"I see... I'm glad that he chose to forgive you. Thank God he still loves you." The woman said, sighing in relief after hearing what she said to her. This made Rachelle frown at her, what exactly is she implying?

It's as if there's something in her words that she couldn't figure out.

The old woman smiled at her, it was so sweet like honey dripping at the same time it was also warm. But then again, Rachelle hardly knows her as she's not from this world. "If only you didn't persuade the Duchess to accompany you to the palace, it would have never happened." She said, dropping the bomb to Rachelle.

"What?" She uttered, Bewildered at her statement. 'Is she blaming me for the cause of the Duchess' death?' She thought to herself as her face turned dismayed, didn't like what she had said to her.

But of course, Rachelle had to filter her expressions with a kind and vibrant look just so the woman in front of her wouldn't notice how confused she was with the words being thrown at her.

'Excuse me? Is she blaming me once again?' she couldn't help but think of it. "Sadly yes darling. The grand Duchess died because you asked for something but oh well, we can't do anything with it now. I shall pray for her soul to rest and you should too, ask forgiveness from your father." She told Rachelle proudly, acting like a saint.

"But no worries dear, I'm sure your father still loves you. Please don't lose hope, whatever the problems are they will just pass by." She even added, trying to lull her as if her words didn't have poisons contaminated.

"I see..." Rachelle uttered, clearing her throat and smiling back, she was forcing a smile at this old lady who was blaming her just like the others. Wow, what a hypocrite.

"I'm sure they will eventually find time to forgive you." She replied, drinking the tea in her hand. Rachelle just sat there quiet, alarmed and feeling disgusted. How dare she bring up that topic and shun her?

"Oh, and uhm... Since I was your nanny and basically the one who cared for you since your childhood... May I ask for a favour?" She added, couldn't seem to wait any longer and just blurted out what she had planned.

To which Rachelle just nodded her head, didn't have to say anything. She's betting her soul to the devil that this woman thinks she can have something in return for her service years ago and blatantly disrespects her inside the mansion.

"I know that I'm already far too old and have long been replaced by someone new and young to care for you, but I hope you will take into account the years I've been through raising you while others turned their backs on you..." The old woman started, acting pitiful towards Rachelle.

'As if I'm letting myself fall in that act.' Rachelle commented while smiling fakely at the old woman. "What is it, Madame Norwagen?" She asked, lifting the tea cup while watching the sly woman hiding her hideous grin off her face.

"You see darling, we're currently on a tight budget for the year... My son, who is very diligent and intelligent is currently facing a financial problem because of his studies." She stated.

"Currently, we're being held back because of his academic problems. Thus I ask you from the bottom of my heart to let me lend at least 500,000 gold to suffice ourselves in this cold year. I am already old and my income is not stable, so is my husband." She tried to play the pity card on her, wiping her tears as she told the story to Rachelle.

But Rachelle on the other hand had long suspicion. Her income is not sufficient? That's bullshit. From someone who's working at the Duke's palace as a tutor, it doesn't suffice.

"Oh dear... I'm sad to hear about your life situation, Baroness Norwagen-"

"Please, just call me your Nanny Hilde... You've been calling me so formal when I am just a mere Baron. I am your nanny, Miss Felicia. You ought to be informal to me since the both of us have a history together." The Baroness told Rachelle, smiling at her as if she was trying to win her off.

'That was rude, cutting me off as she pleases. And for that, she earned my wrath.' Rachelle thought to herself while stopping herself from glaring at the old woman who was still oblivious to the fact that Raella already knew about her initial plan.

"My apologies for being unnecessarily formal earlier, Nanny Hilde. I am glad that you allowed me to speak indirectly and informally to you. You reminded me of my position thus I am grateful to you." Rachelle said as she gracefully landed the teacup on the plate while smiling at the old woman who had grown wary and confused because of her words.

"While maintaining a courteous and polite demeanour with those who hold a lower position than those who are above can be quite challenging, I'll be sure to take note of it in the future," Rachelle added.

She could see the woman slowly swallowing her anger. It seems that she had understood what Rachelle was implying. Well, she better be grateful earlier that she used to be polite to her.

"Y-Yes... That's right dear, remember... That's what I intend to tell you." Baroness Norwagen said, clenching her teeth while she was shaking in anger and embarrassment at the backlash that she received from Felicia.

'Sorry not sorry for being a bitch. You started it first anyways.' Rachelle once again thought as she could never be prouder of herself for berating the old hag whose now contemplating whether to ask for her help or not.

"A-ahem! Anyways, would it be possible to borrow some money, dear? I swear, I will pay you back once I will save enough money to pay you." The old woman changes the topic immediately.

It's clear on her face that she doesn't want to stay here any longer, so she's rushing her favour towards Rachelle.

"Of course, Nanny Hilde. You've been so great to me, I'm forever indebted for the sacrifices that you made just to raise me." Rachelle replied. "Let me call on my maid to write a letter for the subject of payment-"

"N-no! I-I was hoping you'd give it immediately to me darling because we really need it right now. There's no need for you to write a contract, do you not trust me?" The Baroness panicked as Rachelle mentioned a contract.

A red flag appeared before Rachelle's eyes. The suspicion she had earlier is really true and this old woman will take advantage of her naive personality, just like everyone else. How vicious these people are.

'Of course not, you dumbass. The last time I trusted someone, I ended up getting stabbed.' her thought replied, wanting to roll her eyes damn bad. It's true, she'll never trust anyone once again in this life.

It's the rules of survival, sis.

"But I can't just lend you my money without any written agreement, Nanny Hilde." She expressed, looking at her with a sad face to look like a naive woman when in reality, she's not.

"What if the Duke questions why my Allowance had plummeted? I can't just present nothing to him-"

"You don't have to tell the Duke, darling. It'll remain a secret to the two of us. You don't have to tell him that I am asking for some money since he'll understand it. He was the one who accepted my request to raise you anyways, he's kind enough to grant me permission to ask for your money." The Baroness twisted her words to coerce Rachelle into believing her.

Of course, it's all lies, the Duke will not even care about her allowance and she hasn't touched them either except for the dresses that she asked for. Her allowance has increased because of the past events.

Rachelle was contemplating her decision of whether to accept it or not and just tell the Duke that the tutor he assigned is trying to rob her 500,000 gold which is already a crime considered in the empire.

'But isn't it fun to play with someone's life?' her other personality asked her. The devil side of her tempted her to do immoral things.

'Let's just report her, to lessen the burden we had on our shoulders... Let the Duke handle the woman.' her morality fought back, tempting her to let the Duke handle the Baroness.

But would she do that? There's no entertainment at all! Plus the fact that this lady literally has been pointing her finger at her, why the hell not ruin this woman and watch her life crumble before her?

Rachelle smirked and pushed away her morality and accepted the offer. "I'm sure he will... I will let you borrow my money because you've been so good to me all the time, Nanny Hilde. Don't worry, I will also help you in times of need." She said while smiling sweetly.

"Oh darling, you're such an angel sent by the Goddess Kartara... How blessed you are!" The woman happily exclaimed as she stood up from her seat and ran to her side, hugging her while grinning from ear to ear.

Yet she failed to realize that behind the smile that Rachelle plastered on her face, lies how vile her thoughts are right now, especially that she's about to ruin another person's life.

"Yes... We are blessed..." Rachelle mumbled while smirking. May the Goddess watch her plan of destroying the old vermin and place her in the depths of despair.
--

Author's Note:

This is an original novel written by yours truly, it's not adapted or translated thus explaining how my English is bad since it's not my first language. But anyway, I am back after a dark period, I am sorry for the loss of touch but here I am, writing a chapter.