“So we need to select one of us as the exclusive maid for the Grand Duchess.”
With one statement from the head maid, everyone was thrown into great shock.
I, too, couldn’t help but feel quite flustered.
Suddenly asking for an exclusive maid for the Grand Duchess.
In reality, although it was said that they were being chosen, from their perspective, it was no different from a death sentence.
Even the calm and dignified Senior maid, Lani, seemed to have a face filled with fear, which said it all.
Those who were appointed as the exclusive maids of the Grand Duchess either ended up dead, escaped from here, or one of the two. Of course, excluding those who infiltrated to assassinate the Grand Duchess.
Perhaps everyone here knew this fact, which is why they were quite reluctant.
No one here wanted to suddenly become a corpse one day
“W-who is going to be the exclusive maid?”
A senior maid with blond hair and freckles hastily spoke up.
“It hasn’t been decided yet. We intend to choose a maid with plenty of experience and skill if possible.”
“I… I can’t do it! Just the thought of meeting the Grand Duchess’s gaze fills me with terror.”
A maid with blond hair was extremely disgusted by the staement.
In response to her words, the maids nodded one by one and addressed the head maid.
“Me too…! I’d rather clean the toilets. I can’t handle being the exclusive maid.”
“The exclusive maid of the Grand Duchess… how could this happen…”
“Me too… even if it means death, I could never…!”
In response to the desperate pleas of the maids, the head maid closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
“Pull yourselves together. It’s an honor to serve the only child of Valaxar. Refusing is akin to disgracing our Duchess.”
“B…but you know, Head Maid! What happened to those who took that position!”
“….”
Whether the Head Maid knew it herself or not, she couldn’t muster any rebuttal to the assertive words of the blond-haired maid, which she would have reprimanded under normal circumstances.
After a moment of maintaining silence, the head maid spoke in a subdued voice.
“But we still have to choose. We can’t disobey the orders of the Grand Duke.”
“B…but…”
In the unwavering words of the head maid, the blond-haired maid retreated a step, then pointed at me and shouted.
“T-then let her do it! After all, she’s the least needed resource as a newcomer!”
“…Me?”
The blond-haired maid approached me with a smug smile on her face.
“This works out perfectly! Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was because of your outburst? Isn’t it only right that you take responsibility for your actions?”
“Andy.”
Senior maid Lani grabbed the shoulder of the blond-haired maid, trying to intervene, but it only seemed to provoke her further.
“Let go of me! I already didn’t like you. Does it make sense for a newcomer to receive the same salary as us?”
“Are you going to talk back as a commoner again? Even though you’re receiving money that commoners can’t even touch, you should at least earn that money’s worth, right? Take on the role of the exclusive maid.”
The blond-haired senior maid spoke to me in a threatening tone. When I didn’t respond, she suddenly grabbed my collar with both hands.
“Why are you staring like that? How dare a newcomer defy a senior?”
“Stop!!” The blonde-haired maid recoiled in shock at the stern rebuke from the head maid.
“What on earth are you doing, Andy! If you’re a senior, act like one with dignity. Displaying such undignified behavior isn’t appropriate!”
“…I’m sorry.”
In her eyes, there was still a deep hostility as she looked at me.
She wasn’t alone.
Some maids seemed to silently agree with her words, glaring at me with narrowed eyes, as if urging me to volunteer to become the exclusive maid.
“Talking any further seems pointless. I’ll decide who will be the Lady’s exclusive maid, so you all should know that. Now, go back and attend to your duties.”
The head maid sighed deeply, exhaustion evident on her face.
In response to her words, the maids began returning to their positions with unfavorable expressions.
Just as I was about to follow them back, someone tapped my shoulder lightly.
“Don’t worry too much, Alice. They’re just sensitive.”
“…Yes, senior.”
With a slight smile, the senior leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.
“That girl, Andy, was always extremely jealous of you. Honestly, you handle tasks much better than Andy. She probably felt threatened by how fast you were catching up.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. So just let it go in one ear and out the other. Don’t worry about being asked to be the exclusive maid, they’ll probably never ask a newbie.”
