Camilla swallowed dryly, like someone who didn’t want to hear the news she had just received. Her facial muscles twitched strangely. She remained frozen like ice for a while, then started trembling and burst into tears.

“No, I can’t… I don’t want to die!”

Camilla again clutched Mina’s hem, pleading.

“Please save me! Lady Rebecca, please do something…!”

The dignified image of the Countess was nowhere to be seen. I looked down at her, now as wretched as could be, and slowly parted my lips.

“There was never any antidote.”

I moved closer to her, continuing.

“It was just tea.”

Camilla looked up at me with her face smeared in black tears.

“What?”

Her eyes darted around in confusion, seemingly unable to process the information. After catching her breath, she finally spoke again.

“So… then…?”

“There was never any poison in the first place.”

Camilla blinked in shock, then let out a long sigh and collapsed backward.

As she lay there gasping for air, she finally seemed to regain her senses and ground her teeth.

“Lady Rebecca, how could you do this to me?!”

“Because I can. You tormented my maid because you thought you could, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Moreover, thanks to that, I got to see you sincerely apologize to Mina.”

“That… that was…”

Camilla’s face flushed red with embarrassment. She must be remembering how she groveled at Mina’s feet.

I extended a hand to Camilla with a slight smile.

“Get up, Camilla. It’s embarrassing to watch you like this.”

She must be feeling more embarrassed than anyone. She hesitantly took my hand and stood up.

I brushed the dust off her dress, speaking slowly.

“Our star of the northern social circle, Countess Dmitri.”

“…”

“But now, it might be difficult for you to maintain that position.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it. If rumors spread that you begged and wept at the feet of a hybrid maid… wouldn’t that tarnish your brilliant reputation?”

“…”

Camilla’s face turned red again, and she chewed her lip nervously.

“Today’s incident… I won’t hold it against you or speak of it…”

She finally backed down, clearly dreading the thought of this incident becoming public knowledge.

Watching her nervously bite her lip, I felt a satisfying smile creep onto my face.

‘Thanks to your own actions, I can easily dismiss you now. Should I be grateful?’

I crossed my legs and sat on the sofa, continuing.

“That’s good. It’s best for both of us.”

I leaned back on the sofa, arms stretched out, and gazed at Camilla.

“Camilla. Although it’s our secret… I hope you won’t forget today’s incident.”

“What do you mean…?”

“So many people have suffered humiliation at your hands.”

“…”

“Think about how they must have felt…”

I tapped my temple.

“Remember this here.”

Camilla, head bowed, clutched her dress tightly.

“Yes, Lady Rebecca. I will never forget this lesson.”

Her voice was strained, trying to suppress anger.

I looked at her with a relaxed smirk.

“Don’t forget, but don’t think of revenge either. Of course, our Countess wouldn’t do something so foolish.”

“…”

“Otherwise, the next cup of tea you drink might really contain an undetectable poison.”
At my words, Camilla’s face paled instantly.

“Of course…”

Finally, Camilla dropped her head as if she had lost all her will to fight.

“It seems you’ve finally understood. You should go now. You must be tired.”

Camilla nodded weakly and walked towards the door. As I watched her slumped shoulders, something occurred to me.

“Ah, Camilla?”

She slowly turned her head at my call, almost at the door.

“Yes, Lady Rebecca…”

Her voice was devoid of any venom, completely drained.

“Although I’m sad to see you go, given your strong desire to resign, I have no choice but to accept your request.”

A wave of shock again passed through Camilla’s golden eyes. I watched her and leisurely curled my lips into a smile.

“Take care, Camilla.”

One week later, at the Light Mansion.

As Rebecca had promised, the incident that day remained within the walls of the Twins’ estate.

But among the servants of the estate, that day’s events were a hot topic.

“Did you hear about Lady Rebecca and Camilla?”

“What? Did they beat up another maid?”

“No, it was Camilla who was nearly beaten to death. She messed with Lady Rebecca’s personal maid!”

“No way!”

Everyone initially dismissed it as unbelievable. However, most of the story turned out to be true, and there were even witnesses to Rebecca’s handling of the maid Camilla.

Moreover,

“Jena said Lady Rebecca told the servants of the Dark Mansion not to bow their heads just because they are hybrid beings.”

“Really? That’s unbelievable!”

“True. Camilla was fired for tormenting Mina, right?”

“I heard too! Lady Rebecca gives them breaks and brings desserts herself to the servants of the Dark Mansion.”

The more they heard, the more astonishing it became.

“So, Lady Rebecca really has changed?”

“Yeah, absolutely!”

A maid pounded her chest in frustration.