“Understood.”
“Follow me.”
Mayana followed Jocelyn in small, quick steps. Turning right across the spacious living room, she saw another small door beside the corridor leading to the bedroom. This time it was a plain door with no decorations.
“Your room is here. You know you have to serve the princess all day long, right? That’s the same even when you’re asleep. If the princess needs something in the middle of the night, you must jump up and run.”
With her chin arrogantly raised, Jocelyn looked far more authoritative and haughty than when she was seen in the garden. It was an attitude one might expect from a nobleborn person, particularly one with a rather proud personality, but Mayana meekly bowed her head.
“Yes, I understand, Miss Jocelyn.”
Jocelyn’s mouth tightened in what seemed like displeasure.
“When you address me, call me ‘Head Butler.’ There are ranks even among the servants here. Got it? You may be the princess’s personal maid, but among the servants of this ducal residence, you are nothing but a fledgling. Always keep that in mind.”
Only blinking her eyes, Mayana slightly lowered her gaze.
“Yes, Head Butler.”
“Unpack quickly. And once Princess Arianthe finishes her nap, you must help her with her homework. While she’s doing her homework, bring her tea and snacks, and if she needs something, attend to it at once. If your mistakes prevent the princess from finishing her duties on time, things will get very difficult.”
Difficult. Naturally, that would apply only to Mayana herself.
However, Mayana was not so frightened. Whether it was because she had experienced too much in one night, or because her dreams were restless, the beautiful scenery of Valterminster Duke’s house uplifted her spirits.
The fact that she was free from the malicious and disgusting glances of Marquis Povec and the shrieking Marquise, and that Valterminster Duke was not just a smoothfaced swindler, felt invigorating.
Yes, like a whole new life…
“What are you standing around for?”
Jocelyn snapped sharply. Mesmerized by the beautiful Rococo decorations along the wallpaper, Mayana started as if she had been struck, then quickly stepped up to her side.
Hurry and unpack your things. And remember, once again, all of Princess Ariante’s mistakes will inevitably be your fault. Keep that firmly in mind.”
“Understood. ……Housekeeper.”
Jocelyn snorted and turned away, disappearing.
Staring blankly at her retreating figure, gliding like a ghost over the soft carpet, Mayana cautiously opened the door to the room she was assigned to.
She had assumed that the room would be horrible since the door was so small—perhaps cobwebs in every corner, sheets that hadn’t been changed in a hundred years—but she was mistaken. The wallpaper, once pretty, had turned slightly dingy, but the bed was neat, and there was even a small desk.
‘I don’t know if I’ll ever use the desk, but…’
There was also a small wardrobe, a porcelain washbasin, and a somewhat foggy mirror. It was at least a livable place. What pleased her most was that she didn’t have to sleep entangled with others.
In the Povec estate, no one but the housekeeper was given a private room. Even though there were rooms to spare in the mansion, the miserly lord and lady wouldn’t even provide a shared room for the old butler, let alone the other servants.
In the end, the servant quarters became no different from a refugee shelter, or perhaps a terribly poor convent… The sound of creaking beds too small to stretch one’s legs in, the occasional scurrying of mice right under the mattress. It wasn’t just once or twice that she was jolted awake by such sounds.
“Good. At least there seems to be no mice.”
Mayana muttered to herself. Jocelyn had told her to unpack, but she didn’t have much to begin with, so it didn’t take long.
The servant at Povec estate had thrown in a bag that didn’t even contain all her belongings. There was even a comb that the maid next to her had been using. She had unintentionally become a thief. Mayana sighed.
After roughly stuffing the odds and ends into a drawer, Mayana opened the wardrobe. Inside was a clearly worn dress that the previous maid must have worn.
“The apron is in good condition. Hmm, there’s even embroidery at the edges…”
It was of a much lower quality than what Jocelyn was wearing, but it was made with a much better feel than the dresses worn by the maids at the Povec estate. Mayana didn’t know much about Duke Valterminster, but at least he didn’t seem like a person who would be cruel to his servants.
Her opinion was further strengthened after changing into the dress. It was soft to the touch and easy to move in. The previous maid might have been a bit shorter since the hem was bouncy, but fixing that was no big deal.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
