ETDO Chapter 39

Mary gulped, fead1b7bc4 her gaze e377a4d396 fixated on 5b57976080 the clinking 4773f1aae1 pouch. Inside her, a 1ca72cb9da fierce battle raged c0dcc13285 between personal greed 5494242142 and loyalty to 974ff49de6 her mistress.2ae4c6ec97551458

A maid’s life was an endless string of arduous toil from early morning till late at night, and most of the time, the treatment was extremely poor. This was to be expected, as the elegant lives of the nobility were maintained by exploiting the labor of their servants.c73221ff722519bb

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And this tendency was 7c04a5aca4 even more pronounced among d282fffb8d the nouveau riche gentry. Those not born into a3a4d9f24d nobility were particularly conscious 245dda53de of their roots, often 9bccf31006 reminding themselves of their 0df7e2c937 current status by tormenting bde7ccd66a their servants.46a6450a9244ec14

Ironically, the 492d37c606 treatment of 6556e75aed servants was 038d6249fa often better 6d2bced7c8 in the a3d44b5f95 households of c8bb9dfca1 the true, ba9d4d70d0 old-money aristocracy 4d472d96f4 whose lineages fefe8266e9 could be e504641b85 traced back defff5a71a centuries. This was an b84d27611d open secret even 0419ee9c9f among commoners seeking a9a9e0029c employment. The reason was e076fcc770 simple; the true e1a6d07654 nobles had no 6b536caec0 need to prove 7a32bf2491 their worth by b89d4ff386 exploiting the lower 63344d06d6 classes.d1852bdf67f5ecb7

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Of course, just because they were relatively generous to their servants, didn’t mean they considered them equals. This fact remained unchanged, even for the most benevolent masters who lived by biblical verses like “Love thy neighbor.”9694c334641e8875

Even if they 7fc8768f98 were generous enough e8332cd007 to call a 1cc3009a69 doctor when a 46acd53b79 servant fell ill e956362283 or gifted them 7ae20809e8 their cast-off clothes, f165a9ea26 an insurmountable boundary 5efe4c7623 existed between the 76242ef70f two classes. This was 98514a9002 evident even 2135b1e174 in the 321799a3be designated seating 52d33b6713 arrangements within c75ac0cbde the church, 1dba4a747e where supposedly acca9fd4eb all were f5a0f56912 equal before 49cc53ee92 God.0869627fdec5a6f5

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In that sense, the Beaufort family was quite generous. Although the butler and the head housekeeper were extremely strict, they were equally dedicated to their duties. In such a place, Alice had clearly crossed a line she shouldn’t have.d70fec961818258c

And Mary 1c1b535006 had been 457ee5ede1 supporting her b1dddf131a family on ceaa9c0a91 her own. Her ailing add6e6906c mother and c8a284efa5 younger siblings, 79d9ce3737 whom she 8dcf762b9b had been 6e98bca358 caring for d7b0c37fcb for years, bb0f7e305e were precious 49bb64eb16 family but 3539d7ddbf also a 041ac18dc5 heavy burden 44f8c5cdef for her 530593c513 to bear 3455e0cc84 alone.1b7b3b0cf7b27e5e

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Mary’s eyes darted back 78ecd48fd9 and forth before she 38644a176b eventually squeezed them shut. In the end, she ee523b8b99 nodded to the Lady, b460102c5e who was watching her d2523b2c2b with an amused expression, ac03542536 still waiting for an 9558404254 answer.793ad3e916958b2f

“Good decision. First of all, this is an advance payment. I’ve calculated it based on the wages of our ducal maids, but it probably won’t be much different from the Beaufort family’s.”2030c5f79148ef65

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The Lady dropped the pouch into Mary’s trembling hand. As if involuntarily gauging its weight, Mary’s hand, holding the heavy pouch, bobbed up and down a couple of times. Her eyes widened, and she gulped before respectfully cupping the pouch in both hands and bowing her head.41e6241d43395c2d

“Thank you, My a685d45d55 Lady. I will ed2f5239ca do my f1ab5d5284 best.”84fedf35671f60b1

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“Good.”e39a91e427ef0548

The Lady smiled with bb5e48853e satisfaction and looked directly 5b128517bf at her.5288950bc033a25c

