A persistent rustling sound woke Areum up. After tossing around in bed, Areum could no longer bear it and opened her eyes. A small flame in the lamp hanging from the ceiling was softly illuminating the room. The rustling sound was coming from Areum’s left. Once she turned, she saw Solenn in her maid’s uniform, tidying the other bed. Realizing it was Solenn, Areum falteringly sat up. She felt that she shouldn’t keep lying in bed when Solenn was already up and moving.

The other bed in the room must belong to Solenn, Areum thought to herself. The bed was astonishingly tidy, and since its owner hadn’t shown up before Areum had fallen asleep, she had assumed she had the room to herself, which she had been happy about. To be fair, it was ludicrous of her to think that she would get a room to herself. For a maid, she should consider herself lucky in that she didn’t have to sleep 4 or 8 to a room.

On the inside, Areum was making predictions about whether having Solenn as a roommate would be good or bad in the long run. All throughout elementary, middle, and high schools, Areum had lived at home and had her own room. She was especially worried because she had a track record of difficulty sleeping due to sharing a room with other students when on school trips and retreats. Besides that, Solenn had a cold and matter-of-fact impression, and she also seemed to be much older than Areum. Solenn felt like a somewhat difficult counterpart to have as her first ever roommate. Thinking that if she were going to continue spending time with Solenn for the foreseeable future, wanted to have a good relationship with her. Areum hesitantly greeted her.

“Good morning.”

Solenn silently folded her blanket without answering. Areum bit her lip in embarrassment. There’s no need for her to ignore me like this, right? Paying no attention to Areum, who was clenching and unclenching her fists, trying to fight her displeasure, Solenn finished making the bed by placing the blanket she had folded to the size of her pillow at the head of her bed, then the pillow on top of it. Only once she had finished her task did she turn to Areum. Her brow burrowed slightly after she glanced at Areum’s bed.

“Next time, make your bed as soon as you wake up.”

“Ah… Yes.”

Areum found her shoes on the floor and slipped them on. She was uncomfortable because she didn’t even put the socks on first, but meeting Solenn’s gaze made her rush. As she bent over and put her shoes on, she heard an annoyed sigh. Her body winced automatically. When she looked up, Solenn’s gaze had fallen on her sneakers. Areum needlessly wiggled her toes.

“Usually, you should be starting your work right away, but just wait here for now.”

“Why?”

Areum asked.

If she had to start to work right away, she could. She had no problem with leaving the room she was in that very second. Of course, she’d have to ask Solenn to wait a second as she put on her socks, but that wouldn’t even take a minute. Ah. Maybe two minutes, if she had to make her bed too.

In any case, Areum could be prepared to work right away, so she was curious why she had to wait, and that curiosity made its way out of her lips without any sort of filter to catch it.

Solenn grimaced.

“Just do as I say.”

Glaring at Areum with a contemptuous look, Solenn continued.

“I’m telling you this since it is your first day, but all you have to do is do what you’re told to without any thoughts of your own. If you’re told to do something, you do it, and if you’re told not to do something, you don’t. You don’t get to ask for reasons or explanations. Don’t ask questions, and don’t be curious. If you can’t keep these basic rules, these basic rules, then I’ll request to have you fired immediately. Do you understand?”

“… Yes.”

“I am the head maid of this house. When you answer me, always say ma’am.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Though she still had somewhat of a grimace on her face, Solenn seemed to have decided that was enough for the time being. She took down the lamp hanging from the ceiling. Areum realized that was the very lamp that had guided their way last night. Solenn opened the latch of the lantern, glass on all sides, and extinguished the fire with a single blow. In an instant, darkness fell over them.

Solenn calmly approached the door, and once she had opened it, blue light of dawn came flooding into the room. Once she had hung the lantern on the wall with the door, she closed the door and left. The room went dark in a single second.

‘What’s going on? Is she just leaving me like this?’

Areum blinked in the inky darkness. She had never imagined something like this happening. What she had expected her fate in the morning to be as she cried herself to sleep was persecution, ridicule, and mockery, not being locked in a room without even a flicker of light.

Inside a closed-off room—even if the sun were to rise, no natural light could enter the room since there were no windows. Though this only meant that there was no reason for her to be in her sleeping quarters during the day, Areum didn’t think of that, but instead, once again was hit with the reality of her position, having crash landed in a yet underdeveloped civilization.

When she quietly approached the door, she heard the sound of other doors opening and closing. The people in the room next door must be starting their days as well. Having cautiously waited for the murmuring sounds of women’s voices to grow distant, when Areum didn’t hear any sounds, she opened the door a smidge. One thin beam of light fell on the dark floor. She had no intention of leaving the room. It had just been too dark.

Areum shrank down on the floor next to the door and hugged her knees. Even just before sleeping, she had been worried about wrinkling her uniform, but now she wondered what the use was in worrying anymore. How long would she have to wait?

Areum sighed. If she only knew when Solenn would be back, she wanted to go out and find some place to wash up. She wanted to wash her face and brush her teeth. She was hungry, too. ‘Will they give me breakfast?!’ Areum looked up suddenly. Traditionally, one shouldn’t let those whom you have invited in go hungry. Areum leaned over and stared out the door out of apprehension. It was already quite bright out. The light coming in through a small window on the opposite side of the hallway no longer had any trace of blue. And there was no one around.

Areum stood up from where she was and paced in the space between the two beds.

When Solenn returns, will she bring breakfast with her? It seemed completely unlikely. She had starved for the last two days. She couldn’t bear to eat the pig-slop that she had been given when locked in a cell. If she had to starve today as well, she might have to sneak into the kitchen.

