No Evil Lady in the World (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13

Ariante didn’t respond for a moment, lost in thought. Each time Ariante tilted her head and blinked, her sunlit eyes sparkled with a curious blue hue.

Feeling the warmth of the child in her arms, Meiana felt even more pity for Ariante.

Despite being the heir of a renowned family known to all, and the only daughter of Duke Valterminster, this child seemed to lack joy. It was clear she never slept peacefully, immersed in happiness or contentment.

‘Yet her father leaves her with a grumpy teacher and constantly heads to the capital… If he must go there so often, why not just buy a house there!’

Meiana grumbled inwardly while gently soothing and readjusting her hold on Ariante.

As the mansion drew closer, Ariante’s expression grew darker. She must have recalled that she hadn’t finished Teacher Beiman’s homework, which surely soured her mood.

Teacher Beiman would likely recount in detail to Duke Valterminster how impudent and bold Meiana had been as soon as he returned. And he might even add something like this:

‘Fire that insolent maid at once. Otherwise, I can no longer take charge of the young lady’s education!’

What choice would the duke make then? He’d side with Teacher Beiman, of course, Meiana thought. He had hired her assuming she had plenty of experience caring for children. Her knack for craftsmanship was merely a secondary reason.

‘Whether this way or that, I’ll end up fired, so if that’s the case…’

As Meiana walked through the garden toward the mansion’s side entrance, she suddenly spun around. Ariante, with an expression far too somber for a seven-year-old, widened her eyes as if to ask what was happening.

“Where are we going?”

“Young lady, you don’t want to meet Teacher Beiman right now, do you? Nor do you want to do your homework.”

At Meiana’s reply, Ariante blinked, looking puzzled.

“Are you kidnapping me right now? To demand a ransom from Father?”

“…I’m just helping you skip class. Honestly, who taught you words like that? What’s this about demanding a ransom?”

Ariante placed her index finger on her lower lip, tilting her head with an innocent expression.

“Everyone says things like that.”

“Who on earth… Never mind, forget it. I’m not kidnapping you, absolutely not. Understood? But you have to wait quietly and behave.”

“Why do I have to do that?”

“So I can save you from Teacher Beiman’s homework.”

Ariante only glanced at Meiana with an unreadable expression. Setting Ariante down under the shade of lush walnut trees beside the garden, Meiana spoke again, this time with firm resolve.

“Understood, young lady? I’m going to get your shoes. I’ll be right back with them, so stay right here.”

“What are we going to do with the shoes?”

“That… I’ll figure out when I get back.”

It was an answer that even she found unconvincing. But Meiana couldn’t linger to persuade Ariante.

The ducal estate was bustling with people. If she caught the eye of a gossip, Teacher Beiman would come running to drag Ariante back to the study.

“Wait here.”

Repeating the instruction like a mantra, Meiana opened the small door to the storeroom behind the kitchen and stepped inside. The apprentice cooks, busy peeling potatoes and chatting beyond the shelves, paid her no mind.

To avoid the notice of spiteful maids like Beinti, Meiana hurriedly climbed the stairs. She entered Ariante’s room and cautiously looked around.

The room was empty, and no sound came from the study. Teacher Beiman had likely tired himself out with anger and retreated to his room.

‘No need to make excuses—what a relief.’

Sighing in relief, Meiana opened the shoe rack and picked out a pair with the lowest heels. She didn’t forget to grab a fresh pair of socks.

Hiding them in her apron to avoid prying eyes, she dashed down the stairs as if on an urgent errand.

“Meiana!”

Just then, someone called her name from the railing above. Startled like a thief caught in the act, Meiana turned her head.

It was none other than Grete who had called her—a fortunate encounter for Meiana.

“Where are you rushing off to?”

Grete asked with a curious expression. Meiana, aware of the side door below the landing, gave a bright smile.

“To the laundry room.”

“Why there? Didn’t you just go earlier?”

“You’re right. But I think I lost something… I’m going to check if I dropped it on the stairs.”

“Want me to help you look?”

Kind Grete. Meiana shook her head, giving a genuinely grateful expression.

“It’s fine. I can manage a quick trip myself.”