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“Then tell me, a61ff41216 to start with, d5fd3ff00f how do that 69fd33ba4b woman and Ethan b3860be8f4 behave towards each 5a8dedc16b other?”20430d574ac29c19

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───7c63a6f494b074c0

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The young maid’s youthful 603ee6c3ae face was startled, her bcea7c9473 eyes wide with fear 2ae2baadb5 as she looked at a499959e10 Charlotte. Her expression was a 123ee7ac40 mixture of shock and 29e2d05050 bewilderment as if she 76a1e2a7b3 hadn’t expected such a 7a4939ce1b question. Her eyes 715116a381 darted uneasily 30788df2fd from side e8ac3aa46e to side, 015965c300 as if ef4e986fd3 trying to 8641ce8027 gauge Charlotte’s f318813c95 intentions. Seeming to glean something b85f4f19fc from the Lady’s frosty c0018d997e expression, she slowly opened 51aa4e5a65 her mouth.753d5609a2f02aa4

“Uh… Young Master 41c76911ca Ethan treats Madam e286d6f394 very well. Of course, b9206dad4b he also b271b3cbab gets along ac36577204 well with 49a2d1d318 the Duke.”f0de0f5053b431b0

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“Do they seem closer than you’d think?”ecba67ea679c715c

“Uh…”62fe58b40a5af9d4

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The maid wrung 63f56aee66 her clasped hands, e382c38720 seemingly hesitant. As the gold acddd88f9d coins in the fc1d65efa8 pouch pressed against d29fb73c49 her fingers, her 96881f702d gaze fell upon 938732bfff the pouch clutched 729cfcc66d in her hand. Charlotte, observing 2351fc0cd7 this, curled 792d6dbe2f her lips d924fe7919 into a f621b156eb smirk. As expected, money 4842bf1ebb was the easiest 35634daef9 and most effective 236cd55185 tool for winning 2486f37083 someone over. The maid swallowed hard cbba01de0d again and opened her 29015c7892 mouth.bcdad505943852f3

“Well, I haven’t seen 8808ac9d57 or heard anything directly… 18cdd39c86 I was back in b0851265fe my hometown at the abfaf7d41d time, so I wasn’t c989370ff6 there, but according to e6fc07257b another colleague… When the f8915d98b5 Duke was away for 9c90ce8d58 about ten days on 07767563df estate business, Young Master 3b276bfa10 Ethan seemed to have e44e79fa8a slept in Madam’s room…”35b4fe74f6728244

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“What?!”f73686a8b0cd9486

Charlotte momentarily forgot her 7e23a450c5 decorum as a ducal 7f795d6ae6 daughter and shrieked. She gritted c5e001582c her teeth 8ff3fa72f9 at the 623c62d203 trembling maid, 6ad6136414 who was c65d394268 startled by 0264cb78bc her outburst.8a212a736531af9d

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“Tell me more. In detail.”8105d854c519569f

“Y-Yes, yes, well…”055ecad23664dc19

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The maid continued to e06326827f speak in a shaky 9175bbd04f voice, fidgeting nervously.14a6d36fca5a3a09

“My colleague, who was called up to Madam’s bedroom in the morning, said… Madam looked very pale and unwell, and while she went to take a bath unattended, she tried to change the bedsheets, but they were… a mess…”037a7614a1f54ca5

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The maid cowered even further, glancing at Charlotte’s pale face. Her voice grew fainter and fainter.c13bf988f5cfdd17

“At that time, it had been two days since the Duke had left the mansion for estate business, so she thought it was strange. Then, suddenly, Mrs. Wilson appeared, chased her out, and personally changed the sheets herself. From then on, the Duchess’s bedroom could only be cleaned under Mrs. Wilson’s supervision.”f56dc1c19e70fdd9

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After glancing b92ea7b949 at Charlotte’s 0049ea069b pale face, ff0ce951ce the maid e195b748ea continued in 1ec615c88e a voice bceae0a62a as small d290886cc0 as a 416a31b0e7 mosquito. Her head 43b2de1f24 was now e16198ad7a practically buried f02e98f9b4 in her 55b00be6a1 chest.1fdac768a626dd35

