KFBRV Ch 78
- Feb 16
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 18
Throughout the carriage ride, Paula basked in the memory of a perfect evening.
Viscount Köndel—his refined demeanor, his warm smile, and that gentle, velvet voice.
His suit, his watch, his shoes... everything screamed wealth. Only masters of their craft produced such items, pieces even a Count would struggle to acquire.
The rumors of his fertile lands and vast inheritance appeared accurate. However, her ecstatic expression shattered the moment the carriage reached the ivory gates of the Albrecht mansion.
[Paula] "What is this?!"
Lights blazed from every window. Servants, who should have been deep in slumber, scattered across the grounds in a frantic rush.
His face turned ashen.
Did that man drag Mrs. Becker out of the dungeon the second he arrived?
Her legs trembled with anxiety. She shoved the window open and beckoned the gatekeeper.
[Paula] "Gatekeeper! Has the Master returned?"
[Gatekeeper] "What's it to you?"
The tall guards previously hired by the Countess had been dismissed after Ferdinand gave them a thorough beating. Their replacements were lackeys hired by Mrs. Becker.
For the past two weeks, while Mrs. Becker faced exile, this man had groveled at Paula's feet.
How did his attitude shift so violently in a single evening?
She knew the answer immediately. Mrs. Becker had been liberated.
[Gatekeeper] "Hey, your little reign is over. The Master just released Mrs. Becker. He's gathering every servant to announce that he won't tolerate those who framed her!"
The gatekeeper's sneer confirmed her worst fears.
[Gatekeeper] "He's waiting for you and the Countess. He looks ready to draw blood, so you'd better watch your back."
A dull ache throbbed at the base of her skull.
The Count hadn't even heard the Countess' side of the story yet, but he had already declared the charges a "frame-up." He was publicly siding against his own wife.
He's going to strip my mother of her dignity again...…
He'll take her authority and hand it right back to that woman.
She never understood why Ulrich and Ferdinand remained so fiercely loyal to Mrs. Becker.
What use is elevating a maid's status over the Mistress of the house? Unless he relishes my mother's humiliation!
She reached the only logical conclusion: Ulrich chose this path specifically to torment his wife.
How can he undermine a wife's decision so publicly? ......My mother's reputation will hit rock bottom tonight.
In her moment of suffocating frustration, her gaze fell upon Odette, who sat across from her.
......If this happens, will I lose my position as the disciplinary maid?
If Ulrich intended to shame her mother tonight, another loss of authority was inevitable. If Ferdinand followed suit and stripped Paula of her disciplinary rights......
Her heart plummeted at the thought of losing the right to strike Odette.
That is the only joy I have left in this house!
Mrs.Becker would undoubtedly become more insufferable from now on. If this was the end, she decided she would at least vent her stress one last time.
[Paula] "Coachman, take us to the annex pond."
[Coachman] "Pardon me?"
[Paula] "Now!"
She barked the order from a blind spot hidden from the gatekeeper.
Conveniently, the carriage contained a sleeping incense designed to soothe the Countess' nerves.
Ever since Ferdinand's betrayal, the Countess had suffered from chronic headaches, and this lavender-based blend was meant to ease her pain.
Your behavior never deviates from the script, does it?
Odette smiled inwardly as the carriage veered toward the annex pond.
The only variable in tonight's plan had been Paula's heart. She had worried that Paula might skip her usual abuse tonight, but the detour to the pond proved those fears groundless.
The annex pond was a secluded spot, choked by towering irises and reeds. Anything that happened there remained hidden from prying eyes. Furthermore, a flat, jagged rock sat by the water—Paula's favorite stage for her cruelty.
How many times did she strike me there?
Before she turned fifteen, while her status as an adopted daughter remained precarious, trips to this pond had been a daily ritual.
......Using sleeping incense, though. She very much lacks any sense of fear.
Odette inhaled the fragrance of lavender and medicinal herbs, pretending to succumb to the mist.
Thank you. Using lavender was your biggest mistake.
While lavender often served as a sedative, it possessed a unique chemical reaction with Aqua Mint. It didn't just maintain the herb's sobering effect; it amplified it. The one hour of lucidity granted by the Aqua Mint extended to four, and its simple awakening properties evolved into total immunity against drugs and perfumes.
In essence, the sleeping incense functioned as a powerful stimulant for her.
My luck is extraordinary...... or perhaps I should credit Viktor's uncanny intuition.
His instincts hit the mark with sickening precision. The game guide described it as: “An intuition that finds the perfect answer even in moments of absolute ignorance.”
That very intuition had made Odette's previous life a living hell.
So, this does not affect me. You, however, must be feeling quite dazed.
She suppressed a scoff as she watched Paula press a handkerchief over her own mouth, holding her breath.
Paula, your choices are always so foolish and impulsive.
It was the result of Sasha's parenting. The Countess had never taught her children the concept of "patience."
As the carriage slowed near the reeds, she summoned the system window.
[System: 'Karl' is not within a 20-meter radius.] [System: Loathing levels cannot be displayed.]
The status window glowed a faint, dusty pink.
Lize succeeded.
The system only tracked individuals within a twenty-meter range. Had Karl remained in the dungeon, his Loathing would have been visible.
This means Paula's hairpin is now sitting exactly where it needs to be.
Ulrich had returned, and Odette intended to begin her thorough cleaning of the mansion.
Paula's predictable impulsiveness was a blessing; the bigger the scandal, the better the result.
She leaned further back against the carriage seat. Paula, interpreting this as the incense taking hold, let out a satisfied chuckle.
The rhythmic clopping of hooves finally ceased in front of the annex pond.
[Coachman] "We've arrived, Miss. But why did you request this stop?"
Paula ignored him. She stepped out of the carriage, nose still buried in her handkerchief, and seized Odette's wrist to drag her out.
[Paula] "Return to the mansion at once."
[Coachman] "Pardon?"
[Paula] "I said go back to the main building!"
The coachman winced at her arrogant outburst.
She is remarkably prideful. Even if she mistakenly believes the coachman belongs to her mother, her condescension is boundless.
Because the coachman addressed her as "Miss" and frequently turned a blind eye to her secrets, Paula assumed his loyalty. He knew she beat Odette at the pond, and he knew she snuck out wearing expensive jewels while pretending to be a noblewoman.
But the coachman is sharp-witted and silent.
Contrary to Paula's delusion, the coachman belonged to no one. He kept her secrets just as diligently as he kept Mrs. Becker's. He was the only one trusted to drive Ulrich and Vanessa on their secret dates.
[Coachman] "I don't think that's a good idea, Miss. It's too late to leave the two of you alone, and the Master returned early today—"
[Paula] "Did I ask for your advice? I'll handle it. Just leave."
[Coachman] "But, Miss......"
[Paula] "What are you doing? Are you deaf? Get lost!"
There was only one reason a man would be this observant yet remain silent: cowardice. He loathed being entangled in trouble.
He's sweating so much it's almost pitiful.
He had already detected the scent of sleeping incense wafting from the carriage. Though he usually maintained a wall of silence, his instincts warned him that leaving them now would lead to a catastrophe.
He lingered, desperate to delay his departure.
[Paula] "I said go!"
Yielding to her fury, he climbed back onto his seat.
[Coachman] "Hyah......"
He snapped the whip with a limp, half-hearted motion, his posture drained of all energy.
He's terrified. He won't return to the main building immediately.
In the meantime, she dragged the limp Odette toward the water's edge. She forced her onto her knees at the exact spot where she always delivered her "lessons."
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