Throughout walking down the narrow alley, gazes followed me.

The fish shop lady, the general store owner, the familiar stall keeper…

It’s natural. Someone wrapped in such deep gold embroidery, with the Alphonse family crest no less, is out of place in an alley like this.

Though no one says it, it’s clear they’re all curious why someone from the Alphonse mansion has come to fetch me.

Even under the same Alphonse sky, the Alphonse mansion is like heaven to these territory residents.

A heaven they can’t reach.

Though just one of many nobles in the empire, the lord is the highest figure in this village.

Even as just a servant of that household passes by, the butler straightens his back rigidly, and the merchants stop their work to bow their heads deeply.

Naturally, following behind, I awkwardly receive their greetings as well.

It feels like I’m receiving something I shouldn’t.

To think it’s this way just standing behind an Alphonse family servant.

I suddenly wonder what kind of world that young master comes from.

For Blanchet, these things must be as mundane and ordinary as breathing.

Even the Alphonse lord who makes all the territory residents kneel like this, kneels before him.

Not only that, but I hear the lord, whose face someone like me could never even see, stumbles over himself in front of that young master.

Come to think of it, that young master is the kind of person you’d only see in novels, not in our village.

I must have gone mad for a moment yesterday.

To say such things to someone like that, how ridiculous.

I acted out of misplaced sympathy, thinking he was just a kid my age.

Not realizing the gap between that young master and me was as vast as the horizon between heaven and earth.

Even so, I’m newly afraid now that he ordered me to be brought in.

At first I foolishly thought I could refuse the offer, as if I had a choice.

In reality, someone like me is just supposed to move when Blanchet says move, and pretend to die when he says die, but I forgot that for a moment.

Blanchet deserves respect just for granting me an excessive salary and compensating the fish shop owner, despite my impertinence.

That’s why even Mr. Liorden the fish shop owner was smiling, though apologetic.

Casian maintained his reputation nobly in Blanchet’s own way.

I’m reminded again that those with money find it easier to be good people.

By the time I walk these alleys again, that young master who moved his butler with a flick of his finger will truly be seen as a good person.

Well, compared to the Alphonse lord, that was indeed the case.

This Alphonse lord frequently brought territory residents to work during busy farming seasons without ever paying them a day’s wage.

Since he was the highest figure the residents knew, they assumed all noble lords were the same.

Most nobles scatter money to maintain their reputation, but that only happens occasionally in the capital.

Even that is only done for people deemed worthy.

In that sense, the young master’s small actions held quite significant meaning.

At least in this village, it will likely be a topic of conversation for nearly a year.

As everyone starts to revere Casian as a good person, I feel a bit conflicted.

In truth, who am I to judge whether he’s good or bad when I’m working for that money too.

It’s despicable.

Though he cut off my job without asking my opinion, he brought an even better one.

While the merits of a job are subjective, for someone like me who prioritizes money, I would have chosen this even if he hadn’t.

The same goes for anyone else, not just me who prioritizes money.

Not a single resident of this village would refuse the chance to face Blanchet.

If anyone else in the village heard, they’d say I’m just being ungrateful.

I should be satisfied with receiving more than I deserve, not complaining.

Yet my thoughts keep drifting in that direction.

Am I the one who’s twisted, or is the situation itself twisted?

It seemed all too clear that the young master’s intentions in bringing me weren’t transparent.

Truly so, recalling his profile reminiscent of the chilly winter and his sculpted face that wouldn’t even look at me.

Casian, the man’s lofty attributes that I envied so much at first now terrify me, stirring up all sorts of crude emotions.

As these petty feelings mix and lead me to interpret the young master’s intentions recklessly…

The mansion came into view.

Even though I saw it yesterday, I still can’t get used to it. No, it seems this vast mansion that would feel unfamiliar even after seeing it through all four seasons was blue again today.

Entering inside, well-trimmed statues stood in formation, in the same posture as yesterday.

Yesterday they might have caught my eye quite a bit, but today I didn’t notice them.

My head was dizzy with countless questions stemming from his intentions, still incomprehensible to me.

The more I think about it, everything seems contradictory.

