After scouting out two or three potential hideouts—the greenhouse, the food storage, and behind a large beech tree—Hailey returned triumphantly, like a victorious general marching home.

“Uh…”

But sensing something amiss, she instinctively halted. Holding her breath, she sharpened her senses. The air around her was taut, as if stretched like the finely tuned strings of a violin.

Why?

Scanning her surroundings in confusion, Hailey soon nodded in understanding. A group of pale-faced maids had gathered at the foot of the east staircase. Every one of them was staring intently at the second floor.

She instinctively knew that something was happening up there. Just as she was about to approach them, she stopped herself.

How many times had she told herself not to meddle in other people’s affairs? To stay inconspicuous, as if she were barely there.

Repeating those words in her mind, she regained her composure.

At that moment, a fierce voice erupted from the second floor.

“Bring them to me at once!”

There was no mistaking it—it was Duke Gunner. His thunderous roar shook the entire mansion. The maids trembled as if struck by lightning and collectively held their breath.

Moments later, Madam Mastis appeared at the top of the staircase. The maids looked up at her with anxious eyes, as if they were treading on thin ice.

Madam Mastis surveyed the line of maids, her gaze briefly pausing on Hailey, who stood a few steps behind. Then, she spoke in a heavy tone.

“Who cleaned the Duke’s office today?”

A cold silence fell over the hall, as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over it. No one dared to step forward—all they did was glance nervously at one another.

Just as a deep wrinkle formed between Madam Mastis’s brows—

“It was Joy, Madam Mastis. Joy cleaned the Duke’s office this morning.”

Catherine stepped forward and answered firmly.

“C-Catherine…”

Joy’s voice trembled as she called her name, looking on the verge of tears. Hailey observed her closely.

Madam Mastis’s strict gaze settled on Joy.

“Joy, did you move the Duke’s book?”

“I-I only put the book from the sofa back onto the shelf.”

“You know very well that you are not to touch the Duke’s belongings without permission.”

“I-I was wrong, my lady.”

Joy was trembling so much that even those watching felt pity for her.

Turning away, Madam Mastis gave a cold command.

“No more words. Come with me.”

“M-My lady!”

Joy let out a startled cry. She was genuinely terrified of facing the Duke.

Did she really believe she would be cursed?

Otherwise, why would she be shaking as if she had been thrown out into the middle of winter, completely n*ked?

To Hailey, curses seemed far less frightening than accidentally deleting an entire day’s worth of reports without a backup or getting locked out of her bank account after five failed password attempts.

“How dare you keep the Duke waiting?”

Madam Mastis moved with an air of authority, her sharp words cutting through the tension. She still seemed to believe that making the Duke wait was the gravest offense of all, urging Joy forward without hesitation.

“……Yes.”

Joy walked as if she were a prisoner with heavy iron shackles dragging at her feet. Suddenly, Madam Mastis, who had been leading the way, stopped and turned around. Her gaze landed on Catherine.

“Catherine.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Catherine looked up at her with a slightly tense expression. After a brief silence, Madam Mastis spoke again.

“Starting tomorrow, you will be in charge of polishing the silverware.”

“!”

Catherine’s eyes widened. A murmur spread through the maids.

Hailey watched them quietly. Just from their reactions, she could tell that Madam Mastis’s words signified a promotion.

Not all maids were the same. Their world had its own hierarchies and power struggles.

“Thank you, madam!”

Catherine exclaimed in a voice filled with gratitude. The stark contrast between her joyous expression and Joy’s terrified face was striking.

It was only after Madam Mastis disappeared from sight that the maids finally let out the breaths they had been holding.

“Will Joy be okay?”

Jessie clasped her hands together and gazed up at the staircase with a worried expression. Her large, gentle eyes shimmered with concern.

“Hmph, who cares.”

Catherine scoffed, turning away as if she had no interest in the matter. The others remained frozen in place.

A faint sense of relief that it wasn’t them mingled with their sympathy for Joy.

