Branda's shout made Joshua hiccup in surprise.
Then he suddenly turned and ran out of the room as if fleeing.
“Joshua!”
Elysia called after him desperately, but the boy was already gone.
Faced with the sudden situation, Elysia was inwardly horrified.
She had already realized from Branda's lies that the woman's intentions were twisted, but raising her voice like that in front of the young lady herself was another matter entirely.
“Lady Sheyla...”
Elysia quickly looked toward Sheyla.
But Sheyla's expression wasn't normal.
With murderous fury in her eyes, Sheyla strode straight toward Branda and raised her hand high.
Smack!
Branda squeezed her eyes shut.
Yet surprisingly, she felt no pain.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Elysia standing in front of her with her head lowered.
“...Why are you...”
Branda muttered in confusion.
Sheyla froze at the unexpected turn of events and took a step back.
As she looked around, she saw the frightened maids, and Elysia, who had taken the slap in Branda's place.
Only then did the situation seem to sink in.
Sheyla turned her head from side to side in obvious confusion.
“Lady Sheyla.”
Maintaining a calm voice, Elysia gently took hold of Sheyla's hand.
The same small hand that had just struck her.
“No matter how angry you are, you mustn't hit people.”
The hand she held was damp with sweat.
It was trembling ever so slightly.
When Elysia saw the fear in Sheyla's eyes, she continued,
“Hitting people is wrong.”
At Elysia's firm voice, Sheyla simply nodded.
She didn't even try to pull her hand away.
Only then did Elysia smile faintly.
Fortunately, it had been a small child's hand.
If it had been an adult, her cheek would probably have swollen badly.
Just as the atmosphere began to ease slightly, Branda spoke.
“You've got some nerve.”
Elysia turned around.
Branda had gotten to her feet and was sneering.
“I was prepared to take that slap, but I never expected you to interfere and ruin it.”
“What do you mean?”
“So there would be clear evidence.”
Branda crossed her arms despite her disheveled appearance and gestured toward the remaining maids.
“And witnesses.”
Elysia frowned, not understanding.
Instinctively, she wrapped an arm around Sheyla behind her.
It was a subconscious act of protection.
Seeing that, Branda scoffed.
“Are you her nanny or something? Looking at you, anyone would think you're her mother.”
“What do you mean?”
“I'll explain. How many important officials ever come all the way to this room tucked away in the corner of the second floor? Other than you, her assigned maid, and your little brother? Not many.”
Branda dusted herself off as she spoke.
“The people in this mansion care far less about the young lady than you think.”
“......”
“Even the Grand Duke finds her troublesome. Otherwise, why would his own sister be hidden away in a room like this?”
She spoke casually, despite the very person she was insulting standing right there.
“Dozens of maids have already given up on serving her before you. So tell me. If we, or rather I, report what happened today, what do you think will happen?”
“Lady Sheyla could deny it herself. She saw and heard everything.”
Elysia immediately argued back.
But Branda simply sighed.
“This is why country girls never understand how things work.”
Her voice dripped with contempt.
“Everyone knows the young lady doesn't speak. How exactly is she supposed to deny anything? Other than her, who can speak? Ah, your brother? As if anyone would care.”
It was blatant discrimination.
By the time Elysia's expression darkened, Branda glanced at Sheyla behind her.
“You backed the wrong person. I don't know what tricks you used to get into the Grand Duke's household, but who's going to pay attention to a mute young lady who hides in her room and throws tantrums at servants?”
“I will.”
Elysia answered immediately through clenched teeth.
She was so angry she wanted to throw herself at Branda.
“The one assigned to Lady Sheyla is me.”
She continued suppressing her anger while keeping one arm protectively around Sheyla.
“I was told that serving a noble means even the maid must conduct herself properly.”
Her voice remained steady.
“So what exactly gives you the confidence to slander her and behave this rudely?”
“Hah. And who exactly is here to stop me?”
Just then—
Knock knock.
Every head turned toward the doorway.
Standing there were Greta and Hillmayton.
No one knew how long they had been watching.
Both wore expressionless faces.
“...How?”
Elysia muttered.
Then she noticed someone peeking out from behind Hillmayton.
It was Joshua, sniffling and teary-eyed.
So that's where he ran off to...
While Elysia stared blankly, Branda was the first to panic.
“Assistant Hillmayton, Head Maid Greta, this is all a misunderstanding. The situation is—”
“There's no need to explain how much we heard.”
Hillmayton cut her off coldly.
Branda immediately fell silent.
Hillmayton slowly looked over the frozen maids and then Branda.
Finally, his gaze moved to Elysia and the Sheyla she was shielding behind her.
He let out a long breath.
“Greta.”
“Yes, Assistant.”
“I'll report this to His Grace. The disciplinary measures will be announced afterward.”
“Understood.”
“Return all of the maids to their quarters and place them under confinement. Make sure they don't encounter one another. I'll assign supervisors.”
Greta silently nodded and turned her gaze toward the maids.
The women reluctantly began filing out of the room one by one.
Branda was the last to leave.
As she passed, Hillmayton quietly whispered,
“I hope you'll spend your confinement reflecting properly. Depending on His Grace's judgment, your family may also receive notice.”
Branda's face turned pale.
Staggering, she followed the others.
The maids looked like criminals being led to their execution.
Before anyone realized it, only Elysia and Sheyla remained in the room.
Hillmayton lightly patted Joshua's shoulder.
That was all it took.
Joshua burst into tears and ran straight to Elysia.
“Noonaaa!!!”
Elysia opened her arms and hugged him tightly.
“How did you think to go find Assistant Hillmayton?”
“H-Hill... hic... Hillmayton... said... if anything happened... I should tell him...”
“That's right. Good job.”
Elysia soothed him, gently rubbing his back.
Then she noticed Sheyla lingering nearby, unable to leave.
Watching nervously.
Slowly, Elysia opened one arm toward her.
Sheyla stared at the arm silently inviting her closer.
From where she stood, she could see the small bruises and scratches that hadn't fully healed.
And Elysia's face...
Sheyla bit her lip and slowly stepped forward.
She didn't know why.
But somehow, it felt like it was okay.
As though she had permission.
Afraid she might cry, Sheyla lowered her head and buried herself in Elysia's embrace.
Suddenly finding herself holding two children at once, Elysia finally felt the tension leave her body.
She let out a long breath.
Standing by the doorway, Hillmayton watched the scene thoughtfully.
The room was a disaster.
Two children were clinging to Elysia.
And Elysia herself looked utterly exhausted.
The Grand Duke should be returning to the estate soon.
Hillmayton quietly closed the door.
He had expected there to be friction among the servants.
But—
"I will."
He clearly remembered Elysia saying those words.
Of everyone present, she had been the most steadfast.
The strongest.
Rubbing the back of his sore neck, Hillmayton muttered,
“Where do I even begin this report?”
One thing was certain.
Now that the maids' actions had been fully exposed, this matter couldn't simply be ignored.
As he absentmindedly turned his head toward the corridor window, he spotted a familiar figure riding toward the estate.
Behind him followed a group of knights.
Hillmayton smiled faintly.
“The report and punishment won't take long after all.”
With that, he turned and headed toward the Grand Duke's office.
