Dusk came at once and Shin Hye was just in her room, pondering the whole day. As she lied down on that large bed, she can't helpes but sighed in frustrations as she messed her hair in anger.
"Boredom!" she let out all of her frustrations in thin air.
[ No internet, no cellphone, no entertainment. What in the world should I do in this middle - aged world? ]
As she lied down on the bed, she suddenly went silent. She raised her hand and as light passed through the gaps between her thin fingers, she let out another sigh.
[ Everything that happened felt surreal. Is this really okay for me to take? ]
She let down her hands and scratched her itchy eyes with her arms. As she closed her eyes for a bit, deep sleep came knocking into her door. She felt tired and drained so easily compared to her previous body. She never realized that being on the bottom of the chain was really hard even for a person like her who briefly took a peek on what's on top. To gain more power, it's necessary to be cruel. She can't gain power with just kindness and goodwill. The proofs were already laid in her eyes.
[ If you act nice, they'll think you're a pushover. Even in here, people still doesn't change. To gain power and assured to never get fooled again, being evil might be the best option. Gaining the upper hand by threatening to maintain my authority, not bad of an option. In the end, I still didn't need to change myself. I'll act the same just like what I did back on Earth, but more openly than before. ]
At that night, there's only one thing that made Shin Hye determined to do and that's cleaning the mansion. Right before she transmigrated, the Faques Family was already filled with eyes and ears from other estate. To plan her grand scheme, eliminating these eyes and ears were highly prioritized. She called all of the servants mainly for this reason. To move freely and openly, she decided to iniate this plan as soon as possible.
A sudden knocked on the door made Shin Hyw snapped out of her deep sleep. She was irritated at first but in the end, she gave in as the one knocking on the other side of the door was her trusted maid, Grace.
"Her Excellency, this is Grace. May I come in?" despite Grace's fragile body, her voice was loudly heard by Shin Hye.
[ So it's Grace. Is she here because of what I asked? ]
After transmigrating, the only thing that she doesn't know all this time was her own background. Even on her first official day, the servants and the other nobles kept on addressing me as Her Excellency and sometimes madam. Shin Hye wanted to know what her real name from now on. ( Also for me, as I kept on addressing her as Shin Hye throughout the entire 8 chapters. )
"You may come in," Shin Hye rose up from the bed and walked towards the couch.
Grace opened the large door and bowed down right after closing it.
"Her Majesty, I brought what you need," she uttered as she walked towards Shin Hye.
"Continue," Shin Hye barely maintained her elegancy as she properly tried acting as a duchess.
[ I should get used in being a duchess. The way I walk, the way I speak, the way I command. I need to get used to all of it. ]
Grace stood still in front of the mini table made with glass and took out a bunch of notes. She browsed over her notes and stated what she had found.
"Her Excellency's name is Roselia Faques, former Roselia Rykeld, third daughter of Baron Rolandus Rykeld and the late Baroness Christiana Rykeld. The Baron originally had two daughters but he adopted his third daughter 10 years ago for some certain reasons," she briefly looked at Shin Hye as she stopped. She hid half of her face with the notes she's holding.
Grace felt bad continuing as the information she gathered were somewhat disrespectful Shin Hye, a duchess.
"Why did you stop? Continue," Shin Hye glanced straight in her eyes and made her restless right after.
"Ah, understood, Her Excellency," she stuttered as she slightly licked her lips in nervousness. She swallowed before she continued.
"Rumors claimed that the third daughter was the Baron's bastard from an unknown commoner but till now, no one can still confirm the legitimacy of such rumor. There's also a rumor that time that the Baron adopted a bunch of female commoners and sold them to other country nobles. With slave markets banned in the empire, the Baron stood in a court trial. There's no evidence supporting these claims but the baroness willingly testified. A day before the baroness stood in the trial as a witness, her carriage was ambushed by bandits. With the sudden passing of the baroness and with the lack of evidences, the Baron was sentenced not guilty and that trial was never been heard in the public," Grace glanced at Shin Hye as she hid her face once again.
Without having any care, Shin Hye was deep in her thoughts as she pictured out everything she'd heard.
"Heh?! So they silenced her ..."
Shin Hye suddenly gave a smirk and mumbled softly.
Grace heard her and instinctively responded with a serious expression in her face, "Yes, they probably silenced the baroness to stop her from spilling the beans."
Shin Hye noticed how concentrated Grace was. As their eyes met, Shin Hye can't help but smile as she tested Grace.
"So, if it was you on the opposing side of the Baron, how can you make the Baron guilty of his crimes?"
Despite being flustered, Grace never hesitated to speak out her mind and instead, gave a logical reasoning depending on the information she gathered.
"According to the information gathered, the Rykeld estate held no such slaves in their mansion and even if they bought a place for the slaves to accomodate them in, there's no such record of such purchase. All of the land and building purchase records by nobles of each estate were being double checked by the royal attendants so forgery was impossible to pass. The one being responsible for such transactions that time were the Gussalen Family. They were very loyal to the royal family so if they won't make a rash action that could displeased the current king. The entire kingdom was also searched inside out and nothing was found. So if it was me, I think I'd also ended up losing the trial."
