Chapter 85

When Jeanne couldn't answer, Canelle's lips curled upward.

‘Of course not.’

How could someone like her have the connections to recommend someone to a noble family?

Canelle covered her mouth with her fingertips and frowned.

"If the recommendation letter was forged, I can't just stand by. This is a mockery of the Astra family and a challenge to the rules!"

"Oh, there was someone who said they would give a recommendation letter..."

At Jeanne's words, Canelle burst out laughing.

"Who exactly?"

"It's me."

A voice came from the second-floor staircase.

It was a young voice.

The interviewees, including Jeanne and Canelle, all turned their gazes to the stairs.

Lush, wavy blonde hair.

Eyes that sparkled like jewels.

A small mole at the corner of her eye.

A girl with a doll-like appearance that seemed almost inhuman.

Jeanne and Canelle's faces stiffened.

Because that girl was—

‘The one I saw in the alley the other day...!’

Canelle's face hardened as she stared at the girl.

Her clothes were extravagantly luxurious.

Her red dress was adorned with Laviz lace (lace made by the designer Laviz, known for its use of gold thread and jewels).

From her shoes to the pin in her hair, everything exuded wealth.

As if, as if... a noble lady.

‘This can't be...’

Jeanne's eyes widened.

"You, no, you are...?"

Eryllot approached Jeanne with a wide smile, her hands clasped together, her eyes shining.

"Thank you for coming."

"What exactly is going on...?"

"Oh, I'm late in introducing myself, aren't I?"

Eryllot spread the skirt of her dress and lightly bowed.

"Third daughter of Chronos Astra, first daughter of Diamond Astra, the 23rd descendant of Astra—"

"..."

"I am Eryllot Astra."

All the interviewees in the room bowed their heads.

"I see Lady Astra."

"I see Lady Astra."

What?

Jeanne's eyes widened,

‘What?’

Canelle's mouth dropped open.

‘What, what, what?!’

* * *

I stared at the frozen Jeanne with wide eyes.

Canelle also had a look of shock.

‘Of course she's surprised.’

When I met Jeanne, I dressed as inconspicuously as possible to secretly observe Canelle, who was a candidate for governess.

It would have been hard to recognize me as a noble lady.

Moreover, Canelle saw Han Jihyeok, dressed as a servant, speaking casually.

At best, I looked like a country noble on a trip with her servant.

There was no way it could have been seen any other way.

Canelle was at a loss. But soon,

"Y-Your Ladyship, please forgive my previous rudeness...!"

—she knelt.

"Rudeness? What rudeness?"

As I spoke, Canelle's face turned pale.

I tilted my head slightly and looked at Canelle.

"I asked what rudeness."

"T-That is... "

The interviewees looked at me and Canelle with strange expressions.

They seemed to have noticed that something was going on between us.

I looked at Canelle, who was stammering, "T-That time, well... "

"Oh. Smoking a cigarette in front of me?"

"Your Ladyship...!"

The people around us flinched.

"What? Smoking a cigarette in front of a child?"

"Goodness, how could you...?"

When I saw Canelle at the pastry shop, I realized she was a villain who was good at socializing.

A bad person who managed her reputation very well.

‘Reputation is important.’

Even if I said, "Canelle Mia is a trash who hired thugs to beat up a child!" no one would believe me.

No way.

There must be a misunderstanding.

Canelle is such a good person.

‘The reaction would be exactly this.’

That's why I held the interview.

To let everyone see it.

If people who applied to the Astra family were to become governesses for other noble children elsewhere, the news would spread in the world of governesses.

Canelle would never get a job again.

Canelle's face turned pale as she realized this.

"Miss, there was a misunderstanding. Smoking—"

"..."

"—is true."

Canelle closed her eyes tightly.

Since she couldn't deny it, she seemed to admit to smoking.

"When you started smoking, I came to where you were... "

"..."

"I never expected the child to come there suddenly."

The interviewees looked convinced.

Then they lowered their voices and whispered.

"Well, I didn't know Mia was a smoker, but it could be a personal preference, right?"

"She said she didn't expect the child to come... "

Canelle sighed.

At least the people's reactions were mild, which seemed to be a relief to her.

I smiled and said to Canelle,

"Yes, I understand. But did you try to hit me?"

The atmosphere became noisy again.

"What?"

"Trying to hit a child?"

"Trying to hit Lady Astra?!"

Canelle's face turned pale again.

"That was also a misunderstanding...!"

"Did you hire thugs to assault me and my servant?"

"T-That's... no! That was also a misunderstanding. Your servant assaulted me...!"

Canelle no longer looked at me, but shouted at the interviewees, who were whispering.

Since she was already rejected from becoming a governess at the Astra mansion, she seemed to be trying to maintain her reputation.

Canelle raised her eyebrows.

"You saw it, didn't you? Your servant was threatening me by grabbing my arm."

"That's because you threatened me first, right?"

"There are many misunderstandings between us... It's my fault for creating them."

Canelle held her collarbone and let out a sorrowful breath.

‘Wow, she's really something.’

This is why a villain who is good at socializing is scary.

If I had just scolded Canelle, I might have faced backlash.

Canelle looked up at me with a sob.

"My friends overreacted after seeing me being assaulted...! It's my fault for not stopping them... "

It means, "It's your fault, so my friends tried to assault you."

"Everyone owes me something. So... "

It means, "I'm a good person who does favors for everyone."

"If threatening a child is wrong, it's my fault. I'm sorry... "

It means, "This happened because of a misunderstanding, but I'm the one apologizing."

