The look of confusion and trembling in the eyes that had once belittled Penelope was quite a sight to behold.
I wiped the smile off my face and murmured in a low voice.
"Do I have to tell you one by one that my throat hurts?"
This was a metaphorical expression often used by the most proud nobles who never looked up in the game.
For example, the Sword of the Empire, Duke Ekkart, who did not need to bow to anyone except the royal family.
"I-I'm sorry, Miss!"
The butler seemed to understand the meaning as well.
He fell to the floor as quickly as his stiff posture from a moment ago would allow.
"In my haste, I was rude. Please forgive me..."
Seeing this, the knot in my stomach that had been there since morning eased a bit.
For a moment, I thought I might have been too harsh on someone much older than me, but I didn't tell him to get up.
For the past six years, Penelope must have had to look up at this arrogant subordinate who had ignored her.
"...I think it will be a bit awkward to see the butler's face for a while."
I looked coldly at the butler kneeling on the floor and spoke.
"Of course, it's not just me, right?"
Finally, I could get to the point I really wanted to make.
"So, from now on, if you have something to tell me, don't come directly. Send someone else."
"But, Miss. Selecting the maids is my responsibility..."
"Yes, no."
I coldly cut off the butler's excuses.
"The only thing I want to hear is one of those two."
"...Yes, I understand, Miss."
The butler reluctantly accepted my words with a distorted face.
"Still, for the evening service..."
"It's not needed. Get out."
I turned away without looking at him as he got up, and lay back down.
After a while, I heard cautious footsteps leaving the room.
Creak. The door closed with a different force than when it opened.
The room was dark again. I was worried that the butler might go to the Duke and tell him everything that had happened to me.
"What can I do about it?"
There was nothing I could do about it.
There was nothing I could do immediately, and if it could ease Penelope's long-standing resentment, I could repeat it as many times as needed.
Besides, I had only spoken sternly; I hadn't screamed or thrown things.
In the game, I built my reputation by improving relationships with those around me as the story progressed.
This helped me unlock all the endings with the five male leads.
However, I had no intention of proceeding like the game.
Since I didn't need to see all the endings, it was a waste of time and emotion to spend on irrelevant people.
'With all the effort to maintain good relationships just to survive, what kind of reputation do I need?'
Such luxuries were only possible in the game.
Pushing aside these unnecessary thoughts, I closed my eyes again.
It was time to reclaim the sleep that had been disturbed by Penelope and the butler.
* * *
Penelope, despite her personality, seemed to be quite diligent, as she woke up early in the morning without the maid's help.
I got out of bed and did some light stretching.
Then, as if waiting for me to wake up, someone knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
I sat on the bed for a while, just looking at the door.
I was curious if my warning from yesterday had been taken seriously.
The butler didn't seem to be there, as the door didn't burst open without a response.
"Who is it?"
I finally spoke to check who it was.
"Miss, it's Reina."
The head maid. It seemed my newly defined position for Penelope had been well-received. A satisfying result.
"Come in."
Click, the door opened, and a middle-aged woman entered.
"Did you have a good night?"
"What is it?"
"I'm here to select a dedicated maid to serve you. Is there anyone you have in mind?"
'No way.'
I didn't answer the head maid's question.
She then spoke as if she had expected this.
The next words were not about someone else in the mansion applying for the position.
"If you don't have anyone in mind, we can select a new one..."
"What was the name of the girl who used to serve me?"
"Emily, perhaps?"
"Ah, right. Emily."
I pretended not to know.
"Was she kicked out of the mansion?"
"No, she wasn't kicked out, but..."
"Then what is she doing now?"
The head maid's eyes showed suspicion, as if wondering why I was asking all this.
"...She has been demoted to laundry duty and is on a three-month pay cut for failing to serve you properly."
"Is that so?"
"Then why did she..."
The head maid's calm facade showed a hint of unease.
'She must know the details of the incident.'
Or maybe the real instigator behind the maid.
