Episode 7
“Even a sparrow’s yawn would be louder than that.”
Good thing I was listening closely—if I’d been distracted, the maid might’ve just left.
For someone in a world without smartphones, even a minute or a second feels like an eternity. Knock or not, I couldn’t wait any longer.
I’m so bored—and hungry!
“Please, come in.”
But no one entered.
“…?”
I stepped outside and peeked my head out, only to see the maid’s back already far down the hallway. Afraid I’d miss her, I hurriedly shouted:
“I’m awake! Please come in!”
“Oh my!”
She must not have expected me to come out. Letting out a very storybook-like exclamation, the maid turned around in surprise.
In an oddly half-formal tone, she said:
“I—I didn’t realize you were awake. You were so quiet.”
So that tiny sound really *was* a knock.
The maid came to fetch me—so I must be going to eat soon!
Thinking about food, I didn’t bother questioning anything and just smiled brightly, gesturing her in.
“I tend to wake up early. Please come in. Is that water for washing?”
The maid hesitated before stepping into the room.
“Please wash up and get ready, miss.”
Her hands, gripping the brass bowl filled with water drawn from outside, were red from the cold.
Even though it was spring, the temperature difference was big, so water from the well in the morning was icy cold. I knew that from spending a few days at the orphanage.
I don’t mind washing with cold water, but that was a bit much. At least the water in the bathroom had been room temperature.
‘Ah… wait.’
Seeing that water sparked something in my mind.
‘Didn’t something like this happen in the novel too? When the protagonist first came to the duke’s house, she got mocked because of the water temperature?’
Classic maid bullying in romance fantasy novels. Apparently, nobles are only treated properly if they wash with lukewarm water.
There must be some kind of “101 Ways to Bully the Lady of the House” handbook those maids follow.
‘The maids who bullied Fredia in the novel were Isabella’s maids, right?’
In *The Suspicious Lady*, the female lead gets her revenge over this exact washing-water incident. It’s the first spark of conflict between her and Isabella.
‘Wow… because of my diligent commoner habits, I skipped Isabella’s first bullying attempt entirely.’
Clicking my tongue in mild disappointment, the maid flinched.
‘What? Why is she reacting like that?’
As I looked at her, I caught my reflection in the mirror behind her.
Ah—there’s a serious old soul in a child’s body.
I quickly wiped that expression off my face.
“There was still water left in the bathroom from yesterday, so I already washed. I’m all ready.”
“Already…?”
The maid looked displeased that things hadn’t gone according to plan.
‘What’s with that? Sure, it wasn’t as cold as what you brought, but it was still cold.’
Still, it seemed she didn’t like that I had woken up and prepared on my own before she could even wake me.
“I went through the trouble of bringing this water…”
Oh? Is that so? Feels like a waste?
“Oh dear, you’re right. It would be a shame to waste it. Hmm… maybe I should at least wash the dust off my fingernail?”
I dipped just the tip of my index finger into the water and swirled it around.
“Brrr, even at the orphanage we didn’t wash with water this cold. Does the duke save that much on firewood? Someone might think you brought cold water on purpose to torture people! Haha, just kidding—you know that, right?”
I smiled brightly while shivering exaggeratedly, clutching my barely-wet finger. The maid bit her lip.
“I-It must feel colder because you’re wearing such thin clothes! Since it’s chilly, I’ll bring you proper clothes suited for the weather and etiquette after your meal.”
For some reason, her level of politeness suddenly improved. And now she was being very kind. Suspicious.
“Really?”
“I’ll ask Lady Isabella if she has any dresses she no longer wears because they’ve become too small. Though I’m not sure—she tends to discard and replace them regularly.”
Seriously? She’s giving me expensive clothes worn by a rich family’s daughter?
‘This isn’t some setup to raise my expectations and then disappoint me later by saying everything was thrown out… right?’
That would be seriously unfun. I might cry.
Though I didn’t fully trust the maid’s expression, I couldn’t help but feel excited about new clothes.
