Kneel Before The Villain - Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Viscountess Willis was very unhappy with the situation. However, she just couldn’t blame Claire.
“It’s okay….Don’t worry too much.”
Viscountess Willis patted Claire lightly on the back with an awkward touch. It was an insincere consolation.
There was not a bit of the arrogance she once had as Roxana’s nanny. Viscountess Willis, who had been comforting Claire for a while, suddenly caught sight of her own reflection in the window pane.
‘How did I end up like this…’
Facing her own shabby reflection, Viscountess Willis gritted her teeth and lowered her gaze.
Her status was higher as a Viscountess than a Baron’s daughter, Claire Dana.
However, looking at the current situation, the position was the exact opposite. That was why she had to bow down even in front of this lowly person. It was a long time ago that she had despised Claire so much.
Having been abandoned by Princess Lillian, she had no more power.
It was tragic and hurt her pride.
Her jaw naturally tightened as she thought of Roxana’s face, the one who had shunned her so coldly despite having been raised by her all her life.
“Viscountess Willis, I can’t let this go. The Princess has taken someone very dear to me, and I must bring one too.”
When she heard Claire’s words, Viscountess Willis felt a chill in her heart, but Claire’s next words were enough to shake her to her core.
“I have just heard that the Princess has recently taken one servant to be her trusted maid, do you know about this?”
Speaking of the servants that had been following Roxana around lately, it had to be Annie, that commoner. Because of that lowly servant girl that the Viscountess got kicked out of the Duke’s mansion.
The Viscountess didn’t know what Claire was planning, but if she could use human hands to get rid of that vile thing, it would be good for her. No one would be interested in what happened to a mere commoner’s status servant. So she didn’t need to worry about what would happen later.
“Well, it looks like the person Lady Dana is referring to is Annie.”
After completing the calculation, Viscountess Willis did not hesitate to answer.
“She was a commoner, and she used to be a servant who took care of all the chores. I was worried at first because she was an orphan and poor, but she was quite diligent in her work.”
As she spoke of Annie, the Viscountess had the unconcealed hostility in her eyes.
“She did chores for several years, but lately she became Princess Lillian’s trusted maid. From what I saw she was a jealous person, so it doesn’t seem like a bad idea to let her go.”
Viscountess Willis emphasized that Annie was an orphan and that she was close to Roxana. Along with that, they were secretly trying to get rid of Annie.
There was a rumor that a maidservant was responsible for the misfortune of the nanny who had been taking care of the Princess for a long time. Apparently the rumor was true.
It was certainly worthy of indignation if the Viscountess, who was supposed to be of very high rank in the ducal family, was humiliated in such a way because of a mere maid.
“I need the Viscountess’s help this time. If you help me, I will tell the Crown Prince to find a way to help you.”
Viscountess Willis’s face looked perplexed and troubled for a moment.
Claire was trying to use her (Viscountess) hands to handle the job this time while she was going to sit and watch the show with pleasure. Viscountess suddenly felt humiliated.
Viscountess Willis had no desire to be involved in such a disgusting affair. However, Claire was much more cunning and clever than she had thought. And seeing as how Claire was willing to take advantage of her, she (Claire) must have looked down on her (Viscountess).
However, when Claire even mentioned the Crown Prince and asked him to help her, it was not easy to refuse. After pondering for a while, Viscountess Willis came to a decision.
“What can I do to help you?”
She had lost Roxana and she needed a new way to live. So maybe this would be a unique opportunity. If she could get this job done right, she could get a new rope named Claire.
How would people react if they found out that Lady Dana, who was known to be a good and kind person, was plotting something like this behind the scenes? Even if Claire tried to throw her (Viscountess) away after this job was done, the Viscountess had Claire’s weakness, so Claire wouldn’t be able to get rid of her easily.
“It’s not that hard. “
Claire smiled with a satisfied look on her face. She instructed the maid by her side to bring the items. The maid immediately brought out one very fine jewelry box. It contained a bracelet with a brilliant green gem in the center.
It was a gift from the Crown Prince for her birthday the other day. The bracelet was so expensive that Baron Dana could not get it even if he got rid of everything in his house.
”Young Lady, this is…?”
Viscountess Willis looked at Claire with a strange look on her face.
“Isn’t it beautiful? It was a gift from the Crown Prince to me on my last birthday.”
When the Crown Prince’s affection for Claire was directly confirmed with her own eyes, Viscountess Willis was a little unsettled. If it was before, she would have made a mildly snide remark about this and made a fuss with Roxana.
But now she found herself standing by the side of the one whom Roxana detested the most, helping to hurt the person by Roxana’s side. Until recently, the Viscountess could never have imagined that this would happen.
It was ironic, really. But there was no going back. She didn’t want this to happen, but there was nothing she could do for her children. Her mind made up, Viscountess Willis looked determined. Seeing that her face had become serious, Claire raised her small lips.
“The Crown Prince said that in the near future the Imperial Family will invite all the nobles to a banquet. I will lose my bracelet on the spot.”
