Chapter 13
Well.
Even Judith, who was now witnessing a scene she had only read about in the original story, felt a chill crawl down her spine at Sarah’s cruelty. The contrast made it even more horrifyingâshe spoke in such a gentle, soft voice.
No wonder the Master is furious.
Judith swallowed dryly as she recalled the original plot.
When Sarah’s long-cherished dream of marrying Ekian fell apart, she began to resent the entire Mayus Ducal House.
Using the bond she had carefully cultivated with Karl since childhood, she resolved to destroy the family from within.
If she could never have what she wanted, then she wanted it ruined beyond repair.
Karl, still very young, trusted every word Sarah said. The Duke and Duchess had been so preoccupied with searching for Ekian that they had unintentionally neglected Karl at times.
“How has your weight been? You’re still eating properly, aren’t you?”
“…I can’t just stop eating. Mother watches me all the time. If I don’t eat, she’ll be terribly upset.”
“But if you grow up healthy and strong, Young Duke Ekian will feel sad.”
Karl blinked.
“He will?”
“Of course. He’ll think, Even without me, my little brother eats well and sleeps well…”
“But what should I do? I can’t make Mother any sadder when she’s already so worried about my brother.”
“Hmm.”
Sarah spoke softly.
“Then come to the garden after your meal.”
“The garden?”
“Yes. I’ll help you throw it up.”
The Master, beside Judith, stopped breathing.
Judith glanced at him nervously, afraid he might leap out in anger again.
Meanwhile, Sarah gently stroked Karl’s cheek and continued.
“That way, Her Grace won’t be upset, and you can still show Young Duke Ekian how thin you’ve become. He’ll know you’re waiting for him.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea, Sarah.”
Karl nodded innocently.
His voice carried complete trust.
“You’re the only one who truly thinks about my brother. I can always trust what you say.”
That was the final straw.
The Master suddenly rose as if he intended to storm out immediately.
“No!”
Judith grabbed his waist and whispered desperately.
She understood his anger completely. How could anyone do this to a child? Keeping him from reading, encouraging him not to eat, and now making him vomit what he had eaten?
“Master, please!”
Yet even as she pleaded, Judith knew she could never physically stop him.
“If we go out there now, we won’t change anything. Who do you think Karl will believe? Us, complete strangers, or Sarah?”
At that moment Sarah slowly turned her head.
“Hmm, Young Master?”
“What is it?”
“Did you hear something just now?”
Judith’s heart dropped.
The Master froze as reason finally returned to him.
“Really? I didn’t hear anything.”
“Did you perhaps let someone inside?”
“No.”
Karl narrowed his eyes.
“You actually heard something? From where?”
“I’m not sure…”
Sarah stood and approached the wardrobe.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
Apparently she had heard the noise.
“Hmm.”
She walked directly toward it.
“I think it came from around here.”
Without hesitation, she pulled the wardrobe doors open.
“Hm?”
She tilted her head.
“No one’s here… Did I imagine it?”
Haa… haa… haa…
Judith clung to the Master and struggled to catch her breath.
The moment Sarah had mentioned hearing something, the Master had acted instantly, pulling Judith into a hidden passage behind the wardrobe.
The noise had attracted Sarah’s attention, but they had successfully hidden themselves.
“Hmm. Perhaps there’s a leak somewhere. I’ll inform the head maid.”
Through the narrow gap, Judith could see Sarah’s elegant face.
She held her breath.
Sarah was beautifulâterrifyingly so.
Those blue eyes swept lazily across the wardrobe’s interior.
Thenâ
Bang.
The doors closed.
Only then did Judith finally release the breath she had been holding.
“We should stay like this for a little while longer. Just in case.”
The Master whispered beside her ear.
Because he was still holding her close while crouching low, it almost looked as if Judith were sprawled across him.
“Okay…”
In the pitch-black darkness, she rested a hand against his firm chest and waited.
His heartbeat thudded steadily beneath her palm.
“Ahem… My apologies for losing my composure.”
Apparently the Master had fully recovered his senses.
Sounding slightly awkward, he said quietly,
“I never imagined that maid Sarah had such a side to her.”
“Who could have imagined it?”
Not the head maid.
Not even the Duke and Duchess.
Judith shrugged.
Then he asked softly,
“So what do you intend to do?”
“Hm?”
“You stopped me earlier because you had another plan, didn’t you?”
“Ah.”
“And honestly, it seems like the reason you came here in the first place is because you couldn’t simply ignore Young Master Karl.”
“Wow.”
The tension finally easing, Judith let out a small laugh.
“Master, I’ve never heard you talk this much before.”
“…”
“You must really like children.”
It was a surprisingly human side of him.
Until now, the Master had always felt more like a character from a story than a real person. His face was hidden, and even his voice faded from memory after they parted.
“…Stop.”
His voice came out hoarse.
“Please stop laughing.”
“Huh? Why?”
“…Because every time you laugh, your breath brushes against my neck.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
Judith pouted.
“Just endure it. It’s not like anything important is touching you.”
“Judith.”
“Yes?”
“One thing is certain.”
“What?”
“You’re definitely not pregnant.”
“W-What kind of random statement is that?”
“And it’s also very clear that you know absolutely nothing about men.”
Before she could respond, he let out a faint groan and continued,
“Anyway, what is your plan?”
“What else?”
She shrugged confidently.
“We’ve already accomplished today’s goal.”
“And now?”
“Now we can deal with it.”
Then she smiled.
“The people who can save Young Master Karl aren’t us.”
“Which means…”
“His parents.”
The Master nodded, understanding immediately.
The next day.
It was the day Duke Mayus was returning from inspecting his territory.
It was also the day Duchess Isabella had promised to introduce Judith to her husband.
That morning, a letter arrived from the ducal estate.
How about joining me for lunch today?
Since we’ll soon be family, I’d like you to meet Karl as well.
The Duke is expected to arrive this afternoon.
It would be best if you met him during tea time later today.
After telling the servant who delivered the letter to wait for a reply, Judith picked up her pen.
“A reply?”
The Master tilted his head.
“Lunchtime is almost here. Wouldn’t it be easier to just go?”
Judith sighed and looked at him.
The Master had been sitting in her boarding-house room since early that morning.
“Master, don’t you have work to do?”
“I’m very busy.”
He answered shamelessly.
“Busy wondering what you’re planning.”
“Hah. I told you I’ll handle everything myself.”
The reason he was here was obvious.
Karl, of course.
Hadn’t he nearly lost his temper yesterday?
She was still surprised by how emotional he could be.
“I have a younger brother about Karl’s age.”
The Master spoke quietly, apparently reading her thoughts.
“So I can’t help seeing him as more than a stranger.”
“I see.”
Judith looked at him with renewed curiosity.
“What’s with that look?”
“It’s just surprising.”
She grinned.
“The idea that you actually have a family. I always assumed you were some mysterious man with no blood, no tears, no friends, and no relatives.”
“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Of course not.”
Before he could respond, Judith quickly dipped her quill into the ink.
Her reply read:
My apologies, Your Grace.
I already have plans during lunch.
I will arrive in time for tea.
The roses in the garden are blooming beautifully.
I look forward to sharing tea with you.
