DDSWTB 21

Chapter 21

It couldn’t be helped.
If Isabella or Lily had known that I was close to the servants, Isabella — who held the power to dismiss people — might have fired them.

In fact, there had been several occasions where some servants had been unfairly dismissed.

Tiana hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should forgive them.

But she had never expected them to come and apologize.

This was, in a way, the servants reaching out to her.
They all looked genuinely remorseful.
Leaving things as they were had been inexcusable, but since they also had their reasons, she couldn’t scold them too harshly.

She should accept their apology.

“I accept your apology. From now on, let’s get along.”

The servants raised their heads and, looking relieved, said:

“Thank you very much. From now on, we will do our utmost sincerely.”

After that, they talked about trivial things — what kind of work each of them did, what foods Tiana liked, her favorite things. It was a pleasant conversation.

After a while, the servants left Tiana’s room to return to their work.

“My lady, was it really all right to accept their apology? These are the same people who swallowed the rumors without question and believed them,” Mariana said doubtfully.

“That’s right. If it were me, I couldn’t forgive them!” Lucy added.

Rose nodded in agreement.
The three of them clearly couldn’t accept that Tiana had chosen to forgive the servants.

Indeed, they were right.
If Tiana were unable to forgive them and decided to drive them out, new servants would be hired.
If that happened, she might be treated like an ordinary noble lady, but there was no guarantee that anyone would sincerely serve “the stain of the ducal house,” as she was called.

By keeping the servants who had shown sympathy and remorse, they would likely become strong allies.
They had already etched in their hearts never to repeat their mistake.

Forgiving them here would certainly bring Tiana benefits.
The more people who stood on her side, the better.

“I just want to get along with everyone. Until now, I never really had the chance to talk with them…” Tiana said.

“My lady…” Mariana’s expression turned pained and sad.

“I will always serve at your side,” Lucy said, her eyes brimming with tears.

“I’m on your side, my lady,” Rose said too, looking as though her chest were tight.

Tiana was moved that the three of them worried about her and said such things to her — she had never met anyone who would speak to her like that before.

She had been alone all this time, but she wasn’t alone anymore.

“…Thank you.”

Her heart felt so full of happiness.
In her previous life, her mother had been her only ally.
In this life, there were many people willing to stand by her side, and that made her truly happy.