Former Assassin 11

“Serena, what’s the matter?”

Amaryllis and Rosemary soon arrived.

Amaryllis was surprised to see the mess in my room.

When I saw the look of pure malice on Rosemary’s face, I became convinced that she was behind it.

“Do you recognize what’s lying on the floor?”

Amaryllis stared at the liquid on the floor.

“What is this?”

“Apparently, it is my ‘meal’. The maid there brought it for me. Not only did I never say a word about eating in my room, but she also barged into my room and tried to feed me something like this.”

“Oh, my—!”

Shocked, Amaryllis looked at the pale maid, who was trembling with fear. 

“The maid claimed that it was Rosemary’s instructions.”

“Rosemary, did you…?”

Amaryllis was taken aback, but when she tried to verify the truth with Rosemary, the latter burst into tears.

“—N-no way, that’s just terrible, hic. I wouldn’t do such a thing! Hic, hic…”

“I-I see… You’re right. Rosemary, please forgive Mother…”

Caught off guard by her crying, Amaryllis soon pulled Rosemary into a hug. The word ‘remorse’ was written all over the older woman’s face.

What a simple woman.

I shuddered to know that I was born from the belly of such a woman.

“The maid acted on her own, then. She barged into my room and, to add insult to injury, humiliated me, an aristocrat and the daughter of her Master. You’ll be whipped and fired.”

“No way—”

The maid desperately clung to Rosemary and wailed.

“Lady Rosemary, how could you!? You were the one who said that Lady Serena was an eyesore! Now that you’re engaged with royalty, you wanted her to know her place! I simply carried out your instructions! No way, are you turning me into a scapegoat!?”

“I never said anything like that? You probably misunderstood. Still, even if it was for my sake, you did it on your own! Why should I be blamed for something you did!? It doesn’t make any sense! If anything, I am the scapegoat here!”

Rosemary insisted on her innocence.

“It’s too harsh,” Rosemary said. Even though she probably didn’t care about the crying maid in the slightest…

“Whipping is too severe of a punishment. Sister, do you have no heart? How could you say such cruel things?”

Despite being the real mastermind, Rosemary wanted to play the part of a kind-hearted lady who protected her servant.

After hearing the commotions, the other servants began to gather. They, along with Amaryllis, were touched by Rosemary’s performance—a stark contrast to how they regarded me. 

What a naïve bunch.

“It’s only natural, for she’d insulted a noble. Or should I have condoned it? The other servants will start to think that they can get away with absolutely anything.” 

 

“But whipping is just—!”

“It’s the lightest punishment. I could’ve killed her instead.”

“…Kill.”

The guilty maid shivered and hugged herself.

“How is that a surprise? It’s not uncommon for someone to be sentenced to death for lèse-majesté. Rosemary, you are no exception. If you show disrespect to the royal family, you’ll be executed.”

“But His Highness adores me!”

What a fool.

 

Although the other party did propose an engagement to our house, who’s to say that Heinrich did it out of his fondness for Rosemary? Either he had another agenda or someone was manipulating him.

To just accept the pretext of engagement at face value was reckless of her.

To deceive or be deceived; to use or be used; to betray or be betrayed—that is nobility.

The nobility was just a group of fraudsters.

Furthermore, Rosemary was practically implying that Heinrich would bend the law because of favoritism and acquit those who were clearly in the wrong. Although she didn’t seem to realize it, she was saying that she could do as she pleased. 

Fortunately, the people around her, including Amaryllis, were too stupid to catch on.

Rosemary, you’re so unfortunate.

Translator’s Note:

 //Rolls up sleeve// I’ll throttle this two-faced child!!!