If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 128
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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If it was an ordinary noblewoman, Liana would have been dragged out and punished without a word. However, she believed that Cain would not act that way. Although he was a failure as a husband, he was still a generous Marquis to his servants.
People often remarked about him, saying, ‘He’s just a half-noble who rose from the bottom,’ and speculated that he felt a kinship with the lower classes. Liana had somewhat agreed with them.
Agatha, on the other hand, defended Cain, arguing that not looking down on those below him was merely a characteristic of someone who had worked their way up from the bottom, and treating the servants with dignity was a reflection of true character.
‘How kind our Miss was to defend a husband who barely deserves it.’
As she recalled Agatha, anger pushed aside her fear, completely overtaking Liana’s emotions. She placed her hands neatly on her knees and lifted her head high. If she could, she would love to slap that smug face.
Thus began an unexpected standoff.
Holding back her chill, Liana endured Cain’s piercing gaze. Gradually, however, she felt the weight of his presence bearing down on her, causing sweat to bead on her palms. Just as the fear she had kept at bay began to creep back, the door swung open.
It was truly a relief.
“Your Grace, I have brought the attendants.”
Through the open door came Havel, the butler, and Patricio, the deputy butler, along with eight attendants who had already been summoned early that morning and had suffered the brunt of Cain’s wrath.
As they entered, all the maids cast sidelong glances at Liana.
She felt intimidated at their looks, but reminded herself that she was sitting here on behalf of her Miss.
“Now, I have called everyone you wanted. Let’s hear what you have to say.”
Cain leaned forward, resting his elbows on the armrests and propping his chin on his hands. Though he simply shifted his weight, it came across as an imposing posture, causing Liana to take a deep breath and finally speak up.
“Everyone gathered here has a responsibility.”
The room buzzed with murmurs. The attendants, unsure of what was happening, began to whisper about her sanity, while Teschen glared at Liana as if she was about to devour her.
“Those who drove the Marchioness out of here are all of you.”
“Stop with the wordplay. I didn’t bring you here to hear nonsense.”
He wanted her to get to the point without any preamble. Liana mentally organized her thoughts.
“Your Grace, you often leave the estate to fulfill your imperial duties. Havel, as the butler, accompanies you on your travels.”
“So?”
“So, all practical administrative tasks at the estate fall to the deputy butler. In consultation with the head maid.”
“…….”
“If Your Grace is absent from the estate, then logically, the highest authority and responsibility
must rest with the Marchioness.”
She wasn’t trying to teach the owner of the estate about its rules and regulations. As Liana began speaking in a tone darker than he had anticipated, Cain felt a flicker of curiosity stir within him.
“However, I have never once seen the deputy butler or the head maid report to the Marchioness while Your Grace was away.”
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted around them. The person paling the most among them was Teschen. She had been the one who disregarded Agatha the most in this estate, both four years ago and now.
“All items entering the estate—fabrics, food, daily necessities—are recorded in the ledgers and reported to the master through the butler. The person who gives the final approval and confirmation must always be the master of the estate. This is directly tied to the authority of being a master.”
She had organized her thoughts over the past few days and spoke without hesitation. At first, starting was difficult, but once she began, it felt easy to carry through to the end.
It was as if she was sharpening a sword against bamboo.
“However, that authority was taken from Madam by the deputy butler and the head maid. Or rather, it may be more accurate to say it was never given to her at all. The ledgers have always remained in their hands.”
She no longer addressed them respectfully. Addressing Patricio and Teschen so casually, Liana’s expression was more venomous than ever. The pent-up frustration of four years surged forth, fueling her emotions.
“This is blasphemy, Your Grace. You need not listen to such slander. I fear it may tarnish the Marquis’s reputation.”
Teschen stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Liana to block her view of Cain.
“This girl is a wholly incompetent maid. She insisted on staying by the Marchioness’s side and was brought into the estate against my better judgment, and she cannot even sew properly! She has been scolded by me countless times. Now she dares to tell such lies. How dare she!”
Slap.
Teschen raised her hand, and before Liana knew it, her head was turned to the side.
She tasted the metallic tang of blood in her mouth. It seemed that when Teschen slapped her, she had inadvertently bitten the inside of her cheek.
Liana wiped the blood that had seeped out from her lip carelessly.