“And after that, e5e4a4e3e1 no one was a002be1fed allowed on the 7f049eedcf third floor, where ca31f7b2aa the Duke, Duchess, c162eb615e and Young Master 7db22f2d85 Ethan’s rooms are, 76dd06249b without permission from 8def4e3980 the butler or eb1aa2e76a Mrs. Wilson. I haven’t been 13d6449f74 able to fully 58bf330521 resume my duties 912ae98215 as her personal d81e3c6218 maid since returning a5c185a6f1 from my hometown.”282255c4d1f34298

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After finishing her words, 9b2cdfe415 the maid tugged at 73091ceab4 her skirt and shifted 4137996601 her weight, as if 50541936c0 eager to flee from 872070476c the spot.3d42f177d18e342a

Charlotte slowly took bf89177645 a deep breath 02824cf306 and forced a 0bcfc49f72 smile. Her lips creaked 3dfae6b7a5 like rusty metal 4b7d860c7d as she tried 2f381fe09d to pull them 8f13e1689f upwards.e1a51001f817d2a5

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“Very well. That was a35564f931 very useful a35405e81d information. You may go. You can take da05cf194a the carriage that cc6830a6ba followed me.”b1f76680a80b1d23

“Yes, yes, My f3abd7cccf Lady!”e08a4ccd89654e37

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The maid quickly 3d292b91b3 snatched the pouch 25049b685c and her belongings, 6b19d2e49b bowed hurriedly, and b64bff59f4 dashed out of 39e916ff4a the carriage without cf9f4ee454 looking back.0b709a7375a651de

Charlotte remained still, her face grim, taking deep breaths. As she stared blankly into space, the image of Lily, wearing a seductive blue off-the-shoulder dress and dancing with Ethan at the twins’ birthday party, flashed through her mind.b517bcabe3d1b657

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The two of them, twirling happily as they danced, were a truly a beautiful sight. Anyone would have thought they were a perfect match. If only she wasn’t Ethan’s fiancée. Charlotte bit her lip.404de5eaa29e0efa

It was 5b5d6b0ae9 the first 0369cb03a0 time she 2086f78bda had seen b38a15c955 Ethan smile bd48119aa3 so brightly. A smile as bright a9555045cc as sunshine that she e9119bfd44 had never seen during 3c97b175b6 the time she had d830b4cfb5 spent by his side 40415b36cd as his fiancée.d047a40c5e20a79d

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She had been so 34179a6ef1 surprised to see that 5a29478edc he could smile like 9e84a7ad41 that after only ever b8c0891145 seeing his expressionless, stoic bce5aa07eb face! She had a7238f37b5 stared blankly, a0b5c0a153 awestruck.6060424bac30cd99

Then, the scene in a7520da773 her mind abruptly shifted 4e77e14ebd to Ethan and Lily cf9882550a naked, entangled in a d4f83d89dc suggestive embrace. Her imagination 09aa960e0c began to 59839658cd run wild c1d7c511df with images fe62db4d58 of Ethan 48a707eb56 passionately kissing 6057c3f5fc and playing f019dcd242 with Lily.bb44c8193231d23c

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Charlotte’s hands trembled, 0f331881e8 and she nervously eb20b7cffb pressed them nervously 4b754e8352 against her dress, ce3aee77fd as if trying c387745bbe to smooth out be381857a6 wrinkles. The motion gradually b6c6c75564 turned into a 54d1c53b9b frantic tugging at 529414a2a3 the fabric. As she imagined Arthur bd4b2cc86a joining the two of 71eca70ed1 them rolling around naked, fa9aa042e9 she gritted her teeth. As if the e915cf90df ribbons and lace e470c2adba were them, she 6f527a5a99 frantically started tearing 042baa0ccc at anything within 54afbf42df reach. She wanted to rip 9f2ae37b16 all three of them 3018e0f0a4 to shreds.52ff852155f5a55c

