The Villainous Mastermind Gets Lucky in His Later Years - Chapter 28

Only then did Angela’s bravado falter at once. She knelt down urgently.

“I-I apologize deeply.”

The way her pupils shook relentlessly expressed how desperate she was to do whatever Doah asked of her here.

Doah looked down at Angela unsympathetically. She paused for a moment, but she soon spoke.

“The offense of disturbing me in the middle of my meal.”

“……”

“The offense of kicking out my maids without my permission and ushering in other maids I don’t know.”

“……”

“And the offense of not respecting me as this Grand Duchy’s esteemed daughter and instead treating me with arrogance and callousness.”

“……”

“Go and tell the head of the household yourself.”

And so, she concluded with a cold, icy voice.

“But…”

“What, you can’t do it?”

Personally saying this meant that the head maid would directly tell the head of the household to his face that she would not acknowledge the fake ducal princess that he had appointed.

It’s a clear protest against his authority.

Even if she were to be kicked out right away after this, there was nothing that she could say to defend herself.

However, this was better than being caught in the act of stealing a dead person’s name and assuming their identity.

If that happened, then she would be questioned whether she was a spy or not.

“…No, I will do as you ask.”

Gnashing her teeth as a scowl flashed over her exceedingly pale face, Angela prostrated with her face so close to the floor.

* * *

‘Ha. Do you think I’m going to let this slide?’

Angela swung the door open.

“AHH!”

One maid was there by the door, startled as she looked up at her.

“What, you… Don’t tell me— Did you eavesdrop?”

When she looked closely at who it was, she realized that it was that cheeky maid who was hiding behind Candice and said the last word before they left, provoking Angela.

“Huh? N-No, I just wanted to give this to the Princess…”

Ruby gripped the tray as she stammered.

The tray held a tea canister filled with tea leaves that were good for indigestion, then a teapot with rabbit patterns.

“Out of my way, insolent girl!”

Slap—

Angela struck Ruby across the cheek without an ounce of hesitation.

It was an act that she had done not just once or twice in her life.

Ruby held her red, swollen cheek right then, but Angela did not care and walked past her.

The place Angela headed to posthaste was not the grand duke’s office.

She hurried towards the exact opposite direction.

She had no intention of doing as Doah had said.

There was a place she could go to, a place she could believe in. Just as Doah surmised, there was a ‘strong backer’ behind Angela.

‘Just because she knows who I am doesn’t make any difference. I’ll just need to explain my situation to that person, and if I ask for mercy, then she will surely stick up for me!’

And now, Angela was right in front of the grand duchess’ room. She knocked on the door without a moment wasted.

But in an extremely courteous manner.

“Come in.”

Permission was given.

Angela’s intention was to kneel right away the moment she stepped into the room.

‘Since she’s the kind and soft-hearted Madam, she’ll be flustered and will ask me to get up from the ground. Then if I just cry and say how much I’ve been wronged by that Bunny because she threatened me…’

But her thoughts had to stop there.

“What’s this?”

Salvier, the second esteemed son, stood beside the grand duchess. He looked down at Angela obliquely.

“Y-Young Master, you’re here as w-well.”

Angela hurriedly bowed her head.

‘Why’s he here?’

Salvier didn’t have that much of a close relationship with his stepmother that he’d come to greet her so early in the morning.

Perhaps the first son, Angelus, was more likely to do this.

But there was no time to think about this right now.

The head maid, who faltered for a moment, implored the grand duchess.

“There is something that I must tell the Madam.”

With his arms crossed, Salvier watched her with one silver brow raised.

“Are you telling me to get out?”

“N-No, not at all…”

“Then why did you say that if not to tell me to leave?”

What she said was certainly disrespectful towards one’s master.

Angela acknowledged her mistake and apologized profusely.

“I apologize. I did not mean to say it in that way, Young Master. It was only a slip of the tongue because I had been in such a hurry.”

Salvier remained silent as she spoke, but as she said that, one corner of his lips rose.

Somehow, that smile made her entirely nervous.

“If you’re in such a hurry, then just say it now.”