The story of the maid quickly became a reliable topic of discussion.

“Was it a Count? They said the head of the family can’t stand commoners’ pheromones.”

“A pheromone rejector?”

“Who knows. Nobles usually hate the pheromones of commoners.”

Pheromone rejection.

Charlie knew that well.

Because one of the male protagonists, Hector, was like that.

In this novel, status is determined by magical power and holy power. Here, holy power literally means s*x.

At the age of 18, an imperial examination of magical and holy power is conducted. Usually, the levels of the two are proportional.

Of course, there are exceptions where one has no magical power but excellent holy power or vice versa, but these are near Miracles.

The hierarchy starts at Bronze and ends at Miracle. The female protagonist, Liliana, who awakens later, is the highest rank, Miracle.

But now, before the original story begins, the Grand Master-level Emperor holds the highest rank.

Hector is also a Grand Master but lives in hiding.

Anyway, it’s normal for lower-ranked pheromones to smell unpleasant.

Those with severe rejection are called pheromone rejectors.

Hector’s condition was particularly severe.

Didn’t he say it smelled like rotting corpses?

So when he met the female protagonist, Liliana, he went crazy.

Meeting a Miracle rank higher than himself for the first time, it’s no wonder.

Thinking of the novel’s line about feeling like he could breathe for the first time, Liliana was like an oxygen tank to Hector.

“But Charlie has pheromones.”

“Hey, even as a woman, I find Charlie’s pheromones refreshing and nice.”

That’s right.

Although her body was Zero, it had faint pheromones.

Charlie’s mother was a blessed case with exceptional beauty and Silver-level holy power despite being Zero.

Charlie, who took after her, was also very beautiful and had Silver-level holy power.

Moreover, perhaps because she was Zero, Charlie’s pheromones had a pure and sweet scent.

According to the doctor, Audrey, there are records that Zeros with holy power have clean and attractive pheromones.

This made her mistakenly think she might be the female protagonist.

But her name was different, and in this world, hair and eye colors were unique and unchangeable by any magic.

“Why don’t you at least try the interview, Charlie?”

“Yes, I heard they pay 500 trangs a month.”

“F-Five hundred?!”

The startled faces all turned to Abigail at once.

Five hundred trangs.

That amount was equivalent to about five million won, a wage that only those of gold rank or higher could hope to touch.

At that moment, Charlie jumped up from her seat.

“Actually, I’ve always dreamed of being a maid.”

She couldn’t bear the thought of having to suck and lick Thomas’s thing.

* * *

The interview proceeded swiftly.

The interviewer was a man in his late thirties, exuding the image of a ‘very strict butler.’

His uniform was impeccably tailored, and his shoes shone. His thick khaki-gray hair was neatly swept back.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Charlie. I’m Tanner, the butler.”

The conditions and requirements for the maid position were simple.

Do not disclose any events occurring in the mansion, work diligently, and refrain from acting independently outside of instructions.

The salary was indeed five hundred trangs, as Abigail had said, and the vacation and rest times were generous.

In terms of conditions alone, there was no better job.

Even Nova, who was listening beside her, asked if she could apply too.

Moreover, Master Tanner addressed Charlie, a Zero, with respect.

In this world, Zeros were treated very poorly.

While the villagers adored Charlie because they had known her since she was young, in town, she was usually looked down upon and treated as less than human.

Tanner showed polite respect not only to Charlie but also to the commoners like Nova and others.

Such behavior from Tanner quickly eased the tension and wariness of Nova, who had been on edge. Charlie felt the same.

“You have very clean pheromones. Do you sense others’ pheromones too?”

Tanner, who had been reviewing the documents, asked as if it were the final stage of the interview.

“I can tell if there’s a smell. That’s about it.”

“Do you feel any s*xual attraction?”

“…No, I haven’t experienced that yet.”

“May I test with my pheromones for a moment?”

Charlie nodded.

Everyone except Charlie stepped out of Audrey’s clinic.

Soon, a scent similar to wood surrounded Charlie’s body.

But it just felt like smelling perfume. There was no arousal.

Instead, it felt like she was leaning against a fragrant tree, calming her mind and body.

“You are indeed a Zero.”

Seeing Charlie’s indifferent reaction, Tanner withdrew his pheromones.

“Was that pheromones just now?”

As someone who had transmigrated into a rural area, it was Charlie’s first time seeing a Master or experiencing someone’s pheromones.

Of course, Thomas, a gold, had been constantly emitting pheromones around Charlie, but she hadn’t realized it was pheromones.

Tanner, observing Charlie, glanced out the window.

Following his gaze, Charlie looked outside.

“…!”

There, Clara, a bronze, was slumped over with glazed eyes, trembling.

She was knocked out in one go? And she was outside?

Charlie was astonished.

“Oh dear, I’ve caused some unintended harm.”

