CHAPTER 12
“…What?”
Paul, who had been standing there with a delinquent look and his hands behind his back, widened his eyes.
Judging from how startled he looked, I must have been right.
I softened my gaze and asked him earnestly.
“I understand having an unrequited crush hurts, but please, know your limits.”
“W-what kind of nonsense is that?!”
He shouted loudly, and Greta, standing behind me, frowned and stepped forward.
“Watch your tone. How dare a servant raise his voice to the lady.”
“But…!”
“I said that’s enough.”
At her cold warning, Paul clenched his teeth.
I spoke sincerely.
“I understand how you feel. Still, there are boundaries between personal and professional life, right? If you keep acting like this, you’ll be the one in trouble, not me. So please, be careful from now on.”
I knew from experience that being fired never felt good.
For the record, I once got fired after rejecting my boss’s confession — through the manager, no less.
‘Anyway, I don’t want to fire anyone if I can help it.’
Luckily, Paul must not have wanted to be kicked out either, because he clenched his fist and muttered in a small voice, “I’m sorry.”
Wishing he’d quickly pull himself together, I waved for him to leave.
He walked away in big, fast strides.
Now then, time to study.
Two days later.
As I went about my usual routine, I suddenly noticed the bare skin of my neck in the mirror and remembered Aizen’s gift.
Maybe I should try it on today?
I hadn’t worn it yet because I wanted to save it, but since he bought it for me, I should at least wear it at home.
“Greta, could you bring me the necklace Aizen gave me last time?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Greta walked to the dressing table.
But when she opened the drawer where I’d left the necklace, she froze completely.
“….”
“Greta? What’s wrong?”
She slowly turned toward me, her usually calm face slightly pale.
“The necklace… is gone.”
“What? That can’t be.”
How long had it even been since I got it?
It’s not like the necklace could grow legs and walk away, so how could it vanish inside my room?
Shocked, I searched the dressing table myself.
But no matter how thoroughly I looked, the sapphire necklace was nowhere to be found.
It was really gone…
“How could this happen? Did a crow sneak in while I was sleeping?”
I grabbed my head, frustrated that I’d lost it before even wearing it once.
If I’d known this would happen, I’d have just worn it day and night.
“Oh no… that was a gift from my husband. I have to find it, no matter what.”
And definitely without Aizen finding out.
With determination in my eyes, I called for Daniel, the butler, and Miriam, the head maid.
It was obviously unlikely that a crow had taken it, so the necklace had to still be somewhere in the mansion.
“The teardrop-shaped sapphire necklace Aizen gave me has disappeared. Could you help me search for it?”
“Yes, my lady.”
I followed them around, helping with the search.
When we reached the annex, the other servants began to notice something was going on and gathered around.
Paul was among them.
“What’s happening? Why all this commotion…?”
“I lost something very important. We’re looking for it.”
“Oh dear, that must be heartbreaking. You must be so upset.”
Paul comforted me with exaggerated sympathy.
That sudden display of empathy caught me off guard.
What’s going on with him?
He kept fussing, saying how terrible it was that I’d lost such an expensive gift, and loudly suggested someone might have stolen it.
Then—
“Oh, now that I think about it, I might’ve seen someone carrying a necklace like that.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It was dark, so I didn’t see the face, but it was someone wearing a maid’s uniform.”
…A maid?
Something about his claim didn’t sound convincing.
Just then, Miriam returned with the necklace in her hands.
“My lady, I found the necklace.”
“Wow! Thank you, Miriam. Where was it?”
“It was discarded in the trash heap behind the mansion.”
“What? Why there…?”
Before I could make sense of it, Paul stepped forward and cleared his throat loudly.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward him.
“The maid must’ve stolen it but got scared and threw it away.”
“Hmm…”
“If you’re suspicious, you could summon all the maids and question them one by one. There aren’t that many, so you could get to the bottom of it quickly.”
His sneaky tone was like a snake whispering in the dark.
I stared at his smug smile, then shook my head.
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“…What?”
“I don’t suspect the maids.”
Everyone looked stunned at my response.
But it was obvious.
“Isn’t it strange? I never told anyone Aizen gave me that necklace. So how would a maid even know to steal it?”
I had placed it in the drawer immediately after receiving it.