Why didn’t they give her work to do in the first place? If there were a reason, all Solenn had to do was tell her. Being pointlessly left in the room only frustrated her. If she had been allowed to sleep some more, even that would be great, but there was no way she could sleep.

Areum was plodding back and forth nervously when she heard the sound of footsteps. The tip taps of footsteps resounding in the corridor had a rhythm to them, and though they weren’t running, they were certainly moving quickly. Behind them, another pair followed. They stopped in front of the door to the room Areum was in. The door opened, revealing the owners of the footsteps. It was Solenn. Behind her was another maid carrying a basket. Her hair was orange and braided into a single plait, and her face was full of freckles. She looked to be a couple years older than Areum.

Solenn gestured, and the maid entered the room and handed the basket to Areum. In it were a few pieces of pale clothing and a pair of shoes.

“You may leave now, Isabelle.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Isabelle responded modestly. Naturally turning her gaze to her, Areum and Isabelle’s eyes met for a moment. She was studying Areum just as if she were watching animals perform acrobatics at the circus. Her eyes were squinting, and her mouth crooked with mockery, having seen something subhuman. While Areum was bewildered by the sudden antagonism shown to her, the maid retraced the way she had come and disappeared.

“Change your shoes.”

Areum muttered, “Yes ma’am” in response, and took a pair of black loafers out of the basket. The shoes had a small heel and were an exact match with Solenn’s. Though she didn’t know how Solenn got her size, the shoes fit well. In fact, they fit so well that there was no room between her foot and the shoe, but it wasn’t bad enough to make them unwearable. So, Areum sucked it up and tucked her sneakers under her bed, then stood up.

When Areum looked around to find a place to put the basket, realized that her bed was still a mess and only then did she begin to fold her blanket. That is, until she heard Solenn’s next words.

“Usually, there’d be a few more things to prepare, but seeing as Lord Millard has requested you, you’ll have to go like this. Follow me.”

“I…!”

Areum quickly grabbed Solenn, who had already turned and started leaving. Though she knew she was someone who strictly upheld the hierarchy of command and discipline, still, there were things that needed to be sorted out.

***

Duke Millard’s bedroom was dazzling.

It was full of things—a technicolor painting on the high ceilings, furniture decorated in gold and silver plating, a blue bed complete with a canopy draped from it, a wall covered by a tapestry, leather-bound books scattered across the floor, and a chess set, the pieces of which were knocked over. But due to the curtains currently drawn on each side, it was dark inside.

A genial knock rang out in the room.

Millard, who was buried in his blankets, opened his eyes. Though he had already woken up a bit earlier, once Solenn left his room, he had fallen asleep once again. Generally, he woke up even later than this; the sun had to reach its peak in the sky for him to finally leave his bedroom. But today he was early to wake, he had something he was inwardly excited for. However, his expectations did not play out as he had planned.

He heard a second knock at the door.

Somewhat annoyed that his expectations had been foiled, Millard thought about how he would deal with the people who made him wait. Should he kill them? He recalled the room as effortlessly as breathing, without any pleasure. But he quickly pushed it out of his mind. He had long lost interest in killing humans. Even if he killed and killed again, there would always be humans. There was nothing as futile as killing them. Of course, if he found them unsatisfactory, he would murder them with ease, but was that so important?

He no longer heard any knocking. Just by concentrating a bit, he could feel the presence of two people waiting beside the door. He could sense the heat of living things. The two women who were standing still would likely not move until he let them into his room. That blind obedience appeased his mind. He rang the bell.

The door soon opened, and two women entered.

“Solenn, leave.”

“Sir, I…”

“Leave.”

Only after Solenn had left according to his stern dismal, Millard sit up. He saw a woman’s small figure looking back at the door. The black hair that had just yesterday been tangled like a lunatic was now wrapped into a round bun on the back of her head. It was the same exact color as his. Once she had turned back around, he saw a small smile on her face.

“Why are you smiling?”

Areum responded, still smiling, as Millard propped himself up on a thick pillow.

“I remembered something head maid Solenn had said earlier.”

As she spoke, Areum approached Millard’s bed with quick steps. Her demeanor was cheerful, as if she had forgotten everything that happened yesterday. Her broad smile had a smooth arc, as if it had been painted on with a brush. Was she just pretending to be friendly? Seeing her seemingly devoid of fear, he recalled the events of the day before—her blubbering, and how she did as he told her to.

He didn’t believe that she said she’d do anything for him. He had seen many women willingly strip to save their lives. His reason for not killing her was a matter of the pleasure principle—he had decided to have a bit of fun.

“Master, what can I do for you? Have you eaten?”

One of the cheeks on her pure face was red and swollen, but Millard didn’t take interest. He reached out his hand and pointed at the jigsaw puzzle on a nearby table.

“A piece is missing. Find it.”

Areum went to the table upon his directions. A nearly completed puzzle, about 50cm on each side, was on the table. On the pieces of intricately cut thin wood, curves intact, a still-life painting was pictured. A variety of flowers in a vase against a dark forest-green background. On the same table as the vase were a handful of other trifling objects—a dagger, a lute, and a book. But right in the very center of the puzzle, was a single empty slot for a single piece. Through the center of the slot, the soft purple cloth underlying the puzzle was visible.

She looked at Millard again. Her eyes were round and wide, her face bewildered. Millard didn’t say another word and instead picked up a book he had set aside. Even once he had gotten comfortable and opened the book where his bookmark was, he didn’t sense the woman move at all. When he secretly glanced at her again, she was looking around the jam-packed room with a dumbstruck look.