Irene's loyal maidservant, following Irene's orders, wandered around everywhere, emitting a reddish aura to guard anyone near Diana.
It was just a faint aftereffect, but it played a significant role in stirring up the servants' ill feelings. The malice slowly took over the space where Diana was.
The strange signs started with very trivial things.
"Wake up! How long are you going to sleep?"
"Why are you being lazy when you have nothing to do?"
The voices of those who were once kind became harsh. The attitude of the servants who respected her changed. That attitude soon manifested in their actions.
"I brought the washing water."
"Ah, it's cold!"
Noel, who had put his hands in the basin on the pedestal, screamed.
As if to let her taste the cold of the north, they brought water so cold that her fingers would freeze.
"Ah, it's hot!"
They served tea brewed with water boiling so fiercely that it could burn the roof of the mouth. The fingers that held the teacup turned bright red. Diana's expression hardened as she held the child's hand.
She remained still, but the people around her, both maids and ladies-in-waiting, expressed their dissatisfaction with her.
"Oh my. Look at these clothes."
"And these accessories."
The maids clicked their tongues, looking at the dresses and various jewels that filled the dressing room. They were made exclusively for Diana.
Isn't this too extravagant for a woman whose family we don't even know?
The thought that suddenly popped up brought jealousy and envy, blinding their eyes. Even her position as the first young master's fiancée-to-be seemed so ridiculous that they lost their sense of discernment.
"Lady Irene didn't even have half of this."
"Our poor young lady."
"I heard Lady Irene has such a kind heart?"
Even the servants who never encountered her due to living in different areas began to praise Irene.
"Right! She's very kindhearted. She even gave me this."
The maidservant raised the sachet hanging from her waist, boasting. She had a expression full of pride, as if she was special. As if reacting to that emotion, red smoke billowed from the sachet.
"Oh my. I'm envious!"
"I wish I was in charge of that young lady too."
"If we tell the head maid, would she let us switch?"
"Can I see that too?"
"Sure! As much as you want... huh?"
The maidservant, not realizing it was a voice from behind, froze while answering cheerfully.
The maids who had been chatting for a while all shut their mouths and froze. The owner of the sachet, following the maids' gazes, turned her head and her pupils quivered.
"Oh my, why are you so stiff? I won't scold you for taking a short break."
Whenever it opened. Diana stood at the wide open door of the dressing room, arms folded obliquely. The maids, who had not sensed any presence, were restless.
"That sachet, I'd like to see it too. May I take a look for a moment?"
"N-no, you can't!"
The maidservant desperately held the sachet tight, as if Diana was trying to forcibly take it away.
"This is very precious to me. Please have mercy."
"..."
The more the maidservant acted pathetic, the more the surrounding maids' eyes gradually turned into axe eyes.
They glared at Diana as if they had never paid attention to her before. The red energy enveloped them as if their minds were armed.
"This is too much! How can you try to extort a servant's belongings?"
"That's right! If you're truly a noble, you shouldn't treat us like this."
"Even if you're the young master's fiancée-to-be, this is not right!"
As the maids shouted, the owner of the sachet finally began to shed tears. She looked so miserable that it seemed as if Diana had mistreated the maidservant.
"We will report this to the head butler! Let's go."
The maids left the dressing room in a rush, passing by her.
"Wait a moment."
The owner of the sachet, who was the last to leave, was startled and widened her eyes as her way was blocked.
Diana, blocking the entrance with one arm, smiled softly and opened her mouth.
"You dropped your precious item."
"Y-yes?"
She pointed down with her eyes. The maidservant's hand was empty, even though she was sure she was holding it tightly. Following her gaze, the sachet was on the floor.
"Th-thank you."
"What would happen if His Grace the Duke knew about the conversation you had?"
She whispered softly to the passing maidservant.
"Ah, in the North, they used to punish servants who misused their tongues by cutting them off."
It was obvious whose side the Duke would take, so the maidservant hiccupped and turned pale at the chilling words.
Diana's eyes narrowed as she watched the maidservant bow and hurriedly leave as if running away.
They feel fear. Are their emotions not completely numb? I thought they couldn't even feel fear since they were babbling without discernment.
Diana raised the sachet she had swapped from the maidservant's hand.
Observing the maids closely, she was able to find a similar sachet and swap it.
An ominous energy swirled from the sachet. It seems similar to the red mana that amplified Rodrick's madness.
It seemed to have touched the servants' emotions. People who felt a particularly red energy expressed their dissatisfaction with her noticeably.
What the hell is this? Diana frowned as she opened the inside of the sachet.
A stone fragment? Each small stone fragment, like a go stone, was engraved with ancient letters.
Wouldn't Noel know what this is?
"Sister, we have to get rid of this. It's very, very bad!"
When she showed it to Noel to consult, the child burned the entire sachet with magic without any explanation.
"Wait, Noel. Shouldn't we investigate this further?"
Diana asked in dismay, looking down at her empty palm, not even leaving ashes behind.
"It's okay!"
Well, if Noel says it's okay, then it's okay. Diana shrugged her shoulders without thinking deeply about what had already happened.
The stone fragments disappeared without a trace. It seemed like the series of events were settled for now. But the malice towards her continued.
[This is the timeline separator]
Search "seduce" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 70.