I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started Chapter 98

Almost a week had passed since we returned to the Count’s estate from Rewybourne.

During that time, many things had happened at the Leandro estate.

While we were away at the villa, Mrs. Rosa had channeled her fury into swift action.

First, using Angela’s testimony as a starting point, she reconnected with the maids who had been previously dismissed. Through their statements, it was confirmed that Miriam and Angela had spent years abusing their power, continuously tormenting new maids, and falsely accusing others of theft to eliminate those they disliked.

This was all information we already knew.

But then, something even more amusing happened.

It turned out that Miriam, who had been framing other maids for theft, had actually been stealing for real the whole time.

Miriam and Angela put on one last ridiculous comedy show before their exit.

“It was Miriam! While she was accusing other maids, she was the one actually stealing jewelry and selling it off! She used the money to buy expensive clothes and meet with men! I swear, I was just caught up in it—I’m innocent!”

“You crazy wench! You sold off the young master’s ring and took your cut too! How dare you play the victim now?!”

Angela, utterly outraged by how things had turned against her, turned on Miriam and started exposing all her misdeeds. If not for Angela’s outburst, some of Miriam’s secrets might never have come to light—not even by the time she left the estate.

For instance, things like secretly sneaking her boyfriend into the estate, actually stealing and selling off real jewelry for a luxurious lifestyle, and even borrowing money from other maids only to get them fired so she wouldn’t have to pay them back.

Of course, Angela wasn’t innocent either. She had received a share of the stolen money, and she had acted as Miriam’s lookout when she was pilfering jewelry.

Now that I think about it… Angela had always loitered around the toilette room as if she owned the place. Back when I was a new maid, she even sent me there to fetch her belongings.

She must have been snooping around, admiring the jewelry like it was hers. And when the temptation grew too strong, she simply helped herself.

It was almost laughable. The ones who had falsely accused innocent maids of theft were the actual thieves.

“So, Mari gave Mrs. Rosa her parents’ contact information. She comes from a family of lawyers, you know. They’ll be contacting you soon too.”

I set down my teacup with a small clink as I spoke. The location was the Gerbera Garden, the very place where I had secretly met with the three male leads when I first started working here.

“Oh, right. Marie is the maid I’ve been working with—she has twin braids and is about this tall.”

“I think I know who you mean.”

Colin, seated across from me, nodded in understanding.

The table we sat at was shaded by the large tree overhead. A gentle breeze swept through, carrying away the lingering summer humidity.

“That’s great. I was worried they wouldn’t be properly punished just for bullying the maids. But theft? That changes things.”

“Yeah, exactly. Though, I’m not saying it’s good that they stole from you guys…”

At my words, Colin chuckled softly.

Miriam and Angela wouldn’t escape punishment now. Simply sending them off to another town to live in disgrace wouldn’t be enough—justice had to be served.

And luckily, my maid friends were still treating me normally. Though, the other maids who had only heard rumors still seemed wary of me.

“Well, everything worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

With a relieved sigh, I reached for a snack—

“That’s true, but…”

Daniel, who had been quietly sipping his tea beside Colin, suddenly set down his cup and spoke. His crimson eyes, which had been idly fixed on his drink, now turned to me. His gaze was slow, unreadable, but slightly displeased.

Then, his eyes dropped to my collarbone, tracing downward.

“Now that everything’s settled… how much longer are you going to keep wearing that?”

“Huh? Me?”

I looked down at myself in confusion.

A plain black dress, falling just below my knees—the uniform that all the maids wore while working. I wasn’t wearing an apron, but it was unmistakably a maid’s attire.

And apparently, it had been bothering Daniel.

“You’re not even working as a maid anymore, so why are you still staying in the maids’ quarters? And why are you still wearing that dress? Roan even gave you a new one.”

I blinked at him. Since returning to the estate, I had continued living in the maids’ quarters for the past week. All my belongings were there, and I had grown accustomed to living with Marie.

And as for the dress…

Roan had given me a lovely apricot-colored dress, but there was no reason to wear something so fancy when I was just wandering around the estate. The maid uniform was comfortable, and it was still new.

“What’s wrong with this? It’s sturdy, and it’s a fresh set from when I first started working here.”

“But it’s a maid’s dress.”

So even after everything, he was still hung up on this. He had seemed pleased that the gap between us was closing, but my choice to keep wearing the maid’s uniform and stay in the maids’ quarters was clearly bothering him.

“Well, I haven’t decided where to go yet. I was thinking of writing to Danten, but…”

“Why bother? Just stay here at the estate with us.”

“Me?”

“…I originally bought your debt to bring you to the estate. But that plan fell through when you insisted on working as a maid.”

