‘What did I just say?’
Logically speaking, of course a childhood relative would be closer to him than a re servant working in the estate.
The one who had blurted out such an absurd remark was deeply flustered, but Cruello himself didn’t seem particularly offended by it.
"I haven’t suspected the Elder Council for very long myself, but Eden isn’t involved. I’m certain."
"And if I told you I found sothing suspicious about him?"
"...Then it must be a misunderstanding."
Ah.
This was a different kind of conditioning—almost like brainwashing.
To Cruello, Eden White Desert was, in a way, another Amy.
No, perhaps he was even more than that.
The years Cruello had spent with Eden were far greater than those he had spent with Amy.
Viga accepted that no matter what she said, she wouldn’t be able to change his mind so easily.
And that ant she could already foresee how much it would hurt him if Eden ever betrayed him.
She bit her lip.
"Besides, Eden is different from you."
"...In what way?"
"Do I really need to spell it out?"
"There are plenty of differences between that noble lord and . Is it our status? Our age? Height? Gender?"
Frustrated, Viga pressed him for an answer.
"It’s not like you’re saying this because you like or anything, right?"
And then—
The words had been aningless, tossed out without thinking.
Yet the mont they left her lips, Cruello stiffened as if soone had struck him on the back of the head.
"Young Duke?"
Even as she called him, he didn’t respond.
And then—within re seconds—his face turned an explosive shade of red.
"I—"
Cruello hurriedly covered his face with his hands and ran.
Viga, left standing alone, gaped after him.
Ah.
"This is really bad."
***
From that day on, Viga began avoiding Cruello.
It was just a passing fever—she was sure of it.
And yet, even knowing that, she couldn’t bring herself to face him.
No matter how much she tried to avoid leaving a mark, she was still inhabiting soone else’s body.
She couldn’t leave a second scar on him.
At first, Cruello had tried to talk to her whenever he could.
But as ti passed, he, too, began to avoid her instead.
And his expression grew darker.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Suppressing the guilt creeping up inside her, Viga scrubbed at the window with unnecessary force.
The glass nearly popped out of its fra.
"Whoa, whoa."
Diana caught Viga’s hand, pulling it away from the window.
"Viga, what’s up with you lately? Did you fight with the Young Duke?"
"How could a maid fight with her master?"
"Are you just a maid? The Young Duke... well, he treats you differently from the rest of us."
"That’s not it."
"Oh, co on! You like him too."
"...What?"
"Be honest, Viga. You only ever smile when you’re talking to the Young Duke. Your cheeks even turn red."
She had opened her mouth to protest but froze.
Her cheeks turned red?
I do? Really?
Just as she was about to demand further explanation, there was a knock at the door.
Cruello.
"Co out, Viga. We need to talk."
‘So he hasn’t given up.’
Diana smirked knowingly.
Viga exhaled a sigh from deep within her chest.
Even after calling her outside, Cruello remained silent for a long while.
In the end, Viga was the first to speak.
"Look, a lot of people have quit recently. My workload has piled up—"
"Your friend just now."
"She’s quitting too. At the end of the week. Turns out the servants leaving wasn’t your fault after all."
"Maybe not. It’s probably more natural to say they’re tightening their grip after I cut down the spies."
Viga blinked.
Cruello continued.
"You... misunderstood sothing."
"What?"
"That day, I was just caught off guard by sothing absurd, so I ran. But after thinking it over... I don’t like you."
He hesitated before forcing out his next words.
"So you don’t have to avoid . There’s nothing to worry about."
Viga bit her lip.
She had planned to sidestep the topic entirely if it ever ca up again.
But hearing him deny his own feelings left a sour taste in her mouth.
It was only then that she realized—she needed to close this chapter properly.
Fortunately, her voice sounded much calr than she felt inside.
"Young Duke, I can’t stay in this estate forever."
"I said it was a misunderstanding."
"Even if it is."
"...Why?"
"Because I’m a maid."
Honestly, no one in this estate cared less about status than Viga did.
She only played along to avoid standing out.
But this was the only excuse she could use now.
"Caterpillars should eat pine needles. I don’t want to stand out."
In a way, that was true.
Cruello opened his mouth as if to argue but then twisted his expression.
His eyes closed briefly before reopening, a different light flickering within them.
"You’re mistaken. Your feelings don’t matter to . If I want sothing, I take it, regardless of what you think. That’s how your precious class system works."
"Are you sure you can do that?"
As if provoked by her calm response, Cruello grabbed her face.
He pulled her toward him, the distance between them narrowing to the point where their lips nearly touched.
But he didn’t close the gap.
Even at this distance, Viga remained unfazed.
His eyes trembled violently.
His hands slowly loosened their grip.
Then, with a thud, Cruello dropped his head.
"...Switch cleaning assignnts."
"Understood."
"Stay out of my sight."
"I will."
