The Whipping Maid of House Calley - Chapter 115

“What are you talking about…?”

Even hearing such nonsense from Jerry, Sheila couldn’t treat it as a joke.

Because his face made it clear he wasn’t joking.

Something was definitely wrong.

The only thing Jerry should have said was that everything ended well….

“I’ll explain the details on the way. I’ll wait nearby, so look for a chance and come out with only the important things,” Jerry said urgently.

At his agitation, Sheila finally raised her voice. “Jerry! Tell me what’s going on first!”

Jerry’s eyes snapped back into focus. He opened and closed his mouth before roughly running a hand through his hair.

“Ah, damn it!”

As if making up his mind, Jerry said, “The Young Count bought you. From your brother.”

“…What?”

What is he saying…?

“I heard it myself. Your brother sold you for one thousand solids half a month ago. To someone from the Calley family. Who else could it be?”

“Th-that can’t be….”

Sheila couldn’t understand what Jerry was saying at all. But Jerry wouldn’t be this agitated over false information. And if what he said was true, the only person who could casually spend one thousand solids on a mere maid like her was Cedric.

“Besides, that bastard already completed his appointment ceremony, so won’t he be getting married soon? Dirty bastard…!”

Jerry continued cursing, but Sheila couldn’t hear a single word.

Half a month ago….

He hadn’t told her anything. She hadn’t noticed anything either.

Maybe Jerry misunderstood something….

“Come to think of it, he visited the guild around half a month ago.”

“What do you mean? Who went to the guild?”

Sheila looked at Jerry in shock.

“Cedric Calley. He came with his secretary. The master told me not to tell you, so I couldn’t. I’m sorry.”

“The Young Count…? Why would the young count go to the guild…?”

Sheila’s voice turned hollow at the mention of Cedric visiting the guild.

She’d never imagined he knew about her connection to the guild.

“Why else? Because of you.”

Jerry’s confirmation widened Sheila’s eyes.

“The Young Count already knew about your plan somehow. That you were bringing money to the guild to hire someone to kill your brother.”

Hearing Jerry’s words, Sheila covered her mouth with one hand and leaned against the wall.

‘That can’t be….’

No way…?

The ledger that recorded everything flashed through her mind.

The floorboards creaked unusually whenever he walked over the spot where she hid it.

That was why she even bought a carpet to cover it.

But what if he already noticed the hidden space beneath the floor? What if he deliberately stepped there on purpose…?

The thought sent chills through her entire body.

There was no way he could have known her plan without seeing the ledger.

“The Young Count told the master not to carry out your request. At the time, we never imagined he would buy you. The master said we only needed to follow the client’s orders, but if he bought you, that changes everything, doesn’t it?”

Jerry was right.

If Fred had already sold her to someone, killing him now would serve no purpose.

“Then come with me! You can’t get rid of the Young Count. No, maybe you could if you paid enough. But to eliminate a noble, it would cost three or four times more than it did for that bastard Fred. Do you think you could ever save that kind of money? You’re practically his slave now!”

Jerry’s outburst echoed in Sheila’s ears.

Jerry grabbed Sheila’s vacant shoulders and shook her. “There’s no time, Sheila. Before the Young Count notices… hurry!”

“Jerry….”

Sheila removed Jerry’s hands from her shoulders.

“I understand. I understand, so go back to the guild. I’ll come by soon.”

“Sheila!”

As Jerry’s voice rose, Sheila spoke firmly, “I’ll definitely go.”

Seeing Sheila’s resolute expression, Jerry couldn’t say anything more.

Just then, the voices of people passing along the street reached them. Unable to raise his voice further, Jerry finally gave up and said, “I’ve suspended the job for now. Even so, the contractors will keep the seventy solids advance. The remaining one hundred thirty solids are being held at the guild, so make sure you come retrieve them. If anything happens, send a letter. You know where to send it, right?”

“Yes.”

When Sheila replied briefly, Jerry hesitated for a moment, then let out a sigh and disappeared around the opposite corner.

The moment Jerry disappeared, Sheila collapsed to the ground.

Her legs had been trembling, barely supporting her this entire time.

‘It can’t be….’

It wasn’t that she doubted Jerry’s information as a guild member. She simply couldn’t accept what she’d just heard as reality.

Sheila recalled the words he’d spoken with dignity during lessons.

