MHM 7

"Blame everything on me."

‘Riel, I don't have to be just a pawn on your chessboard.’

Vera and the head maid looked at Iana in shock at her words.

"Blame Madam? That's not acceptable."

The head maid refused immediately.

Vera, wiping her tears roughly with her sleeve, spoke firmly.

"I don't like it either. Madam has done nothing wrong."

"Vera, the responsibility must fall on me to prevent a bigger problem."

Iana turned to the head maid and asked.

"Isn't that right, head maid?"

"Yes, but we can't guarantee how the Count will treat you."

The head maid, who knew Carrion well, looked troubled. His violence spared neither men nor women.

"I'll handle that myself."

"..."

Vera and the head maid looked at Iana with concern.

"Managing the household is my responsibility as the lady of the house. I'm just trying to ensure that the innocent aren't blamed, so don't worry too much."

"Then what should we do?"

The head maid asked cautiously.

"If we can't catch the culprit, then do this..."

Iana slowly explained her plan to the two. In her mind, she thought,

'I must be different from the weak and manipulated person I was in my previous life.'

People don't change easily. But there are moments when even the most unchangeable person change.

A misfortune that shakes one's entire existence.

Those who endure such misfortune inevitably change, for better or worse.

She recalled what Riel had said before the regression in the hospital room.

“Why do you bother surviving and digging into others' affairs? Do you think you can bring me down from the Empress's seat?”

‘Let’s empty our emotions and build up our strength.’

Iana resolved once more.

To fight against the predicted misfortune that Riel had orchestrated.

---

Meanwhile, at that moment, Charles was examining the Detrian family's parlor adorned with luxury marble and gold.

A place where portraits of the family heads and mistresses were hung to show the lineage at a glance.

A unique culture of scholarly aristocrats who valued history and tradition.

Charles slowly looked around the family portraits and stopped in front of Iana's portrait.

He recalled seeing Iana running barefoot in the garden the previous night.

"The reason I was running like that last night is because..."

When Charles first saw the Countess running barefoot, he thought there must be an untold story.

The scene of the Detrian Count trying to push the Countess overlapped in his mind.

"Didn't you hear? Get out of the way!"

'Was it because of her husband?'

As Charles pondered while looking at Iana's portrait, Carrion approached and spoke.

"Your Highness, if you've seen everything, may I guide you elsewhere?"

Carrion's tone was polite, but his face clearly showed discomfort.

Not only because of the argument in the gallery but also because Charles had been staring at his wife's portrait for a long time.

"Count Detrian, in the gallery..."

As Charles began to speak, Carrion bowed deeply and apologized first.

"I am truly sorry for the incident in the gallery. I failed to consider Your Highness's precious time."

"It's alright. I know you didn't do it on purpose, so don't worry about it. Now, where shall we go..."

As Charles moved towards the door, Carrion spoke from behind him.

"But."

"...?"

Charles turned back.

"As the head of this household, it's overstepping for Your Highness to interfere with my household management."

Carrion clenched his fists, trembling with anger.

"...!"

The surrounding nobles glanced at the two men.

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Charles and Carrion's gazes locked in a tense standoff.

'Regardless of right or wrong, I should ease the tension since he provided a place for my knights to rest.'

Charles softened his expression and spoke respectfully.

"I also apologize formally for that."

"...!"

Carrion looked slightly taken aback by Charles's unexpected apology.

"And once again, thank you for providing a place for my knights to rest, Count Detrian."

"Oh, yes. Your Highness."

Carrion's face turned red with embarrassment, realizing he was the only one who had gotten angry.

As the tension eased, the watching nobles turned their attention elsewhere.

"Then, this way..."

As Carrion began to lead the way, Charles brushed past him and spoke quietly.

"But."

"...?"

"Household matters should be handled privately."

Charles said with a sharp gaze.

He knew well.

People like Count Detrian, who were coercive to the weak, should not be allowed any leeway.

---

Iana left the guest room and headed straight to her room.

As she opened the door and entered, she found Riel waiting for her, as expected.

"Iana, how did it go?"

Iana plopped down on the sofa like a child and spoke.

"I don't know! It's frustrating! Why did this have to happen today?"

Riel approached and gently consoled her.

"What did Vera and the head maid say?"

"They said they had no idea why. Do you have any thoughts?"

"Well..."

Riel hesitated as if being cautious with her words.

"Then why were you cleaning the gallery with the other maids? You said you were my dedicated nursing maid!"

Iana pretended to be angry to coax Riel into speaking.

"Each household has its own rules for the maids. This is the Detrian household, so I have to follow their rules."

"..."

"I have no choice in my position..."

Riel trailed off, lowering her head.

Iana watched Riel quietly.

Cunning words.

As if trying to evoke sympathy by implying she was being bullied because she was from a traitor's family but was enduring it silently.

When Iana remained silent, Riel cautiously asked.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

'Riel, I'll sympathize as you wish.'

Iana stroked Riel's face and spoke.

"Poor Riel, are you being bullied by the Detrian maids? Be honest."

"No, it's not that."

"Of course it is! That's why you ended up cleaning the gallery. I need to talk to the head maid right away!"

Iana stood up abruptly.

Seeing this, Riel grabbed her hand and pleaded, deceitfully pitiful.

"The Count barely allowed me to stay by your side. What if I get kicked out because of unnecessary trouble? Please just ignore it."

Iana hugged Riel warmly and spoke.

"Fine. But if something happens, tell me right away. I’ll solve it in a way that won’t harm you."

"Okay. Actually, there's something I wanted to say..."

'Finally, it's starting.'

Iana thought with sharp eyes. She then relaxed her expression, sat back on the sofa, and asked Riel.

"What is it?"

"I don't know exactly what happened, but Vera was the last one in the gallery."

"Really?"

Riel skillfully mixed truth with lies to lead Iana to her intended conclusion. Blowing up a small suspicious situation.

'You set it up, didn't you? To make sure Vera was the last one in the gallery.'

Iana pretended to believe Riel completely and asked.

"Riel, what should I do now?"

"This is the first big incident since you became the lady of the house. You need to show your authority through this."

"So, what should I do?"

Iana urged, pretending to be frustrated like a child.

"Hold those involved accountable. That's the only way to establish your authority."

Riel spoke with determined eyes.

'It's not about establishing my authority, but rather trying to alienate me from the Detrian household.'

Knock, knock.

As Iana was thinking, the sound of knocking was followed by the voice of the old butler.

"Madam, the Count requests your presence in the study, along with the maid who cleaned the gallery."

"We'll go down now."

Iana and Riel stood up.

As Riel moved to leave, Iana spoke up.

"Riel, by the way..."

"Yes?"

"You're not going to ask if I'm okay? Carrion tried to push me earlier."

Riel's eyes wavered briefly but continued naturally.

"I was too preoccupied with thinking about how you should handle this as the lady of the house. Are you okay?"

"It hurts. He grabbed me so hard, I thought my bones would break."

Iana pouted, pretending to complain, and Riel comforted her like a sister.

"Alright, I'll apply some ointment to your shoulder later. Let's go."

Iana and Riel went straight to Carrion's study.

As they entered, they found the butler, the interior guards, the head maid, and the maids who had cleaned the gallery standing with their heads bowed like criminals.

At that moment, Iana and Vera's eyes met.

Knock. Knock.

Carrion struck the floor threateningly with his sword.

"So no one here knows? How the statue ended up like that."

Carrion suddenly pointed his sword at Vera's neck.

"You said you were the last one in the gallery, right?"

"...Yes, Count."

Vera answered, trembling.

At that moment.

The head maid stepped forward and spoke firmly.

"I know who the culprit is."