Irene’s loyal maidservant, following Irene’s orders, wandered around everywhere, emitting a reddish aura to guard anyone near Diana.

It was just a faint aftereffect, but it played a significant role in stirring up the servants’ ill feelings. The malice slowly took over the space where Diana was.

The strange signs started with very trivial things.

“Wake up! How long are you going to sleep?”

“Why are you being lazy when you have nothing to do?”

The voices of those who were once kind became harsh. The attitude of the servants who respected her changed. That attitude soon manifested in their actions.

“I brought the washing water.”

“Ah, it’s cold!”

Noel, who had put his hands in the basin on the pedestal, screamed.

As if to let her taste the cold of the north, they brought water so cold that her fingers would freeze.

“Ah, it’s hot!”

They served tea brewed with water boiling so fiercely that it could burn the roof of the mouth. The fingers that held the teacup turned bright red. Diana’s expression hardened as she held the child’s hand.

She remained still, but the people around her, both maids and ladies-in-waiting, expressed their dissatisfaction with her.

“Oh my. Look at these clothes.”

“And these accessories.”

The maids clicked their tongues, looking at the dresses and various jewels that filled the dressing room. They were made exclusively for Diana.

Isn’t this too extravagant for a woman whose family we don’t even know?

The thought that suddenly popped up brought jealousy and envy, blinding their eyes. Even her position as the first young master’s fiancée-to-be seemed so ridiculous that they lost their sense of discernment.

“Lady Irene didn’t even have half of this.”

“Our poor young lady.”

“I heard Lady Irene has such a kind heart?”

Even the servants who never encountered her due to living in different areas began to praise Irene.

“Right! She’s very kindhearted. She even gave me this.”

The maidservant raised the sachet hanging from her waist, boasting. She had a expression full of pride, as if she was special. As if reacting to that emotion, red smoke billowed from the sachet.

“Oh my. I’m envious!”

“I wish I was in charge of that young lady too.”

“If we tell the head maid, would she let us switch?”

“Can I see that too?”

“Sure! As much as you want… huh?”

The maidservant, not realizing it was a voice from behind, froze while answering cheerfully.

The maids who had been chatting for a while all shut their mouths and froze. The owner of the sachet, following the maids’ gazes, turned her head and her pupils quivered.

“Oh my, why are you so stiff? I won’t scold you for taking a short break.”

Whenever it opened. Diana stood at the wide open door of the dressing room, arms folded obliquely. The maids, who had not sensed any presence, were restless.

“That sachet, I’d like to see it too. May I take a look for a moment?”

“N-no, you can’t!”

The maidservant desperately held the sachet tight, as if Diana was trying to forcibly take it away.

“This is very precious to me. Please have mercy.”

“……”

The more the maidservant acted pathetic, the more the surrounding maids’ eyes gradually turned into axe eyes.

They glared at Diana as if they had never paid attention to her before. The red energy enveloped them as if their minds were armed.

“This is too much! How can you try to extort a servant’s belongings?”

“That’s right! If you’re truly a noble, you shouldn’t treat us like this.”

“Even if you’re the young master’s fiancée-to-be, this is not right!”

As the maids shouted, the owner of the sachet finally began to shed tears. She looked so miserable that it seemed as if Diana had mistreated the maidservant.

“We will report this to the head butler! Let’s go.”

The maids left the dressing room in a rush, passing by her.

“Wait a moment.”

The owner of the sachet, who was the last to leave, was startled and widened her eyes as her way was blocked.

Diana, blocking the entrance with one arm, smiled softly and opened her mouth.

“You dropped your precious item.”

“Y-yes?”

She pointed down with her eyes. The maidservant’s hand was empty, even though she was sure she was holding it tightly. Following her gaze, the sachet was on the floor.

“Th-thank you.”

“What would happen if His Grace the Duke knew about the conversation you had?”

She whispered softly to the passing maidservant.

“Ah, in the North, they used to punish servants who misused their tongues by cutting them off.”

It was obvious whose side the Duke would take, so the maidservant hiccupped and turned pale at the chilling words.

Diana’s eyes narrowed as she watched the maidservant bow and hurriedly leave as if running away.

They feel fear. Are their emotions not completely numb? I thought they couldn’t even feel fear since they were babbling without discernment.

Diana raised the sachet she had swapped from the maidservant’s hand.

Observing the maids closely, she was able to find a similar sachet and swap it.

An ominous energy swirled from the sachet. It seems similar to the red mana that amplified Rodrick’s madness.

It seemed to have touched the servants’ emotions. People who felt a particularly red energy expressed their dissatisfaction with her noticeably.

What the hell is this? Diana frowned as she opened the inside of the sachet.

