Chapter 25

Matthias proved far more intelligent than Odelliana had anticipated. Taught something once, he mastered it with ease, surpassing the performance of other servants who’d trained and worked here their entire lives. He possessed superior strength, agility, and perception. To top it all off, his striking good looks captivated the attention of the other servants within the annex – all within a week of his arrival.

Of course, this admiration was entirely one-sided. The male and female servants working alongside him made constant attempts at conversation, hoping to befriend Matthias. However, his demeanor remained cold and indifferent. He offered minimal acknowledgement and spoke only when absolutely necessary.

It was a rare spectacle: a single individual ostracizing the majority. The native servants found themselves snubbed by a newcomer, a foreign boy who’d just arrived.

“They must be uneducated.” A voice gossiped. “I heard the young lady rescued him from the slums. Does he have any manners at all?”

“Even if that’s true, isn’t blatantly ignoring someone rude?” another chimed in.

“Look at him fawning over the young lady,” someone else scoffed. “He’s not stupid, just cunning. Sticking with us won’t line his pockets with gold.”

“Speaking of gold,” a voice muttered, “is there any to be gained by sticking with the young lady either? Since the young master’s house arrest, no visitors grace these halls. We’re like worn-out shoes, cast aside.”

Did they not realize the flimsy walls of the annex offered no soundproofing? Or did they simply not care about being overheard? Unfortunately, all the servants assigned here were very young, around Matthias’s age, making it difficult to establish any real authority.

The servants’ idle chatter was nothing new, but Odelliana found it surprisingly useful on occasion, gleaning unexpected bits of information.

House arrest... she thought, a piece of the puzzle clicking into place. Is that why I haven’t been able to reach Blair?

Since arriving in the duchy, Blair hadn’t visited her once. When she’d inquired about him with Magdalene, the head maid, she’d only received a vague response about him being very busy. This isolated annex offered no glimpse into the outside world; news from beyond its walls was scarce.

Further complicating matters, the staff in the main mansion were far more formal and tight-lipped than the young servants here. They rarely engaged in casual conversation, and only spoke when necessary, making leaks of information nearly impossible.

The children here weren’t much better. When Odelliana tried to pry about external affairs, they’d often brush her off with a simple “I don’t know,” forcing her to rely on overheard snippets.

Her only reliable confidant, Matthias, while versatile, wasn’t suited for espionage. Even in her past life, he’d struggled to mingle. Despite his commoner background, his striking appearance and innate air of nobility garnered attention, but therein lay the problem.

He lacked the finesse to navigate conversations. His curt replies and disinterest in others made smooth interactions difficult. As evidenced by the servants’ recent complaints, this tendency persisted.

A week after Blair’s arrival in the capital, Odelliana learned, to her shock, that he’d been placed under house arrest the very day he got there. A life of isolation truly makes one ignorant… she thought bitterly.

Adella’s warning about Blair’s limited ability to assist her now rang true. With him confined, Odelliana was effectively blind and deaf to the outside world.

She had to act. But what use was she without Blair’s network? A wave of dizziness washed over her, momentarily stealing her vision.

The maids here undoubtedly reported her activities to the duke. Trusting them was impossible. With her movements restricted, evading surveillance and sneaking around was out of the question.

Confined and isolated, Odelliana felt like a captured bird, wings clipped and senses dulled. A sense of urgency gnawed at her. She needed more eyes and ears.

Resorting to pen and paper, Odelliana hurriedly wrote a three-page letter to Blair. In it, she inquired about his well-being and, more importantly, expressed her urgent need for new servants – trustworthy individuals from outside the clutches of the duke.

Odelliana sealed the letter and tucked it discreetly under her pillow. The door creaked open, and Matthias entered.

“I’m back, Master,” he announced.

“How was your outing?” Odelliana inquired.

“It was quite busy. I helped in the kitchen and then went to the market to purchase some ingredients.”

