Fortunately, Charlie was not torn apart.

This was because she did not even catch a glimpse of Hector while being shown around the mansion.

Tanner laughed as if it had been a joke and reassured the trembling and wary Charlie.

Afterward, Charlie only wandered near the main building and then returned to the annex.

“Charlie, you need to learn how to control your pheromones first.”

Originally, one would be taught pheromone control by their parents as they learned to walk.

However, since Charlie was a transmigrator, she did not know this and was almost always in an open state.

“Let’s have you enter the main building later.”

Thus, Charlie spent her days earning money while playing.

Tanner’s likability also rose again, turning him from a demon to a good person.

As she lived like this, her fear of the Duke’s residence gradually faded.

For one thing, the food was very delicious.

Charlie, who had been eating tough bread and stew that barely tasted like meat in her poor life after transmigration, found this place to be heaven.

With three meals a day of steak and high-quality food, it was paradise.

Moreover, Charlie stayed in a luxurious annex instead of the employee quarters because of her holy power.

And whether it was because she hadn’t read the original properly or it just wasn’t mentioned, there were a few other female maids besides Charlie in the Duke’s residence.

Of course, they were all Zeros.

“The cook here is said to be better than the imperial chef.”

Emma, a fellow Zero and maid of the same age, said.

Although Charlie stayed in the annex, she dined with Emma, a fellow employee.

“Really? No wonder it’s delicious.”

Even though Charlie knew the content of the novel well, she agreed with Emma.

This place was the great Hunt family, which even the Emperor couldn’t easily touch.

If Hector ever went berserk and started a war, the empire might be engulfed in flames.

Of course, that actually happens at the end of the novel.

But it was still a year before the novel began.

The maid contract was also for one year.

‘I just need to endure for a year and quietly disappear before Liliana shows up.’

Since the capital would be the biggest target, leaving here was the priority.

Charlie had no intention of enlightening Hector or changing the original story.

She also had no desire to admire the handsome male leads.

Rather, she never wanted to encounter them if possible.

“I’ve gained so much weight since coming here that my maid uniform doesn’t fit well.”

Emma pouted her chubby cheeks.

Whether out of consideration or disregard, Zeros were not given much work.

Cleaning, doing laundry, eating, sleeping. Then repeating the cleaning and laundry.

She only worked eight hours a day, with the rest being rest time.

In a family with power and money to spare, this level of consideration was nothing.

Charlie stabbed a fork into a pile of steak and stuffed it into her mouth.

“Charlie, you even look like a doll when you eat.”

Emma said.

“A doll?”

“Yes. You look like the doll we saw in the high-end shop.”

Emma smiled innocently.

Among the Zeros staying in this mansion, except for Charlie, none had holy power.

Nevertheless, Emma neither felt jealous nor found it strange that Charlie was staying in the main building.

“Oh, my hair is just plain brown, and my eyes are brown too.”

Charlie mumbled, unsure whether she was comforting Emma or herself.

“Yeah. My name is different, and I don’t have diamond-like silver hair or purple eyes.”

* * *

Tanner’s office, filled with books on all sides.

Tanner, who had been teaching Charlie how to control her pheromones, stood up.

“Shall we call it a day?”

Instead of giving her tasks, Tanner utilized Charlie, a Zero with holy power, as a research subject.

[As you know, it’s extremely rare for a Zero to have holy power. There are very few reports on it. If Miss Charlie cooperates, I’d like to observe without causing any harm. In return, I’ll pay an additional hundred trangs on top of your monthly salary.]

Although he called it research, it was practically a lesson on handling pheromones.

Charlie accepted it willingly, not just for the money but because controlling pheromones was essential for her future.

In fact, she should be paying to learn it.

“Thank you for today.”

Charlie bowed politely to Tanner.

“It’s nice to see that Miss Charlie is so bright, even though you’re a Zero.”

Tanner said with a kind expression.

As he mentioned, Zeros generally had gloomy personalities.

