The Another Chance To Live

Chapter Four

"L-lady Edith! Is there something the matter?" The maid bowed straight ninety degree with the other two following her.

"I was expecting an answer to my previous question but it seems like otherwise..." I turned to observe the surrounding where several laundry clothes are dumped into the buckets ready to experience themselves under the bright sun.

That proves their paying them for nothing.

The one maid with her brown hair tied in a bun in the middle seemed older than the other two standing behind her. She clearly looked displeased with my sudden interference between their chit chat.

She seems similar to someone from the novel.

"There must be some important topic you were discussing since no work is done here." I crossed my arms around my chest before smiling charmingly at the trio.

"We just arrived here with the buckets and were about to do the work when young lady approached us." The brunette clutched the hem of her skirt with her right hand as the other hand gestured dramatic towards her chest before exclaiming in an innocent tone.

The realisation made the smile on my face grew wider when I recalled the name of the certain maid- Darla. There was nothing special about that name expect that it was mentioned in the novel. Darla started as a normal maid like everyone in the duke's estate and in order to gain support and money she chose the cunning way to grow. She was assigned to the little antagonist's group of maids but she turned out to a corrupted person too. Not only she neglected her duties but also took advantage of Edith's social withdrawal by spreading rumours about her to get everyone's pity.

Let me take her down in case if she tries to play smart.

"Imbeciles! How dare you badmouth your master and even think of lying to my face?!" I slowly walked closer to them as she flinched with other two trembling.

"I swear we did nothing such that-" I cut the sentence before even she can complete it.

"I wonder how the head maid will react if she learns of this matter that the maids are gossiping about members and staining the name of the family, Beth." My words sent shivers down Darla's spine as I can see sweat forming on her forehead.

"She's very strict when it comes of the discipline of the maids, my lady." Beth's calm tone made me surprise cause her composure was cold to the core.

The two young maids fall on their knees with teary eyes indicating that Beth's word made a huge impact as from the corner of my eyes I saw Darla glaring down at the ground.

"This situation consists of two options. Firstly you can chose to get fired or do your jobs properly with your mouths shut. The later sounds more profitable and practical, doesn't it?" I leaned forward to face the two of them as live finally crawled back into their eyes.

"We'll go with your suggestion. Thank you for your generosity, Young lady!" They said in unison before standing up and running off taking the buckets with them.

Darla was still standing their in humiliation as I approached her with a grin similar to a devil's.

"Those options aren't for you to chose." I whispered that but audible enough for her to hear as her body froze. As she got distracted by my words I immediately took an expensive looking hairpin off my hair before fisting it in my palm.

"How about a nice cup of tea while we talk about this topic further in my room very soon?" With my gloved hands I secretly slipped the hairpin down the pocket of her uniform as I left the scene to go to the library with a Darla in total chaos.

If everything goes according to my plan.

It took me proper thirteen minutes to reach the main library because of the ducal estate being so gigantic. The interior was just like of any other library owned by rich people so there wasn't much of a difference.

My sudden visit to the library seemed to surprise the librarian and the other staff taking care of the books there. I stormed off to 'World History' section to grab some books on history to learn more about the past of this empire.

I took a seat in the far corner of the library as I quickly wrote a letter with the quell pen.

"Beth, can you send this to the head maid right now?" I handed her the letter regarding information about the hairpin and Darla as she dashed out at once.

With beth gone now I can do the research without getting suspected.

"So leaving the plot details I know nothing about the events and aristocratic system here." I turned the pages of the book one by one as I went through the history of this place.

The Dalerin Empire was founded by the first emperor who discovered this land with his companies who were the ancestors of the now existing ducal bloodlines. The manuscripts states that this place was surrounded by water making it difficult to conquer but the emperor made it possible, the whether found here was incredible making it highly suitable for human beings to reside and with the expertise of the emperor the results flourish as Dalerin Empire became the third most powerful and influential place but the data provided by the imperial organization says there's still eighteen percent of the deep forest areas are still undiscovered.

The main components of this world are swordsmanship, alchemy and very rare elementary arts. This kingdom has a high rate of swordsmen as well as alchemist but elementary arts are occupations based on mage courses which still lack behind. The people born with magical attributes are very rare even among nobles and the happenings were unbiased. Only one among hundreds possessed such powers and the demand for mages were quite lavish.

If my memory serves me right then the third male lead is also an elementary arts user.

I wrote down the details and points with the social system here as I got introduced to many other books on etiquette and manners.

"These things are total torture to read." I yawned as beth returned from her little delivery job and we both went back to my room.

"Would you like me to prepare a warm bath, my lady?" Beth massaged my shoulders as I melted on the couch with pleasure.

"That's the nicest thing I heard today." Beth giggled before going to do the said work.

The exhumation I felt was severe from reading so many books now that I remember some things line by line. Some minutes later, Beth arrived with the good news of my bath being ready as I happily jumped to the bathtub.

"My lady, your classes on etiquette and other subjects will resume from the next week." Beth rubbed my back as I just sat there lazing around.

Hmm.. I won't get much time to prepare myself for the downfall.