Episode 4
Thud.
My legs gave out and I dropped to the floor.
This place is insane. Completely insane!
This wasn’t the time to calmly gather info about the master of the house. I was in a situation where a knife could be at my throat any moment.
A warning… right?
It had already been several days since I got the first secret letter. I stayed quiet because I didn’t know what to do, but the people ordering the spy work might think I ignored their command.
Still, come on!
Who just sticks a bloody knife in someone’s room? It’s not like I’ve been hiding for months!
Tears pricked my eyes. I was already confused from suddenly possessing a body in another world—now this? I was terrified and miserable.
“Why is this happening only to me…?”
The worst things I’ve ever done were bad-mouthing rude customers or terrible bosses. This was too cruel.
No matter how I got reincarnated, why did it have to be this body? If it’s a talent, it’s the most unlucky talent ever.
“Haa…”
I sighed. But I couldn’t keep whining forever.
I roughly wiped my wet eyes and forced myself to stand. Then I slowly walked toward the wall where the dagger was stuck.
Wow, you could’ve stabbed a little gentler.
Up close, more than half the blade was buried in the wall.
Grumbling at the rude, strong-armed night visitor, I grabbed the hilt with trembling hands and pulled.
“Huh?”
Despite my worry, the dagger slid out easily. The secret letter pinned with it fluttered to the floor.
I quickly hid the dried-blood dagger in a drawer and unfolded the paper.
[ Report once every five days. Until further orders, only watch the Grand Duke’s movements. ]
As expected.
The order was similar to the first letter, just a bit more detailed.
Every five days, huh.
I’d only seen spies in movies and dramas. What kind of report could I even write? The future already felt hopeless.
But the last line squeezed my chest the most.
[ We are watching you. ]
…Now it was certain.
Someone was watching Lillian. If I didn’t do what they said, I could be killed at any time—say, while I sleep.
“But if they have such a skilled spy, why not just send them to do it?”
Why Lillian…?
I had a fundamental question about choosing a clumsy maid as a spy, but fine—I’d set it aside for now.
There must be a reason. Either way, this wasn’t the most urgent problem.
What do I do?
I’d done all kinds of part-time jobs in my past life, but spy work was a first. I didn’t even have Lillian’s original memories to rely on.
What if I claim memory loss and say I can’t do spy work—
Wait!
In stories, what happens to people who try to quit these things?
Images of spies from popular media flashed through my head. Their endings were mostly…
Gulp. I swallowed hard. Just imagining it felt like seeing my own near future.
No way!
I refused to die meaninglessly in this life too.
I clenched Lillian’s soft, small hands into tight fists. The quiet will to live flared up hot and bright.
“Today, cleaning the main building hallway—”
“I’ll do it!”
“Ah, whoever’s free should also take the main building windows—”
“I’ll do it!”
“Then after that, the kitchen—”
“Me! I want to do it!”
The Head Maid stared at my raised hand like I’d lost my mind. The other maids looked the same.
“Hey, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”
Next to me, Anna poked my side in panic.
Fair reaction.
Work in the main building was one of the most avoided tasks. The Head Maid, who was already strict, became extra sensitive about anything related to the main house.
From hallways to guest rooms to the kitchen— even skilled maids rarely got through without being nitpicked.
Among the maids, there was even a sad joke: “If you work in the main building, expect to work again during everyone else’s break.”
And I’m volunteering for that…
For a second, I felt pathetic. But I had no choice. This was the best plan I had.
I need to stay in the main building to find the Grand Duke.
My goal—no, the person behind my orders’ goal—was the Grand Duke.
But I had zero information. No special skills. No useful position.
So first, I’ll watch the Duke.
Then I can at least write a fake report that sounds real.
Ignoring Anna’s persistent pokes, I kept my hand up. The Head Maid watched me with her usual cool gaze.
“…Do it.”
After a short silence, permission was granted. I smiled brightly to show I’d work hard.
So far, so good.
The work was tough, and the Head Maid’s nagging was tougher—but compared to my past life, this was still a reasonable workplace.
The problem was…
Where are you, Your Grace?!
The master of the house was nowhere to be seen.
He returned to the mansion, didn’t he? Then why won’t he appear?
Even if the estate was huge, this was the third day. I was starting to wonder if he was even alive.
“His Grace is staying in his office all day, I think.”
“He often does, but…”
“He must be really busy this time.”
The maids whispered. I kept washing dishes with my ears open. Good—so he was alive, at least.
Not that he’ll show up in front of me.
Even among maids, there was a silent hierarchy by experience.
Private places like the Duke’s office and bedroom were usually handled by veteran maids who’d worked here a long time.
Which meant my chance—someone who’d only just passed probation—of serving the Duke up close was basically zero.
Thinking back… that day I met him at all was a miracle—
“Goodness, Lillian! The plate!”
“Y-Yes?!”
Snapped out of my thoughts, I looked down—too late.
“Gasp!”
A long scratch cut across the center of a white plate.
“Lillian.”
I was doomed.
The Head Chef was already looking at me with his intimidating face. I had no choice but to shuffle over to him with a tearful look.
I was sure I’d be scolded.
That plate looked expensive.
‘You.’
‘I-I’m sorry!’
‘Forget it. Go to the garden.’
‘Y—Yes? Sir?’
But the Head Chef calmly handed me a basket—the daily snack basket for the gardener.
When I stared at him, confused, he secretly winked with his usual fierce eyes. Then he mouthed:
“It’s a secret.”
Sir…!
I had grown close to the kitchen lately, but I didn’t expect him to cover for me like this.
Moved, I took the snack basket carefully.
And now:
“Where’s the gardener…?”
I was wandering near the garden.
I wasn’t usually the one delivering snacks, so I had no idea where he’d be.
Well, he should be somewhere around here.
I walked slowly, looking around. Then—
Huh?
I saw a woman I’d never seen before.
Wearing a luxurious violet dress, she strolled through the garden alone, without an escort. The grace in her movements made me think of a butterfly.
Who is she?
I tilted my head out of habit. Just then, she turned—and our eyes met.
“Wow…”
The sound escaped me before I knew it. Maybe she wasn’t a butterfly after all—maybe a fairy.
As I stared, she smiled and waved.
Sway, sway—
A fairy’s greeting. I, too, waved back as if enchanted.