Even from a commoner’s perspective, the clothes I was wearing now were far too worn out.
No matter how poor I’d been, I’d never worn rags like this. The sleeves and hem were frayed. I even regretted returning the nicer clothes I had gotten from the orphanage director.
“Is breakfast ready?”
“Yes, the duke is waiting in the dining hall.”
“Already?”
Then why did she come to wake me so late? If I’d only gotten up when she came, Ivan might have left after waiting too long.
‘So that’s why she took so long—on purpose.’
It felt like senior employees hazing a new recruit at a company.
In this mansion, with as many people as a small business, it really *was* like workplace life.
From that perspective, I’m basically a parachute hire guaranteed fast promotion as long as I stay in the duke—Ivan’s—good graces.
And this maid? A subordinate under Isabella, trying to curry favor by keeping me in check.
Rather than feeling offended, I found it amusing.
‘Me? A parachute hire!’
Someone who struggled just to get by is now a privileged hire!
No need to worry about passing maids. Just stay on the boss’s good side.
‘Bosses may like competent workers, but they like people who don’t cause trouble even more.’
No need to waste energy or create unnecessary conflict.
Instead of arguing with the maid, I urged her to guide me and hurried to the dining hall.
—
Only Ivan was in the dining room. It seemed he had just started eating, unable to wait any longer.
“Good morning, Duke. Did you sleep well?”
“Welcome. I’ve been waiting.”
A servant guided me to the seat closest to him.
It looked like no one else would be joining us.
“Sorry I’m late. I should’ve woken up earlier…”
“It’s fine. Sit.”
“Is no one else coming?”
“Today, it’s just you and me.”
I sat down without asking further.
‘Guess they didn’t come because they don’t like me.’
‘Then all this feast is mine!’
The table was filled with delicious-looking dishes. As soon as I sat, I was served mushroom soup with a fresh aroma.
I saw a whole roasted duck being sliced. There were colorful steamed vegetables, salad, fresh bread, butter, and cheese.
‘So this is breakfast every day? Wow… being rich is amazing.’
While I hesitated over what to eat first, Ivan said bluntly:
“Eat however you’re used to. Not knowing etiquette isn’t shameful.”
That wasn’t why I was hesitating…
“Ah, yes…”
I had learned Western table manners from a part-time job at a restaurant, but I didn’t hold back—I grabbed a duck leg with my hand and took a big bite.
Bird meat is best at the leg!
“…You eat well.”
“Hehe. They say kids my age can chew even stones.”
It was just an expression, but Ivan misunderstood.
“Did the orphanage feed you stones?”
“Uh? N-no… well… yes…?”
Embarrassed, I nodded awkwardly.
‘Well… they did give us rock-hard bread, so… close enough.’
Seeing my reaction, Ivan clicked his tongue and gestured to a servant.
The servant, who had been shocked watching me devour the duck leg, quickly pushed more dishes toward me. His expression shifted from shock to pity.
‘This meal is great.’
For some reason, Ivan’s gaze made me feel like I had to eat faster.
So I grabbed two duck legs and devoured them like a starving child.
When I was nearly full, Ivan spoke:
“Do you remember saying you knew who the First Prince was?”
“Yes.”
“Then do you know who I am?”
I swallowed my food and answered everything I knew in one breath.
“Yes. You’re the Duke of Weiss. I’ve heard that aside from His Majesty the Emperor, no one in this land stands equal to you. You’re a great man.”
“Who told you that?”
I couldn’t tell the truth, so I improvised.
“I read it in a book.”
“You can read?”
“I learned a little by watching other children read and write.”
(Not true—I was actually bullied and never got that chance.)
The real reason I could read this world’s language… was because it was Korean.
I was in a Western fantasy world, surrounded by blonde Europeans—yet everyone was speaking and writing Korean.
The duke, unaware of this, seemed pleased.
“Then do you know why I adopted you as my daughter?”
