Chapter 01
My connection with the young master began when I was fourteen years old—when I entered the Hamilton household as a servant.
* * *
“Congratulations on passing the first round of interviews.”
The head maid, her snow-white hair neatly pinned up, gave a light round of applause.
Out of the hundred applicants who applied to become servants of the Hamilton Grand Ducal House, only seven had passed the first interview.
I was one of those seven.
Only seven people passed…
Though it was called an interview, all I’d done was have a brief conversation with the butler.
I tried hard to recall the questions I’d been asked.
The first question had been about my background.
“I’m Mary, fourteen years old, from Millerton Village!”
“Millerton… that’s quite far away, isn’t it? What brings you all the way here?”
“Ah, um… personal reasons.”
Of all questions, I’d been asked the hardest one right off the bat, so I’d laughed awkwardly to dodge it.
Thankfully, the butler hadn’t pressed further.
“I see. Next, may I ask why you applied to work for the Hamilton household?”
“My reason is… because you provide room and board, and the pay is the highest!”
Apparently satisfied with my answer, the butler nodded with a gentle smile.
“Thank you for your honesty. Lastly, could you briefly tell us about your aspirations for the future while working here?”
“Aspirations…? I’m sorry, I never attended an academy, so I don’t really know difficult words. What does ‘aspirations’ mean?”
“That’s quite all right. It refers to your plans or hopes for the future.”
“Oh, I see—my plans. I want to save a lot of money here and buy a house. Then I want to marry someone I love, have cute children, and build a happy family!”
After hearing my answer, the butler turned his head and let out a faint chuckle.
I hadn’t said anything funny… so why had he laughed?
In any case, the interview atmosphere hadn’t been bad, and I passed the first round. If I passed the second interview as well, I’d officially become a servant of the Hamilton household!
Praying that I’d make it through the final round, I waited for the head maid to speak.
“The final interview will be conducted personally by Lady Rianne.”
Lady Rianne? The Grand Duchess herself?!
I screamed internally.
Rianne Hamilton.
The Grand Duchess had lost her husband in an unexpected accident and now lived alone in the estate.
I’d heard that in the past, she’d never missed a social gathering and was very active in society—but after her husband’s death, she’d shut herself away in the mansion and hadn’t shown her face even once.
Because of that, strange rumors had begun to circulate.
That Rianne Hamilton had gone mad after losing her husband.
Or worse—that she had become a monster.
Come on. If she’d really turned into a monster, how would she be holding interviews?
Still, the thought of meeting the rumored Lady Rianne made my heart pound.
What kind of person was she?
I was curious… and scared.
I was seventh—last in line.
As I waited nervously, the first applicant entered Lady Rianne’s room with the head maid.
Not long after—
“—Aaaah!”
A shrill scream echoed down the corridor.
What? What was that scream…?
As everyone exchanged alarmed glances, the door flew open and the first applicant came rushing out as if fleeing for her life.
She looked a year or two older than me.
Her entire body trembled violently, eyes filled with terror and brimming with tears.
What on earth happened in there to scare her like that?
My mouth went dry from tension. I swallowed hard and watched the second applicant enter.
The second was a large, burly adult man.
Someone who looked like nothing would ever make him flinch.
Yet the moment he entered the room, he too let out a strangled scream.
When he emerged shortly afterward, his face was twisted in anger.
“Damn it.”
He spat the curse and stomped away.
The hallway grew tense.
Not knowing what was happening inside only made the anxiety worse.
In the end, two applicants around my age—faces pale as sheets—declared they were withdrawing and left.
Thanks to that, my turn came sooner.
Less waiting time—but I wasn’t happy at all.
They were all so excited about passing the first interview…
Remembering how thrilled they’d been at the prospect of working for a grand ducal family, only to leave trembling in fear, made my chest feel tight.
Get a grip. This isn’t the time to worry about others!
I lightly slapped my cheeks to chase away stray thoughts.
And before I knew it, it was my turn.
“Miss Mary, please come in.”
Following the head maid, I cautiously stepped into the room.
“Wow…”
A gasp slipped out the moment I entered.
The room was enormous.
And it was filled with countless objects that looked incredibly valuable.
Colorful paintings, sleek vases, and a bookshelf occupying an entire wall.
As I stood there staring in awe, the head maid gently placed a hand on my back.
“Miss Mary.”
Only then did I snap out of it.
“Oh! I’m sorry! The room is just so big, and there are so many beautiful things…”
I hurriedly made excuses and bowed.
“Hello! I’m Mary, an applicant!”
Perhaps I’d spoken too loudly out of nerves—my voice echoed embarrassingly through the room.
I lifted my head.
At last, I was face-to-face with the rumored Grand Duchess Rianne.
A long, flowing black dress.
Black lace gloves peeking out beneath the sleeves.
A black veil draped over her face.
A noblewoman completely cloaked in black stood upright in the center of the room and beckoned to me.
Was she telling me to come closer?
“Ah—yes!”
I hurried over. She gestured again, and though I didn’t understand why, I stepped even closer.
I thought she might ask me questions like in the first interview.
“Lady Rianne?”
Without a word, Lady Rianne removed her lace glove.
Her hand was covered in strange black blotches—less like skin, and more like moldy bread or a diseased tree branch.
The bark-like skin, dry and peeling like aged wood, rose to my cheek.
As she stroked my face, the texture felt rough—like sandpaper—but it didn’t hurt.
Why is she touching my cheek?
Not understanding, I simply blinked at her.
“Does this make you uncomfortable?”
From behind the veil came a clear, beautiful voice.
I quickly shook my head.
“Wouldn’t this be more uncomfortable for you, Lady Rianne? You’re crouching down like that.”
If only I were taller, I wouldn’t be making her strain herself.
I worried her knees might hurt because of me.
“Oh! Should I climb onto the desk? Then you could touch my face more comfortably!”
I pointed to the desk beside her.
I’d been taught that a servant’s duty was to ensure their master’s comfort.
So of course I should make it easier for her.
I’d thought it through carefully—but no reply came.
As her silence stretched on, anxiety crept in.
Had I said something wrong?
I was just about to apologize when—
Lady Rianne suddenly lifted the veil covering her face.
Her face, too, was covered in the same dark marks as her hand.
She turned her pale, frozen-lake-white eyes toward me and asked,
“Are you afraid of my face?”
I answered without hesitation.
“No, I’m not afraid. But…”
Is it okay to say this?
I might get scolded for speaking out of turn—but still, I asked carefully.
“It looks like it would hurt a lot… are you all right?”
Her silver eyes widened briefly, then curved gently.
“You’re the first child who’s ever said that to me.”
She put her glove back on and stroked my hair.
“Thank you.”
I didn’t know why she was thanking me.
But I liked the way she patted my head, and my lips curved upward without thinking.
Is this what it feels like when your mother praises you?
“Lisa.”
At Lady Rianne’s call, the head maid at the door responded.
“Yes, my lady.”
So her name was Lisa.
“Send this child to the annex.”
“What?”
Lisa’s eyes widened in shock.
“The annex, my lady? But she hasn’t—”
“It’s fine. This child will manage. I’m sure of it.”
A strange look passed between Lisa and Lady Rianne.
I didn’t know what it meant—but one thing was clear.
If I answer wrong here, I won’t become a maid of the Hamilton household!
