I Left the Time-limited Villainous Duke Without Saving Him - Chapter 39.1

I went into the room of Elder Madam Mattia, located at the far end of the second floor, thinking about the distinctive Mattia family once again.

A look of exhaustion was evident on the old lady’s face as she entered the room, which was sweltering with a well-lit fireplace. Even a short walk seemed to exhaust her stamina.

Julie immediately called the maids in charge of attending the old lady and helped the old lady change into simple clothes. I put the teapot on the stove to warm it up.

“Oh, Miss Betty. You don’t have to.”

“That’s okay. It’s hard to do it alone.”

Even for the most docile elderly, it is quite a daunting task to attend to a person with reduced mobility. It was clear that it would be difficult for an ordinary parlor maid to do the work that a strong, professional caregiver should do.

I made the bedding while Julie changed Elder Madam Mattia’s clothes. Then, I brought a cup of hot tea to the old lady, who was dozing off while her white, gray hair was combed by a maid.

“By the way, where is my son?”

The old lady took the teacup, blinked slowly, and asked the same question as before. Julie gave a prepared answer right away, as if she was familiar with Elder Madam Mattia’s repeated words.

“Well, the Young Master was definitely here just a moment ago. I’ll look for him while you sleep.”

After hearing the maid’s answer, the old lady narrowed her brows and made a stern face.

“Look in the garden. He might be sleeping on a tree somewhere? That kid is always mischievous. I don’t know who he resembles.”

Duke Mattia was famous for having Elder Madam Mattia’s appearance very closely. And Mattia’s eldest daughter, Lady Veronica, was also said to be a girl version of Elder Madam Mattia.

The maid held back a laugh and carefully laid the old woman down.

“Yes, yes, I will send someone right away. Don’t worry, madam, get a good night’s sleep.”

“Say that you would give him a real spanking. Then he will come down from the tree right away.”

“Yes, madam. I will definitely tell him that.”

The image of Duke Mattia, who seemed to be well over 180 cm tall, being slapped on the butt by the old lady, naturally came to mind. Elder Madam Mattia must have been so tired that she fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

Almost walking on tiptoe, I was about to leave the room when the door suddenly opened from the outside.

“You’re here. Come out.”

All black clothes, heavy make-up, and blue hair decorated with skull accessories, almost like she was going to a funeral.

It was Lady Veronica, with a more gloomy face than at the banquet.

After getting scared of her, I went out the door and saw the maids waiting on Elder Madam Mattia. Veronica beckoned the servants with her hand and strode off somewhere. I guess she meant that she wanted to talk alone with me, so I chased her with my short legs.

“Oh right. Lady.”

I thought I would lose her, so I called her, but Veronica stopped right away. I barely escaped plunging my nose in her back.

“This, this was given to me by the Elder Madam earlier…….”

Veronica’s eyes widened slightly as I pulled out the golden key hanging around my neck.

“Well, you already got it.”

“What?”

“No, it’s okay. You have it.”

I watched Veronica blankly as she quickly hid the key under my clothes. Before I could add anything, she declared it overbearingly.

“It was given to you by my grandmother. So it’s yours now.”

It was completely different from the way she had asked me to dance at the ball while smiling lightly. Apparently, Lady Veronica at that time had brought out her sociability to the fullest.

‘Are you asking me to take this or not?’

Are you testing me?

I couldn’t understand her intentions, so I waved my hand and rejected it.

“But, but I think the Elder Madam gave it to me by mistake…….”

“What, who do you dare misinterpret my grandmother’s intentions? Does my grandmother look like someone who can’t handle a single key? If an adult gives something, you should say thank you and receive it.”

“Hiiickk! Th, thank you!”

When Lady Veronica fiercely raised her eyes, she looked terrifying, like a viper with a deadly venom. I quickly gave a thank you and stepped back to secure a safe distance.

But at some point I was caught between the wall and Lady Veronica.

‘I, I want to go home.’

What did I do wrong to be punished like this?

Veronica, who was scrutinizing me as I hesitated without making eye contact, asked abruptly.

“I heard you like to eat?”

At that moment, I thought of the Lady holding out a pouch full of spiders, saying ‘I prepared it for you, so eat it with gratitude!’, but I shook my head to shake the thought away.

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