Rachel whispered to the trembling young maid.

“If you want to save your family…….”

The maid, taken aback by this unexpected incident, shed tears but couldn’t resist the duchess, who was on an unattainably high position.

Young and unworldly, having come from the countryside, she knew very well what the duchess in front of her eyes could do.

Her parents and siblings living in the countryside could live or die by the gesture of the duchess.

A few hours later, the young maid went to the investigation bureau, fell on her knees in front of the investigators, and confessed.

“I killed him. I killed that man in the pagoda.”

The investigators watched the maid, who was tremblingly confessing her crime with pale blue lips, with pity.

What caught the eye of the bureau chief, who arrived late after hearing the story, was the body of the maid who had drunk poison and died to atone for her death.

Nobody believed the maid’s words, but they could no longer hold Victoria, especially since the maid had even drunk poison to confess her crime.

Rachel, with a smiling face, came to fetch Victoria and took her away.

Even the people who had gathered to punish Victoria and Rachel could not throw stones at the Bronte Duke’s carriage.

The bureau chief watched the departing carriage with a stern expression.

“If Victoria Bronte had been a commoner’s daughter, this much evidence would have been enough to punish her.”

But since Victoria was a duke’s daughter and a granddaughter of the king’s brother, not only circumstantial evidence but a witness was needed.

The bureau chief searched tirelessly, but he couldn’t find anyone who had directly witnessed Victoria killing the man.

An investigator dispatched from the empire grumbled like the bureau chief.

“Status is a weapon, status is a crime. Only the dead maid was pitiable.”

+++

Victoria was released, but the rumors had not subsided. Now there were even rumors that Rachel had sacrificed the maid.

But Rachel didn’t care.

Rumors floating around in society, she could easily cover them up with bigger rumors.

Rachel had people prepare various things and quickly made preparations to leave for the imperial capital.

Jacob, who was watching Rachel with contempt, said,

“You will only be a laughingstock if you go to the empire.”

“The people of the empire care less about the news from Seoryeong than you think. They think Seoryeong is a country in the countryside. But the people of Seoryeong care a lot about the news from the empire.”

Many people in Seoryeong subscribed to newspapers published in the empire.

“During the social season, party news is often printed, so if our children stand out there, good articles will be published in the newspaper. Their image will change a lot. They are like dogs swayed by articles in the newspaper, so if they only read good ones, they will soon forget about incidents like this.”

“……Really?”

“I’m telling you. There is nothing we can do here right now, so it’s better to be away from Seoryeong. If we are out of sight, the rumors will subside. When the news comes that Helena has received the protection of Her Majesty the Empress, the atmosphere will change.”

“Ariana has to go too, you know? Since there was the garden party incident, leaving Ariana behind will bring up the story.”

“Don’t worry, of course, I have to take her.”

Rachel’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“We should take her in a very nice carriage.”

+++

When the news of the empire trip was confirmed, Ariana sighed in relief.

Though it went roundabout, Victoria was released, and Rachel moved as predicted.

‘She will probably want to stay away from Seoryeong until the rumors subside.’

Rachel, who came this morning, spoke kindly to Ariana.

“Tomorrow we will depart for the empire, if you want, you can take one or two maids or servants with you. It will be a long journey, so you will need someone to attend to you. And that dress, if you don
Now that there was no need to wear tattered clothes, Ariana did just that. She put on a quality dress that, while outdated and unfashionable, and changed into the shoes that Rachel had brought her.

Though they hurt her feet, the first pair she had worn since being reborn, she knew that the pain would soon become familiar.

Ariana had expressed her wish to accompany Rozalin, who accepted the offer without hesitation.

“When we arrive at the empire, I’ll provide enough for you so that you won’t have to work for the rest of your life.”

At Ariana’s words, Rozalin bowed her head slightly to express her gratitude.

And so, the morning of their departure for the empire arrived.

Several carriages were waiting in front of the duke’s mansion.

Carriages for the duke’s family members, and others for the employees and cargo.

As many carriages as there were, there were also many knights to protect them.

“You’re so lucky. It must be exciting, even someone of your station getting to see the empire.”

Helena, elated about the trip to the empire, wore a cheerful expression, as if she had completely forgotten how gloomy the mansion had been until now.