And the baroness, like Empress Esmaine, would be busy keeping the servants’ mouths shut about the manor’s chaos.
‘If I were Lady Esmaine, I’d use this opportunity to place my people.’
Of course, being no fool, she would have done so.
Lost in thought and forgetting to eat, Amy was jolted back to reality by the maid’s piercing gaze. Feeling slightly embarrassed, she cleared her throat and said,
“I hope the head cook returns soon.”
But contrary to her expectations, the maid shook her head decisively.
“She won’t return. The baroness dismissed her.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Amy replied nonchalantly while chewing. The maid’s wistful expression suggested that the head cook was well-liked. Wait a minute…
‘Why would they dismiss someone competent in such a rural area? It’s hard to find good people here.’
Pondering this, the maid began to spill details unasked.
“The manor has been a mess since the head cook left a week ago. She was strict, but everyone was comfortable under her. We just had to do our assigned tasks.”
The maid sighed deeply, then added quietly,
“Actually, I’m also leaving tomorrow. Others are planning to quit soon as well.”
Rats flee a sinking ship. The same was happening here.
Throughout the meal, Amy had to listen to endless praises of the dismissed head cook. As a fellow professional, she inwardly admired her. It’s rare for a superior to be so respected by their subordinates.
Then a thought flashed through Amy’s mind.
‘Wait, doesn’t the duke’s manor need a head cook too?’
While she would handle the overall management, more hands were always better for the vast territory of the northern duke. Amy’s eyes sparkled as she smiled at the maid.
“Could I know the name of the dismissed head cook?”
Fortunately, the maid readily answered.
“It’s Mrs. Weber. She used to be a nanny in a baronial house. A wonderful lady. She would have worked here longer if it weren’t for that incident.”
That incident. Amy nodded in understanding.
“Right. And, by the way…”
As Amy’s eyes scanned her, the maid quickly said,
“I’m Viola. I’m a commoner, so I don’t have a last name.”
“Okay, Viola.”
Amy smirked. She liked the observant girl. Pulling out a silver coin from her pocket, she tossed it into the air and caught it deftly. Viola’s eyes sparkled like a chandelier. Amy asked her,
“Do you want this?”
Viola’s eyes blazed with eagerness.
“Just say the word.”
Morning came. Unlike typical nobles who rise late, Noah and Amy, early risers, found themselves with idle time until the baron and his wife awoke.
“What’s the reason they’ve detained us here?”
Noah wondered aloud, and Amy’s lips drooped slightly. She had a rough idea.
“Who knows?”
Just then, Viola entered the reception room where they were waiting and bowed politely.
“The meal is ready.”
She then gave Amy a quick wink, to which Amy silently nodded.
As they were eating a simple but earnestly prepared meal in the dining room, the baron and his wife hurried in, flustered.
“My apologies. We overslept.”
“We didn’t expect Your Grace to be up so early…”
They sat down hastily. Viola and other maids hurriedly served them. However, the baron and his wife hardly glanced at their food and instead exchanged glances, then addressed Noah in a subtle tone.
“Your Grace, I heard you’ve received a vast fief along with your title?”
Their smiles resembled hyenas circling a piece of meat.
‘As I thought, it’s about money.’
Amy scoffed internally. She remembered what Viola had told her the night before about Mrs. Weber’s dismissal.
‘Trying to create double books for the emperor’s taxes…’
In the empire, all land is technically owned by the emperor. Nobles are granted titles and fiefdoms but are only entitled to keep the proceeds after taxes.
‘The empire’s laws treat tax evasion as a crime akin to treason.’
To think they’d attempt such a scheme, not even by an accountant, but by a mere head cook. Either they were audacious or had the brains of a pea.
Preparing this meeting to coax young Noah into parting with money must have seemed trivial to them. Amy snorted in amusement. Unaware that the person who managed the prince’s secret funds was right beside them…
‘And they didn’t even bother to ensure secrecy.’
Even a young maid knew the details. Was their hobby collecting sins and punishments?
This concludes the English translation of the provided Korean text.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
