Erica pointed to Ella, her personal maid standing beside her.

“I’ll go with Ella!”

“With Ella…?”

Count Mills considered this seriously. Just then, he remembered Duke Cox complaining that all the spies he had sent to Duke Felix’s mansion had died.

‘Isn’t this a good opportunity?’

He needed to gain the trust of Duke Cox, who belonged to the Nobility Faction. It seemed reasonable to plant a spy with Duke Kai Felix, who belonged to the Emperor’s Faction. 

Although he was reluctant to send his unmarried daughter, it seemed unlikely that the people-averse Duke Felix would keep her around for long. While Erica was a very lovable daughter to him, her personality was difficult for others to accommodate.

‘Why did he agree to take an apprentice knight? It must have been just a request from a frivolous noble lady.’

Regardless of Duke Felix’s reasons, he was probably regretting his decision by now but unable to take it back. The important fact was that the Duke had given permission. Such an opportunity would never come again.

Count Mills decided to send his daughter before Duke Felix changed his mind.

“Very well. Erica, you may leave, but Ella, stay behind. I have something to discuss with you.”

“Yes!”

Erica was excited about receiving permission more easily than expected. She closed the door to her father’s study and scurried to her room. She packed her necessary belongings into suitcases and had another maid carry them.

Walking with light steps toward the waiting carriage, someone blocked her path.

“Lady Erica!”

The person kneeling before her was Murray. With tears streaming down her face, she clutched Erica’s dress so tightly it seemed about to tear.

“How could I be dismissed from being your personal maid? What is happening? Huh?”

Murray’s hands were blackened, likely from scrubbing floors until just moments ago. Those hands left stains and dirt on Erica’s dress. Erica felt more sorry for Murray’s disheveled appearance than for her dress.

‘Poor thing. But…’

What Murray was doing was what all maids did. This display of being the only one wronged and appearing pitiful was likely another of her strategies.

“Murray.”

“Yes.”

Erica had tried to treat the servants well, but thinking about Murray from her premonitory dream made her mood sink.

“Would you like to return to the estate?”

“What?”

Murray’s eyes widened. Since the Mills County estate was in the countryside, this suggestion was shocking to Murray, who had already become accustomed to city life. She released her grip on Erica’s dress.

Murray had been struggling since losing all the benefits of being a personal maid. Without bonuses and with days that flew by after work, she had no time to meet her lover. 

But going to the estate would mean breaking up with her lover entirely. She would also be unable to go shopping, which she enjoyed.

“Wh-what am I saying…! I’m very satisfied with my current life, my lady! I don’t want to return to the estate.”

The tears that had been flowing from Murray’s eyes suddenly disappeared. Seeing this, Erica smiled brightly.

“Really? Let me know if it gets too difficult. Your parents are at the estate too, and they must miss you.”

“…To think you even consider my parents, you’re the only one who cares about me, my lady!”

Even in this situation, Murray wagged her tail flatteringly.

Soon, Ella came down after finishing her conversation with Count Mills. Erica approached Ella and held her hand firmly.

“Let’s go! Ella.”

“…Yes, my lady.”

Murray glared at Ella. Ella felt the gaze but didn’t respond and got into the carriage, led by Erica’s hand. Murray bit her lip for a while, watching the carriage disappear from her sight. 

How had she ended up like this? Murray threw the blackened rag onto the floor.

Duke Felix glared at Erica, who had arrived with numerous packed bags. What was her intention in staying here, even going so far as to perform oral s*x on him? Did she truly want to become an apprentice knight?

Erica, who had brought her personal maid along, smiled brightly at Duke Felix.

“Duke Felix? Where should I stay?”

It seemed Erica truly intended to live here. Even so, there were too many bags for someone who wouldn’t be staying permanently. Duke Felix pointed at the five bags with his finger.

“What are all these?”

“Well… This one has my underwear, this one has hats, this one has shoes… And these are for dresses and bags!”

Duke Felix’s expression briefly hardened.

“Ha…”

He found this situation both amusing and absurd. He had thought Erica Mills must have some ulterior motive, but she was just a frivolous noble lady. He seemed to have overestimated her.

Duke Felix brushed his bangs up with his hand.

“You said you wanted to learn swordsmanship, but where’s your sword? What about training clothes? Are you planning to swing a sword while wearing a dress?”

“…I was planning to buy those new.”

Duke Felix looked at Ella, the maid standing silently.

“You there.”

When he pointed at her, Ella lowered her head even further in embarrassment.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Take all the bags back to Count Mills’ mansion except for the underwear bag.”

“I… understand.”

Erica protested.

“No, you can’t! What if I suddenly get invited to a party? If I don’t have dresses, shoes, and hats ready then…!”

“Are you staying at my mansion to attend parties? Aren’t you taking the role of apprentice knight too lightly?”

Erica fell silent at his stern expression. After Ella put the bags back in the carriage, she bowed her head to Erica.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“…Oh.”

Erica replied glumly. Just then, Duke Felix spoke.

“You don’t need to come back. An apprentice knight doesn’t need a personal maid.”

“What? But…!”

Erica had never been without a maid before. Maids had always taken care of everything for her, from brewing tea to helping her dress and styling her hair. While she wanted to learn swordsmanship and become stronger, she had never considered a life without maids.

Erica quickly grabbed Duke Felix’s sleeve.

“I need her!”

Duke Felix looked down at Erica and raised one corner of his mouth.

“Is that your determination to become a knight? Will you bring a maid to the battlefield too? If that’s what you’re thinking, quit now.”

“…Ugh.”

This was her chance to be the apprentice knight of Kai Felix, who was known for not taking disciples. Not wanting to miss such an opportunity, Erica reluctantly followed his instructions.

Erica said to Ella, who was getting into the carriage to leave:

“…I’ll definitely call for you again, so wait for me at the mansion.”

“Understood, my lady.”

Ella looked troubled but also somewhat relieved. After the carriage left, Duke Felix picked up the dazed Erica in his arms. Erica struggled in surprise at being carried like a princess.

“What are you doing!”

“…You’re light. We need to build some muscle. We’ll start physical training tomorrow.”

“…Physical training?”

“Yes.”

His embrace felt quite secure, so Erica rested her head against his chest as they entered the Duke’s mansion. Even without a personal maid, there were plenty of maids in the Duke’s mansion. If she needed anything, she could ask them.

‘Have I really become this man’s apprentice knight?’

Erica clenched her fist. Being near Duke Felix, even if difficult, would be safer than doing nothing and waiting for her death day.

“…”

When he held her, something poked her waist. Wondering what it was, she looked down and saw that the front of the Duke’s pants was significantly bulging. The memory of the Duke’s hideous organ came to mind, bringing a fishy taste to her mouth.

‘It should be… fine?’

Although he had made her do strange things, she had no regrets since she had achieved her first goal of becoming an apprentice knight. 

Now she just needed to follow his teachings gradually to become a formal knight.

The first disciple of Sword Master Duke Felix, who would believe it? This was something she had grasped entirely through her own power.

‘I’m no longer who I used to be! This is just the beginning!’

Erica was full of confidence that she would show how different she had become from her past self.