Chapter 17
“What did you say?”
For a moment, Estin doubted his ears. But Miela wasn’t joking at all. Come to think of it, she had never been one to lie.
“Surprised? Well, I guess it’s natural for you to be shocked since you’re a servant of the Baluar family. But I’m not joking—it’s true. I’ve actually been thinking about it for quite a while.”
“Since when have you had that goal? Don’t tell me you wanted to become a maid because of me?”
Estin failed to keep his expression neutral. He tried to smile, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
“No, it was long before I met you. Actually, even before the villa was built.”
Miela scratched her cheek lightly. That gesture, so typical of her, put Estin somewhat at ease.
There was clearly no ill intention behind it. Everything was just wrapped in mystery.
“Why our family, though… I mean, why the Baluar family specifically? I’d really like to know the reason.”
As Estin’s voice grew more serious, Miela seemed to hesitate slightly.
“To be honest, it might be too grand a goal for someone like me.”
“No, I don’t think so. Don’t put yourself down. Miela, you’re amazing.”
“Oh, thank you. I guess I’ve heard that so often, it just slipped out.”
Blushing at Estin’s rebuttal, Miela spoke cautiously after a moment.
“The truth is, it was something my mother asked of me before she passed. She said things would be tough if I was left alone.”
Hearing that, Estin had no choice but to accept it.
After all, for a commoner girl, there weren’t many jobs that offered both stability and regular pay. Becoming a maid for a noble family, with guaranteed food and lodging, was obviously better than living in an old, worn-down house.
‘But even so, it’s still strange.’
Why had Miela’s mother specifically mentioned the Baluar family? Was there a reason she had to choose them?
A chain of thoughts raced through Estin’s mind, and eventually, he arrived at a conclusion.
‘Could it be that Miela’s mother somehow knew I would end up here?’
It wasn’t that he believed she had obtained information ahead of time about the Baluar villa being built. What peasant woman in a rural village could manage that?
There was only one possibility: she had the power to foresee the future.
‘Most people would scoff at that idea, but… I’m starting to feel certain.’
There was a time when Estin had locked himself in the library, desperately reading books, hoping to find some way to break his curse. But if even renowned magicians and sorcerers had failed, there was no reason a book would hold the answer.
‘Wait a minute. A prophet?’
During that time, Estin had stumbled across a book titled Do Prophets Really Exist?. One particular passage floated back into his mind.
“Although rare, prophets who possess the ability to foresee the future do exist. They introduce themselves by various titles—Seers, Time Mages, Dream Wanderers. Their mysterious powers aren’t confined to this world alone but may reach into other unfamiliar realms.”
At the time, he had dismissed it as fantasy. But now, he couldn’t help but think: what if those so-called prophets truly existed?
Could Miela’s mother have been one of them? It wasn’t entirely baseless.
‘Didn’t she once say something like “Even monkeys fall from trees”—some saying I’d never heard of? And claimed her mother had told her that?’
By the way, when Estin had asked what a monkey was, Miela had replied that it was an animal that liked bananas, was good at climbing trees, and looked similar to humans.
But as far as Estin knew, no such animal existed in this world. He’d never even heard of a fruit called a banana.
‘And Miela isn’t the type to lie. So maybe monkeys do exist. Just… in her mother’s world.’
Finishing that train of thought, Estin asked seriously, “Sorry if this is sudden, but… was your mother a prophet?”
“A pro– prophet…?”
Miela’s eyes trembled slightly. In truth, she had been given a strict warning from her mother before she passed away.
“Miela, don’t go around telling people what I’ve told you. Everything I said is true, but most people won’t believe it. They might even call you crazy.”
“Okay, Mom. I promise.”
Even though Miela had nodded at the time, Stephanie wasn’t reassured. She had emphasized it again.
“It’s really important. If someone gets suspicious because you let something slip, say it was from a dream. Or say you had a vision of the future. People will either think you’re lying or believe you’re a prophet. Either way, it’s better than being branded insane.”
“I understand. I’ll definitely do that.”
Her daughter’s innocent eyes had been so sincere. With a pained heart, Stephanie gave her final advice.
“And no matter how trustworthy someone seems, don’t open up completely.”
“Huh?”
“There’s nothing more painful than being betrayed by someone you trust.”
Stephanie’s heartfelt advice swirled in Miela’s mind.
The small child in front of her was more trustworthy than anyone. Was it really wrong to tell Titi the whole truth? A yearning to be understood welled up inside her.
‘No, I promised Mom I’d be a good girl.’
After a brief internal conflict, Miela resolved to stay the obedient daughter. She would keep the fact that this world was inside a book hidden to the end.
Of course, Titi probably wouldn’t betray her—but if he did treat her like a crazy person, it would break her heart.
“…Yeah, that’s right. My mom was a prophet.”
It was the first lie she had ever told. It pricked her heart. Was this what all liars had to live with?
“I knew it,” Estin nodded. Realizing their meeting might have been fated filled him with emotion.
“Maybe your mother knew we would meet one day. That’s amazing.”
“R– really? Haha…”
Miela didn’t know how to respond, so she just laughed.
It was true that her mother had mentioned the Baluar family, who were part of the novel’s main cast. But she’d never said anything about the male lead’s personal servant.
Still, she couldn’t bear to tell the truth—not when Titi was looking at her with such sparkling eyes.
‘Perfect. I’ll fully commit to this idea that Miela is the daughter of a prophet!’
Meanwhile, Estin was thrilled. He remembered something he’d read before:
“The gift of prophecy is often inherited. Most prophetic bloodlines don’t last long due to the stigma of madness and persecution.”
That meant Miela might have inherited the ability herself.
Even if she showed no signs now, it could suddenly manifest one day. After all, even mages sometimes awakened late in life. There was no reason a prophet couldn’t do the same.
‘There is one problem, though. Mother probably won’t believe it at all.’
The Duchess of Baluar was a strict realist. She dismissed anything far-fetched and disliked overly optimistic people.
‘No, it’ll be fine.’
Despite that, she seemed to have taken a liking to Miela. There was still hope.
Estin was determined to convince his mother, no matter what.
‘Wait—come to think of it…’
There was another problem.