“Yesterday, a royal edict was issued regarding human trafficking.”

“An edict is an order directly issued by the King, and it is a law that must be followed. And the edict issued this time states that those who participate in human trafficking will be punished severely.”

“Since a royal edict isn’t issued casually, it is the lord’s role to understand the background that led to the edict, memorize its contents precisely, and then inform the people of the territory accurately and apply it. Do you understand?”

He said all that while teaching Judith….

He was somewhat—no, quite—perverted, and had an irritating and sly side that didn’t match his appearance, but he wasn’t someone who spoke irresponsibly. At least, that was how Sheila saw him over the past three or four months.

So Sheila needed to confirm it herself.

Whether he had truly bought her.

Whether she had truly been sold so easily to someone else.

***

It was the night Sheila and Cedric had spent rolling together in the punishment room.

Cedric, who got out of bed slightly earlier than her, left the punishment room door slightly open and waited for Sheila to wake up.

Soon after, she woke without oversleeping, got dressed, and came out, calmly greeting him.

“Good morning, Young Count. As expected, this room has excellent lighting….”

Sheila began speaking words she seemed to have prepared, turning her gaze toward the window.

Unlike last time, when the sun had been high in the sky, she realized the sun hadn’t fully risen yet, and quickly corrected herself.

“I-I mean, the window is very large and nice.”

Seeing straight through her obvious behavior, Cedric smirked. “Seems like you prefer big things.”

At his teasing question, Sheila’s face turned red, just like the night before when she lay beneath him, spilling obscene words.

“Master’s cock…, ngh, it’s so big and thick… it fills my belly completely…, hnng!”

As if recalling that memory, Sheila’s flustered expression was obvious, but she forced herself to answer calmly.

“D-don’t most people feel that way? O-of course, if it’s too big, it’s hard to clean all the way to the end, but if it’s there anyway, it’s better for it to be big rather than small…!”

But the more she spoke, the paler her face became.

“I mean, the window! The window….”

Cedric teased her mercilessly as she trapped herself in her own words.

“Who said anything? Seems like you were thinking of something else.”

“N-no!”

Sheila denied it strongly.

“Strong denial is often strong affirmation. In your case, that’s usually how it goes.”

He’d told her that himself once, but the habits of a woman as transparent as a jellyfish didn’t change easily.

When Cedric deliberately made a knowing expression, Sheila looked both wronged and guilty.

Cedric said while suppressing the smile threatening to escape, “You don’t need to attend to me, so you may go to your room and rest. I’ll call you if I need anything.”

“Yes, Young Count.”

After bowing, Sheila disappeared in an instant.

‘She really is like a squirrel, isn’t she?’

Seeing Sheila act like her usual self, Cedric felt relieved.

She was no longer trembling in fear like yesterday.

***

Since Rufus hadn’t returned from Broden, Cedric summoned his parents himself and sat before the Calley couple.

“How far has the marriage discussion with Lady Eloise progressed?”

At Cedric’s question, Marisa jabbed Bernard in the side.

“Ghk! Ahem.”

Bernard, who let out an odd sound without meaning to, covered it with a cough and said, “We haven’t sent a separate letter yet. The appointment ceremony just ended, so there’s no need to rush.”

Bernard and Marisa were busy enjoying time with the new acquaintances they met at the appointment ceremony.

“It’s already been almost a month.”

Cedric’s disapproving gaze brought both embarrassment and irritation to Bernard’s face.

Cedric said as if he’d no interest in his father’s expression, “Well, it doesn’t matter. I came to ask you not to proceed with this engagement anyway.”

“What…?”

Marisa’s eyes widened at Cedric’s words.

“I knew it. You’ve fallen for Lady Stacy after all, haven’t you?”

Marisa clapped her hands, unable to hide her delight.

“Well done, well done. See? I told you there was no need to rush.”

Seeing Marisa’s reaction, Bernard smiled as if he’d never been angry.

“Should we call Alfonso instead?”

If Cedric chose Sylvia, he would marry into the Stacy ducal family, so Alfonso would need to become the Calley family’s heir.

Cedric let out a small laugh at Marisa’s excitement and spoke, “That won’t be necessary. I understand what you’re thinking, but I came to tell you that I won’t marry anyone.”

At Cedric’s declaration, both of their smiles disappeared instantly.

“Wh-what do you mean…!”

“What are you talking about?”