Chapter: 2
I shouted impulsively.
“I’m fine!”
The annex was located far from the main mansion.
I hadn’t been there yet, but from what I’d overheard while waiting for my interview, it was older and more rundown than the main building, and sunlight barely reached inside.
“What if I pass the interview but get assigned to the annex?”
“Exactly. I’d prefer to work here if possible.”
“Me too. I hope I get an easy job if I can.”
I added that last thought recalling the stories I had heard while waiting.
“I don’t mind dark places either. Whatever task you give me, I’ll do my best.”
It didn’t matter if it was the main building, the annex, or even being in charge of the storage.
As long as I could work here, I didn’t care.
A fourteen-year-old commoner girl earning this kind of money wasn’t common. This was an opportunity I could never let slip.
Room and board provided, a high salary, and even the experience of working for a grand ducal family!
Where else could you find such a good job?
Perhaps sensing my determination to pass, Lady Lianne smiled and nodded.
“Yes. I think you’ll be fine.”
Looking at her gentle face, I couldn’t help but indulge in a thought too big for me: that I hoped Lady Lianne would pat my head again someday.
Eventually, Mary was hired as a maid in the annex.
As soon as Mary left, the smile vanished from Lianne’s face.
As always, her expression returned to that calm, indifferent mask that revealed nothing.
“Madam, it’s not too late even now. If it weighs on your mind, you could send her away with some compensation. Really… to hire someone of that background and so young as a servant to the young master…”
“The principle of the Hamilton family is to hire those suitable for the work, regardless of background.”
“But, Madam…”
Head Maid Lisa had served the Grand Duchess for a long time.
She was a wise and discerning housekeeper.
Yet this decision seemed somewhat impulsive.
To hire such a young, inexperienced maid after just a brief conversation—and to trust her enough to take care of her son—was unlike Lianne.
“Lisa, the girl didn’t seem uncomfortable at all when I touched her face.”
Lianne recalled the previous moment.
“Oh, should I climb onto the desk? Then Lady Lianne can touch my face comfortably!”
The small girl, pointing at the desk with a bright, fearless expression.
She was unusually small for her age, and innocent in a way that was rare for her peers.
It was the first time someone hadn’t flinched at her touch.
Even Lianne herself sometimes flinched when her hands, dark and stained, touched someone’s skin.
Yet when Mary’s hand touched her cheek, she neither recoiled nor showed disgust.
Mary seemed to ponder something, rolling her eyes thoughtfully, then murmured with her small lips:
“In all the people I’ve met, you’re the first to worry whether I’d feel uncomfortable.”
Mary was entirely different from anyone Lianne had ever known.
“You must be in a lot of pain… are you alright?”
That kindness, that energy like a small bird heralding dawn, melted Lianne’s long-frozen heart.
That was the reason for her uncharacteristic decision.
“Let’s trust that kindness.”
“…If Madam says so, I have no objections.”
Lisa bowed deeply.
Lianne thought: such a sun-like child would surely brighten the dark annex.
Just as she had melted Lianne’s heart, she could also soothe the pain of her precious child.
After moving to the annex, I signed a pledge.
It was a document promising not to disclose anything I saw or heard here to the outside world.
Once I finished signing, Lisa explained the duties I would be performing.
“Mary, you’ll be serving the young master from now on.”
“The young master?”
I was startled.
The Hamiltons had a son? I’d never heard of it before. How tightly had they kept it secret that even rumors hadn’t spread?
Knowing the grand ducal family’s secret was overwhelming, but the bigger concern was:
“Am I really fit to serve someone as important and noble as the young master?”
Serving nobles was usually a job for someone of equal status—a fellow aristocrat.
But I was not noble. I was a commoner, barely educated at the academy.
I worried whether I could serve the young master properly.
“You said you could handle difficult tasks, didn’t you?”
Lisa’s firm voice snapped me back to reality.
Right, I had promised to do anything to work here.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to complain.”
I bowed my head apologetically, and Lisa’s tone softened.
“This is a decision made personally by Madam. You’ll do fine, Mary.”
“Yes! I’ll do my best!”
Lisa smiled approvingly and led me to the young master’s room.
Along the way, she gave me several instructions. I memorized them carefully as we walked.
Never talk about the young master’s appearance.
Deliver meals to his room every day.
★ Ensure he takes his medicine after every meal! (Important)
Desserts only if requested, and only after confirming he has taken his medicine.Change bed sheets every morning and dress him properly.
Compared to what I had feared, the tasks were manageable. I could handle them all.
I also learned some basic information about the young master.
He was ten years old, four years younger than me.
Ten years old… the same age as Colin, the shy little boy next door I used to babysit.
Colin had been timid and scared, hiding whenever he first saw me. But once we got closer, he stuck by my side, calling me “sister.”
Recalling the cute, shy Colin made me smile. If I could become friends with him so quickly, I could surely get along with the young master.
Soon, we reached the young master’s room at the end of the fourth floor corridor of the annex, where sunlight barely reached.
Lisa knocked on the large door.
Knock. Knock.
Even after some time, there was no answer from inside.
“Young master, we’ll come in.”
Lisa gave notice and opened the door.
Despite it being daytime, the room was dark as night. Lisa followed the sliver of light entering from the corridor, and I carefully followed her.
“Young master.”
She called again, but still no answer.
Had he gone out?
Just as I wondered, a sharp voice pierced the darkness.
“Get out!”
It was rough and harsh, like a hissing cat.
“We’ve brought the girl who will serve you from now on.”
“I said I don’t need that.”
“The room is too dark. We’ll draw the curtains.”
“What? No, don’t…!”
Before he finished, Lisa yanked the curtains open.
Squinting in the bright light, suddenly—
Whoosh—
A pillow flew straight at my face. I reflexively caught it.
“Mary! Are you okay?”
I smiled and replied to Lisa’s worried voice.
“Yes! I’m fine! Catching a fluffy pillow is nothing!”
I gently lowered the pillow, and I saw the mischievous young master who had thrown it.
He was sprawled on the large bed in a slanted position, his expression mirroring Lisa’s surprise.
Frozen, I stared at his face.
Light brown hair sticking up at odd angles.
Soft, smooth skin, like freshly baked bread.
Eyes as fresh and green as spring sprouts.
‘He’s just like a prince from a fairy tale.’
A black mark, like the one on Lady Lianne’s face, ran across the right side of his face, curling like a snake.
Perhaps annoyed by my staring, he scrunched up his face.
“Why are you staring? Look away!”
He fumbled around the bed, apparently searching for something.
“Are you looking for this?”
I held up the pillow he had thrown.
“I’ll bring it to you, so don’t throw it again.”
His face flushed red as I approached with the pillow.
‘Why does he look so angry? Didn’t he need the pillow?’
Just then—
Whoosh—
This time, it wasn’t a pillow but an alarm clock from the bedside table.
Clatter!
I caught it safely again.
“Young master, don’t throw the clock! It’s dangerous and might break. Of course, you shouldn’t throw pillows at people either… but if you really want to throw something, throw a pillow instead.”
I set the pillow beside him and returned the alarm clock to its place.
The young master, who had been staring blankly at me, shouted with a scowl.
“Who… who are you?!”
The question I’d been waiting for. First impressions mattered.
I smiled brightly and answered.
“Hello, young master. My name is Mary. I’ll be serving you from now on! Please take care of me!”
