Vainty quickly followed Meiana with a look of newfound vigor.

Meiana halted not too far away, deliberately staying within Arianthe’s line of sight, having noticed the child’s fleeting glance at them.

From Vainty’s perspective, however, he found himself abruptly cornered, unable to move.

“What are you doing?”

Vainty lowered his voice and whispered irritably. Meiana snuck a glance at Arianthe before turning to him with an expression entirely different from the one she wore when speaking to the child.

“Did you find out where Greta went?”

Vainty’s lips quivered wildly.

Yes, Meiana was exploiting Vainty to the fullest, away from Arianthe’s awareness.

Even today, she had to introduce both Vainty and Greta to Arianthe. She was obliged to say that three people, including herself, would be caring for Arianthe until Sedilroy hired a new maid.

But Greta had been missing since morning. Even her roommate Bridget didn’t know where she’d gone. Meiana had noted that nothing was missing from Greta’s belongings except for her most worn-out outfit.

‘If she left without telling even Bridget… surely the head butler Joslyn must know. He doesn’t directly ask the Count for permission to go out. Where could she have gone?’

She had waited in case Greta returned in the morning, but she never did. That was why Vainty had to bear Arianthe’s annoyance all by himself a while ago.

Meiana prodded.

“Why don’t you answer?”

Vainty responded through gritted teeth.

“I don’t know, okay! All the other maids said they don’t know either.”

“What about Head Butler Joslyn?”

“That old man called in sick today. Funny thing, really. He’d be up and about, nagging all the time even when running a high fever, and now suddenly he’s sick? Maybe it’s his time to die.”

Vainty muttered sarcastically. Although Meiana had no intention of belittling Joslyn, she stepped hard on Vainty’s foot.

“Ouch!”

“Don’t use that tone in front of the princess. Be careful.”

As Meiana warned him menacingly, Vainty flinched for a moment but soon bristled again.

“What will you do if I do?”

Meiana blinked a few times. She discreetly looked at Arianthe again. The child was chewing on a large cookie, eyeing Meiana and Vainty with intense curiosity.

Vainty scoffed.

“What, are you going to tell the princess? Go ahead, tell her. Do you think I have nowhere else to go if I get kicked out from here?”

Meiana looked at Vainty with an incredulous expression.

“Why would I tell the princess what you said? Do you not know that I’m excellent at sewing?”

“What the hell are you talking about? What does your sewing have to do with—”

Vainty’s face slowly drained of color. He seemed to be retracing the conversation he had just had with Meiana. She had warned him about using a certain tone ‘in front of the princess,’ and then…

“Are you insane?”

“Do you know how many times I’ve mended the princess’s stockings? The parts I’ve fixed never tear again. Think before you speak, Vainty. It’s okay to be reckless around me, but be extra careful around the princess.”

Vainty’s shoulders trembled uncontrollably. Meiana suddenly grinned and forcefully grabbed his shoulder. Then she raised her voice and said, directing it at Vainty, who was too startled to even scream.
“Mom, Vainty. Really? While I’m out with the princess, you’ll clean her room and living room? Thank you. If Gretae comes back in the meantime, make sure to tell me, okay? The princess and I won’t be going far.”

“What, what….”

Meiyana’s lips moved.

‘Just say you understand.’

Vainty, eyes wide open, looked past Meiyana’s shoulder at Arianthe. Does this kid know she’s served by such a person? Someone please rescue me!

“Ah, okay! Of course!”

Meiyana grinned.

“Thank you, Vainty.”

Only when she released her hold on Vainty’s shoulder did Vainty finally exhale in relief. Her knees were about to give out from the nervousness.

Meiyana approached Arianthe, who had finished her cookies and milk.

“Did you eat well, Princess?”

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

“Good? Then change your clothes, brush your teeth and let’s go play.”

Arianthe, leaping down from her high chair, puffed up her cheeks.

“Brushing is annoying.”

“I also find it annoying. But if you don’t brush, bugs will eat all of your tiny teeth, you know?”

Arianthe widened her eyes and lightly touched her lips.

“Eat my teeth?”

“If not, holes will be created. It’s extremely painful.”

“You…you’ve had that?”

“Yes, I have. Ah, I thought I was going to die.”

Grabbing Meiyana’s hand, Arianthe hopped around and tugged on her arm.

“I want to see! Want to see if I have holes! Show me!”

“I don’t have them now?”

“Why not?”

“I patched them with cookie dough.”

“Oh, what.”

As the two carried on this conversation and walked toward the bedroom, Vainty, left behind, shook her head disbelievingly as she cleared the empty cups and plates.

It was absurd enough that Meiyana was blabbering anything to Arianthe, but even more unbelievable was the wicked and corrupt Arianthe taking her words at face value.

‘Anyway, where the heck did Gretae go?’