Chapter 61
Instead of a reply, the door opened from inside.
That was quite unexpected.
‘That startled me.’
Eugenia was a job seeker, and Sion was a low-ranking butler.
Since the head maid was of much higher status, it was rare for her to personally open the door to greet someone.
The head maid’s gaze landed on Sion first.
“You’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting.”
Was she being courteous because, even as a junior, he belonged to the butler’s line?
Or was it simply the custom in this mansion to use honorifics with everyone?
While Eugenia was lost in such thoughts, Sion smiled gently and bowed slightly to the head maid.
“Good afternoon, Madam Head Maid.”
He then turned to Eugenia and introduced the head maid.
“Miss Eugenia, please greet Madam Leia, head maid of the Herais estate.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Madam Head Maid. Please just call me Eugenia.”
Sion naturally took on the role of intermediary.
“Madam Head Maid, this is the person I told you about the other day—Miss Eugenia. She’s the one who, well… ahem, who helped me properly buy Moberry Cheese.”
“Ah.”
The head maid let out a short sound and then nodded.
Her gaze as she observed Eugenia was cool yet sharp, making it hard for Eugenia to relax.
The head maid slowly lowered her head to Eugenia.
“I see. Thank you for that.”
“Oh, it was nothing. Really.”
Eugenia forced a smile.
The head maid stepped aside slightly, creating space for them to come in.
“Let’s talk inside. This isn’t something we should discuss while standing here.”
“Yes, I agree.”
The head maid went in first.
“Miss Eugenia, please go ahead.”
Sion held the door handle with one hand and gestured with the other for her to enter first.
Eugenia gave him a grateful glance, and his lips curved into a gentle arc.
Just as Sion was about to follow her inside, the head maid spoke to him.
“Sion, please go see the head butler. He was looking for you earlier.”
“Ah, really?”
Sion blinked slowly. He responded instinctively but didn’t seem to realize he’d just been dismissed.
Watching this, Eugenia couldn’t help but think Sion didn’t really suit the butler role.
“Sion, the head butler asked for you. He meant immediately.”
“Ah.”
Sion finally seemed to understand what she meant.
He nodded and replied, “Then I’ll take my leave. You two go ahead and talk.”
“Alright. Go on now.”
As the head maid nodded, the door closed softly.
At last, the head maid’s gaze returned to Eugenia.
“You’re Miss Eugenia, correct? Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
Eugenia sat across from her at the desk.
The head maid laced her fingers together and rested her hands on the table as she began.
“I’ve heard your name… Have you worked as a maid before?”
Sitting up straight with tension still lingering in her posture, Eugenia nodded.
“Yes, I worked in a noble household.”
“Do you happen to have a letter of recommendation?”
At that, Eugenia’s expression darkened.
Her voice shrank.
“No, I don’t.”
She clenched her lips to suppress a sigh.
‘Guess I’ll be rejected.’
In noble households, a letter of recommendation was practically essential when applying for a job.
She offered a weak excuse.
“I wasn’t able to get one. I had to leave in a hurry…”
“I see.”
The head maid’s expression was hard to read.
She tapped the table slowly.
Eugenia’s eyes closely followed the motion.
She couldn’t tell whether speaking up further would help or hurt her chances, so she stayed silent.
Then, the head maid let out a long sigh.
“Miss Eugenia, I’ll be honest with you. We completed our hiring two months ago. All roles have been filled.”
Eugenia nodded heavily.
It was no different from what the job agency staff had told her a few days ago.
“So hiring you now might seem like special treatment.”
That, too, was true.
‘Not just “might seem”—it is.’
So far, nothing the head maid had said sounded particularly hopeful. Eugenia’s shoulders slumped slightly.
“But Sion was quite persistent in his request, and I just couldn’t bring myself to refuse.”
So Sion had gone to great lengths.
For some reason, the head maid was soft on Sion and couldn’t firmly turn him down. So she’d set up this interview at the very least.
And maybe she meant to explain everything directly so Eugenia would decline on her own.
‘Whatever happens, I have to thank Sion properly later.’
Eugenia swallowed another sigh.
“But without a recommendation… To be honest, it puts me in a difficult position. I don’t have a good reason to assign you to a decent role.”
“Yes, Madam Head Maid. I completely understand your situation.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
Just as Eugenia was beginning to mentally prepare herself for rejection—
“But I’m not someone who goes back on my word.”
That made Eugenia lift her head, which had been bowed.
Her eyes trembled slightly.
“I’ll arrange a position for you in the mansion. However, it won’t be permanent.”
“Yes…! That’s perfectly fine. How long would the position last?”
“Until the Growth Assembly ends.”
Only then did Eugenia realize that the name of the extended family gathering at the Herais Duchy was the “Growth Assembly.”
‘What does that even mean?’
But since she wasn’t yet permitted to ask, she kept her mouth shut.
“As you’ve probably already heard, you’ll be working as a laundry maid. It’s the hardest job. Will you still do it?”
Her body answered before her voice did.
She nodded firmly.
“Of course. I never expected to get an easy post in the first place.”
Since her true goal wasn’t actually to work, there was no need to negotiate wages.
“Then please excuse me for a moment.”
Pleased by her straightforward response, the head maid began rummaging through a drawer.
She pulled out a white sheet of paper and a pen, then slid them across the desk to Eugenia.
Eugenia quickly read over the words on the paper.
It was a short-term employment contract.
“Should I sign here?” she asked nervously.
The head maid nodded slowly.
With a trembling hand, Eugenia picked up the pen and signed her name at the bottom.
As the head maid took the paper and pen back, she asked,
“Can you start tomorrow? Guests will be arriving soon.”
“Of course.”
Eugenia nodded brightly.
“Good. Then be at my office by 8 a.m. tomorrow. I’ll introduce you to the other maids then.”
“Yes, Madam Head Maid! I look forward to working with you.”
Madam Leia nodded.
“Likewise. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes! I’ll be going now, then.”
With a radiant smile, Eugenia bowed several times and left the room, full of excitement.
The Next Morning
As the first rooster crowed, Eugenia woke up.
The room was still dark, and the children were sound asleep.
She quietly got out of bed and went to the bathroom.
After a quick wash, she returned, drying her face with a towel—only to find the children sitting up in bed.
“Yaaawn.”
“Eugenia, are you leaving now?”
Their yawns and voices were still thick with sleep.
They rubbed their eyes with tiny hands, trying to wake up.
But it wasn’t easy—their eyes remained mostly closed.
With furrowed brows, Eugenia said,
“Did I wake you? You’re still sleepy, right? Go back to bed.”
She looked genuinely sorry.
She gently tried to lay Selmia back down, but the little girl twisted away stubbornly.
“Mmmng.”
Selmia shook her head with a slurred mumble.
“I wanna see you off.”
Eugenia couldn’t help but chuckle.
Selmia’s puffy face looked just like a squishy cushion, and Eugenia cupped her cheeks and planted several light kisses on them.
Selmia giggled at the ticklish sensation, eyes still shut.
Letting her go, Eugenia turned to Joshua.
But the boy raised a hand to stop her and shook his head.
“No cheek kisses for me.”
Even half-asleep, his stance was clear.
Eugenia shot him a playful glare and stepped closer.
“Playing hard to get, huh?”
Instead of kissing him, she ruffled his hair.
That’s when she noticed an awkwardly short patch of hair.
The moment she saw it, she bit down on her lip.
‘Just a little longer. I’ll make sure you meet them—no matter what.
