Sincerely: I Became a Duke's Maid - Vol. 1 Ch. 41

[ColonelCrisp]

@Bramia It'd be great if he would socialize with others more rather than sticking to Ibe all the time.

 

[ParagonNight]

So, one major thing that sticks to me out of this chapter even past the expected reaction is how he held himself back from hitting the head maid. I dont know if its me but that small gesture shows how much she has influenced him for the better compared to how he was in the original novel/timeline. Hopefully they reunite and can sort this out. Just my thoughts.

@HobisFlower I view it more as a mother thinking or knowing she is doing the best even if it hurts said person. She may be wrong but she is acting thinking she is doing it for the best. Its not simply the pressure on her its more so she doesnt want to ruin his life by tarnishing his name and reputation. Shes leaving like a mother would scold their child when they misbehave. Just my opinion on the matter.

 

[Flowerthinking]

Buttt???? Despite her showing that she was uncomfortable with special treatment a few times he still continued to do it (which is so icky because hes the boss she cant really do anything) which is what caused her trouble and caused her to leave lol

This is the result of his insensitive actions?????? Or did i read wrong

 

[Flowerthinking]

I dont want him to find her :/

 

[scootle]

@Bramia
Yes, because just like you tell a depressed person to not be depressed, you tell a person who has only socialized and been treated nicely by one person to "just socialize." And Alejandro would treat Ibelina better if SHE COMMUNICATED HER PROBLEMS TO HIM. But no, Ibelina has just been telling him "I'm fine" whenever he asks.

 

[ultraleaf]

He knew lol now how many knew how F'n dense she is

 

[Sippers]

Well frick. Hate to catch up on this durn cliffhanger.

 

[icarushector]

@Flowerthinking it's a bit of this, a bit of that. Their relationship is "complicated", she obviously wants to continue supporting him and outside pressure has convinced her that leaving is the best way right now to do so. (especially since sh's still under the impression that he's going to fall in love with that hostage princess, for some reason.) Her ditching Lorenzo as well is probably because of his clinginess, so the reason there is zero trail to follow is because he's only just started to reach that emotional maturity starting line, as demonstrated by his restraint in dealing with the head maid. His clinginess is why her departure is a hot mess, but it's hardly the main reason she left.

@MangoDude I feel like she gave up? There's only so much she can say and only so many times she can say it. I get the feeling that this will be more than a brief separation. Having to organize a search means he has to interact with others, maybe even owe favors. That's my hope anyway.

 

[Cirrus]

and now it's hollywood, where the guy gets super clingy to the girl. Actually, it's been that way for a while now. Rather, I'm surprised their relationship isn't more of a mother/son thing than a romantic one.

 

[PhoenixDen]

I still think Elaine is in the right. Ale's too emotionally stunted and spiteful at this point to really be an effective Duke. He's just laser focused on that one girl, and I have no doubt he'd let the land rot before letting her go. He's even putting blame on the wrong thing- he's thinking 'oh she's overstressed because of outside pressure' as opposed to 'wow, I'm hanging onto her a bit much, huh?' He literally does not have the emotional maturity to think of anything longterm, it's just 'I want this girl to stay next to me forever and ever and ever and ever' and that's it. Ibelina didn't really help things either- she paid the idea lip service, made the occasional suggestion, but she didn't push the issue- nor could she, really, without likely making him angry, which was bought up and of course dismissed later.

Chances are he'll probably either give her a noble title that she is WOEFULLY underprepared to actually use (I.E. make the actual nobles mad because it'd appear she did nothing of merit to deserve it) or simply force her back no matter what and leech even HARDER onto her. Either way, it's not a good look. I get that Alejandro's had a VERY rough upbringing. However, I don't think that validates him being like this to literally everyone that's not her- it gives a reason, sure, but that doesn't make it right or good. IMO, Alejandro isn't a good person by any means, and honestly? I think that one way or another he WILL cause a war- over Ibelina, most likely. Sounds romantic, but I'm worried about everyone else in the territory, to be frank.

