Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“Ahh!”

Britney threw the teacup she was holding.

Clink-

While the startled maids cleaned up the broken teacup, Britney huffed and stared out the window.

Keivrand’s visit from a few days ago has been lingering in her mind.

She was happy to hear that her father has connections within the palace, but there were dozens, hundreds even, of women who were vying for the position of Crown Princesses.

It remains to be seen whether she can overcome the competition and become the Crown Princess.

And although there were hundreds of women who wanted to be Keivrand Green’s wife, it was Iris who had become his wife even though she had done nothing.

The sense of humiliation she felt that day still lingered.

[In that sense, the same goes for your father.]

What Iris had whispered to her.

And the eyes that looked at her when she walked into the drawing room.

‘Iris, she…pretended to be kind and obedient, but she was actually a snakey bitch. Count Green needs to know her true nature…’

How Keivrand had taunted her had disappeared from her memory. The only thing she remembers was how brazen and arrogant Iris looked.

‘Iris, that bitch always takes what’s mine. Starting with my father…Rafford…Yeah, Rafford.’

She recalled a boy with sky blue hair who gave her a kind, warm smile.

The friendly and sweet Rafford. It was Britney’s first love.

[I’m sorry, Britney. I…]

The eyes of Rafford, who refused Britney’s confession, were looking at Iris.

Iris, who was cleaning the window, turned her head and made eye contact with Rafford, who smiled sweetly back at her. It was a kind of smile that he had never shown Britney.

She didn’t remember what kind of expression Iris made. Maybe she had a big smile as if she was enchanted.

Such occurrences have often happened since Rafford.

To Britney, Iris had lived such a slovenly life, but still managed to enter the Green family, the guardian of the sacred relic.

Keivrand wouldn’t know how sloven Iris is. She was sure to disgrace the reputation of the Green family.

‘Since he doesn’t know…’

The figure of Viscount Alfred Hutch appeared in Britney’s eyes.

A few days ago, Alfred, who for some reason came to Duke Whittle’s mansion with a frightened look, was told that Iris had already married Keivrand. However, he hadn’t left the mansion, and instead had asked for Iris to be returned.

He even went as far as to ask for Britney if he can’t have Iris.

Alfred was only a self-made man, but he was also the master of house Hutch. Ever since wealth began to be more valuable than titles, even Duke Whittle couldn’t drive Alfred away.

‘I need to teach her.’

A smile spread across Britney’s lips.

She had thought of a good way to pour cold water on Iris, as well as kick Alfred out while keeping him happy at the same time.

As soon as she drew up the plan, Britney quickly left the room and ran to Alfred.

Alfred was eating dadidan chocolate cookies and talking to a maid next to him about how much money he had.

“Viscount Hutch.”

“Ah, Miss Britney. Call me Alfred.”

Alfred had a smile on his greasy face. He had no doubt in his mind that Britney would be his wife sooner or later.

“How could I? Viscount Hutch is my beloved sister, Iris, man.”

Alfred’s face wrinkled.

“Duke Whittle gave Iris to Count Green, didn’t he?”

“Gave…what are you talking about…?”

“So he didn’t? According to the agreement I should have already taken Miss Iris back to my estate.”

“I know, I know. Iris was also looking forward to it.”

“…Really?”

“Of course. Keivrand Green forced us to give him Iris by claiming that he’s the guardian of the sacred relic…our Iris…”

Britney’s eyes became red as if she was recalling that day. Naturally it wasn’t because she was sad, but because she was angry.

“How tearful she was in Count Green’s carriage…It still hurts me to think about it.”

With tears flowing down Britney’s cheeks, she looked at Alfred with remorse.

“But…but what can I do? How am I supposed to take Iris back from Count Green, who even Duke Whittle couldn’t do anything against? So Miss Britney, you and I…”

“Iris is very beautiful, you know? You must have seen the portrait…”

“O-of course…”

“The beautiful Iris cried as she longed for Viscount Hutch…didn’t she?”

When she asked the maid next to her, the maid quickly nodded.

“Ah, that’s right. Miss Iris, she really cried.”

Alfred gulped down his saliva.

“I-I was supposed to marry Miss Iris, so of course I’d love to marry Miss Iris. But there’s no way, no way…”

“What do you mean? As a man…”

“No, what does being a man have to do with it?”

“Viscount Hutch, you really don’t know? Why men go crazy for our Iris…”

“Because she’s beautiful…”

“Of course there’s that, but it’s because Iris is a very innocent and pure child. A flower in the middle of the lake that hasn’t been touched or even influenced by a man.”

Alfred nodded his head.

“I see…”

“Maybe Count Keivrand Green wanted Iris because of that aspect. You know what I want to say, right?”

Alfred was quick-witted.

“But who would believe me?”

“Don’t worry, Viscount Hutch. Behind you is our Duke family, and we will make what comes out of your mouth true.”

