It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 85

“Louis! How should I organize this?”

“Louis! Can you take a look at this for a second?”

From early morning, Louis was being called from all directions, leaving her mentally exhausted. The new maids, despite being her age, kept pestering her with every little task. It was simply because Louis had been born and raised in this mansion.

“Can’t you see I’m busy too? And how am I supposed to know the preferences of the young master who left for abroad as a child?”

“Hmph, if it were Lucy, she’d come running to help right away…”

“What? Are you still dumping your work on Lucy?”

Louis placed her hands on her hips and glared at Sally, who had joined two months ago.

“No, I’m not dumping anything… I always show proper gratitude.”

“Oh yeah? And how do you show that gratitude?”

“Obviously with cake. I’ve bought her more than ten slices already.”

Sally proudly spread her fingers as she answered. Louis frowned even more.

“Hmph, what’s the point of quantity? It’s not even from Pakia Bakery.”

“How could we afford that on our salary?”

“If you’re not giving her Pakia Bakery cake, then stop exploiting her.”

“It’s not exploitation, just a little help.”

“Whatever. Where’s Lucy now?”

“No idea. If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you.”

Louis gave Sally another sharp look and went off to find Lucy. Fortunately, another maid cleaning the hallway told her that the head maid had taken Lucy to prepare for the young master’s welcome ceremony.

“That’s something the head maid could handle herself. Why is Lucy always the one they call?”

“Because Lucy helps without complaining, unlike you. She’s quick with everything—whether it’s organizing complicated ledgers or finding lost items.”

Louis nearly kicked the water bucket next to Sally but calmed herself just in time. If it spilled, she’d be the one cleaning it up anyway. She sighed and slammed thick books into the shelf. Most were about swordsmanship or strategy, and unlike decorative books in other studies, these were worn from use.

So he really didn’t just slack off while studying abroad with that famous swordsmanship master.

Louis muttered to herself, recalling the letter that had triggered today’s chaos.

The sender was Giscal von Edelheit—the eldest son and heir of the mansion, who had gone abroad long ago.

Louis barely remembered him. She’d seen his face once as a child, but only vaguely. All she recalled was that he was handsome but extremely difficult to approach.

And now, that barely-remembered young master was returning to the mansion tonight.

The reason was the worsening illness of the current lord, Marquis Edelheit. The butler had sent multiple letters urging Giscal to return, but there had been no response—until today, when his luggage and a letter suddenly arrived.

The butler was relieved, but the ones truly in trouble were the maids, including Louis. They were scrambling to clean and prepare the room where the young master would stay.

If only he’d given notice, they wouldn’t be running around like this. Nobles—who could ever understand their thinking?

Louis hated nobles. Not from the beginning, though. She still respected the previous marchioness, who had shown great kindness. Thanks to her, Louis’s widowed mother was able to give birth to Louis and Lucy in the Edelheit mansion.

The previous marchioness had been so kind that all the staff adored and respected her. It was hard to believe that her daughter was Arne von Edelheit.

Arne von Edelheit.

Just thinking of that woman made Louis shudder. Because of her, five or six maids quit crying every month. The task of training new maids always fell to Louis. She’d barely get them ready, and they’d quit crying—or collapse from exhaustion.

These new maids weren’t lazy or lacking patience. They simply couldn’t endure Arne von Edelheit. Louis knew just how vicious her personality was. Even though she wasn’t Arne’s personal maid, she’d been slapped by her at least five times.

No one could understand what Arne was so dissatisfied with. She had fine clothes, delicious food, and long naps. Her life seemed perfectly happy, yet she always wore a scowl.

She’d pick fights with maids when bored, cause chaos at social gatherings… Even her father, Marquis Edelheit, had grown tired of her and refused to see her. Maybe things would improve once her brother Giscal returned.

“Louis! Something terrible happened!”

Another urgent voice called her name, and Louis narrowed her eyes. If it was something trivial, she was ready to unleash a storm of scolding.

“Miss Arne is beating Lucy!”

“What?”

“In the lobby…”

Louis didn’t wait for the full explanation and bolted.

That woman—she’d been quiet for days after visiting the marquis’s room, and now she dared to raise a hand against Lucy? What could Lucy have possibly done wrong?

