Chapter 21
Jewel saw Veloce off with a worried look and then turned, her expression firm like a resolute general. Gathering her skirts in both hands, she ascended the stairs to the second floor and took a deep breath before knocking on the door to Maynus’s office.
“It’s Jewel, Your Grace.”
“Come in.”
Maynus lifted his head from the document he was reading. After entering and bowing politely, Jewel spoke with solemn determination.
“My lady has been summoned by the Artemio Count family and has gone to their estate.”
“The Artemio Count family?”
Maynus slowly rose from his seat. His composed expression hardened coldly.
“Why? For what reason?”
“It appears she was threatened in some way by Count Artemio. Your Grace, shouldn’t you go after her?”
Jewel spoke cautiously. Before she could even finish her sentence, Maynus had already shot to his feet.
“Thank you for letting me know.”
Jewel bowed her head, looking as though she might cry.
She had agonized over this decision the entire way here. Reporting her lady’s whereabouts could be considered an act of betrayal. And yet, she couldn’t forget the day Countess Artemio had barged into the mansion.
The biting exchange between the Countess and Veloce had been loud enough to be heard from outside the parlor. And because the Countess had flung open the door, Jewel had no choice but to hear the rest of it as well. It was clear the Countess did not see Veloce as her daughter.
The emotional damage Veloce must have suffered had left the staff deeply uneasy. Though she had pretended to be fine and carried on with poise, Jewel knew better. Just because someone looked strong didn’t mean they truly were.
Jewel leaned against the doorframe, breath catching in her throat as her strength gave out. She collapsed where she stood.
She had long been considered the next head maid, having worked at Jeremias Mansion for many years with unwavering pride. Never once had she done anything to compromise her integrity but this time, she couldn’t help herself.
I did the right thing… didn’t I?
Jewel swallowed hard. The image of Veloce’s bright smile as she handed her a gift kept replaying in her mind.
“Thank you for everything, Jewel. And for taking such good care of our Delerone. I’ll be counting on you from now on, too! It’s nothing fancy… but it’s a gift.”
The small hair ornament Veloce had given her sparkled in her hair. Jewel silently wished that Veloce would return with that same smile on her face.
***
In truth, I had a rough idea why I’d been summoned here. Even as Count Artemio feigned sophistication while sipping his tea and stealing glances at me, he said nothing.
Veloce had always longed for affection from her parents. She had wished for even one proper conversation like this. But the Count and Countess had always spread rumors that she was too ill-mannered to even enjoy a cup of tea and treated her as such.
This whole setup was likely meant to justify their different treatment of Ellice and me. Come to think of it, their campaign to paint Veloce as a villainess was entirely their doing.
“Veloce.”
The Count finally spoke, seemingly unable to endure my silence any longer.
“Yes, Count Artemio?”
“Hoo… don’t you understand why I summoned you here? I’ve decided to forgive all your rudeness and offenses. Including how you used to torment your younger sister.”
“Ah.”
I gave a vague reply and nodded.
My lack of enthusiasm clearly displeased him, judging by the way his brow twitched. I wasn’t the least bit scared.
“Veloce. Ellice worked tirelessly for the prosperity of our family.”
Does he mean stealing from others and using Ellice’s name to justify it?
That was the sort of thing the Count and Countess did after the novel ended with the story wrapping up on ‘Ellice became a Saint and lived happily ever after with Alexand.’
“And now that Ellice is gone, you need to take her place. You always wanted to replace her, didn’t you? I’ll help you take the temple evaluation again. You can marry the Duke of Jeremias and live there while supporting us. Ellice’s child will only get in the way, so send her to us, we’ll handle it.”
I couldn’t believe I was actually sitting here listening to this garbage. If he hadn’t threatened to storm the mansion, I wouldn’t have come. Ugh. I hummed a tune in my head while letting his words go in one ear and out the other. La la la… I hear nothing, nothing at all…
“I heard you’re involved in the selection process for merchants in the duke’s business. You know what to do. Just make sure the Artemio Merchant Guild gets the best deal. And the matter with the national healing center, I hear it’s been entrusted to you. But you’ve never done anything like that before. Leave it to me. Just follow orders. That’ll be all for now.”
“If you’re done, may I leave?”
“Veloce, do you even understand what I’ve just…”
“I didn’t understand a word, actually.”
I smiled sweetly.
“First. I was cast out, so I’m not part of the Artemio family. Why would I do anything for its sake? If you want to take back the family name, go ahead.”
Better to be a commoner than be called ‘Lady Artemio.’ As for Delerone, she could inherit the title Alexand was meant to receive.
“Second. I’ll raise Delerone myself. Third. My relationship with Duke Maynus is none of your business. Fourth. The merchant selection? That’s already done. Artemio didn’t make the cut. Why should I help you? And fifth. The work His Majesty entrusted to me, I’ll handle it myself. What, are you going to defy imperial decree? You’ve only got one life, you know.”
Count Artemio’s face turned pale. Trembling with fury, he slammed the table.
“There’s a limit to how far childish defiance can go before it stops being cute!”
“I’m not cute at all, though.”
Now he could learn firsthand how aggravating it is to get your own words thrown back at you. This was his punishment for dragging me here.
“Veloce! I didn’t raise you to be this way!”
“I was never raised by you.”
The Count’s face flushed red as he raised his hand toward me… his cane in hand.
“Are you planning to hit me with that? Wow. What a model citizen.”
He froze mid-motion. I stood from my seat.
“Handle your own messes. If you keep trying to freeload like this, you’ll go bald.”
“Veloce!!”
The Count hurled his cane and lunged for my arm, but I easily evaded him and headed for the window. With a servant guarding the door, it didn’t seem like they’d let me out unless everything went their way.
I flung the window open with a loud bang and turned to face the Count. He froze before approaching me again.
“I have something to say too. Don’t summon me like this again. Planning to storm the Duke’s estate? Be my guest. But if you do, I’ll make sure the Duke turns his back on the Artemio family. If you want to be excluded from the new trade routes entirely, go right ahead. Oh, and the healing center? I met His Majesty about that. Should I repeat your words to him verbatim?”
“Veloce!”
As Count Artemio limped toward me, I climbed up onto the window ledge. Thankfully, it was large, and this was just the second floor. Even if I jumped, I probably wouldn’t get too hurt. There were evergreen shrubs below, green even in winter. If I curled up, I could land just fine.
Of course, using the front door would be best…
“I’d leave through the door, but… you’re not going to let me, are you?”
“My conversation isn’t over!”
Crash!
The servant standing guard was pushed aside and fell flat to the ground. The door had burst open and Maynus stood there.
“Maynus…?”
His eyes swept the room coldly before locking onto me, perched on the windowsill.
“Your Grace!”
Maynus glanced briefly at Count Artemio and then strode toward me. For some reason, a wave of relief swept over me. If it was Maynus… he would protect me from all of this.
He reached out his hand.
“…Come down, Veloce.”
Maynus’s voice was low and hoarse, his face pale.
His red eyes shimmered with anxiety. His windblown hair was a mess, and his usually impeccable clothing was disheveled. Maynus, who was always immaculately put together was a wreck.
Staring into his eyes, I instinctively reached out. He pulled me into his arms.
He let out a long breath, as if relieved.
“…You scared me, Veloce.”
