Chapter 2
Lily Kikerne.
The cherished young lady of House Kikerne, who grew up lacking nothing, was always unusually harsh toward Rosie.
When they were younger, she had treasured Rosie and even let her attend lessons with her private tutor. Rosie could guess when the change began.
It must have been because of the incident with the viscount’s son from House Mülton.
At fifteen, when she first began developing an interest in romance and boys, Lily had set her sights on the son of Viscount Mülton.
“Rosie, I think the young master from House Mülton has feelings for me! He even asked Lewis Oliver to check whether I would be attending the garden party!”
Despite saying she must follow her father’s wishes and marry into a more influential house for the benefit of House Kikerne, Lily’s glowing excitement was obvious. Rosie had watched her with fond amusement.
As Lily drifted deeper into her crush while pretending she didn’t care, the day of the garden party arrived.
The viscount’s son, who showed up at House Kikerne earlier than the party’s start time, secretly called for Rosie.
‘Is something wrong, young master?’
Approaching him in a quiet corner of the garden rarely visited by others, Rosie asked his business. And there—she received his confession.
“Ahem, Rosie. You may have noticed already, but… I’ve fallen for you.”
“…Pardon? I’m not sure what you—”
“Even when I was with Lady Lily, you were all I could think about. I came here every week hoping I’d run into you again. At the garden party, I knew I’d see you.”
Rosie was stunned by the sudden declaration and anxiously glanced around. Even though they were at an isolated corner of the garden, if anyone overheard this, she would be in serious trouble.
But the young master didn’t seem to care about Rosie’s situation at all. His face reddened as he raised his voice further.
“Why are you looking around like that, Rosie? Do you not believe me?”
“P-please lower your voice—”
“I like you, Rosie.”
At that moment, Rosie saw a familiar cascade of dark hair from afar.
There was only one girl with such hair in Kikerne.
Lily.
Since Lily jumped at any matter involving him, it wasn’t surprising she had rushed here upon hearing that the Mülton carriage arrived early, asking servant after servant until she found him.
Rosie quickly tried to salvage the situation.
“Young master, please don’t say things like that. I—”
But the young man paid no mind to her feelings. Instead, he grabbed her shoulders.
“I like you, Rosie. Enough that I can overlook you being a maid. Quit this job and come with me. My father isn’t old-fashioned. If things go well, you could become the lady of House Mülton.”
Rosie firmly rejected him, but from that day on, Lily completely changed—and began tormenting her relentlessly.
One morning, Lily threw a fork at Rosie’s cheek because the dishes were “dirty.”
Another day, she took every dress out of her wardrobe, tried them on, then raged that she didn’t like any of them—leaving Rosie with all the tidying.
Silverware and dresses—everything became Rosie’s burden. She frequently stayed up all night doing extra work.
“All because of that stupid young master…”
Now, staring at Lily’s cruel expression, Rosie finally spoke.
“Actually, that’s what I came to tell you. I’ve decided to quit this job.”
“…Quit? What are you talking about?”
Lily’s body stiffened, shocked by Rosie’s unexpected words.
Rosie repeated exactly what she had told the head maid.
“My health isn’t good. I can’t continue working anymore.”
For a moment, Lily could have shown concern. Long ago, before everything happened, Lily had genuinely cherished Rosie like a sister.
But Rosie’s small hope was easily shattered.
“Don’t lie, Rosie. Did another house scout you? Which one? The Spin Earldom? Baron Shance? Or—are you aiming for House Mülton? Planning to become a viscountess now?”
Lily pressed her viciously.
“Don’t delude yourself. Just because some young masters act sweet doesn’t mean you can become a noble.”
“…”
“If you don’t want to end up discarded and crawling back here crying, stop dreaming.”
Rosie silently laughed at herself for expecting even a moment of warmth from Lily.
“…You’re right. House Mülton did exist.”
If she had taken the young master’s offer back then, maybe things wouldn’t have gotten this bad.
She shook her head with a faint laugh.
In truth, the viscount’s son wasn’t the only one who’d come on to her.
The Spin Earl’s second son, the Shance Baron’s eldest son, even young master Lewis of House Kikerne had each confessed to her at least once.
Yet she had never accepted any of them. For one reason.
Noblemen’s affection for maids is always a lie.
What they wanted was one night of secret thrill—nothing more. Far too many maids ended up pregnant and cast out after believing those sugary words.
But Lily, blinded by jealousy, only criticized Rosie for being “too popular.”
Not realizing how dangerous that popularity was for a maid.
Now, with all expectations gone, Rosie spoke. If Lily wanted to believe nonsense, Rosie might as well feed it to her.
“Since you seem to have guessed, I’ll be honest.”
“…”
“I received a marriage proposal.”
Rosie said it flatly.
“…W-what? What did you just say?”
“He’s a noble from another country, so you wouldn’t know him. A wealthy man who owns mines. He said he’d officially welcome me into his house.”
“Lies!”
Lily screamed, furious.
“You’re lying! Do you think marrying into a noble house is easy? And from another country? Absurd!”
“…”
“Oh—I know. You’re becoming some old nobleman’s concubine, is that it? That, I can believe.”
She spewed venom just to hurt Rosie.
So Rosie embellished the lie further.
“Of course not. It’s embarrassing to say, but he’s the most handsome and gentle man I’ve ever met. He even chose Vine Rose in Veidos as our honeymoon destination.”
“…Vine Rose?”
Lily stared at Rosie like a broken doll. The details were too specific.
Vine Rose of Veidos?
Even nobles of the capital rarely set foot in that place—an infamous luxury paradise.
Lily blinked blankly.
“V-Vine Rose. Are you certain?”
“Yes. You know it too, right? It’s very famous.”
Rosie nodded as if teasing her.
Tears welled in Lily’s eyes.
Rosie.
The girl who stole her first love.
The maid who pretended to be above her station.
Rosie, who was now supposedly heading to a place even Lily had never been allowed to visit.
It infuriated her.
Shrieking, Lily began throwing anything she could get her hands on.
“Get out! Get out right now! Never show your face to me again!”
Rosie obeyed the young lady’s final command with perfect maid-like grace.
And as she bowed her head and stepped outside, a bright smile finally spread across her lips.
