Chapter 9
“I think you can tell just by looking at my clothes…”
Diena held out the frayed hem of her worn dress.
“My position in the family wasn’t much different from that of a servant.”
She lowered her eyes before continuing quietly.
“If my uncle finds out about my ability… it’s painfully obvious what he’ll do.”
Malakar looked at her curiously.
“And what do you think he’ll do?”
“He’ll use me until there’s nothing left.”
Her voice remained calm, but her fingers unconsciously tightened around the fabric of her dress.
“I know my uncle. He’ll pretend to be kind on the outside while forcing me to use my ability without rest… until I’ve been drained dry.”
“…Until I die.”
Hasen stared at her in disbelief.
“Surely… no matter how cruel someone is…”
“How could anyone do something so monstrous?”
“Are you saying Duke Rothwell is really that kind of man?”
A bitter smile crossed Diena’s lips.
Because he really is worse than a beast…
She understood why no one believed it.
Balthazar hid his true nature behind a flawless public image.
But—
Barkhan will be different.
Barkhan watched her silently.
Anyone else would dismiss her words.
After all, Duke Rothwell’s reputation throughout the Empire was impeccable.
“…Yeah.”
“If it’s that bastard…”
“I can believe it.”
His answer came without hesitation.
“I thought I was the only one who knew what he was really like.”
“But it turns out you know too.”
Their eyes met.
“I want to follow you, Sir Barkhan.”
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being used.”
“I want revenge against everyone in House Rothwell who tormented me.”
“So…”
“Please let me work for you.”
A dry laugh escaped Barkhan.
Now she wanted revenge against House Rothwell?
Honestly…
It sounded absurd.
As long as Balthazar possessed his own strength and the backing of the Temple, House Rothwell stood among the strongest powers in the Empire.
“And what exactly can you do for me?”
“You’ll find out if you take me with you.”
Even so…
He found himself curious.
What exactly was this tiny girl capable of?
Squinting slightly, he asked,
“Have you ever considered that I might end up using you too?”
Diena answered without hesitation.
“Even then…”
“You’d still be giving me a place.”
“And at least I’d have a chance to get revenge on my uncle.”
“He hates you more than anyone.”
“You…”
Keeping her nervousness hidden behind a fearless expression, Diena waited for his answer.
A moment later—
Barkhan grinned.
“You’re bold.”
Just as I expected.
“But you’ve got terrible judgment.”
“Anyone who heard this would laugh.”
“Giving up House Rothwell…”
“…to choose House Kardian instead.”
Scratching the back of his head, he glanced toward the carriage window.
“…Fine.”
“Come with us for now.”
Bringing her back to the estate was dangerous.
Any member of House Kardian could lose control at any moment because of the darkness accumulated from their abilities.
That was why even the family’s servants underwent rigorous physical training.
Still…
If what she claimed about possessing a purification ability was true…
Letting her stay for a short while shouldn’t be a problem.
If she decides she wants to leave later…
I’ll find her somewhere safe.
A place even warmer and safer than House Kardian.
Just until she gets back on her feet.
That was all he intended.
Some time later—
Their carriage finally reached its destination.
Before them stood an enormous mansion shrouded in an oppressive, almost gloomy atmosphere.
Even so, Diena couldn’t help but admire its sheer grandeur.
No wonder they could stand alongside House Rothwell.
House Kardian was wealthy.
After being elevated to a ducal house, they invested their maintenance funds wisely… expanding businesses and merchant companies.
Every bit of it…
Had been Barkhan’s achievement.
Although another person officially headed the family, Barkhan had spent more time outside the estate than within it.
Naturally, the management of the mansion—and even the family’s commercial enterprises—had eventually fallen into his hands.
“Turns out I’m actually pretty talented at running things.”
“By the time I noticed…”
“Our family had become ridiculously rich.”
Looking around with unfamiliar eyes, Diena quietly took everything in.
When I met Barkhan… House Kardian had already been destroyed.
They were living in poverty then, so I never realized…
She had always assumed he was exaggerating.
