker was the type to offer nothing once she regained her power, using her mouth only when she was at a disadvantage.

[Odette] "Can you keep that promise?"

[Becker] "Y-Yes! Of course! I’ll hire whoever you want."

[Odette] "Then you won't have any problem wearing this bracelet on your wrist."

She jingled a small, thin silver bracelet. It was a magical artifact.

In truth, the claim that she was keeping the necklace and earrings was a lie. It was better to purge Mrs. Becker’s influence from the mansion entirely. Odette had ordered Goetz to sell the jewels a long time ago and used the money to buy this magical tool.

[Odette] "You know what this is, don't you?"

Mrs. Becker swallowed hard. Unlike other artifacts, the function of this one was very well known.

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