* * *

The most famous designer and seamstress in the city of Dakot, where Count Green’s mansion is located, had come. Iris opened a design book that the designer had brought, and picked out some of the designs she liked.

A pair of fancy dress sets, an elegant dress set, three casual dress sets, some casual clothes, and pajamas. The fabric was chosen a few steps below the most expensive one. The Green family’s money still had to be used sparingly at this time.

“These casual clothes…Are you sure it’s all right?”

The designer asked with a puzzled look. This is because the casual designs that Iris had chosen were not designed for a lady to wear.

“It’s all right.”

With a suspicious look, the designer spoke.

“Ah, I see. Oh, and the Count had asked me to bring a dress for you to wear, so I brought a few. Would you like to try them on?”

“Okay.”

After trying on a few dresses with the help of the maids, she chose a few to wear for the time being. She also chose a few pieces of jewelry from a jewelry box that the designer had brought.

“You have a good eye.”

Iris smiled at the designer’s words.

She had no choice but to have a good eye. In her last life, for a long time, she had lived as a mistress to be used as an ornament.

After the designer and seamstress left, Iris picked up a green dress. The chest area was light green, almost white, and progressively darker the further down.

Again, she changed her dress with the help of the maids.

‘When’s my personal maid coming?’

These maids had no experience changing a lady’s dress, so they had staggered as they tried to help.

Among the maids, none knew how to do her hair either, so Iris let her long hair flow down.

Looking out the room, she saw a woman walking down the hall. It was a pretty-looking woman with brown hair and green eyes that had caught her eyes since a few days ago.

The woman would brush past her with a dry nod when they met.

Among the servants, there was bound to be someone who was jealous because they couldn’t accept the new mistress. However, there was no one who was as blatant as this woman.

‘It’s annoying.’

Iris had just become the Countess, so she was giving the people in this family time to adjust. However, that attitude wasn’t good.

“Count, I’m here.”

A woman’s sweet voice came from behind. The woman stood in front of Keivrand’s room.

Keivrand and Iris share a bedroom, but their private rooms were separated on either side.

In front of Keivrand’s room, where even Iris wouldn’t enter without permission, the woman didn’t address herself as she presented herself in front of the door by saying, ‘I’m here.’

She could hear the woman opening the door as if Keivrand had told her to come in.

‘She’s not an ordinary maid.’

Perhaps she was Keivrand’s lover.

It was common for nobles to have a maid or personal maid as their lover in their mansion.

Keivrand is also a young man, so she can understand if he had one or two lovers.

However, it was wrong for the lover to show that attitude to Iris, the mistress.

“Who’s that woman?”

With a puzzled look on her face, a maid answered.

“She’s…the Count’s personal maid.”

“What’s her name?”

“Juliette Merdi. She’s the daughter of Viscount Merdi.”

“The daughter of a Viscount?”

“Yes.”

Lowering her head, the maid who answered also thought that Juliette was Keivrand’s lover.

‘I can’t believe that a Viscount’s daughter is working as a maid…’

In families above the Marquess, lower income family members often worked as maids. However, in a Viscount’s family, there was rarely anyone who worked as a personal maid.

‘As expected, it’s Kei’s lover.’

Iris narrowed her brows slightly.

Even if Juliette isn’t a commoner, that attitude was troublesome, and if she’s the daughter of a Viscount, it may be even more troublesome.

Iris’ purpose was to live a peaceful and carefree life, so she didn’t want anyone to touch her nest.

‘I’m going to have to remove her from my sight. Or make it so she won’t even be able to raise her head in front of me.’

She was sorry for Keivrand, but she couldn’t let a woman show that kind of attitude to her, the mistress.

“Miss Iris.”

At Jamie’s call, she snapped out of her thoughts.

“I’ve brought the maids in. They’re in the drawing room right now. Would you like to go and meet them?”

“Yes.”

As they headed to the drawing room, Jamie spoke.

“I only found two people this time because I was in a hurry. The boss…If the Count had informed me of the marriage, I wouldn’t have been in such a hurry.”

It seems that he was still upset that he didn’t hear about the marriage from Keivrand in advance.

She hesitated because she didn’t know what to say, but Jamie went on, apparently not looking for an answer.

“However, they’re competent, so they should be able to satisfy your requirements. Aren’t you glad the Count has a man like me?”

“Yeah, I’m glad.”

She was able to adequately answer this time.

Jamie arrived in front of the drawing room while nodding vigorously with a satisfied smile.

Before opening the door, Jamie explained about the two maids waiting inside.

Elly of the Lutech family and Christina of the Fernie family.

Although the Lutech and Fernie families were commoners, they were well-known enough to be treated as quasi-noble.

Before entering the drawing room, Iris spoke.

“There’s one more person I’d like to have as my personal maid.”

“Yes, please do say.”

“Juliette Merdi. Tell her to wait in my room.”

== Translator’s Note ==

1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .