Chapter 010
Those Who Listen Well Have No Reason to be Scolded (6)
No matter how periodically Odette poked her head in and out of the Rose Pavilion, there were clear limits to how much she could monitor me herself.
To seize control of the family more easily, she would have needed reports confirming that I remained in a state where recovery was impossible.
It was simple to deduce that there must be servants she had already manipulated.
“My behavior has changed, so she must be feeling anxious. Therefore, wouldn’t Odette order someone to apply immediately if a position opened up where they could watch me from my side?”
【 Though it means your daily life will also be exposed to them in detail. 】
“If there is a loss, there is also a gain. I’ll give away just enough, and then at the perfect moment, I’ll cut off all of Odette’s feelers at once. It takes too long to investigate them one by one, and they’re hard to find anyway.”
【 Giving up the flesh to take the bone, huh? I like that strategy, darling. 】
Leaving Shing and his unpleasant laughter behind, I headed to the bathroom.
This was a trap for Odette.
By making her believe through her informants that everything was going according to her plan, I would eventually trample every spark of her ambition.
I spent my bath time drifting in and out of sleep, imagining Odette when she had lost all her hands and feet.
Despite it being a misunderstanding, Penny could have easily felt offended by my earlier words, yet she washed my body with the same meticulous and sincere touch as she had in the morning.
“Starting tomorrow, thanks to the others, you won’t have to struggle all by yourself, Penny.”
“…Yes, thank you, My Lady.”
Look at her, her tightly pressed lips are quite prim and cute.
I heard that she took a job as a maid in our household because her own family had sold off their title.
She seemed to truly believe she was being returned to cleaning duty tomorrow.
I chuckled, thinking I should tease her appropriately, then finished my bath and headed to bed.
【 Sweetie, I’ve been waiting. 】
“…….”
The fellow was lying on my bed in a rather seductive pose, propping his head up with one hand.
‘When did I ever take in a paramour?’
Too tired even to bicker, I simply shoved him aside with my foot and buried my face in the bedding.
As the soft Transa linens wrapped around my body, the cozy scent of soap drifted up.
Even his joking tone, saying I couldn’t push him away so heartlessly, sounded like a lullaby.
Overcome by drowsiness, I decided to surrender to my closing eyelids.
【 My… you really sleep just like a child. 】
“…….”
【 If your mother were alive, she probably would have scolded me to death……. 】
It felt like I heard some whispering in my sleep.
But it was likely just the idle mumbling of a resentful ghost who had spent a terribly long day with me.
Thinking so, I gave myself over to sleep.
【 Goodnight, darling. 】
It was a night where I was so exhausted I didn’t even have nightmares.
* * *
“Have you awoken, My Lady?”
“……I was forced awake, more like.”
I replied irritably while stretching my stiff body.
Although I had burned all the flowers, the poison from the Panilnia I had inhaled all this time seemed to have accumulated, and I didn’t feel entirely refreshed.
Thus, I had intended to sleep in today, but Penny was making such a fuss, saying I had to come out since the crack of dawn.
Thanks to that, I was forcibly woken up.
During my face wash, she told me to blow my nose, so I did.
When she asked if I should braid my hair today, I told her to go ahead.
Only then did Penny prattle on about her business.
“Actually, the items the Duke sent have arrived in the hall. What should we do with them?”
“So there was a reason you woke me up so urgently.”
Today was the day the new dedicated maids were to start.
Was he eager to quickly fill my shabby dressing room?
At the sight of Penny’s face, which looked somewhat complicated, I instructed her to send the gifts up to the room.
‘Father, really… for your processing speed to be this fast…….’
It was only yesterday morning that I informed him I had no wearable dresses.
The fact that he had prepared and sent them so quickly warmed my heart.
“……I’m sure he said only a few outfits.”
“He said that the items commissioned separately would take a few days, so he sent what was already prepared first.”
“Goodness me.”
I stared blankly at the boxes filling the living room floor.
One, two, three…….
Once the number of boxes surpassed twenty, I stopped counting and told Penny to just bring out something for me to wear immediately.
New people coming in means I should have them organize the dressing room right away.
While I was looking warmly at the back of Penny excitedly unwrapping the packages, I suddenly realized Shing’s absence.
‘Where did this guy wander off to?’
Even though it had only been a day since we met.
I expected him to say something to make my blood boil the moment I opened my eyes—like asking if I was awake or saying he was watching my sleeping face.
But no matter where I looked, he was nowhere to be seen.
It felt a bit empty without the talkative fellow around.
In the meantime, I was gradually regaining my human appearance thanks to the excellent handiwork of Penny.
When I heard Marahan’s voice from outside the door.
“My Lady, it’s Marahan. I have come because I finished the task you assigned.”
Does no one sleep? Why is everyone so prompt?