Knowing this was a rare opportunity for Matthias to leave the annex, Odelliana had entrusted him with several tasks.

“Excellent,” she replied with a satisfied smile. “Did you manage to sell the jewelry?”

Matthias reached into his pocket and produced a heavy pouch. “Here’s the remaining money after I purchased a small, abandoned warehouse.”

Odelliana accepted the pouch, her smile widening. “Well done. Did you have any luck with the herbalist?”

Matthias retrieved a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to her. “This is the ingredient analysis report for the medicine. I also managed to obtain the transaction records from the shop that supplies it to the servants.”

Odelliana eagerly took the report and transaction records. The medicine in question, which accompanied every meal, had aroused her suspicion. Unsure of its purpose or ingredients, she’d been secretly saving it. Now, thanks to Matthias’s resourceful outing, she finally had the opportunity to have it analyzed.

Disbelief colored Odelliana’s face as her eyes scanned the ingredient analysis report. “…Contraceptive?”

The list of medications was a bizarre mix, ranging from the seemingly absurd – contraceptive to heart medication, sleeping pills, and antipsychotics. The contraceptives and heart medication were the most glaring.

The contraceptives were obvious. They were likely intended to prevent any “accidents” with the two male servants, especially given Matthias’s recent presence.

The heart medication, however, was a mystery. Why would they prescribe this? she thought. Wasn’t this body only supposed to have leg problems?

Following her regression, her physical state had been dreadful. While she suspected other chronic illnesses beyond leg issues, she hadn’t considered heart disease. It would explain her debilitating weakness – sweating and feeling faint after a mere minute of crawling. Even with a disability, her body shouldn’t be this fragile. But if she’d been avoiding exercise due to heart concerns, it made a twisted kind of sense.

Yet, the doctor Blair had contacted previously diagnosed her solely with memory loss. Was that doctor a quack?

Her mind reeled. Accepting life as a cripple was already a harsh reality, but adding heart disease felt like a crushing blow. It transformed her body into a ticking time bomb, capable of exploding at any moment.

Even if I manage to improve my leg function with effort, what can I do about a heart condition? Despair threatened to engulf her.‘What’s the point of struggling if I’m going to die anyway?

Odelliana stared blankly at Matthias. A chilling realization dawned on her. If I die, what will become of this boy I’ve dragged into this treacherous situation because of my ambition? A heavy weight settled on her chest – a sense of responsibility for the young man standing before her.

Heart disease was a debilitating illness, a near death sentence that significantly shortened one’s lifespan. While death was inevitable, the prospect of a quick demise was far more terrifying than a gradual decline. Having already faced death once, Odelliana understood the stark difference.

Suddenly, a gasp escaped her lips. Her legs buckled, and she crumpled onto the soft mattress. The bed creaked beneath her weight as Matthias’s hand instinctively covered her eyes.

“Why are you crying, Master?” he asked, concern etched on his face. Tears streamed down Odelliana’s cheeks. Matthias gently wiped them away, his gaze filled with worry.

Overcome with despair, Odelliana clung to him desperately, seeking solace like a child seeking comfort from a mother. In this moment of utter turmoil, Matthias was her only anchor. He held her close, a silent source of strength.

“I need to see a doctor… get a proper diagnosis,” she choked out, her voice thick with fear. “What if I truly have a terminal illness…?”

Just then, as Matthias offered her comfort, a loud crash shattered the tranquility. The door splintered open, and heavy footsteps pounded on the floorboards.

“…This filthy…” a low, contemptuous voice echoed through the room.

Odelliana’s tear-filled eyes darted towards the doorway. A large, imposing figure with a hardened expression stood there. Beside him, Blair appeared frozen in shock.

A name flickered across Odelliana’s mind – a name synonymous with dread. …Hermann von Grüsewald. The uninvited guest who dared to disrupt the normally quiet annex, a place off-limits to outsiders, was none other than the eldest son of the family and Odelliana’s own brother.