Chapter 2

I had heard that in order to find employment with an aristocratic family, you needed to have a reference, which I lacked.

But because I assisted His Grace, won’t he at least let me answer a few questions and see whether I’m a good fit? With hope in my heart, I gathered the courage to visit House Lewelton. After checking to make sure the coast was clear, I scrubbed my face in the fountain and attempted to put my ragged clothes to rights.

The flowers are lovely. Should I take them with me? I stuffed the crimson flowers into my patched pocket. It’ll be better than going empty-handed, right?

I left for Duke Lewelton’s manor at dawn.

“The duke gave you this?”

“Yes, sir. He handed it to me and urged that I seek him out.”

The gatekeeper, who at first tried to shoo me away with a swung fist, stared at the business card I was holding with wide eyes—he looked like he’d seen a ghost.

A carriage then pulled up in front of the gate. It was gilded and extravagant. A young boy flung the door open and stepped out.

“What is the matter?” he asked.

The boy was remarkably handsome, which led me to believe he was Kallen’s son, Jade.

“You wouldn’t believe it, Master Jade. This child here claims His Grace invited her to visit.”

Jade raised an eyebrow at me. “Has my father picked up some bizarre new hobby?”

“I have something very important to tell the duke,” I explained. “I need to see him.”

Jade sighed. “I’ll escort her inside for now,” he said to the gatekeeper, then turned to me. “Come.”

I trailed behind him hesitantly and entered the manor. The servants’ jaws fell when they saw me, but I was used to such looks. Nobody appreciated the attention of a filthy child.

“This way,” Jade commanded, ushering me into the drawing room.

The duke was already sitting inside.

“You’re…” Kallen’s eyes widened as he shot to his feet.

“Do you know this young girl, Father? She had your golden business card, which you don’t hand out to just anyone. If she stole it—”

“No, I do know her,” Kallen interrupted his son and grinned at me. “I’m glad you came.”

“What? You actually invited her here?” Jade eyed me with a grimace, as if presented with something dirty. I felt myself shrink, daunted by his gaze.

“Indeed. I’m greatly indebted to her. In fact, I was wondering how I could find her myself.”

“Excuse me, Your Grace…” When I spoke, my voice shook faintly. I was scared stiff, yet felt compelled to speak up. “Have you yet to hire a maid?”

Kallen’s brow furrowed. “I’m sorry?”

Ac k, how terrifying. He looks like some kind of ferocious beast.

“Why do you ask?”

“I-I saw it in the paper! It said that you were looking for a maid. S-since I’ve helped Your Grace, I was hoping you’d be willing to help me in return.”

“How old are you?”

“N-nine…” The mention of age made me nervous. “But I promise you that I’m quite strong for my age and in good health. I only need to eat one meal per day. There’s nothing I can’t do.”

“Nothing, you say?”

“I can mop the floors, do laundry, and… I-I’m even small enough to clean the chimneys!” I glanced around awkwardly.

Oddly, the more I spoke, the quieter the drawing room became.

“Oh my, is that right?”

A clear voice rang out from behind me. I turned to find a stunning woman, whose long, wavy hair was the same raven-black shade as the duke’s.

“I’m Marianne,” she introduced herself.

“Oh…”

Kallen’s younger sister. Her information sprang to mind. She was a magnificent beauty, just as she had been described in the novel.

“What of your parents?” she asked.

“I’m an orphan. That is to say, I did have a mother once…” I paused, sensing the probing eyes that surrounded me. “She passed away a few years back. I’m not sure from which disease, though.”

“Where do you live now?” Jade questioned.

“Well, I don’t exactly have a house to stay in,” I told him.

“No house? Then where do you sleep?”

“On the streets…” I spoke without thinking. It was a mistake. I wasn’t supposed to say anything that might lead to an unfavorable impression. “But I can sleep warmly if I cover myself in enough scrapped blankets. And the street I usually sleep on is very clean! I swear, I don’t have anything contagious!”

Silence engulfed the room once more. I wanted to die, suffocated by the awkward situation.

Marianne leaned forward. “You know, if I look closely, you’re actually rather adorable,” she said.

“Thank you, my lady.” My cheeks grew hot.

“Now, dear child, I heard Kallen gave you his golden business card. That means he is in your debt.” Marianne stroked her chin in thought. “Why is it that you wish to become a maid?”

I clenched my jaw. “Because I want to become something else.”

“Something else?”

“When I grow up, I want to be something other than a beggar.”