“You call that an excuse, you worthless insect?! I don’t have the patience to employ someone dumber than a dog! Get out of my sight! Leave my house immediately—do you understand?!”

The Duke’s furious roar thundered down from behind the thick doors and echoed through the hallway, reaching the first floor. The maids flinched once again, their bodies trembling. Someone let out a sharp gasp.

Before long, Joy reappeared. Her face was already a mess of tears. She stumbled down the stairs, looking as though she might collapse at any moment.

“Joy!”

Jessie rushed toward her. The moment Joy fell into Jessie’s arms, she finally broke down in sobs.

Jessie held her, unsure of what to do, while tears welled up in her own brown eyes.

“Joy……”

“What are you dawdling for? Didn’t you hear His Grace? Pack your things.”

A whip-like voice struck Joy’s back. Jessie looked up in shock toward the staircase. Madam Mastis was standing there once again.

A different kind of tension filled the hall. The maids barely dared to breathe as they anxiously observed Madam Mastis.

“Hic… ugh…”

“The Duke dislikes noise. If you want to receive the wages you’ve earned, I suggest you stay quiet and pack your things quickly.”

“Hic… Yes, my lady.”

Joy hiccupped as she struggled to suppress her sobs.

Madam Mastis slowly turned her head and locked eyes with Hailey.

Until now, Hailey had merely been an observer, but the moment their gazes met, she instinctively swallowed hard. It felt as though she had just become the next target.

Madam Mastis frowned.

“You’re still wearing your outdoor dress?”

It was not a question—it was a reprimand. Only then did Hailey glance down at her attire with a slight grimace. She had taken off her coat, but she had yet to change into an indoor dress.

She hesitated before answering.

“It’s my first day, and I’ve been a bit overwhelmed…”

“Miss Hailey.”

“Yes.”

“Remember this: The Duke despises improper behavior. I trust you have enough sense not to make the same mistake twice. Never forget that your actions can either honor or disgrace the name of Baron Salmon.”

“……Yes.”

The cursed Duke certainly seemed to have a long list of dislikes.

And Madam Mastis—had she been cursed as well? Otherwise…

“More importantly, the Duke has summoned you. Go to his office.”

Madam Mastis’s sharp voice cut through Hailey’s thoughts.

“Me?”

Her startled response made Mastis’s brow furrow deeper.

“Unless there are two people in this estate named Hailey Salmon, yes.”

“……Understood.”

Letting out a quiet sigh, Hailey took a deep breath and reluctantly started walking.

For some reason, it felt as though she were voluntarily stepping into a tiger’s den. But perhaps that was just her imagination.

“I should change first—”

“Are you suggesting you intend to keep the Duke waiting?”

Before Hailey could even finish her sentence, Madam Mastis cut her off with a piercing remark.

It seemed the gravest offense in this household was making the Duke wait.

“Of course not.”

Shaking her head quickly, Hailey hurried toward the Duke’s office.

She couldn’t help but think that, just like Joy earlier, her own footsteps must look just as heavy.

“The temperament of Madam Mastis must be cursed as well.”

Muttering a complaint that no one could hear, Hailey straightened her back and took a deep breath in front of the heavy office door. She clenched her jaw firmly and raised her hand to knock.

Knock, knock.

No response came from within. Even so, Hailey carefully grasped the doorknob and pulled. The door opened smoothly, and once again, the familiar sight of the office filled her vision.

The duke was seated with his back to the large window, just as he had been during their first encounter. The deep blue curtains were partially drawn.

Click.

The door closed behind her with a soft but decisive sound. Each time she heard it, her nerves tensed involuntarily. It felt as though every hair on her body stood on end.

“You summoned me, Your Grace.”

His piercing silver eyes glinted with displeasure.

“I assume you know why you’re here, Miss Hailey Salmon. I am not so charitable as to take in a parasite that does nothing but consume food. Donations, after all, are best left to the temple.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Of course.”