Come to think of it, even that butler who had his back turned to me the whole way here was the same.

Judging by his expression, it’s clear he doesn’t approve of me.

You can tell just by the noticeably stiff profile he occasionally shows.

I knew he was a rigid person yesterday too, but today he seemed even stiffer.

The problem is that despite that, his manners towards me have improved compared to before.

Thinking back, I think he even used respectful speech.

To think that he, the personal butler of the Alphonse lord from a viscount family, would do so to someone like me.

He’s clearly wearing a mask in front of me.

‘Why?’

Masks are typically worn reluctantly in front of those higher than oneself.

Is it because it would be difficult to find someone else to handle that young master if not for me?

He clearly looked at me like I was a nuisance yesterday.

So it’s certainly inappropriate to say that I handled the young master.

These thoughts pile up and lead to the inference that the butler’s actions aren’t of his own will.

‘Could the young master’s orders have included even this?’

Even to me it’s an absurd assumption, and I can’t help but smile.

Why would that high and mighty young master give such orders for my sake?

At the end of the corridor leading to Casian’s room, past the long fountain and garden of the mansion.

In front of the tall white door, the butler finally stopped and turned towards me.

“I trust you haven’t forgotten the precautions I mentioned before.”

“No, I haven’t.”

About to open the door, he sighed and added one more warning:

“Don’t forget. You are a lady of the Vilrod viscounty.”

I was stunned for a moment. He said it with such certainty that I really felt like I was the Vilrod young lady.

Then realizing he was repeating what he said yesterday, I nodded.

“I understand.”

I suppose pretending to be a Vilrod lady is barely enough to match the young master’s status as an attendant.

Once again, the gap between the young master and me feels stark.

It shouldn’t be surprising, as I’ve gone over this several times on the way here.

After that, he handed me the prepared maid uniform.

Putting on the lace-trimmed outfit, I see in the mirror that it fits my body perfectly, unlike yesterday.

They already prepared even this?

It seems Casian’s whim was only yesterday.

It would take at least a day to prepare something like this.

I’m amazed at the butler who already prepared clothes in my size with just one order from the young master.

Finally reaching the western end where Casian is located, the butler opened the door.

As tension overwhelms my body, a long breath enters and pierces my lungs.

I need to focus only on mother’s herbs now.

Let’s not cause trouble like yesterday.

If I just avoid causing trouble, I should be able to endure for a month somehow.

With that, I calmly entered.

At the head of the bed where sunlight flickered, the blonde Casian slowly turned his head.

As always, his clear face glanced towards Yurisiell and broke into a smile.

Before she knew it.

After that, Yurisiell searched for things to do in silence.

As usual, she repeats unnecessary cleaning and moves back and forth between bookshelves for no reason.

Though aware she’s a more diligent servant than anyone, all those movements are quite irritating.

What work is she trying to do, an attendant hired under false pretenses?

The daily routine of that girl, as reported by the butler, was shockingly complex.

It felt like she single-handedly took on all the tasks in this village with those tiny legs that looked like they’d break if you touched them.

And now she’s come all the way here to sit and do more work.

Things that weren’t even ordered.

Irritation wells up at the sight of her focusing solely on work, as if she has no interest in me.

I thought about that girl for quite a while yesterday.

Shouldn’t a commoner girl think of me much more often than I think of her?

Truly ridiculous emotions mix and swirl together.

“Why do you think I hired you?”

“Pardon?”

Round rabbit eyes slowly turn towards me.

As if to ask what I mean.

The argumentative attitude from yesterday is nowhere to be seen, replaced by some docile lamb. It’s exasperating.

“Do you know how many maids there are to clean this room?”

“Ah…”

As if finally understanding, the dry cloth falls from the girl’s hand.

“Then what should I do?”

I’m taken aback by her asking me to tell her.

Perhaps that’s why. The feelings I have towards that girl come out low and vile.

“Well. Usually noble young ladies know such things well.”

A sardonic smile slowly blossoms on my lips.

My reflection in the mirror across the room looks downright malicious.

“I don’t understand why the precious young lady of Vilrod is more interested in cleaning than such things.”