What Remains in the Damaged Place - Chapter 27

Lirette swallowed dryly, her eyes scanning the room.

Other than Hayley, these were people she barely knew—either they had never spoken to her, or worse, they might have joined in tormenting her at Hayley’s command.

Standing there felt like being in the heart of enemy territory, the tension in the air sharp and suffocating.

She carefully observed the situation as she stepped into position, trying to understand what was going on.

As soon as she stood where the head maid had indicated, the woman spoke in a voice that cut through the stillness of the hall.

“These are the maids who were responsible for cleaning the room that houses the family’s treasures and valuables over the past week,” the head maid said sternly.

Lirette instinctively clenched her fists.

The room with the valuables?

She hadn’t even set foot near that place.

In fact, she didn’t even know where it was located.

Having only started her duties recently, the tasks she had been assigned were basic chores—kitchen duties, wiping door handles and banisters, tidying up the sofas and curtains in the drawing rooms. She hadn’t been entrusted with anything involving valuable rooms or items.

But now, she was being accused in connection with that room…

A cold sense of dread crawled up her spine.

Just as that fear reached its peak, her eyes locked with the head maid’s.

“After investigating, we’ve received testimony that you were seen sneaking out of that room,” the head maid said, her gaze heavy with accusation.

Lirette’s worst fears were confirmed.

“Brilline, tell the truth.”

“I didn’t do it,” Lirette responded, forcing herself to stay calm despite the burning sense of injustice swelling inside her.

She knew letting emotions flare up could only make things worse. She needed to stay level-headed, suppressing her anger, and carefully navigate the situation.

The head maid studied her face, clearly frustrated with the predicament. Lirette straightened her posture, showing no sign of guilt. She had nothing to hide, after all.

But then, a dramatic voice pierced the air.

“Oh my, how shocking!”

Heads turned towards the source of the voice.

There, standing as though she were the center of attention, was Hayley, exuding her usual confidence and not a hint of fear or hesitation in her demeanor.

“To lie so easily, without even a change in expression,” Hayley remarked, placing a hand on her chest as if horrified.

Lirette, who had been the last to look at her, spoke up.

“Lie? What do you mean?”

“I saw it myself. You sneaking out of that room,” Hayley declared, her voice full of false sincerity.

She sounded so convincing that anyone unfamiliar with the situation would have easily believed her.

“That room is always locked. The only one with the key is the head maid,” Lirette pointed out, trying to poke holes in Hayley’s story.

“There are spare keys for emergencies that maids can access,” Hayley countered smoothly.

“I don’t even know where that key is kept,” Lirette said firmly.

“You wouldn’t need to. If you were planning to steal, wouldn’t you figure it out?” Hayley snapped back, determined to corner Lirette with every possible accusation.

With a self-righteous air, Hayley turned to the head maid.

“No one confesses to stealing without proof, right, Head Maid? Brilline’s room is inside the main building. Wouldn’t it make sense to search her quarters?”

Lirette closed her eyes for a moment and opened them again, her heart sinking.

They’ve planted the stolen goods in my room.

It became clear to her—Hayley’s lackeys had already stashed the stolen jewelry in her quarters. The confidence in Hayley’s voice wasn’t because of the accusation itself, but because she knew the evidence would be found.

She’s really gone all out to frame me.

The sheer audacity of the lengths Hayley was willing to go stunned Lirette.

“Very well, there’s no use arguing endlessly here. We will conduct a search. The rest of you may go. Hayley and Brilline, follow me,” the head maid decided.

As the head maid took the lead, Lirette followed silently, her mind racing.

How could she have anticipated that things would escalate this far? She had assumed the bullying would remain a petty annoyance, but now it had turned into something far more dangerous.

When they reached the door to her room, the head maid turned to her.

“Brilline, you’ll stand by the door for now.”

Lirette stood frozen by the entrance as Hayley shot her a mocking smirk, the kind of look that made Lirette regret not retaliating sooner. The cruelty in her eyes was undeniable, as if taunting Lirette for ever thinking she could escape the consequences of her silence.

The head maid and Hayley began searching the room.

