Battle Divorce! - Chapter 9

Chapter 5.1

He startled the head maid, who quickly clasped her hands together respectfully.

“Y-you must not be familiar with everything here yet. Allow me to properly introduce myself again, master. My name is Karen, and I’m the head maid of Waldeck Mansion. I have served here for thirty years, caring for the former grand duchess since her youth—”

“Karen, I apologize. Perhaps it’s due to my life as a soldier, but I can’t stand unnecessary chatter.”

The blood drained from the head maid’s face.

“Keep your explanations brief. I’d prefer it if you’d just answer my question.”

“W-well… normally, a lady is taught matters of consummation at her family’s main household, but Lady Therese arrived here on such short notice, so I thought, perhaps giving her some guidance beforehand might help her feel more comfortable serving you, master—”

“Lady Therese?”

Maxim’s gaze grew cold.

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

Daisy swallowed nervously as she quietly observed.

“Listen, Karen. I believe that nothing in the world is more important than names and titles.”

“W-what do you mean…?”

“People call you the ‘head maid,’ so you walk around with your head held high, thinking you’re someone important. Isn’t that right?”

As Maxim stepped forward, the frightened head maid took a step back.

“And as for Lady Therese, by not acknowledging my wife as the grand duchess, it sounds to me like you’re refusing to acknowledge me as your master.”

He cocked his head to the side.

“Or am I mistaken?”

The room fell completely silent.

Everyone was completely overwhelmed by the intimidating aura radiating from Waldeck’s new master. The head maid’s face, in particular, had turned ghostly white. She hadn’t expected him to defend his distant wife to this extent when he’d only just married her and then left.

She had acted as she normally would, without much thought, and that was clearly her mistake.

From her perspective, there hadn’t been enough time to gauge the new master’s temperament. Still, she could easily imagine the consequences if she crossed him. After all, her master was none other than Maxim von Waldeck, the man who had returned from an ambush where he’d nearly wiped out the enemy with only his elite troops.

“I-I apologize.”

Sensing the tension, the head maid got down on her hands and knees, bowing.

“I’m still getting used to the new titles… I’m deeply sorry. I will make sure to correct it.”

“Is that so? If it was simply a misunderstanding on my part, then I’m glad.”

A dry chuckle escaped him as he watched her frozen, ashen face.

“Whether I misunderstood you or you were trying to deceive me, well, only time will tell. Your master tends to be suspicious by nature. So, let your actions speak louder than your words from now on.”

“Yes, I understand, master. I apologize once again.”

“Shouldn’t you be apologizing directly to my wife instead of me?”

Panicking again, the head maid quickly bowed her head before Daisy.

“I apologize. I shall be more careful from now on… Y-Your Highness.”

Receiving such a formal apology while half-naked made Daisy feel both embarrassed and a bit bewildered by the whole situation.

‘Does he really have to defend me to this extent?’

Are we that close?

Even if I am his wife in name, honestly, we’ve only seen each other once, and that was at the wedding.

Sure, the vow kiss had been a bit intense… but the more I think about it, the more confusing it is.

‘He could be doing this on purpose to make an example out of someone.’

In groups with strict hierarchies, like a knight order or the military, disciplining subordinates and instilling order is often done this way. Perhaps because he’s a soldier, Maxim von Waldeck’s attitude felt more like he was training soldiers than dealing with his staff.

‘Anyway, it’s nice that he’s handling this for me, but… does he really have to do it while I’m half-naked?’

Why am I the one feeling embarrassed?

Standing there, half-naked at the center of the commotion, Daisy wanted nothing more than to vanish into a hole.

“Well then, our head maid, Karen.”

“Yes?”

“It’s ‘yes,’ not ‘yes?’. You will respond without questions or comments. Obedience is fundamental while you’re serving under me. Understood?”

“…Yes!”

Maxim’s sharp response put the head maid immediately on high alert.

“I will handle teaching my wife everything there is to know about bedroom matters. Compatibility matters more than theory when it comes to these situations, and practice is key. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Though it looked like he was asking for agreement, Maxim had already decided on his own answer. Sensing his intentions, the head maid responded exactly as expected, adhering to his instructions.

“If anyone has objections, speak up. I’m always open to hearing various opinions.”

Not that anyone was brave enough to do so.

The maids in the room exchanged glances, nodding in silent agreement.

Step, step.