Viscountess Willis remained silent and only listened to Claire’s words. Her expression was becoming more and more anxious.
“If there is a disturbance, someone will testify. It’s about a maid who fearlessly stole a bracelet given to a Young Lady by the Crown Prince.”
Viscountess Willis’s face hardened for a moment. Claire was bolder and more cunning than she had expected. Imperial law was strict, so if a maid was found stealing in the Imperial Palace, she would be severely punished.
Not only would it incur the Crown Prince’s wrath, but he would also question the fact that the Princess’s servant had stolen Claire’s bracelet. This was not only plunging the servant whom Roxana cherished into the abyss, it was also damaging Roxana’s reputation.
Viscountess was naturally not keen on ruining one person’s life and putting the Princess she had raised with her own hands in the lurch. Noticing that Viscountess Willis was distressed, Claire added,
“This is the fifth time the Viscountess has visited me. If this job turns out to be a success, I intend to actively help you. Because we are both on the same boat.”
Viscountess Willis eventually nodded. Claire was right, she was already in the same boat as her. Roxana would never forgive her if she found out that she had interacted with Claire, whom she hated so much.
From the moment she (Viscountess) received the handkerchief and visited Baron Dana’s residence, there was only one option. Claire stood up with a look of satisfaction on her face, unlike when she had just entered the room.
“I trust you will find the means at your disposal, Viscountess, for you are wise.”
***
“Count Evans is quite upset about all this. Young Lady Evans has been grounded and is under house arrest in her room and is very upset about the whole thing.”
I sat on the couch and listened to Stephen’s report about the accident at Count Evans’s residence. Those who were alone at that time or those who could not prove their alibi clearly became suspects and were investigated.
Count Evans had to make the inevitable sacrifice. No one knew yet who that target would be. However, the Crown Prince seemed to have been intensely angry about the incident, so whoever was seen as the culprit would be heavily punished.
I clicked my tongue in my mind when I saw that the Crown Prince really didn’t seem to be interested in finding out who was behind this. Shrimps were the only ones who eventually became victims of the whale fight. After all, it was only the powerless who were sacrificed.
It was frustrating from their point of view, but it was inevitable. However, as someone who was involved in the incident, I was not happy to see such a regrettable loss of life.
“What about the maidservant, is she still talking nonsense?”
“I was going to tell you about that.”
A hint of confidence appeared on Stephen’s face. I knew the outcome well enough without having to ask.
“As you say, Miss, the maid confessed that she was the one who pushed Lady Dana down the stairs. “
Claire’s maid was stubborn at first, insisting on her and Claire’s innocence. However, this was the Duke of Lillian’s residence. It was one of the few places where the Crown Prince’s authority would not work. Indeed, the servants of the Duke of Lillian were very capable, and they eventually led the outcome in the direction I wanted.
“Did she say anything else? “
“No, My Lady.”
Stephan replied curiously.
“Thank you for your time. Tell the investigator you got a confession from the maid.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
After Stephen left, I sat in front of the mirror and brushed my hair, thinking. The fact that the maid didn’t say anything else either meant that she really didn’t want people to know, or that she was trying to keep her secret with Claire.
If it was the former, it was fine, but if it was the latter, it was a shame. I don’t know how loyal she was to Claire, but Claire wouldn’t be able to get her maid out of this.
Even if the maid later changed her testimony, she wouldn’t be able to escape punishment anyway.
I couldn’t completely put Claire away for good, however, that didn’t mean I couldn’t just let it slide. I was going to cut off Claire’s limbs (*limbs =Claire’s trusted servants) to warn her. It wouldn’t be just the maid alone who would suffer the damage. I finished my thought and put down the comb in my hand.
As I took the hair clip from beside it, my eyes suddenly met with my reflection in the mirror. The Roxana I had seen in my memory had a face full of shadows and a gloomy look in her eyes. But the woman in the mirror now had a beautiful, unfathomable face.
She had a cold stare and slightly lifted lips that seemed to contain a sneer. I felt a bit strange and alien. I was not a priest or a saint. Naturally, I would not forgive those who tried to harm me without hesitation.
However, I was a little shaken by my own actions of sending others to their deaths with impunity.
Is this really the right thing to do?
Eventually, a small black box caught my eye. I thought about it for a while, then reached out and opened the box. Inside was Elvin’s pendant. The pendant had long since been repaired, but I still hadn’t found the owner.
I reached out and took the pendant. I felt the cold metal against my hand and instantly realized something. I put the pendant back in the box and called Annie. Then I gave an order as I gave her the box.
Tomorrow, go to the Hermes and deliver this. Tell them it was picked up at the lounge in the Imperial Palace, and ask them to find the owner and return it.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Annie nodded quietly and took the box . As I watched Annie, I called her again.
“One moment.”
Annie looked puzzled.
I turned my attention to the box in her hand. In my mind, I remembered the image of the Crown Prince and Claire together that I had seen today. I took back the box from Annie.
“On second thought, I’d better go there myself.”
