Episode 1

When it comes down to romance, the beginning is the most crucial part.

The person I have admired for so long once told me that.

Yes, that person.

The man strolling gracefully while the sunset illuminated his back was, as always, dazzling.

‘I should've worn sunglasses.’

His face was unbearably beautiful. I squinted, trying my best to keep my composure.

‘Damn it, he still looks good.’

It didn’t help much.

His silver hair shimmered as if spun from the lake's glimmering light, his green eyes shone deeper than the June forest, and his kind, delicate smile glowed.

‘I like him so so much.’

His striking appearance tested my patience every time.

Should I tell him?

Should I go ahead and confess?

‘Yeah, let’s do it.’

It's okay if I'm rejected.

‘Dating him would be too expensive anyway.’

All the main characters were the same.

Their emotional immaturity repeatedly resulted in renting out entire department stores, creating artificial lakes, and locking down cities.

‘If you convert all that to cash currency, how much would it amount to?’

Romance is a reckless subject.

‘But….’

If it's him, I wouldn’t mind spending a tenth, no, a quarter, no, even half of my fortune.

‘Maybe, just maybe, if by any chance, Ute likes me too!’

Half of it!

Willingly!

I opened and closed my sweaty palms.

‘Even if he doesn’t, at least I’ll have conveyed my feelings properly.’

"Hey...!"

“Actually...!”

Ah.

It was a comically fitted moment, woven like fate.

The man I admired smiled faintly and gave me a slight nod.

“Go ahead, you can speak first.”

“No, no. You go first.”

“In that case...”

He hesitated to open his mouth.

It was unlike his usual charming self.

“What’s taking you so long?”

“It’s not easy to put into words.”

“To put what into words?”

“There’s something I want to hear from you specifically.”

“...”

“This only holds meaning to me if it comes from you."

His curled eyelashes were radiant.

No way, could it be, this feeling! This atmosphere!

“Therefore, Sonnet."

“Yeah?”

The man I adored continued with the most alluring smile in the world.

“Could you tell me that you don't like me and never will in the future?”

What the XX.

---

Whoosh!

A bluish entity traced a graceful arc as it flew into the distance.

Whatever could it be?

“My pillow...”

Then, what was that falling on the opposite side?

“My bed...”

Could my house possibly collapse without a single warning?

Brace yourself, because it absolutely could.

“Am I dreaming?”

I pinched my cheek.

Ouch.

I yanked my hair.

Ouch again.

I sniffed the air as my hand dug into my pocket.

“2 silver and 7 copper.”

That metallic smell was unmistakably real.

But this is—

Bang, Bang, Bang...

My home was falling apart like a Lego set trampled on by toddlers. Something metal was enthusiastically demolishing my home. Well, technically not 'my home.'

‘The rental I’ve busted my butt for years to afford!’

It was disintegrating.

Like dust...

I blankly stared as another object was tossed into the air and smashed.

It was cheap furniture that could be found in any house, but I recognized it instantly.

That was the table I bought to celebrate three months at my job.

Or rather, the remains of what used to be a table.

Crack.

Now it was a pile of debris!

“What the heck is going on here?”

“Goodness, the building is just falling apart.”

People stood where the heavy machinery couldn’t reach and gossiped. It must have been some fancy destructing equipment because the three-story apartment building was dismantled in a flash.

Alongside my mental state, which also crumbled in a flash.

“But why are they suddenly demolishing that place?”

“Didn’t you see earlier?”

“See what?”

“The Duke passed by here!”

Huh?

‘Why would a high-ranking noble visit a residential area like this?’

Why would someone who frequents the palace or something of the equivalent come here?

I took a deep breath and clutched my coin pouch tightly.

"The Duke has ordered to clear everything from here to over there. Apparently, it's for the new Duchess."

"D-duchess?!"

"Yes, a Duchess! Just recently, there was a huge fuss about their wedding at the Ducal residence."

It indeed was a big deal.

'Everyone in the mansion was overworked for months because of it.'

Every time a major event was hosted by one of the noble families, it was always chaotic like this.

'Gifts and costumes, there was just too much work to be done.'

Meal times changed, and cleaning times were altered as well.

Although that wasn't too much of an issue.

After all, it was a servant's predetermined fate to sleep later and wake up earlier than their master.

But what now?

"I think the Duke is smitten with the Duchess."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He came by early in the morning, looked around, and said something like..."

The man cleared his throat and recited in a lowered tone.

"'This isn't a view fit for the Duchess. Clear it.'"

Whoosh!

Ah, that mattress was bought on a three-month installment plan four days ago...

'There are truly many kinds of crazy people in the world.'

It felt like someone was throwing iron balls at my head.

Bang, bang, bang...

"...Let's just get to work."

It seemed to me like everything that could be thrown away had already been discarded. I couldn't just stand around like this forever.

'Time is money.'

I picked up the paper bag I had dropped on the floor and commenced walking.

