The Wicked Wife’s Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 68

A short time later, the butler, suddenly summoned by Nina, entered the drawing room.

“Madam, you called for me?”

“Butler, I don’t know if you heard on your way here, but one of the footmen has been selling information about me to outsiders.”

The butler’s face turned pale.

The footmen were under his supervision.

“I deeply apologize, Madam. I should have managed things more thoroughly. I take full responsibility. Please punish me as you see fit.”

Nina shook her head at the butler, who bowed deeply, seemingly burdened by his failure.

“What’s done is done. What’s more important now is finding out just how much information he leaked. I’m planning to inspect his quarters. Can I count on you to accompany me?”

“Allow me to lead the way.”

“Please do.”

Calmly containing her anger, Nina followed the butler into the room where the footman had been staying.

“Hah…”

The evidence they found there was shocking.

The footman was a low-ranking servant, and his salary was modest.

Yet, under the bed were boxes of fine liquor, expensive tobacco, and high-quality leather shoes—luxury items far beyond the reach of a footman’s wages.

Next to them was a small box containing letters.

“…He really must have thought he could get away with this.”

Nina quietly muttered through clenched teeth as she coldly skimmed through the letters the footman had exchanged with his brother-in-law.

[ What good is having a fine family and a pretty face? If a woman clings too much, it only becomes tiresome. Anyway, my dear master’s wife has no idea how to capture a man’s heart. If I were her brother-in-law, I’d teach her how to win a man’s heart, but alas, what a shame… ]

Even kings get insulted behind their backs, but who did this man think he was, to arrogantly claim he could teach her how to win over a man’s heart?

Nina was dumbfounded.

“…Um, I had my suspicions since he was always boasting about buying this and that, despite his position.”

Charles timidly remarked from the side, clearly curious about the unfolding situation. His eyes gleamed, hoping for some praise.

“You’ve done well. Thanks to you, I’m a little more at ease now.”

Charles scratched the back of his head, a bit flustered by the rare compliment, and stammered awkwardly.

“Th-Thank you, Madam. Well, we did have a deal, after all…”

Though, to be honest, that “deal” was hardly fair. If it hadn’t been for Nina, he wouldn’t have bothered gathering information unrelated to his actual duties.

“You’ve worked hard, so feel free to divide these items among yourselves. If the shoes fit, you can keep them too.”

Once in a while, there should be some reward for their efforts. That way, they’d be motivated to continue working hard.

“T-Truly?”

“Yes, but make sure you all agree on a fair division so no one complains about it being unfair.”

“Th-Thank you, Madam!”

As Nina watched the delighted Charles, she noticed a piercing gaze and turned her head.

Jeffrey was looking at her with an odd expression—his eyes seemed both admiring and somewhat moved.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Startled, Nina asked, and Jeffrey smiled faintly and shook his head.

“I was just moved by your generosity, Madam. Forgive me.”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

It wasn’t as if he meant anything bad by it… Besides, Jeffrey was a loyal servant to her husband, so it wouldn’t hurt to stay on the butler’s good side.

‘Not that we’ve ever had a particularly bad relationship…’

Jeffrey was different from the strict and meticulous Melanie. He was calm and gentle, even toward her.

Looking back now, Nina wondered if he had always felt sorry for her, for not knowing how to give or receive love.

‘He wasn’t on my side, but that’s only natural…’

Nina clicked her tongue silently and said,

“For now, report this to His Grace. It doesn’t seem like this footman leaked any internal family secrets, but since it happened within the household, the Duke should know.”

“I’ll be sure to relay everything, Madam.”

“Thank you.”

It had taken longer than expected, but they had finally caught the culprit. Nina felt a deep sense of relief, as if a lingering toothache had finally been remedied.