Chapter 7
Johannes Schultz stepped back as if he had never been close even for a moment.
I held my breath at his indifferent action, then exhaled along with my reply.
“But I don’t have any professional qualifications that the Duke’s family wants.”
He scoffed.
“Even if you apply with professional qualifications, no one in the Duke’s family hires servants.”
I tilted my head in confusion, and the young Duke Schultz continued.
“The Schultz Duke family doesn’t hire servants to begin with.”
“What? Then the job advertisements…”
“Are just for show.”
It sounded so obvious that I became even more puzzled.
“So, you mean there are no servants at all in the mansion?”
“Of course not. That’s not the case.”
His voice sounded a little incredulous. A faint crease appeared above his eyebrows, as if to say, “Is that even a reasonable question?”
“But you mean you want to hire me, right? Even though the Schultz Duke family just posts job ads and doesn’t actually look for new servants?”
“That’s right.”
When I was at a loss for words, he calmly spoke again, perfectly formal as always.
“It seems, Miss Prim, there will be another secret you have to keep.”
Was he saying that just to hire me as a servant? Why?
I hesitated, unable to say anything, when the young Duke Schultz’s low voice reached me.
“I will pay you well. More than the Russell Marquis family.”
“…Do you know how much the Marquis family offered?”
I asked unintentionally. There was absolutely no malice. I was just genuinely curious, and the words slipped out.
Of course, I knew the nobles’ wealth was unimaginably huge from a commoner’s perspective.
But recently, the Royal Court had revoked the Schultz Duke family’s financial privileges.
Did this man still have that much wealth?
The salary the Marquis family offered was an enormous sum for a commoner, maybe even for a noble.
Though it came with the condition of pleasing the old lady Russell and enduring for three full months.
Reading my expression, he answered.
“Though the Royal Court took away our financial privileges, it hasn’t hit rock bottom to the point that Miss Prim should worry.”
He smiled lightly, seemingly unconcerned, but subtly pointed out my rude presumption about the Duke family’s fortune.
“Ah…”
Thinking a little more, my question was actually quite foolish.
“I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”
No matter how wealthy the Russell Marquis family was, the Schultz Duke family probably had more than just the money locked in their accounts.
It was just a minor inconvenience not to get enormous interest for a while. The Royal Court wouldn’t dare to suppress the powerful Schultz Duke family all at once.
When I apologized, he muttered to himself.
“Miss Prim boasts a lot.”
“…”
“So, what do you say?”
It was absurd, but Johannes Schultz looked like someone asking me to work for him.
Did my father really help this man a lot? He probably didn’t help financially, so maybe saved his life.
Thinking that, it didn’t feel polite to refuse outright.
I turned my head west.
The day was nearly over, and the blood-red sun was setting behind the Schultz mansion.
Evanshtein Castle — the Schultz Duke family’s residence.
Not far from my home. If I caught a stagecoach, it would only take about thirty minutes.
Though the Russell Marquis family’s salary was quite good, considering the six-hour round-trip distance and rumors about the old lady’s temperament…
It wasn’t the time to be picky.
I shifted my gaze to the pile of lilies on my father’s coffin, with a cigarette case laid as decoration atop it.
‘What should I do…’
Actually, the answer was already decided.
If Johannes Schultz wasn’t pitying me or hiring me because of my father’s friendship…
Of course, if he truly had received a great help, refusing the offer would be stupid.
So, I quickly decided to seize the opportunity. I looked away from Evanshtein Castle and stared at him.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept without refusal.”
After my father’s funeral, I thought I would feel hollow and empty all the way home.
But the reality was nothing like I expected.
Many emotions mixed in, but if I had to sum it up in one straightforward word, it was bewilderment.
I recalled what had just happened, feeling the sharp sea breeze at night.
The salary Johannes Schultz offered exceeded all expectations. The amount Russell Marquis family offered felt ridiculously small by comparison.
“1 million Berkran.”
Even thinking about it again, it was an absurd sum.
“Besides, it’s weekly pay. That’s enough not only for living expenses but also for continuous pharmacology studies.”
The work would be hard, but if I managed my time well, it should be possible.
When I first heard the salary, I was shocked. I wondered if I was getting a favor because I was Sergeant Prim’s daughter.
But that was just my misconception.
When I said to young Duke Schultz that the amount was too burdensome, he replied calmly.
“It’s about the same as what the Duke family’s servants get paid. The butler, Brett Gunner, will explain the details on your first day.”
I didn’t know what other noble families paid, but I regretted not getting some proper qualifications earlier.
So first, I needed to notify Russell Marquis family I wouldn’t be going there…
“Edith, you’re back!”
Lost in thought, someone suddenly grabbed my arm, making me jump.
It was Mrs. Pensler.
Before I knew it, I was at my doorstep. I quickly took her hand down. Her hands were freezing, as if she had been waiting outside a long time.
“Why are you out here in the cold? It’s so late… Why didn’t you sleep earlier?”
“I’m not cold. How could I sleep without knowing if you came home? Besides, we probably won’t see each other often now.”
She waved her hands anxiously. She still thought I was commuting to Bülne.
“Oh, well—”
“But did you see your father off properly? I was so worried to send you alone. Only family could attend the funeral…”
She led me inside. The house was warm, obviously a fire had been lit long ago.
“Edith, sit here and wait a moment. I’ll bring you some tea.”
I felt I should stay quiet until she finished talking. She was so good at talking, I was used to it.
Anyway, she kept worrying a lot even after bringing the tea.
Only after her voice quieted could I finally speak.
“Ma’am, I have something to tell you.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Actually, someone I met at the funeral introduced me to a job, so I’ll be working nearby. I won’t go to the Russell Marquis family. The pay is good…”
“What on earth do you mean?”
Mrs. Pensler frowned, though I expected her to be happy. Then she looked at me as if I were a fool.
When I showed I didn’t understand, her brows furrowed even more.
“Edith!”
Her voice turned serious like never before.
“Honestly, you’re a little pretty. Just this fall, several men sent you marriage proposals.”
Then she rattled off worries like, how could you accept a job from someone you just met, what if they have bad intentions toward you, and so on.
I was caught off guard by her reaction.
In fact, I had decided to work at the Duke’s mansion by young Duke Schultz’s offer. I couldn’t tell her the truth, so I had to endure a long scolding.
“Really… it’s okay. I’m not so reckless, ma’am.”
I roughly told her the person was trustworthy and not to worry, then I was finally able to leave her house.