In the original story and in reality, even Emma, who was also a Zero, had self-esteem that was scraping the ground.

Probably anyone who wasn’t treated like a person from birth would end up that way.

Maybe that’s why.

The original Liliana was also called a low self-esteem heroine.

But Charlie was a transmigrator who had only been in this world for a few months.

“Maybe it’s because I lived in the countryside.”

Tanner, who had been quietly observing Charlie, took out a small envelope from a drawer.

“Take this and share it with your friends.”

Tanner always gave snacks after the lessons.

One day it was candy. Another day it was macarons.

And the flavors changed every time, but at some point, he started giving only what Charlie liked.

“Oh? It’s strawberry flavor today.”

When Charlie smiled brightly, Tanner gave a rather satisfied smile.

It was because Charlie’s pheromones, filled with joy, were spreading all around.

“Have you gotten used to life here?”

“Yes, I like it very much.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Tanner opened the door, signaling that she could leave.

It was because Charlie struggled to push open the huge, heavy door.

“Thank you.”

Charlie had learned one thing since coming here: rank wasn’t just about the difference in magic and holy power.

Dominants were superior to commoners in appearance, height, and physique, and their strength was also greater.

To the Master-rank Tanner, she might indeed look like a mere kitten.

Charlie looked up at the much taller Tanner and gave him another grateful nod.

As she scurried away with her short legs, Tanner murmured softly.

“Pheromones change according to one’s mood.”

* * *

Charlie walked through the grand corridor of the main building on tiptoes.

“Hm, hm-hm—”

Don’t the dominants’ feet hurt?

Just walking through this enormous palace was exercise enough.

“Are you coming back from meeting Lord Tanner?”

Leon, the head of the Hunt family’s knight order, approached Charlie and greeted her.

“Hello, Mr Leon.”

“Just call me Sir Leon.”

Leon’s red hair and long red lashes matched perfectly.

He really was handsome, as expected of a dominant Master.

Charlie couldn’t help but smile.

“But I’m a commoner and a Zero.”

Then, Leon’s pheromones, a mix of citrus and herbs, wafted gently to her nose.

It didn’t excite her, but it felt pleasant.

Like smelling a nice fragrance.

Moreover, pheromones often matched their owner’s appearance, making it even more so.

“Here, everyone except the Grand Duke is a Zero.”

Leon took a candy from his pocket and placed it in Charlie’s hand.

“Looks like today’s lesson was quite easy.”

“Pardon?”

“Miss Charlie’s pheromones are everywhere.”

Realizing she had been wide open like a warehouse sale, Charlie hastily gathered her pheromones.

Although she could sense others’ pheromones, she was still lacking in awareness and control of her own.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“Charlie’s pheromones are fine.”

Since it was rare for a Zero to have pheromones, everyone in the Duke’s mansion found Charlie fascinating.

And like they were dealing with a very small and fragile animal, everyone showed kindness to Charlie.

Among them, the ones who did this the most were Leon and the knights of the Duke’s mansion.

However, Charlie’s pheromones seemed to have no seductive effect; everyone just found her cute and showed no signs of excitement or inappropriate behavior.

“Is that a compliment?”

Charlie beamed, showing no signs of wariness.

Among the characters in the novel, Leon was the one she liked the most after Hector.

While everyone was obsessed with Liliana, Leon was the only one who kept his sanity.

“Of course. It feels very clean.”

Charlie’s joyful pheromones felt like fresh air to Leon.

He could understand why the cold-blooded Tanner gave out sweets. He too found himself bringing candy every time.

“By the way, it’s best to take the back way today since the Duke is in a very bad mood.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He went to the imperial palace and will be back soon.”

The imperial palace.

Whenever Hector returned from meeting the Emperor, he would emit an aura of black rage like a madman.

This wasn’t something known from reading the novel.

The entire Grand Duke’s mansion would become so dark that it was impossible not to notice.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Leon gently patted Charlie’s head as if it was a reward for providing information.

* * *