TSMMT Ch 16

The True Master

A chilling silence spread through the estate. Not a single breath broke the quiet. Everyone refused to believe the scene unfolding before them.

The young lady, that innocent young lady, resorted to violence. And against Mirva, the actual master of the estate!

Even the late Duchess never treated Mirva rashly. Part of it stemmed from Mirva serving as the Duchess' lady-in-waiting, but after her illness worsened, the Duchess lacked the strength to even argue.

Fundamentally, the women of this household possessed gentle natures, and everyone expected Dianna to behave the same way.

[Mirva] "W-What is the meaning of this!"

Mirva's face turned crimson. She stomped toward the small girl with a threatening stance, but Dianna watched her with an unbothered expression. Her detached composure sent shivers down the onlookers' spines.

[Dianna] "Do you really not know what you did?"

[Mirva] "Yes! What on earth—"

Dianna let out a dry chuckle. She didn't enjoy violence; she loathed it. Yet she knew perfectly well that she couldn't afford to choose her methods right now.

Formally punishing Mirva required authority, which Dianna currently lacked. Everyone in this household, even the butler, belonged to Mirva's faction.

[Dianna] "The pearl necklace."

[Mirva] "......"

[Dianna] "You knew the Queen despised pearl necklaces. Why did you give that necklace to me anyway?"

[Mirva] "What are you talking about?!"

[Dianna] "......"

[Mirva] "You insisted on wearing it, My Lady! I told you not to!"

Her face displayed a perfect picture of innocence and unfair accusation.

Dianna chuckle. She shifted her gaze to the maids standing behind Mirva. The maids averted their eyes from her. They acted as accomplices.

[Dianna] "Are you all serious? Did I demand that?"

The maids tightly closed their eyes.

[Maid 1] "Y-Yes......"

[Maid 2] "You did, My Lady."

In her past life, Dianna had never once inquired about his past. The reaction matched her expectations perfectly. She hardened her expression. Then, she addressed Mirva, who wore a smug look of satisfaction.

[Dianna] "So?"

[Mirva] "Pardon?"

[Dianna] "Even if I insisted on wearing it, your duty was to stop me, wasn't it?"

Fighting flawless logic required sheer stubbornness. She pushed an entirely unreasonable argument, behaving exactly like a typical noble who believed in their absolute superiority.

[Dianna] "Mirva, that is what a lady-in-waiting does."

[Mirva] "That is! I only wished to grant your desires, My Lady!"

[Dianna] "Is that so? For someone who claims that, you limit my actions quite a lot, don't you?"

Mirva restricted Dianna not for the young lady's benefit, but to maintain control over her and flaunt her own superiority.

[Dianna] "Let us say I threw a tantrum. Even then, you failed to stop me."

[Mirva] "My Lady, there is a misunderstanding. I had no idea what the pearl necklace signified, nor why you are so angry!"

[Dianna] "And your ignorance exposes your utter incompetence."

Mirva's excuses crumbled helplessly against Dianna's words. She found it impossible to counter. Pressing further would only result in verbal humiliation. From the beginning, she stood no chance of winning this argument. Officially, Mirva remained a mere maid bound to serve Dianna!

[Dianna] "Do you have anything else to say?"

Dianna reigned as their employer, and Mirva committed a grave error against her mistress.

As Dianna laid out every point clearly, the onlookers realized Mirva had behaved with extreme foolishness. The Duke and the young master possessed no interest in the estate's daily affairs, and the young lady usually stayed too fragile and innocent, swallowing her emotions even when she should rage.

Consequently, none of them had ever experienced the terrifying weight of a noble's absolute wrath. Remaining in this position would only invite deeper humiliation.

[Mirva] "My Lady, I apologize."

She utterly loathed bowing, but Mirva knew she had to yield right now. The cheek struck by the little girl burned intensely, but her flushed face and absolute humiliation burned even hotter.

Dianna watched her for a moment, then offered a bright smile.

[Dianna] "Mirva, you don't need to bow so low. Naturally, I forgive you."

Mirva ground her teeth and raised her gaze, meeting Dianna's subtle smile. For a split second, those silver-gray eyes turned glassy and unreadable, sending an eerie chill through her.

[Dianna] "You must have faced a lot of exhaustion lately. I understand you might remain unaware of certain things. Expecting you to handle every single duty alone was far too demanding."

Her tone carried a gentle warmth, yet it delivered a crushing weight. Dianna turned her gaze and pointed a finger at a specific maid.

[Dianna] "The position of head maid happens to lie vacant. I shall appoint her as the new head maid. Divide the responsibilities."

Whether by luck or design, the designated maid belonged to Mirva's circle. Dianna undoubtedly chose her because she served as the longest-tenured maid in the estate.

[Dianna] "Butler, what are your thoughts?"

[Butler] "A-Ah, your words are entirely correct, My Lady."

The foolish butler nodded, startled by Dianna's authority. Since the person holding the estate's personnel authority yielded, Mirva ground her teeth and spoke.

