The Tragedy of The Villainess

Cassius also glared at Seria coldly. His eyes were very similar to hers so it was like looking in a mirror.

"So you want me to kneel, now that the Grand Duchess has arrived?”

"What use are your knees to me?"

"…"

"If you've come for me, why don't you do it right? If you’re not here for me, then you’re here for Lord Alliot?”

Cassius bit his lip. There was no significant change in his expression, but Seria could just tell that he wasn't going to argue. It was the fact that my words hit the nail on the head.

"They're all looking at us back there, so wouldn't it be better for both of us if we looked friendly even from the outside? Cassius.”

‘It was embarrassing to show this scene to the Berg knights.’

It was Seria’s frank and honest feeling. Of course she knew the knights to some extent, but what she vaguely knew and what she saw directly had a different feel. So she told him in the most roundabout way possible, and Cassius's expression changed strangely.

"I heard you were seriously injured…."

"What?"

"Nothing.”

Seria frowned and held out her hand to Cassius.

"Escort me. We can't just stand here forever, can we?"

"…."

Her hands were actually covered in cold sweat. Her heart was pounding, and fortunately it sank a little as she continued to confront Cassius, but she couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. There were too many eyes watching her to rub it off.

Half-heartedly, Cassius looked down at the hand Seria held out silently. His eyes trembled.

She clicked her tongue inwardly, ‘Good grief,’as he just stared and didn't make the slightest movement. He didn't even seem to want to touch Seria.

Only her hands were embarrassed. She tried to put away her hand that was dangling in the void, and Cassius grabbed it with a snap.

"…"

Cassius took her hand and led Seria to Kellyden Castle, so skillfully and carefully that it was hard to believe he was the one who had stared at her hand in a daze earlier.

***

Many people visit the castle, which means many people stay overnight.

There were also dozens of carriages of nobles who couldn't come in because they were blocked by the Berg carriages. Fortunately, Seria’s room was on the third floor of the main building, which was not open to outside guests, so it was quieter.

However, before going up, the chief butler recommended another room.

"We have prepared the best guest room in the annex, My Lady.”

"The best guest room?"

She remembered Abigail.

“Give that room to my knight. Abigail Orrien.”

“What? Your knight?”

A momentary thought of difficulty crossed the chief butler’s face. He quickly adjusted his expression and recommended it again.

“Why don't you use the room, Young Lady? It's a room with a nice view and plenty of space.”

"Why use a guest's room when I have my own?”

"But your room is not clean enough…”

"Call your servant to clean it then.”

"Lady…”

"Noisy! How many times do I have to tell you?"

The chief butler gasped. Cassius had been staring at her with cold eyes for some time.

"I see your bad temper has not changed."

How can you be kind to a butler who keeps forcing you when you clearly refused?”

Cassius frowned.

"Get back, chief butler.

"…… Yes. Young master."

Cassius said one word and he backed away, and Seria said many words and he didn’t even listen…

It was her first time coming to the original Seria’s room at Kellyden Castle. Cassius also looked uncomfortable, as if it had been a very long time.

Still, he came over anyway, as if he was going to walk Seria to her room since he was her escort…

"This room is a mess.”

Cassius frowned at Seria’s words.

"…we didn't clean it up because we didn't really know you'd come."

"But, still, this messy?”

"…"

Cassius seemed to lose his words for a moment at her repeated question. The room was full of dust. Trash was lying everywhere on the floor. To anyone's eyes, it didn't look like the room of a noble lady, even if it was true that the master was away and they didn’t clean up.

There was no proper bedding on the bed, and the long curtains that should have been normally drawn were torn off. There was not even a small vase of flowers in the room, and above all, the decorations were…. It was too sparsely laid out.

It looked worse than the servant’s room. It was obvious that someone went through it. It seemed that all the expensive items were collected and sold.

‘I'm glad I didn't bring the knights.'

Seria told them with great effort twice to choose good rooms for the knights, so the old steward took them there directly. Even if she didn't tell them, there was no way they would treat the knights of Berg coldly, so there was nothing to worry about…

"…"

‘So it was me that I should be worried about.’

Seria opened the closet to see if she could possibly find anything. Of course there was nothing in it. No dress, no shoes. No hats, no shawls, no ribbons, no accessories, nothing. Even if Seria had left the castle out of the blue, she wouldn't have packed all that stuff.

Seria looked back at Cassius, he still had a panicked expression on his face. From the look on his face, it was clear Seria didn’t empty the room herself.

It was robbed.

"Do you want me to tell you something amazing? In Berg castle, the horseman uses a better room than this. Cassius."

"…"

The heat in Cassius's face flared up.

"Jason!"

The chief butler, who hadn't made a single noise, rushed forward.

"Yes, Young Master."

"There must be thieves living in Kellyden. As soon as the funeral is over, I'll make sure to find them all."

"…"

The blood drained from the chief butler’s face. At first glance, it looked like he was also in a gurney, or perhaps a senior official who knew about this fact but let it go.

"Go get the servants and clean up this place right away!”

The chief butler hurried away. Seria said, looking at the room.

"Cassius. I have to unload my luggage, but I don't want a single thing to go missing in the process, do you?"

"…"

This was quite an insult. There are only thieves in this mansion. Cassius, who was staring at her, said nothing. He had already seen with his own eyes how the thieves had robbed her room, so there was nothing to say.

Cassius bit his lip and left to find the butler, while the servants who had come up with Seria’s belongings were busy around and placed the boxes and bags on a clean table.

She didn't have a lot of luggage since she wasn’t planning to stay after the funeral.

"Lady Seria. I think it would take a while to clean the room…. So it’ll be inconvenient…”

How long is it going to take?”

"At least three hours.”

"That's probably how long it will take, since it's so dusty.”

Seria stared at the frightened servants as they hurriedly moved, and eventually she walked out the door. Because the dust was no joke.

She was glad that Lesche didn’t see it, though.

“Lady Seria.”

Seria turned around in surprise. Alliot was standing there.

"Sir Alliot? Why are you here?"

"I asked the butler to show me your residence. He allowed me to come up here."

"I see."

The butler was very displeased with Seria, but he did not neglect the Knight Commander of the Berg. Seria frowned and asked,

"Sir Alliot. By any chance… you saw my room?"

"Yes, my lady."

He answered, and then there was silence for a few moments. Alliot said in a complicated voice.

"Hurry up and get your inheritance share and return to Castle Berg, My Lady.”

"That’s right. It's a good thing Bibi isn't here."

"She would have gone ballistic, killing all the servants. "

"She would have."

"I can understand some of Lady Abigail's feelings."

“I wish you wouldn't learn that."

Elliot didn't answer, only smiled subtly.

"I'm glad you're here in Berg, My Lady."

It was not something to be so sad about. Seria was actually relieved that Cassius, who was arrogant, left without saying anything. Of course she couldn't say this, so she just smiled awkwardly.

Then Seria left for the dining room immediately, partly because Alliot’s expression was not good, but also for other reasons.

"Grand Duchess Berg?”

"I was told you were here, but I didn't expect to run into you!"

“….”

"You remember me, don't you? When I was a child, Young Lady and the Grand Duchess…”

There were too many people who pretended to be close to Seria like this. They seemed to secretly hope that after the funeral, she would be here to host a tea party in Grand Duchess Berg's name. But that was not her intention at all.

She had not yet made her imperial debut as Grand Duchess of Berg, and she had been so busy that she had never hosted a tea party even in Berg's main castle. The first tea party hosted by the great aristocrats means so much, and she didn’t need to do such a good thing in the Kellyden family for no reason.

‘I'll have to go to the dining room as soon as I can to avoid the nobles.’