TEWRIT 14

Chapter 14

Eliano called for the head butler.

It should have been a simple request.

But nothing in the House of Rosana was ever simple.

“My Lady, you cannot do that.”

Pamela’s voice rose sharply.

The maids immediately sided with her.

“Please, My Lady.”

“The head butler is very busy.”

“You should let Nanny Pamela handle it.”

One after another, they spoke over Eliano’s orders as though her words carried no weight at all.

Eliano stared at them.

Then she understood.

They weren’t merely disobeying her.

They had completely forgotten who their master was.

In the end, Eliano had no choice but to leave her room herself.

The moment she stepped into the hallway, she encountered a young butler.

“You.”

The young man stopped and bowed.

“Yes, My Lady?”

“Take me to the head butler.”

He hesitated.

“If you tell me what the matter is, I’ll take care of it.”

Eliano’s eyes narrowed.

“I said I want to meet the head butler.”

“He’s very busy right now, My Lady.”

The young butler smiled awkwardly.

“Why don’t you simply speak with your nanny, as you usually do?”

As I usually do?

Eliano’s blood began to boil.

When did the chain of command become this broken?

She had lived in this environment for more than twenty years in her previous life.

Twenty years.

And she had never once realized how wrong it was.

She hadn’t known her rights were being ignored.

She hadn’t known that servants were supposed to obey her.

She had simply assumed that everyone knew better than she did.

The realization made her anger unbearable.

“Crash!”

Eliano reached for the nearest vase and smashed it against the floor.

The young butler jumped.

“M-My Lady!”

Pieces of porcelain scattered across the hallway.

“No one seems to listen the first time I speak.”

Her voice was frighteningly calm.

The young butler swallowed.

“Please don’t be upset. Just tell me what the problem is and I’ll—”

“What is all this noise?”

Another voice interrupted.

A middle-aged man hurried toward them.

Eliano recognized him immediately.

The deputy butler.

“Hamilton.”

She tilted her head.

“Are you speaking to me that way?”

Hamilton’s eyes widened.

He immediately bowed deeply.

“Not at all, My Lady. I apologize. Are you hurt?”

He gestured to the servants.

“Quickly. Clean this up.”

The stunned servants rushed forward.

Eliano ignored them.

“I said I wanted to meet the head butler.”

Hamilton listened carefully.

“This man told me I couldn’t.”

She pointed at the young butler.

“So if the head butler is busy, I’m simply supposed to turn around and leave?”

“What?”

Hamilton’s face changed.

He finally understood what had happened.

“I am terribly sorry, My Lady.”

He turned toward the young butler.

“This is my failure. I clearly haven’t trained the staff properly.”

Then he bowed again.

“Please forgive us.”

Eliano’s expression remained cold.

“Take me to the head butler.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

This time, there was no hesitation.

Hamilton personally led her down the corridor.

The supposedly busy head butler was sitting inside his office.

Eliano almost laughed.

So this is what ‘too busy’ means.

Hamilton knocked.

“Mr. Jonathan.”

A voice answered from inside.

“Yes?”

“Lady Eliano is here to see you.”

The man behind the desk immediately stood.

Papers were piled high around him.

His face looked exhausted, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.

He really was busy.

But Eliano didn’t care.

“Welcome, My Lady.”

Jonathan offered a gentle smile.

He had served the Rosana family for generations.

He knew Eliano well enough to immediately notice the displeasure in her expression.

“My nanny won’t listen to me.”

Eliano sat down.

“So I came looking for you.”

She glanced toward Hamilton.

“But even getting here wasn’t easy.”

Hamilton’s forehead broke into a cold sweat.

“The maids listen to my nanny more than they listen to me.”

Eliano continued calmly.

“The young butler told me that I’m being stubborn simply because I wanted to speak with you.”

Jonathan’s face gradually turned pale.

“Do my brothers receive the same treatment?”

“My Lady…”

“So I’m not allowed to be stubborn?”

Eliano smiled.

“No. Wait.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“Do I not have the right to be?”

Silence filled the office.

Jonathan understood immediately.

This wasn’t a childish tantrum.

