Chapter 65
“Yeah! That’s the best way.”
After coming up with a rough plan, she whispered to Amy as if she were doing her a generous favor.
“Then I’ll take care of it for you. You clock out right after this task.”
“…What?”
Amy’s voice trembled slightly—clearly, she hadn’t expected this offer.
And understandably so. Hadn’t she always looked at Eugenia with open disdain?
It wouldn’t have been strange for her to hold a grudge, so the fact that Eugenia was offering to help so readily… left Amy understandably speechless.
Laundry work was more physically demanding than other tasks in the estate. Everyone had their hands full just managing their own workload, so no one had the time or energy to help with someone else’s laundry. Helping someone else just meant more strain and longer hours.
That’s why Eugenia’s offer sounded all the more sweet.
Eugenia spoke again, with more emphasis.
“That task you couldn’t finish—I’ll do it. Your parents are coming from far away, right? You can’t keep them waiting.”
“Really? You mean it?”
Eugenia gave a big nod.
At that, Amy grabbed her hand with both of hers.
“Thank you, Eugenia! I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, I swear.”
“It’s fine. We should help each other out in hard times, right?”
Just then, the sharp eyes of the head butler and the head maid turned toward them.
It seemed the two had overheard their whispering in the otherwise quiet atmosphere.
Eugenia quickly lowered her head, then pressed her finger against her lips toward Amy.
“Shhh, we’ll get scolded. Guests are arriving.”
“Right. Thanks, Eugenia.”
Their conversation ended there, just as a line of carriages began rolling in through the iron gates.
“Welcome.”
Secondary nobles stepped out of the carriages with their adolescent children, putting on airs as if they owned the place.
One of them asked the head butler,
“Has His Grace returned?”
“Not yet. He likely departed from the capital by now and should be arriving shortly.”
“Hmm.”
The noble clicked his tongue and made a sour face.
“How much longer will he stay in the capital? It’s time he returned to manage the estate more actively and start grooming an heir.”
But the head butler didn’t take his words lightly.
“The master has already considered that and is running the estate accordingly. That’s why there haven’t been any issues.”
“Still, an emergency could always arise.”
“You needn’t worry. He has already prepared a communication system for such situations.”
The noble was left with nothing more to say. He gave an awkward cough.
“Ahem. I meant it more as a general concern. It’s just that I rarely get to see the lord outside of the coming-of-age ceremonies.”
His voice trailed off toward the end.
“Yes, I understand.”
Without changing expression, the butler turned his gaze toward the iron gates.
Eugenia followed suit.
The wide gates were now slowly closing.
‘That means all expected guests have arrived.’
Which also meant they wouldn’t be accepting more visitors for a while.
‘Good thing I got in before that.’
Eugenia breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
She looked back at the butler again.
‘But where did Mr. Zion go? He was here just a moment ago.’
She glanced around discreetly among the other servants.
‘Did he run an errand?’
But Zion was nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, the butler smoothly led the nobles inside.
“We’ve prepared the same rooms as last year.”
The nobles, who had looked awkward and stiff, visibly relaxed at that.
“Our attendants will bring up your luggage. Please head inside—Lady Noma is waiting for you.”
“Oh, of course! Let’s go in and greet her first.”
And with that, the nobles were led into the main residence.
Only then did the servants release their tension and relax their postures.
The head maid gave brisk but firm orders.
“Alright, back to work. Be mindful not to upset the guests.”
“Yes, Madam Reya.”
The servants dispersed quickly.
Eugenia nudged Amy gently.
“Go ahead, Amy.”
“Yeah! Eugenia, thank you so much!”
Amy wiped the tears welling in her eyes and nodded, her cheeks flushed.
Eugenia watched her walk toward the head maid before turning around.
“Alright! Time to work even harder than usual.”
She rolled up her sleeves and said cheerfully.
But instead of heading to the laundry area, Eugenia walked toward the building that housed the changing rooms.
The sky at dusk was an odd mix of deep red and blue.
The laundry maids had finished their tasks for the day and were getting ready to leave.
All except one—Eugenia.
Jenny and the others looked down at her with concern as they said goodbye.
“I’m heading out now, Eugenia.”
“Sure, Jenny. Great work today. You too, everyone.”
Despite the farewell, the maids hesitated to leave.
Jenny, arms crossed, spoke disapprovingly.
“Geez, what’s so great about Amy that you’re working yourself to the bone for her? She barely even acknowledges you most of the time and acts all haughty when she’s given something nice.”
Amy wasn’t popular among the laundry maids.
‘Too stuck-up.’
Though Eugenia hadn’t known her long, she’d already figured Amy’s personality out.
Since Amy handled the clothes and bedding of Lady Jacqueline—the only noblewoman in the estate—she acted like she was something special.
That arrogance was what had bred resentment.
“If it were me, I’d have ignored her. Why help someone like that? She probably won’t even remember it.”
Eugenia chuckled softly.
“We should help each other out when times are hard. And she did thank me earlier, so don’t be too harsh.”
“You’re way too nice for your own good. Just wait, if you ever ask her for help, she’ll pretend not to hear you.”
But Eugenia didn’t do this out of pure kindness—she had her own reasons.
Not that she needed to explain those to anyone.
Jenny and the others just looked at her with pity but didn’t offer any help.
Which was fine.
‘The best help you can give is to leave quickly. Please, just go.’
Eugenia waved them off with a smile.
“I just have one last thing to finish. Head home before it gets dark.”
“Got it. See you tomorrow.”
Finally, they left for the servants’ quarters.
Eugenia drew water and rinsed the soapy laundry clean.
Even after squeezing the water out by herself, her forehead was dotted with sweat.
She wiped it away with the back of her hand and stretched her back.
“Ow…”
A groan escaped her lips from the aches of the long day.
Then she heard the bell toll from the faraway bell tower.
Eight chimes.
“Is it that late already?”
Eugenia’s eyes widened.
At 9 p.m., Lady Jacqueline would change for bed.
“No time to rest. Gotta move.”
She had to deliver the dried chemise to the laundry storage before then.
Eugenia picked up the sheets and clothes she had just washed and moved toward the drying racks.
“These go up, the dry ones need ironing and folding.”
She worked quickly.
After retrieving the dried chemise, she rushed to the ironing room.
“Oh! I won’t need new firewood after all.”
The firewood in the brazier still held enough heat to warm the iron.
She began by ironing Lady Jacqueline’s chemise.
Once it was neatly pressed and folded, she didn’t immediately place it in the collection bin.
Instead, she stared at the garment with intense eyes.
After taking a deep breath, she reached into her dress.
A small pouch appeared, and she loosened the strings with trembling fingers.
Inside, wrapped in a white handkerchief, was something precious.
A lock of a boy’s hair, given to her by Joshua.
Eugenia carefully unfolded the handkerchief.
The blue hair, wrapped neatly in a small thread, remained exactly as she had preserved it.
“Whew…”
As if by magic, her trembling stilled.
With determined eyes, Eugenia stared at the hair a moment longer, then gently rewrapped it.
Clutching the handkerchief like a prayer, she murmured:
‘Enrique, please help me this time too.’
He had always helped her before—even if he couldn’t be with her now…
She felt certain he would guide her once more.
Eugenia tucked the handkerchief with Enrique’s hair inside the folds of Lady Jacqueline’s chemise.
“Please… Please see it.”
With earnest hope, she pressed the area gently with her palm.
“Please.”
After adjusting the folds again, she placed the chemise into Lady Jacqueline’s laundry bin.
Soon, the lady’s personal maid would come to collect it.
‘Please let it be delivered safely.’
Her heart pounded nervously.
