CHAPTER~27
“The Duke…?”
When an unexpected name was mentioned, I blinked like an idiot, lost in thought.
I wondered if I was still half-asleep and imagining things, but the next words made me realize it was true.
“Actually, the Duke’s aide came to the guild once more. I don’t know how they knew, but at first, they thought it was an intruder and were trembling like crazy! Later, we found out they had installed a tracking device in the building during the last deal. Truly… he’s amazing!”
“That’s an intrusion, Loren.”
Not exactly the time to be impressed.
Anyway, Loren’s unnecessarily positive attitude aside, Frezen was truly remarkable.
To install a tracking device in such a short time… I hadn’t even thought to discuss it with him.
“Ah! Anyway, he suggested I work as a maid for the Decart family. And the pay is really high! With this money, I wouldn’t even need a salary at the guild!”
“Usually, wouldn’t you quit?”
“Ah, I enjoy working at the guild too much. I would never quit!”
“You’re probably the first person I’ve met who enjoys working.”
“Oh my! It’s an honor to be the first in anything from the guild master!”
It seemed that everyone around me was completely incomprehensible.
They were all just a little off, weren’t they?
I finally calmed Loren down, who was bouncing around happily, saying they were glad to continue working with me.
“Though it’s a lot about the money, I couldn’t refuse since the Duke specifically asked. I came to see the guild master without hesitation.”
“So, Loren, what exactly did the Duke ask of you?”
“Uhm, well…”
Loren’s cheeks turned bright red at my words.
I looked at them with mild curiosity as they twisted their body, then Loren broke into a delighted smile and began.
“He asked me to stay by your side when you’re lonely! He said you should have at least one person you can trust…”
“…”
“Seeing that the Duke personally asked me, it must mean you trusted me, Evlyen. I’m really happy about that.”
Watching Loren so genuinely happy made me suddenly lose my words.
‘It’s exhausting when you realize no one trusts you. You feel so hopeless you just want to give up entirely.’
At that moment, the conversation I had with Frezen flashed through my mind.
Could it be that after talking yesterday, he sent someone trustworthy to me?
It wasn’t just hiring a new maid; he specifically asked Loren, who had been working with me…
No, it’s probably just my imagination.
Just talking once last night wouldn’t make him do something like this.
Frezen Decart wasn’t that meticulous when it came to understanding others’ feelings, at least as far as I knew.
“Evlyen?”
At the voice, I finally snapped out of my thoughts and greeted Loren with a smile as if nothing had happened.
Well, whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.
“Anyway, welcome, Loren. But can you handle the north?”
The fact that I now had someone I could open up to made me strangely feel relieved.
“So I packed a ton of winter gear. Don’t worry, Evlyen. I’m surprisingly tough. Ah! Should I call you ‘Lady’ from now on?”
“Puhat, of course.”
Loren wriggled their body like a snake, embarrassed by the new title.
But they soon composed themselves and continued speaking.
“Lady, then it’s time for your bath. Get up quickly.”
“Alright, alright.”
Thanks to Loren’s usual friendly demeanor, today seemed like it could start refreshingly, even in the cold.
I’d have to thank them properly when I see them later.
* * *
I finished my grooming and went straight to my office.
Meeting not as guild master and staff, but as Lady and maid, felt awkward and embarrassing.
“Loren, your task is clear. You’ll enter Mela’s service as her maid to observe what the governess does and whether the education is being properly conducted. Understood?”
“Eh? Then what about you, Lady?”
“While being my maid, I want you to also keep an eye on Mela. Look after her more than me. You can hear everything in Mela’s room anyway.”
“Ah! Yes! Of course, I’ll be your ears, Lady! I’m so inconspicuous that I can gather information anywhere! Hehe.”
Loren nodded vigorously, pretending to prick up their ears.
The best thing about Loren being here was that gathering information became much easier.
Since Loren was in charge of information at the guild, I could trust them to handle and obtain intelligence effectively.
“As you know, there are many in the Decart family who don’t recognize me. That means there are also many who resent me. So, tell me everything you see and hear anytime.”
“I will, Lady! Don’t worry! Oh, actually, while organizing my things earlier, I heard something from the other maids.”
“…Already?”
Though Loren was virtually invisible and could blend in anywhere, that also meant they were sociable and well-liked.
I admired Loren’s social skills again.
They came close and whispered in my ear once more.
“Among the maids, Grimora the governess has a really good reputation. She must be very kind.”
“Really?”
She never once got angry with me, always wearing a smile.
“On the other hand, the twin brothers have completely opposite personalities. They’re said to not resemble their mother at all, and some are even questioning if they are her biological children!”
By twin brothers, she meant the ones who took Mela’s hair ornament.
Thinking about it made me angry.
“The younger one is timid, so no problem, but the older one is very temperamental and bothers the children for no reason! Lady Mela, that shouldn’t be a big deal, right? I’m really worried…”
What if they bullied Mela?
Her health was still fragile, and any incident could be serious.
And the Andra fruit hadn’t even been fully harvested yet.
“Mela should be in the study room by now… I can’t leave it like this. I have to go.”
I finally couldn’t suppress my anxiety and got up.
* * *
At the same time, in the study room prepared in the detached wing of the main mansion,
this room was where the governess and tutors taught the children with basic educational facilities.
However, the direct and collateral descendants of the Decart family learned elsewhere, studying noble history and various academic subjects.
This meant only the other children received basic education here.
Mela sighed, standing in front of the study room.
“Phew.”
Since she wasn’t recognized by the elders, she naturally had to be educated here.
Mela quietly stared at the book in her hands.
It contained only basic material she could already read and had mastered long ago.
“The Decart family…”
True to its reputation for producing sword masters, no one could rival the Decarts in swordsmanship.
It was rumored that even the Crown Prince would sneak in to learn it.
So she should be in the higher-level study room, not here.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Having decided, Mela smiled and boldly walked forward as usual.
“Huh?”
As she reached the study room, she noticed a thin string across the door, perfectly positioned to trip someone.
Mela immediately realized it was the twin brothers’ doing.
They had also taken her hair ornament yesterday.
Clenching her teeth in anger, she recalled yesterday’s incident.
The older twin had grabbed her hair because he liked the ribbon ornament.
Mela pushed him in anger, and the governess reacted furiously.
At the moment she was about to strike his cheek, Evlyen appeared.
Then Mela realized—the bullying by those children was about to begin.
She guessed this string was just the start. Next, would they even pour water on her?
Seeing the harassment ahead, Mela’s face began to show signs of fatigue.
She had already…
At the same time, Mela slowly stepped toward the door.
She looked more playful than ever.
As she deliberately stepped on the string, a sound of something breaking echoed.
