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Chapter 20 - Chapter 19: Necklace Found

The relentless search in the laundry area continued unabated. The servants under the daughter of the head maid, led by Eliza, had rummaged through every conceivable spot where the missing necklace might be hidden. Drawers were pulled open, corners were scrutinized, and even the smallest crevices were inspected, but there was no sign of the precious jewelry.

Exasperation hung in the air as the laundry maids, their haven disrupted and their hard work tarnished, watched the fruitless search unfold. Mila couldn't suppress a sigh of relief when the outsiders finally ceased their frenzied investigation.

One of the laundry maids couldn't help but speak up, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and vindication: "See? We told you there was nothing here. You've turned our peaceful space into a mess for nothing."

Eliza, however, remained undeterred, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the laundry area. "We can't rule anything out. The necklace might still be hidden somewhere. This search will not stop until we find it."

A murmur of discontent rippled through the laundry maids. Clara stepped forward, her tone polite but firm. "Respectfully, Eliza, they cooperated enough. Their work area has been thoroughly disrupted, and they seem innocent in this matter. It's unfair to keep turning their lives upside down without any evidence."

Eliza, with a determined expression, responded, "This is about finding the truth and ensuring justice. If the necklace isn't here, then we'll have to expand our search. We can't afford to let this matter go unresolved."

The suggestion of expanding the search sent a wave of discomfort through the laundry maids. One of them, a seasoned maid named Agnes, voiced her concerns: "Checking every servant's quarters? That seems excessive. We have our own privacy, and it's not right to invade every corner of our lives."

Eliza, however, remained resolute: "Desperate times call for desperate measures. We can't afford to overlook any possibility. If the necklace isn't here, it might be hidden elsewhere. We'll start with the servants' quarters, and if necessary, we'll search every inch of the estate until we find it."

The laundry maids exchanged uneasy glances, feeling the intrusion into their personal spaces loom over them. Clara, representing the laundry maids, tried to reason, "Surely, there must be another way to resolve this. Invading everyone's privacy isn't the solution."

Eliza, unwilling to back down, concluded, "The search will continue until the necklace is found. If you're innocent, you have nothing to worry about."

As the servants under the daughter of the head maid reluctantly prepared to extend their search beyond the laundry area, the laundry maids couldn't shake the sense of violation that hung in the air. The once-unified estate now faced the threat of internal strife, and the delicate balance within its walls teetered on the edge of disruption.

The tension within the estate deepened as Eliza, unwavering in her pursuit of the missing necklace, directed the servants to extend their search to every quarter of the servants. The laundry maids, despite their protestations, felt the weight of an impending intrusion into their personal spaces.

As the group prepared to leave the laundry area, Clara shot a concerned glance at Mila. "This is getting out of hand. We can't let them invade our privacy like this," she whispered, her eyes reflecting the shared apprehension among the laundry maids.

Mila nodded, her mind racing for a solution. "We need to find a way to resolve this without compromising our privacy. Let's talk to Eliza and see if we can convince her to reconsider," Mila suggested, her voice determined.

Approaching Eliza, Clara diplomatically spoke, "Eliza, we understand the urgency to find the necklace, but invading everyone's quarters might not be the most effective or fair way to achieve that. Can we consider alternative methods that don't compromise our privacy?"

Eliza, though acknowledging the concerns, remained steadfast. "I appreciate your worries, but we need to be thorough. We can't afford to leave any stone unturned. The necklace is too valuable, and its disappearance has serious consequences for all of us."

The laundry maids exchanged resigned glances, realizing that convincing Eliza to change her approach would be a formidable challenge. As the group dispersed to search the servants' quarters, a quiet undercurrent of discontent simmered beneath the surface.

In the servants' quarters, the intrusion into personal spaces unfolded. Drawers were opened, belongings were scrutinized, and the once-private sanctuaries of the estate's servants were laid bare. The laundry maids, along with the others, felt a growing sense of unease as their quarters became subject to the invasive search.

One of the servants under the daughter of the head maid, a young maid named Anna, whispered to a fellow servant, "This feels wrong. Invading their privacy like this isn't fair, especially when there's no concrete evidence."

