At that, Lena, who first discovered the necklace, answered with a slightly troubled expression.

“It fell from Miss Mirabel just now.”

“Miss Mirabel?”

For a moment, everyone’s eyes shone with suspicion, as if they were all in agreement.

“Nah, you must have seen it wrong.”

“I’m sure I saw it. Otherwise, why would I have Miss’s necklace?”

“That may be true, but……”

The matter was getting more and more tangled, and the servants’ faces became serious.

They didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t seem like a simple issue.

“What’s going on?”

Just then, Monica, who was passing by, felt the unusual atmosphere and came closer to ask.

Her eyes, scanning her subordinates sharply, widened in shock when she discovered the necklace.

“Where did this come from?”

She exclaimed, her face flushed and her voice raised.

The servants didn’t doubt that her excitement was due to the surprise of finding her mistress’s necklace in an unexpected place.

“Lena saw it fall from Miss Mirabel.”

“Why did this come out of Miss Mirabel’s pocket, my lord?”

The servants looked at Monica with bright, curious eyes, like children.

Monica didn’t know what to say.

She didn’t even know herself.

Why had the necklace that she had secretly taken from Lilia’s room ended up in Mirabel’s hand?

Where she had dropped it and searched for it thoroughly, but it was nowhere to be found, how did it end up in Mirabel’s hand, of all people?

‘Hold on.’

Monica’s puzzled eyes suddenly sparkled with an idea.

What if she blamed the crime on Mirabel?

Of course, she would insist that she didn’t steal it, but wouldn’t all the circumstances point to her as the culprit?

Perhaps this was the golden opportunity to get her out of this house.

Getting rid of Miss Liz might be a problem… no.

Rather, she might even be able to get rid of her too. Miss has a tendency to make a big deal out of things, so it will undoubtedly reach Madam’s ears.

Whose side would Madam take?

Her biological daughter, who had been rejected twice, or the future Duchess who would elevate her to the queen of high society?

The answer was too obvious.

A flush of color returned to Monica’s face.

She hated Liz.

Always Mirabel, Mirabel. Even though I knew her first and took care of her more.

Even though I ran around sweating to buy her whatever she wanted to eat or have, her favorite was always Mirabel.

Always speaking harshly to me.

Monica had always prayed for Liz’s downfall.

And it seemed that day was not far off.

“Give me the necklace.”

When Monica extended her hand, Lena dropped the necklace into it, with a rustle.
Clutching it, she walked toward the living room with a triumphant smile.

(This is a time separator.)

“Miss Mirabel!”

Mirabel, who had been tidying the disheveled leaves of the potted plant, suddenly turned around at the sound of the voice.

“What is it?”

Mirabel made a puzzled face as she found Monica, who was smiling meaningfully, and the juniors with strange looks in their eyes standing behind her.

“I heard something so ridiculous earlier, so I wanted to check.”

“What ridiculous thing?”

A necklace appeared, swinging in front of the bewildered eyes of Monica, who had wideopen eyes.

“Is this the one you had, Miss Mirabel?”

“……Huh?”

Mirabel opened her eyes wide and searched her pocket. Since nothing came out, it seemed to be the right one.

“Yes, I must have dropped it.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Monica snorted with laughter. A look of disappointment was in the other servants’ faces. However, Mirabel, who wasn’t very quickwitted, failed to realize that the situation was turning against her.

“That’s good. You, Lili…….”

“I never thought you’d do such a thing, Miss Mirabel.”

“……?”

“My goodness. Theft.”

Mirabel’s expression showed astonishment. Only after hearing Monica’s accusation did she realize that she was being misunderstood.

“No, that’s not it. Surely, I wouldn’t steal…….”

“Then why did you have it, Miss Mirabel? It should be safely in Miss Lilia’s jewelry box.”

“That is…….”

Mirabel hesitated for a moment. She knew well that hesitating and wavering would not help her situation, but she couldn’t help it.

Should she mention Miss Liz in this situation?

Mirabel thought not.

Just as she was misunderstood, Liz could be misunderstood too. Considering how much Liz had hated Lilia in the past, it wasn’t an entirely unbelievable misunderstanding.

She couldn’t put Liz, who was already in a tight spot, into further trouble.

It had to be unrelated to Liz.

“I…… I found it.”

“You found it?”

“Yes, I found it. I picked it up from the floor.”

Monica burst out laughing as if it was absurd.

“As I said earlier, this necklace is a piece of jewelry that our Miss Lilia cherishes and keeps carefully in her jewelry box without wearing it often. It has no reason to be rolling around on the floor.”

“……”

Mirabel, facing this situation for the first time, had no idea what to say or how to respond.

So she was biting her lip and staring at the floor, when suddenly Monica took a big step forward.

Then she spoke in a voice that only Mirabel could hear.

“Was it something Miss Liz asked you to do?”