The head maid was cautious, mindful that this was someone’s personal space, and carefully sifted through things. But Hayley? She rummaged through Lirette’s belongings with reckless abandon, almost as if venting her frustrations by tearing through everything.

To Lirette, it was clear. Hayley already knew where the stolen items were hidden. The careless way she went about the search only confirmed it—she wasn’t really looking.

She was putting on a show.

“Head Maid!” Hayley called out after enough time had passed.

From behind Lirette’s bed, in a dark, hidden corner, Hayley pulled out a box.

It was a box Lirette had never seen before.

As she placed it on the bed and opened the lid, the brilliant sparkle inside was enough to make one frown in disbelief.

Not only were there jewels, but also rings, necklaces, brooches, and the like. It looked as though someone had swept up everything that could fetch a fortune.

“Where did you find this?”

“It was under the bed.”

The head maid, having discovered the valuable items that had appeared so blatantly as evidence, eventually pressed her hand to her forehead.

“My goodness. How many are there?”

Hayley, who was fussing beside her, was unbearably annoying.

Already feeling mentally drained, the head maid waved her hand lightly, as if Hayley’s antics were adding to her headache. Although it silenced Hayley’s mouth, her smirk as she glared at Lirette by the door was still enough to turn anyone’s stomach.

“Brilline.”

After a moment of silence, the head maid called Lirette by her name.

“Yes.”

“This came out from under your bed.”

“…”

“Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

Lirette tightly gripped the hem of her skirt.

“I didn’t do it. I swear to God, I didn’t steal it.”

“Then how do you explain this box?”

“It wasn’t me.”

The head maid frowned, as if hearing something absurd.

“You know that statement has no credibility in this situation, right?”

“But it’s the truth. Head Maid, I’ve never even entered the room where the valuables are stored, much less stolen them and hidden them under my bed.”

Lirette was lost in confusion.

She couldn’t figure out what the right course of action was in this unexpected situation.

Should she apologize, even though she hadn’t done it, just to smooth things over quickly? Or should she insist on her innocence until the end?

The problem was that both options could lead to her being fired, so she couldn’t act carelessly. Despite her complicated thoughts, as the head maid’s reprimand loomed before her, she instinctively denied it.

The situation was just as frustrating for Lirette as well.

“So, are you saying someone secretly placed this under your bed?”

“It’s hard to believe, but… yes.”

Pffft.

As soon as Lirette finished her sentence, a laugh burst out from the side, completely out of place in the tense atmosphere.

Whether Hayley realized she had made a mistake or whether it was another one of her provocations, she covered her mouth with her hand.

“Oh, sorry. Brilline’s answer was just too ridiculous…”

“Hayley.”

Even the head maid’s warning didn’t faze Hayley.

“But isn’t it, though? Head Maid, getting caught stealing and then claiming someone secretly placed the stolen goods in their room… Isn’t that just too much of a weak excuse?”

Lirette was starting to genuinely wonder.

Why was Hayley going to such lengths?

What did she dislike so much about her?

‘If she doesn’t like someone, she’ll harass them day and night. That’s how quite a few maids have quit so far.’

At least now she understood the method.

From the way Hayley expertly guided the situation, it was clear she had done this many times before.

“With both sides so firm in their claims…”

The head maid, seemingly troubled by the dilemma, rubbed her chin. Seizing the moment, Hayley exaggeratedly stepped closer with a look of astonishment.

“Head Maid, you’re not thinking of letting this slide, are you?”

Hayley added a decisive tone to her voice, like a righteous maid.

“I clearly remember what happened to Emmet last year when he stole the jewels. He was fired the same day, and all he took was a single ring.”

“That incident was different because we caught him in the act, so there was no room for doubt.”

“Are you saying you don’t trust me now? Head Maid, I’ve been serving the Duke of Justitia’s house for years. There’s no maid more dedicated than I am.”

Hayley, pretending to be hurt, pointed at Lirette, who stood quietly.

“And her behavior is suspicious, too. How can she remain so calm if she didn’t do it? If I were falsely accused, I’d be making a huge fuss, not staying calm like Brilline.”

Hayley continued to add fuel to the fire, as if she feared things might not go the way she anticipated.