Chapter 1: The Berkshire Family Became Her Lifeline Part 3

That year, as the unusually chilly spring gave way to early summer, the Berkshire estate underwent renovations.

In accordance with the season, brightly colored and cheerful furnishings were brought in, tapestries and fur rugs were removed, and light curtains and bedding were replaced.

Many of the maids complained about the arduous work, but Marien was deeply curious about how the Berkshire estate would look in its new seasonal décor.

However, in the midst of the renovations, an unexpected accident occurred, quite different from what she had anticipated.

While removing curtains, Lisa fell off a chair and was badly injured.

Unlike Marien, the other maids working alongside them didn’t seem to think much of her accident.

So Marien, even clashing with other maids—particularly Sarah, the longest-serving among the younger maids—helped Lisa to the annex.

It was only after promising to take on all of Lisa’s duties that Marien was finally able to leave.

Once they reached the quarters, Lisa gave Marien a warning, her face filled with worry.

“I would’ve handled it myself. You should’ve left it alone. There’s a lot of work, and if one person is missing, it makes things harder for everyone. Still, if I’d looked like I was struggling, they would’ve at least told me to rest out of obligation.”

“That’s why I did it. You would’ve insisted you were fine, but if you kept going, your condition would’ve gotten worse.”

When Lisa got hurt, Marien felt a sense of déjà vu.

Her blood turned cold, her hands trembled, and she felt as if she couldn’t breathe. Just like when she’d met the viscountess, she grew anxious, her mouth dry.

The only thought filling her mind was that she had to find a way to treat Lisa.

That was another reason she had stood her ground against the other maids to get Lisa back to the quarters. She didn’t want to feel powerless again while someone right in front of her was hurt.

“It’s better not to provoke Sarah. She doesn’t like people contradicting her, especially not new maids. She gets even angrier then.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know how to resolve it smoothly in that situation… but I couldn’t just leave you. If I couldn’t treat you right away, I might’ve ended up in a scuffle with Sarah.”

“What? You in a scuffle? Have you even done that before?”

Lisa burst into laughter, which made her shift and suppress a groan as her ankle protested.

“Are you okay? But why? Do you think I couldn’t handle her?”

“You’d never beat Sarah. Do you know how fierce she is? She acts like the queen bee among the maids.”

“…….”

Compared to fleeing from the men in the village who had tried to assault her, a confrontation with Sarah felt like nothing.

As the memory resurfaced, Marien’s hands began to tremble again.

Not wanting to burden Lisa with more worries, Marien simply nodded and tucked her trembling hands into her sleeves.

“Today couldn’t be helped, but from now on, don’t get involved with Sarah. If she picks a fight, just pretend to listen and let it go. Got it?”

“Got it. I’ll take care of it properly. If it gets worse, it’ll be serious.”

After informing the head housekeeper about Lisa’s condition, Marien returned to work.

To cover for Lisa, she took on all the hard tasks and didn’t finish until nearly midnight.

However, the next morning, after finishing her embroidery work, Sarah called Marien over again. She still seemed displeased.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Take care of the stable in Will’s place.”

Beside Sarah stood a man Marien had never seen before.

The gossip among the maids during meals and breaks, while amusing, was also valuable information for Marien, so she listened carefully to everything without missing a word.

Thanks to that, she guessed that the man with the tousled brown hair was Will, the stable hand.

She had overheard that Young Master Tamilan disliked anyone mishandling his horses, but Will often fumbled and got scolded.

Was it really okay for them to push this work onto her?

“I’ve never done stable work before, so I don’t know how.”

Sarah smiled prettily and gently listed the tasks.

“Just clean up, feed them, and wash them—what’s so hard about that? Didn’t you say you’d do anything? Will and I have other things to do. You have to do it.”

Though it felt like an unfair demand, Marien remembered Lisa’s advice and silently nodded.

She wanted to keep her word about doing anything.

After they left, Marien glanced around the stable.

First, she took hay from the feed bin and distributed it to the horses.

“Eat plenty. Let’s get through today together.”

While the horses ate, Marien cleaned up the manure and tidied the stable.

By the time she finished, it was well into the afternoon.

When Marien stopped by the kitchen, an assistant maid gave her a snack.

Knowing she couldn’t leave the stable unattended for too long, Marien quickly ate her fill.

She decided to save the apple dessert for later and give it to Lisa when she returned to their quarters, and then she headed back to the stable.

Marien’s eyes were drawn to a particularly large, glossy horse.

“You’re really handsome.”

