The Whipping Maid of House Calley - Chapter 144

“During the Duker incident as well, the Young Count prioritized above all else making sure Miss Sheila didn’t run into that man, but thinking about it now, it seems he disliked the fact that you were going in and out of such places at all, Miss Sheila.”

At the name Duker coming from Rufus’s mouth, Sheila, startled, lifted her head from where it had been buried in her hands.

“Right! What happened to him?”

Sheila had completely forgotten about Duker all this time.

Because she didn’t even want to think about him, she had unconsciously buried everything related to him deep down.

“As it happens, the verdict was delivered today. With the charge of kidnapping you, Miss Sheila, and attempted murder added, he was sentenced to twenty years in prison,” Rufus said.

He had avoided conveying the contents of Cedric’s letter for several days. Since he mistakenly believed she had reported him, it was uncomfortable for him to face her.

He only brought it up today because the verdict for Duker had just been announced.

Sheila, who hadn’t thought about Duker at all, was shocked that he received a heavier sentence than she expected.

She still hadn’t fully recovered from the sense of helplessness she felt the day she was dragged away by him….

“B-but I wasn’t even questioned for any investigation?”

“The testimony was already handled by the Young Count. Whenever additional investigation was needed, the Young Count personally went back and forth.”

At Rufus’s words, Sheila collapsed onto the bed.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes…. I’m fine.”

While she had been out of her senses, he had been the one struggling for her sake.

Duker would die before serving his full sentence anyway. But the fact that it didn’t end as a mere attempted kidnapping, and instead included attempted murder with corresponding punishment, carried its own meaning.

Now he would be locked in a filthy prison, subjected to hard labor every day.

Sheila hoped he would spend the rest of his life stripped of all freedom, trapped in prison and drowning in endless despair.

Even so, compared to the suffering her sister endured, it was nothing.

“Back then, the Young Count injured his hand, didn’t he? About that…?”

At the sudden memory, Sheila asked, and Rufus shook his head.

“The Young Count chose to bury that matter. He said it was nothing compared to what you went through, Miss Sheila.”

Nothing….

If he, a high noble, had made an issue of it, it could have been turned into a far greater offense than a commoner like herself almost being taken away and then released.

And she felt she understood why he hadn’t done that.

Just now, upon hearing that Duker received a heavy sentence solely for what he did to her, some of the resentment in her heart had eased.

“If you hear any news about the Young Count, could you let me know as well?”

Sheila asked Rufus as she rubbed her reddened eyes. Rufus, now having cleared up his misunderstanding about her, nodded.

“Yes. I will.”

***

[The arrogance of Cedric Calley. Trusting only in his connection with the Crown Prince, he defies a royal decree]

[From a praised heir to a criminal]

[The Calley family, heading toward ruin?]

Bernard, who had been reading the newspaper, threw it onto the table.

“Damn it! Those trash reporters!”

He had lost his temper while reading the headlines.

Since the initial breaking news, [Heir of a count’s family, Cedric Calley urgently arrested! Charges: violation of the royal decree prohibiting human trafficking!], articles had been pouring out nonstop.

“That brat strutted around acting like he was so impressive, and now look at this mess. I should’ve known from the moment he went around bragging about doing business and whatever else!”

“Instead of just lamenting like that, try coming up with a solution, a solution! Honestly, I’m so embarrassed I could die.”

It was a family meeting attended by Count and Countess Calley, Alfonso, and Rufus.

Allen had gone out somewhere again, and Judith was taking lessons from the capable private tutor Cedric had secured before being taken away.

In any case, Bernard and Marisa, who were more concerned about their own reputation than their son’s well-being, cast sharp looks at Rufus.

He had already heard their complaints many times, asking what he had been doing as a secretary for things to end up like this.

As Cedric had hinted, Rufus was keeping himself completely uninvolved in this matter. He also knew very well that if it weren’t for him, there would be no one in this family who would move for Cedric’s sake.

When Rufus remained silent, Alfonso spoke, “Father, Mother. Please calm down. We can’t undo what’s already happened. Once the royal investigation begins, His Highness the Crown Prince will surely do something.”

There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but Bernard, worked up as he was, didn’t notice his second son’s tone.

“Even if that brat returns safely, the fact that he’s brought disgrace upon the family won’t disappear!”

