Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Translator: Effe
Editor: Yonnee
—
“Hua.”
After a brief visit to the garden, Nora took a deep breath and entered the party hall.
She had smoked two lotus leaf cigarettes today to make sure she wouldn’t make a mistake.
Katya predicted it accurately. When Nora relayed Katya’s scheme, Louisa was overjoyed and gave her a bag of gold coins as a reward.
With that money, Nora paid off some of her loan’s interest and also bought some cheap cigarettes and lotus leaf cigarettes. Katya gave her a box of it, so Nora’s heart was fuller than ever.
‘I’m okay. I can function well.’
After smoking the lotus leaf cigarette, the trembling of her hands and feet subsided for a while, and her cold sweat went away.
I can do well. I can do it.
If everything would go well today, she’d be able to receive more money she received to pay off her debts, and she would be able to quit her job as a maid. Finally, she would manage to open her own alteration shop.
‘If you don’t pay me, I’ll tell the duke what you’ve done. Then you won’t be able to stay still.’
Feverishly and hardly with sound logic, Nora concocted this plan as she headed toward the liquor preparation room.
The butler in charge of wine recognized her and asked,
“What’s the matter?”
“The Elder Madam sent me on an errand here.”
Nora said, tightly clutching the vial that’s been hidden under her apron.
.
.
.
13. Conspiracy in a glass
Louisa stomped one foot impatiently. Every time that happened, the jewels on her dress splendidly swayed and moved.
“Maria? Where is Maria?”
“She went out to look for the tiara that you told her to bring a while ago, Madam.”
“Why is she looking for that!”
Without thinking that it was Maria who had the key to her jewelry box, Louisa yelled.
A great event was about to transpire today. Since she was nervous, it bothered her that the attendant beside her wasn’t the familiar Maria.
“Hah.”
Even if she shouted, Maria, who was absent, would not hear it. Louisa wheezed and looked back into the full-length mirror.
The beauty that had been loved by the previous duke had always been a source of pride for Louisa. But because she looked shabby no matter how much she dressed up today, she couldn’t stand her own reflection at all.
“Bring the belt. The one made of gold!”
“Ah… You are beautiful enough even now, Elder Madam. If you add more here, it might be rather exce— gahh!”
Louisa wielded the fan, and the wardrobe attendant who had come to help her into her attire screamed and fell backwards.
“If I tell you to bring it here, just do as I say!”
“Yes! Yes, Elder Madam!”
The maid fetched the chain of gold in her haste. A chain with gold beads carved with baby’s breath sparkled and reflected the light as it wrapped around her skirt.
“What about Nora?”
“Nora? She went out for a while.”
The maids exchanged glances among themselves with a look of discomfort.
Nora’s reputation has not been good lately. Originally, she was just a quiet and competent wardrobe maid, but she had been acting strange lately.
She often abandoned her work and disappeared, and there was an unpleasant stench coming from her. Seeing her shaking hands and feet, many people wondered if she was drinking every night.
There were also suspicions that she was stealing expensive fabrics and small items like gloves, which Louisa did not often use.
There are many people who are attending Louisa, but these few days, Louisa often had Nora by her side.
They did not envy anyone who received Louisa’s favor. After all, none of the maids liked her.
But that was that, and they’d rather not see what they didn’t want to see.
“Where?”
Louisa asked again. No one answered. Because no one actually knew.
“Does anyone know? Maria is not here either? What are you all doing then?”
Louisa said sharply to Nyelle, her errand girl. Nyelle lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Elder Madam. Nora disappears quite often.”
“Maybe she went out to smoke?”
Usually the maids wouldn’t mention any of their private matters to Louisa, but that was not the case today.
Nevertheless, Louisa was not interested in that topic. If she were to be honest, she didn’t even know most of the maids by name except Maria and Nyelle.
But when she heard that the wardrobe maid was in the middle of a smoke break, she scowled.
“That’s a bit troublesome. Nyelle, why didn’t you say anything to me?”
“Please allow me to check.”
Nyelle said listlessly. By tomorrow, Louisa will forget about this anyway.
At that time, Maria returned.
“Why are you here now?”
“Forgive, forgive me for being late.”
As Maria was gasping for air, it was clear that she had been running until now.
She said in a cautious voice to Louisa.
“Marquis Belf is looking for you.”
“My older brother?”
Louisa sighed once and stood up.
Had something wrong happened over there? Really, nothing’s working out.
But it couldn’t be helped. There would not be a second chance if she wouldn’t get it right the first time. She’d have to take care of everything herself.
“Nyelle, tell Nora to wait when she comes.”
“Yes, Elder Madam.”
Louisa exited the expansive wardrobe, with Maria in front of her.
At that time, Marquis Belf was not in the banquet hall.
The second dance was over. He was getting nervous because the errand boy he had sent on an important business hadn’t returned, but right then, Louisa’s maid called his attention.
Thinking that he truly was being called by Louisa, he followed. Instead he was seized by Klausener’s guards on the spot.
“What the hell is this! Who do you think I am! Who the hell is ordering you to do this?”
He cried out, but one of the guards forced a handkerchief over his mouth.
No one saw as he was being led down a hallway away from the banquet hall. It wasn’t until they reached a small, familiar space that Marquis Belf realized where he had been taken.
It was the Duke’s office. Erich stood leaning against the window with his arms crossed.
“Uh-uhp!”
Erich glanced at the Marquis. Only then did the guard pull the handkerchief from the Marquis’ mouth.
“Pu-hah!”
The Marquis, barely catching his breath, gasped wildly. Erich looked down at him with a cold gaze.
The guard sat him down on the couch. Marquis Belf shouted, flushed red with anger and astonishment.
“What is the meaning of this, Duke Erich! This is no different from kidnapping someone!”
“Wait a minute. There are more people coming.”
It wasn’t long before a drunken Josias was brought in. Since he was nearly unconscious, the guard just threw him down next to the Marquis.
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