Chapter 19 : Revenge (3)

Well, that’s fine. I knew the count was murdered, but it will take a bit more time for new information to come in.

In the meantime, I decided to take care of the mansion.

I still followed Ayla around like a shadow, but even so, it wasn’t a problem to check the condition of the mansion.

“If it’s about the mansion, I should know too,” Ayla had said to me.

Anyway, the only time I could directly exchange opinions with the mansion’s staff was when Ayla was bathing or after everyone had gone to bed. Being the head maid and Ayla’s exclusive maid was not an easy job.

Whether it was because I had learned her weakness, or because she realized she could live more freely than she thought, or maybe because the days of just staying in the mansion were surprisingly lonely, I wasn’t sure.

With me trailing behind, Ayla eagerly wandered around the mansion.

“Is this something you planted?” Ayla asked.

It was a plant I had never seen before.

But even though it was unfamiliar, I could tell exactly what it was for.

There is a plant called a Venus flytrap that grows in tropical regions. It has bizarre, exaggerated, beast-like jaws, and when an insect sits on it, the jaws snap shut, releasing enzymes that slowly dissolve and absorb the insect.

Despite its ferocious appearance, it had a surprisingly unimpressive ability. It doesn’t actively hunt; it just waits for insects to land on its jaws. The elder said that most of its nutrients are absorbed by the leaves and roots like other plants, and the insects are just a source of extra energy.

However, this one looked very similar, but there was something different about it.

It moved more actively and intensely. It wasn’t panting or whining, but seeing the carnivorous plant’s jaws—about the size of young Lady’s head—move, I couldn’t help but think that this plant could bark like a dog.

No, what exactly is a carnivorous plant? I’m sure it’s a plant that feeds on things like people’s ankles, not just insects. After all, there were plenty of such plants in the forest.

I looked over at the elder near Lady.

The elder smiled at me. It was a genuinely wide, “I did well, didn’t I?” kind of smile.

Does she not know what went wrong?

No, she must not. She was that kind of person.

“…This plant is a rare species that only grows in some parts of central continent, called Cactan… Que… Rab… S, something like that.”

“Your explanation is getting a bit drawn out.”

Of course, it would. I was just guessing based on the exaggerated mouth movements of the elder, who was far behind Ayla and facing me.

No, more importantly, the name itself was strange. Most of the creatures in that forest had bizarre ecosystems, including elves.

“They are valuable plants that can bite the ankles… shins… thighs… No, even the waist of intruders trying to pass without permission.”

“The target of the explanation keeps changing.”

Of course, it would. I was just making a reasonable assumption based on the elder’s enthusiastic gestures from behind Ayla.

Ayla’s gaze shifted to one of “disappointment” as she looked at me. I thought that although this was still within acceptable limits, if this continued, I might lose my important position in the mansion.

“Anyway, it’s a great strategy for catching intruders.”

“You know, the word ‘anyway’ isn’t something that comes from an expert, right?”

I slightly lifted my gaze and glared at the elder, who was far behind Ayla. “Daisy” had a very aggrieved look and shrugged her shoulders dramatically.

Lady was right next to us too.

“I don’t like bosses who shift the blame onto their subordinates.”

Ayla’s words were unfair. I never told her to plant these things. It felt like when the Duchess of the late Duke, on New Year’s Day, would prepare mountains of food and wait for us when we went to greet her with my sibling.

She wasn’t even a servant, yet she would go out of her way to make things with her hands and make them so difficult to refuse, just like older people often do.

But if I were to say “she did it,” it would mean I failed to control the mansion’s staff. That was something I couldn’t afford.

“I’m sorry, Lady Ayla.”

“Just pull this out,” Ayla said.

“This is the count’s mansion. Having such vicious things around is no different than letting loose dogs in front of visiting guests. If it were a hunting ground, fine, but I’m not going to leave them right next to the ‘mansion building.'”

From far away, the elder looked shocked.

And for some reason, so did Lady.