'I guess I'll have to reside in the servants' quarters for a while.'

Working at a noble's mansion had its perks.

'Some places are so over-employed that the servants sleep on mattresses laid out on the floor.'

The place where I was working had relatively good conditions for the servants.

'I'll have to stay there and save up diligently for a while.'

It was a relief to have some source of income.

Otherwise, I might have sat down on the street and cried my eyes out.

'Let's work hard.'

Resolving to do my best, I strode through the back door.

The workplace I returned to was different from an hour ago.

"What are we going to do about housing right now?"

"Will I have to return to my hometown?"

"And the savings?"

"You're worried about savings? My loan payment is due next week!"

The kitchen being chaotic was nothing new.

Chopping, frying, turning up the heat, adding water…

But this, right now, was beyond chaos—it was practically hell.

"What on earth is happening? What's this fuss?"

A long-time servant belonging to the kitchen staff contorted his face in frustration.

"We've all been dismissed!"

"What?"

"Fired!"

"Why? Even me? All of us?"

"What, do you think you're an exception?"

The man threw his apron with a loud smack. I felt his heavy breath brush my cheek.

"No, I mean... what did we do wrong?"

"Wrong? It's easy to blame anything on us."

"Why on earth??"

He was clearly exasperated, but I was desperate.

To be dismissed so abruptly?

'There was no mention of this in the morning!'

A complete staff turnover? Even the royal palace doesn't terminate their employees this suddenly. What about my salary? The bonus I was supposed to receive after this busy period?

As I wandered around in confusion, a woman who had started six months before me chimed in to explain.

"It's all because of the cauliflower."

"What about it?"

"We served cauliflower steak for lunch today."

Washing and cutting that cauliflower was a nightmare.

I nodded silently.

“The new mistress has a cauliflower allergy.”

“An allergy?”

Understanding the preferences and needs of the people we serve is fundamental. If there were an allergy, we would have been informed in advance.

'One person could let it slip their mind.'

But the entire kitchen staff?

It seemed more plausible that the master had forgotten to inform us.

“We were never told about such a fact.”

“Of course not. No such directive was ever given.”

“...What?”

“The mistress had never eaten cauliflower before.”

“How could we know something even she was unaware of?”

“What does it matter? She fainted during lunch, and the master was absolutely furious—”

The woman mimicked a throat-slitting gesture and swiftly departed.

Behind me, a loud voice resounded.

“What are you standing around for? Get out, now!”

The head maid.

I hadn’t seen her since the interview.

“I- Is it true that we're all dismissed?”

“Did you not hear me just now?”

"I didn't."

Her brows furrowed deeply.

With a heavy sigh, the head maid continued in a stern tone.

“The master has ordered the complete replacement of everyone in the kitchen, from the head chef to the worker delivering a single potato or scallion.”

It felt like I was swallowing a lump of coal.

I hastily grabbed the head maid’s sleeve.

“No, no, you can’t do this. I have no place to live, and if I lose my job too—”

“Well, you should have done better.”

Tak.

The head maid angrily slapped my hand away.

“How could you make such a dreadful mistake, even if unintentional!”

“But…”

“If this were a century ago, you’d have been beheaded for this!”

“What about this month’s salary…”

“The master is so devoted to the mistress— anyway, if you don't want to see worse, get out! Now!”

I was promptly kicked out.

If there was any silver lining, it was that I had no belongings to pack, since I never utilized the servants' quarters.

“Where do I go now?”

No home, no job.

After some contemplation, I found myself back at the ruins of what had once been my home.

My shelter was gone.

I quietly gazed down at the debris-laden ruins.

“What am I going to do with this mess?”

“They’re constructing a new building there tomorrow.”

“That quickly?”

“With the Duke’s money, nothing’s impossible.”

The murmuring crowd quickly dispersed as a downpour commenced.

“Ha, hahah…”

Thick raindrops trickled down my face.

One man demolished a home to impress his wife.

Another cost me my livelihood over an unknown allergy.

“What’s so great about love…”

I had long dreamed of owning my land in the capital.

How joyful it was when I finally saved enough to rent a modest apartment!

I decorated it with small paintings, a plush mattress, and a high-quality rug. My sanctuary, imbued with my blood, sweat, tears, and installments!

“Ah…”

My stomach churned.

I squatted down and clutched my belly.

Raindrops pounded on me relentlessly.

Tap, tap, tap.

For a moment, the sound of the rain felt distant.

When I looked up, an extraordinarily beautiful man, reminiscent of a Templar sculpture, was tilting an umbrella over me.

His green eyes shimmered like ice crystals beneath his silver lashes.

“Ah, well, your name…”

With an unbearably enchanting smile, the man spoke.

“Do you believe in romance?”

---

Hey baddies🫶🏼 Jela here! I will be working on this novel so we can all have a great time. Writing a comment and giving a like does so much for me and I would appreciate it very much! Without further ado, enjoy~

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