Episode 18

...Right, it wasn’t a crisis from the beginning.

Or rather, to be precise, even if a storm were brewing, I wouldn’t have noticed.

Why?

‘Because I was working!’

As the guests speculated about the count, the countess, and the new lady.

‘What are you gawking at? Hurry up!’

I was soon caught slacking and dragged through the servant’s passage.

‘Not that I was really slacking.’

My job was to dress the countess properly and send her away. That was about it.

Was the staff shortage my problem to handle?

‘In the end, I enthusiastically scrubbed plates.’

I was so engrossed in washing the wet dishes that I didn’t notice someone approaching.

Then...

“You really don't know anything?"

“Yes.”

I was caught by the head maid.

The headmaid cornered me in the hallway and glared at me.

“Posa, this is serious. The entire estate is about to be turned upside down!”

“I’m aware.”

“If you know, then… Ha. When was the last time you saw the madam?”

“I was in the hall... around the time Countess Cavlette entered."

“I’m not asking if you were there then.”

“…”

“Keep your mouth shut until the madam returns.”

The head maid grabbed my elbow tightly with a look of sudden realization.

I could see blood vessels bursting in her eyes behind the glasses.

“Even though it is unlikely, if… sigh. We must hope the madam is safe and sound.”

It seemed like she had finished what she wanted to say.

Now it was my turn to speak.

“Well… then may I have a quick meal?”

“What, what did you say?”

“I’ve barely eaten today.”

“How can you think about eating in a situation like this? How could you say that?”

For what reason should I not be able to?

'Like she said, if anything happened to the Madam, they’d probably throw me straight into the dungeon.'

Then I’d starve again.

'I want to have some buttered toast.'

I’d been on my feet for over twelve hours and hadn’t even had a proper drink of water...

I clutched my chest with trembling hands.

The weight of the silver coin in my pocket helped slow my breathing.

In, out, in, out.

“Posa, what are you... What brings the aide here?"

“The count has ordered to bring the maid Sonnet Posa.”

“Ah…”

“The count wishes to see Sonnet Posa alone.”

Am I XX screwed?

I'm XX screwed.

“It's a shame you won't have time to write a will."

The head maid shook her head and turned away.

It seemed she could foresee my doomed future.

“Hah…”

As I held my head and let out a deep sigh, a gentle warmth enveloped my shoulder.

As I looked up, I saw a face that brought both comfort and confusion.

“Why are you here, Sir Ute? Usually, an aide or a knight would be assigned for this job."

“Most of the capable staff have been sent out of the estate. I happened to be nearby and was caught.”

“What if the madam doesn’t come back? What will happen to me then...?”

A maid who failed to serve her mistress properly.

‘I’d be lucky if I only got fired.’

Who knows what kind of retribution might follow?

‘Legally, it is not possible.’

Though, how would the authorities know what occurred within such a vast estate?

Reality hit me a beat late, like a blow to the back of the head.

My palms tingled.

“She’ll be back soon.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because it’s too early for her to run away.”

The man covered my right hand with his and explained calmly.

“If it were later in the story, perhaps the female lead, cured from her incurable disease, would have considered running away to start anew... but we have yet to identify the illness."

"..."

"She'll come back safely. This is her first outing, isn't it?"

"That's true, but...."

"Then it's fine. At most, she’s probably just visiting some informant."

Absolute bullcrap.

'There's nothing certain in this world.'

The only thing I could rely on was the balance in my bank account.

Yet, strangely enough, the trembling in my hands stopped.

'Maybe it's because I'm hungry.'

How could I feel reassured by such bizarre logic?

'I shouldn't be swayed so easily.'

"Everything will be alright. Trust me."

If an angel tells you to believe, you must believe.

---

"Sonnet Posa, I told you before."

"..."

"That I'd be keeping an eye on you."

Help me.

The Count, leaning against his desk, appeared as if he hadn’t slept for days with the dark circles under his eyes.

'I'm the one who is summoned by the madam every night, so why does he look worse off?'

The fact that his skin was still smooth and glossy was even more ridiculous.

'Did he slather honey on his face or something?'

I hid my thoughts and quietly folded my hands.

The count's impatient footsteps echoed back and forth.

"You've heard the situation, right?"

"Yes, Master."

"How did my wife seem today?"

"She seemed a bit tense while getting ready, but also excited."

Though you ruined everything by allowing your ex here.

"Were there any unusual signs the day before?"

"No, there weren't."

"What is her daily routine?"

"She wakes up between nine and ten..."

The count bombarded me with questions without giving me a moment to breathe.

I interlocked my fingers and squeezed them tightly.

'I’m freaking out.'

Several hours passed after my questioning with the Count.

As dawn broke, the count, who had been tapping his desk, stood up.

"We have to seek cooperation from the royal family—"

Bang!

"My lord! She has returned!"

"...What?"

"The madam has returned!"

Following the happy announcement, a head of voluminous curls popped up.

"...Hah. Why—"

"Madam!"

I ran straight and stood before the madam.

My calves burned from standing still for hours.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Were you... worried?"

"Of course! I was so anxious something might have happened to you!"

If something had happened, the count would have eaten me alive!

The madam, who returned in a dark robe, appeared fine without a scratch.

"Thank goodness—"

"Wife, where have you been?"

The count's ominous voice echoed coldly.

I quietly inched away.

"I apologize for worrying you."

"I asked where you had been."

"..."

The atmosphere was absolutely stifling.

'Couldn't they just let us leave?'

The subordinates behind the count stood blankly.

However, despite her husband's abrupt interrogation, the countess remained silent.

The count's fierce gaze then shifted targets.

"You there, have you been properly attending to your master?"

"...I apologize."

Since the countess wasn't responding, he decided to take it out on me.

'Yes, yes, rant all you want.'

Being scolded by an employer was neither new nor surprising. I just focused on the repeating patterns of the carpet.

'Looks like they only repaired the left side. It must have been a pain to clean.'

"If you hadn't been negligent from the start, this wouldn't have happened."

"..."

"How do you intend to make amends?"

"Count! Sonnet did nothing wrong—"

"Countess, please remain silent."

At the count's rebuke, the countess shrank back again.

"This task was evidently too much for you."

"I am deeply sorry."

"Your negligence has been—"

This was dragging on too long.

The count's tirade seemed endless.

‘I’m starving; can’t he wrap it up already?’

I was nearing twenty-four hours without food.

The countess, the aide, and even the physician all looked for an opportunity to intervene, but to no avail.

“Sonnet Posa, do you understand the gravity of your mistake?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Good. Then you’ll understand the following—leave this estate before dawn.”

Excuse me?

‘This guy’s really crossing the line now.’

I lifted my eyes, which I had kept respectfully lowered.

The count appeared dead serious, with no intention of taking back his words.

After all this nagging I endured, now this?

"I'm fired. Ah, you’re saying you are going to fire me.”

“Must I repeat myself?”

His tone suggested I wasn’t even worth reconsidering.

‘That won’t do.’

If it ended here, it would all be for nothing.

I’d endured so much hardship. The house has yet to be put in my name...!

‘I feel dizzy.’

My head was buzzing and I felt hot.

I clasped my hands tightly and stared at the count.

What had previously felt ominous now appeared as benign as a kitten.

“Why me?”

“What did you say?”

“I asked why I should be fired.”

Hahaha.

Originally, people on the brink of quitting had nothing to fear.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“This is all your fault, my lord.”

---

Prev || Toc || Next