With fists clenched in encouragement, the senior’s cute support made me laugh unwittingly.
“Thank you, senior.”
“Yeah. See you later.”
Although the senior smiled, I sensed a hint of fear within.
Perhaps the senior was also secretly afraid.
After all, she could potentially become the Lady’s exclusive maid.
Watching the senior walk away, I clenched my fists firmly, resolving myself.
Knock-knock-
Not long after tapping on the luxurious wooden door, a voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
This was my third visit to the head maid’s office.
Looking rather unwell, the head maid sat at her desk and tiredly looked at me.
“It’s Alice. What’s the matter?”
“I have something to ask.”
The head maid briefly rubbed her eyes, then sighed before responding to me.
“I’m sorry, but I’m a bit preoccupied right now. Could you come back later?”
“Head maid.”
She must be under a lot of emotional strain. Being the Lady’s exclusive maid position is something nobody really wants, and she knows it better than anyone else.
It would feel like putting a child you’ve raised with your own hands on the gallows.
I stared directly into Rose’s eyes and made my request in a solemn voice.
“I want to become the exclusive maid of the Duchess. Please let me take on that responsibility.”
At my words, Rose’s pupils widened in surprise.
“…What did you say?”
“Just as I said. I want to become the exclusive maid of the Duchess.”
“Alice, if it’s because of what the seniors said earlier, don’t worry about it. There’s absolutely no need for you to volunteer for this.”
I tilted my head at Rose’s worried voice.
“It’s not because of that. It’s something I’ve decided after much consideration.”
“Alice, you might not know what kind of position that is… All the children who have served as the Duchess’s exclusive maids before…”
“I know everything, Rose. But still, I want to do it.”
Rose looked at me with bewildered eyes.
I was scared too.
A position where you could die at any moment.
To be honest, my desire not to do it was much stronger.
But I didn’t want to stay still like this.
Even though I was risking my life, I wanted to repay the favor to Rose, who defended me, and to Lani, who stood by my side until the end.
They were more like family to me than my own family from my previous life.
I hoped Rose wouldn’t suffer.
I hoped Lani wouldn’t be afraid.
But more than anything, the reason I made this decision was that I couldn’t stand those gazes that treated the Duchess like a disease.
What did that little child do wrong?
If there was any fault, it was the Duchess who let it happen to this extent.
“I’m really not being forced into this. I genuinely want to do it.”
“Alice.”
In Rose’s eyes full of concern, I jokingly made a remark to her.
“But if I become the exclusive maid of the Duchess, can I get a higher salary? I really need a lot of money.”
Rose’s eyes trembled at my words.
And soon after, she returned with a different expression and replied with a chuckle.
“What more are you expecting when you’re already getting twice the salary?”
She took out a document from the desk and started writing something on it.
“Alright. I’ll raise it a bit for you.”
Really?
It was meant as a half-joke, but I was inwardly surprised by Rose’s enthusiastic response.
The document she handed me was similar to the contract I signed when I entered this mansion.
But the amount written on it was different, and my job title had changed from maid to exclusive maid.
Without hesitation, I immediately took out a pen from my pocket, wrote my name on the document, and handed it back to Han Yang.
“Thank you, Rose.”
As Rose looked over the contract, she soon turned to me with a serious gaze.
“Alice, if there’s anything you want or need help with, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my best to assist you.”
“Oh…really? Then I won’t hesitate to ask.”
“Hehe…alright.”
I felt relieved seeing Rose improved complexion.
As I bowed to bid farewell to Rose with a lighter heart,
“Alice.”
Rose’s call stopped my steps.
“Yes?”
Was there more she wanted to say?
As I looked at Rose with curiosity, she smiled warmly and spoke to me.
“It seems you’re craving a cup of tea. Would you mind if I made one for you?”
It was an unexpected request, but always a welcome one from her, at least to me.
I replied with a bright smile.
“Of course. I’ll bring it right away.”
“Thank you.”
Don’t worry too much, Rose.
I may be foolish sometimes…
But I’m never easily fooled.