But seeing it with her own eyes…
House Kardian during this era was astonishingly prosperous.
Just then, the mansion’s head butler stepped outside to greet them.
“Jordic.”
“Has Father returned?”
“No, Young Master.”
“He’s still away on the subjugation expedition.”
“I’ve heard this campaign may take quite some time.”
“I see.”
Barkhan nodded.
“I’ll have to leave again immediately.”
“Please take good care of Bianca while I’m gone.”
The butler blinked.
“You’ve only just returned from your mission, haven’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“But we’ve got a guest.”
“I’ll leave this child here before heading out again.”
“…A guest?”
Barkhan nodded before gently pushing Diena forward.
“She’ll be staying with our family from today onward.”
Jordic froze.
The little girl before him looked so frail she seemed as though a strong breeze might knock her over.
Everyone who worked—or even visited—House Kardian possessed well-trained physiques.
Jordic himself was tall and heavily built.
Even the maids were physically fit.
House Kardian simply wasn’t a place where the weak could survive.
Unlike the Temple’s Purification Zones, suppressants for the side effects of abilities were difficult to obtain here.
No one ever knew when an ability user might lose control.
And yet…
The young master wanted to bring this tiny child into the estate?
“Young Master Barkhan…”
“If she’s truly to be our guest…”
“…She’s far too fragile.”
“You think she looks weak?”
“Y-Yes.”
Barkhan shook his head.
“Not at all.”
“She’s stronger than she looks.”
“Don’t judge her by appearances.”
“…Strong?”
“Maybe not physically.”
“But mentally…”
“I think she’s tougher than most.”
A crooked smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he looked toward Diena.
“Right?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“See?”
Barkhan laughed.
“I told you.”
Jordic stared at Diena skeptically.
No matter how hard he looked…
He couldn’t figure out where this supposed strength was hiding.
“Young Master…”
“Just for a few months.”
“That’ll probably be enough.”
Barkhan cut him off before he could protest further.
In the end, Jordic let out a quiet sigh.
“…Understood.”
Once his master had made a decision…
It wasn’t his place to argue.
“Then…”
“Shall I treat her as an honored guest?”
The moment those words left his mouth—
Diena immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“Please give me work.”
“…Work?”
Jordic blinked in surprise.
Even Barkhan looked at her strangely.
“You actually want to work that badly?”
“It feels uncomfortable doing nothing.”
“…You’re a strange one.”
“I’m working because I have to.”
“You actually want to.”
Then he shrugged.
“Though honestly…”
“There probably isn’t much in this mansion that you can do.”
“I don’t mind working as a maid.”
“I’m good at it.”
“…A maid?”
“Yes.”
“I used to work alongside the maids where I lived.”
Barkhan’s eyes widened.
A duke’s niece…
Working as a servant?
It was almost impossible to believe.
“Please let me work for you.”
Her earlier words suddenly resurfaced in his mind.
So…
This is what she meant.
He remembered the contempt in Duke Rothwell’s eyes when speaking of her.
If she’d been forced to prove her worth simply to earn the right to live under her own family’s roof…
Then her hatred for House Rothwell suddenly made perfect sense.
Barkhan quietly met her gaze.
Diena didn’t look away.
Originally…
He had planned to conceal her identity and fabricate a suitable background for her.
But never—not even once—
Had he intended to make her work as a maid.
After a brief silence…
He nodded.
Stopping people from doing what they genuinely wanted had never been his style.
“Call Matilda.”
Before long, a middle-aged woman stepped out of the mansion.
She was Matilda, the head maid of House Kardian.
“Is there any work she could handle?”
“Something suitable among the maids’ duties.”
“Yes.”
“There is.”
“What kind of work?”
Matilda studied Diena’s delicate frame before answering.
“One position comes to mind immediately.”
“She could serve as Lady Bianca’s personal maid.”
“Bianca’s?”
“Yes.”
“As it happens…”
“Another one of her maids quit only a few days ago.”
Barkhan let out a small sigh.
“…Did Bianca throw another tantrum?”
