Episode 4

“You... handled it pretty well, considering how flustered you were.”

“Right?”

Iris, who had gotten the gist of the situation, nodded firmly.

“Money and beauty are inseparable, after all. But why won’t you tell me what the contract is about? How long is it for?”

“That’s something I can’t say.”

“Is there some sort of confidentiality clause?”

I smiled faintly without saying a word.

Taking my silence as confirmation, Iris stopped prying further.

‘There’s no such clause, actually.’

I wasn’t informing her everything for Ute Velvet’s sake and social standing.

‘It's nonsense every time I think about it…’

The idea of this world revolving around romance was fresh, though.

'It is indeed full of people blinded by love.’

Still, I couldn’t take Ute Velvet’s words at face value.

There was one reason I signed the contract even at the risk of my life.

‘That contract was real.’

There was nothing for me to lose.

‘The clause regarding the house is legit.'

Rather, that wasn’t my immediate concern.

I quickly drank the tea my friend had poured.

“You’re sure he hasn't figured out I like him, right?”

“Don’t worry, he'll never know in a million years.”

“But I feel like I made it too obvious…! What if he noticed I kept staring?”

“You have a talent for secret admiration, trust me.”

Iris sighed deeply and chewed on a biscuit, without leaving a single crumb.

‘Just like a rich noble.’

In moments like this, she didn’t seem like a child who came from the countryside.

She wiped her lips with a handkerchief and resumed the conversation.

“But do you have to hide that you like him?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“If he knows I like him, he'll assume I want to date.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“But I… I don’t want to date Sir Ute.”

Just looking at him was enough to make my heart race, even a brush of his fingers felt like my heart would burst...

‘But romance isn’t for me.’

Why commit to something so cost-effective?

‘If we dated, I’d have to keep buying gifts matching his eye color, rent out entire restaurants, and get custom-made rings from jewelers…’

How much would the check amount to in total?

‘There’s no need to bankrupt myself over a relationship.’

Every time I look back, my previous employers were truly out of their minds.

“I’m fine with things as they are now.”

Besides, the possibility of a relationship commencing wasn’t even there; I didn’t want any misunderstandings.

Just looking at him was enough, so I shall keep doing that!

‘If just looking at him makes my heart explode, dating him would kill me for sure.’

There’s no reason to date, and many reasons not to.

“Right, right. Relationships and marriage are never worth it.”

“You’ve never even been in one.”

“I was just saying!”

Iris pouted, her lips sticking out.

“Anyway, I'm very upset.”

“Why?”

“You lost both your house and job!”

Hearing the harsh reality from someone else stung.

I nodded, pressing my hand to my chest.

“If something like that happened, you should’ve told me first!”

“What could you have done, when you stay inside all day?”

“Still…”

“Don’t worry. I know your circumstances well."

She was someone who rarely went out to preserve her spending.

‘She’s probably earning more now than when we worked together.’

While my colleagues were steadily increasing their salaries, I…

‘Let’s not think about it.’

There’s no point in dwelling on things that bring no good.

I tied my hair into a bun and stood up.

“I have to go now.”

“Already?”

Her soft expression quickly turned sad.

“You've finally got some time off, can’t you stay a bit longer?”

“No, I’m busy.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll tell you if things work out.”

I adjusted my tightly bound waistband and waved.

“Thanks for lending me the clothes!”

---

“Applicant number 57, please come in.”

“Yes!”

I adjusted my collar, stood up, and pushed the handle.

The intricately carved door unlatched smoothly, showing signs of good maintenance.

“Miss Sonnet Posa? Correct?”

“Yes.”

“Identification... missing.”

“I have a personal reason for that. I can submit it by next week!”

“Well, alright. Please, have a seat.”

I displayed an immaculate interview smile and sat down.

‘I thought he would make some outrageous request.’

Once the contract was signed, my first task turned out to be unexpectedly straightforward and advantageous.

'You must begin searching for a job.'

With his snow-white hand, Ute Velvet handed me an application directed from the Count's estate.

'It must be this mansion.'

Well, I needed the job anyway.

The only difference was the added condition of ‘must.’

‘I’ve been interviewed over 50 times my whole life!’

No comment on the success rate.

“You do have a lot of experience…”

The woman sitting before me narrowed her eyes.

“You also have experience as a tutor?”

"From laundry to kitchen work… there's nothing I haven't done.”

There were three interviewers.

‘The one in the center is probably the head maid— the ones on either side are likely her subordinates.'

Such a large mansion wouldn’t hire just anyone.

‘They rarely hired new staff.’

And I’d been through the grind in the capital since graduating from the academy!

“I can do everything from cleaning and maintaining bedrooms to serving meals to furniture care and assisting in the kitchen!”

“Hmm…”

“If necessary, I can even change the master’s diapers—”

“The master isn’t even thirty yet!”

“It’s always good to be prepared in advance.”

I’d done most tasks that mansion staff might be required to do, from small villas with ten staff to residences accumulating three hundred.

The only issue was…

“Your resume is impressive, but… none of your jobs lasted more than six months?”

A history of extremely short employment periods.

But I had my reasons.

“There’s a really sad story behind that…”

“Lack of perseverance?”

“I never left on my own.”

I always intended to stay forever!

But employers always fired me just as I was getting settled.

“You mean you were fired from all of them?”

“Yes, to put it bluntly…”

“Hmm, no letters of recommendation either.”

“After working at so many places? Not one?”

“Well, there’s a really sad story behind that too…”

If they had the decency to give recommendations, they wouldn’t have fired me in the first place.

Cursing my former employers, I forced a smile.

The head maid’s sharp glasses glinted sharply.

“Is this address a lodging house?”

“Yes, it is.”

“You’ve been in the capital for years and still don’t have a proper residence?”

“There’s a really sad story behind that too…”

You're not curious, are you?

‘Oh, it’s rather fascinating.’

If you would just hire me, I could tell the spectacular tale of a house that was once there but disappeared!

The interviewers all bore bleak faces.

I could sense it intuitively.

‘I’m screwed.’

If it was an interview I’d pass, the atmosphere would have been different.

I had one last card to play.

‘I didn’t want to go this far…’

I adjusted my tight waistband and sank onto the carpet.

Thud…!

My black skirt spread out neatly.

“Wh-what are you—"

“If you hire me, I promise I’ll do anything, anything at all!”

I had no choice but to play the sympathy card!

I clasped my hands tightly and pleaded pitifully.

“I truly, absolutely need to work at this mansion! I’m desperate!”

It was easy to adopt a tearful voice.

“With my dedication!”

My dream of home ownership!

“And my sincerity!”

For the beautiful smile of my crush!

“I want to dedicate it all to this residence!”

Just let me see Ute Velvet’s smile one more time, please!

“Wai-wait a mi…”

“I guarantee my enthusiasm for work is unmatched by any other applicant!”

Please, hire me!

I was about to bang my head on the floor.

“Ahem! Lift your head, please!”

“So, Miss Posa, are you saying you’re willing to work for free if you can get this job?”

“Pardon?”

Where did that come from?

I blinked pitifully and waved my hands.

“That’s not what I meant…”

“…”

“I still need to eat… haha.”

“…”

“All I can offer to this mansion is my body and soul."

But not for free.

‘Though my heart belongs to someone else.’

It’s normal to exaggerate in an interview!

“…Alright, I see.”

My sympathy ploy seemed to be working; the atmosphere softened a bit.

“Then, this will be—”

“Wait.”

The head maid, who had remained silent since I sank to the carpet, finally spoke.

“Miss Posa, are you willing to do anything?”

---

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