I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone.
And Greta was the only one who managed the dressing table — no other maid ever touched it.
“When I received that necklace, the only maid in the room was Greta. And she would never do something like that.”
Greta straightened her back at my firm trust in her.
Then I turned sharply toward Paul, who was visibly flustered.
Channeling my inner detective, I narrowed my eyes.
“But how did you know a maid had stolen it? Did any of you know I’d even received a necklace?”
All the maids shook their heads.
Sweat trickled down Paul’s temples.
I kept my calm, lowering my voice with quiet authority.
“But there was one more person who saw me receive that necklace.”
The one who kept sneaking glances since earlier.
Trying to confuse me with his sudden politeness — as if I’d fall for that.
“The only other servant in that room at the time…”
I pointed at the man now drenched in cold sweat.
“You, Paul.”
“…!”
Paul flinched hard, frozen in place.
If I’d had glasses, I would’ve pushed them up dramatically right then.
“You deliberately stole my necklace and threw it away, didn’t you?”
“Th-that’s ridiculous! Why would I do that?!”
“Good question. Why did you?”
I tapped my cheek as if thinking, then snapped my fingers.
“Oh! Maybe because you were jealous that I got a gift from Aizen? You must really love my husband—”
“How many times do I have to tell you, that’s not it?!”
His face flushed red as he lost his temper.
“Since when was she even considered a ‘lady’—!”
“Paul!”
Smack!
Before I could say anything, Daniel kicked Paul’s shin with lightning speed.
Wow, that sounded like a bone crack.
“I apologize, my lady. I failed in training my subordinates properly.”
Daniel gripped Paul’s shoulder tightly and bowed.
“It’s my responsibility, so I’ll take care of this. May I handle it?”
“Yes. Please make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
He nodded firmly.
“Thank you, my lady.”
He grabbed Paul by the collar and dragged him away.
I scratched my head as I watched them go.
Since I’d never punished anyone before, maybe it was better to let Daniel handle it.
“Hmm… I hope that was the right call.”
“I believe it was, my lady,” Greta said.
“Really?”
“Yes. Because you’re the lady of the house.”
Right. I was the lady — the wife of Baron Kreutz.
Hearing Greta say that made me wonder if I should start acting more like one.
***
Daniel dragged Paul to a secluded corner of the garden.
Paul’s face was filled with resentment as he followed reluctantly, pressured by his angry superior.
‘Someone like me shouldn’t be cleaning that woman’s room! I’m far more capable than that!’
Because who was he, really?
Sir Paul Köhler of the White Wolf Knights.
That was his true identity — not some fake noble’s servant.
Jenna had no idea.
He had only meant to play a small prank on her — to make her lose Aizen’s gift, cause her trouble, and stir tension among the maids so she’d be isolated.
She was just clever enough to ruin his plans.
Once Daniel confirmed no one else was around, he let go of Paul and called his name sternly.
Paul straightened up immediately and tried to defend himself.
“I just wanted to teach her a lesson! She kept lecturing me—”
“A lesson? Be specific. Who exactly were you trying to teach a lesson to?”
Daniel’s cold tone cut off his excuses.
“The duke who planned all this? Miriam, who’d be blamed for poor management? Or your fellow knights disguised among the maids?”
“…!”
“Do you even realize who’d suffer if your little stunt caused tension between that woman and the maids?”
Paul pressed his lips shut, unable to answer.
Daniel looked at him with disappointment.
“Paul Köhler, you’re off this assignment.”
“…Deputy Captain!”
Paul’s face turned pale.
Being pulled off a mission without injury was one of the most humiliating things for a knight.
“No, please, what about my reputation?!”
“I’m not here to worry about that. Stay quiet until we replace you. Then leave.”
Daniel, firm in his decision, turned and walked away.
Left alone, Paul stomped in frustration.
“Damn it, all because of that woman!”
He had hoped this scheme would earn him a promotion, but now it had only backfired.
“Ugh… ow!”
He kicked a nearby tree in anger, only to hurt his foot and hop around on one leg.
The throbbing pain made him grit his teeth.
“This is all her fault…” he muttered bitterly.
“How desperate you sound for revenge,” said a voice suddenly from behind him.
Startled, Paul spun around.