[Mirva] "Thank you for your generous consideration, My Lady."

She had to maintain a pleasant smile. She possessed no noble blood, after all...... Mirva squeezed her hands into tight fists while staring at Dianna. She vowed to repay this humiliation one day.

Yet the servants of the household realized a profound truth for the first time: Dianna reigned as the true mistress of this estate, and she was growing. Even if Mirva ruled like a duchess, she would inevitably yield to the genuine authority. A single slap across the face sufficed. With that single blow, the perceptive servants reassessed the power structure.

The outcome satisfied Dianna. Mirva possessed cunning wits, but she retreated immediately once she exposed her weakness.

Appointing a maid who shared a bitter rivalry with Mirva would have driven the woman to open rebellion. Delivering such heavy public humiliation sufficed for now, making it the perfect moment to step back.

---

Upon returning to her bedchamber, a sudden surprise greeted Dianna. A clean, neat boy stood inside. The dark-haired youth stood with his back to the window, a thin shirt draped over his broad shoulders, complemented by dark brown trousers. Though he wore servants' attire, an inherent nobility radiated from his very presence.

The distinction made perfect sense. He belonged to royalty. A refined elegance naturally cloaked him. Dianna admired the strange majesty dwelling within Guiscard. He wore lowly garments and spoke simple words. Despite occupying the absolute lowest rank, he carried himself with the haughty pride of the highest sovereign. That nobility always captivated her attention.

The boy turned around at the sound of her approach. Having passed his birthday, Guiscard had reached fifteen years of age, yet he lacked any remaining childhood softness. Sunken cheeks from starvation lent him the appearance of a grown man.

Yes, resembling her husband from her past life.

[Guiscard] "Are you unwell somewhere, My Lady?"

His inquiry carried polite respect. Perhaps he had contemplated his status while changing his clothes. The arrogant glint vanished from his eyes, replaced by a calm, cold expression that mirrored his demeanor in her past life.

[Dianna] "I am fine."

She fought to swallow the rising wave of aversion.

No. This person is not yet the adult Guiscard.

Her heart hammered frantically.

[Dianna] "The clothes...... suit you well."

Tremors shook her voice. She fought to stabilize her expression, searching for the correct words.

[Dianna] "Where do you come from?"

In her past life, she had never once inquired about his past. The past Dianna refrained from asking out of fear of triggering painful memories, and after their marriage, no reason remained to bring it up.

[Guiscard] "I come from the Lodbrog Kingdom."

[Dianna] "How did you become a slave?"

He offered no answer to her question. He maintained a stubborn silence, his face twisting as if swallowing something utterly foul.

[Dianna] "You have no need to speak if you prefer to remain silent."

He offered a single nod and held his tongue. Their relationship lacked even that basic level of trust. Nonetheless, she needed to discover the identity of his mother. She had to unearth exactly why a prince of the Lodbrog Kingdom ended up here, delivered to the Panborough King as a mere slave.

[Guiscard] "My Lady, what are my duties?"

He questioned her. His tone shifted to polite submission. He, too, had likely acknowledged his status as a slave and considered how to survive. She held a long-standing plan in mind.

[Dianna] "Learn the sword."

[Guiscard] "Pardon?"

[Dianna] "Become a magnificent warrior."

He eventually claims the title of the Hero King who slew the venomous dragon. This marked him as an absolute genius of swordsmanship. If destiny remained fixed, he would master martial arts regardless. Serving as the starting point for his journey felt acceptable.

[Guiscard] "A slave becoming a warrior?"

[Dianna] "Why should it be impossible? Master the sword, and attend to my needs as well."

[Guiscard] "Me? Attend to your needs, My Lady?"

His brow furrowed deeply, signaling his severe distaste for the prospect.

[Dianna] "How many times must I repeat myself? You already witnessed my circumstances."

[Guiscard] "......"

[Dianna] "I have no allies on my side. I need your assistance."

[Guiscard] "......"

[Dianna] "Naturally, I am using your status as a slave to force your help, but what choice do I have? I want to reclaim my estate."

Guiscard knitted his brows, studying Dianna. Her slightly round cheeks still gave her the appearance of a lovely child. Yet her calm delivery belonged to a mature adult, or perhaps a wise sage completely detached from the world.

[Dianna] "The maids will handle changing my clothes. However, circumstances might force your hand eventually, though I will do my utmost to prevent that."

She spoke to him as if pleading for his understanding. He stared at her with a look of sheer bewilderment. His reaction made perfect sense; anyone would view her actions as bizarre.

Just as he opened his mouth to reply, an urgent knock echoed against the door.

[Maid] "My Lady, My Lady! An urgent matter!"

What is it? Did Mirva take out her anger on the servants?

[Dianna] "What happened?"

She flung the door open, and a maid with panicked eyes rushed inside.

[Maid] "His Highness, the Second Prince, has arrived! He demands to see you immediately."

---

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