“Oh, by the way, Teacher Beiman was fuming like a rhinoceros earlier, saying the young lady ran off. Haven’t you found her?”

Meiana shook her head again, feigning ignorance.

“Not yet. I was going to look for her on my way to the laundry room.”

“I see… You’ve got your hands full. Good luck, then.”

“Thanks, Grete.”

Grete disappeared around the corridor’s corner. Meiana quietly opened the side door below the landing and retraced her steps.

“Young lady!”

But Ariante was nowhere to be found.

Panicked, Meiana’s steps grew hurried. Had she hidden under the trees to escape the heat? But Ariante was nowhere in sight.

“Young lady Ariante!”

I messed up. Meiana felt a surge of anger—at herself and at Ariante. Had she really expected Ariante to obediently wait just because she was told to? What made her so confident Ariante would stay put?

‘I’m done for…’

She’d seen servants running around daily, searching for Ariante, who vanished so often…

Meiana took a deep breath. Only a few minutes had passed, yet she felt her actions from moments ago were utterly foolish and reckless. Leaving Ariante alone—was that any different from leaving a fishmonger’s stall to a cat?

“Young lady!”

Just a few steps deeper into the woods, the shade grew eerily dark. Meiana felt a chill down her spine. It was anxiety.

Ariante, clever beyond her years as Kosha said, surely knew how to avoid getting lost in the woods. But still…

[Since I’m asking for your help, I can’t just tell you to watch the kids. But remember this: young children can cause massive trouble in the blink of an eye. It’s fine to work, but always keep the kids in your sight.]

In her past life, her mother had always given her the same warning…

Meiana’s toe caught on a thick tree root. As she stumbled, one of the small shoes hidden in her apron fell to the ground.

Fear began to grip Meiana. What if something irreversible had happened to Ariante? What if she’d tried climbing a tree and this time fell headfirst…

“What are you doing?”

Meiana, hunched over and imagining the worst, snapped her head up.

It was Ariante. Was this a dream? She’d been nowhere to be found! Meiana looked up at the sky, down at the ground, then slowly scanned Ariante. The silk socks, white as snow when put on that afternoon, were now covered in muddy water.

“Young lady, where on earth did you go? You scared me!”

“Beinti would’ve said the opposite. ‘Why did you show up? You startled me!’ Like that.”

Meiana frowned. She picked up the fallen shoe, brushed off the dirt, and took out the other one, crouching at Ariante’s feet.

“Has Beinti ever said something like that to you?”

“She hates me. She probably wishes I’d disappear. Joslyn and Kosha too. Even the head chef.”

Ariante’s lips twitched briefly before she continued in a voice dripping with spite.

“You’re the same. I know it.”

Meiana glanced up at Ariante’s face and pulled a clean pair of socks from her pocket. She removed Ariante’s dirty socks, gently brushing her small toes, and said,

“I don’t hate you, young lady. The butler, Kosha, and the head chef don’t truly hate you either.”

“No, they hate me! They all wish I’d disappear! You’re no different!”

Ariante shouted, pushing at Meiana’s shoulder with her small hand. Meiana wobbled but steadied herself with her toes, refusing to fall.

While Meiana silently finished putting on the shoes, Ariante panted, her face flushed red with anger.

What an unpredictable child, Meiana thought.

‘But there must be a reason for it.’

A child doesn’t become difficult without cause. Stubborn kids, restless kids, troublemakers… there was always a reason. A reason created by adults.

“Young lady.”

Tucking the dirty socks into her pocket, Meiana firmly grasped Ariante’s hand. Ariante squirmed to break free, but Meiana’s stance was resolute.

“Why do you think the people in the mansion hate you, young lady? Is there a reason?”

After a brief silence, Ariante, her face full of anger, pursed her lips and tilted her chin up.

“They yell at me. They don’t listen to me. They only tell me to do things I hate.”

“What about me? Do I yell at you?”

A flicker of confusion passed through the child’s eyes. She didn’t shake her head out of pride, but Meiana pressed on, unperturbed.

“Have I ever ignored you? Have I ever forced you to do something you hate?”