Chapter 1: The Berkshire Family Became Her Lifeline Part 15

However, with a real threat having materialized, the situation changed drastically.

“I’ve let things slide because you’ve shown some sense of responsibility, but this has gone too far. If Master Tamilan hadn’t been there, Marien could have been seriously harmed! She could have….”

Adel pressed her forehead, unable to finish her sentence.

“…I’m sorry, Head Maid. It was my fault. It won’t happen again. Please forgive me just this once.”

Sarah’s immediate apology without excuses slightly softened Adel’s anger.

“The punishment cannot be avoided. If something like this happens again, I’ll have no choice but to question your competence. Understood?”

“Yes. I will definitely keep that in mind.”

After a few more reprimands, the head maid left the dining hall. Chaos erupted, and the maids scattered.

Although Sarah used to have quite a few maids who were close to her, now, except for Carol, no one remained by her side.

“Emma, what were you trying to say earlier?”

When Marien asked about the meaning of her lip movements, Emma smiled wryly.

“It was as you saw. I meant that Sarah is finished. It means there’s no one left to bully you anymore.”

***

The next day, after the early morning announcement, the head maid called Marien aside.

“Marien, could you come with me for a moment?”

“Yes, Head Maid.”

“Madam Maya mentioned your name to become the lady’s personal maid. I heard Master Tamilan specifically requested you. Did you know about this?”

Marien blinked several times in surprise, then recalled what Master Tamilan had said yesterday.

Could this be what he meant by taking care of the problem so she wouldn’t have to walk alone?

If she became the lady’s personal maid, she would be filling the position vacated when Hannah was dismissed.

Seeing the frail state of the lady had always reminded Marien of her own mother. Every time she heard about the lady’s condition from the other maids, it weighed heavily on her heart.

She knew it was the psychological burden left from losing her mother, but it was a difficult feeling for her to manage.

Since her first meeting with the Viscountess, she had always been concerned about her, so caring for her would indeed be something Marien had hoped for.

However, the position of a personal maid was typically reserved for senior maids, and it wasn’t a role that someone like her could easily obtain.

“No, but yesterday Master Tamilan did ask if I knew how to care for a sick person. He didn’t explain the reason, though….”

“I see. You must have made a good impression on Master Tamilan.”

After confirming Marien’s story, the head maid sighed over her reassignment.

Indeed, the head maid had been agonizing over the need to quickly fill the vacant position of the lady’s personal maid.

Madam Maya’s demands were endless, and there was no maid in Berkshire who could meet them.

In a situation where it was difficult to secure staff, having Marien as the personal maid would conveniently resolve a longstanding issue.

Even if Madam Maya didn’t like Marien, she wouldn’t be able to openly complain about Master Tamilan’s selection, so there would be no headaches from protests.

However, conversely, the head maid had to lose an excellent asset in Marien.

Currently, the head maid faced a staffing crisis due to the absence of the two most trusted maids.

Lisa had temporarily returned home due to her father’s health issues, and Sarah was under disciplinary action, making it impossible to expect proper work from her.

Marien was the only one left, and now Master Tamilan had scooped her up.

For someone like Master Tamilan, who didn’t easily open his heart to others, to personally select her—Adel couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in her judgment, though it was bittersweet.

“Then what about the embroidery work? Could I perhaps do both, Head Maid?”

Just as Marien mentioned the aspect Adel was regretting, she quickly responded.

“If Madam permits, you may continue the embroidery work in the mornings. However, I’m not sure if Madam Maya will insist on having you entirely to herself.”

“I haven’t finished the summer curtains for Young Master Tamilan’s room yet….”

Pleased by the leverage Young Master Tamilan’s name provided, Adel nodded with satisfaction.

“If it’s for the Young Master’s needs, she won’t be able to object. Let me discuss it with Madam.”

Following the head maid, Marien entered the Viscountess’s chamber and stood with her hands politely folded, waiting.

The Viscountess, observing Marien closely, offered a faint smile.

“So this is the maid Tamilan mentioned. I remember her. I believe she arrived not too long ago.”

“Yes, Madam. Marien even made the summer curtains for you.”

Head maid Adel mentioned Marien’s embroidery skills again to emphasize her talents.

“Oh my, is this the talented girl? I’ve actually taken quite a liking to her… cough, cough…”

Seeing the Viscountess’s coughing worsen, Marien’s face paled. She couldn’t help but think of her mother.

Since the atmosphere was one of secrecy about the Viscountess’s illness, Marien couldn’t ask for details.

While the Viscountess and head maid discussed coordinating the embroidery work schedule, Madam Maya approached Marien.

In truth, Marien found Madam Maya’s sharp gaze more intimidating than the Viscountess’s curious one.

“Are you the maid who mentioned the Lady’s health and changed the curtain fabric?”

The previous maid, Hannah, had been such a disaster that Madam Maya’s nerves were on edge.

“Yes. When I first saw the Madam, I noticed her coughing, so I thought it would be better to use a fabric with less dust.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Madam Maya suspected that Young Master Tamilan’s involvement in appointing her might not be as innocent as it seemed, especially given the girl’s lovely appearance.

