The maid looked up at Lucian in hope. She then bowed on all fours and began to cry, "P-please help me, My Lord! I-I did not sneak into your room to seduce you. I-I would n-never dare to l-lay a finger on you, I swear!"
Lucian stared at the maid for a few seconds, then at the rest of the staff that avoided his gaze, afraid of their Lady's cruelty and wrath, and also expectant of his next words.
He could try and prove the maid's innocence, but whatever that maid had done, Celine already made it clear that she didn't want to keep her around.
Celine definitely left some traces of a woman in the guest room, and he noticed that the blond wig Celine wore yesterday matched with the maid's hair. He couldn't do much without dragging himself down with the maid, but if he did nothing, it would look like he had no problem with his future wife mistreating her staff in such a cruel way.
"Killing staff for trying to steal a man is a bit extreme, don't you think so, My Lady?" Lucian asked, "This is no longer the Dark Ages, but people could still think that you've been possessed by a demon and demand to burn you at the stake. That would be unfortunate, since I have no wish to become a widower before I even become a husband."
Celine blinked a few times, her fingers twitching as if she was trying to hold back her words, "Then, what do you suggest, My Lord?"
"I'll take her with me," Lucian said and turned to the maid, making everyone gasp and stare at him with wide eyes. It was as if he had said that he was going to have an affair with her right there, "As a servant, and of course, if she tries to seduce me like you accused her of, I will have her disposed of. A second chance is all she'll get."
"A second chance?" Celine repeated, a bit lost. She then snapped her fan open and hid her mouth behind it, "I did not know you were a man of mercy, My Lord."
"I'm only trying to be a good influence on you, My Lady," Lucian smiled, and her eyes narrowed at his words, "I would not want people to think ill of you, least my reputation suffers from it."
"Of course," she said, closing the fan with a clap, "You can have her if you so desire. Do with her what you will, she will not be missed. Father should arrive in the evening, so do make sure to finish whatever it is you are planning to do before then. I would not want anyone to get the wrong impression," her smile widened, "Do enjoy your breakfast in the meantime. I'll return after I have finished my morning duties," she said, and Graham released the maid.
"Are you not going to join me for breakfast, My Lady?" he asked. The maid was trembling like a leaf, and he helped her up to her feet.
"I'm afraid I'm in a terrible mood, and I would not want to ruin the taste of your meal. I needed to visit His Highness anyway and check if he is all right. His condition seemed a bit fragile last time we met, and I would not want him to think I'm a neglectful woman."
Lucian's smile grew a bit brighter, "Oh? In that case, please do send Lady Bianca my regards on the way as well. She must be worried sick about me, so do make sure to inform her that I'm in perfect health and that I will be returning to her shortly."
The servants gulped all around them, their heads glued to the ground as if they were waiting for a storm to blow through.
"Get me a pen and paper," he asked the staff, and the maid he just saved rushed to bring them to him.
Crash!
Celine dropped the vase of flowers, shattering it against the floor.