In the lobby, a dozen staff members were gathered, covering their mouths. Their expressions were grim. Louis pushed through and peeked in—only to witness a horrifying scene.

Arne von Edelheit stood with a terrifying expression, holding a whip. Lucy was kneeling, curled up, her white blouse torn and soaked in blood from the wounds on her back.

“What the…!”

Louis tried to rush forward but was held back.

“If you intervene, it’ll only make things worse. Stay put.”

It was Butler Ortrang. He handed Louis off to other maids and stepped forward.

“Miss Arne, I don’t know what mistake Lucy made, but could you please show mercy?”

Arne curled one side of her lip.

“Mercy? Ha! After she deceived me, you want mercy?”

“Deceived you? What do you mean?”

“Giscal von Edelheit is returning—who gave permission? They dared bring his luggage and clean his room without my approval?”

“I apologize for not informing you, Miss. But the marquis urged his return…”

“So everyone’s thrilled to welcome him? That maid, the butler, all of you!”

Arne slammed the whip onto the marble floor. The sound made everyone flinch.

Louis clenched her fists and bit her lip.

It was always like this. She’d find some petty excuse to punish a maid, creating an atmosphere of fear.

This wasn’t new. But using a whip? And Lucy of all people?

Usually, Butler Ortland could calm things down, but today Arne seemed more furious than ever.

If this continued, Lucy might suffer even more brutal punishment. That couldn’t happen.

“So he’s more precious than me, huh? The one who spent years abroad learning swordsmanship. He’ll be the next Marquis Edelheit. Unlike me, who has nothing!”

Arne ranted, raising the whip again. Louis broke free from the maids holding her and dashed forward.

Just as Arne swung the whip and Louis shielded Lucy, someone grabbed Arne’s arm. The whip fell limply to the floor.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Until now, no one in the mansion had ever stopped Arne.

With the marquis confined to his room, Arne had ruled the mansion like a tyrant.

But now, a stranger had effortlessly subdued her.

“Lord Giscal!”

At Ortland’s shout, Arne reacted first. She yanked her arm away and snarled.

“You’re Giscal von Edelheit? My so-called brother?”

Even in the chaos, Giscal’s appearance was striking enough to dazzle the maids. But Arne’s eyes were filled with hostility.

“You must be… Arne?”

Giscal looked at his sister with clear distaste. He glanced between Lucy’s wounded back and the whip. Disgust flickered in his eyes.

“You were whipping a maid? What did she do to deserve such punishment?”

“Hah, interfering already? I can treat the maids however I want!”

“Even a king must act with restraint. How can a mere marquis’s daughter treat lives so carelessly?”

“Such fancy words. Did you study rhetoric instead of swordsmanship abroad? Acting all high and mighty as the heir! But I won’t accept it. Who would welcome someone who never returned home? These foolish staff cleaned and prepared everything for you. So I punished them.”

Arne screamed and threw the whip to the floor. It bounced and grazed Louis’s arm.

“You did all this… just because they prepared to welcome me?”

Giscal asked in disbelief. Arne replied proudly.

“Yes! That maid was just the beginning. Everyone here deserves the whip!”

She glared at the gathered staff.

“To come home and see this…”

Giscal sighed deeply and gave orders to the men who had accompanied him.

“Take that girl to her room. And make sure no one raises a hand against the staff again.”

The young men swiftly restrained Arne. She screamed, but Giscal didn’t flinch. The maids were stunned.

Who would’ve thought they’d see the day Arne the tyrant was dragged away?

“Are you alright?”

Giscal offered his hand to Lucy. She hesitated, then took it.

“I’m sorry.”

Lucy shook her head. Her face was flushed. Worried she might have a fever, Louis quickly supported her.

As Giscal followed Ortland upstairs, a commotion broke out. Most were concerned about Lucy’s injuries, while others gushed over Giscal’s looks.

“Lucy, are you okay? Let’s treat your wounds.”

“Mm, I’m fine.”

Though clearly in pain, Lucy spoke in a dazed voice. Her face remained flushed.

“Do you have a fever?”

“No… no. But that was Giscal, wasn’t it? Now that he’s returned as the heir, he’ll be staying here

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