[ Not bad! ]
Shin Hye brushed off a gentle smile as she stood up.
"The Rykeld estate and the Gussalen estate were allies on the same faction," Shin Hye walked out of the room. Grace instantly followed her as they continue what they're discussing.
"The Gussalen and the Rykeld probably planned this for a long time," Grace raised her eyebrows and her eyes widen after Shin Hye revealed her based assumptions.
"Her Excellency, if you mean by planned, is it perhaps? ..." Grace dragged her words as she hesitated to speak out what's on her mind.
As they were deep in their conversation, they've never realized that they already arrived at the dining hall. As Shin Hye opened the door, she momentarily stopped as she looked around the room.
"The Gussalen and the Faques totally supported the third prince's faction. If I was sold by my father to the duke, then it's just a proof that they have deeper connections to each other. We can safely assume that the Rykeld was also in the same boat with the two families as they was also in the third prince's boat."
No one was totally present in the dining hall. It was totally empty. Not a single soul nor a speck of dust was found. Meaning, a totally clean room yet useless.
[ My first official meal in this world. ]
"I should've never expected," Shin Hye ended up sighing in disappointment as she started taking a step forward.
Grace who followed her in her back heard her but ended up doubting what she had heard. As Shin Hye took a seat, Grace immediately served her grandiose meals that Shin Hye nevered ever tasted before.
"So with that in mind, the three families plotted this whole thing the whole time and just for that person," Shin Hye picked up where they left off as the atmosphere around them were gradually turning awkward.
Grace understand what she's trying to say as she nodded in agreeance, "The first prince," she uttered.
While Shin Hye was eating, Grace was just standing still behind her. At Shin Hye's perspective, it was suffocating and pleasantly uncomfortable. She can't even complain as she finally accepted the difference between here and and Earth.
"Yes, the first prince," Shin Hye followed up camly as she uncomfortably ate her meal.
"They probably planned of eliminating the first prince by selling him off. And the only person who would benefit from all of this is ..."
Shin Hye swallowed a large chunk of meat that almost made her choke.
"The third prince," Grace paid attention to everything that Shin Hye said during the whole time they're together.
"Exactly," Shin Hye placed down the spoon and fork she's holding as she can't dare to finish her meal in such uncomfortability. She can't also dare took another bite as she almost died back there. She maintained her calm expression as she drink water in urgent.
"The Rykeld were the head of the slave trade and the Gussalen were responsible for the land purchase since they're the only one who can do that without being suspected. The Faques's role were probably to monitor every movement of the nobles. Aren't they overworking theirselves?" Shin Hye stood up and faced Grace wearing a smile.
Grace was enlightened as she didn't expect that possibility. She looked at Shin Hye with such curious expression and never hesitated to ask, "But ... if what Her Excellency said was true, then isn't there's a lot of opportunities to kill the first prince since he was living far away from the main palace?"
"They probably failed everytime they attempted to do something. Having their plans crumbled in front of them, they're probably infuriating in the shadows everytime," Shin Hye held her giggle as she walked out of the dining hall.
As they walked back, Grace didn't answered back. The silence made everything awkward. Being curious, Shin Hye glanced back and was confuse why Grace was looking down.
[ What's wrong with her? ]
"Are you okay, Grace?" Shin Hye can't help but asked.
With her head bowed down, "I'm just wondering if it's really okay to talk comfortably like this with Her Excellency," she whispered.
[ Ah ... ]
Shin Hye turned silent as she can't came up of something to say. As they turned left on a corner, Shin Hye's room was seen on sight. Ian was also standing still in front of her room.
"You can talk to me about everything Grace. I'll listen," not turning back, Grace can feel the sincerity of her words. Grace ended up blushing and turned red.
"I will try, Her Excellency," she shyly whispered.
[ She still feel uncomfortable despite our natural conversation. I hope she can loosen up a bit when she's with me. I really like her. ]
As they almost reach the room, Shin Hye gave another order to Grace.
"Can you find some more information about the thing we've discussed, Grace?"
"I'll do my best, Her Excellency," she responded hastily.
[ I still can't get used to this instant response ... Everytime I heard it, it felt like I'm being surrounded by A.Is. ]
They stopped in front of the Shin Hye's room and right after Grace left, Shin Hye turned around and sincerely asked, "Can you call me by my name, Grace?"
Upon hearing Shin Hye's favor, she looked uncomfortable and unsettled.
"Her Excellency, th--, ..."
As Grace tried to find the right words to say, she ended up being cut off from speaking.
"Nevermind, you can go now," Shin Hye just smiled as she ordered her to leave.
"I'm really sorry, Her Excellency. I'll takecmy leave now," Grace bowed down as she pleaded her sorry. She left in an instant right after she lifted her head.
Right after Grace left, Shin Hye sighed hopelessly. Despite her being a cold - blooded mercenary, she still desired having a normal life with normal friends to have a conversation to. But even if she tries, it always ended up just like what happened. Grace was showing such obvious expression that made Shin Hye felt guilty of what she had asked.
"Her Excellency, everyone has been gathered," Ian slightly bowed his head down and spoke in a monotonous voice.
Shin Hye fixed her expression as she offered her hand to Ian. Ian assisted her and they started walking towards the place of the clean up.