Her companion nodded in agreement but added, "We're just following orders. It seems this is the only way to find the necklace."

As the search continued, the atmosphere within the estate became increasingly charged. The servants, torn between loyalty to their respective departments and a sense of injustice, navigated the delicate balance of maintaining order while questioning the methods employed in the pursuit of the missing necklace.

In the midst of the turmoil, Mila and Clara exchanged somber glances, their thoughts mirroring the collective unease among the laundry maids. The estate, once a bastion of order and hierarchy, now grapples with internal strife that threatens to unravel the threads holding it together. The true cost of the missing necklace extended beyond its material value, reaching into the very fabric of trust and cooperation within the estate's walls.

The invasive search of every single room within the servants' quarters sent ripples of unease throughout the estate. Servants from various departments were packed into the narrow corridors, anxiously awaiting their turn as their rooms were meticulously inspected. The air was thick with tension, and the once-familiar quarters were transformed into a chaotic hub of uncertainty.

Outside each room, clusters of servants huddled together, exchanging worried glances and speculating about the outcome of the search. Eliza, leading the effort, maintained a stern demeanor as she directed the servants to proceed methodically through the quarters. No room was spared from the thorough scrutiny, and the sense of intrusion into personal spaces weighed heavily on the servants.

Mila and Clara found themselves among the restless crowd, their hearts pounding as they observed the relentless search unfold. They couldn't escape the reality that their own quarters would soon be subject to the same invasion. As the servants moved from room to room, Mila overheard whispered conversations expressing discontent and frustration.

"I can't believe they're doing this. It's like we're all suspects," one servant murmured to another, the sentiment resonating with many in the anxious gathering.

Clara shot Mila a concerned look, her eyes reflecting the shared worry. "We have to stay calm, Mila. Hopefully, they'll realize the futility of this search soon enough," she whispered.

Their turn came, and Mila and Clara reluctantly watched as the servants entered their room. The atmosphere outside their door grew increasingly tense as fellow servants awaited the outcome of the search. The room, usually a private refuge, became a stage for the unfolding drama within the estate.

As the search continued, Mila couldn't help but clench her fists, the invasion of their personal space fueling her frustration. Clara, though maintaining composure, exchanged a worried glance with Mila, silently sharing their apprehension.

After what felt like an eternity, the servants emerged from Mila and Clara's room. The expressions on their faces were somber, adding to the collective sense of foreboding. Mila's heart sank as she braced herself for the worst.

The last servant to exit their room held something in her hands—a luxurious necklace. The servants exchanged glances, their eyes widening in realization. The tension in the air lifted as the truth emerged.

"I found it under the bed," the servant announced, her voice carrying a mix of relief and apology.

Mila's eyes widened, and she exchanged a stunned look with Clara. The necklace, which had caused so much turmoil, had been found in their room.

"I-I don't understand. How did it get there?" Clara stammered, a mix of confusion and disbelief clouding her expression.

The discovery left the servants in a state of bewilderment. The once-united crowd outside Mila and Clara's room now buzzed with speculation and surprise. Eliza, who had been overseeing the search, approached with a raised eyebrow, her stern expression momentarily faltering.

The servant holding the necklace hesitated before explaining, "It was tucked under the bed, as if it had been hidden there. I didn't expect to find it, but there it was."

Mila, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach, couldn't fathom how the necklace had ended up in their room. The accusing gazes of the other servants bore into her, amplifying the sense of betrayal that permeated the air.

Clara, desperate for an explanation, turned to Mila. "How did this happen? We need to know," she whispered urgently.

Mila, grappling with the shock of the revelation, struggled to find words. "I-I don't know. I swear I didn't put it there. We need to figure this out."

Eliza, now wearing a skeptical expression, approached Mila and Clara. "This is highly suspicious. The necklace mysteriously ends up in your room during our search. Care to explain?"

Mila, feeling the weight of scrutiny, stammered, "I have no idea how it got there. We're innocent in this, I swear. There must be some mistake."

The other servants exchanged uncertain glances, torn between the evidence at hand and their previous solidarity with the laundry maids. The once-thriving estate now stood on the precipice of internal discord, and the consequences of the mysterious turn of events remained unclear.