"So?" I glanced at Edelyn who was standing still.

Edelyn looked down. "I'm sorry..." she said quietly.

There was a pause before Edelyn's mother spoke with a high tone. "So-sorry!"

She looked at me over her shoulder. "Satisfied?!"

I roll my eyes lazily.

What kind of apology is that? There is no sincerity at all. Well, at least she's smart enough to choose to lower her self-esteem.

I look at the maids. "What do you all think?"

They fell silent and looked at each other.

One of the maids who had bruises all over her body spoke up. "Pardon me. To be honest, I am- no, we are not satisfied with a half-hearted apology." I smirked.

Oh? What's this? Brave enough.

I lowered my sword. "Then? What should they do?"

She stared intently at Edelyn's mother. "I want her to get the punishment she deserves."

I hold my chin. "So, you want them to get punishment?"

The maid lowered her head. "Yes." The other maids nodded their heads.

I stood in front of Edelyn and her mother and look at them with a smile. "You heard them, right? Then I've decided, both of you will be maids in this mansion until father comes."

I looked at the sword I was holding and rubbed it with my handkerchief.

Edelyn's mother gaped. "WHAT?! NO! HOW DARE YOU?! I DON'T WANT TO BE A MERE MAID! I DON'T LIKE IT!" She furrowed her eyebrows.

Sigh... This woman is really troublesome..

I have many questions for the developers that made this game.

One of it, why is heroine's mother set up with a character like this? This type of person included in the 'very troublesome peoples' category...

Sigh... why do I have to deal with her... damn you developer!

I glanced at Edelyn's mother lazily. "Was there anyone who likes being punished? whether you like it or not, punishment must be done. Don't you understand basic things like that?"

Edelyn's mother took a step forward with stomping feet and chest puffed out. "I will be the duchess here! How dare you embarrass me in my residence!"

I sighed then pointed my sword at her. "Hey, stop this nonsense about being a duchess. Right now you're not a duchess, but a weirdo who's acting haughty.

Have you ever thought about the possibility of father rejecting you? And don't forget the fact that I can eliminate you here at any moment.

Actually, being a maid for a few days isn't enough to make up for the wounds you inflicted on our people.

However, since there is a possibility that girl's actually father's daughter, then that punishment seems to be enough. Now, can you do the light punishment I gave you?"

Edelyn's mother swallowed her saliva hard and gritted her teeth. She clenched her fists with sweat on her forehead.

Silence, no response from either of them.

I drew closer to the sword I was leaning towards the heart. "Hey, if people ask, you should answer. You can do the punishment, right?"

Edelyn spoke. "W-we can. Please spare us." She bent down.

Edelyn's mother stared at me silently. I'm sure she cursed me in her head.

I lowered my sword and smiled. "Good! You can start right now! You can clean up from there-" I pointed to the right corner of the room. "To there." I pointed to the left corner of the room.

They were both silent. Edelyn's mother's face turned red.

Looks like she's got high blood pressure. Well, it's not like it's my problem.

I turned around, looked at the maids, still smiling. "Please take care of the two of them and make sure they do their job."

They answered 'understand' in unison.

I returned the guard's sword and approached the 4 men who were now standing side by side.

I sighed and looked at the Alfaret duo. "I'm going to my room to get changed now. Don't make trouble nor troubling the two of them."

Damarius avoided eye contact and sighed loudly, while Vasilius pouted and folded his arms.

"You're too soft on them when they look down on you so much. Just let us get rid of them now." Vasilius muttered.

I broke out in a cold sweat on the spot, trying to ignore Vasilius' words.

You guys are too extreme sometimes...

Then I looked at Arkanio with an awkward smile. "Sorry to make you witness something like this. And I thank you for helping me earlier. Since it's almost lunch time, would you like to stay and join us?"

Please refuse! I am tired! I want to take a rest!

Arkanio looked at me for a moment then smiled widely. "No problem, and I happen to be free today. Then, I'll gladly take your offer."