Once again, you could hear a pin drop in the room. I grew even more apprehensive.

“I-I’m fine with being poor, but I want to be an ordinary kind of poor. When I go to the town square to play with the other kids, they throw rocks at me. I just… want to be a normal person who isn’t chased away from normal places.”

With those words, distress welled up within me. A few days ago, I hadn’t been this person. If I had been a happy fool when I’d had no memories of my past life, I was now acutely aware of my station. As long as I’d had bread in my hand, I’d been the happiest child in the world.

It was true that I’d only been able to roam the streets before dawn. People swore at me when I walked down the street, and I’d been afraid of being taken to a workhouse. But until the memories of my old life all came flooding back, I’d thought nothing of being kicked around.

Marianne spoke again, this time in a softer tone. “Is that why you came here?”

“Yes, ma’am. I wasn’t sure where else to go for help…” I bit my lip, debating whether to tack on an apology.

“You did well, child,” Marianne whispered. “But what’s this?” She gestured to the flower petals clinging to my sleeve.

“Oh…” My face turned the same shade as the flowers.

I swear that I brushed off my clothes before coming here. I drew a red flower out from my pocket and handed it to her.

“It’s a flower.”

“Oh my. For me? Thank you, dear.”

At that moment, Kallen’s expression shifted. He tilted his head and his eyes bore into me, his voice low and threatening. “Where did you get that flower?”

“It was a gift,” I said thoughtlessly.

“From whom?”

“I don’t know. They were on top of me when I woke up this morning.” I briefly explained about the flower seller and his cart. “I meant to present these flowers to Your Grace as a gift.”

My late mother had taught me that you should never visit someone’s home empty-handed. I couldn’t remember it clearly, however, because I’d been quite little when she’d told me.

He won’t think I stole them, will he? I looked down and fiddled with my hands. The flowers suddenly appeared awfully shabby.

“I see,” Kallen said after a moment’s pause. He extended his hand, and I rushed to offer him a blossom. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Your Grace…”

“What wage are you seeking?” Marianne asked. Her question felt like salvation at that moment.

I considered the help-wanted ad I’d seen. “I’ll take whatever you have to offer, even if it’s a fourth of what a grownup would get.”

I’ll complete any chore I’m given, but there are some tasks that only adults are fit for. Kallen appeared to be in deep meditation.

“An eighth?” I hedged cautiously. My voice grew quieter with each attempt to bargain.

Kallen then met my gaze. “I need to confirm something first.”

“How did you discover William that day?”

I took a deep breath, ready to deliver the explanation I had rehearsed all night. “I noticed someone in the alley who looked just like the man in the wanted posters. And then I felt a strange premonition.”

“Ah, right. You mentioned that,” Kallen said. “You have a very keen eye. But why did you turn to me, of all people, for assistance?”

His question was strange. Is he interrogating me? Feeling me out? Of course, he is. Such a scenario is enough to raise suspicion.

“It was just a coincidence,” I replied. Another response I had planned.

“A coincidence?”

“Yes. Your Grace caught my eye the moment I was about to ask for help, probably because of your good looks. I had no idea you were a high-ranking noble, though.”

“Is that so?” Kallen’s smile deepened. It was a smile that could take any woman’s breath away.

“Yes. And because you’re an adult, I figured you’d be capable of fighting such a villain. Of course, if there had been a watchman nearby, I would’ve asked for their help instead.” My answers came naturally.

“Right. Now, I have one more question.” Kallen leaned forward. His eyes glinted with suspicion. “How did you know I was heading to the train station?”

“A man carrying a watch in his vest pocket was sprinting down a back alley… The situation is obvious, is it not? A fashionable gentleman would never deliberately choose the path of a filthy, narrow passage unless he was in a hurry. It was plain as day that you were on your way to the train station two blocks away, as that back alley is a well-known shortcut.”

Kallen’s eyes brightened at my response. “Well, aren’t you rather intelligent?”

I looked up at him, uneasy. Does this mean his suspicions have faded?

“Go wait in the next room,” he said, gesturing towards the door.

My shoulders drooped as he made no mention of hiring me. “We’d like to discuss a few things amongst ourselves first,” Marianne gently added.

I nodded nervously. “Yes, ma’am.”

Please, I don’t even wish to be a scullery or kitchen maid. I wouldn’t even mind being stuck cleaning the stables. Let me serve as a maid’s apprentice, even! I masked my desperation as I walked next door.

I took a turn about the room, admiring all the ornaments and decorations. This room, like the other, was astonishingly beautiful.