# 40 -
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“Let me see this bag!”
Hannah's voice bounced around the hall.
A slight smile appeared on the corner of Seret's lips, then disappeared as she watched the scene.
'My Hana... is a really good actress.'
Seret is impressed by Hannah's performance as she remembers what happened just a few hours ago.
When she returned to her room after spending a short time in Mrs. Oxenbury's room,
Hannah entered with one of the maids.
As soon as Seret looked at her, she realized that it was the same maid who had been talking to Anita earlier.
“Miss, Anne says she has something she wants to say to you.”
Hannah said as she walked towards Seret.
‘So her name is Anne…’ Seret thought.
“So, Anne, what would you like to say?”
Seret said as she straightened her seat after she had been relaxing on the sofa.
“I… I saw something strange.”
“Something strange?”
Seret tilted her head slightly.
Anne hesitated, her eyes moving nervously. She opened and closed her mouth several times, then finally she spoke.
“I saw... Miss Elliot coming out of your room, she was holding something that looked like a ring box...”
Anne stopped suddenly, examining Seret's features anxiously.
"What? A ring box?"
"Yes."
Anne shook her head.
“So you're saying Miss Elliot stole my ring?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Anne nodded enthusiastically, as if she had finally unloaded what was weighing on her chest.
Then Hannah rushed to the dressing table and quickly opened the drawer.
Her face froze as she turned to Seret.
“Miss, it's gone! The box really isn't there!”
As soon as she heard that, Seret got up from her seat and walked forward with quick steps.
In fact, the drawer that was supposed to contain the ring box was completely empty.
She was sure she had put it here after she returned from the drawing room.
Where did he disappear? Marriage is only days away... and there is no time to make an alternative.
Her hands, which had been fiddling with the stairs, gradually began to slow down.
A familiar feeling… No, memories from her previous life were rushing through her mind.
Something similar happened before.
The place is different, the thing missing is different, but the situation...is the same.
When Lydia was staying in the palace in her previous life,
The necklace that Yuan gave to Seret on her birthday has disappeared.
Also at that time, a maid said she saw Lydia stealing it.
Seret completely believed those words, and accused Lidya right in front of Yuan.
She shouted at her that she knew she stole the necklace.
This was after she discovered their secret meetings in the palace, and her hatred for them increased even more.
She felt as if Lydia had stolen her husband from her and then given her a gift as well, so she exploded without thinking.
But Lydia vehemently denied it.
At Yuan's suggestion, they searched the room again together.
The necklace, which Syrett was certain Lydia had taken, was found near her bed even though it had not been there when she first looked.
Lydia cried then, and Seret tried to explain that she only believed what the maid said, but the maid denied everything.
And what Seret got in return… was a look of contempt from Yuan.
'You were reckless, my wife. Apologize properly.'
'But I'm sure I heard that. I don't want to apologise.'
Siret said while crying, but Yuan did not soften his heart.
From that day on, his treatment of her changed.
He slept next to her three or four times a week, but after the incident he never visited her room.
It was clear that he would not treat her like a wife until she apologized.
After days of brokenness, Seret was forced to apologize to Lydia.
The feeling of humiliation was indescribable —
To apologize to a woman who was her husband's mistress.
She should have received the apology, not given it.
Lydia smiled that day and said: ‘You should have taken good care of your things, Siret.’
That sentence echoed in her head now, until her body trembled with rage.
Seret stopped searching for the ring, and raised her eyes to the maid named Anne.
“Miss, what should we do? There are only days left until the wedding.”
Hannah said, her worry evident in her trembling voice.
“Don't worry, Hana. I know who the thief is.”
“Miss, please, do not interfere yourself. Tell the Duke.”
“There's no need for that.”
Seret moved away from the dressing table, and advanced towards Anne with confident steps.
The confused maid clasped her hands in front of her and stiffened in place.
“Anne, give me back my ring.”
Seret extended her hand towards her.
"W-what? Me?"
Anne's eyes widened.
"Ma'am, Anne didn't take him! Miss Elliot did!"
Hannah shouted as she rushed to defend her.
"No, Anne took it. Anita ordered her. She told her to steal the ring."
"No! That's not true! I don't know what you're talking about!"
Anne shook her head frantically, panic beginning to creep into her features.
"It's true. You were going to bring it back later—after he accused Miss Elliot in front of the Duke. You were going to put it under the bed, weren't you?"
Siret took a step closer as she spoke.
“A-Miss…?”
Anne's eyes twitched.
‘Then, Lydia’s machinations have not changed… neither in that life, nor in this one.’
'But this time, I won't fall.'
Seret scoffed inwardly.
“Anne, I saw you whispering with Lydia’s maid, Anita.”
“That's because… because I'm from the same hometown as her! We were just talking!”
Anne stammered.
“Where is your hometown then?”
Seret asked with an expressionless face.
“Roudilan...”
Anne's trembling hands clasped together.
She didn't know Anita's ancestry — but she assumed Syrett didn't know either.
'How would a miss from Mocheli know?'
