“…Miss Hailey. Miss Hailey. Miss Hailey!”

“Yes? Ah, yes. I’m sorry. I was momentarily lost in thought…”

The sharp voice that pierced through her thoughts jolted Hailey back to reality, and she forced an awkward smile. To be distracted during an interview—she had no excuse even if she were thrown out immediately.

Looking at the displeased expression on Madam Mastis’ face, Hailey offered a playful smile, as if asking for understanding.

“It took over five hours to travel from Westhill to here, so I had to leave early in the morning. And since this is my first time in the capital, I suppose I must be a bit tired.”

Madam Mastis placed the letter of recommendation on the table and nodded. Then, in a firm voice, she asked Hailey as if warning her,

“Do you know what your job will be here?”

“Yes. I was told I would be the Duke’s governess.”

A governess—essentially a live-in tutor. At Hailey’s response, Madam Mastis frowned, as if she had just heard something utterly absurd.

“The Duke has no need for a governess. He is fluent in seven languages, after all. Let alone…”

Madam Mastis trailed off before finishing her sentence. Hailey could easily guess what she had meant to say: Let alone a mere baron’s daughter.

Hailey was well aware of her own situation. She was the daughter of an impoverished baron in name only, barely considered an employee, let alone a proper governess.

So instead of questioning the madam, Hailey simply nodded and played along.

“I see. He must be quite remarkable, just as the rumors say.”

Madam Mastis, slightly caught off guard, hesitated before continuing.

“Rather than a governess, it would be more accurate to call you a Santier conversation partner. It seems that during the seven months His Grace spent in the territory, artists from Santis gained popularity in the capital. Because of that, speaking Santier has become a trend among the nobility. Up until last autumn, they were all conversing in Nisean instead.”

She shook her head in exasperation before regaining her serious demeanor. Hailey nodded enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming with understanding.

If Santier was in vogue, it meant that nobles now spoke it exclusively at social gatherings. Anyone who couldn’t keep up would be left out of conversations, mocked for their lack of refinement.

Hailey clicked her tongue inwardly but maintained a gentle smile outwardly.

Smile. Smile. Of course, you’re absolutely right, Madam. Every word you say is true.

Madam Mastis, worried that Hailey might misunderstand, hurriedly defended the Duke.

“His Grace learned Santier as well, but since he hasn’t used it in years, he simply needs someone to converse with. Your tasks will be simple—reading Santier texts to him or engaging in conversation. And with Count Landers’ letter of recommendation, I suppose I have no reason to doubt your proficiency?”

“Yes, Madam. My mother was from Santis, so I grew up speaking Santier quite naturally.”

That wasn’t a lie. For some reason, she retained all of Hailey’s memories perfectly.

And those memories had been a great help in adjusting to this kingdom, Aislin.

Of course. The gods wouldn’t just hand me a sour lemon. They’d have to give me some sweet syrup too. That’s only fair.

“Very well.”

Despite her words, Madam Mastis’ expression remained less than pleased.

“It’s concerning to hire a young lady as a live-in conversation partner in a household without a mistress… It might cause unwanted rumors.”

As if resigning herself to the situation, Madam Mastis let her sentence trail off again. Once more, Hailey could easily guess what she had left unsaid.

Everyone knew that five men and three women had already been hired as the Duke’s conversation partners before her. They were the second sons and daughters of noble families.

Yet not one of them had lasted more than ten days before fleeing. The longest had endured ten days; the shortest, merely three. On average, they lasted about a week.

And there was only one reason for it—Tayton Gunner, the man known as the Cursed Duke.

***

“Hey, I really think you should turn down this offer. That household wields power equal to the royal family’s. If you were taking this position to build connections, I’d understand. In fact, at first, noble second sons competed fiercely for the role. But now? No one volunteers anymore. What do you think that means?”

Daniel, the eldest son of Baron Salmon and Hailey’s older brother, tried to reason with her in a worried tone. Their father, Baron Salmon, quickly chimed in.

“He’s right. I’ll ask Count Landers for a favor. No matter how dire our circumstances are, we can’t send you there.”

“Yes, Hailey! We can’t let you go to such a dreadful place. That estate is… cursed.”

They spoke to her as if she were fragile glass, handling her with extreme caution ever since she regained consciousness three days after falling down the stairs.

Baron Salmon gently stroked her hair, his expression filled with sorrow. To him, Hailey must have still looked like the little six-year-old girl she once was.

“Besides, you only just recovered. Not long ago, you didn’t even recognize us. My God… Thank the heavens.”

As if reliving the horror, Baron Salmon made the sign of the cross over his chest. Daniel placed a hand on their father’s shoulder and added,

“Yes, Father is right, Hailey. If we tell Count Landers you were unwell, it wouldn’t be too great an offense. And from what I’ve heard, those who fled the Duke’s estate weren’t in good shape either. No one has seen them since, and they tremble at the mere mention of his name.

If anyone has to go there, it should be me instead.”

“But oh, brother, you have to return to the Royal Academy.”

Hailey blinked up at Daniel. The term brother still felt unfamiliar to her, as she had no siblings, but Hyein did her best to imitate Hailey—the carefree girl who had grown up like a greenhouse flower, nurtured in the warmth of her family’s affection.

Daniel furrowed his brows and scolded her with a stern expression.

“You’re about to move into the Duke’s estate, and you’re worried about the Royal Academy?”

“No, Danny, the little salmon has a point. Do you know how hard it was to get into the Royal Academy? If you study for just one more year, you’ll graduate. You can’t give up now. Given the circumstances, I’ll go instead.”

Hearing the siblings’ conversation, Baron Salmon clenched his fists and made a solemn declaration.

Hailey, who had blushed at the nickname little salmon, widened her eyes slightly, while Daniel frowned subtly.

After a brief pause, Daniel spoke with a doubtful expression.

“But Father, you don’t speak Santier”

“Ah, I didn’t think of that….”

Baron Salmon slumped his shoulders, visibly discouraged. At that moment, Hailey couldn’t hold back her laughter.

The two men looked at her with puzzled expressions.

Hailey replied with her eyes curved into a cheerful smile.

“Don’t worry. If things go south, I can always run away after ten days.”

“Hailey.”

“Hailey.”

***

“I hope you’ll last a long time, Miss Hailey.”

“Yes, Madam Mastis.”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Hailey responded with a bright smile, as if she had never been distracted in the first place.

As always, first impressions were crucial. A polite greeting alone could get you halfway through, and no one could spit on a smiling face. That was a lesson she had learned through years of social experience.

This was just another place where people lived—it wouldn’t be that different.

Madam Mastis stared at Hailey for a moment before faintly furrowing her brows.

Hmm?

“The Duke is currently away, so for now, you should unpack. How long do you plan to keep your coat on indoors?”

…Or maybe this isn’t just another place where people live?

“Be sure to conduct yourself with utmost propriety so as not to cause any scandal for the Duke.”

“…Yes, madam.”

Hailey rolled her eyes and shuddered slightly at the sudden ominous feeling creeping over her.