14.

The maids nibbled on their lips and exchanged glances nervously.

Their actions amused me, so I chuckled softly.

“Why?”

My inquiring voice sounded as cold to my own ears as ice.

“Can’t do it?”

“Uh, Milady Elze.”

“That…”.

The maids were now fumbling for words.

Apologizing too meekly here would get them thrown out of Viktor’s favor, but I was the one sitting right in front of them.

The infamous villainess, Elze, the lover of Lord Offenheir, the tyrant who ruled this boarding school.

And then.

“Lady Elze.”

I heard a smooth voice calling me.

When I turned around, a stern middle-aged man was looking at me with an intense gaze.

The school administrator of Rose Cross Boarding School, the man who orchestrated the situation to turn Brigitte into everyone’s emotional dumpster.

Also, someone who had recently been quite open about his enmity towards me.

Viktor.

“What’s the occasion for you to attend tea time for once?”

His voice seemed gentle at first glance.

But I wasn’t foolish enough not to notice the thorns hidden in that voice.

I looked at Viktor with a cold gaze.

“Your words make it sound as if I shouldn’t attend tea time.”

Viktor’s face stiffened slightly.

But.

“Could that ever be the case? However…”

Viktor, who quickly regained his composure, raised both arms as if to show me something.

“Milady Elze, don’t you prefer enjoying tea time alone rather than with others?”

“People’s preferences can change at any time. Above all…”

I lounged lazily on the sofa, speaking.

“If Martin Viscountess had done her job properly from the beginning, I wouldn’t have had to bother attending tea time, would I?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Even now, looking at Countess Martin’s appearance and the tea they gave to the Countess…”

I pointed at the tea table in front of me.

To be precise, it was the tea cups shattered in front of me and the tea-stained tablecloth.

“To think they could spout such nonsense.”

“That’s…!”

“How shameless. I’d like to emulate that thick facial skin of yours.”

Viktor tried to argue with me, but I didn’t give him a chance to speak.

I glanced briefly at Bridgette.

“Countess Martin.”

“Yes, yes?”

A startled Brigitte looked in my direction.

“Have Countess always eaten this kind of food waste?”

“Well, um…”

“Please be honest.”

Brigitte bit her lower lip.

And a moment later.

“…Yes.”

Brigitte nodded her head with difficulty.

I turned coldly to Viktor.

“Did you hear that?”

Viktor clenched his lips until they turned pale.

“How on earth are the lower staff managing things? How can such foods be served to the students?”

“…”

“Wouldn’t these individual problems accumulate and tarnish Rose Cross’s reputation?”

I shook my head resolutely, fixing my gaze on Viktor.

“Moreover, what’s really strange is…”

What is he trying to say now?

Viktor’s composed expression wavered.

“I’ve never witnessed conversations happening between Countess Martin and other students while in this lounge.”

“That’s…”

“Everyone seems surprised even by the mere thought of me mingling with Countess Martin.”

I calmly threw the question.

“How did the atmosphere among the students end up like this?”

“…I appreciate your concern, Milady Elze, but you don’t need to worry so much.”

Viktor grimaced and began to speak.

“It’s alright if you don’t pay such meticulous attention.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m speaking out of concern for you, Milady Elze.”

Perhaps he was trying to show a smile, Viktor pushed his lips up slightly.

But it was all in vain.

Viktor’s eyes held no amusement.

“I’m worried that you might exhaust yourself, paying attention to even the smallest matters.”

Viktor’s ominous gaze felt as if it would devour me.

“Aren’t there tasks more befitting of your refined tastes, Milady Elze?”

So, the hidden meaning in those words was.

That I should go about my usual way, indulging myself and behaving quietly. Why interfere and make a fuss about this matter?

However, I knew a magic word to counter that statement.

“Well, there seems to be one flaw in your argument.”

“Yes?”

“Whether this matter is trivial or not, isn’t it up to you, Viktor?”

I offered a sweet smile as best as I could.

“The one to judge that would be Lord Offenheir, not me.”

As I mentioned Dante, Viktor’s shoulders stiffened for the first time.

‘If I can’t win alone, I might as well borrow Dante’s authority.’

I finally had the status of being ‘Dante’s one and only lover,’ so I should definitely make good use of it.

I asked Viktor in a casual tone.

“What would happen if Lord Offenheir gets wind of this?”

“…Lady Elze.”

“Lord Offenheir is known to despise anything troublesome or annoying since he’s someone who’s quite fastidious.”

A faint undertone of laughter mixed into my voice.

It was a sneer.

“Viktor, don’t you know that better?”

“That’s…!”

“He wouldn’t want any problems arising in our boarding school.”

At my words, the color drained from Viktor’s face.

I continued, as if listening to my own words.

“But recently, you’ve also lost a letter entrusted to you by Lord Offenheir…”

Viktor still hadn’t managed to find Lord Craig’s letter.

Well, that was inevitable.

Lucian had torn the letter to shreds, and I personally disposed of the remains.

“Even if I were to let the impudence of you suspecting me slide…”

To be exact, it wasn’t about letting it slide, but knowing that the incident of the lost letter would naturally find its way to Dante’s ears.

I just kept quiet.

I shrugged lightly.

“In the current situation, if another problem were to arise in the boarding school… It would certainly be inconvenient, wouldn’t it?”

At that question, even the faint smile Viktor had been forcing disappeared completely.

I sighed deeply as if showing off.

“But what if we ignore this issue, and later, if the guardians raise objections or something?”

“Milady Elze.”

“Lord Offenheir would be truly delighted. Isn’t that right?”

Viktor glared at me, his eyes narrowing.

“Are you… threatening me right now?”

“Oh my, whatever gave you that idea?”

I widened my eyes as if playing a game.

“It would be troublesome to misinterpret my sincerity in such a way.”

“But why on earth…”

“That’s why I’ll give you one more piece of advice.”

I stood up.

Click, click.

Amidst the elegant melody flowing in the lounge, only the sound of my heels echoed sharply.

Click.

I stopped in my tracks.

Right in front of me stood Viktor.

Leaning toward Viktor’s side, I lowered my voice to murmur quietly so the students wouldn’t hear.

“If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t stoop to harboring ill will towards any student.”

“What is this…!”

“Most of the students in our boarding school are from noble families of the empire, aren’t they?”

At my words, Viktor visibly stiffened.

‘Right, he must have forgotten.’

I chuckled leisurely.

Viktor was of common birth.

Having felt inferior to the nobles whether they realized it or not, he had secretly reveled in a sense of superiority as a steward of the boarding school.

Furthermore, Viktor’s state of mind was connected to Dante’s twisted aspects.

So Dante had chosen to hire Viktor as the steward in a striking move.

Of course, now was the opportune moment to corner Viktor…

“Since you can’t predict the future, right?”

Wasn’t it about time to start paying attention?

Facing a fool who didn’t even realize that his life was as fragile as a candle flame in the wind, I smiled generously.

Viktor couldn’t control his anger and clenched his fist tightly.

Still, judging by his inability to retort, my words seemed to have had some effect.

Stepping back a pace, I called Bridgette.

“Countess Martin.”

“Yes, yes?”

Brigitte practically leaped up from her seat.

I smiled kindly at her.

“It seems like you could use a little rest. Shall we go together?”

Swallowing dryly, Brigitte nodded.

“…Alright.”

Brigitte and I walked out of the room, drawing everyone’s gaze upon us.