Chapter 31: Noble’s Authority

A soft knock interrupted Lydia’s sleep.

She opened her eyes slightly, then closed them again.

Five more minutes.

Her body felt heavy, and the bed was far too comfortable for her to consider leaving it.

Besides, she had been through enough yesterday. She had no intention of voluntarily sacrificing the little peace she had left.

The knocking came again. This time, it was louder and more urgent! Lydia pulled the blanket over her head.

"Who is it?" she mumbled, making no effort to sit up.

SLAM!

No answer came. Instead, the door suddenly burst open!

Lydia jerked upright from the deafening sound.

Her room was dark, but a bright strip of sunlight spilled through the open doorway from the hallway.

"My eyes hurt..."

The sudden brightness made Lydia squint toward the entrance. A familiar figure stood there. It was the head butler.

"My lady, there is an urgent matter that requires your attention immediately."

Lydia blinked several times, trying to clear the blur from her vision.

"What now?"

Had Sylvain discovered another reason to punish her? Had Vincent complained about something she had done? Did her father changed his mind and decided to kick her now?

Lydia wouldn’t have been surprised if they had found a new reason to make her life miserable before breakfast.

"What... what is it?"

Her voice trembled despite her efforts to remain calm.

He seemed didn’t notice her worry. He stood beside the door with his usual stiff posture, seemingly impatient to get the matter settled.

"We need to select a new personal maid for you before dinner."

For several seconds, her mind went completely blank.

A new personal maid?

That was all?

She had been expecting some fresh disaster, and this man had barged into her room as though the mansion were on fire just to tell her about a maid.

Relief washed over her so suddenly that she almost laughed. Almost. But her relief quickly turned into anger

"Excuse me?"

Lydia slowly raised one hand, stopping Paul before he could continue.

He fell silent, his eyebrows drawing together at the interruption. She looked at him, then at the open door behind him.

The audacity.

This man sure has no manner. He had entered her bedroom without permission while Lydia was still in bed, all because he wanted to discuss an administrative matter that could easily have waited until she was dressed.

Had the servants of House Valendorf always been this rude, or had Lydia simply allowed them to walk all over her in her previous life?

This wouldn’t do.

In her previous life, Lydia might have shouted at him, thrown something, or told him to leave.

But she had learned that getting angry wouldn’t make people respect her. Instead, it would only give them another reason to criticize her. And that was the last thing she wanted.

This time, Lydia would try something different.

"Butler, what’s your name?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"Paul, my lady."

"And what is my name?"

"Pardon?" His expression changed slightly.

Lydia tilted her head, keeping her face perfectly composed.

"I asked you what my name is."

Paul looked increasingly confused, but he answered anyway.

"Lydia Valendorf."

"Correct."

She lowered her hand and placed it on the blanket.

"I am Lydia Valendorf, a noble of House Valendorf. Is that right?"

"Of course, my lady."

"Then I would like to ask you something, Butler Paul."

Lydia’s voice remained gentle and pleasant. She even gave him a small smile, as though she were about to ask an ordinary question.

"Have you ever heard of an etiquette rule that allows a commoner without a surname to enter a noble’s bedroom whenever he pleases, without knocking properly or waiting for permission?"

Paul’s face stiffened.

"My lady, I—"

"I’m asking because I wasn’t aware of such a rule. Perhaps the head butler knows something I don’t?"

The room fell silent.

Paul had spent years serving House Valendorf. He knew perfectly well that a noble’s private chambers were not places where servants could simply wander in whenever they wished.

Even if an urgent matter arose, proper etiquette still applied. He should have waited for permission before entering, especially when the young lady of the household was inside.

And yet, he had barged into Lydia’s room without hesitation.

Now, confronted with his own behavior, he seemed unable to find a suitable response.

So they really have been treating me like I don’t matter. This time, I won’t let this slide.

The realization wasn’t pleasant, but at least Lydia was beginning to understand the extent of the problem.

Her servants had grown accustomed to disregarding her wishes because she had rarely enforced her authority. She had allowed their disrespect to continue until it had become a habit.

Of course, Lydia couldn’t change 10 years of mistreatment overnight. However, she could stop making it easy for people to disrespect her.

She was a noblewoman, after all.

More importantly, Lydia was the formally adopted daughter of the Duke of Valendorf. The only young mistress of this household.

It was a title she had once been desperate to prove she deserved. Now, Lydia intended to use it to the fullest.

"Besides," Lydia continued, "what would happen if someone saw you entering my bedroom like this?"

Paul’s lips parted, but no answer came.

"People might misunderstand the situation. A man entering a young lady’s private chambers without permission could easily create unwanted gossip and commotion, couldn’t it?"

The butler’s face paled at her logic.

Butler Paul finally seemed to understand the position he had put himself in.

Even if his intentions had been entirely innocent, that would hardly prevent gossip from spreading if someone happened to witness his rude behavior.

And if rumors involving the Duke’s daughter reached the wrong ears, the consequences could be unpleasant for everyone involved.

Especially the servant responsible.

"Am I wrong, Butler Paul?" Lydia asked with an innocent smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"L-Lady Lydia!"

His voice cracked slightly as he hurried to bow his head.

Lydia nearly burst out laughing.

It worked.

Sure, it felt a bit wrong to make a man much older than her to bow like this. But she just couldn’t let him disrespect her.

So this was a proper way to teach his place.

She had barely raised her voice, let alone thrown a tantrum, and the impolite butler who had entered her room without permission was now struggling to explain himself.

Perhaps this was what it meant to use her position properly. She didn’t need to scream or threaten anyone. She only had to remind them that she was someone they were expected to respect.

Lydia settled more comfortably against her pillows.

Well, this is a good start.

I could get used to this.