Lady Eliano had finally realized what was happening inside her own household.

And she wasn’t going to tolerate it anymore.

After that, everything moved quickly.

The young butler who had blocked Eliano was dismissed on the spot.

So were the maids who had openly disobeyed her in her room.

Eliano didn’t stop there.

As Jonathan investigated, she began identifying other maids who were clearly loyal to Pamela.

One by one, they were removed.

Pamela tried to interfere.

“My Lady, these girls have served you for years!”

“They were disloyal.”

“They were only trying to protect you!”

“They ignored my orders.”

Eliano smiled sweetly.

“Why does that bother you, Nanny?”

Pamela fell silent.

Eliano turned toward Jonathan.

“I am firing them because they were careless and disloyal in their duties.”

Her voice remained polite.

“Is there a problem with that?”

Jonathan shook his head.

“No, My Lady.”

At that moment, Miller stepped forward.

The head maid had remained silent until then.

“No matter how long Nanny Pamela has cared for you, she must still obey your orders, My Lady.”

She glanced at Jonathan.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

Jonathan nodded firmly.

“Nanny Pamela must follow Lady Eliano’s commands.”

Miller lowered her head.

But inside, she was almost smiling.

This wasn’t simply about Eliano.

Pamela had been interfering with Miller’s authority for years.

She constantly claimed that everything she did was for Eliano’s sake.

But in reality, she had slowly replaced Miller’s staff with her own people.

No matter how long Miller had served as head maid, she could never properly manage the household.

The maids obeyed Pamela more than they obeyed her.

Miller had tried before to get closer to Eliano.

If Pamela could gain the young lady’s trust, why couldn’t she?

But Pamela had always kept everyone away from Eliano.

And Eliano had clung to her nanny like a child.

Miller had never stood a chance.

Now, however…

Everything had changed.

“Miller.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“You’re the only one I trust.”

Miller’s heart jumped.

“Do you need anything else? I’ll make sure your wishes are carried out.”

“Just make sure no clumsy maids enter my room.”

Eliano paused.

“And I hate gossipers.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Pamela might have been placed there by Eliano’s mother.

She might even have been watching over Eliano on the Duke’s orders.

That didn’t mean Eliano had no power.

She couldn’t remove Pamela completely.

Not yet.

But she could tighten the leash around her.

That was the true authority of a noble lady.

The Duke and Duchess of Rosana had no interest in petty household disputes.

As long as the estate functioned properly, they didn’t care who had been dismissed or why.

Even if they heard that Eliano had fired several maids, their reaction would probably be simple.

So what?

And just as expected, no one scolded her.

Even at dinner that evening, everything continued as usual.

Her siblings occasionally glanced at her.

But no one said anything.

Pamela was placed on indefinite probation for disrupting the household order and disrespecting the eldest daughter.

Eliano knew it wouldn’t last.

Pamela is my father’s eyes and ears.

Sooner or later, she would return.

Perhaps she would even say—

The Duke ordered me to come back.

Eliano couldn’t fight her father yet.

Not until the right moment came.

So if her father reinstated Pamela, Eliano would have to endure it.

For now.

“Miller.”

“Yes, My Lady?”

The head maid stood beside her.

Now that Pamela had been pushed back, Miller had clearly chosen Eliano’s side.

She carefully poured tea before Eliano gestured toward the chair opposite her.

“Sit.”

Miller blinked.

“Yes, My Lady.”

“Until now, Pamela acted as my personal maid.”

Eliano looked at her teacup.

“I suppose I need a proper personal maid now.”

“You’re absolutely right. A nanny and a personal maid aren’t the same thing.”

Eliano nodded.

“Have you filled the assistant head maid position?”

The position had become vacant after one of Pamela’s people was dismissed.

Miller answered calmly.

“There is someone I’ve been watching for some time.”

She hesitated.

“If you’re agreeable, I’d like to promote her.”

“The appointment is your responsibility.”

Eliano took a sip of tea.

“Do as you see fit.”

“Thank you, My Lady.”

Although Pamela’s loyal maids had been removed, the household remained surprisingly peaceful.