I gave the task last night, so I expected her to bring the servants around the afternoon.
Surprisingly, it seemed the assignments were completed quickly.
As three maids followed Marahan inside and stood behind her, I glanced at them through the mirror while getting my powder applied.
Two of them were the ones who had cleaned my room yesterday.
“Good work, Marahan. You may leave now.”
Having finished her duty, Marahan gave a polite bow and departed.
I carefully scrutinized those who introduced themselves in turn as Sarah, Reina, and Vicky.
All of them looked to be about Penny’s age or a year or two older.
Since I had never paid much attention to those around me, it was indeed difficult to immediately pick out which of the three might have a connection to Odette.
“Right. From now on, you three will be my hands and feet.”
“We will serve you with all our heart and soul, My Lady.”
Wow, it’s hard to reply with that much lack of soul.
Nevertheless, seeing them act with a modicum of etiquette, I thought Marahan must have trained them quite strictly.
Once the grooming was finished and Penny added the final touch with perfume, I stood up from the mirror and approached them.
“Penny. Since they are here, you no longer need to stay in that position.”
“…Yes, My Lady.”
The others also looked at Penny as she replied submissively.
Some looked at Penny with pity as she was being cast aside, while others looked down on her as if it were only natural.
But I thought all those reactions were possible.
I had been informed that Penny’s exact job was originally cleaning, specifically, scrubbing the second-floor corridors and stairs.
Since no one had volunteered to assist with the bathing, they had simply temporarily assigned Penny, who was busy with her mop.
So it was only right that she return to her original post.
“Therefore, Penny, from today on, you shall be my personal maid and lead them very well.”
The position was mine to create, after all.
The air grew desolate, as if I had said something impossible.
Since everyone stood silent with their eyes wide with shock, I felt a bit embarrassed and spoke to them again.
“Thus, you three must also follow Penny from now on and be faithful to your respective duties. I will reconsider the job assignments and let you know, so for now, move those things and organize them.”
I pointed toward the floor where the gift boxes were piled up.
I thought they might be reluctant to work as soon as they were assigned, but the girls energetically began to unwrap the packages.
“U-um, My Laaady….”
“Penny, you should start by fixing your way of speaking. It’s quite cute, but it lacks the dignity required of my maid.”
“That is… me, a personal maid? Could you please reconsider?”
What is this girl talking about?
It was so absurd that my brow furrowed naturally.
Rising from a maid to a personal lady’s maid is a title given only when three things align.
Family! Refinement! And finally, Luck!
For a high-prestige household to pick a lady’s maid, it meant they carefully scrutinized the applicant’s family, their cultural knowledge, and their ability to perform duties.
Since they must assist their master by their side at all times, it is a position of great responsibility.
What should I do with this rabbit-like child who refuses even when picked without looking at her background?
“…I didn’t expect you to talk back to my wishes. You’ll have to give me a proper reason, Penny.”
“F-firstly, I am too young to serve My Lady……”
“There is no such thing as an age limit.”
“And, and! I haven’t received proper education from my family, so staying by your side might actually cause you harm.”
“Where is there for my reputation to fall when it’s already hit rock bottom? Do not worry about it.”
“Buuut then……!”
“Hey! Tsk!”
When I clicked my tongue, Penny clamped her mouth shut.
Sensing that my mood was quite sour, she slumped her shoulders as if she had made a slip of the tongue.
To calm myself, I let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“Look, Penny. Are you not a child with an excellent ability to read your master’s mood and provide what is needed at the right time? I said I would take you in because I value your abilities highly……. If you call yourself a lowly person with no learning, how is that different from rebuking me for having no eye for people?”
“That was never my intention, My Lady!”
“No matter how upright your intentions are, it is others who interpret and accept your words. Therefore, you must always be clear that you are my representative and think of the weight of your words.”
“Ye—yes, My Lady……. I will keep that in mind.”
Completely dejected, Penny’s already slumped shoulders looked like triangles.
I wondered if I should stop there, but concluded that if I let it slide vaguely, a day would surely come when I’d be disappointed in her.
So I decided to set her straight from the beginning.
It was only natural that the maid of this body should not be looked down upon anywhere.
It was my wish that she would always use elegant speech to deal a fatal blow to those trying to trick her.
“I know you are humble, so that’s enough. If it’s excessive, it looks servile. You wouldn’t want your master to look ridiculous too, would you?”
“I—I will serve My Lady with confidence!”
“Good, feel free to do so.”
Deciding to end the lecture there, I left the room with only Penny.
I intended to see Father and ask him to let me attend the banquet held in the spring.
The problem was what I discovered as soon as I stepped out of the room…….
It was the sight of that ghost fellow, waving his hand cheerfully, looking as if he were either strolling leisurely or floating down the hallway.
