Leveling Up My Husband to the Max

Jenia once again checked Amber’s expression to see if it was okay. Amber stared directly at Jenia and gave a smile. Seeing the sparkle in Amber’s eyes and her smile, Jenia seemed to finally make her decision.

“As someone not from the East and wouldn’t be influenced by the mistress, we hoped that you might be able to change the castle.”

At Jenia’s words, Amber felt a shock like she’d  been hit on the head with a blunt object.

Jenia fidgeted with the blanket as she continued. “Right now, all the people in charge of important matters and receiving large salaries are those under her. It’s the same outside of the castle as well.”

It wasn’t only the household affairs of the castle that Bella had control over. She used the authority of the Duke of Thales and dominated the high society of the land as well.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that apart from the noble daughters too young to leave home and the older noblewomen who had already stepped away from high society, all the noblewomen of the Eastern lands were under Bella’s influence.

“But there are people unable to endure the oppressing mood. The mistress is someone violent to everyone, and the people of lower class have no idea what’s happening,” Jenia did her best to use moderate words, but Amber realized the meaning behind them right away.

Though it was obvious, there were those against Bella’s management of the land.

Bella only took care of those able to help her. She would ignore anyone who didn’t or were of lower class and would dole heavy punishments even for small mistakes. It was such that only the important minorities would profit while the trivial majority were thrown away.

It was the first time Amber heard such words directly from Jenia. Even when Jenia was her closest ally and aide, Jenia never mentioned her own problems and worries.

But why this time?

It was their first encounter in this life. How was she able to say something she never dared to in her previous life?

“The Duke was originally planning to marry someone from the Eastern lands and we thought that the oppression would never change. But when we heard that an outsider would be coming to the castle instead…”

A noblewoman from the West wouldn’t have been influenced by Bella. That’s what everyone thought.

“Madam,” Jenia lifted her head and met Amber’s gaze with a pleading look in her eyes. “I might be kicked out of the castle for saying this. Or punished with painful lashings, or locked in a room for days.”

It was highly likely since it was Bella. No, she could do even worse.

“Or perhaps, Madam… you may kick me out of the castle yourself,” Though Amber was treating her kindly now, Jenia didn’t forget the difference in their positions. “But… but still…”

Her hands that gripped the blanket were so tight that the backs of her hand turned white. She bit her lips and barely managed to finish her words. “But we have nothing else but to pin our hopes on you, Mistress.”

Amber felt her heart rapidly beat within her chest at Jenia’s earnest plea.

Jenia lied down, prostrating herself on top of the blanket. It was such a quick movement that Amber couldn’t stop her.

“Mistress, please take me in as your aide,” Jenia’s shoulders shook faintly.

“I know I shouldn’t be saying such words to someone I’ve never met before. I never thought I would do so either, but… but hearing what you said earlier, I thought that if it was you, Mistress, you might be able to save us.”

Earlier, Amber declared that just being a noble wasn’t enough to punish commoners as they pleased.