“I don’t have much time, so I’ll make it brief. Would you like to come with me?”

Upon hearing Luella’s words, Shuna’s eyes widened as much as they possibly could.

“With you, miss?”

“Yes. I need a maid, and I would prefer it to be you.”

At Luella’s candid words, Shuna’s eyes welled up with tears.

“I haven’t served you for long. What have I done to deserve…”

However, contrary to her words that she had done nothing, Shuna was the first person to treat Luella with kindness since she woke up in this place.

It seemed that the first affection was the most frightening. Shuna, whom Luella had met with no memory, was the only person Luella could rely on at that time.

“But I can’t go.”

Luella was baffled at Shuna’s gentle refusal, having thought she would readily agree if asked in person.

“Who will stop me? My step-sister?”

“No, the Countess has gone to the capital. She was summoned by Count Curan.”

“Then who is stopping you?”

After briefly glancing behind, Shuna spoke.

“The butler. Besides, one can’t easily quit working at the Camu mansion. Otherwise, life in Curan would become difficult.”

Shuna seemed to have her reservations but was not entirely reluctant. Rather, it was the practical issues holding her back.

Luella thought it was rather fortunate.

“Don’t worry about that. If you come with me, the guild will protect you. I have a plan in place, and even if it fails, I’ll ask the Guildmaster to take you to Ellab.”

“The Guildmaster?”

“Yes, our Guildmaster. Did you hear he is the first Duke of Ellab?”

Upon hearing the word ‘Duke,’ Shuna’s eyes widened in surprise, and she shook her head.

“No, I haven’t. I only heard he was from Ellab…”

After hesitating, Shuna added,

“But what if I cause you trouble by coming with you?”

Luella laughed. She liked Shuna but had her doubts. However, hearing her say this reassured her.

“Do you want to come with me?”

Shuna only nodded silently.

“Then it’s settled. Come with me. There’s no point in informing the butler; he’d just stop you. Do you have much to pack?”

“No, I don’t have much. I lived in an orphanage before this. So I don’t know much and didn’t bring any particular skills, but I am so happy you’re inviting me.”

As she spoke, Luella wiped away the tears that seemed ready to spill from Shuna’s eyes.

“You say you have no skills, but don’t you remember how beautifully you styled my hair?”

“I just copied the countess’s hairstyle… The only hair I’ve ever touched before was tying my sisters’ and brothers’ hair in the orphanage.”

“And you did that well without any training? See, you do have innate skills. Now, do you at least have a bag?”

“Yes, a small bag.”

“Where is your room?”

Caught off guard by Luella’s sudden question, Shuna hesitated before answering.

“Next to the kitchen on the first floor.”

“And where is that?” Luella smirked.

“Oh, you lost your memory, right? It’s at the back of the building.”

“Is there a back door? In the Feroz mansion, there’s a small door near the kitchen for disposing of trash.”

Shuna shook her head.

“No, not here. We dispose of trash in the forest.”

Luella pondered briefly on how to ensure Shuna could discreetly exit the building. Then she exclaimed softly, “Ah!”

“Is there anything fragile in your luggage?”

“No, just an outing dress, underwear, a comb, and a lucky charm made by my orphanage siblings.”

“Then can you throw your bag over the kitchen fence? My colleagues and I will be waiting there to catch it.”

“It’s not difficult. But why?”
“First, remove your belongings and take them outside. If you later have a need to leave, just come out wearing the clothes you have on now. No one will suspect anything. Can you come outside?”

“Yes. I have to go into the forest to pick fruit after cleaning.”

Luella couldn’t help but be struck by Shuna’s matter-of-fact tone. Going into the forest to pick fruit? Luella, who had just been fighting wild beasts in that forest, was shocked.

“They make you do that?”

Shuna laughed at Luella’s expression.

“The mistress loves the Sally fruit picked from the forest. She said she’ll be back soon even though she’s gone to the capital, so if I go out to pick fruit like usual, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

“What time will that be?”

“About one hour after I finish cleaning.”

After checking on the servant who was continually staring out the window, Luella quickly nodded her head.

“Understood. I’ll wait for you at the entrance to the forest. Just do the cleaning hastily and come out, got it?”

“Yes.”

“Go inside now. If the servant becomes suspicious, just say I stopped by to greet you as I was passing by. If they ask what we talked about, say I asked if you knew anything about an accident that happened before you started attending to me.”

At this, Shuna’s expression changed.

“An accident?”

“You don’t know anything, do you?”

Although there was no one around, Shuna’s voice lowered as if afraid someone might overhear.

“I’ve heard some gossip among the maids.”

“……!”