Episode 3: The New Maid
While the butler was receiving comfort from the head housemaid, Ella was having an overwhelmingly busy day, so much so that she barely noticed the passage of time. In most ordinary noble households, chores were divided among several maids and servants, but in the Glace Duke household, the Duke’s irritable and demanding personality meant that Ella alone attended to all his needs.
She would wake up at dawn, prepare meals, quickly tidy the Duke’s bedroom, and by around noon—when the Duke was in a relatively good mood—organize the reports submitted by the clerks and the butler and place them on his desk. Once approved, she would relay the Duke’s messages or deliver revisions that needed to be made.
Moreover, rumors had spread that Ella delivered letters and reports to the Duke instead of the assistants, and soon all the staff began asking her to pass on their messages as well.
One day, after delivering the reports from the butler and the secretary to the Duke and heading to the kitchen to prepare tea, Ella ran into the kitchen maid, Anna.
“Ella! Here, eat this. It’s nothing special, don’t feel pressured.”
Anna handed Ella a special meat sandwich she had secretly prepared, smiling brightly.
Ella, who had recently been receiving more requests from the staff, took a bite of the sandwich, which smelled delicious, and said,
“This is good. What is it? You must want something, right?”
Anna laughed shyly at Ella’s words.
“There’s going to be a big harvest festival and village fair soon. Everyone wants to go out and enjoy it. Could you perhaps ask the Duke to give the staff some group leave?”
Only then did Ella notice Bill hiding behind a tree, Mrs. Rula pretending to hang laundry while secretly watching her, and Mr. Roy, the stableman and coachman, keeping an eye on her from behind the carriage.
“Haha, what’s going on, everyone? How long have you been hiding?”
Ella laughed at the awkwardly hiding staff.
Those discovered by Ella slowly gathered around her and looked at her with pleading eyes.
“Ella, don’t feel pressured. We just thought we’d ask since the Duke’s been in a good mood lately. You don’t have to go out of your way; it’s fine if we don’t go.”
Mrs. Rula spoke, worried Ella might feel burdened. Mr. Roy nodded in agreement.
“Yes, Ella. We didn’t want it to seem like we were forcing you. Anna spoke on our behalf. We didn’t expect you to notice. The Duke might even get angry with you, so don’t overdo it.”
If the household had a mistress, she would usually grant bonuses or group leave for major events like the city festival or the Empire’s founding day. But with the former lady gone and the current Duke unmarried, no one had ever cared for the staff’s holidays. So the staff nervously asked Ella.
“Do you think he’ll listen if I ask?”
“Probably not. Ella, just pretend you didn’t hear us. On second thought, it’s ridiculous to ask.”
Mr. Roy, realizing he had made an inappropriate request, shook his head and spoke to Ella.
“Go on, Ella. The Duke will be looking for you. We’ve kept you too long.”
“Yes, Ella, sorry. Go on now,” Mrs. Rula said with an apologetic smile, picking up the laundry basket and returning to the laundry room.
—
Later, as Ella silently stood beside the Duke, serving the tea she had just brought from the kitchen, the Duke, signing reports without looking up, asked,
“What is it?”
Ella hesitated for a long moment but, seeing the Duke in a good mood, carefully spoke up.
“Duke, may I ask a favor?”
At the mention of a favor, the Duke finally set down his pen and looked up at Ella, curious because she rarely spoke to him first.
Encouraged by his nod, Ella continued cautiously.
“There’s a harvest festival and fair in the village, and I was wondering if the staff could go as well.”
Hearing this, the Duke remembered that when his mother was alive, she would occasionally grant the staff short group leave with bonuses on special occasions like the Empire’s founding day or the harvest festival. Managing staff was traditionally the mistress’s duty, and as an unmarried Duke, he had neglected this.
He recalled this briefly and then summoned the head maid and the butler.
Startled by the sudden summons, the butler and head maid nervously wondered if they had done something wrong and entered the study hesitantly.
“Duke, did you call us?”
The butler asked anxiously, gauging the Duke’s expression. The head maid gestured at Ella, asking silently what was going on, but Ella just smiled.
“A festival, you say?”
The Duke’s unexpected words left the butler and head maid bewildered.
“Yes, Duke. The festival starts tomorrow.”
“Arrange for the staff to take leave during the festival as you see fit,” the Duke instructed.
The butler, thinking he misheard, widened his eyes as much as a silver coin.
“And handle the bonuses appropriately,” the Duke added.
The butler’s eyes grew even wider. Only after the head maid nudged him did he compose himself and acknowledge the instructions.
When the head maid and butler informed all staff about the special leave and bonuses, everyone cheered and began excitedly preparing to go out.
“Ella, when will you take your leave? I heard you asked the Duke on our behalf, so we’ll arrange it for you on your preferred date.”
The head maid asked, planning to accommodate Ella since this vacation and bonus were thanks to her.
“No, I won’t go.”
“What? You’ve never gone out since coming here?”
“I don’t like crowded places.”
“Really? Still, you could come out for a bit. It’s thanks to you we’re getting leave, so I wonder if it’s okay for us to go…”
“I’m not going. Don’t worry about me. Just rest and enjoy yourselves.”
“Alright, then. We’ll leave the Duke in your care. We’ll bring back lots of treats.”
After seeing the staff off, Ella quickly prepared a simple dinner and headed to the Duke’s room.
“Duke, I’ve brought your dinner.”
“Everyone’s going out. Why didn’t you go?”
“I don’t like crowded places.”
“I see.”
The Duke, who also disliked crowds, nodded and quietly began his meal. After he finished, Ella placed freshly baked cookies on the table.
“What’s this?”
“Harvest festival cookies. It only comes once a year, so I thought you should have some.”
The Duke smiled faintly at the overly sweet-looking cookies. He knew the tradition of eating treats made from the year’s harvest to ensure a healthy year, but no one had ever dared offer him sweets before.
“Aren’t you afraid of me?” the Duke asked, looking at Ella standing neatly beside him.
“Ah… no,” Ella replied, unsure of the strange question.
“Is that so.”
The Duke picked up a cookie, tasting it with surprising satisfaction, and gave Ella a subtle, mysterious smile.
—
After the festival, the staff returned with smiles on their faces. In the cheerful atmosphere, the head maid introduced the new maid, Celly.
“Everyone, attention! I’d like to introduce a new maid who will start working with us today.”
Clapping her hands to draw everyone’s attention, the head maid spoke. Due to rumors about the Duke, they had carefully chosen Celly and hoped she would work with them for a long time.
“Her name is Celly. She will work in the laundry room. Rula, please help her.”
“Yes, of course,” Rula responded with a warm smile.
“All right, dismissed!”
After the head maid hurried off to inspect the morning’s supplies, the male staff swarmed around Celly, asking questions.
“Where did you work before?”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What are your hobbies?”
“Where are you from?”
Annoyed, Anna puffed her cheeks and complained to Rula.
“Rula, look at all the men! They’re acting so excited just because a pretty girl joined?”
“Anna, that’s how men are at that age.”
“Ugh, so annoying!”
Seeing Bill, whom she liked, flirting with Celly, Anna stomped back to the kitchen in frustration.
Celly glanced at Anna and then turned her attention to the men around her, answering their questions kindly and secretly winking at Bill, who turned bright red.
‘Hehe, handling men is too easy. The Duke is still unmarried… maybe I should try to seduce him?’
Celly imagined herself living lavishly as the Duke’s favorite and grinned mischievously.
