Chapter 1: The Berkshire Family Became Her Lifeline Part 1

When Marien turned eighteen, her mother’s last words to her were simple.

“My only wish is for my daughter to live happily with the one she loves, forever and ever.”

That wish seemed to reflect her mother’s unfulfilled desire, as her father had left her forever before Marien was even born.

Her mother could only meet her father after being laid to rest in the cold earth.

While other children played with their peers, young Marien learned herbal remedies from a healer.

The healer had been given a place to stay by her mother, who had nowhere else to go, but now that herbal knowledge had served its purpose.

After her mother’s passing, Marien stood at a crossroads. The healer who had helped mother and daughter asked her,

“You won’t be coming back here. The place we stay will change from time to time. Will you come with me?”

“I can’t leave my mother. This is where I’ve lived, too.”

It felt as though if she left with the healer, she would never again find traces of her parents. Marien couldn’t bear the thought. If she did, the burden of abandoning her parents would forever weigh on her heart.

“What will you do if you stay?”

“I’m not sure… but maybe there’s something I can do for the village. I’m good with embroidery, too. I’ll live my life to the fullest, for my mother’s sake.”

“Well, if that’s what you choose. That, too, is your destiny.”

The healer didn’t insist and left the next day without a word. If Marien was to continue living in this lonely hut, she had to find work of some kind.

But when she ventured to the unfamiliar village outskirts, what she found was not work, but insults.

“You look just like your mother—so filthy! Now you’re trying to seduce all the village men? You mother and daughter are both utterly vulgar. Get out of the village immediately!”

Brushing her swollen, tear-filled eyes as if it were nothing, Marien chastised herself.

Now there was no one left to comfort her or protect her.

Was her mother treated like this while working to provide for them? Now she understood why her mother had never allowed her to go down to the village.

To make matters worse, that night, a group of village men came to assault her, and Marien had no choice but to leave the hut she had always called home.

Though it wasn’t her fault, though it was they who had done wrong, the resentment surged in her chest like a lump in her throat—but there was no time for sentiment.

With no place to stay, Marien had only one choice left.

A maid position at the Berkshire estate, where both lodging and food were provided.

“They’re looking to hire several maids at Berkshire right now. I’m trusted by the head housekeeper, so I can bring it up. She even asked if I knew anyone who could be recommended… I know you’re good with your hands.”

Marien had once been offered the job by Lisa, her only childhood friend who still visited the hut.

Berkshire was originally a prestigious family long trusted by the royal family, but the current viscount had steadily expanded his business and become a wealthy tycoon.

Because of that, the pay was generous, and they were said to treat their servants well. But her mother had strongly opposed Marien working as a maid.

Especially not as a maid in the Berkshire family.

In truth, even without her mother’s objections, Marien wouldn’t have done it. Her mother needed her help, and without timely care, her life was in danger.

Even if Marien had saved up her wages to find a way to treat her mother, the healer had only confirmed that Jane’s condition was incurable.

So Marien had no choice but to refuse back then, but now, this was her only lifeline.

Lisa had made the offer a year ago. Could Marien now, through her introduction, join as a maid at Berkshire?

If they said they weren’t hiring maids anymore, she would have to beg to be taken in.

***

“Goodness, Marien Reed…! Is it really you? What on earth happened?!”

Lisa’s eyes widened as she met Marien for the first time in nearly a year. The once pure and beautiful Marien was gone, replaced by a disheveled, exhausted figure with a face marked by weariness.

But that wasn’t all.

The subdued atmosphere around her was so different from the Marien Lisa had known that she could hardly believe it.

“Lisa, how have you been? I’ve missed you so much…”

After much hardship, Marien finally managed to meet Lisa and told her what had happened. When Marien said her mother had passed away, Lisa’s eyes welled up with tears, and she wiped them away with her apron.

“Aunt Jane was like a mother to me too.”

Lisa, born as the youngest child in a large family, had found it hard to receive her parents’ attention.

Her family members were all busy with their own affairs, so Lisa was often left to entertain herself.

When she discovered the little hut at the edge of the forest, it had felt like finding a secret, magical place.

Inside the hut was a girl her age, gazing at her quietly through a small window.

That angelic child was Marien Reed.

Afterward, Lisa made the hut her playground, visiting it almost every day, and before long, she and the pretty girl had become friends.

Though Jane had never allowed villagers into her home, Lisa was the one exception, treating her like a daughter in many ways.

Lisa had even thrown tantrums, insisting that she wanted to become part of the Reed family too. It was a childhood wish, but back then, it had been a sincere one.

She had even continued visiting the hut on her annual days off from working as a maid at Berkshire, bringing stories and gifts.

It was embarrassing to realize she had suggested the maid position without knowing how severely ill Jane had become—but to think she had passed away just a year later…

Now, Marien was all that was left of the Reed family.

Lisa couldn’t continue mourning in front of her, so she straightened her apron and steadied her saddened heart.

