I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started

Chapter 71 “Wow, party preparations really aren’t a joke.”Rubbing my sore arms, I stepped out of the mansion. My arms felt like they were about to fall off from carrying heavy crates of wine until just a moment ago.I stopped under the mansion’s porch and looked up. From the terrace, wide open against the night sky, the raucous sounds of the party spilled out.The festivities were still in full swing. It seemed like the party wouldn’t end until dawn, but thanks to Angie’s consideration, I was able to step outside for a breather.At least, after this party, there weren’t any more events planned. If I could just get through tonight, things would settle down…“I hope that’s true.”I patted my aching arm with my fist as a makeshift massage.Standing under the gas lamps, I gazed at the forest path stretching out into the distance. Meanwhile, from the corner of the mansion, I could see other maids busily scurrying about.‘Maybe I should stop wandering around and actually rest inside.’Even if I had permission to take a break, as a low-ranking maid, it didn’t feel right to just loiter around and get in the way.“Come to think of it, there’s a corridor leading to the garden from here.”The garden had only minimal gas lamps lit. After all, the party itself was taking place in the large hall inside the mansion. The garden would be dark and quiet—perfect for some peace and quiet.Deciding to head there, I made my way toward the small back door that the maids used. But just as I reached it, someone grabbed my arm.“You. I need to talk to you.”I turned wide-eyed to see Angela. I had no idea when she’d followed me out.“What are you doing?”“I said I need to talk to you.”She tried to drag me somewhere, but I planted my feet firmly and resisted.“Whatever you need to say, say it here.”We were standing in a corner where the chandelier light from the hall didn’t reach. Determined not to let her intimidate me this time, I stared her down.Angela, who had been acting so forceful a moment ago, faltered under my gaze. Her aggressive demeanor softened into hesitation.A flicker of worry crossed her face before she finally spoke, haltingly.“About two days ago, at the fountain…”Ah. Was she about to apologize for trying to push me then?But Angela quickly shattered my expectations.“Did you tell Young Master Lucas about me?”“What?”“Did you tell Young Master Lucas about me?”I repeated the words, baffled, but Angela seemed to think I hadn’t heard her properly.I crossed my arms and looked at her, utterly incredulous. This only made Angela more agitated, and she pressed me again.“What did you tell him about me? Did you tell him I’ve been tormenting you? Is that what you said?”Though she stood in the shadows, I could see the unmistakable anxiety on Angela’s face. She was clearly worried that I might have exposed her actions to Lucas and that it could get her dismissed from the household.So that’s why she had come to find me—not to apologize but to protect herself.“It wasn’t me who was tormenting you. That was Miriam. I… I…”“You what?”I raised an eyebrow and waited, watching as countless thoughts flitted across her face in mere seconds.After hesitating for a long while, Angela finally chose her words carefully.“I… I wasn’t that mean to you.”“Trying to push me into the fountain wasn’t mean?”“That was an accident!”Sure, if she made the same “accident” twice, she might actually kill someone.Realizing there was no chance of Angela reforming, I felt foolish for ever expecting an apology from her.Angela got along well enough with the other maids, but toward me, she was brazen and unrepentant. She always tried to corner me with that haughty attitude of hers, so reminiscent of Miriam.‘I don’t even care why she hates me anymore. I already know she looks down on me.’I tilted my chin up deliberately and said, “You asked me earlier, didn’t you? About what I talked about with Young Master Lucas.”“……”“He called me over to ask. He wanted to know if Angela had been tormenting me for a long time and if such bullying was common among the maids.”As I spoke with a deliberately smug tone, Angela’s face turned pale. Her fingers trembled.“Did… did you tell him? Did you tell him I bullied you?”“Who knows? He did ask me that, but what do you think I said?”I nearly scoffed at the sight of her. She hid behind Miriam while tormenting the new maids and now had the nerve to act innocent, claiming she wasn’t to blame. How pathetic.“Is that why? It made me want to be even more spiteful.”“Young Master Lucas seems very interested in bullying among the maids. What do you think would happen if I told him everything I’ve endured from Miriam and you?”“You… You’re trying to threaten me, aren’t you?”Angela’s flustered expression was evident even in the dim light. Her face flushed red and pale alternately, her emotions written clearly across it.“That wasn’t me! It was all Miriam! I… I just—”“You just what? Played along?”I leaned forward, cutting off her sentence, and Angela gasped and took a step back.“Stop blaming everything on Miriam like you always do. The two of you are equally awful.”