If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 87
Sipping her cold tea, Ruby glanced over at Liam as soon as he was gone and examined her calf. Satisfied that it was meticulously bandaged, she got up and started walking around.
She walked this way and, satisfied that there was no problem walking, she moved toward the door.
She put her ear to the door, and when she heard not a sound from the hallway, she quietly turned the doorknob.
Peeking her head through the crack, she glanced left and right, then stepped out. Slowly, she crept down the hallway, sticking to the walls, making sure the stairs were clear.
Clinging to the door of the familiar office, Ruby listened to the muttering from inside, but couldn’t make out much detail.
To hear a bit more, she raised her tiptoes and pressed her ear flat against the door. Because of this, she didn’t notice the approaching figure from behind.
“…What do you think you’re doing?”
Startled by the voice directly behind her, Ruby jumped in place. Due to the sudden movement, the rabbit ears she had neatly tucked in moments ago popped out with a thump.
Wide-eyed, Ruby looked up at the person who addressed her. Although they had crossed paths a few times, she had never exchanged words with the stern-looking maid, who now gazed down at her with cold eyes.
Ruby suddenly realized that, despite being considered tall in her village, she hadn’t encountered anyone shorter since coming here. It was in that small detail that she realized how different she was from Ivan.
Ruby forced a smile and greeted the maid.
“Hello.”
“…Hello.”
Unable to ignore Ivan’s guest, Margaret forced herself to say hello. But she really didn’t like what she saw.
The mansion had become too noisy due to the sudden appearance of an outsider. Besides, hadn’t something unsavory happened just yesterday? Margaret was well aware that Leslie was harboring false hopes. As condescending as Leslie could be, Margaret still felt more affection for her than for Ruby.
Ruby could sense the thoughts the head maid harbored as she looked down at her with cold eyes.
“If you’re a guest, please observe proper etiquette as one. Eavesdropping on the office where an important meeting is taking place is a grave offense that you could rightly be punished for.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
After giving Ruby a questioning look as she apologized, the maid let out a small sigh before asking politely.
“Shall I inform the master that you’ve come?”
Ruby glanced at the trolley brought by the head maid and shook her head.
Upon seeing the numerous teacups that had been prepared, Ruby deduced that they were all working tirelessly without even having time to enjoy tea.
“No. Like you said, it wouldn’t be appropriate for an outsider to involve themselves in important matters. If possible, please don’t tell anyone that I came by.”
Ruby spoke calmly and left. The head maid looked at her silently with an unexpected look in her eyes.
* * *
“For a discovery made a hundred years ago, there is only one event that comes to mind.”
“Yes, the incident where our tribe’s Black Flame was extinguished.”
“Louis de Negro, the duke at the time, admitted that he was at fault. He abdicated the dukedom, and my great-grandfather, Louis de Negro’s brother, became duke.”
“That’s correct.”
Ivan found it difficult to calm his troubled mind since yesterday. He naturally didn’t suspect Ruby. But he couldn’t quite decide if it was right to resurface a case that had already been closed, especially a hundred years later.’
“I pored over the records of the time, but there was nothing to indicate that Louis de Negro was connected to any other tribe.”
At Mael’s murmur, Ivan massaged his throbbing temples.
“Back then, they were just trying to pin the blame on a strict man. Even if he volunteered, that’s what it boils down to.”
