<strong>Chapter 136</strong>


    “Yes, madam,” said Lunia, “you are the Lady of the House. You have equal rights and power as the duke. However, since Count cia is the head of her own estate, the duke will need to consent as well.”


    “Then I guess dismissal might be too much, but I can surely teach her a lesson,” decided Amethyst.


    “That would be much better,” said Lunia.


    Amethyst stood up. “Fine,” she said, “Lunia. Habe. Follow me, both of you.”


    Lunia and Habe did as instructed. Lunia looked calm but Habe seemed terrified and confused. She was unsure what would happen now, and she couldn’t stop crying.


    Amethyst stopped in front of Count cia’s door which wasn’t very far from her own. Amethyst nced at Lunia. She nodded. Lunia knocked on the door, lightly.


    “Come in,” said a voice from inside.


    Lunia opened the door and stood aside. Amethyst entered the room. Count cia seemed very surprised by Amethyst’s unexpected visit. She caught herself just in time and weed the Lady of the House inside.


    “Do you have some time you can spare?” asked Amethyst, doing away with the pleasantries and getting straight to point.


    “Of course,” said Count cia, “How can I help you?”


    “I will be very clear,” said Amethyst, “Did you use violence against my maid?”


    Count cia turned her head to look at Habe standing beside Amethyst. Seeing how Habe was sobbing, Count cia assumed that the girl had told Amethyst everything. It did not exactly feel as dramatic as violence to Count cia but she saw no use in denying it now.


    “Yes,” said count cia calmly. But she was calcting the possible oues of this situation in her head. She was trying to find a way to get out of this state of affairs.


    Amethyst looked at Count cia. “Since you have admitted it honestly,” said Amethyst, “I will make things easier for you. Why did you hit her?”


    “I didn’t know the child was your maid,” said Count cia, “I simply punished her for stealing my jewelry.’


    “That’s not true!” sobbed Habe, “I didn’t steal anything!” Habe was so worried that it was her word against the count’s, but she didn’t want to be used of something she didn’t do. Count cia red at her and Habe fell silent in fear.


    “A crime that she denies evermitting,” said Amethyst, calmly.


    “Well. I’m not sure whose words have more credibility,” said Count cia mockingly, “A lowly maid or myself, a count of an estate and a member of the household.”


    Amethyst wanted tough in Count cia’s face seeing her pulling ranks to discredit a maid. Her origin wasn’t much different. But Amethyst held her tongue. She had no intention of attacking somebody based on their past.


    “I intend to listen only to facts by putting ranks aside for now,” said Amethys, “For argument’s sake, let’s say Habe stole your jewelry. If she had stolen it, and you caught her and reprimanded her, it is logical to assume you must have taken your things back. Let me see them for myself. I want to see how beautiful they must have been to tempt a maid in this manner.”


    At Amethyst’s sudden request, Count cia seemed taken aback. “I… I assumed she must have really wanted it, so I let her… have it after I reprimanded her,” stammered Count cia.


    “From what Habe has told me, it was a ne and a brooch, is that correct?” asked Amethyst, “Yet, you let her have such valuable things despite iming she was trying to steal them?”


    “Yes…,” said Count cia, unsure of where this was going.


    “Wow! Count cia you are so kind!” mocked Amethyst, “She ‘stole’ such valuables from you, and you forgave her after a few ps. Such generosity!”


    Count cia’s face stiffened at the mockery. Lunia, Habe and the count’s maid observed the scene in silence, not daring to say anything.


    “Yes,” said Count cia adamantly, “So what if I did? Is there a problem?”


    “Oh, is there?” intoned Amethyst, “Not at all, Count cia. Not at all. I am simply surprised by your consideration.”


    Count cia ignored the jibe. “I am ttered by your attention,” she said.


    “I think you should be careful henceforth,” said Amethyst as a warning.


    “Excuse me?” said Count cia.


    “Since you are so kind, what if the other maids hear of this and try to steal more of your valuables?” said Amethyst, looking at Count cia levelly.


    “Oh, don’t worry,” said Count cia, “I always keep my valuables safely locked, it will be impossible for anyone to steal…,” Count cia trailed off. She knew she had made a horrible mistake.


    Amethyst smiled while Count cia tried tough it off. She felt foolish for being so careless. But Amethyst wasn’t one to let things slip.


    “I can’t quite understand,” said Amethyst, “I wonder how Habe managed to steal your valuables which is always safely locked and impossible to ess as you just said. Habe isn’t very skilled on breaking the safe and such. Perhaps you were wearing it on your personage and Habe tried to snatch it off you, which frankly seems like a stretch. You used to be a knight, and everyone knows it, so that sounds even more impossible. Unless… you willingly gave it to Habe. But then, what motive would you have in doing something like that?”


    “She might have taken it when I wasn’t looking!” said Count cia, “How would you know if she is skilled in stealing things or not? You have valuables too. How do you know they aren’t missing? That child might have already nicked things and hidden them.”


    “Which is even more confusing,” said Amethyst, “Habe has ess to my room even when I am not present. I might have more valuables in my room since I live here, and you might have only packed some. If Habe was a thief, wouldn’t it be easier and rational for her to steal from me because amidst all the jewelry I might not even notice some things missing? And yet, Habe has not stolen from me.”


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