No, more importantly, the carnivorous plants that had been planted seemed to have opened their jaws in shock.

“Most importantly, if it can bite up to the height of an adult’s waist and kill, it would be extremely dangerous for Lady.”

“…That’s the story I was referring to, Lady Ayla.”

I said, looking toward the direction where Lady was.

It wasn’t until after I spoke that Ayla, turning back, looked a little dazed.

A carnivorous plant—of some kind—was in Lady’s arms.

Could it be a young plant? The stem was short, and the roots, as if reluctant to detach from Lady’s body, clung tightly to her, forming a bizarre, twisted shape like a puppy with four roots.

“Li, Li-ri is not allowed!”

Even more strangely, it seemed that Lady had already given the carnivorous plant a lovely name.

It was as if she was standing before a wicked stepmother trying to take away her loyal dog of ten years. Lady wore a determined expression as if already making up her mind.

I looked at the elder witch.

I had been referring to her as “elder,” but in reality, she looked younger than Lady. The witch stepped forward and spoke with a polite manner.

“Is it alright if I call you Ayla, Lady?”

Her manner was polite, but her words were audacious. As I debated whether or not to glare at her, Ayla’s expression softened a bit.

I had seriously considered revealing the witch’s true identity tonight, but if I did that, it would only raise the question of what my own identity was. So, I decided to stay silent for now and listen.

“Of course.”

Though Ayla had relaxed, it seemed like neither Lady nor the witch had fully eased. Naturally, the witch wasn’t frightened.

“These plants, as long as they are properly trained, usually won’t harm ordinary people.”

“How can you prove that?”

Lady hugged ‘Li-ri’ even tighter. Seeing the hostility on her face, I realized it would take a while for the two of them to reconcile.

In fact, “proof” would be simple.

Since the witch had personally planted it, these plants could be fully controlled by her magic. Perhaps they were magical creatures connected mentally to the witch as familiars.

Of course, having introduced them as living creatures, it would be difficult to fully trust them.

“Young plants have soft leaves before they fully grow. Even if they bite people, they won’t cause harm.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, look.”

The witch pressed the plant in Lady’s arms. Sure enough, the part with the jaws collapsed inward when she pressed it with her hand. It seemed delicate, as if pressing too hard might tear it like a leaf.

“Th-that’s right!”

Lady shouted.

“I’ll take care of it! I’ll feed it well!”

What kind of food do they eat? Rabbits?

Ayla looked at me.

“I think it’s fine.”

Despite everything, I believe the witch won’t harm me. And this “not harming” doesn’t only refer to physical meaning.

“Alright then.”

After hearing Ayla’s words, Lady’s face lit up. The witch also bowed in gratitude.

Wait a moment.

Could it be that Ayla’s reaction was something she could say because she believed my words?

As I was a bit immersed in that thought, Ayla pointed at the plants with her finger and said,

“But those plants should be planted deeper in the forest.”

The mouths of the plants snapped open again.

In addition to that, Ayla walked around the mansion, inspecting the traps set by the other servants one by one.

“They were set up to be too hidden. A visiting guest might step on one by accident.”

“What about installing an invisible guillotine above the main gate? Is that a recommendation from someone with refined taste?”

“No matter the emergency, I don’t want to blow up part of the mansion.”

“I think it’s better if there are no traps inside the building.”

And after all the inspections were done, Ayla’s expression was indescribable.

“Where exactly did these people work before? What made them think installing these kinds of traps around a normal noble’s mansion was a good idea?”

They were probably people the Duke had secretly sent abroad on espionage missions, or perhaps soldiers who had been cleaning the borders outside, teeming with monsters, or even seasoned warriors who had fought many secret battles against other nobles or foreign armies.

The practicality of the traps was high.

The problem was, that practicality was “too high.”

I, who had become momentarily speechless in front of Ayla, quickly decided to change my thoughts.

I’ll blame my sibling.

After all, it was my sibling who sent these people.