ASDEF 28

Chapter 28

“……She hired them herself?”

Daniel’s brow furrowed instantly, and Wally hurried to avoid crossing his master’s mood.

“The Young Lady told me that she needed at least one person here who suited her tastes. And that she would properly make use of your lord father’s surveillance through the two handmaidens……”

“Make use of surveillance?”

“Yes.”

“……My wife, of my father?”

“Yes.”

Daniel’s cool gaze silently fell upon Wally.

A moment of brief silence followed.

“Heh.”

Daniel let out a small chuckle.

“It seems she couldn’t hold back and caused some trouble already. She’d have more freedom from my father’s surveillance network if she hired the people I’d chosen……”

Daniel’s gaze deepened.

The reason he had deliberately assigned foolish attendants to Sophie was precisely because he knew well what handmaidens meant to a lady of the house.

Spending every moment together, a handmaiden could not help but quickly learn her mistress’s weaknesses and secrets.

Daniel swirled the wine glass in his hand, lost in thought.

“In your view, is that handmaiden trustworthy?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if she’s someone you can trust and employ.”

“I looked into her through the other handmaidens, and she has a remarkably tight lip. She won’t open her mouth easily. Also, since there is a handmaiden recommended by the Head Maid as well, I don’t think his lordship would have reason to co-opt another handmaiden on top of that……?”

“That’s a fair point.”

Daniel gave a slight nod at Wally’s words.

At that, a droplet of water clinging to his hair fell onto the bridge of his nose.

He downed the wine in one gulp, set down the glass, and spoke.

“Keep a close watch. If you see any sign of misconduct, handle it as you see fit.”

“Yes.”

“Then I need to continue recovering from the residual poison, so you may leave now.”

Daniel closed his eyes gently.

“Um…… Young Master.”

Wally called out to Daniel in a hurry, and his closed eyes opened again.

Wally carefully continued, addressing his master.

“There is one more thing I must tell you……”

“What is it?”

“It’s about…… his lordship has entrusted the household accounts to the Young Lady.”

“……What?”

Daniel frowned even more deeply than before and stared at him.

“Entrusted the accounts? What do you mean by that?”

“On the day you left after receiving the summons, Young Master, his lordship said the Young Lady needed to learn the role of the lady of the house, and so he……”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. So he gave her the accounting ledgers? And to a daughter-in-law who hasn’t even been here a full day?”

At Wally’s words, Daniel’s eyes creased with displeasure.

“What on earth is my father trying to test by doing this……”

As Daniel pondered for a moment, Wally, watching from behind, spoke up.

“I thought it might be of some help, so I did mention the late Madam’s accounts to the Young Lady. Since the late Madam managed them herself without even hiring an accountant, if she uses that as a reference, perhaps his lordship will let it pass as well.”

“My mother’s ledgers……”

Daniel muttered in a contemplative tone, gazing outward.

‘What an impressive man he is……. He’s scheming to use that as a pretext to keep me from taking a single step away from here.’

Guessing the Duke of Benson’s intentions, Daniel looked outside with a scanning gaze before rising from his seat.

Wally quickly draped a robe over his body.

“I suppose I need to see my wife before heading to the palace.”

“I thought you were going to recover from the residual poison—you’re going to the palace now?”

“By now, the nobles will only be fixated on the damage to their own properties. Without giving any thought to compensation for those who died for their sake.”

“Th-Then, are you planning to seek an audience with His Majesty the King?”

“This time, by whatever means necessary, I must secure a firm guarantee of compensation.”

With a resolute expression, Daniel changed his clothes.

“Phantasmal Shield.”

As Daniel stepped outside, the garden’s barrier was regenerated.

Wally, with rapid strides, followed after Daniel, panting and chasing him.

—

* * *

“D-Don’t come any closer! You hideous……!!”

Sweating all over and struggling, she opened her eyes wide.

And there, facing her, was Daniel—she had no idea when he had entered.

He was looking down at her with a strange expression.

“Hideous……? Were you talking about me just now?”

He said this while leisurely scanning her disheveled clothes.

She quickly wrapped herself in the blanket.

“Wh-What are you doing! Wi-Without even knocking!”

“Knocking, in my own room? But more importantly, don’t you have something to say to me, wife?”

Ah, Daniel’s face showed that he had noticed something. It must be about the handmaiden hiring matter.

Since she hadn’t acted according to his instructions, it was only natural he would be angry.

She hesitated for a moment before answering.

“W-Well…… it just ended up that way.”

“Ended up that way? So you brought in two surveillance agents, did you?”

“Ah, it’s not two—one of them I personally……”

“What difference does it make if you picked her yourself? Unless that handmaiden already knows your true identity.”

At his cutting remark, she was lost for words.

But she didn’t want to back down just like that. She had her own reasons!

“That’s……! I also wanted to have at least one person here who’s mine. Someone I could lean on, even just a little.”

“Yours, you say……. Interesting.”

Daniel chuckled lightly and sat down at the table.

Crossing his legs, he looked at her with a tilted gaze, and she quickly changed her approach.

“If you don’t like it, should I replace her……?”

“……”

“Or, just one of them?”

Fortunately, she managed to buy time to tidy herself up.

They sat facing each other across the table. She sat rigidly upright with tension, while Daniel exuded an air of utter composure.

Dressed in a crisp, wrinkle-free blue uniform, Daniel was displaying his usual handsome features, but compared to the last time she had seen him, his face seemed paler.

His black hair gleamed in the sunlight.

His flawlessly clear white skin and violet eyes.

Even the habitual frown between his brows only seemed to make him shine all the more.

Daniel, sitting with his legs crossed, watched her with a languid expression.

“If you happen to be exposed, you’d better be prepared for the consequences.”

“I know that much……! I’m well aware……”

She quickly shut her half-open mouth and answered.

In the meantime, Isabel entered carrying teacups.

As Isabel set the teacups on the table, Daniel brought one to his lips and spoke.

“You’re one of the newly hired handmaidens. The one the Duchess personally selected?”

“Yes, Young Master. I am Isabel McGovern. I will do my utmost to serve the Young Lady so that she may live comfortably.”

“Do your utmost, you say……. My wife needs someone who will pledge their very life in loyalty, not just someone who does their utmost. Do you understand what that means, Isabel McGovern?”

A small smile curved at the corner of Daniel’s mouth.

At that, Isabel’s pupils flickered slightly. She tried to grasp the hidden meaning in Daniel’s words.

Daniel set down his teacup and continued in a cool, low voice.

“I’m saying that if even a single rumor that damages the Young Lady’s honor spreads, you will pay for it with your life.”

“……I will keep that firmly in mind, Young Master.”

“Still, since my wife saw fit to pick you herself, you must be a sensible person. I’ll watch and see. You may leave now.”

At Daniel’s words, Isabel quickly paid her respects and exited the room.

Wow, just look at that chilling gaze…….

I’ve felt it since our first meeting, but the skill of threatening someone so calmly is truly unmatched. No wonder he’s the hidden villain.

A golden noontime sunlight stretched long through the silence.

Warm sunlight settled upon Daniel’s shoulders.

Pretending to drink her tea, she quietly stole glances at him.

She was surprised by his immaculate appearance, which showed no sign of the exhaustion from battle, and then surprised again by the fact that his striking looks only shone brighter in that state.

‘Now’s not the time for this.’

She hurriedly shook her head—and met Daniel’s gaze.