"And don’t act so arrogant again."
"Got it."
"...But don’t do anything reckless."
"......."
"Answer ."
"I’m sorry, Young Duke."
That was the end of it.
Cruello turned and walked away.
Viga watched his retreating figure for a long ti.
Then, as if her strength had finally drained out of her, she sank to the floor.
Covering her face with both hands, she let out a deep, weary sigh.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Viga’s hands trembled.
"Enough with these divine revelations telling to stay silent. I already said I wouldn’t talk."
Her muttering was filled with gloom.
***
After that day, Viga devoted herself entirely to gathering information about the Recanon Church.
She had thought she had already uncovered everything there was to know.
But new pieces kept falling into place.
Ever since she t Eden.
So she could only conclude—
The reason she had been able to uncover so much about the temple so effortlessly was because soone had allowed her to.
The absurdly easy raid on the Grand Elder’s domain? It was all part of the sa sche.
And whoever had orchestrated it, their intentions had never been benevolent.
Finally, when Viga discovered the truth about the first leader of the Black Serpent Cult, a letter arrived for her.
It was the day before Cruello’s seventeenth birthday.
"Midnight. Follow the cat.
If you wish to know everything."
Viga hesitated.
But she was already exposed.
There was no turning back.
The only choice left was to fight.
After all, she would always have a next chance.
Before midnight, she made one last visit to Cruello’s chambers.
Knock, knock.
The sound echoed crisply, but no response ca.
"Young Duke, are you there?"
She knocked a few more tis before sighing loudly, making sure he heard it.
"Co on, it’s been months since I rejected you. If you hold grudges this long, how do you expect to run an entire household?"
There was movent inside, but still—no answer.
Ah, whatever.
Viga slumped down, leaning against the door.
She had only co for her own peace of mind—whether he listened or not didn’t matter.
"Young Duke, I might not be around much longer. You told not to do anything reckless, but I’ve already done everything I could."
"......."
"If sothing happens to , just think of it this way: ‘Good riddance, that arrogant maid got what she deserved!’"
She let out a small laugh.
It didn’t last long before she felt awkward and stopped.
After a brief pause, she hesitated, then reached into ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) her pocket.
She set sothing down in front of the door.
A golden key.
She had already prepared herself for death.
Rather than letting the key fall directly into enemy hands, this was the better option.
"I’m leaving you a present. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s probably important. And probably valuable."
Even as she spoke, she knew how vague it sounded.
She let out a quiet chuckle and got to her feet.
"My standards are so high they might as well be in the heavens, so I had to reject you, Young Duke. But I do acknowledge your taste."
"......."
"Next ti, try liking soone better. There’s got to be soone more suitable than a rude maid who just pretends to be friendly."
"......."
"Young Duke, I just..."
I just want you to be happy.
She stared at the door for a long mont.
Still, there was no response.
No sign of him coming out.
She wanted to see him one last ti, but if he refused, then so be it.
Besides, it wouldn’t be long before they t again.
"Goodnight."
Leaving behind her lingering regret, Viga turned away.
***
"Follow the cat."
She had wondered what that ant—until, at precisely midnight, a cat appeared before her.
Or rather, a cat-shaped shadow.
It moved fluidly, guiding her path.
It led her to a basent she hadn’t even known existed within the estate.
Descending the stairs, she finally t the sender of the letter.
A figure cloaked in black was humming a tune.
Sensing her presence, he lifted his head.
"Hello."
In the darkness, red eyes glead.
"Hello, Eden. Or should I call you my senior guide?"
No shocking twist.
The hooded figure was none other than Eden White Desert.
Viga crossed her arms, greeting him with a crooked smirk.
Eden burst into laughter.
"Have you solved all your questions?"
"Hardly. Other than the fact that you were a Saint of Pebula and the first leader of the Black Serpent Cult, what else have you actually told ?"
"I also told you about the sacrifices. Oh, and quite a lot about the cult."
"Sorry, but I’m not interested in resurrection."
"Hmm."
Eden tilted his head, looking sowhat disappointed.
"That’s not the reaction I was hoping for. I thought you’d doubt the gods a little more."
"Who just blindly trusts information spoon-fed to them? It’s obvious you’re trying to drive a wedge."
"How unfortunate. Should I try giving you information more gradually next ti?"
Next ti?
Viga frowned.
She didn’t understand what he ant by that.
But she had co prepared to face death—so she might as well get as much out of him as possible before that happened.
If he was feeling smug, there was a chance she could extract a few answers.
"How have you lived for so long? Why hasn’t anyone ever questioned your identity?"
"Who knows?"
"Did you brainwash the people around you? Make them believe you had always been here?"
"Maybe sothing like that. Do you have any interesting questions?"
"How did you know I was a follower of Pebula?"
Eden smiled.
"Because a follower ca before you."
His lips curled further.
"Amy Royalsand, of course."
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