No one interfered.

Miller understood why.

Eliano had been clever.

She hadn’t touched any maids who served the Duke, the Duchess, or her siblings.

As long as the people at the top weren’t inconvenienced, they didn’t care what happened below them.

That was how noble households worked.

And Eliano understood it better than anyone.

Especially her father.

To Duke Rosana, servants weren’t people.

They were tools.

He wouldn’t care even if Eliano treated them cruelly.

“I’ll choose my personal maid later.”

Eliano placed her teacup down.

“Until then, let the others take turns serving me.”

Miller understood immediately.

Eliano wanted to observe them first.

“I want someone who isn’t influenced by anyone.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Eliano looked at her.

“Miller.”

“Yes?”

“I’m very disappointed in my nanny.”

Her gaze was calm.

“I hope you won’t let me down.”

Miller bowed deeply.

“I won’t, My Lady.”

From that day onward, different maids began taking turns serving Eliano.

She watched them carefully.

Their expressions.

Their habits.

The way they spoke.

The way they reacted when no one was watching.

Eliano had lived for years in Zacador.

First as Crown Princess.

Then as Empress.

She had learned how to judge people.

As Crown Princess, she had managed an entire household.

As Empress, she had even dealt with the imperial concubines.

And yet, ever since returning to the past, she sometimes felt as though her instincts had dulled.

Is it because I’m younger now?

Perhaps.

In her previous life, she had survived only because she had pushed herself to the limit.

She wasn’t particularly clever.

She simply worked harder.

And when she couldn’t do something herself, she surrounded herself with capable people.

Loyal and intelligent aides had been priceless.

They were one of the reasons she had remained Empress for so long.

Looking back…

So many lives were wasted.

She had once lived for the sake of making her beloved husband Emperor.

Later, she had fought simply to protect her position.

How many people had suffered because of those foolish goals?

The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“My Lady, is the bathwater comfortable?”

“A little hotter.”

Eliano closed her eyes.

“And add more rose oil.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

As one of the maids massaged her shoulders, Eliano quietly observed them.

She didn’t necessarily need to choose her personal maid from these girls.

But if she had to, she might as well choose the one with the best hands.

Someone who could ease the exhaustion in her body.

Even Isabella had kept a maid specifically for massage.

Eliano remembered something her younger sister had once said.

I can lend her to you if you want.

But you’ll need Pamela’s permission.

At the time, Eliano hadn’t understood why that had irritated her so much.

She and Isabella had never been close.

Unlike Eliano, Isabella was harsh with her maids.

Something was always breaking in her room.

She shouted frequently.

And Eliano had once thought that made her a terrible person.

Now she wondered how much of that judgment had come from Pamela’s influence.

Just then—

“Hello, sister.”

Eliano stepped out of the bath.

Her expression immediately hardened.

Not because Isabella was there.

Because Isabella had entered her room without permission.

How rude.

Eliano looked around.

Every maid had lowered her head.

Isabella laughed.

“What?”

Her gaze swept over Eliano.

“Are you going to scold me because I hit a maid?”

She pointed toward the young maid standing nearby.

The girl’s cheek was red and swollen.

“Do you want to try it yourself?”

Isabella smiled mockingly.

“Let’s see if those soft and gentle hands of yours can do it.”

Eliano ignored the provocation.

Instead, she looked directly at her sister.

“I suppose I should ask why you entered my room without permission.”

Isabella raised an eyebrow.

“It must be something urgent, right?”

“You’ve changed a little, sister.”

Isabella laughed.

“For a second, I thought you were Mother.”

She walked over and sat down on a chair her maid had brought.

Eliano said nothing.

She simply watched her.

Then she gave a small signal.

The maid who had helped her bathe immediately approached and draped a shawl around Eliano’s shoulders.

Her movements were quick.

Efficient.

Gentle.

Far better than those of the previous maids.

Eliano’s mood improved slightly.

Isabella noticed.

“Sister.”

She leaned forward.

“I have something to ask you.”

Then she smiled brightly.

“Come. Sit with me.”

Her tone became strangely sweet.

“Please?”