Tanner raised his eyebrows slightly, looking rather troubled.

“The detailed terms are specified in the contract. Since it’s a magical contract, please read it carefully before signing.”

Tanner handed Charlie the contract, indicating she had passed.

“I’ll come to pick you up at noon tomorrow. If you change your mind before then, please let us know.”

Tanner stood up, ending the super-speed interview.

Light emanated from his fingertips as a teleportation magic circle unfolded.

Just as he was about to leave, he turned to Charlie.

“Your last health check was a month ago. Have you had any s*xual relations since then?”

“Uh… no.”

Why does that matter for a maid?

Charlie’s pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck.

As if reading her thoughts, Tanner explained.

“Since it’s a communal living environment, health is very important. Some sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted just by sharing a bathtub.”

With that, Tanner disappeared in a dark red light.

* * *

Despite Tanner’s last words lingering in her mind, Charlie eventually signed the contract.

Thomas was still Thomas, but she couldn’t live off others forever.

Moreover, there was no guarantee another job would come up for a Zero like her.

No, this opportunity seemed like a transmigrator’s perk she couldn’t afford to miss.

“Have you ever used a teleportation magic circle before?”

Tanner asked Charlie, who had arrived with just a small handbag.

Clothing, daily necessities, and food were all provided, so there wasn’t much to bring.

“No. Well… I might have, but I don’t remember.”

“I see.”

Audrey had said that losing memory in this world was very unusual.

But Tanner remained calm even after hearing Charlie’s situation.

“Zeros usually have a rejection reaction to magic, so be careful.”

Tanner extended his hand to Charlie.

“Take my hand.”

Feeling awkward about the escort-like gesture she had only seen in novels, Charlie hesitated. Of course, the novel she had transmigrated into was indeed a romance fantasy.

As soon as her small hand rested on his gloved one, Tanner’s eyes narrowed.

“Why…?”

“It’s nothing.”

Tanner withdrew his gaze from Charlie and headed toward the magic circle.

Charlie ignored Thomas, who was clinging to the window in tears, and followed Tanner.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Charlie, her face ashen, sat down and retched.

The teleportation magic circle she experienced for the first time felt like riding a roller coaster.

“Oh dear, you seem to have a rejection reaction.”

Tanner looked at Charlie with concern.

“Do we have to go further?”

“No, we’ve arrived.”

At Tanner’s words, Charlie lifted her head.

The sight that greeted her was truly spectacular.

The expansive wall seemed endless, and the distant buildings were so splendid they looked like a palace, making her wonder if she had been hired by the imperial family.

“Is this… the house I’ll be working at?”

“For now, yes.”

“For now?”

“This is the residence in the capital. The Duke’s estate in the duchy is considered the main house.”

“Oh, I see. A Duke…”

Wait, a Duke?!

Charlie looked at Tanner in shock.

“A Duke?”

There were only three people in this world referred to as Dukes.

One was Cedric Edwards, the captain of the First Imperial Guard, who died protecting the female protagonist from Hector.

Another was Noel Wilkins, a wealthy socialite who also dies at Hector’s hands after pursuing the female protagonist.

And the last was Hector Hunt, the Grand Duke with enough power and authority to slap the Emperor, who kills everyone as a mad yandere.

In conclusion, all three were terrible, but the worst was Hector.

“A Duke? I heard it was some Count, Hend… Henderson?”

That’s right. In this damned R19 tragic novel, the reason Charlie felt safe signing the contract was because she thought she was going to be a maid for a count’s household.

Tanner’s lips curled slightly at Charlie’s question.

“If you’re talking about Count Henderson, that’s me.”

“What?!”

Why is a Count working as a butler?

Charlie’s eyes widened.

Tanner looked at her with a troubled expression.

“It should have been specified in the contract. Didn’t you check it properly?”

Nova had read the contract for the illiterate Charlie.

And she had clearly said it was for a count’s household.

Nova wouldn’t have lied… Did she trick her because she ran away from marrying Thomas?

No matter what, this couldn’t be happening.

Any Duke meant death flags and a minefield.

Charlie shook her head, denying reality.

“Didn’t you see the clause about a penalty of three billion irangs for unilateral termination without specific reasons?”

“Th… three billion irangs?”

“Since it’s a magical contract, breaking it requires a huge amount of trangs and manpower. Especially since it’s for a year.”

What kind of devil’s contract is this?

Charlie gulped.

Anyway, since it was a Duke and not a Grand Duke, it probably wasn’t Hector.

That left two Dukes.

Cedric was the only gentlemanly character in the novel.

Noel was a s*x maniac but had the least involvement with the female protagonist.

If it were Cedric…

“Let’s go inside.”

Tanner smiled and extended his hand to the shocked Charlie.

“Welcome to the Hunt Duchy.”

Why did it have to be that madman?

* * *