Episode 64

“D...ad?”

The butler muttered like a child who had just learned a new word.

The emotions etched on his stern face were unmistakably agitated. I did not let the opportunity slip by.

“Yes, Dad.”

‘One-third of a dad, anyway.’

He might be my dad, but he might not be. What mattered now was the possibility.

I forced a bright smile.

“You know someone named Marilyn, right?”

“...”

“You were flustered from the first time you saw me.”

The first person Sage Wedon consciously noticed was not Ute but me.

‘An angel is by my side but he looks at me first. That’s not normal.’

Ute had a way of making the presence of those beside him fade by about fifty percent.

If I managed to catch his eye through that phenomenon... the reason was clear.

I closed the distance between myself and the hesitant man.

“It’s alright. Everyone starts that way. Well, they mistake me for my mother, then realize I am not who they thought, and get flustered... something like that.”

Men who searched for my mom in me with embarrassing pet names.

The memory of their faces, desperate beyond shock, twisted my stomach.

‘If there was only one case, I would have been more at ease.’

If that were the case, I wouldn’t need to cling to the person in charge and put on this show.

Nor would I have volunteered to call him 'Dad.'

“Your start is smooth, Dad. You knew right away who my mom was.”

“So, that, Dad...”

His eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept for days.

The man frowned, pressing hard on his eye sockets.

“Miss, I mean Miss Posa. It’s regrettable you couldn’t be with our family. But to play such a prank—”

“A prank?”

Ah.

My tone came out unexpectedly harsh.

But instead of changing course, I pressed further.

“Who’s playing a prank here?”

“Just now, that remark—”

“I’m serious right now.”

“...”

“I didn’t prefer to disclose it either. If only I hadn’t heard the reason from Lapis.”

Mom mentioned three candidates for my dad.

I had already identified their names.

‘I asked intending to run away if I ever bumped into them.’

I never thought I’d utilize it this way.

“It felt a bit unfair. Dad, Dad... What’s so special about it?”

His blue eyes, filled with confusion.

Eyes the same color as mine flickered with distrust.

‘I don't like this too.'

If it weren’t for this special situation, aligning our interests would have been perfect.

“Dad, no, Sir Sage Wedon.”

“...”

“Have you forgotten the spring and summer of 26 years ago?”

“That's...”

“You wouldn't have forgotten that night.”

Though Mom never told me this part.

I pressed the man with vaguely worded recollections.

“I understand. If a grown woman suddenly claims to be your daughter, it would be shocking.”

“Yes. I was... acquainted with Marilyn in the past. But this is quite a leap.”

“You only knew her?”

His angular eyes twitched slightly.

Sage Wedon quickly composed himself but couldn’t completely hide his emotions.

“I’m not asking you to play the role of Dad now. I don’t want that either.”

“...”

“Let’s keep this simple. I’m not here to claim child support or anything.”

It was natural since he was still just a candidate.

It would be troublesome if I took anything and it turned out to be false.

Though it couldn’t be revealed, conversely, there wouldn’t be definitive proof that it wasn’t true.

Fortunately, what I wanted from Sage Wedon was very simple.

“Just let me work here. You saw my recommendation letter. I’m good at my job.”

“I’d rather connect you with another household.”

“It has to be here.”

“Why are you so insistent...? If it’s because of the young master, you don’t need to trouble yourself.”

“I fail to comprehend why you are bringing up Lapis in this situation.”

“Unless it’s that—”

“I’m saying I want to work in this mansion. As the personal maid to the young lady.”

I took a step forward.

The man took two steps back.

“Dad.”

Arms tightly crossed. Eyes constantly on guard.

A perfect posture of rejection.

“Don’t be too disgusted. Once this is settled, I won’t call you that again.”

“...”

“From now on, forever.”

Unlike the naive soldier, this man was not easy.

‘This is more normal.’

Who would believe it if a stranger suddenly said, ‘I’m your daughter’?

“You are spouting baseless claims.”

“But you believe it vaguely, don’t you?”

Not entirely, but about 40-30 percent.

The fact that he couldn’t take his eyes off my face was proof. The man stubbornly shook his head while still fixating his gaze.

“There’s no certainty.”

“Shall we establish certainty now?”

“No matter how many times—”

“Then, let’s see if Sir Wedon ends up believing me or not."

After all, I had plenty of time since I just got discharged.

---

Crash!

“And who are you?”

“My name is Sonnet Posa, here to serve the young lady.”

The angle at which the teacup was thrown suggested well-developed arm muscles.

I stepped aside from the shattered fragments and bowed.

“What? You?”

“Yes, young lady.”

Ruby Zephyrite, Lapis’s sister, raised her eyebrows sharply.

“Clearing out the idiots brought in an even bigger idiot.”

“Yes, I look forward to working with you.”

My conversation with the head butler ended in my victory.

As a result, I successfully secured the position of Ruby Zephyrite exclusive maid.

The young lady I now served was truly...

“You idiot. Can’t you understand simple words!”

A piece of trash.

Red tea soaked my head completely.

‘How many times has this happened already?’

The young lady’s antics were endless.

Pouring tea was a routine.

Throwing expensive teaware was a sport.

‘Never hits me, though.’

She’d make me go hungry and stand in the corner for a whole day whenever she felt like it.

“Sorry for being so late."

Like right now.

I could only find the dining hall after Ruby Zephyrite left for a banquet.

“You didn't eat a single thing again today?”

“It's alright. I’ll take care of myself.”

“How can you say that? Sit down and wait a moment.”

The servant resting in the corner quickly prepared a neat meal.

Unlike my previous workplace, this place had... a lot of camaraderie among the staff.

“Here, eat plenty. Eat plenty.”

“We heard. You’re having a tough time.”

“Here, have some candy.”

“Thank you.”

They didn’t leave immediately but stayed around me.

“Is the work very difficult?"

“It’s okay.”

“We’re among ourselves. Speak freely. Everyone knows the young lady’s nature.”

“It’s really okay. It’s not like this is the first time.”

Having been a tutor and taking a soot shower, this tea trick was cute.

Fortunately, the trashy young lady wasn’t creative despite being an adult.

This meant...

“Welcome back, young lady.”

“Let go...!”

“It’s quite late. Let’s—”

“Ha...!”

Her repertoire was limited.

“You’re laughing at me too, aren’t you?”

The woman crawled back in by dawn, completely drunk.

“Everything is so annoying. Father saddles me with a half-wit fiancé.”

“...”

“Why does the crown prince keep a commoner girl by his side instead of me...! Who am I!”

“...”

“Why do you look at me like that? Am I a joke to you?”

“Of course not.”

“I am someone who... you, a lowly thing, can’t even look at properly! Understand?”

I get it, so let's walk properly...!

She’d throw a fit if she woke up later and found herself in a mess.

When we finally reached her bedroom, and I tried to remove her hairpin, a sharp scream came flying.

“Ah! It feels like my head is splitting!”

“Young lady, I haven’t even touched you—”

“It hurts! My head is ringing!”

That’s because you drank so much...

But my words wouldn’t reach her.

The young lady, who had been fuming, picked up a decorative candlestick and swung it.

Thud!

“You dare...!”

Seriously, our young lady... can’t throw but can swing well.

For a moment, my head throbbed dully.

“I! I said it hurts!”

Two more times.

The woman, who had struck my head three times, passed out.

‘Wh-why are your hands like that? Are you hurt?’

I once heard such concerns.

‘I wonder how Madam is doing?’

---

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