Following their directive, she immediately took the letter to the Duke’s castle.

Duke Schwarz accepted Aileen just based on the letter in the Duchess’s handwriting.

The condition was that her title would be subsumed into the Duke’s family, but in return, her debts were paid off, and she received patronage and a guaranteed life in the castle.

Everything went smoothly after that. Starting as a maid, she won over all the servants in the castle.

At first, she pretended to be meek and delicate, but as things went well, she became bolder and didn’t hesitate to show her true character.

She was confident in their love for her.

Knock. The sound of a knock, and the maids entered upon Aileen’s permission.

“We’ve brought her.”

“Good. Well done.”

The maids brought another maid, who looked confused and lost. Aileen stood up and approached the detained maid.

“You’re assigned to that woman, right?”

The maid looked at Aileen with trembling eyes. She was a new recruit, recently assigned to be Diana’s personal maid.

The gazes of the surrounding maids were harsh. The maid swallowed nervously and nodded.

The “woman” they referred to must be the lady she served. She didn’t know her name or family, but she was a kind and beautiful lady.

“The butler has been replacing people, and my influence has diminished.”

“What? Yes.”

The maid answered reflexively, wondering why she had been called.

“Here, take this.”

It was a sachet. Inside the scentless pouch were tiny stone fragments.

“Keep this on you and roam wherever that woman’s personal maids are. Oh, did she have knights too?”

Tsk. Aileen clicked her tongue and spoke with an almost coercive tone.

“Go where that woman’s escort knights are too.”

“Why should I…”

“Because I’m asking?”

Just as the maid was about to refuse, an invisible red aura flowed from the sachet and enveloped her. She took a deep breath at Aileen’s words.

How could such a lovely lady exist? Her voice, everything about her, made the maid want to fulfill her every wish.

“Understood?”

“Yes, yes, Miss. I will do as you command.”

Aileen smiled satisfactorily as the maid’s eyes became dazed.

“Everyone, leave. Oh, and make sure tomorrow’s tea party goes off without a hitch.”

“Understood.”

Hosting a tea party in a house without its mistress was impossible without the head’s permission, but Aileen ordered the servants regardless.

They were more loyal to Aileen’s words than the head’s orders.

“The butler is a bit of a problem, but I’ll manage somehow.”

For some reason, the butler, the Duke, and his family didn’t listen to Aileen.

Then she would start by dominating those around them.
Aileen intended to use her influence in the Schwarz castle to swallow up the northern social circle and mold it to her liking.

Her goal was to become the Duchess. Her plan was to first win over the ladies of vassal families, solidifying her position and then marry Felice.

The plan was perfect. That was, until that woman arrived.

“What’s there to cling to that beastly brat?”

Roderick Schwarz, who wandered war-torn battlefields in a frenzy before returning to take up the position of the Knight Commander. The eldest son, yet not the heir.

Just the thought of facing his inscrutable blue eyes made her feel like freezing. It was utterly unpleasant.

“Hmph, once I become the Duchess, I’ll kick him out of the Knights. Who is he to look down on me?”

Since that woman’s arrival, half of those influenced by Aileen were dismissed. The reason was that they had come uninvited to Diana’s room.

Even more ridiculous was the Duke’s attitude. The Duke, who wouldn’t even let his own children near him, allowed that woman to be close. It made her anxious. At this rate, she would lose her place.

Click Aileen took out a jewel box hidden under her bed and opened it. Inside, more precious than the jewels, was an ancient stone tablet with old script, a corner of it broken off.

It was the tablet given by the men in black priest robes. With it, she could control people.

Even the Duke had shown no reaction when she used it. What was so special about that woman?

Suddenly, the face of the woman who had almost strangled her flashed in her mind.

‘Ah, almost killed her.’

Those chilling pink eyes. Aileen instinctively felt it. This power wouldn’t work on her.

Then she would use those around her. Control the surroundings, tighten the noose, and eliminate her.

Hadn’t she disposed of the youngest lady of the family in the same way? She just had to do the same this time.

Aileen smirked bitterly. It was a shame to break such a small but valuable stone tablet, but it was worth the investment.

The anticipation of what was to come made Aileen unable to suppress her laughter.