“So we need to select one of us as the exclusive maid for the Grand Duchess.”
With one statement from the head maid, everyone was thrown into great shock.
I, too, couldn’t help but feel quite flustered.
Suddenly asking for an exclusive maid for the Grand Duchess.
In reality, although it was said that they were being chosen, from their perspective, it was no different from a death sentence.
Even the calm and dignified Senior maid, Lani, seemed to have a face filled with fear, which said it all.
Those who were appointed as the exclusive maids of the Grand Duchess either ended up dead, escaped from here, or one of the two. Of course, excluding those who infiltrated to assassinate the Grand Duchess.
Perhaps everyone here knew this fact, which is why they were quite reluctant.
No one here wanted to suddenly become a corpse one day
“W-who is going to be the exclusive maid?”
A senior maid with blond hair and freckles hastily spoke up.
“It hasn’t been decided yet. We intend to choose a maid with plenty of experience and skill if possible.”
“I… I can’t do it! Just the thought of meeting the Grand Duchess’s gaze fills me with terror.”
A maid with blond hair was extremely disgusted by the staement.
In response to her words, the maids nodded one by one and addressed the head maid.
“Me too…! I’d rather clean the toilets. I can’t handle being the exclusive maid.”
“The exclusive maid of the Grand Duchess… how could this happen…”
“Me too… even if it means death, I could never…!”
In response to the desperate pleas of the maids, the head maid closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
“Pull yourselves together. It’s an honor to serve the only child of Valaxar. Refusing is akin to disgracing our Duchess.”
“B…but you know, Head Maid! What happened to those who took that position!”
“….”
Whether the Head Maid knew it herself or not, she couldn’t muster any rebuttal to the assertive words of the blond-haired maid, which she would have reprimanded under normal circumstances.
After a moment of maintaining silence, the head maid spoke in a subdued voice.
“But we still have to choose. We can’t disobey the orders of the Grand Duke.”
“B…but…”
In the unwavering words of the head maid, the blond-haired maid retreated a step, then pointed at me and shouted.
“T-then let her do it! After all, she’s the least needed resource as a newcomer!”
“…Me?”
The blond-haired maid approached me with a smug smile on her face.
“This works out perfectly! Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was because of your outburst? Isn’t it only right that you take responsibility for your actions?”
“Andy.”
Senior maid Lani grabbed the shoulder of the blond-haired maid, trying to intervene, but it only seemed to provoke her further.
“Let go of me! I already didn’t like you. Does it make sense for a newcomer to receive the same salary as us?”
“Are you going to talk back as a commoner again? Even though you’re receiving money that commoners can’t even touch, you should at least earn that money’s worth, right? Take on the role of the exclusive maid.”
The blond-haired senior maid spoke to me in a threatening tone. When I didn’t respond, she suddenly grabbed my collar with both hands.
“Why are you staring like that? How dare a newcomer defy a senior?”
“Stop!!” The blonde-haired maid recoiled in shock at the stern rebuke from the head maid.
“What on earth are you doing, Andy! If you’re a senior, act like one with dignity. Displaying such undignified behavior isn’t appropriate!”
“…I’m sorry.”
In her eyes, there was still a deep hostility as she looked at me.
She wasn’t alone.
Some maids seemed to silently agree with her words, glaring at me with narrowed eyes, as if urging me to volunteer to become the exclusive maid.
“Talking any further seems pointless. I’ll decide who will be the Lady’s exclusive maid, so you all should know that. Now, go back and attend to your duties.”
The head maid sighed deeply, exhaustion evident on her face.
In response to her words, the maids began returning to their positions with unfavorable expressions.
Just as I was about to follow them back, someone tapped my shoulder lightly.
“Don’t worry too much, Alice. They’re just sensitive.”
“…Yes, senior.”
With a slight smile, the senior leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.
“That girl, Andy, was always extremely jealous of you. Honestly, you handle tasks much better than Andy. She probably felt threatened by how fast you were catching up.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. So just let it go in one ear and out the other. Don’t worry about being asked to be the exclusive maid, they’ll probably never ask a newbie.”