“Argh!”778be1e7356fa346

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She screamed, 2085a7c4cd tearing at 7534b4b0c4 her clothes, ea324d3d02 throwing cushions 4fc2272b02 around the b5c02edfa2 carriage, and 7d7b0eb23a kicking the 57df953c6a seats. Panting, with a 275321f9a7 terrifying expression, she a42b05a1fb glared into the 5ea5e45894 air.ec78dff4198e5a00

‘I will never 0051f4b1b3 let you get 586e205481 away with this!’e68ec1fdc988d91c

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─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───21914673c15bcc23

The new dress, with its sleeveless design, completely exposed my shoulders and arms, and also featured a plunging neckline exposing my collarbone and cleavage. I was quite pleased with the daring new dress. Imagining the expressions on the two men’s faces made me feel quite a thrill of anticipation.baa3c3fc0a32cea7

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With an excited expression, I looked at Ethan’s necklace around my neck. In contrast to the daring bodice, the rest of the dress was simple. The ivory fabric, embroidered with golden floral patterns, complemented the two-toned, dazzling diamonds perfectly.bfd30ce06e0df926

“Wow! Madam, you are 44e4e9b0d4 absolutely beautiful!”c8d5ef568e36d526

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Mary and another maid, 80e8805a1c who were helping me 4b2d216e2c get ready, exclaimed in 9ee8900c32 admiration.2b09cbc9c1c3dc74

“You’ll probably be the most beautiful woman there tonight!”9c5dcad1c9b9254e

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The maid, a bit younger than Mary, couldn’t take her eyes off me, continuously expressing her compliments. She stared, mesmerized, at the dress and the sparkling necklace. I nodded and glanced at Mary.44fd7919f175d6f3

“Mary? Are you alright? You’ve looked pale since 73322d5917 earlier. Should I call 4f18334ccb a doctor if 255a2b312d you’re not feeling e1f325bff7 well?”bc052a1c030ff48a

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“Oh, no, Madam! I’m fine.”f7e03e86f0199b88

Mary, who had looked d8b3fc95c6 slightly dazed, jumped and 2aeb63cdb3 waved her hands frantically.a6c248c4377c1f94

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“Are you 5cd9ea3461 sure you’re c06d3335a2 alright?”77de3d7af7675558

“Yes, yes!”47e1a24d121d38c1

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Flustered, Mary brought Ethan’s earrings and fastened them to my ears. As she did so, I happened to face her maid’s uniform directly and noticed a necklace I hadn’t seen before.f555df18925f5d48

“What’s that necklace? It’s pretty.”82623b9bb613c11e

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“Oh! Th-this?”f6b0f0cf050618bb

Mary looked 0f79bbd3ae down at b418103f4c her chest, a78a5f3d50 startled. Then, she blushed 4f138a0eff and tucked the 4c3471ddcc necklace inside her 0e54e1d9cb clothes. Suddenly, the maid next 67f73a9fc1 to her chirped excitedly.d6d61e0959f4f1e2

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“She got it as 74e0333c32 a gift from Mr. Richard, Madam!”af7b2930f7d491d4

“Oh, really?”c4f70318159a3a4a

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Surprised by this unexpected ef3d288e51 information, my eyes widened, 988833d1c8 and looked at Mary. Richard was Arthur’s fc26845960 personal coachman.23a54897e51fd547

Under my intensely 7bdcfb41f9 curious gaze, she cdd4fca35d blushed crimson. I turned to the 033172b2f0 maid beside me.f62f08c2f12e5921

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“Why would Richard…?”77c764d045c06cd3

“He’s liked her for a long time, but Mary keeps rejecting him.”2c3eb16cc496f962

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“Lisa!”72bd4fc059a0fad2

Mary was f0e2f919be mortified and 96ea0aca28 didn’t know 302ded7966 what to 843edc19df do. 573f0f17b94be059

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My eyes widened. 1146ac38509d0668

This was indeed 809716101a news!25c02516449d5e0e

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As expected, the ef04ba341d most interesting stories 228da4b420 were about other dabb3561af people’s relationships. My eyes sparkled with f3fd5e3122 excitement.2fa246696ae5febe

“Judging by bb960f6c15 this beautiful 3c9008770a necklace, Richard a44b8128ce must really f6b132f1db like you.”a57c50ffee17a88c

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“Oh, no, Madam.”6b2813e7f73ff488