The interviewees looked at each other and nodded.

They seemed to be convinced by Canelle's words.

"Of course. How could Mia do such a thing?"

Some people whispered.

Then their gazes towards me became suspicious.

A haughty child who, as soon as she entered the first district, used her servants to assault good people.

That's how they saw me.

At that moment,

"Miss, I've brought them!"

Han Jihyeok's voice rang out.

He walked in confidently, followed by Mosco.

And Mosco was accompanied by several thugs.

Of course, they were the thugs who had threatened me and Han Jihyeok in the alley.

Han Jihyeok glanced back.

"Come on, hurry up."

Then he looked at the woman trembling behind the thugs.

The thin woman who was with Canelle in the alley.

Canelle's face froze, which was no surprise.

I smiled at Canelle.

"I see. So you didn't do anything wrong?"

"Y-Yes?"

"You didn't do anything wrong, and those thugs did. They tried to assault a child without knowing the situation."

"T-That's... true, but..."

"Right. I'm sorry for misunderstanding you."

Saying that, I turned my head to Han Jihyeok.

"Take them to the main house. My father is waiting anxiously."

At the mention of "father," Canelle and the alley thugs turned pale.

I clasped my hands together and raised my eyebrows at Canelle.

"You suffered from being assaulted by your friends and couldn't sleep for days because of nightmares... My father was very angry."

"!"

"But only Canelle is not at fault. I'll make sure to tell him that."

"..."

"Fortunately, the misunderstanding is cleared up. Only those people will be punished by my father."

I will forgive one person.

The ringleader, Canelle.

If I do this, her thug friends will be angry.

As expected, Canelle's "friends" shouted.

"W-What...! We just did what Canelle told us to do!"

"Canelle was the one who told us to discipline the child!"

I tilted my head.

"That's strange. The story I heard is different... Which one is true?"

Canelle and her friends spoke up one after another.

"No, Your Ladyship! I never did that!"

"Canelle often tells people to do such things! Last time, she told someone to scare a woman she didn't like—"

"Shut up—!!"

‘Hmm, as expected, it's a mess.’

They argued with each other, and in the process, Canelle's sins were revealed one by one.

* * *

I sent Canelle and her thug friends to the main house.

Only then did the commotion subside.

Naturally, the interviewees were amazed.

When the interviewees left, it was obvious what rumors would spread.

‘To seduce them.’

While everyone was distracted, I whispered to Michelan.

"Give the interviewees some interview fees when they leave. Generously."

"Interview fees?"

Michelan looked puzzled.

Usually, such fees are not given.

"Yes. Since there's already a candidate, they must feel bad about the interview."

"But it's common in noble families."

‘They will spread the rumors, so why make them feel bad? Besides...’

I whispered to Michelan.

"They are people who applied to the Astra family. They will become governesses for noble children elsewhere if not here.'

"That's true."

"They will have a significant influence on the children."

It's the same reason why teachers are not allowed to express their political views to students.

Because immature children tend to be influenced by adults.

"Being seen positively by noble children can't hurt."

To prepare for the future.

Michelan looked at me with wide eyes.

Then he laughed, "Ha ha... You are truly remarkable."

"Why?"

"To nobles, governesses are insignificant. No one thinks a governess can influence a noble family's child."

"..."

"You are clever, remarkable, and lovely...!"

Michelan is also a skilled person.

‘Well, what of it.’

I like Michelan.

Michelan generously gave the interviewees interview fees.

It was a large sum, about a month's salary for each of them.

It was natural that the expressions of those leaving the mansion were very bright.

And...

"Why am I still here after the interview?"

Jeanne, who came to my room, asked in a puzzled voice.

Michelan conducted the interview.

And as soon as the interview ended, the others left.

But she seemed very confused to be called to my room.

I smiled at the puzzled Jeanne and said cheerfully,

"You can start working today!"

"Y-Yes?"

"Y-Yes?"

"You're hired. Please become my governess from today, Jeanne."

Jeanne's eyes widened.

After a moment of confusion, she said,

"Miss."

"Yes."

"I have an idea why you called me today."

"Hmm?"

"I think you want me to be a witness to the improper behavior of that 'Canelle Mia' woman."

Jeanne smiled and looked at me.

"I can be a witness. So you don't have to hire me."

"I just called you because I like you."

"Me?"

"In the alley. You were amazing."

"Being amazing alone isn't enough to be a governess. A governess is very important to a child."

"Exactly!"

I smiled and continued.

"A governess influences a child, right? If I have to be influenced, I want to be influenced by someone amazing who saves a child without any benefit."

"..."

"I want you to teach me until I become as amazing as you."

"..."

"If you're surprised because it's not what you expected, I'll give you time to think. Consider it and let me know."

I clasped my hands together and looked at Jeanne.

I have three allies I created.

Conrad.

Michelan.

Han Jihyeok.

‘They are all herbivorous men.’

If they get into a fight somewhere, they would probably faint after one hit.

So having Jeanne, who is very strong and has a good personality, is very helpful.

Jeanne hesitated for a moment and said,

"Then... I'll think about it and let you know."

"Okay!"

Jeanne bowed and left the room.

‘She will accept.’

She must be in dire need of money.

And Jeanne really loves children.

Sitting on the sofa, I hummed and imagined.

Hiding three trembling rabbit men behind her, Jeanne roared and threatened the enemies.

Then the governess was secured.

‘Now, it's the turn of the former Empress Anastasia.’

If I had just left her alone, it would have been a miscalculation.

Since she was so annoying, I planned to give her a proper lesson.

I twisted my lips.