The Ugly Villainess is not Naive Anymore

Chapter 8

(A/N: THIS CHAPTER IS ON ISABEL'S POV AND SOME FLASHBACKS)

It had been three days since Daisy’s father arrived at the duchy with his lovely little family—his graceful wife, his obedient daughters, and the secret he thought he could keep buried.

He had pleaded with my dear father to stay silent.

"To pretend that Daisy—his illegitimate daughter—was still the duke and duchess’s child and my twin sister."

"To let the lie live just a little longer." But–

"How tragic."

"Because secrets?
They only stay buried until I decide to dig them up."

And I did.

They found out.

"Or rather... I made sure they did."

Flashback

In the original story, there was a maid, nothing more than a petty gossip—one of Daisy’s little minions. A maid with a sharp tongue and a sharper talent for making real Isabel's already miserable life in the duchy... even more intolerable.

And now that I am here? Naturally, I couldn’t let her roam free. Can I?

So when the perfect opportunity presented itself, I simply... nudged it along.

The butler who usually guarded the duke’s office had mysteriously been called away for a task that just so happened to come from me.

And that maid? Happened to be walking by with a tray of refreshments. Past a door she should never stop near.
But she did. Oh, how she did.

Because I gave her a reason.

With a whisper of illusion magic, I let her hear the kind of conversation that could crack marble walls.

The Maid’s POV

She paused by the door. Her ears sharpened, drawn by the unmistakable voice of the duke himself. At first, she thought she must have misheard—but then came the words, clear as day, soaked in disdain.

The voices of the duke’s. And another—shaky, desperate. The count.

“Yes, Daisy is your and Julia’s daughter. The fruit of your unfaithfulness,” the duke spat, each word like a lash. “You brought shame into this house and passed it off as blood of my own.”

“It wasn’t meant to happen,” the count hissed. “I was drugged that night—Julia knew it. She used it.”

The maid blinked. Julia?
Lady Daisy’s nanny? The duchess’s former maid?

“I gave her money to get rid of the child. I told her—no ties. No scandals.”

A pause.

“And instead?” the duke growled. “She switched your bastard with my daughter. Left my flesh and blood to rot outside these walls while she raised hers in silk and gold.”

The tray nearly dropped from her hands.

She swayed. Her breath caught in her throat.

Lady Daisy... is not the duke and duchess’s daughter. That she knows because the real lady is already here.... But–

"She’s the count’s? And Julia... the duchess’s maid. Lady Daisy’s devoted nanny. The one who never left her side... she did what?"

"Gasp! ......Heh," she chucked mockingly.