With fists clenched in encouragement, the senior’s cute support made me laugh unwittingly.
“Thank you, senior.”
“Yeah. See you later.”
Although the senior smiled, I sensed a hint of fear within.
Perhaps the senior was also secretly afraid.
After all, she could potentially become the Lady’s exclusive maid.
Watching the senior walk away, I clenched my fists firmly, resolving myself.
Knock-knock-
Not long after tapping on the luxurious wooden door, a voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
This was my third visit to the head maid’s office.
Looking rather unwell, the head maid sat at her desk and tiredly looked at me.
“It’s Alice. What’s the matter?”
“I have something to ask.”
The head maid briefly rubbed her eyes, then sighed before responding to me.
“I’m sorry, but I’m a bit preoccupied right now. Could you come back later?”
“Head maid.”
She must be under a lot of emotional strain. Being the Lady’s exclusive maid position is something nobody really wants, and she knows it better than anyone else.
It would feel like putting a child you’ve raised with your own hands on the gallows.
I stared directly into Rose’s eyes and made my request in a solemn voice.
“I want to become the exclusive maid of the Duchess. Please let me take on that responsibility.”
At my words, Rose’s pupils widened in surprise.
“…What did you say?”
“Just as I said. I want to become the exclusive maid of the Duchess.”
“Alice, if it’s because of what the seniors said earlier, don’t worry about it. There’s absolutely no need for you to volunteer for this.”
I tilted my head at Rose’s worried voice.
“It’s not because of that. It’s something I’ve decided after much consideration.”
“Alice, you might not know what kind of position that is… All the children who have served as the Duchess’s exclusive maids before…”
“I know everything, Rose. But still, I want to do it.”
Rose looked at me with bewildered eyes.
I was scared too.
A position where you could die at any moment.
To be honest, my desire not to do it was much stronger.
But I didn’t want to stay still like this.
Even though I was risking my life, I wanted to repay the favor to Rose, who defended me, and to Lani, who stood by my side until the end.
They were more like family to me than my own family from my previous life.
I hoped Rose wouldn’t suffer.
I hoped Lani wouldn’t be afraid.
But more than anything, the reason I made this decision was that I couldn’t stand those gazes that treated the Duchess like a disease.
What did that little child do wrong?
If there was any fault, it was the Duchess who let it happen to this extent.
“I’m really not being forced into this. I genuinely want to do it.”
“Alice.”
In Rose’s eyes full of concern, I jokingly made a remark to her.
“But if I become the exclusive maid of the Duchess, can I get a higher salary? I really need a lot of money.”
Rose’s eyes trembled at my words.
And soon after, she returned with a different expression and replied with a chuckle.
“What more are you expecting when you’re already getting twice the salary?”
She took out a document from the desk and started writing something on it.
“Alright. I’ll raise it a bit for you.”
Really?
It was meant as a half-joke, but I was inwardly surprised by Rose’s enthusiastic response.
The document she handed me was similar to the contract I signed when I entered this mansion.
But the amount written on it was different, and my job title had changed from maid to exclusive maid.
Without hesitation, I immediately took out a pen from my pocket, wrote my name on the document, and handed it back to Han Yang.
“Thank you, Rose.”
As Rose looked over the contract, she soon turned to me with a serious gaze.
“Alice, if there’s anything you want or need help with, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my best to assist you.”
“Oh…really? Then I won’t hesitate to ask.”
“Hehe…alright.”
I felt relieved seeing Rose improved complexion.
As I bowed to bid farewell to Rose with a lighter heart,
“Alice.”
Rose’s call stopped my steps.
“Yes?”
Was there more she wanted to say?
As I looked at Rose with curiosity, she smiled warmly and spoke to me.
“It seems you’re craving a cup of tea. Would you mind if I made one for you?”
It was an unexpected request, but always a welcome one from her, at least to me.
I replied with a bright smile.
“Of course. I’ll bring it right away.”
“Thank you.”
Don’t worry too much, Rose.
I may be foolish sometimes…
But I’m never easily fooled.