The worst thing about it? I can see no real good outcome here: the country will have either a lame duck Duke that legit does not give a shit about anything or anyone but Ibelina (who'll be stuck by his side forever even in ways she doesn't want, possibly in a gilded cage), or it'll have a war over her. Alejandro's too broken as a person to be a good ruler. At best, he should abdicate his position and just be with her that way- but of course that won't happen because that'd be too simple of a solution in this story.

 

[ojoudere]

he's like a child stuck in an adult's body...

 

[Sarah2013]

Thanks for this little Christmas gift... Can't wait to read more! 😌

 

[Roiya]

As much as I hate to see him suffer, I think it's good for him to learn how to be an adult without clinging to her all the time. He will find her again and hopefully it will be as a mature man instead of an emotionally stunted boy. She also needs to find time to live for herself instead of concentrating on his problems.

 

[berryoragami]

Yay thanks for the present and happy holidays to y'all!

 

[BlueCatMage]

Ugh, what a disappointment! Why are these types of confrontations never really satisfying?! Honestly, I really wanted him to let that maid have it! Something like:

"You got rid of the ONLY person who truly cared for me when I was cursed and dying, yet now that I am cured YOU of all people care enough about me, to tell me what's in my best interest? When neither YOU NOR MY FAMILYcould be BOTHERED with me while I was cursed. Hypocrite!"

 

[Epicredeemer]

@PhoenixDen while I do agree that Elaine is in the right, the way that Ibeleena handled it was an absolutely awful decision on her part. She's been half-assedly sidestepping around the issue this whole time, and never once addressed it with him. Then, she just straight abandons him without any warning, despite knowing just how large of an emotional support she is to him. And the sense of betrayal he feels from her leaving, without her trying to explain anything, is only compounded by that lack of maturity caused by the years of neglect.
It's an issue to address over time, not just going cold turkey. It's like suddenly depriving a heavy addict of their drugs. At a certain level of dependency, abruptly shutting off the supply of the drug can cause severe health problems, at some points even more so than continuing to use it.

 

[Siquall]

@BlueCatMage

When neither YOU NOR MY FAMILYcould be BOTHERED with me while I was cursed.

Once again, Elaine was not here when Alejandro was cursed, she is a new headmaid, following several others who were fired because of Alejandro mother who was depressed/angry/etc after her husband death.

 

[Psychronia]

Yeah, both Ibeleena and Alejandro are in the wrong here. Elaine is the most reasonable party in all this-aside from maybe Lorenzo.

Ducking out without warning is dumb. Ignoring his obvious infactuation is stupid. And blatantly favoring your maid in everything you do except explicit words is just begging for trouble.

 

[Aeriandra]

I'm with those who think that ultimately Elaine did her job properly. As head maid, she does have jurisdiction to dismiss house staff, at least in a normal setting. Ibelina is personally important to Alejandro so he wouldn't agree with Elaine dismissing her but that's exactly why she had to approach Ibelina when he wouldn't interfere because he is beyond reason at this point regarding his relationship with her . When you think things out, and keep in mind the social structure and class enforcement that exists, Elaine's reasoning is quite sound. Not only would his actions disrupt the mansion and effect his own reputation, but it could hurt Ibelina too. The maid will always get the short end of the stick, not only would her reputation be destroyed, but from Elaine's perspective, if there ever came a time where Alejandro lost affection for her she'd then have no where to go as she'd be blacklisted as the maid who seduced her master. Moreover, if they pursue things and it led to his family's fall, that not impacts them but all the staff and knights employed. As tired as she was of the treatment she was getting, Ibelina didn't leave because she couldn't take it, she left because she saw what the problems could be and thought her being gone would be better.

Could things have worked better if someone took the time to explain things with Alejandro? Maybe. However, like others have pointed out, he seems too dependent on Ibee right now and he may pursue her regardless of the cost. Its true Elaine went behind his back but she did so with his welfare in mind. Sometimes what you want isn't always what's good for you. That said, she does seem foolish for thinking that he would be respectful or appreciate of her decision, it was pretty clear he would react with hostility. Like I said in my comments from previous chapters though, Ibee could have made the parting better if she at least left him a letter explaining why she's going and making it clear its not because she doesn't care for him.

 

[erichanchan]

I have actual tears 😢