The Tragedy of The Villainess (Novel) Chapter 32


Chapter 32


 "Do you check the glacier every day?"

"Ohhh."

The frozen lake was an inseparable place for the vassals of the Grand Duke. Demons usually appeared in winter, but sometimes the demons showed unusual behavior and ignored the season.

Stern was like a star. Most of the Sterns were arrogant and loved the bustling imperial capital even more, but if they were a bit diligent in the central territory, they could quickly win the hearts of the people in Berg’s territory.

Of course, Stern is welcomed wherever they go, so it would be absurd to pour her heart into the cold and terrifying frozen lake every day, it wouldn’t be a good thing.

"And she’s also very good at her job. I’ve never seen a noble of such high rank be as efficient as the Grand Duke. No, she feels even faster than His Highness when it comes to efficiency…?"

"That’s definitely something Linon would like."

Linon nodded. The firewood crackled loudly. He was crouched in front of a large stove, enjoying the fire, but his frozen body didn’t melt quickly.

Then, a middle-aged woman about the same age as Martha approached and said,

"Linon, the water is boiling."

"Oh, thank you, Johanna-nim."

"You say thank you for everything."

Linon stood up.

Martha was the maid of the Grand Duchess, dedicated only to the Grand Duchess. After the death of the Grand Duchess, her duty seemed to have been directed to the newly emerged “temporary” Grand Duchess.

Thanks to this, Martha took all the hot water from the mansion.

A noble lady needs to take a decent bath, so naturally, Linon was trembling while waiting for the water to boil. It wasn’t noticeable, but Linon's fingers were hardened from the cold.

It was just when Linon took a step.

"It’s a big problem because the shadows are spreading to the kitchen. I barely took out all the ingredients… Linon? Why are you so pale?"

Linon’s shoulders trembled. He blinked for a moment. At that moment, a middle-aged woman the same age as Martha approached.

"Why aren’t you under the blankets? Ah, it’s because of your phobia. If you keep this up, you won’t live long, chief aide."

"I’m a clean and delicate aide, unlike the rough Susan…"

"Your mouth is still alive. I really don’t want to get rid of your body from Laurel Mansion."

"Ouch! Susan-nim!"

Susan grabbed Linon by the neck with a serious expression and dragged him away.

"I can walk on my own!"

"You’ll die on the way, Linon."

"Argh! I wish you’d wear gloves and touch my clothes!" Linon shouted.

Susan didn’t bat an eye. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t use his frozen hands well.

"You still have that mysophobia. I’m glad you didn’t do that to the young lady."

"Of course, Lady Seria…"

Splash!

Susan dropped Linon into a hot, steaming tub.

"Puah!"

Linon gathered his wet hair and shouted.

"Demon! This is the demon’s lair! This time we’ll seal them all together!"

How can I say it’s not a demon when she deliberately touched his clothes and his body even though she knew he had mysophobia?

Butler Ben addressed Linon, who looked like a wet rat, politely.

"The washing soap and essences are in the third drawer on the left."

"All right, I’d like both of you to leave!"

It was clear that Linon would wash his body and clothes thoroughly. In fact, if he hadn’t been the chief aide, he might have been hired as the chief laundry officer.

Ben smiled, thinking unrealistically. It’s not bad to hear this kind of noise in Laurel Mansion, which is always silent under a deep shadow of death.

Susan, who put Linon in the bathtub, seemed to have a similar idea.

She murmured while watching Linon angrily search for the washing soap.

"I’m glad there are only two baths in this mansion."

Her mouth smiled, but her voice was full of regret.

"I feel like I’ve become human."

Martha gave me a light massage while applying a scented oil, which also had a very strong mugwort smell, as if she had made it herself.

"All done, young lady. There’s not much clothing left in the mansion. But it will be warm."

"Thank you."

I put on the fur robe Martha brought me. The cart hadn’t arrived yet, and all my clothes were there.

When I stepped out of the steam-filled bath, the cold air hit my skin. And I blinked. Because three people were waiting outside.

"It’s an honor to meet you like this, young lady. I am Ben, the butler of Berg. I would be happy if you could call me simply Ben."

