I quietly gazed into Becky’s brown eyes.

I wasn’t sure why she was asking me such a question.

I knew that Dietrich’s reputation was improving in the Delgado mansion.

The servants who used to fear Dietrich now bowed to him when they saw him.

My active explanation that Dietrich’s nature was not at all bad must have certainly contributed to this.

But that was all. The rest was simply the servants resolving their misunderstandings on their own after seeing Dietrich’s usual behavior.

I shook my head lightly and opened my mouth.

“Lady Becky, do you think that I alone can influence all the servants in the mansion?”

Becky didn’t answer, but I could tell from her eyes. She also knew that I couldn’t do that.

“It’s true that I said young master Dietrich is not at all cold, and that he’s not a cruel or frightening person. Because that’s how I actually experienced young master Dietrich.”

He can be annoying and prickly.

Still, I could guarantee that Dietrich wasn’t a bad person.

“But that’s all. No matter how much I talk, can I resolve misunderstandings that have built up over a long time at once? Other people judged for themselves based on the actions young master Dietrich showed. They probably thought they had been misunderstanding young master Dietrich all this time.”

“…Then what about the rumors about the lady?”

“That’s the first I’m hearing of it.”

This was really unfair. I had never spread bad rumors about the Duchess.

I knew well that she disliked me very much and would like to give me a big slap if given the chance.

But that was the Duchess’s situation.

I was so busy trying to survive each day safely, how would I have time to go around spreading malicious rumors about the Duchess?

Well, even if I did talk about such things enthusiastically, Becky wouldn’t believe it all.

So I summarized it more neatly.

“I don’t know the lady well, Lady Becky. I’m too busy working in the kitchen to see her. And there’s absolutely nothing good about a maid like me getting on the lady’s nerves.”

“That’s true.”

I didn’t think she would believe everything I said. However, Becky was surprisingly listening attentively to my words.

She nodded her head vigorously in response, then tilted her head for a moment.

Then she told me about the shocking incident she witnessed this morning.

“Actually, this morning I saw a maid from the main building greeting young master Dietrich. I was so surprised, but that maid just cheerfully greeted him and left. I was afraid that young master Dietrich would punish her immediately…”

Becky paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

The tension of that moment still seemed vivid.

“But surprisingly, the young master just said ‘Okay’ and left. So I thought, maybe I too had been blindly believing the rumors that had been circulating in the mansion for a long time. That’s why I wanted to come and see you, Heidi.”

‘Although the lady screamed that it was absolutely not allowed,’ she muttered quietly, but I didn’t quite hear it.

My attention was focused solely on the fact that Dietrich had not ignored the maid who greeted him and had responded.

‘Oh my goodness.’

I knew that Dietrich had become a bit more docile recently, and that the servants were surprised by this change in him.

But to think the day would come when he would even return a maid’s greeting.

Is this what they call a new feeling?

Is this how an old mother feels after raising a child who never listened?

I grinned, continuously thinking of things that Dietrich would say ‘Stop it, it’s disgusting’ if he heard.

Becky stood up from her seat and dusted off her hands with a refreshed expression.

“Thank you, Heidi. I feel good having resolved what I was curious about.”

“I should be the one thanking you.”

“Huh? Why are you thanking me?”

“I think even if you believed I had spread such rumors, it wouldn’t have been much of a problem for you, Lady Becky. Yet you came to ask me in person. Confirming the truth requires courage and effort, doesn’t it?”

Becky’s expression momentarily blanked. She rolled her eyes quietly as if thinking about something, then nodded and smiled.

“That’s right. Thanks to you, I learned a lot. I won’t take up any more of your time. Thank you! Let’s greet each other next time we meet!”

With a light-hearted face, Becky waved her hand and turned away, walking off.

‘Hmph, Dietrich. Annoying but admirable kid.’

Until just before talking with Becky, I was so irritated that I wanted to hit him once if I met him again, but now I find him admirable.

Dietrich was changing slowly but surely.

I got up from the bench and this time headed towards the kitchen.

‘By the way, bad rumors about the Duchess.’

I wonder if rumors are spreading centered around the main building?