“You really came at the right time. You’ve been through so much.”

Marien held Lisa’s hand and expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you, Lisa. If you hadn’t suggested it, I truly wouldn’t have had anywhere to go.”

“Don’t worry about the maid work. We’ve been short-handed lately, so I’ll put in a good word with the head housekeeper.”

As Lisa said this and hugged her tightly, Marien, who had held back so long, finally burst into tears in her friend’s embrace.

All the misfortune, despair, and suppressed sorrow she had endured came pouring out at once.

Now, the only people who knew who Marien Reed was were the healer Helen and Lisa.

Helen had left, but Lisa was right there by her side.

Having a friend to rely on was truly something to be grateful for.

That simple fact slowly melted the profound loneliness that had seeped into Marien. The anxiety of being left alone in the world dissipated, and she regained her composure.

“I’m sorry… It was sudden, wasn’t it…?”

Lisa gently stroked her back to comfort her, and Marien finally stopped crying.

“I know how hard it must have been for you, so don’t worry. Look at yourself—I’ll go report to the head housekeeper. Use this to wipe up, okay?”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Marien carefully wiped her face with the wet towel Lisa handed her, but her swollen eyelids remained puffy.

It wasn’t long before Lisa returned with the head housekeeper. When Lisa recommended Marien for her embroidery skills, the head housekeeper wanted to see proof of her talent.

“Here, this is my embroidery on the right.”

Marien showed her a handkerchief, a keepsake from her mother. One corner had embroidery her mother had stitched, and along the diagonal edge was Marien’s own embroidery.

“My, how wonderful! Even among the maids in the embroidery room, you’d be among the best.”

Marien’s ability to embroider so well was greatly influenced by her mother. It was likely why the villagers, despite looking down on her mother, had still given her work.

“I’m satisfied. I think we can hire you immediately.”

“Thank you, head housekeeper.”

Though the head housekeeper’s response was positive, it was still too soon to feel relieved. Work couldn’t begin without the approval of the mistress of the Berkshire family.

Originally, the head housekeeper would hire maids as the viscountess’s health was poor, but lately her condition had improved, and she had resumed overseeing internal affairs.

When Marien tensed, Lisa reassured her.

Since the viscountess entrusted most decisions to the head housekeeper, what followed would be a mere formality, she hinted.

“Well then, let’s go greet madam.”

“Yes, head housekeeper.”

As Marien followed, she suddenly glanced down at her appearance. Could she really meet the viscountess like this? Marien felt a wave of self-consciousness at her shabby appearance.

The lord’s estate was vast, and it took quite a while to traverse it. As they passed each building, Marien’s gaze darted busily.

The beautiful gardens, the grand greenhouse, the knights’ training grounds, the enormous storerooms—everything was fascinating to her.

When Marien and the head housekeeper finally reached the main building, something made her steps slow and then stop altogether.

Her gaze met a man standing nearby with a black horse.

“……”

The man wore a sophisticated black jacket adorned with silver buttons and elegant white riding clothes.

His black hair, neatly swept back, gleamed in the sunlight like smooth silk. Beneath it were a noble forehead, a sculpted nose, and lips as if painted.

His blue eyes were calm like the surface of a tranquil lake, but gazing into them revealed a depth so unfathomable it was impossible to discern its true nature.

Marien couldn’t look away from him, as if captivated.

Though it was just a fleeting moment, time seemed to stretch endlessly. The surroundings blurred, and in Marien’s vision, there was only him.

Her eyelashes quivered softly.

Her heart tingled like a butterfly’s wings fluttering in a dreamy haze.

It was a feeling she had never experienced before in her life.

“Ah…”

The locked gaze was broken when the head housekeeper called out to Marien.

“Marien?”

“Ah, yes! Head housekeeper…!”

Startled, Marien hurried to follow behind her. Only then did the head housekeeper seem to notice the man’s presence, giving him a slight curtsy.

When Marien turned her head again, the man who had been acknowledged climbed onto his horse. The head housekeeper watched him ride away before finally speaking.

“You’ve met Young Master Tamilan.”

Young Master Tamilan?

Young master meant…

Realizing what that meant, Marien bowed her head deeply.

“I should have greeted him properly, but I think I made a mistake…”

His attire clearly displayed his noble bearing. It was obvious he was a member of the Berkshire family, yet she had stood there like a fool, entranced.

It was her first time encountering a noble, but she had heard from Lisa that when someone of high rank looked directly at you, you should bow and offer a greeting.

“It’s all right. He’s not one to be overly friendly… Most highborns find greetings tedious. But don’t forget to greet him next time. Come to think of it, I should teach you basic etiquette.”

The head housekeeper sighed, looking a bit exasperated.

“Yes. I’ll make sure to greet him properly next time.”

As Marien followed the head housekeeper, she couldn’t help but glance back several times. She had never seen such a splendid and handsome person before.

So he was a young master of the Berkshire family…

He was like the prince from the fairy tales her mother used to tell her as a child.