Ah, right. That was how things went. Feeling a little awkward, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Your belongings will be moved to a guest room on the third floor. Now that everyone knows you’re our friend, it doesn’t make sense for you to keep staying in the maids’ quarters.”

With that, Daniel lowered his gaze again and took a sip of his tea.

The way he spoke so firmly made it impossible for me to argue that I wanted to stay in the dorms. I reluctantly nodded.

“Well… I don’t know how long I’ll stay, but okay, I’ll do that for now.”

“Then does that mean Rosie is living with us now?!”

Lucas, clearly excited, asked eagerly.

“It’s not that simple, Lucas.”

“What’s so complicated about it?”

I lightly pinched his soft cheek.

“Everyone’s keeping quiet about it for now, but the fact remains—one of the maids at the estate turned out to be a close friend of the Count. It won’t be long before rumors start spreading.”

“Hmm.”

“People will start questioning Daniel. Maybe even the King will hear about it… Either way, I can’t stay here forever. People will talk.”

No matter how much we tried to keep things under wraps, word would get out eventually.

Marie, Mika, and Angie might be trustworthy, but there were plenty of other maids at the estate. All it would take was for one of them to start gossiping outside the manor, and rumors would spread like wildfire.

On top of that, Angela and Miriam weren’t just thrown out—they were going to face real punishment for theft. The atmosphere in the dorms had been heavy ever since.

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t care about what people say. And even if I did, that’s not your problem to worry about.”

“No, sorry, but you actually do need to care about that. Maybe others can ignore it, but you are the Count now.”

“…”

Daniel frowned, clearly displeased with my reasoning, and gulped down his tea in frustration.

Colin, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up.

“So, Rosie… do you want to go back to Danten?”

“It’s not that I want to go back… but I don’t really have anywhere else to go. I have my inn and Lynne’s place in Danten, so it’s the most reasonable option.”

I gave a vague response. No matter how I looked at it, Danten was the only place I had to return to.

“I keep telling you, just come with me to the floral farm!”

Lucas butted in again, his eyes gleaming.

His excuse was that it was for perfume-making research, but let’s be real—this was his version of a vacation. Something about a coastal wild rose farm, where the sea breeze carried the scent of flowers or something like that.

A completely carefree trip where I could just relax and do nothing? That didn’t actually sound too bad.

“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

“No! Don’t just think about it—say yes!”

Lucas clung to me, practically begging.

I grimaced, genuinely uncomfortable, and tried to push him away.

“Just say you’ll come! I’ll make sure you don’t have to lift a single finger! Please, let’s go together!”

“Why are you like this?! I said I’d think about it! Do you really want to make me say it twice?”

Annoyed, I reached out and pinched his cheeks—not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make a point.

Even so, he refused to let go.

Daniel and Colin watched our struggle with the same detached amusement as always.

Lucas must have been really worried that I’d just disappear off to Danten without a word. Normally, a slight change in my tone would be enough to make him back off, but this time, he was stubborn.

Just as I was about to forcibly pry him off me—

Rip.

“Huh?”

Something felt wrong near my shoulder.

Specifically, my dress.

Tug. Riip.

“…Uh?”

A sickening sound reached my ears.

Daniel, Colin, and I all widened our eyes at the same time.

Lucas, too, seemed to realize something had gone terribly wrong. Slowly, he released my arm and began inching away.

“What…?”

Daniel, still calmly sipping his tea, asked.

Then—

Riiiiip!

The shoulder seam of my dress completely tore open.

Loose threads popped out in slow motion, floating weightlessly in the air.

Lucas’s blue eyes went wide with horror as he stared at my now half-detached sleeve, which dangled helplessly off my arm.

“…”

Colin and Daniel also froze, eyes locked onto the disaster.

Lucas’s gaze darted back and forth between my furious expression and the ripped seam. His pupils trembled in pure dread.

“R-Rosie… I… I’m so sorry….”

His face was the very image of a guilty golden retriever who had just destroyed the furniture and was about to get scolded.

If he had a tail, it would have been tucked completely between his legs.

“…You….”

I tried—really tried—to suppress my boiling rage as I glared at him.

“Lucas, you absolute—”

“R-Rosie! I swear, I didn’t mean to—!”

Lucas took a hesitant step toward me, hands raised in a desperate attempt to soothe me.

But my patience had officially run out.

With lightning speed, I grabbed his face with both hands and squished his cheeks together, turning them into a pathetic, distorted mess.

“YOU—YOU—DO YOU WANT TO DIE?! ”

I told you to stop!!

My furious roar echoed across the estate, shaking the surrounding trees.