I hadn’t chatted with the maids from the main building recently.

It seems the rumors haven’t reached the kitchen yet, which is quite far from the main building.

I didn’t know what the rumors were, but I needed to find out.

I regretted not asking Becky earlier, but it was already too late.

It might not be a bad idea to casually ask Robert.

After all, there wasn’t much news that Robert, a chatterbox and busybody, didn’t know.

“Heidi! Come quickly and help peel some potatoes!”

As soon as I entered the kitchen, I shook my head at Robert, who was whining for help.

I picked up a small fruit knife placed beside me and crouched down next to him.

Now this felt completely like my place. I started peeling the round and pretty potatoes.

Robert had been very enthusiastic about peeling potatoes recently, probably wanting to be praised by the chief chef.

Although his skills hadn’t noticeably improved, surprisingly, he was slowly growing.

He said something about saving money diligently to quit being a servant and open a restaurant with the cooking skills he learned by watching others.

Normally, I would have laughed it off lightly as a joke, but I envied Robert’s new dream.

For the first time, Robert, who said he would proactively cultivate his own life, looked cool to me.

I was about to ask Robert about the rumors of the Duchess, but seeing that sight, I kept my mouth shut.

Even now, Robert was so focused on peeling potatoes that he didn’t even think of looking at me.

In the end, I decided not to disturb him.

Rumors have wings, so even if you don’t try to chase after them, they often arrive right in front of you in the blink of an eye.

I’d probably find out soon enough.

And my prediction was not wrong.

Becky, after parting with Heidi, immediately headed towards where the Duchess was with a lightened heart.

‘I’m glad I asked.’

Although it was troublesome to go all the way to the kitchen to find Heidi, talking with her had cleared her mind.

‘It’s been a while since I met such a good person.’

The mansion was full of servants busy envying and checking each other.

However, Heidi was an honest and pure maid, rare to see in a place like this. Becky hoped that she wouldn’t be corrupted by the bad maids.

She was also trying not to become like that herself.

“Lady Becky. Who are you looking for?”

As she reached the floor where the Duchess’s bedroom was, a maid with auburn hair and orange eyes approached.

“Oh, Clara. Is the lady in?”

“Yes, she is. She just finished her tea time.”

“I see, thank you.”

Becky, who smiled brightly at Clara, stood in front of Leriana’s bedroom.

And just as she was about to knock lightly, tap tap.

Creak, the door opened just a little bit.

The gap was so tiny that no one except Becky, standing in front of the door, noticed it had opened.

Surprised by the door opening without being touched, Becky took a step back.

However, she couldn’t help but listen to the voices coming from inside.

“Joanna. Report everything you’ve found out.”

“Yes, my lady.”

It was the voice of the lady and Lady Joanna, her dedicated maid.

It seemed like some serious conversation was going on, so she tried to step back again. She didn’t know what punishment she would receive if caught eavesdropping.

However, Becky stopped in her tracks at Joanna’s words that followed.

“Recently, it seems young master Dietrich’s reputation within the mansion has improved. He even exchanges greetings with the servants, and an atmosphere where people are not afraid of the young master is forming.”

“What?”

“From what I hear, it seems that maid is going around talking about young master Dietrich.”

“This isn’t funny. Joanna, we’ll need a more definitive measure. Because insects that keep trying to climb up without knowing their place need to be stepped on. Crush them thoroughly so that their reputation can never improve again.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Satisfied with Joanna’s loyal answer, Leriana let out a pleased sigh.

Then she continued slowly.

“And Heidi. That woman.”

“Yes.”

“It would be best to get rid of her without anyone knowing.”

Shocked by such a shocking conversation, Becky froze on the spot.

Her head spun and she felt dizzy, so she hurriedly leaned against the wall, causing her nails to hit the wall with a sound.

“…Is someone outside?”

Sensing a presence, Leriana had Joanna check outside the door.

Becky held her breath and quickly retreated, hiding her body next to the stairs.

At that moment, Joanna opened the door and looked around.

Becky, who narrowly escaped the crisis, covered her mouth and exhaled a rapid breath.

It seemed that things were going very wrong in the Delgado mansion.