Chapter 2
The smell of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen.
Catherine placed neatly sliced bread onto a plate, added a bowl of hot soup, and set it all on a tray.
She handed the tray to a maid and walked upstairs.
At the bedroom door, she straightened her wrinkled sleeve and apron before knocking.
A voice from inside gave permission.
“Good morning, young master.”
“…Mm.”
The room’s owner answered flatly without even glancing at Catherine.
The maid who had followed in carried the food to the table, then quietly left.
Catherine drew the curtains wide open. Sunlight caught the boy’s golden hair, making it shine brilliantly.
The boy closed his book and stepped down from the bed.
“You woke up early again today.”
“Yeah. Couldn’t sleep.”
He sat at the table and stared blankly at the food.
Catherine already knew her master rarely had an appetite—especially in the morning.
So she simply stepped back and waited without rushing him.
“I’ll have lavender tea prepared after dinner.”
“…Fine.”
She glanced at the clock.
Half a day still remained before the new maid arrived.
The boy sat still, hands resting on his knees. Silence filled the room, until Catherine suddenly spoke.
“I’ve hired a new maid to serve you. She’s coming today.”
“…Didn’t I say I don’t need one?”
“She’s about your age, from Therion.”
“Hm…”
The boy gave an indifferent reply.
His pale, slender hand lifted the spoon and stirred the soup for no reason. The metal clinked against the bowl.
“I heard people from Therion are crude and savage. That they eat monsters.”
“Oh my, who told you that?”
“Who else? I only hear what people in this house say.”
“…Looks like I need to re-educate the maids.”
A faint smile that had tugged at the boy’s lips vanished instantly.
At last, he took a sip of the still-hot soup, then turned to look out the window.
The sky outside was cloudless and strikingly blue.
***
Catherine led Cordelia to a small room tucked away in the first-floor hallway.
It was simple but tidy. Strong afternoon sunlight poured through the window, dust motes sparkling in the air.
Cordelia liked the sight. This was her first time having a room of her own.
“Let me properly introduce myself. I’m Catherine Taylor, head maid of this estate.”
Cordelia realized Catherine was giving her name. She quickly pulled a notebook and pen from her pocket.
“I’m Cordelia Green.”
“Yes, Cody. I’m so glad to have you with us.”
Catherine smiled warmly at the messy handwriting.
“This will be your room from now on. The other maids live along this hallway too, so if you need anything, just ask me or one of them.”
“…”
“This villa is only serving one person—the young master. He’s been living here for years because of his poor health. You’ll be attending to him from now on.”
“…”
“You’ll help him with meals, baths, changing clothes, sometimes walks or errands… oh.”
Catherine stopped mid-sentence when she noticed Cordelia’s puzzled face. She had forgotten the girl was still clumsy with the Empire’s language.
“Should I make her learn Imperial…?” she muttered softly, then shook her head. Most tasks could be taught by showing. That would do.
“Unpack and rest.”
With both words and gestures, she left the instructions and stepped out.
Cordelia explored the small room, then unpacked her few belongings and put them away.
Finally, she threw herself onto the bed.
It was softer than any inn bed she’d known.
She rolled to the left, then to the right, her small body filling the narrow mattress.
Hugging the cozy blanket, she took out her notebook and flipped it open.
The pages were covered with crooked writing—Imperial words and phrases.
The kind innkeeper had taught her before sending her off to this strange new job.
“maid, mansion, serve, young master…”
Cordelia’s eyes froze on a word.
She thought of the boy she’d seen earlier.
Even in plain clothes, he had been unmistakable. He was the young master she would serve.
The powerful Obenherdt ducal family had one frail heir.
Too sick to leave the villa, he had been living here in Asteris since long before Cordelia even moved to the Empire.
Everyone in Asteris knew of his existence, but no one had seen his face.
Rumors spread instead:
That he wasn’t sick at all but hiding because his looks were hideous.
That he was a monster in disguise who lured people with beauty and ate them.
If not for this job, Cordelia probably would never have seen him either.
That dazzling golden hair. Those dark, sunken eyes.
Her chest tightened strangely, as if someone had squeezed her heart and let go.
Would it be insulting to say she felt kinship with a noble young lord?
Still, she couldn’t look away from him.
If Catherine hadn’t called her, she might have kept staring forever.
Why had she felt such a rush of emotion?
She didn’t even know the name for the feeling yet.
Cordelia squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, and kept reading her notes.
***
By late afternoon, when the stubborn summer sun was finally sinking, Catherine returned.
“That uniform suits you.”
She looked pleased at Cordelia dressed in a maid’s outfit. With no child-sized uniforms at hand, she had altered the smallest one they had, and it fit surprisingly well.
“Time to greet the young master.”
Cordelia checked the items tucked into her apron pocket and the neat ribbon tying her hair, then followed Catherine.
Before heading upstairs, Catherine filled a basin with lukewarm water, explaining with words and gestures what Cordelia’s duties would be.
Cordelia barely caught a few words, but she repeated the gestures in her mind as she carried the basin up to the second floor.
At the end of the long hallway stood a large door. Catherine knocked twice—calmly, evenly.
“Young master, it’s Catherine.”
“Come in.”
She signaled Cordelia, then opened the door. The girl’s shoulders stiffened with nerves.
The boy, sipping tea, frowned as soon as he saw her.
“This is the new maid I mentioned. She’ll be serving you from now on, Young Master Caspian von Obenherdt.”
Cordelia bowed deeply in greeting. Caspian set down his teacup.
“Young master, this girl—”
“Cathy.”
“Yes, sir?”
“I already told you this morning. I don’t need one.”
Caspian’s soft voice was cold, his pretty face expressionless.
Catherine didn’t falter. She calmly replied,
“But sir, you can’t go without a personal maid forever. As you know, this villa doesn’t have enough staff, and I’m already too busy managing everyone else.”
“I said I don’t need anyone to serve me.”
“Knowing how to command your servants is part of being a noble.”
Catherine clearly wasn’t backing down. Caspian let out a short sigh.
Behind her, Cordelia quietly studied him.
His pale skin was rare in Asteris. His bright golden hair was silky smooth.
And his green eyes… they were the exact shade of the beloved forests of Ernel, her lost home.
For a moment, Cordelia simply stared. Then she flinched.
Caspian, too, was staring right back at her.
Her head went hazy. Was this what it felt like to be enchanted by a monster?
That’s how beautiful he was up close.
He tilted his head slightly at the girl who kept staring at him without saying a word.
Catherine filled in what she had left unsaid.
“This child can’t speak.”
“…What?”
