MDIHC 21

Chapter 21 …

“It seems the new madam is dissatisfied with how I manage the estate. If she dislikes the current way of things, then it would be right for me to leave.”

“Ma–Madam Perede!”

“No, Madam! You can’t leave the Camellia estate!”

“You mustn’t!”

The ones clinging to Madam Perede after her bombshell announcement were, of course, not me. And the one who gracefully raised her hand to calm her supporters was also not me.

‘Are they shooting a movie right now or what…?’

The one looking at them all with utter indifference—that was me.

“I will take full responsibility and leave the estate. But please, let the others continue working.”

“Madam!”

“Madam Perede…”

“What will happen to the estate if you leave?”

Madam Perede, with a straight posture and solemn tone, sounded like a noble politician resigning in the name of responsibility. Her supporters tried to stop her with tears.

‘No one even asked for a sequel, so why are they filming Part 2 all on their own? This is just supply without demand.’

And I still remained indifferent.

“That won’t work.”

At my words, a faint smile flashed across Madam Perede’s face. She must’ve thought everything was going according to her plan.

‘Yeah, not a chance!’

“I have absolutely no desire to keep those people in this house. I understand your concern for them, Madam, and in respect of that, I’ll allow you to resign with them.”

“What…!”

A flicker of shock crossed Madam Perede’s face at my additional remark. She seemed to start saying something but clamped her mouth shut.

This clearly wasn’t the kind of “movie” she had in mind. She’d managed the Camellia estate and its people for years. Leaving so suddenly would naturally throw things into chaos.

That’s why she must’ve thought I, the newly appointed Countess, would of course stop her from quitting.

“Or would you prefer to let the others go and continue working alone?”

“…No. I’ll resign along with them.”

Thought so. After acting all noble and dramatic like in a movie, she couldn’t very well stay behind alone now. That’d ruin her image.

Honestly, I was grateful she put on such a show. The maids I fired earlier? They were just that—maids. Even if I pointed and dismissed them on the spot, no big deal.

But Madam Perede was different. If I pointed at her and fired her, the rest of the staff would definitely get stirred up. Not to mention, she’d worked for the estate a long time, even risen to housekeeper. Firing someone like her out of the blue wouldn’t reflect well on me.

Still, it was something I’d have had to do eventually. Without putting her in her place, I couldn’t fully claim control over this estate.

“Thank you for your service to the Camellia estate, Madam Perede.”

I gave her a polite farewell, drawing a firm end to her resignation. My thanks carried genuine appreciation—for sparing me the trouble and doing what needed to be done sooner.

“…”

Madam Perede stared at me as if she’d bitten into something sour, clearly not expecting things to turn out this way.

I turned my head and looked over the gathered staff. Their expressions were quite different from when I first summoned them.

“If anyone else wants to quit, say so now. I’d rather deal with it all at once.”

I expected a few more loyal to Madam Perede, but it seemed not. Silence.

Well, I had already fired her closest and most rebellious allies, the ones who treated Daniel poorly. Those who were already dismissed couldn’t resign again.

“Good. Then I’ll assume the rest of you wish to stay and continue working.”

I smiled, as if pleased with the silence.

“I’m sure today’s events have been a valuable lesson, just like Madam Perede said. I expect no one to mistreat Daniel again—unless you want to be next.”

I warned them with a smile. I hoped they saw me not as a harmless extra, but as a proper villainess running a reign of terror.

For Daniel, I could be exactly that.

“This is unacceptable!”

Madam Perede’s voice echoed all the way outside Lord Winchester’s office. For someone usually stern and curt, raising her voice like that meant she was furious.

And understandably so. To be forced out of an estate she’d served for decades—it was worth complaining about to the owner.

‘What do you mean “forced out”? You quit on your own!’

Still, officially, her resignation was voluntary. Sure, I pressured her, undermined her pride, and provoked her with arrogance, but it was she who said the words.

“You called for me?”

Though I already knew the situation, I entered the office feigning ignorance.

Lord Winchester sat at his desk, facing me directly. Madam Perede turned to glare at me over her shoulder. No, she glared outright.

“Oh my, Madam Perede. You’re still at the estate?”

I widened my eyes as if genuinely surprised to see her there. I saw her lips press tightly together.

“This is the record of the checkbook the madam has used over the past month.”

Snapping her head away from me, Madam Perede placed a paper in front of Lord Winchester.

So she wasn’t handling finances because no one else was doing it? Yet she was tracking every detail so thoroughly? Give me a break.

“As you can see, it’s a substantial amount. Since the madam’s arrival, not a single day has passed without deliveries arriving. If she continues such extravagance, the Winchester family’s fortune will be depleted.”

That was a bit of an exaggeration. Yes, I spent a lot over the past month—but that was because Daniel needed so many things. In a way, it was money that should’ve been spent on him long ago, now finally being used properly.

Besides, I’d already bought most of the major necessities. There wouldn’t be that much spending going forward—except for a few cute clothes or accessories for Daniel, of course.

“And today, the madam fired myself and many other employees. From the cleaning maids to the gardeners, loyal workers suddenly lost their jobs overnight. Even if she was displeased with their work, wasn’t that too cold-hearted?”

She spoke in a voice full of indignation.

“And now, with so many people suddenly gone, how will the estate function? Because of my long-standing ties with the late madam, I’ve treasured Camellia estate like my own life. I simply couldn’t bring myself to leave.”

Her appeal to Lord Winchester was almost like a patriot giving a final speech. But his expression… was unreadable as ever.

“Please, I ask you to look into this yourself, my lord.”

With a deep bow, she pleaded. His gaze, once fixed on her, naturally shifted to me.

Madam Perede tried to paint me as a heartless, extravagant woman who cruelly fired everyone—but that wasn’t true. I had nothing to be ashamed of, so I met Lord Winchester’s gaze calmly.

Still looking at me, he reached out and picked up the paper she handed over.

“The current mistress of Camellia estate is the Countess of Winchester, and she holds full authority. That includes financial and employment decisions, naturally.”

Without even looking at the paper, Lord Winchester crumpled it and tossed it into the trash.

“Madam Perede, thank you for your service.”

He acknowledged her past work and formally accepted her resignation.

“M–My Lord…”

She called out, stunned, clearly not expecting that. Her face was full of betrayal. But his expression never changed.

And she wasn’t the only one surprised by his reaction.

‘I mean, he must’ve known her for decades…’

She was someone the former countess brought from her family home. Lord Winchester must’ve seen her for a very long time. Yet he didn’t even pretend to consider her plea, let alone try to stop her departure.

‘He’s seriously cold-hearted…’

I already knew that—but somehow, it hit differently now.

‘If I ever decide to leave, will he treat me the same way?’

That thought suddenly struck me, and my chest stung. I wouldn’t be around nearly as long as Madam Perede had, so maybe he wouldn’t even thank me for my time.

The future I hadn’t even reached played vividly before my eyes, and I suddenly felt overwhelmed, like tears might fall.

“For your years of service, we’ll make sure you receive a generous severance.”

…What?

At Lord Winchester’s words, my tears dried up instantly.

“Wait a moment!”

I raised my hand high. This wasn’t the time to get emotional.

“There’s something you need to see, my lord.”