Three months later in Geon, Mrs Bell walked into the Earl's mansion unannounced. Oscar was coming out of the boardroom from a meeting when he came across his fuming housekeeper.
He flashed her his bribery smile, knowing exactly why she was there.
"You have been avoiding me," the old woman accused. She was not impressed with Oscar for not coming out clean. She worried that the longer they kept lying to the princess the angrier she would be than if Oscar confessed earlier.
He frantically shook his head. "I have been busy," he lied.
"Nonsense! Tell her the truth or I quit," she threatened. She had become very close to Princess Zaria and could not live with herself for deceiving her.
"No, please don't. Give me a week," he pleaded. He knew that Princess Zaria would be sad and even suspicious if the old woman she was so fond of suddenly quit.