At the words, clearly spoken with the position of heir in mind, Rufus swallowed hard. He had been the one who witnessed up close how Cedric had lived, striving for that position.

“Even so, getting my brother out safely comes first. We can think about the rest later, Father. The verdict won’t take long. I’m worried the two of you might damage your health if you keep stressing like this.”

“As expected, the only one who worries about us is you, Alfonso.”

Marisa looked touched.

“And since my brother’s two maids are idle right now, I think some measures are needed.”

“Oh my! Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

“I’ll take care of the assignments myself.”

“Do that. I’ll trust you.”

After the family meeting ended, Alfonso’s expression was bright.

Cedric’s sudden arrest had shocked him as well. But now, he felt that he was finally stepping into his role, and it didn’t feel bad at all.

For Alfonso, who had always been overshadowed by Cedric even while Cedric was studying abroad, this was a first.

Alfonso first summoned the head maid.

“From tomorrow, have Sheila work as my mother’s maid immediately, and assign the other maid elsewhere as appropriate.”

“As the madam’s maid?”

The head maid asked back. After Judith, Marisa was the second most avoided mistress among the maids.

“Was my instruction difficult to understand?”

Alfonso’s tone was slightly colder than usual.

‘When the cat’s away, the mice will play….’

Recalling the old saying, the head maid quickly responded, “N-no, not at all. I’ll take care of it.”

After bowing deeply, the head maid withdrew.

Alfonso had noticed that Sheila was the one Cedric had purchased, but he said nothing. Just in case, he chose to follow Cedric’s instructions.

Still, assigning her as Marisa’s maid was something he could do.

Left alone, Alfonso picked up a pen and paper. As usual, he began writing a letter to Eloise.

Before long, the letter that would be delivered to Eloise in secret was completed.

***

“No, you still haven’t found out who it was? At the very least, you should know who Cedric trafficked!”

“He won’t tell us, so there’s no way for us to know.”

“You’re the lord of the Calley estate, and you’re saying you know nothing? Does that even make sense?”

“How frustrating. I told you, the report was made to the royal court in the first place. Even if he was taken from here, all investigative authority lies with the royal court, the royal court!”

The voices of the Count and Countess echoed all the way outside the Count’s room.

Ever since Cedric was reported, the two of them had been arguing nonstop.

Sheila quietly pressed her ear against the door and listened in on their conversation.

A few days ago, Sheila’s assignment had been changed to Marisa’s maid. She’d heard through Rufus that it was done at Alfonso’s strong suggestion.

Molly, who worked as a commuting maid, had been reassigned to the kitchen.

“Molly, is the work manageable?”

Sheila felt sorry, as if she had dragged Molly into this as well.

“Kitchen work is only physically tiring, but mentally it’s easy. I’m more worried about you, working as the madam’s maid.”

“No. I’m fine.”

Sheila really was fine. Whatever Alfonso’s intention was in placing her here, it was actually better since she could grasp how Cedric’s situation was unfolding faster than anyone else.

Marisa’s voice rang out beyond the door again.

“It’s just excuses again, excuses. Doesn’t that prove you’re being looked down on?”

“Hey! Even if that’s the law?”

“I’m not just talking about that. You should’ve known what your son was doing in the first place.”

Marisa and Bernard were curious about who Cedric had trafficked that things ended up like this. Their curiosity soon turned into blaming each other, and eventually led to arguments.

Every time they bickered like that, Sheila felt uneasy.

‘You sly thing! After all that, you’re still keeping your mouth shut and sticking by my side as my maid?’

If Marisa found out everything, Sheila felt like she would grab her by the hair and say exactly that.

Like Rufus, Sheila knew everything but remained silent.

That way, she wouldn’t be dismissed. At the very least, she wanted to stay here until a verdict was reached for him.

‘At this rate, they’re going to go at it again….’

As Bernard and Marisa slowly worked themselves up, Sheila’s eyes wavered.

She had already noticed the pattern of how the two of them would end up when their arguments escalated.

She had often heard about it from the maids in charge, but seeing it in person felt entirely different.

And even with their son having been arrested, Sheila couldn’t understand how they could still do something like that.

‘They’re no better than animals.’

Sheila had recently come to realize that just because they were nobles didn’t mean they lived more dignified or refined lives, nor that they lived happier ones.

As she quietly tried to slip away, she spotted Rufus approaching from a distance.