"Butler?"

I opened my eyes wide. I didn’t know there was a butler in the Grand Duchy of Berg. I had never heard of a butler, so I thought it was a mansion without one.

Lesche really didn’t like formalities, so it felt understandable that there wasn’t one there.

"I thought there wasn’t a butler in Berg."

Ben laughed.

"I can’t go to the mansion due to certain circumstances. Pardon my rudeness."

"Don’t worry… It’s fine."

"Thank you, Lady Seria."

Looking at the kind and gentle Ben, I tilted my head. This is because in the original book there was no butler in the Grand Duchy of Berg.

"Did he die before the story began? But he looks very healthy."

Maybe this butler resigned from his position as butler of Berg for some reason. Of course, I didn’t know why. First-class butlers and chefs receive the highest salaries in noble residences. In particular, it was hard to guess why a butler of the Grand Duchy would resign from such a good position, as the salary would be more than the property of most low-ranking aristocrats.

Besides, he’s very friendly.

A neat and tidy outfit, cufflinks on the sleeves that are not too excessive but clearly indicate that he is a butler, and neatly combed hair clearly showed that he was the butler of a prestigious family.

I felt worse because I thought he would be good at his job. I think he would help me a lot if he were at the mansion.

"Let me introduce you to these ladies as well, young lady."

While feeling regret, Ben pointed to two middle-aged women behind him.

"This is Johanna, the gardener, and this is Susan, the seamstress."

"Good morning, young lady. I am Johanna."

"I am Susan."

The greetings from the two were courteous. But Johanna, the gardener, was looking at my hair. I wondered. Is there something in my hair?

"What’s the matter?"

"Green..."

"Johanna."

When Susan nudged her in the side, Johanna bowed her head in embarrassment. The two went to dry my clothes, and Martha followed them.

Ben apologized.

"I’m sorry. The gardener of this mansion loves green."

"I thought she was looking at it because she didn’t like it."

"Huh? That’s ridiculous. Who would say… your hair is very beautiful."

I shrugged and smiled. In fact, Seria’s hair is a bright green, so there were quite a few likes and dislikes. Those who liked it said it was because it looked like a summer day’s meadow, and those who didn’t like it hated it because it looked like sinister seaweed.

The latter was, to be honest, a bit depressing.

Seaweed means seaweed after all...

"Especially the two young masters of Marquis Kellyden hated it."

In the original story, those extras courted the heroine, Lina. In Seria’s memory, those two brothers were bastards.

"You must be hungry, so let’s eat."

Ben led me to the dining room.

"We’ve prepared some food."

As Ben said, the meals were already prepared in the dining room. I sat in the chair Ben pulled out, and naturally looked at Ben, who was standing next to me.

"You don’t have to wait by my side."

"Then call me if you need me."

When Ben left, the quiet dining room became quieter. When I filled my empty stomach with a simple but steaming stew, I felt like I would survive. While diligently emptying the stew bowl, I suddenly felt someone’s presence behind me.

"Lady Seria."

Said a familiar voice. It was Linon. I almost fainted when I looked back without thinking twice.

"Hiik."

(N/T: onomatopoeia expressing surprise)

I thought it was a ghost. Linon was walking, dripping water all over his body.

"I’m sorry… the cart hasn’t arrived yet, and I don’t have clothes to change into."

"But when Martha brought me clothes, didn’t she give Linon some? Oh, do you want a robe? There are two layers."

"Is it the young lady’s robe?"

"No, I got it from Martha."

It seemed like clothes used by someone else. They kept it clean, so I didn’t feel much resistance, but that wasn’t the case for Linon.

"Then I politely decline. It doesn’t seem like the dimensions are right anyway."

As Linon said, the robe didn’t seem to fit his body. But isn’t it much better than dripping water like that? Even if it’s warm water now, it will cool down quickly. And if he catches a cold? I knew he hated getting sick.

"I guess it’s because of the mysophobia."

"Eat some of this for now. Martha also brought Linon’s share."

"Thank you. Young lady."

Linon sat in front of me. Despite his passionate refusal to wear someone else’s clothes, he eagerly looked at the steaming stew.


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