Swallowing a sneer, I spoke calmly.
"Just tell her to continue as my dedicated maid."
"Excuse me?"
"There's no one to serve me right now, so it's inconvenient. Besides, any new maid would be inexperienced for a while. It's better to have someone who has done it before, even a little."
Penelope would never have given such a detailed explanation.
But since I needed it, I decided to be nice for a moment.
"If you understand, send her over. Please."
I smiled at the head maid, who was speechless.
She rolled her eyes at my unfamiliar behavior and spoke cautiously.
"Miss, that girl was punished by Master Leonard for being disrespectful to you..."
"So, you're saying no?"
"..."
I cut off her elaborate excuses and asked.
Then the head maid's mouth closed like a honey-fed bear. It was a positive sign.
It was only the second day, but the people in this house never immediately followed Penelope's orders.
'Is this how it usually is?'
But in the class-based societies I had seen in novels and movies, there was always strict obedience.
Moreover, the Duke's employees, who had treated the heroine's words as gospel in the normal mode of the game, didn't fit this pattern.
My irritation began to rise, even though I had decided to be nice for less than a minute.
"It's better to listen when someone is speaking to you..."
I even said "please." Should I have acted more like the real Penelope?
"I said it's inconvenient. If you don't send her, do you want to serve me yourself?"
"Then I will ask the Duke first and bring her, Miss."
She was determined not to listen to me. Her confident attitude made me laugh bitterly.
"No, that's not necessary. I'll go see Father now."
I got up from the bed.
"Since it's come to this, I'll explain the details of yesterday's incident and announce that I've forgiven Emily."
"..."
"Where is Father?"
"Ah, Miss!"
The head maid's eyes widened as I prepared to leave the room.
What could have been a minor incident with a maid's demotion might escalate if I got involved.
Especially since it involved the abuse of a noble lady, and the witness was the second son.
"Father went to the palace early this morning."
"Is that so? Then when he returns..."
"I'll bring Emily right away!"
The head maid pleaded hastily, fearing I might go to Father.
"Since I'm getting older, I worry a lot. I didn't immediately understand your generosity. I'm sorry."
Seeing her bow several times in front of me was more bitter than satisfying.
I didn't want to improve my relationships and reputation, but it felt like my existing reputation was being eroded.
"Should I bring Emily now, Miss?"
The head maid asked nervously.
"I don't want to repeat myself, Reina."
I dismissed her, mourning the start of a day that was already ruined.
"Get out."
* * *
Emily soon brought breakfast to my room, as instructed by the head maid.
"Miss, I'll prepare your breakfast..."
Emily's hands trembled as she placed the dishes on the table in front of me. She seemed to have suffered a lot since being dragged away yesterday.
Still, the food looked good, which made the effort of eating spoiled food worthwhile.
Fresh salad and a juicy steak.
'It looks fine on the surface.'
But the shock from yesterday had left a deep impression, and I wasn't very hungry.
I stared at Emily, who was standing stiffly beside me, and slowly ate the food.
Naturally, she couldn't meet my eyes.
'Does it feel a bit uncomfortable?'
She must be wondering why I want her to be my dedicated maid again.
I put down my fork, having barely eaten half, and called her.
"Emily."
"Y-Yes, Miss!"
She jumped and answered in a loud voice, lost in deep thought.
I held out my hand to her.
"Give me a needle."
"What...?"
"The needle you used to prick me every morning."
"Huh!"
At my casual tone, Emily didn't understand at first and reacted a bit late.
She gasped sharply and then knelt down with a pale face.
"Miss! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"
Thud, thud. She bowed her head to the floor, begging for forgiveness.
'Oh, man. To confess so easily, how did you even do that bold act?'
I was both amazed by Emily's lack of backbone and disgusted, confirming that she wasn't the main instigator.
As my intention to manipulate her evaporated, a harsh voice escaped.
"Didn't the head maid tell you? I don't like repeating myself."