I Won't Clear Up the Misunderstanding. I Don't Mind Being the Villainess. - Chapter 16

“…Nope, not here, as expected.”
I finished searching the Duchess’s room and let out a tired sigh.
My back was killing me, and I’d been hoping to find a first-aid box so I could put on a pain-relief patch.
No luck, though. It was a bust.
“They’ve got a sewing kit and a mini-kitchen, but no actual meds.”
I looked around the huge room and grumbled to myself.
Even in the manga, Erica often baked treats in the Duchess’s private kitchen.
Seeing it in person gave me a little thrill, even though I knew I shouldn’t be focused on that right now.
But seriously, I need a patch, not baking supplies.
“I finally got to relax in my room, and now I have to go to the effort of tracking someone down.”
I stared at the call bell sitting on the side table.
Ringing is supposed to summon my personal maid.
But I’d already fired Cera, and she was probably off with the steward, Holger, getting the details of her resignation sorted out.
If I kept ringing, maybe another maid would show up.
But the thought of dealing with someone like Cera made me feel exhausted before I even saw them. In the original story, A Single Flower Melts the Ice, most of the Duke’s maids were loud, nosy, and loved to gossip.
A few of them were even peeking when Kevin passed judgment on Lady Marvella, so it’s probably the same story here.
(It’s all because Kevin doesn’t care about what happens inside the mansion…)
Kevin, the controlling tyrant, shows no mercy to anyone who crosses him.
But he never bothers to check up on work performance and is constantly away. Apart from his personal needs, he basically lets things slide.
(I remember after Lily died, he just gave up on everything, and it was only meeting Erica that gave him the will to live again.)
Kevin’s life, having lost his beloved wife, was stuck in the dark, and Erica was the light that was supposed to clear away that gloom.
The original story hammered that point home constantly.
Even as a mere reader in my past life, I felt sorry for Kevin losing the love of his life, but I always thought his extreme apathy and indifference to his life were awful, especially since he was a father.
He’d constantly talk about seeing Lily whenever he was hurt or unwell. Even the original Erica, quite rightly, lost it and slapped him while crying, telling him to “Take better care of yourself!”
(He needs to care about his kids first, let alone himself. They’re the children Lily went through great pain to bring into the world, after all.)
A Single Flower Melts the Ice has quite a few characters who fall in love easily, but Kevin might be the biggest romantic of them all.
If I recall correctly, before Erica arrived, Kevin had practically isolated himself from everyone, including relatives.
I seriously wonder how the Avenius Dukedom was still standing.
Maybe there’s some kind of supernatural correction at work, considering Cera was able to keep her job for so long despite her terrible work ethic.
“But because he isolated them, Leo and Ron couldn’t socialize with relatives or make friends… He’s a total failure as a father.”
Ignorant of the world and ideas outside the Dukedom, the two boys bought into Lady Marvella’s twisted lessons hook, line, and sinker, which ruined their relationship.
(The funny thing is, that isolation also meant Leo’s and Ron’s messed-up beliefs didn’t leak out to the public.)
I wouldn’t call that a lucky break. It’s why things got discovered so late, and their relationship became so tangled.
Even if the boys weren’t mixing with outsiders, Kevin should have noticed something was off if he’d just checked in with Leo and Ron regularly and listened to what they had to say.
(I need to make sure I have proper conversations with Leo and Ron to understand exactly what’s going on in their heads.)
And they absolutely need emotional support for the loss of their mother.
Kevin isn’t the only one suffering from losing family; the children are hurting just as much.
Leo, in particular, seems to be more profoundly affected by his mother’s death than his brother.
“I have to make sure those two grow up to be functional! …Ouch!”
The sharp pain in my back returned as I unconsciously straightened up.
Right, patches first. My mind just drifts back to the children so easily.
I’ll just grit my teeth and call a maid. Then I’ll ask for my patch.
Just as I was thinking that, a gentle knock came at the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s the maid, Airy, madam.”
The quiet voice reminded me of the black-haired maid.
Maybe she was coming to give a report?
“Come in, please.”
I called out as I turned towards the door.
“Excuse me.”
After saying the formal line, Airy opened the door.
As expected, Cera wasn’t with her.
“The handing over of Cera has been completed.”
“Thank you. Did she cause a fuss or try to escape?”
“I informed her that His Grace the Duke is currently at home, and she quietened down relatively quickly.”
“…So she did put up a bit of a fight.”
“She became completely silent after being told that a letter of recommendation would be impossible if she continued to act out.”
She obviously has enough sense to be upset by that, so why did Cera have to go and ruin everything right until the end?
I was too baffled to even be annoyed.
“Also, Holger the steward requested a word with you, madam.”
“Holger did?”
I was surprised for a second, as I’d never had a proper conversation with him.
If I’m going to show that I intend to manage the house instead of just being an ornamental wife, then it’s perfectly normal for the steward, Holger, to want to talk.
“So he asked what time would be convenient for you, madam.”
“…Understood.”
My initial impression of the steward, whom I’d never spoken to, went up immediately just because he didn’t summon me or barge in unannounced.
Though, realistically, that’s the bare minimum one should expect.
“I’ll be free after lunch. Please tell him that.”
“Very good, madam.”
“And also, instead of Cera, I would like you to bring me my lunch and a patch.”
“Regarding lunch, I checked with the kitchen, and it seems they can prepare it immediately. Shall I bring that first?”
My eyes widened slightly.
She had checked the situation with the kitchen before even coming to my room.
“Yes, please bring the lunch first.”
“Very good, madam.”
“Are you only responsible for cleaning?”
“Currently, yes, madam.”
“…It’s a strange question, but would you be willing to take on other duties besides cleaning?”
I asked Airy.
“If it is an order from you or His Grace the Duke, I will happily obey.”
Satisfied with her response, I sent Airy off.
It wasn’t official yet, but I’d just added her name to the list of candidates for the Duchess’s maid.