A stone fragment? Each small stone fragment, like a go stone, was engraved with ancient letters.

Wouldn’t Noel know what this is?

“Sister, we have to get rid of this. It’s very, very bad!”

When she showed it to Noel to consult, the child burned the entire sachet with magic without any explanation.

“Wait, Noel. Shouldn’t we investigate this further?”

Diana asked in dismay, looking down at her empty palm, not even leaving ashes behind.

“It’s okay!”

Well, if Noel says it’s okay, then it’s okay. Diana shrugged her shoulders without thinking deeply about what had already happened.

The stone fragments disappeared without a trace. It seemed like the series of events were settled for now. But the malice towards her continued.

It was early in the morning when good children would be in dreamland. Leaving the soundly sleeping Noel, Diana finished dressing and stepped out into the corridor.

It was a breakfast invitation from the Duke.

Diana was half-asleep, unable to shake off the drowsiness from her face.

Isn’t breakfast supposed to be eaten in the morning? Why are we eating so early in the morning?

“Yawn-.”

She couldn’t overcome her fatigue and let out a small yawn.

‘Oh my, how frivolous.’

‘I know, right? I heard she’s a commoner without a family background?’

‘I heard she’s from a lowly background. She caught the young master’s eye while working on the battlefield!’

Many words followed a single yawn. As she abruptly stopped walking, the footsteps of the knights escorting her from behind also stopped.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Didn’t you hear it, Sir Knights?”

One knight scratched his ear and looked around. It was a very poor attitude.

“What sound are you referring to?”

Hmm, the knight’s light behavior woke her up completely. Diana only moved her eyes and scanned her surroundings.

Clear hostility. Even behind the invisible corridor, unpleasant gazes followed her.

Even the knights standing behind her showed not just displeasure but hatred towards her.

They ignore sounds that knights with keen senses should have heard.

Hey, Sir Knights. Don’t people who have taken the knight’s oath show respect to a lady? The knights’ code must be crying.

“Where is Sir Daren?”

“Why are you asking us that?”

“Won’t he come when it’s time to change shifts? Please go ahead. His Grace the Duke will be waiting.”

Shut up and go quickly. Our Duke is waiting. Diana showed no reaction to the irritated words.

The knights looked disappointed, seeing Diana’s reaction. Did they expect her to lose her temper?

All the ladies-in-waiting and maids dedicated to her showed hostility, whether weak or strong. Even after getting rid of the sachet and stone fragments together, their impure emotions did not disappear.

Why? As she tilted her head in wonder, the door opened.

“Come in.”

Entering the breakfast room, there was someone who arrived before the Duke. Irene smiled brightly and offered a seat, greeting her as if she were the mistress of this household.

“His Grace the Duke has breakfast early. Are you not tired? Hmm, what should I call you? I don’t know your family, I don’t know your name. I don’t know anything about you.”

In summary, she doesn’t understand why someone of low status, whose background is unknown, is here.

“……”

“Oh my, did I say something difficult? Ah, thank you.”

The maid who brought a new napkin instead of the dropped one responded pleasantly.

“It’s nothing, young lady.”

The servants all directed their gazes towards Irene, mixed with goodwill, favor, and even affection.

On the other hand, what about her?

Diana’s lips curled up in interest at the hostile gaze filled with antagonism, as if looking at a villainess.

‘Hmm. Look at this?’

“So, what’s your name?”

Your words are short? The corners of Diana’s mouth rose even higher. Like a real villainess.

Should I tell you my name? Or not. While Diana was weighing her options, the door to the breakfast room opened.

“Oh, sister-in-law, you’re here?”

Diana answered with a smile and stood up from her seat, looking at the Duke who followed.

“Sister-in-law, aren’t you tired? You could have had your meal comfortably in your room. Father is a workaholic, so breakfast is a bit early.”

When the Duke sat down, everyone took their seats. Diana briefly responded to Felice’s words and started the meal.

“Elder brother, good morning.”

When Irene, who was sitting next to him, spoke, the corners of Felice’s mouth visibly drooped.

“Yeah. Right.”

Oh, she’s younger than Felice? Then that means she’s younger than Diana, who is the same age as Felice.

Moreover, she should have greeted the Duke first. Irene acted as if she only saw Felice. It wasn’t a pleasant sight.

She said she was the daughter of a count. Noel gave her a rough idea. He said he asked Felice and told her about Irene in detail.

Since the estate was so vast and their living areas were different, she thought there was no need to know as they would never encounter each other. Thank you, Noel.

The pink eyes under the eyelashes, long enough to cast shadows, shone elegantly.

‘You know what? I don’t bite unless bitten first. Did you provoke me first?’

Like a lioness eyeing its prey, Diana quietly hid her claws and assessed her opponent.