TDRDH :08

CHAPTER :08

Madame Howard’s face contorted even further.

“Show yourself right now! Come out!”

But there was no way the culprit would show themselves on their own.

Furious to the tip of her toes, Madame Howard raged wildly.

“Is anyone there?! Find the culprit, right now!!”

At her shrieking, other servants came rushing over.

“What’s going on?”

“Heavens, did you get doused with dirty water?”

Meanwhile, watching the servants bustle about and chatter loudly, Cecilia felt her heart sink.

*What if Milena gets caught?*

Madame Howard was notoriously ruthless to those beneath her.

If Milena were caught, she would face severe punishment.

Ultimately, Cecilia opened her mouth, pretending to know nothing.

“Nanny, I know you’re angry, but why don’t you go inside and wash up first?”

“Pardon? But…!”

“The weather is still cold. It would be terrible if you caught a cold.”

Cecilia looked at Madame Howard, putting on a worried expression.

“We can always send people to find the culprit later. You’re already shivering from the cold.”

It was true.

Madame Howard’s shoulders were trembling miserably.

In the end, pretending to yield, the nanny left with the help of the other maids.

“Just wait till I catch them! I won’t let this go!!”

As her shrill voice faded away, Cecilia looked up at the third-floor balcony with wide eyes.

At that moment, a tuft of golden hair popped up over the railing.

It was Milena.

Poking her head out to scan the surroundings, Milena locked eyes with Cecilia.

Milena silently gestured to ask:

*Did she go?*

Dazed, Cecilia nodded.

At that, Milena straightened her back and stood up.

She flipped an empty bucket upside down, gave it a light shake, and held her index finger up to her lips.

*Shh.*

Her blue-green eyes shook violently, as if hit by an earthquake.

With a final, bright smile, Milena slipped back inside the building.

After a short wait, Milena, who had run down to the first floor, came rushing toward her.

“My lady!”

Milena asked, catching her breath.

“What happened to Madame Howard? I couldn’t see because I was hiding. But judging by how angry she sounded, she must have gotten soaked, right?”

“O-oh? Yes, she was completely denched, but…”

Answering blankly, Cecilia suddenly snapped back to her senses.

“D-did you really do that?”

“Yes.”

Nodding confidently, Milena snorted and lifted her chin.

“If I had my way, I’d hope she catches a severe cold.”

“W-why did you do that?”

She was so shocked that she stammered slightly without realizing it.

Milena replied with a look that asked why she was even questioning something so obvious.

“Because she was being incredibly rude to you, my lady.”

“Really?”

Cecilia blinked her eyes blankly.

Just for that reason?

…Just to take my side?

“Of course! No matter if she’s your nanny, treating you so disrespectfully is completely out of line.”

“B-but… she’s the nanny my mother personally assigned to me…”

“Does that mean she’s allowed to be insolent to you, my lady?”

Milena’s eyes flashed fiercely.

“It doesn’t matter who appointed her. What matters is how she treats you.”

“…….”

It was a first.

A person who would get angry on her behalf.

Everyone else always told her she needed to try harder.

That she wouldn’t be loved if she didn’t.

But Milena, on the contrary, was telling her that she deserved to be respected as a matter of course.

…For some reason, that fact filled her with genuine joy.

“And shouldn’t a nanny always be by your side, my lady? Why does it feel like this is the first time I’ve ever seen her?”

“That’s… because she’s busy with my brother.”

Cecilia forced a weak smile.

Confronted with that helpless smile, Milena’s face crumpled even further.

In other words, Cecilia was cast aside while that nanny was busy kissing up to the young duke, that damned ‘real son’?!

*I mean, the original novel did describe her being discriminated against in agonizing detail, but…*

But seeing this blatant favoritism with my own eyes makes my stomach churn.

And what was with her bringing up ‘the real Cecilia’ at every turn anyway?

I can totally understand why Cecilia ended up sharpening her blade of revenge.

…The only problem is that I’m the target of that revenge!

Just then.

“But… thank you.”

A tiny whisper landed on her ears.

*Huh?*

Milena looked at Cecilia with eyes wide like a startled rabbit.

As if she had never uttered a word of thanks, Cecilia subtly averted her eyes and pretended to be looking at something else.

Her pale ears, however, had already turned bright red.

“Pardon? My lady, excuse me, but what did you say?”

Feeling mischievous, Milena feigned ignorance as she asked.

Cecilia snapped back, returning to her characteristically prim expression.

“If you didn’t hear it, then forget it.”

With that, she began to walk ahead with quick strides, as if fleeing…

*Sigh, what am I going to do?*

Why was she like this?

In the original novel, she was supposed to be a cool and aloof beauty.

Why does she look like nothing but a feisty little kitten in my eyes?!

Suppressing the laughter that threatened to burst out, Milena quickly chased after Cecilia.

“My lady? My lady! Wait for me!”

* * *

Ever since the day Milena poured dirty water over Madame Howard’s head, Cecilia’s attitude had become noticeably softer.

“Doesn’t standing like that make your legs hurt? Why don’t you just sit here?”

Even when she was reading alone, she would insist on having me sit beside her rather than stand.

“Say, Milena, what’s your favorite food?”

She would casually ask things about me like that.

Today was no exception.

Out of nowhere, she declared she was going to have teatime, only to pile the tea table high with all kinds of desserts.

Tarts loaded with strawberries, fluffy whipped cream cakes, chocolate éclairs bursting with custard, cookies, and even thickly stuffed sandwiches.

The desserts, crafted with utmost care by the pastry chef of Baron Trancier’s household, certainly looked mouthwatering, but…

*Isn’t that way too much for one person?*

Just as I was staring at the tea table with a skeptical look,

Cecilia suddenly gestured with her chin toward the pile of desserts.

“This is too much.”

Yes, it certainly looks that way…

At the same time, Cecilia looked straight at me.

“Sit down.”

“Pardon?”

“I can’t eat all of this by myself.”

“But…”

“It would be a waste to leave it.”

Having replied, Cecilia lowered her head toward her cake plate, pretending to be nonchalant.

Watching her desperately try to avoid my gaze, I suppressed the chuckle that threatened to slip out.

*Ah, she prepared all of this just so she could eat with me.*

Well, even so, it still seemed like a bit much…

I sat down, pretending to give in.

Cecilia gave me a sidelong glance, then slid a plate toward me.

It was a tart with bright red strawberries sparkling like gems.

“This one is good.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

I picked up my fork without reservation.

The savory, flaky tart shell, the smooth custard cream, and the fresh strawberries…

As the sweet flavors harmonized beautifully in my mouth, I couldn’t help but feel a little touched.

*Wow, this is seriously delicious.*

Meanwhile, Cecilia, who had been watching me closely, suddenly asked,

“Is it good?”

“Yes, it’s absolutely delicious!”

I met Cecilia’s gaze with sparkling eyes.

Cecilia’s face brightened like the sky clearing up after a rain.

“Really? Is it good?”

But she quickly composed herself and added with a prim look,

“W-well, then eat some more.”

A pound cake packed with nuts and dried fruit was placed in front of me.

Naturally, I didn’t refuse.