The Wicked Wife’s Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 217

* * *

The party that nearly turned into a fiasco, fortunately, ended without incident.

Although the unexpected event extended the festivities, it was only thanks to the servants doing their utmost that everything went smoothly.

“Melanie, once the cleanup is done, rearrange duties so everyone can take turns resting. Make sure the kitchen staff get to rest first.”

Everyone had worked hard, but the kitchen crew had it the worst. They’d been responsible for dozens of meals across two days and had faced mountains of dishes to wash.

“Yes, is there anything else you’d like me to instruct?”

“Give this to the staff.”

Nina handed over a heavy pouch of gold coins.

“This is…”

“A personal token of thanks.”

It was completely out of budget, one hundred percent her own money.

Melanie pushed the pouch back, lightly smiling.

“Please keep it, Madam. We only did what was our duty.”

Of course. That is a servant’s duty.

“But won’t some reward help keep morale up? After work like that, people need something to look forward to.”

The past two days’ workload had been brutal. Most of the staff had worked overtime, so the stress must have been severe. As an employer, it was only right to compensate them.

“There won’t be any complaints, Madam. None at all. On the contrary, we are all delighted that you could host a party again after so long and finish it successfully.”

Nina blinked at the unexpected comment, and Melanie’s lips curved into a gentle line.

“To be of service to someone we respect, what greater pleasure could there be?”

Things were different now. No one needed to worry about candles or soap running out, or work uniforms wearing thin. Nina no longer let cheap labor exploit the servants’ little grievances. She had also helped resolve Jessie and Yona’s difficult situations. As the servants’ goodwill toward Nina deepened, so did their respect.

“Still, be sure to look after them. If their hard work is not matched with proper reward, they will feel burnt out.”

“I will.”

Melanie bowed politely and left.

Nina had expected complaints because of the extra labor, but everyone had felt joy and pride instead. In any case, the guests left satisfied, so the first party could be considered a success. She hoped it would help Ian.

‘Now, the commonalities among the suspected aphrodisiac addicts…’

Nina recalled what Countess Crest had told her before she left.

“…They all, from some day on, began to look haggard, their speech grew slurred, and their personalities changed as if they were completely different people.”

That was not all. The Countess had said she’d seen suspicious people who normally had no contact with each other start gathering together. And since most of the names were unfamiliar, they seemed to be families on the social fringes.

“They also frequent galleries.”

How many nobles collect art? If you took it lightly, that could be nothing. But there is a saying, ‘hide the tree in the forest’. That made the connection feel far more sinister. The Countess didn’t know which galleries they entered, but surely it was related to the Delphinium Foundation.

‘Dig into their backgrounds and something will turn up.’

Nina gnawed at her lower lip, mood growing serious.

* * *

Adam Azelot, eldest son of Count Azelot, signed the petition to change guardianship in a scrawl and asked his father,

“Father, why are we doing this?”

No matter how hard they pushed, they could not become guardian. Why file such papers now? A careless filing could waste a valuable chance. Once you file, you cannot bring the same suit again.

Adam, who, like his father, coveted Ian’s inheritance, was reluctant to initiate litigation at this time.

“That repairman will fight to save his wife and child. If he does what I tell him properly, when the court dispatches an investigator for the guardianship case, that bastard Ash will hesitate.”