Damn it! He did it on purpose! You're a character I don't like from now on! Hmph!

I turned my gaze to Helios. "Helios, can you tell them to prepare the lunch? And take Sir Arkanio to the dining room, I'll follow soon."

He bowed. "Understand. Lunch will be ready in a few minutes."

Sigh... I want a day full of peace...

I got out and walked to my room.

Who would have thought they would come here today? I mean, they should have come at debutante.

Even though now Lavenia's debutante failed for other reasons, I thought they would appear when Lavenia's debutante was held again. But what is this?

I heard footsteps behind me. I stopped in my tracks and looked behind me, finding Vasilius following me.

I blinked twice. "Where are you heading to?"

He walked beside me. "Accompany you to your room. I'm afraid your illness will relapse on the way to your room."

We walk side by side. "It won't happen."

He shrugged. "Who knows?"

I glanced at Vasilius who was walking at my pace.

You can be cruel sometimes and you can be considerate and affectionate sometimes. I have to admit it was scary.

Oh, yeah... come to think of it, Vasilius is one of the capture target, and the heroine is his sister but different mother.

In his route the two of them can't be together because they are blood related. You could say there is no happy ending.

Sad indeed, but the developer announced they made it so that it is interesting and different from other otome games.

They are creative indeed, but in my opinion it makes no sense for otome games to have no romance. Isn't that considered an error in the game? And it's too sad no matter how you think about it. I feel sorry for Vasilius...

"Sigh... Lania, don't daydreaming when you walk. what did you just think that makes you this down? Is it because of that woman? I already told you to let Darius and I deal with them. You know that they can disappear in an instant." Vasilius sighed in disappointment.

Okay forget it, I don't feel sorry for him now.

"You will make father's reputation worse. After all, things like this are common with nobles." Though I must admit they're annoying.

He looked at me. "You've changed... In the past you would have kicked people like that out or punish them heavily. But now you're letting them stay and off the hook? Why? What's the reason?"

"Well, I was wondering... people can change too. And I don't want to lose my remaining humanity. Even though they're very rude, they're still human. Afterall, the two of them staying here won't do any harm to us. It's only temporary until father decides what to do with them"

Technically they're the heroine and her mother, I wouldn't mind letting them stay if that means I'll be safe and get favorability from those people, who stay in this mansion.

"Haha... I feel like I'm talking to a stranger, not Lavenia. Maybe you're really a stranger." He said jokingly.

Actually your hunch is right. I'm a stranger, not Lavenia.

We stopped in front of my room. "We're here already."

Vasilius smiled gently. "We'll wait in the dining room. I'll go first." He ruffled my hair.

Hey! Don't ruffle my hair! It will hurt when combing it!

He walked away and I went inside my room. I got ready for a few minutes then went to the dining room. .

I realized something.

My first time eating together... I don't know table manners! Damn, I hope Lavenia's body memorizes it..!

I entered the dining room and found 4 people sitting at the dining table and talking. There's a wide variety of food available.

Wait a minute... who's the fourth person?

...

It's Reymond! Wasn't he at the clinic? What is he doing here?

I walked closer.

Helios, who has been here for who knows when, pulled one of the chairs so I could sit down.

Now the attention of 4 people at the dining table is directed at me.

Ok, stop staring at me.

I smiled. "Let's eat." They all started eating their food and started talking again.

Reymond spoke up. "Ah.. I almost forgot the reason I'm here... Lady Alfaret, I found a way to cure your illness."

His statement made me choked.

What the- ok, who leaked this information? Wasn't earlier he still didn't know?!

Sigh... well, sooner or later he'll find out.

I looked at Reymond who was looking at me with a serious expression. "If possible I'd like us to talk privately after you've finished eating." I nodded hesitantly.

...

I have a bad feeling about this...

But it seems okay because he is not an antagonist character, right?

That's what I thought before. Now I've changed my mind...