“What do you even know? How dare you say I’m the same as Miriam? Who do you think you are?”“I have eyes and ears, you know. And I’m not the only one you’ve mistreated—there are enough people to fill a carriage!”Angela flared up at my words, and I shouted back just as fiercely. I wasn’t going to let her stomp all over me anymore. I had been biting my tongue and holding back just because this wasn’t my hometown.Angela, nearly in tears, grabbed at my apron roughly.“Go tell Young Master Lucas that I didn’t do anything. Do it now!”“No. Why should I? You’ve got to be kidding me.”I narrowed my eyes at her. Angela was clearly too blinded by fear of losing her job to think straight. Even when she tried to intimidate me, I didn’t flinch.‘Go ahead, try something. If you push me even a little, I’ll tell Lucas everything.’I’d been keeping quiet to avoid seeming petty since he was close with the master of the house. But if Angela so much as shoved me, I was fully prepared to go running to him.After all, Lucas and I had already agreed that I would tell him if any issues arose with the maids.Just as Angela continued to shout, I closed my eyes deliberately to show I wasn’t interested in her tantrum.Thud.Something fell from my apron pocket.I cracked one eye open and saw the box of handkerchiefs on the ground. The ribbon I’d tied carefully must have come loose, and the lid had fallen open, leaving part of its contents sticking out.I quickly reached down to pick it up, but—Crunch.“…..”It felt like my heart stopped.Angela, still shaking me and pulling at my apron, had stepped on the gift box.The handkerchief, dyed in an expensive blue that was notoriously difficult to produce and used mostly by nobles, had been my birthday gift for Colin. It was crushed under her foot.The box, once neat and perfect, was now mangled beyond recognition.Angela didn’t even seem to notice what she had stepped on. She kept demanding, over and over, to know if I had told Lucas about her.As I looked between her frantic expression and the ruined gift, tears pricked my eyes, and rage surged through me.I had agonized over buying that handkerchief. Even while struggling to repay Daniel, I had splurged on it, wanting to give my friend something truly special for his birthday.It was the first gift I had bought with my own earnings after reconnecting with him after ten years. No more picking wild blueberries or scrounging for something cheap—this time, I could give him something worthy, something I was proud of.But now, that carefully chosen gift was crushed beneath Angela’s carelessness.I couldn’t hold back anymore. I didn’t care why she hated me, or why she refused to apologize. All I wanted was to make her pay.Fueled by anger, I grabbed her collar and yanked her toward me.And then—“That’s enough. Stop this.”“Agh!”The voice came out of nowhere.At the same time, the hand gripping my apron was forcibly pried away, and my hand gripping Angela’s collar was pulled free.I heard Angela gasp, her breath catching in her throat, as I turned my tear-streaked face to see who had intervened.Under the moonlight, her pale blonde hair shone softly.Yvette Büllosen.For a moment, I forgot my anger, my tears, and even my shame. All I could do was stare at her, stunned by her unexpected appearance.Yvette’s expression was unreadable—neither angry nor indifferent.Her light green working dress and modest accessories did little to diminish the noble elegance she exuded. The poise and refinement unique to the aristocracy radiated from her.Yvette silently forced Angela away from me, her movements composed but firm.“Ow!”Angela stumbled back, clutching her wrist, her face a mixture of confusion and nervousness as she looked between me and Yvette.“Lady… Yvette?”Angela’s voice was weak and uncertain, but Yvette ignored her entirely. Dusting her hands off, she spoke in a tone that was calm yet cutting.“It seems the Leandro estate has everything in perfect order, except for its troublesome maids.”I clenched my fists at her words, indignation bubbling up.Angela had been the one to provoke me, the one who ruined my handkerchief. Why was I being lumped together with her as a troublemaker?Before I could retort, Yvette turned to Angela.“You there.”“Y-Yes? Me?”“Who else would I be talking to?”Yvette’s icy gaze swept over Angela. For a moment, I thought I caught a flicker of disdain in her blue eyes.“Instead of resorting to violence, you should have tried reasoning with her if you were worried about losing your job over mistreating other maids.”“I… I didn’t…”Angela’s face stiffened with panic.Yvette must have witnessed our entire fight.Only then did I feel a wave of shame for losing my temper over the handkerchief and stooping to Angela’s level.As I hung my head in regret, Yvette crouched down and picked up the crushed blue gift box.Without a word, she handed it to me.I stared at her, startled, tears still clinging to my lashes.Yvette didn’t look at me as she spoke, her tone indifferent but firm.“On such a fine evening, I had to witness this mess. You, trampling on another maid’s belongings and trying to use force. I saw everything.”