“Kay Kyung? Oh, Arthur. He’s the son of Lord Ford. A very wealthy noble.”

“Tch. Who said I’m involved with anyone? It’s just my style.”

“I’m Tristan Kyung! Honestly, besides Arthur Kyung, isn’t Tristan Kyung the most handsome one?”
“Then what are you doing? You’re a married man.”

“What?! Tristan Kyung is married?!”

“He has a five-year-old child. He’s very devoted.”

Even while focused on their work, the maids burst into laughter at the knights’ stories.

Following Lucan and Lionel’s carriage, other knights were also enjoying great popularity.

Especially the four knights, Arthur’s closest associates, became the objects of passionate interest for most maids.

“You’re all falling for it!”

Lady Marquess irritably unfolded her fan and fanned herself.

“All complaining about being busy to death, but you’re not doing the work and just ogling at the knights, aren’t you? Without any pride.”

Christina chuckled and took off her clothes, receiving Marina’s attention.

Lady Marquess continued her complaints.

“Anyway, maids are troublesome. You’ll have a lot to worry about when dealing with the children! Of course, I’ll help take care of them too.”

Lady Marquess soon threw the fan aside with a chilled expression and sipped her tea.

Christina, now dressed in a white chemise, pulled her hair out of her clothes and replied.

“Well… they’re an unbeatable match for the maids. It can’t be helped. They also want to get married.”

She was fearless.

Lady Marquess wrinkled her nose.

“It’s not that peaceful. As if it’s not enough that they’re attracting attention from all directions, it seems like some scandal is about to break out! If rumors spread about the conduct of Julius Mansion, there will be a riot. Why are you throwing such prey to the hyenas?”

Christina gestured for Marina to leave and responded.

“The maids have some discernment.”

Lady Marquess sighed shortly, her expression filled with regret.

“Don’t trust the discernment of maids. They’ll surely get hit in the back of their heads.”

Christina laughed.

“That’s why there’s Professor Lorenson.”

Lady Marquess, massaging her forehead as if in pain, said,

“It’s not enough to trust only Professor Lorenson. It’s different now from before. There are many eyes observing the mansion.”

“I know.”

Christina casually remarked.

“But it doesn’t seem so bad.”

“What?”

Christina spoke beyond the mirror.

“I mean, the maids getting involved with the knights.”

Lady Marquess looked at Christina.

Christina continued after a brief interruption due to lighting her cigarette.

“The maids and the knights interacting. Wouldn’t it be a nice picture? It might even elevate Julius’s prestige, showing a strong alliance.”

Christina exhaled smoke and said,

“Most of it will be empty talk. You never know, right? Anyway, we have quite a few useful individuals in our mansion. Of course, they shouldn’t get involved in dirty scandals; we need to present it nicely.”

The eyes of Lady Marquess, hearing her daughter’s words, narrowed.
Christina crossed her legs comfortably, leaning her elbows on the vanity.

“If there’s quick progress, we can use it to immediately hear news from that person’s side. Conversely, we can also use it to convey our side of the story in a favorable direction.”

Lady Marquess, who had been tongue-tied, finally opened her mouth.

“…No, dear. Even if that’s the case, we are a prestigious family! Proactive and reactive! The social circle emphasizes face so much, and from an outsider’s perspective, we look like…!”

“Externally, depending on how we use it, it can be a source of power for us. It could show a differentiated sense of inclusivity. Anyway, we embraced an illegitimate child who wasn’t recognized by others, right?”

Lady Marquess expressed her discontent with a slightly smaller voice, her face wrinkled.

“No, that’s different from this.”

Christina elegantly and nobly smiled, adjusting the cigarette holder in her hand.

“Dignity, history, culture – even if we try to conform to others’ standards, we won’t be any less than the other proactive families. We need to show something truly extraordinary.”

The sleek black cigarette holder in her hand swayed lightly.

“Please encourage me. As long as it doesn’t explode into a scandal, it’s fine. In fact, I’d prefer it.”

Delicate smoke rose into the air like silver threads.

“Of course, it’s a matter that requires restraint and discernment. They should be obedient and easily controllable.”

“…”

Christina brought the cigarette holder to her lips.

Matilda, slightly parting her lips, looked at her daughter.

For noblewomen managing the mansion and caring about their reputation, maids aspiring to love and marriage and the men following them were always a headache.

But encouraging maids to get involved with knights…

Matilda knew her daughter was exceptional, but sometimes, it was challenging to keep up with her.

Matilda nervously tapped the tip of the fan.

“…”

However, following Christina’s advice so far had never led to unfavorable results.

As much as Lady Marquess believed in her daughter’s abilities, she carefully considered the matter.

Christina crossed her legs, plucked the tobacco from the cigarette holder, and brushed off the ashes into the ashtray.

“Reyna was quite good. It can’t be helped; she holds the most important position.”

“…”

What a remarkable insight.

That’s my husband, but she doesn’t bat an eye.

“…I conceived her in my womb, but how on earth did I give birth to someone like you?”

In response to Lady Marquess’s muttering, Christina giggled while sucking on the cigarette holder.

Lady Marquess held her chin, observing her daughter.

…Amazing beauty, frighteningly fast in wit.

Christina’s only flaw was the unbearable temperament inherited from her father.

But without such a temperament, she wouldn’t have been able to stand up to her father.

Without it, Julius Marquis wouldn’t have achieved what he has today.
Christina casually brushed off the tobacco and spoke.

“Of course, if you want to convey our story favorably to them, Mother should also treat the maids ‘well.’ You know?”

“…”

Christina, sitting down, laughed nonchalantly while bending over to remove her shoes.

“Just like what we do for Reyna.”

Lady Marquess, after being puzzled by her daughter’s words for a while, eventually sighed and nodded, thinking that somehow Christina could handle anything.

“…Alright. Do it your way.”

Christina laughed.

“Thank you, Mom.”

Lady Marquess sighed, put the fan on the table, and, after a moment of relaxation, stood up to retrieve a gold-covered secret ledger hidden under the bed.

It was a ledger categorizing maids with ‘usable’ weaknesses.

The substantial, gold-covered ledger made a thud sound as it was placed on the table.

Christina’s gaze followed hers.

【Maid Ledger】

Thunk.

In the open ledger, the grades of the most well-controlled and obedient ‘special maids’ were marked, along with the ‘special favors’ bestowed upon them by Lady Marquess through meticulous calculations.

Among the top-tier maids, Reyna’s name was written at the very top.

Below Reyna’s name.

Above the names of several maids classified as top-tier, all were marked with a red X in ink.

These were the names of maids who were not currently working at the mansion.

The only one left was Reyna.