KFBRV Ch 87

A clean handkerchief served as a poor substitute for a dirty napkin, yet Odette considered it a luxury Courtney did not deserve. Despite this small mercy, the housekeeper's eyes remained flooded with a sense of rank injustice.

Odette mocked her internally, turning her gaze toward the woman who still clung to Paula.

[Sasha] "Not Paula. I have never begged you for anything, but I am begging you now."

[Ulrich] "Sasha."

[Sasha] "Not when you drained my dowry for your failing business! Not when you paraded your affairs in my face! Not even when you humiliated me before the entire social circle! I am asking for this one thing. Just this once, grant me this."

Ulrich furrowed his brow, the gesture born of sheer confusion.

Sasha's desperation reached far beyond mere affection for a favorite servant. To abandon her dignity before the servants, to look so wretched, and to offer herself as a human shield against a rifle—it defied logic.

[Sasha] "Y-Yes. You need money, don't you? I will give you every piece of art I own. Their value has skyrocketed. It is an astronomical sum!"

Greed flickered across his face. He had already heard whispers that every piece Malea pointed out had turned into gold.

[Ulrich] "The rumors reached me. They say you have gathered a terrifying fortune. You played the fool while my businesses crumbled, yet you would surrender it all for a mere maid?"

[Sasha] "I will. Every painting is yours if you let Paula live. I will hand over the wealth that can revive your pathetic, rotting investments!"

Rolf and Doly stood frozen in shock. The Countess' collection had increased in value by hundreds, if not thousands, of times. None had imagined she would part with such a hoard.

[Ulrich] "Money is not the only issue, Sasha. This wretched girl made a fool of me. How do I extract the price for that humiliation—"

[Sasha] "Then kill her and see what happens! I will not sit idle! I will reveal everything—that Odette is a fake purifier, and that this entire family conspired to deceive the Empire!"

[Ferdinand] "Mother!"

Ferdinand's voice broke into a shriek. If the truth about Odette's fabrication came to light, his head would follow hers to the chopping block.

[Sasha] "Save Paula, and I remain silent. Is it so difficult? Tell me, is it!"

Both Ferdinand and Ulrich stared at Sasha as if she had grown a second head.

Even with her relationship with her son fractured, it made no sense to gamble her life for a servant. She had shown no such attachment to Mrs. Becker, her own childhood attendant, yet she risked everything for a maid Rolf had hired.

Finally, Ulrich nodded.

[Ulrich] "Fine. I shall spare her life."

He had never seen Sasha so possessed by malice. Pushing her further would undeniably invite a headache he didn't want. Besides, every servant had seen Sasha enter the office; he couldn't exactly shoot the Countess of the house.

[Ulrich] "We shall do this instead. Sasha, you are officially suffering from a mental affliction. You will spend one month at the monastery. In your absence, Mrs. Becker shall assume all duties of the mistress. Consider it compensation for her false accusation."

[Sasha] "What?"

[Ulrich] "If you go, the maid lives. In a month, I will review how well you and Paula have reflected on your actions. Only then will I decide whether to bring you back."

[Sasha] "......"

Her fists trembled with a humiliated rage, but she eventually slumped in a hollow nod. She knew Ulrich would likely find any excuse to keep her there beyond the month, yet saving Paula remained her absolute priority.

[Ulrich] "The judgment of your 'reflection' after that month rests entirely with Mrs. Becker. If she chooses to forgive you before the time is up, I promise to let you return immediately."

[Sasha] "Why must she be the one......"

[Ulrich] "She was the victim of your scheme, was she not? Use this time to learn what it feels like to be an inferior."

She snapped her head toward the mistress.

[Sasha] "B-Becker. You know I am...... I am sorry. It was a mistake. Will you please forgive my past treatment of you?"

Mrs. Becker's lips curled into a slow, triumphant smile. The woman who had spent a week rotting in a dungeon finally tasted freedom.

[Becker] "I accept your apology, Madam."

The mistress laughed softly.

Paula, still caught in the aftershocks of terror, continued to shake.

[Becker] "While the Madam resides at the monastery, may I wear her dresses? She has so many beautiful things."

In the span of a few hours, Sasha seemed to have aged a decade. Her eyes had sunken into dark, hollow pits. Exhaustion claimed her, leaving her with no choice but to agree if she ever hoped to return.

[Sasha] "Do as you wish."

At those words, Paula burst into fresh sobs.

[Odette] “You are the one overstepping, Paula. Whatever happens today, remember it is entirely your fault.”

Her warning from the pond echoed through Paula's mind.

Did I really destroy everything?

Mrs. Becker now held the power of the house. Paula's regret tasted like ash. She shouldn't have gone to the villa. She shouldn't have struck Odette. She shouldn't have overstepped.

As these thoughts swirled, her eyes met Odette's. The Lady wore a faint, chilling smile. A violent shudder raced down her spine.

[Becker] "I shall take Malea as my personal attendant while the Madam is away. She is quite bright and kind."

Sasha nodded weakly.

[Ulrich] "The matter is settled. Rolf! Have the servants pack. Prepare the carriage immediately. She leaves for the monastery tonight!"

[Rolf] "Yes, Master."

Rolf abandoned his loyalty to the Countess, pivoting toward Ulrich with practiced ease.

[Paula] "In the dead of night? At least let us wait until dawn—"

She tried to interject, her voice a sobbing wreck. If she could only buy time until morning, perhaps she could convince them that Odette had orchestrated this entire play.

[Ulrich] "You remain insolent despite your crimes!"

His roar silenced her.

[Ulrich] "Paula is demoted to a laundry maid! You will perform the most grueling labor in this estate until you learn your place. Open your mouth one more time, and I promise you, the more you overstep, the longer Sasha stays locked in that monastery!"

[Paula] "......"

She bit her lip until it bled. She realized that any further defense would only worsen her mother's torment.

[Ulrich] "Sasha, if you dare speak our secrets or attempt to flee, I will kill Paula. And Paula, if you behave recklessly, I will keep Sasha in that monastery forever. Understood?"

The warning extended to the Head Maid and Rolf as well. It served as a reminder that no matter their rank or what secrets they held, Ulrich could crush them at any moment.

With Sasha as a hostage, Paula had no choice but to scrub linens until her hands bled.

[Paula] "Madam, it is my fault. Because of me...... because of what I did, you have to suffer like this—"

The crisis concluded with her clinging to Sasha like a weeping child.

Ulrich turned to Ferdinand to deliver the final sentence.

[Ulrich] "Ferdinand, take Courtney and kill her. She is of no use to us now."

[Ferdinand] "Yes, Father."

[Ulrich] "The graveyard near the execution grounds should suffice. Do not bother with a grave; let the beasts dispose of the remains. No one will notice another nameless corpse."

[Courtney] "Mmph! Mmm-ph!"

[Ulrich] "Ensure no one sees you."

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