However, seeing Marien’s attentiveness, she realized this maid wasn’t entirely unskilled at caregiving.

While Marien was unconsciously being evaluated by Madam Maya, head maid Adel secured the Viscountess’s permission for her embroidery work.

“Let’s do that, then. Marien will work in the embroidery room in the mornings. It would be a waste to let such embroidery skills go unused.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

Adel returned with a pleased expression, leaving Marien alone.

“Are there any points I should be particularly careful about in serving the Madam?”

Madam Maya, who had been planning to list a series of precautions, relaxed her strict expression slightly when Marien asked first. It seemed like she might finally have a maid to her liking.

***

“Marien, what’s the matter?”

“Head maid, may I go outside instead of the embroidery room this morning? I want to gather herbs that can help alleviate the Lady’s symptoms. But if wolves are still out there, could I be accompanied by a knight?”

The day before, while attending to the Lady, Marien saw the attending physician come and go for regular checkups. This allowed Marien to discern the Lady’s illness without asking.

“Ajain.”

Marien couldn’t believe it, but the Viscountess was suffering from the same incurable disease her mother had.

This disease could go unnoticed for a lifetime depending on the patient’s condition, or it could worsen suddenly and prove fatal with no available treatment.

Frequent coughing made breathing difficult and each breath was painful.

Marien, who had learned herbal medicine from the healer Helen after her mother had provided a place for her to stay, knew how to ease Ajain’s symptoms.

One method was to collect mullein leaves and brew them into tea.

“The Lady’s physician is already doing everything possible to prevent her condition from worsening. She’s actually much better now. But are you saying you can further alleviate her symptoms? Did the Lady give permission?”

“Yes. She said I could try. My mother had the same illness, and this was a method given to me by a healer. It worked well then.”

“Well, if the Lady has given permission, then go ahead. You don’t need to report to the embroidery room this morning. I’ll send a knight with you, so wait by the castle gate.”

Marien, prepared for her gathering, waited at the castle gate for the assigned knight. Remembering Young Master Tamilan’s request for her not to go out alone, she had asked the head maid to arrange an escort.

As she waited and recalled the events of the previous day, she encountered Young Master Tamilan, heading out with a black horse.

He must be going riding.

“Young Master Tamilan, good morning,” Marien greeted him. Tamilan dismounted and approached her.

“Where are you going?”

“Excuse me?”

“Didn’t you say you needed an escort?”

Marien was taken aback, blinking repeatedly at the unexpected revelation that Master Tamilan would personally escort her.

“You’re personally going to escort me, Master?”

“Yes. I heard you know about herbs that can help alleviate Ajain’s symptoms.”

“Yes. My mother suffered from the same illness. I hope it will help the Lady as well.”

Her mother had worked relentlessly, which often led to her falling ill, and Marien had cared for her from a very young age.

Initially, the disease wasn’t severe, but as her mother overworked herself, it worsened. The healer had shaken his head, saying her mother could die suddenly at any moment.

Every time Marien heard her mother’s dry coughing and gasping for air in their cottage, her heart raced uncontrollably.

Last night, when the Lady coughed violently and couldn’t stop, Marien felt a chill of fear and suffocating anxiety.

The physician had said the Lady’s condition wasn’t critical but also not light, cautioning that it could turn severe at any moment.

Marien quietly looked at Master Tamilan standing beside her.

How was he enduring this situation?

Though Marien put on a bright front for her mother’s sake, inside she was always filled with anxiety and apprehension.

She constantly worried about the sudden, unexpected events the healer had warned about.

Whenever her mother’s condition improved, she felt an overwhelming joy, as if soaring. But when it worsened, it felt like falling off a cliff.

Master Tamilan must feel the same.

Somehow, Marien felt a poignant kinship with him, as if they had grown up sharing the same pain, though he still had hope.

“Marien, your mother also had Ajain…?”

“Yes, Master.”

Tamilan gazed at her with a curious expression. When he had entrusted her with the Lady’s care, he hadn’t anticipated such a coincidence.

Did she say her mother passed away from the illness?

Tamilan had many questions he wanted to ask, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak easily. Since she had recently lost her mother, recalling those memories would be painful for her.

“Let’s get moving first.”

When he pointed to the horse, Marien flusteredly waved her hands.

“I’ve never ridden a horse before…”

“I’ll be guiding it, so it’s fine.”

Though his words were meant to reassure her, Marien hesitated and continued stepping back, causing Tamilan to approach her and firmly hold her waist, lifting her up.

“Ah…”

He held her as he mounted the horse in one swift motion. Riding a horse for the first time, Marien didn’t know where to hold on and reached for the horse’s mane.

The reins were no help in keeping her balance. Even if the horse merely shuffled or took a step, it felt like she might fall.

“Relax your body. Tensing up will only make it harder.”

Though it felt like relaxing might make her fall, Marien trusted Tamilan’s words and gradually loosened up.

Yet, from behind, she heard a sigh mixed with a soft chuckle.

“Marien, lean on me. We won’t even be able to depart at this rate.”

Leaning on Tamilan didn’t come as easily as it sounded, so Marien hesitated. Then, he wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

As her back pressed against his firm chest, his warm body heat radiated through her, making her face flush with warmth.