13.

The reason Brigitte became the “Emotional Trash Bin” was simple.

Victor deliberately created a “scapegoat” within the boarding school.

Victor understood the dangerous emotions among humans and knew how to manipulate them.

Thus, the secret to Victor’s effective reign as a skilled guardian was:

‘Selecting one person within the group as the scapegoat and channeling all grievances and complaints of the group towards that individual.’

In return, the group itself became comfortable and harmonious.

However, the scapegoat would endure immense suffering.

In retrospect, Brigitte would later reminisce, ‘Rose Cross Boarding School was the most glamorous hell in the world.’

‘He’s a really insidious guy.’

As I recalled Victor’s methods, an expression of disgust unconsciously appeared on my face.

However, Brigitte in the original work had quite a significant presence.

Because her role was that of the ‘close friend and ally of the original female protagonist.’

The two met for the first time after the collapse of Rose Cross Boarding School.

At that time, Brigitte was still haunted by nightmares from the boarding school and couldn’t lead a normal life.

As a result, Brigitte remained aloof in social circles, and people turned away from her.

However, there was one person who actively approached her and offered comfort.

That person was the kind-hearted original female protagonist.

The female protagonist comforted Brigitte’s pain and lifted her spirits.

Thanks to her, Brigitte recovered from her long suffering.

After that, when the full-fledged tale of ruinous romance began, Brigitte firmly supported the fallen female protagonist and even helped her escape from the male protagonists, enduring their hostility.

The words Brigitte had said to the female protagonist at that time were:

‘Since you saved me, I will save you in return.’

… That was how it was.

And that was the very aspect I was aiming for.

If the original female protagonist had saved Brigitte and received help from her, couldn’t I do the same?

With that thought in mind, I casually greeted Brigitte.

“Hello, Countess Martin.”

There was a momentary, stunned silence.

“…”

“…”

Those who had previously treated Brigitte as if she were invisible turned in astonishment towards me.

Inside the silent living room, the only sound was the beautiful melody flowing from the phonograph.

The contrast between the tranquility and the music was rather eerie.

“… What’s the matter?”

With eyes wide with fear, Brigitte looked up at me.

I replied calmly, “I rarely attend tea time, but it seems there isn’t a single person here who welcomes me.”

Gasps of disbelief could be heard around me.

People were on edge, paying careful attention to my actions.

Whether they liked it or not, my focus was solely on Brigitte.

“It seems like Countess Martin might be in a similar situation as me.”

At the unexpected suggestion, Brigitte’s pupils expanded in surprise.

I gestured with my head.

“May I sit next to you?”

“…”

Brigitte gave me a guarded look for a moment.

I tried to make my expression appear as friendly as possible.

After a while.

“… Alright.”

Brigitte nodded nervously.

I elegantly took a seat next to Brigitte.

Despite it being that simple, the atmosphere in the room flipped like the back of a hand.

“…”

“…”

People stole glances at me from time to time.

No matter how close to a lady-in-waiting the Face Madam might be, she was still a lady-in-waiting.

From the moment I came into view, life at the boarding school could become incredibly difficult.

“Well, the original Elze did cause trouble without discrimination.”

I lifted the teapot lightly.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Oh, no, that’s…!”

Brigitte’s face showed a strange mix of embarrassment.

Regardless, I poured tea into Brigitte’s cup.

And then…

“Oh dear.”

I realized why Brigitte had such an awkward reaction.

Well, that was understandable since the tea had steeped for too long, emitting a slightly musty smell from the dark liquid.

And the tea had cooled down long ago.

‘Well, I wasn’t entirely clueless about this kind of situation.’

More accurately, it was to pre-know about Brigitte’s suffering and to help her, thus building up favorable feelings towards me…

‘This is quite intense.’

I narrowed my eyes.

In the novel, a scene suddenly came to mind where Brigitte clung to the female protagonist and confided in her pain.

<I… I was in so much pain.>

<“Just calm down, okay?>

<Everyone at that boarding school… found my pain and fear amusing.>

The desperate touch that held onto the female protagonist.

<They said it was because I was wrong, that’s why I was being punished. Could that really be true?>

<Brigitte.>

<I was lower than a crawling bug to them.>

The voice that sobbed under the weight of emotions.

<Was it because of the wrongs I committed that I ended up in that state? I… I…>

Even the image of her lying on the floor, sobbing.

<Was I really nothing more than trash, lower than a bug, a subhuman?>

The few lines of dialogue and scene descriptions that I had casually read to pass the time…

Had become a reality, unfolding before my eyes.

‘…This feels awful.’

As I clenched my teeth, I slowly lifted my head.

“This trash… What on earth is it?”

At my mutterings, the people gathered in the living room stiffened their shoulders as if they had been whipped.

In the suffocating silence, only the music from the phonograph reached its crescendo.

I twisted my lips slightly.

“How dare this place, Rose Cross, where everything should be of the highest quality…”

“…”

The maids scattered throughout the living room had tense expressions.

Lifting my head straight, I pierced each of their faces with a sharp gaze, as if engraving their features into my mind.

As if I would memorize their faces for some purpose.

“Lower than a rag, lower than cleaning water… this kind of trash…”

I slowly tilted the cup I was holding.

Gush…

The pristine white tablecloth was now stained with the dripping red tea.

I released my grip.

As if the cup in my hand itself was dirty.

Crash!

The finest tea cup, even supplied to the palace, collided with the table and shattered into pieces.

“Is this your way of serving tea?”

At my cold question, the maids’ faces drained of color.

“L-Lady Elze!”

The maids lowered their heads in reflection as they stood before me.

“We apologize!”

“There won’t be such incidents in the future…!”

Well, I couldn’t entirely fail to understand their perspective.

Perhaps they wanted to argue like this:

‘How can powerless maids like us defy the words of Manager Victor?’

It wasn’t entirely an incorrect statement.

However…

‘The lack of guilt in those expressions is quite striking.’

With the pretext of Victor’s orders, it must have been convenient.

Without any sense of remorse, they used Brigitte as an emotional dumping ground.

Ignoring Brigitte in secret, venting their frustration, taking out their anger.

Or from behind, someone might sneer, What does being a noble matter? You’re all treated like trash anyway.

Therefore, everyone in this room was a collaborator.

Ironically, only ‘the original Elze,’ who as a villainess hadn’t shown any interest in anyone fairly, was free from participating in the collective torment against Brigitte.

But still, Elze was not without fault.

Her mistake was directly becoming an indifferent bystander by neglecting her duties as a manager.

“…Then should I apologize to Brigitte as well?”

Anyway, I’m living as ‘Elze’ now.

But well, resolving the situation in front of me takes precedence for now.

I tilted my head slightly.

“I’m sorry?”

“Yes! So, um…”

“In that case, right now.”

I gestured towards Brigitte.

“Kneel in front of Countess Martin.”

“…Yes?”

“Bow your head to the ground, kiss the feet of Countess Martin, and apologize.”

I stared at the maids with an expressionless face.

“And if Countess Martin says she forgives you.”

“….”

“I will forgive you too.”