Originally, it was customary for the housekeeper to select maids, but the young Mrs. Heder, who had recently come to Grosian, was so enthusiastic that she took charge of even the trivial matters herself.
When Deborah first faced Mrs. Heder, she thought she was out of luck. After all, a mistress seemed likely to be more demanding than a housekeeper. But then…
“Alright, I like you. Being the first mistress I serve. That’s special!”
Considering the wealthy class’s dislike for admitting someone of uncertain background into their homes, Mrs. Heder’s decision was groundbreaking.
“Please take good care of me, ma’am.”
“Likewise, ma’am.”
“Hehe. Sure!”
Contrary to her sharp appearance, Mrs. Heder was an energetic imp, flitting about like spring petals on the wind.
“Deborah! Come and have some of these cookies.”
“No, how can I… such a precious thing…”
“What? I want to give it to you. Here, eat to your heart’s content. You need to put on some weight and grow taller!”
She generously gave expensive cookies to the working maid.
“Alright, when I say ‘Fate, come to me!’ you shout ‘Nonsense!'”
“Me, to you, ma’am?”
“It’s acting, Deborah. Acting!”
She taught her scripts for her acting games.
“Remember this, it’s a Geman swear word. Deborah, you’re so nice, you probably won’t hear this, but if some crazy person ever says this to you, kick him away!”
“Ma’am…”
Teaching Geman swears and…
“And tell me about it, got it?”
Mrs. Heder hugged the maid Deborah tightly.
Those were truly delightful and joyous memories. Weren’t maids supposed to endure and bear a monotonous life?
But for Deborah, every day was fun thanks to Mrs. Heder, the taciturn but kind master, and other affectionate servants.
‘Both my heart and body felt enriched.’
Of course, not everyone was kind to Deborah.
“Deborah. What are you doing there?”
Sage was a maid who started working three days before Deborah. Though they were the same age, instead of becoming friends, Sage detested Deborah.
“Just petting the cat.”
“Ha. While I’ve been hard at work hanging laundry, you’re leisurely playing with a cat?”
“I’ve just finished waxing the hallway moldings.”
“So what? You want praise for that?”
“No, I mean at least I was taking a break after doing my job. Why don’t you take a break if you’re done too?”
“Who do you think you are, having such a leisurely time?”
Sage retorted and walked away, clearly irritated. She frequently picked fights with Deborah.
Deborah found Sage somewhat endearing, like a cat baring its teeth.
‘But being disliked still hurts.’
Deborah thought her peaceful life would last forever. Or, at least, she hoped it would.
Then, as both turned eighteen, an incident occurred.
“What are you doing now?”
Sage caught Deborah distributing bread to begging children in the alley behind the mansion.
Her trembling lips made it seem as if Deborah was doing something terribly wrong.
“Thank you! May God bless you.”
“You’re welcome. Hope you receive lots of blessings too.”
Sage’s face reddened with anger, as Deborah waved at the children with a smile, seemingly ignoring her.
“You just gave away the mansion’s bread like that?”
“The chef entrusted me with the leftover bread.”
“So you acted generous with the mansion’s property.”
“Isn’t it better than throwing it away?”
To Deborah’s response, Sage gritted her teeth and said,
“Then at least you should’ve distributed it away from the mansion, or changed out of your maid uniform!”
Sage continued her complaints bitterly.
“Because of you, begging children will keep turning up at the mansion! What will you do then? Pray for leftover bread?”
“Well, I’ll share my portion then.”
“Ha. Do you really think you can feed all the beggars in the capital with what you eat?”
Deborah also thought that was impossible. But was it so important to feed everyone? If even one child could fill their belly for the day, wasn’t that enough?
“If those kids keep showing up at the mansion and bothering us, I’m going to say it’s all your fault. Even if the lady likes you, she’ll have no choice but to dismiss you!”
Sage shouted these words and spun around to return to the mansion. Deborah smiled awkwardly. Honestly, she hadn’t thought about that, but it was a plausible scenario.
‘I really made a mistake there. That’s a bit of a problem.’
Deborah sighed heavily, her shoulders drooping. But, well, that hadn’t happened yet.
‘Why worry in advance?’
She shook off the concern quickly and gestured towards the inner part of the alley.
Then, from a seemingly empty corner, the sound of stepping on fallen leaves was heard.
Deborah took out a handkerchief-wrapped pastry from her pocket and, smiling brightly towards the darkness, said,
“Come on, I saved this for you.”
“Lady?”
At the maid’s gentle voice, Deborah lifted her heavy eyelids.
“Would you like to get up?”
The maid asked kindly to a groggy Deborah.
“Ah, yes… thank you for waking me.”
The maid smiled tenderly at Deborah, who replied with a sleep-laden voice.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
