15.
“Then, I shall return to my duties. The servants will move your belongings inside.”
Butler Sebas, who had been standing behind us, said with a composed smile.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you, Butler.”
Roanna and Marin hurriedly bowed their heads.
“You are overly generous with your thanks for such a small thing. Good day.”
Butler Sebas received their greeting with perfect posture, turned, and walked away.
“Would you two please follow me?”
Olive asked gently.
“Yes.”
Marin helped Roanna as they entered the annex. The hallway was adorned with expensive-looking pottery and flamboyant flowers at every turn.
The annex was far wider and more luxurious than they had imagined. It made them wonder if this was truly a building meant for staff.
“First, this room is for your mother to use, Marin. It is the room that catches the sunlight best.”
Olive threw open a white door and stepped back.
As soon as Marin and Roanna entered, their eyes widened. They looked at each other in bewilderment.
Sunshine poured through the wide, floor-to-ceiling windows. A chandelier sparkled, casting glints of light across the gold-patterned wallpaper. A large, plush bed sat in the center. It was a room where luxurious furniture was arranged with effortless elegance.
“Is this really staff accommodation?”
Roanna whispered into Marin’s ear, looking dazed.
“I don’t think so?”
Marin, scanning the room with a bewildered gaze, looked back at Olive.
“Mr. Olive. I think we may have been brought to the wrong room.”
“Are you not pleased with it? Would you like to see another?”
“Yes? Oh, no. It’s not that I’m displeased, it’s just…”
Marin trailed off, her expression baffled.
“The entire third floor of this annex has been cleared out exclusively for you and your mother, Marin. Please look around and choose whichever room you prefer.”
Olive explained kindly, his smile soft and unwavering.
Marin’s mouth fell open.
The entire third floor?
At a glance, there seemed to be at least five rooms.
“Mr. Olive. Is this really an annex for servants?”
Marin finally asked the question she had been dying to know since they stepped inside.
“Of course not.”
Olive shook his head with a beaming smile.
“Right? I thought as much.”
Marin nodded, but her curiosity remained unquenched.
“Then why exactly am I here?”
Olive stared at her with a look that suggested he wondered why she would ask such a strange thing.
“You are not a maid, are you, Marin?”
“Am I not?”
“You are the assistant to the Duke’s secretary—which is me.”
Was that position really treated with such immense prestige?
Marin gulped down the words that were about to spill out and offered an awkward smile.
“Right. I am the… assistant.”
She deliberately emphasized the word, but Olive only maintained his benevolent expression.
“Shall we look at the other rooms then?”
“Mom.”
Marin turned to her mother, seeking her opinion.
“If I am allowed to use this room, I should like to stay here.”
Roanna whispered cautiously to Marin.
“Yes, Mom. Mr. Olive, would it be possible for me to take the room next to hers?”
“Of course. And would you like to have your breakfast in your room?”
“Is that allowed?”
Marin asked, surprised.
“Naturally. Because you are the assistant to the Duke’s secretary.”
Olive gave a gentle smile, emphasizing the word ‘assistant’ just as she had.
“Ah… thank you.”
Marin bowed her head with a strained smile.
A luxurious room and meals brought to her door. Being the assistant to the Duke’s secretary was truly a fine profession.
“Would you come to the office after breakfast? There are some parts of the contract that need revising.”
At those words, Roanna tightly gripped Marin’s sleeve, her fingers trembling.
Marin patted her hand to let her know it was alright.
“Yes.”
“Then, please rest.”
Olive, pretending not to notice their distress, gave a slight nod and left.
“This room is just as nice as the old one. The bed is so soft.”
Roanna’s voice trembled as she stroked the cozy bedding, as if she couldn’t believe it was real.
“Mom, I’ll buy you an even better bed than this one soon.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
Roanna shook her head, looking uncomfortable.
“I know. I’m just bragging in advance because I’m going to make a lot of money.”
When Marin said this with her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest, Roanna let out a soft laugh.
That was when it happened.
*Knock, knock.* A cautious knock interrupted them.
“Yes. Please come in.”
A young maid, perhaps fifteen years old with short red hair brushing her chin, pushed a trolley inside.
“He-hello. Miss. From today, I will be serving you and your, your mother. I am Yuria.”
Perhaps embarrassed by her stuttering, Yuria’s face turned as red as her hair.
“Hello, Yuria. And please, I am not a ‘Miss,’ so don’t call me that.”
When Marin refused gently, Yuria looked flustered and on the verge of tears.
“Then, wh-what sh-should I call you?”
“Just call me Marin. My mother’s name is Roanna.”
“Ye-yes, Marin-nim. Roanna-nim.”
“You don’t need to add ‘nim’ either.”
At this, Yuria’s eyes went round in alarm, and she waved both her hands frantically.
“I c-can’t do that. The S-Secretary and the B-Butler told me to s-serve Marin-nim well. I am s-so sorry. I h-have stuttered in front of strangers s-since I was a child. I am truly, s-so sorry. It will get b-better soon.”
“It’s alright. I can understand you perfectly. Right, Mom?”
“That’s right.”
At their kind attitude, Yuria’s face slowly returned to its natural color.
“I will… I will prepare your meal.”
Yuria pushed the trolley toward the tea table and began setting the food.
Warm pumpkin soup, freshly baked bread, cheese, and ham. Various jams. Dessert, consisting of pudding and macarons, completed the display.
A splendid breakfast was set in no time.
After finishing her task, Yuria stepped back, took a deep breath, and spoke slowly to avoid stuttering.
“What time would you like to have lunch? Shall I bring it here as well?”
“Yes. Please serve all our meals here from now on. Breakfast at eight, lunch at one, and dinner around seven.”
“Ye-yes. Understood. If you leave everything as is after you finish eating, I will clean it up. If you need anything else, please ring the bell by the bedside at any time.”
“We will. Thank you.”
Yuria bowed slightly and left.
Once she was gone, Roanna’s expression darkened.
“This is a big problem.”
“Why, Mom?”
“I was short-sighted. I was so caught up in how well the Duke was treating us that I forgot. Forgot what kind of man he is.”
Fear crept into Roanna’s green eyes.
“You heard the rumors, too, didn’t you? That he never shows mercy to his enemies.”
“Yes…”
Marin nodded heavily.
“If he finds out that we lied…”
As Roanna’s voice trembled, Marin took her hands warmly.
“Mom. Don’t worry too much. I will do my best to ensure I am as helpful to the Duke as possible.”
“Will that be enough?”
“Of course. Just trust me. Besides, eat before the food gets cold.”
Marin spoke more cheerfully than she felt to reassure her mother.
“Alright. Let’s eat together.”
Seeing Roanna sit down, Marin followed suit.
In truth, she felt uncomfortable too. The endless kindness she received simply for being an assistant to the secretary felt unsettling.
Ever since her father passed away, the only people who had been ‘kind’ to her were con artists.
But surely, the Duke wasn’t trying to con her.
Marin forced herself to shed her worries and gulped down the soup.
* * *
Marin entered the office.
“Welcome.”
“Yes. You wanted to rewrite the contract?”
Marin sat down and glanced at the paper on the table.
“There is something I added here.”
She took the contract Olive handed her and hurriedly read only the part marked as an addition.
[1 Gold shall be paid each time the Duke falls asleep.]