However, I had no intention of immediately confronting them or tattling to Duke Baniche just because I was angry. Confronting them on the spot would only dig my own grave, and telling Duke Baniche…

‘The Duke might be able to fire a few servants, but he can’t make them my allies. It would only backfire.’

I waited until the whispering voices at the end of the corridor completely disappeared, then slowly entered the children’s playroom.

“Aria!”

Elodie cheered, jumping up and wrapping her arms around my neck. As I hugged this lovable creature who only looked at me, I made a vow. No matter what, I am Elodie’s guardian. To protect this position, I would fight using all my teeth and nails.

***

The opportunity came soon. Perhaps because she had played all day, Elodie fell asleep right after dinner, exhausted. Normally, this would have been a sight to smile at, but my lips remained tightly pressed. Without taking my eyes off Elodie, I asked,

“Sonya, are you very busy right now?”

“Not at all. What can I help you with, Miss Bertin?”

Sonya, who was organizing Elodie’s wardrobe, immediately turned towards me. I took out a small box from the bedside drawer.

“It’s nothing special, but I have a gift for Sonya.”

“A, a gift?”

Sonya’s eyes widened. Though an adult, the maid who still hadn’t shed much of her youthful appearance couldn’t take her eyes off the small box wrapped in high-quality paper.

“Yes.”

I nodded.

“It’s really nothing much, but I thought of Sonya while looking around the shopping district and bought it. Don’t feel burdened, just accept it.”

“But still…”

Sonya trailed off. She seemed to be in quite a dilemma. While it was common for maids to receive gifts from the masters they served, I was just a guest in this house, not a family member. And a commoner guest at that. She probably thought my pockets weren’t as deep as the nobles’. Well, that was true, but…

‘I can at least afford a gift to please a young maid.’

I had no intention of correcting Sonya’s misconception. The more grateful Sonya was to me, the more successful my plan would be. Sonya gasped when she opened the box.

“This is Madame Bari’s handkerchief. Oh my…”

“Do you like it?”

“Of course!”

Sonya raised her voice, then immediately blushed.

“Th-thank you. I’ve only ever window-shopped at Madame Bari’s. To think I’d own a handkerchief…”

I smiled gently. It was easy to notice that Sonya had grown up in a not-so-well-off family. She probably became a maid at such a young age because her family was poor. In such cases, these small gifts are all the more precious.

‘Madame Bari’s dresses are expensive, but handkerchiefs aren’t that burdensome in price.’

But a luxurious handkerchief was synonymous with luxury. Since handkerchiefs easily wear out and get dirty, buying them from a high-end clothing store was something only rich people would do. Gifting one was even more so.

The effect was immediate. Sonya, who usually wouldn’t start a conversation unless I spoke first, began to chatter.

“Miss Bertin, have you been to the newly opened clothing store?”

“The young lady sang so adorably today! You should have heard it.”

“I was praised by the head butler today. I guess that means I’m getting better at my job, right?”

To be honest, I enjoyed listening to Sonya. She was kind, pure, and diligent. Getting closer to Sonya was an unintended harvest.

I gifted Sonya gloves made of calfskin and a lace hair tie, and it didn’t take long for her conversation to flow exactly where I wanted it to.

“Everyone envies me! Actually, after the Grand Duchess left for recuperation, all the maids were assigned to odd jobs. But I’m the only one who’s the personal maid to the young lady and Miss Bertin, and Miss Bertin treats me so well…”

As expected. My prediction was spot on. In fact, the hostility towards me didn’t have much substance. Treating the head butler Eric badly?

So what. No one had actually seen me getting angry at him. In fact, Eric and I had maintained quite a good relationship since returning to the Duke’s residence. So Sonya was essentially the only person who could spread my image.

“I’m grateful that Sonya is always working hard. Especially since Elodie is becoming more demanding…”

Although Mrs. Devaka essentially acted as Elodie’s guardian when I wasn’t around, it was still lacking in many ways. There were times when I’d come back from the café to find Elodie crying so hard her face was beet red.

Of course, every time that happened, Sonya was flustering around Elodie.

“It’s because I’m lacking. I need to try harder and become closer to the young lady.”

Sonya said, as if making a promise to herself.

“I should get better at cleaning too. The faster I move, the more time I’ll have to see the young lady.”

This is it. I didn’t miss the opportunity.

“Sonya, isn’t it hard to do all the cleaning and odd jobs by yourself?”

“I still have to do it.”

Sonya sighed.

“I’m the only one, you know. Besides, I enjoy being close to Miss Bertin and the young lady more than just doing odd jobs.”

“I don’t think Sonya needs to do the cleaning.”

Sonya’s eyes widened.

“But that’s my job!”

I chuckled.

“It is now. But would it still be if you had colleagues to help with your work?”

Seeing Sonya’s eyes widen, it seemed my persuasion was working. I swallowed my smile. Soon, there would be several people in this bleak mansion who would be on my side.

***

I didn’t even need to go to Duke Baniche. As soon as I mentioned to Eric that we needed two or three more maids, he nodded and promised to assign two more around Sonya’s age. All I had to do was verify.

“Before finalizing, would it be alright if I meet them briefly? It’s not that I don’t trust your decision, Eric…”

“I understand. I’ll select about five candidates, and you can meet them and choose yourself.”

Eric was now very courteous to me both inside and outside the café. It felt a bit distant, but I decided to see it as a positive change in its own way.

‘At least he’s not disrespecting me.’

Just as I was about to leave after thanking Eric, someone I hadn’t expected at all called my name.

“Lady Aria.”

I blinked. There was only one person in this entire mansion who called me that. Count Jacob.

‘I thought he would look down on me now that he got what he wanted from me.’

Maybe he’s still watching me carefully?

That wasn’t welcome either, but I couldn’t ask outright. I forced a smile.

“Count Jacob, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Count Jacob didn’t seem to have any intention of answering my polite greeting. Judging by how he went straight to the point.

“I know what you’re trying to do.”

Oh. My eyes narrowed involuntarily. In fact, anyone in Count Jacob’s position would have noticed my intentions if they paid even a little attention. I hadn’t tried to hide it, and there was no reason to. But I didn’t think he would be that interested in me… I opened my mouth in a stiff voice.

“Have you come to stop me?”

“No.”

Count Jacob shook his head.

“Why would I stop you? It’s for the young lady’s sake.”

I let out a sigh of relief. At least Count Jacob didn’t seem to be trying to interfere with me. However, I frowned at what I heard next.

“Poor thing.”

“What do you mean?”

Count Jacob looked me over carefully.

“You haven’t noticed yet, it seems. You’ve already become a person of the Baniche ducal family.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying at all.”

I meant it sincerely. I was an outsider who neither followed nor intended to follow Duke Baniche’s orders. I was just staying at the Duke’s residence for Elodie’s well-being. But Count Jacob didn’t seem to think so at all.