Fortunately, my choice seemed to be the right one, as she began to speak to me.
“My introduction was late. I am Isabella, the one who manages the female servants of this estate. During your time working here, I am the person you will encounter second most frequently.”
“Um, who is the first?”
“That would be the Master you are to serve.”
It was the same thing the old gentleman had said earlier. On my way here, I hadn’t known what kind of work I was being hired for. My father, blinded by money, hadn’t even thought to ask, and I, who had no choice but to follow, hadn’t felt the need to wonder. Whatever the work was—even if it were something horrific—I had to follow.
“What should I call you, Madam?”
“Just call me Isabella.”
“Yes, Isabella.”
I carved her name into my mind. Then, realizing my mistake, I added, “My introduction was late. I am Paula.”
“I see, Paula. What can you do?”
“I can do simple housework like cleaning or laundry. I can do basic math, and I can write a little. I had to learn the former to handle money.”
“I see.”
Isabella’s response was indifferent. Her reaction left me uneasy. What if she thinks I’m useless? What if she tells me to go back home? I was terrified of being chased away.
Isabella, walking ahead, moved with purpose. I hurried my steps, afraid I might lose her.
Following Isabella as she turned corner after corner, we eventually reached a door. Just then, it opened, and a young woman came rushing out; she froze and bowed the moment she saw Isabella. A brown-haired woman following behind her also stopped in surprise and dipped her head.
“I-Isabella.”
“I believe I told you not to run.”
“I’m sorry. I am terribly sorry.”
“Be careful next time.”
Their cautious gazes drifted from Isabella to me. Just as I tried to meet their eyes, Isabella shifted, blocking my view. She ordered them to hurry back to their areas.
I watched them scurry away. In the meantime, Isabella opened a door and called out.
“Renika.”
“Yes, Isabella.”
A tall woman with a mature air approached. Isabella pushed me forward.
“Do you have any clothes that would fit this child?”
Renika’s eyes scanned me. She contemplated for a moment before nodding.
“She has a small frame. It might not fit perfectly, but I think I have something that will roughly suffice.”
“That is fortunate. It does not need to be perfectly tailored.”
“Yes, which department is she assigned to?”
“She will be responsible for the Master from now on.”
Renika’s eyes widened. Her surprised gaze swept over me once more. The reaction made me even more nervous, and I swallowed hard. After a moment, a composed Renika said she understood and went back inside.
Soon, she returned with a black dress and held it against my body. After gauging the size and bringing out a few more, she handed me a set. It came with a stark white apron and bloomers.
“The hair…”
Renika frowned at the long bangs covering my face. I opened and closed my lips—the only part of my face not hidden. Isabella looked at me for a moment, dismissed it, and began to walk again. I hobbled along behind her.
Isabella navigated the corridors with steady, rhythmic footsteps. *Tap, tap, tap.* The sound echoed against the walls, breaking the oppressive silence. I gripped the handle of my bag and glanced at her.
“Paula, how much did you hear before you came here?”
“I only heard that you would hire me.”
“Then you haven’t heard any detailed explanation.”
“No.”
I nodded. Isabella’s pace remained brisk.
“This is the estate of the prestigious Bellunita family. And from now on, Paula, you will be solely responsible for attending to the Master of this house, Vincent Bellunita.”
“Um, solely… does that mean I am doing it alone?”
“That is correct.”
For a moment, I lost my voice. I had seen plenty of servants during my walk—the carriage driver, the gardener, the stable hands. And yet, I am to attend to the Master all by myself? If he is the Master, isn’t he someone of high status?
I debated whether I should ask. In the end, the words slipped out.
“Are there truly no others?”
“There are not. If you need anything, tell me immediately.”
“Will I be able to do it alone? Since he is the Master.”
Isabella’s footsteps came to a dead halt. I bumped into her back and stopped as well. She turned around, her expression as blank as ever.
“Paula. Listen carefully. You will attend to the Master alone, and there will be no additional staff. If you dislike that, I suggest you leave this estate right now. The same applies if you feel you are not up to the task. If you complain later, you will not escape punishment.”
She warned me calmly. The weight of her words settled in my chest. I pressed my trembling lips together.
I must never complain again.
I bowed my waist deeply.
“I am sorry. I will be careful next time.”
Fortunately, Isabella didn’t say anything more and turned back around. I straightened my back and trotted after her.
“If you are mindful of your conduct in all matters, you will not face any difficulty.”
“Yes.”
That was the end of our conversation.
A moment later, a door appeared—smaller than the ones I had seen before. We passed through it and out of the manor. A vast garden, so lush and green I couldn’t see where it ended, unfolded before me.
*Wow.* The exclamation escaped before I could stop it. The garden was breathtakingly beautiful.
I was distracted until I spotted Isabella walking away alone. I hurried to follow, choosing silence over the risk of more unpleasant words. We headed toward the back of the estate, where a small mansion sat in the distance.
The distance was daunting, but instead of the path, she led me toward the forest adjacent to the estate. We wove through the thicket, and just as my legs began to ache, we emerged. Suddenly, we were standing right in front of the mansion.
How? I looked back at the trees, bewildered. I turned my gaze back to the building. It was an annex, yet it looked just as magnificent as the main house.
Inside, the atmosphere was even quieter. It felt empty, gloomy—as if no one actually lived here.
“Only the minimum number of servants stay here.”
I nodded. Isabella climbed the stairs, reciting my duties.
“Breakfast at 6:00 AM, lunch at noon, dinner at 6:00 PM. You are to collect meals from the kitchen on time and bring them to the Master, and you will do the same with dessert at lunchtime. Also, pay special attention to cleanliness. The bed sheets must be changed every single morning, and the same goes for his clothes. Collect the previous day’s laundry and bring it all to the back door of the annex every morning.”
“Yes.”
“The basic supplies are prepared here, but if you need anything else, tell me. For your reference, all tasks must be completed in one go. Do not try to go back and finish things if you didn’t do them the first time. Master is sensitive about such matters. You should act as if you aren’t there.”
“Understood.”
I nodded repeatedly. To act as if I wasn’t there—that was the easiest thing for me.
We climbed the stairs again and stopped in front of the door at the very end of the hall.
“Lastly, one more thing I must insist upon.”
Before opening the door, Isabella turned back to me.
“From now on, you must keep your mouth shut about everything you see and hear. Be careful about even the smallest word you utter, and no matter what you see or hear, do not react. Do not even pay it any mind. If you go flapping your tongue, it won’t end with a simple punishment. Do you understand?”
It was an unexpected warning. But that, too, was as easy for me as breathing.
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
Isabella turned and knocked. *Knock, knock, knock.* Silence. She knocked again.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“I am coming in, Master.”
Permission did not come, but Isabella turned the doorknob. Darkness flowed out through the crevice as the door creaked open.
The room was pitch black. The air was cold, carrying a strange, metallic scent. I instinctively grabbed my nose, then quickly smoothed my face, remembering her warning. I held my breath.
But the moment Isabella stepped inside:
*Crash!*
“Huk!”
Something flew from the darkness and shattered against the wall.
I crouched down, wrapping my arms around my head. When no more objects followed, the room grew quiet again. I slowly opened my eyes. Isabella hadn’t moved an inch; shattered glass crunched beneath her shoes.
As she took another step forward, something else flew out—*thwack!*—a pillow hit the wall and fell to the floor.
What is this? I straightened my body, my eyes straining to adjust to the gloom, picking out the faint, sharp silhouettes hidden within the dark.