“Why did you tell her about the situation and ask her to come back?”

After hearing the whole story, Gerald asked with a puzzled expression.

“It’s not her. If anything, she made it bigger. She might even report it to the newspaper. The money she offered was quite tempting.”

Even when she seemed to be on the verge of tears, there was anger in the maid’s words when talking about the maid.

“Then. Isn’t it all over?”

“Oh, no. It might not be over yet.”

The maid vehemently shook her head in response to Gerald’s words.

‘…Wh-what is that?’
‘Ah, this. The owner’s watch for repair. And this, I guess it’s a birthday gift for the owner. I heard there was a delivery for Greathill, so I stopped by and picked it up.’

Ann recalled her conversation with the maid, Matilda.

“I didn’t know who sent the gift. So, for now…”

The maid’s voice, trailing off at the end, began to tremble.

Edgar nodded lightly.

“Now, what should we do? The young lady might face trouble again… It’s all my negligence. I should have mentioned it then… Because of me.”

The maid’s shoulders twitched involuntarily.

“Should I secretly go and return it?… It’s the item the young lady ordered. Does that count as a theft?”

Tears fell drop by drop onto the back of the maid’s hand, clasped tightly together.

Edgar’s gaze, separated from the maid, landed on the painting that was currently trending. It annoyed him a bit.

In a little while, Olivia was planning to become a cheeky woman who would openly whisper love to her ex-husband on his birthday with a card and a present.

Damn Fatex.

Of course, it was something ordered before the divorce, but it didn’t matter to the lawyers.

That truth wasn’t particularly important to social circles or the media.

As Edgar, who had created the first image of a woman breaking the forbidden sanctuary, it would be a big blow.

Edgar slowly raised his head. The sun was setting beyond the large window.

A deep purple spider web spread over the vibrant city.

After closing his eyes for a moment, Edgar’s gaze slid to the wall clock.

6:15 PM. It was time for dinner to just begin.

Edgar, who had been sitting silently, rose slowly.

“Gerald.”

“Yes, sir.”

Approaching the liquor section, Edgar spoke to Gerald.

“Prepare the carriage.”

“Where to, sir? Surely… you’re not going there, sir? Is it not?”

Edgar wordlessly raised the corner of his lips. Gerald gasped and took a deep breath.

“Are you really going there, sir?”

“Well, who knows.”

Stopping in front of the Wagon, Edgar smiled slyly, gazing at the displayed bottles of liquor. It was quite annoying, but troublesome matters were not to his liking.

“It’s been a while. Suddenly wanted to see it.”

The tone was very gentle, almost as if he were talking about a missed lover.

“No, sir! You can’t!”

Ignoring the serious Gerald, Edgar reached into his pants pocket with his right hand, stuck out the champagne bottle, and said calmly.

“Perhaps. You may have to hit me.”

Looking down at the silver label with a smooth gloss, Edgar chuckled softly.

“This one is in a box. It would be nice to tie a ribbon beautifully.”

It was a carefully selected gift for intruding into the birthday party.

Soon after, with the grown-up Edgar on board, the carriage departed.

This is insane. You’ve gone mad. Where is that…?

With a faded face, Gerald followed the carriage heading to Greathill with his eyes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
The magnificent lights illuminated the grand garden of Greathill. It had been a year since Duke Leopold’s birthday banquet last year.

Guests began to arrive early in the evening.

The servants stacked the gift boxes received from the guests in front of the fireplace.

Having confirmed the gifts arranged in a triangular shape, the chief steward headed towards the dining hall.

While checking the tables set for the 12-course meal, if any missing elements were found, correction orders were issued, which were then conveyed downstairs.

The kitchen, where all the orders were concentrated, was extremely busy without a moment’s rest.

At this critical moment, Matilda, who had gone on an errand, was delayed in returning.

“That darn woman. She conveniently shows up only at times like this.”

While the maids cursed and sweated, Matilda’s return from her errand was getting late.

Matilda arrived in front of Leopold Hotel.

She trailed Ann. Could it be that the foolish duchess had come along?

Ann vehemently denied it, but how could one believe her words? Matilda hastily grabbed a carriage and chased after her to confirm with her own eyes.

Well, there you have it.

Making fun of Ann who was running towards Leopold Hotel’s main entrance, Matilda remarked on the maid’s meager monthly salary.

It was undoubtedly certain that the brat had come along.

Olivia Blanchett appeared in Raiden on her ex-husband’s birthday. Was it a provocation towards Princess Krantz or lingering attachment to her ex-husband?

Just the thought of it could be a lucrative topic.

How much should she demand? Matilda, who was elated at the thought of negotiating with the newspaper, was taken aback and rushed to the carriage stop.

She had completely forgotten about the fact that she had gone on an errand.

Only now did she recall the urgent instructions from the butler about returning in time, as the master would wear this watch.