Chapter 6
Rowena walked toward George’s room, holding a tray.
On it were a steaming cup of black tea and a freshly baked prune pie.
Knock, knock.
She stopped in front of his door and knocked.
From inside came an irritated voice:
“Whoever it is, I’m in a bad mood, so come back later!”
Assuming it was just another servant, George dismissed them outright.
“It’s Clarissa.”
Ignoring his response, Rowena stated her name.
She had already grown used to this identity. At first, seeing this unfamiliar face in the mirror startled her, but now both the name and appearance felt natural.
“…Clarissa?”
George opened the door, disbelief on his face.
“You… why are you—”
“I heard you plan to throw me out of this estate.”
At her calm reply, George let out a cold scoff.
“Why? Regretting your insolence now?”
“May I come in and speak with you for a moment?”
She ignored his mockery and asked.
“Of course not—”
He was about to refuse harshly, but his eyes fell on the tray.
The fragrant tea and sweet pie made him hesitate.
Rowena waited calmly.
To her, he was like a rat in front of a trap—he wouldn’t resist the bait.
“…Well, I suppose giving you a chance to beg for forgiveness isn’t a bad idea.”
He opened the door wide.
As expected.
Rowena entered and set the tray down on the table.
The room was about three times larger than a normal servant’s room. Even her own room was smaller than most maids’.
This petty man’s doing, no doubt.
Likely his childish revenge for rejecting him.
She handed him a fork and knife.
“Please, eat.”
As he took them, George eyed her suspiciously.
“You didn’t put anything strange in this, did you…?”
Rowena smiled faintly.
“Are you perhaps scared because of what I said before?”
She remembered her earlier threat.
“If you come to my room again, I’ll poison your food and kill you without a trace.”
“Scared? Don’t be ridiculous!”
Frowning, George stabbed the pie and took a bite, then gulped down the tea.
“See? Do you think I’d be afraid of you?”
He snorted.
“Stop wasting time. Say what you came to say. My patience isn’t long.”
But Rowena simply watched him silently.
“…?”
When she didn’t beg, he raised an eyebrow.
“Well? If you admit your mistake and bow your head—”
“I poisoned your tea.”
Rowena spoke calmly.
George froze.
“…What?”
“I said I poisoned the tea you just drank.”
He had clearly heard her—but couldn’t respond.
“Are you trying to play tricks again—”
“You have ten minutes. If you don’t take the antidote within that time, you’ll die.”
She placed an hourglass on the table.
“The antidote is with me. If you cooperate, I’ll give it to you before time runs out.”
“You think I’d believe—”
“You don’t have to. But time is still passing.”
“…!”
Rowena smiled slightly.
His mind was racing—wondering if it was real, whether he should run, what to do.
As expected, he suddenly stood up.
“This is nonsense! I’ll report you to Madam Martha and have you punished!”
“You can try. But you’ll die before that.”
Her eyes turned cold.
Then, as if bored, she poured the remaining tea into a flower pot nearby.
The green leaves instantly withered and turned yellow.
George’s eyes shook.
“T-this is insane…”
“Now you understand your only way to live.”
He could no longer deny it.
Noticing the sand halfway down, he hurriedly sat back down.
“What do you want? Hurry!”
Rowena smiled faintly.
“Are you hiding something?”
“…What?”
She glanced around the room.
“Silk blankets, ivory ornaments, silver candlesticks. Too expensive for a butler’s salary.”
She had heard plenty of rumors.
And now, seeing the room, she was certain.
“You’ve been embezzling money from this estate.”
“……”
“Admit it, and I’ll give you the antidote.”
She planned to use this as leverage.
Even after surviving, he wouldn’t dare act up again.
Torture would work better on someone like him—but it was too troublesome.
Poison and an hourglass were simpler.
Meanwhile, sweat poured down George’s face.
How did she know?
He had been embezzling for a long time.
If exposed, it wouldn’t just be dismissal—it would be serious punishment.
But now, poisoned, he couldn’t deny it properly.
My throat… feels strange…
Panic set in.
He checked the hourglass.
Damn it!
Too much sand had already fallen.
“W-why are you doing this…?”
“You should know. You’ve tormented me all this time.”
“That’s why?!”
He quickly changed his tone.
“I’m sorry! I apologize for everything! I’ll never bother you again—please spare me!”
“Then confess.”
“What do you want me to confess?! I’ve never done anything like embezzlement—!”
“You really don’t understand.”
Rowena pointed at the hourglass.
“Three minutes.”
His eyes twitched.
Then—
Blood began dripping from his nose.
It wouldn’t stop.
His legs trembled.
It was clearly poison—spreading through his body.
He imagined himself bleeding to death.
That fear crushed his pride.
“I-I’ll tell you!”
His voice shook.
“It’s true! I’ve been embezzling money with Madam Martha!”
“Oh?”
“How much?”
“Ten pounds…”
Rowena laughed.
That was a maid’s yearly salary.
She didn’t move.
George panicked.
“F-fifty! It’s fifty pounds!”
Finally, the truth.
“And Martha?”
“I’m not sure, but at least 300 pounds!”
Rowena narrowed her eyes.
Does Otille know?
Probably not.
This was useful.
“Now give me the antidote!”
“Not yet. Write a confession.”
Grinding his teeth, George quickly wrote everything, signed it, and stamped it.
“Done! I’m going to die!”
He grabbed her skirt desperately.
Rowena casually tossed him a wrapped candy.
He didn’t question it—just swallowed it immediately.
Inside, she smirked.
There was never any poison.
The withering plant and nosebleed were simple techniques.
The “antidote” was just candy.
The hourglass ran out.
“Hah… I thought I was going to die…”
George sighed in relief.
Fear remained on his face.
He believed she truly could kill him.
To him, she had become terrifying.
And he would never harass another maid again.
But this was only the beginning.
Rowena stepped closer.
“George. From now on, you’ll do as I say.”
