KFBRV Ch 76

After parting ways with Viktor, she ducked into the ladies' room before returning to the banquet hall. She needed to ensure no seams had split and no part of her attire remained out of place.

Fortunately, her gown remained perfectly intact.

I nearly suffered a heart attack, thinking my secret as a fake Purifier had been exposed.

In the world of <The Only Savior>, purification functioned like water, while the Purifier's will acted as the tap.

In this universe, purification only occurred when the Purifier willed it, but rare leaks happened if the Purifier "broke."

Typical cases involved those who had just awakened after consuming Night Glory, those hovering at death's door, or those rendered utterly senseless by alcohol.

She had been intoxicated, and worse, she had been locked in an embrace with an S-class Transcendent that happened to be Viktor König—a man with terrifyingly sharp intuition.

Had her dress been torn? He would have realized the truth instantly.

And then, my head would have rolled.

Viktor would have had no reason to suppress his murderous intent once the deception came to light.

Even in a drunken stupor, I committed an act of sheer madness. I must remain more vigilant.

The male leads still harbored significant loathing. In Karl's case, she couldn't even gauge the depth of his hatred. If she were exposed as a fake Purifier now—.

A cold shiver raced down her spine.

At least Damian and Paula haven't parted ways yet.

She checked the time and confirmed her appointment with Damian was fast approaching. She stepped out of the ladies' room.

[Maid] "Lady Albrecht?"

A palace maid waiting by the door addressed her.

[Maid] "Countess Albrecht sent a message. A significant commotion broke out in the banquet hall, so she requests that you return to the mansion immediately with your personal maid."

[Odette] "Where is my mother now?"

[Maid] "She is currently in the drawing room corridor, awaiting an audience with Her Majesty. She intends to depart in her own carriage as soon as the audience concludes."

She nodded. She unpinned a high-quality pearl ornament from her hair and pressed it into the maid's hand.

[Odette] "I have a favor to ask."

The maid swallowed hard as she stared at the precious gem.

[Odette] "My maid, Paula, should be in the rear garden. She has brunette hair. I want you to go to her and deliver exactly what I am about to tell you."

[Maid] "O-Of course, My Lady. I will do as you command."

[Odette] "However, you must not say the words came from me. Tell her they are the commands of 'Countess Albrecht'."

The maid's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but she quickly bowed her head with a look of firm resolve.

[Maid] "I understand. Please speak, 'Countess Albrecht'......"

Sharp. I like her.

Since the maid worked in the palace, she witnessed power struggles daily. She understood the weight of the request.

She adjusted her tone, mimicking her mother's voice.

[Odette] "Odette has been with me this entire time, but Her Majesty's sudden summons requires my presence again. I have left Odette in the ladies' room, so return to the banquet hall at once."

[Maid] "Understood, 'Madam'. Once the maid meets your daughter, should I also convey the order to return to the mansion?"

Palace maids were useful tools. They finished their tasks with lightning speed and, more importantly, never breathed a word of it to anyone else. They knew better than anyone that a loose tongue invited a swifter execution.

[Odette] "Yes. Tell her a great disturbance occurred in the hall, so she must return to the mansion with Odette immediately, Paula—"

She offered a thin, icy smile.

[Odette] "—is the name you should use."

The maid nodded and vanished toward the rear garden.

The plan worked flawlessly. When Paula eventually arrived at the ladies' room, she showed not a hint of suspicion. Her face remained flushed with excitement, radiating nothing but the lingering thrill of her encounter.

She must have taken quite a liking to Damian.

Shortly after, the Albrecht carriage arrived. The coachman was the same one who had stood near the Countess when they first departed for the ball. He was the one who had personally overheard the Countess whispering instructions to the head maid to move jewelry into Mrs. Becker's room.

The pieces were falling into place with more precision than she had dared to hope.

She climbed into the carriage, a faint smile touching her lips.

---

[Servant] "Master, you've returned!"

The moment Ulrich stepped into the mansion and shed his coat, a servant delivered infuriating news.

The Countess had gone to the ball.

That woman. How dare she go to the palace without my permission?

But his rage did not stop there. He received a report that the Countess had locked Mrs. Becker in the dungeon.

[Ulrich] "What on earth did she do while I was away?"

The servant claimed Mrs. Becker had been imprisoned for theft, though no evidence had surfaced yet.

How dare Sasha humiliate me like this? To throw her into the dungeon without a shred of proof. Her vulgar commoner roots are showing!

His fury reached a boiling point. He was incensed that his wife had rummaged through the house and tossed his mistress into a cell.

[Ferdinand] "Father! I am leaving to bring Odette under control. Mother is trying to pawn her off on some man, and yet she had the gall to take her to the ball!"

He spat out his usual nonsense and departed for the palace on horseback.

Under normal circumstances, the Count would have stopped him, but today, he let his son go.

Vanessa might be so bitter from the dungeon that she'll spill everything about our relationship.

The Count knew perfectly well that the Countess would never introduce Odette to another man, but having his son out of the way was a blessing in this situation.

[Ulrich] "Bring Mrs. Becker to me this instant!"

Rather than worrying about Vanessa's well-being, the Count roared for her out of fear that she might have babbled about their affair during her two-week imprisonment.

When the servants brought her in, she burst into tears the moment she saw him.

[Vanessa] "Count! Oh, Count!"

[Ulrich] "Vanessa."

[Vanessa] "How could the Madam do this to me? I am innocent! How could she frame me for theft after I've been so devoted to her......!"

She felt certain that Odette had cleaned up the aftermath. Since even the thread bracelet on her wrist had been meticulously prepared, she could cry with brazen confidence.

Granting a little hiring authority won't be difficult. Once I survive this crisis, I will have my revenge.

He fell for her performance entirely.

[Ulrich] "Vanessa, I should never have left. I had no idea that woman would act so viciously toward you."

He consoled her, his face grim.

[Ulrich] "But, Vanessa...... surely you didn't tell Sasha anything unnecessary?"

[Vanessa] "What do you take me for?!!"

She stared at him, her face contorted with feigned insult.

[Vanessa] "Do you think I am a fool like Sasha? I am not even a publicly recognized mistress...... I have more discretion than that! I didn't say a single word about us!"

[Ulrich] "......Vanessa."

[Vanessa] "And how can you ask such a heartless question to someone who just endured such a nightmare?! Do you even love me at all?"

As his mistress began to ramble, he offered a half-hearted apology.

[Ulrich] "Yes, yes. You're right, Vanessa. My apologies. Of course, I trust you. You've suffered. Don't worry, I'll give Sasha the dressing down she deserves."

Only after he spent a long while soothing her did Mrs. Becker voice her true concern.

[Vanessa] "But no matter how innocent I am, Sasha has the authority to replace the maids...... What if she uses her power to fire me?"

[Ulrich] "Don't worry about that. I have a way to ensure she can't use even the smallest bit of her authority."

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