She tried to calm herself, but her pulse was racing.
Seret looked at her trembling hands.
She was right—Anne didn't know.
“Anita’s hometown is Mocheli.”
Seret said in a steady tone.
She didn't know if it was true, but she completely understood Anne's fear.
The girl was afraid of being exposed.
“Hannah, didn’t you say Anita is your cousin’s friend?”
Seret turned to her.
“Yes! My cousin’s friend—I saw her several times in my childhood, in Mocheli!”
Hannah answered quickly, perfecting her role.
Anne's face paled even more and she trembled until she was almost crying in fright.
But Syrett showed no emotion.
"Okay, Anne. I don't want to waste any more time. Give the ring back now, and I won't hold you responsible."
But Anne hesitated, unable to decide.
"Think carefully, Anne. If you don't return the ring, I'll tell the Duke you stole it. Do you think he'll forgive you?"
“Ah...Miss...”
It wasn't an ordinary ring, but a wedding ring.
She will pay dearly if she is found out.
The Duke has no mercy on servants.
You might go to prison.
“And even if the Duke forgives you, Miss Elliot will not. You have ruined her plan.”
Anne's eyes became troubled again.
'She's right… no one will leave me in peace.'
Anne's eyes filled with tears.
Sereret watched her silently, her arms crossed.
Then she said in a softer tone:
“I will send you to a place where Miss Elliot's hand cannot reach. At the recommendation of Frecktwister Mansion, you will be welcome anywhere.”
"truly?"
“Of course. I'm not like them, Anne.”
Seret said, patting her gently on the shoulder.
"Here is."
Anne wiped her tears, took the ring box out of her pocket, and presented it to Siret.
Seret opened the box.
The ring was there, as it was.
She held him tightly and said: “Go and get the butler. I will write you a recommendation.”
“N-yes, miss.”
Anne said as she sobbed and left the room.
"Oh, my God!"
Hana said in surprise after she came out.
Her features looked completely stunned.
“Hanna, wake up. You have important work now.”
Siret said, waving her hand in front of her face.
“Important work?”
“We have to act a little.”
Seret smiled.
'It's time to pay back, Lydia. I'll make you pay double...no, triple.'
She took the ring out of the box and placed it on Hannah's palm.
‘This ring will be found… in Lydia’s bag.’
“Wedding ring, here it is!”
When Hanna flipped Lydia's bag, she dropped the ring and the items lightly as if it had actually come out of it.
“My ring.”
Seret almost cried with relief, but she held herself together.
Her chin trembled as she held the ring gently, as if it were something very precious.
"No...no! That's not true!"
Lydia shouted, shaking her head in shock.
'It can't be... it's impossible...'
“Oh my God... how... how did this happen?”
Mrs. Oxenbury lost her balance in astonishment, and the butler hurried to her aid.
“Yuan, no. Not me.”
Lydia said with a trembling voice and teary eyes.
'Yuan, believe me. You must believe me. It's Seret's plot.'
Yuan's face froze as he stared at her.
As for Siret, she raised the corner of her lips with a cold smile.
'And now?' What will you do when you find out that someone you love...stole my wedding ring?'
“How could you steal missy’s ring? She loved you!”
Hannah said in a trembling voice, doing it perfectly.
“Hana, don’t be rude to Lidya.”
Quietly, Seret approached her.
Lydia's eyes were filled with tears, but behind them a spark of anger burned.
When her eyes met Seret's, their sparkle was intense, a far cry from the tearful looks she directed at Yuan.
'Okay, stare all you want.'
Seret thought and ignored her.
She reached out and took Lydia's hand.
“Lidya, I’m sorry.”
Lydia tried to withdraw her hand, but Seret tightened her grip even more.
'Not yet, Lydia. I have to stay nice in front of them.'
“Now that I think about it… Maybe Lydya forgot to put the ring back after she tried it on. We were busy… It must have happened accidentally.”
Seret said in a sympathetic tone when in reality she was exposing her further.
“Tried it?”
came Mrs. Oxenbury's shocked voice from behind.
Lydia's face gradually turned red.
She didn't say a word, just violently pulled her hand from Seret's grip.
“Hana, hurry up and apologize to Lidya right now. You’re embarrassing me.”
Seret said softly.
Hannah approached with hesitant steps.
“Miss Elliot, I am truly sorry. I misbehaved and unknowingly wronged you. Please forgive me.”
She said, bowing respectfully.
Lydia's hand, which was holding the hem of her dress, trembled.
She looked like she was about to slap her.
But Siret just stared at her hand silently.
'Just try touching her...'
“Miss Elliot, I think it would be best for you to go back now.”
Yuan, who had been silent observing the situation the whole time, finally said.
'It seems that he can't bear to see Lydia being insulted any longer.'
Seret thought, raising the corner of her mouth in a lopsided smile.
“Ah…”
Lydia let out a short gasp and began to cry, then turned and quickly left the hall.
Yuan sighed deeply and followed her slowly.
'Does it hurt you that much, Yuan?'
Seret muttered to herself, watching his back walk away with a frown.