Episode 10
Again. Again.
“Please this way, Your Grace.”
Guided by the butler, the Grand Duke slowly walked across the main hall. Only then did we maids lift our bowed heads and let out the breaths we were holding.
“Whew, that startled me!”
“I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath…”
“Our lord keeps getting more and more… dangerously beautiful.”
“But why was he looking around here?”
The maids relaxed and chatted. I agreed with everything—especially the last question.
‘What is going on?’
Exactly two days ago, the Grand Duke started appearing all over the estate.
It began with a random stroll in the garden. Then he toured both the main building and the annexes, and sometimes received guests.
‘Is he suddenly clearing all the tasks he delayed?’
It looked exactly like that.
Because of it, the servants had to run around like crazy. Of course… that helped me.
‘I can write all this in my report—and even exaggerate a little!’
I was already worrying about what to put in the next report.
Anyway, greeting guests wasn’t a job for a newbie like me. The senior maids handled that. So we just kept cleaning as usual.
“Shall we take a short break before we move on?”
“Good!”
“Ugh, my back…”
At Elizabeth’s suggestion—the most experienced among us—we straightened our stiff backs. Daily cleaning was no joke.
“I’ll go get some water.”
While the others stretched, I slipped away. I was really thirsty.
Step, step.
Luckily, the kitchen wasn’t far. I hurried along—then stopped.
‘Huh?’
The Grand Duke—who should have left with the butler—was standing with several knights.
‘Judging by the uniforms, they’re our order’s knights.’
The Duke and the knights were talking with serious faces.
Rustle—
Instinctively, I hid behind a pillar and made myself silent, ears straining.
“…so then…”
“…ah, that part—don’t worry…”
They were too far. Even Lillian’s sharp ears couldn’t make out the words. I’d have to get closer, or it was pointless.
‘At least I can peek and see if I recognize any of the knights.’
I leaned out slightly from behind the pillar.
Except for those two, I don’t really remem—
Gasp…!
The Duke’s gaze swept in my direction. It was only for a split second.
I jerked my head back behind the pillar.
“Then we’ll do that.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Thankfully, I didn’t seem to be caught.
At this distance, noticing Lillian’s presence would be strange anyway.
‘S-still, just in case…’
Before their conversation ended, I quietly slipped away. I guess I wouldn’t be getting that drink of water.
“Back already? Then let’s start again.”
“Yes, ma’am…”
We cleaned the lobby all morning.
With guests coming and going so often lately, the Head Maid was extra sensitive. We had to redo the cleaning several times.
‘She’s harsher than a professional cleaning company!’
I had once worked briefly for a cleaning company—quite a famous one—and even they weren’t this strict.
Where on earth did the Head Maid find such tiny specks of dust?
“Head Maid is coming!”
We all bowed our heads at once. Probably thinking the same thing:
‘Please let this be the last inspection!’
Once this was over, a delicious lunch was waiting.
I’d heard the ingredient was chicken today. Soup? Or roasted?
I was imagining the menu when—
“Oh my, Lillian.”
Someone spoke my name in a smooth, elegant voice. Not the Head Maid. A familiar voice.
I looked up.
‘Huh?’
A stunningly beautiful woman stood there. She lifted her hand and waved gently.
“We meet again, don’t we?”
It was Madam Brandt.
Tea with Madam Brandt
Pour…
Light reddish tea flowed neatly into the cup. Madam Brandt brewing tea herself looked like a painting.
Clink.
She set the pot down and handed me a cup.
“Try it.”
Awkwardly, I accepted the cup.
When she smiles and offers tea like that—who could refuse? Honestly, even if it were poisoned, most people would still drink it.
“Th-thank you…”
Sip.
“…!”
It was delicious. Even I, who don’t know tea well, could tell it was brewed perfectly.
I kept sipping and glanced at her. She watched me with a pleased smile.
Earlier, Madam Brandt had rescued me from the strict Head Maid, then led me straight to the parlor. Without much explanation, she gave me sweets and personally brewed tea.
‘I’m grateful, but… why?’
Did she really like Lillian that much?
“Um, Madam,” I asked carefully.
“May I ask why you called me?”
She took a sip of her tea and replied casually:
“Because I was bored.”
“Uh…”
I was at a loss for words. But she seemed completely serious and added:
“It’s really boring to wait alone. So please keep me company for a bit. Okay?”
She blinked adorably.
The Head Maid had allowed this, so I had no choice anyway. I nodded, embarrassed.
“Did you come to see His Grace again today?” I asked.
“That’s right. And for the record, I’m not early—he’s late. Apparently there are some documents he urgently needs to check.”
She grumbled that making a lady wait was terrible. I made sympathetic noises and then gently asked:
“There have been so many guests lately—Is the Grand Duke especially busy these days?”
I’d been curious about this. The timing felt right.
She answered without suspicion:
“He’s always busy. Busy enough to make his subordinates nervous.”
“Why? Is there that much work?”
“He bears responsibilities and duties far beyond the rewards he received. Some people envy and covet that, but…”
“Responsibilities and duties?”
“To them, it looks like power. But the person himself never asked for any of it.”
“Who would say such things?”
I felt frustrated listening to this.
One of those people was probably the one who forced Lillian into spying. Someone with real power.
Why go this far? As an ordinary person, I just couldn’t understand.
While I was fuming silently, she watched me and then spoke:
“Lillian, you’re very interested in His Grace, aren’t you?”
“…Huh?”
I stared, dumbfounded. That’s how flustered I was.
“N-no! That’s not it! I was just… curious while we were talking—”
I hurried to fix my expression and make excuses. Madam Brandt chuckled softly and whispered:
“Hehe, if someone saw you, they’d think you liked the Grand Duke.”
W-what…!!
I jumped up and waved my hands wildly. It was almost a reflex.
She winked and said, “Just joking.”
We continued with light conversation after that, but I couldn’t focus on her words anymore.