The horse was striking enough to catch anyone’s attention immediately. Its mane was neat and well-kept, and a white diamond-shaped mark adorned its face, making it look beautiful.

Thinking how noble it appeared, she reached out to stroke it, but the horse snorted and jerked away from her hand.

Its haughty eyes and lifted chin seemed to say, “How dare you try to touch me!”

“…….”

Marien thought a bribe might be needed and rummaged in her apron for the apple she had saved.

“Here, how about this? Will you let me touch you if I give you this?”

As she held out the apple, a low voice spoke from behind her.

“That’s enough. Step aside.”

Startled, Marien turned around and froze.

It was Young Master Tamilan, whom she hadn’t seen for a week.

When their eyes met and she felt his cold gaze, Marien remembered what the maid Carol had said after being assigned to clean his room.

“He told me not to touch his things with that icy expression…! I was so scared I thought I’d be thrown out!”

Carol had been excited just two days earlier to be assigned to clean his room, but she was left utterly intimidated.

Was this magnificent horse his?

She recalled hearing that he hated it when others touched his belongings.

I didn’t actually touch it. Or… had I already angered him by trying?

She had even thought of bribing the horse with the apple…

Marien’s face turned pale as she hesitated, taking a step back. His commanding gaze seemed to say just that—back away.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was your horse, young master.”

To lessen Young Master Tamilan’s anger, Marien quickly apologized and took several more steps back.

When she moved aside, Tamilan stepped into the spot where she had stood before his horse. As he came closer, a cool, forest-like scent carried on the breeze tickled Marien’s nose.

It was a calm and tranquil fragrance, like the chilly air lingering at the end of winter in an early spring grove.

After stroking his horse a few times, Tamilan abruptly held out his hand toward Marien.

“…….”

Not knowing what he meant by the gesture, Marien stayed still. Tamilan then gave a small, urging flick of his fingers.

Does he want the apple in my hand?

Marien hesitantly offered the apple. Tamilan took it, pulled out a small dagger from inside his coat, and began cutting the apple to remove the seeds.

“If you give it whole, it might get stuck in its throat. No apple seeds either.”

Though his calm, measured actions and deep voice should have eased her nerves a bit, Marien only bowed her head, feeling flustered.

She hadn’t known she needed to remove the seeds or cut the apple into smaller pieces. It felt too lame to use “I didn’t know” as an excuse, and heat rushed to her ears.

“I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Where’s Will? Explain why someone clueless like you is here.”

While cutting the apple indifferently with his dagger, Tamilan asked about Will’s whereabouts.

“Will had an urgent matter, so I took over for him. I’m sorry. I should’ve stuck to my duties, but I overstepped…”

“You didn’t know. Just don’t touch my horse.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure of that.”

As Marien answered obediently, Tamilan gazed down at her. It wasn’t the cold, stern look from before but rather a contemplative, scrutinizing one, as though studying her carefully.

Just like with the master, it felt as if she were being evaluated again, this time by Young Master Tamilan. Marien silently hoped she wouldn’t offend him.

Tamilan’s gaze finally turned away from her because his horse nudged his hand with its nose, as if asking for the apple.

“…….”

After a long silence, Marien thought it might be time to step back.

“Are you going to greet me at some point?”

He casually dropped the comment while feeding the apple to his horse.

Ah, a greeting…!

It suddenly struck Marien that she had not once properly greeted him, not in either of their encounters. The timing felt long past, but being so focused on feeling judged, she hadn’t realized that his gaze was hinting at a greeting.

“Right now! I was just about to…!”

With trembling eyes, she sought his permission, and Tamilan nodded.

“Go ahead.”

Should she introduce herself first since this was basically their first meeting? But hadn’t the head housekeeper mentioned that the young master didn’t like being greeted? Or was that wrong after all…?

Her mind was tangled, but Marien decided to follow formal etiquette and knelt down, giving her introduction.

“Hello, Young Master Tamilan. My name is Marien Reed. I recently started working at Berkshire. I look forward to serving you.”

Tamilan, watching her greeting as if appraising it, finally spoke.

“All right, Marien Reed. Stable work isn’t your assignment, is it?”

“Ah… no, young master. I don’t have any set tasks yet. I’m still learning.”

“When will Will be back?”

“I’m not sure, young master.”

Tamilan’s gaze turned cold again, like a winter lake, and the atmosphere chilled.

“What kind of urgent business could the stablehand possibly have?”

His voice grew heavier with each clipped word.

“…….”

Not knowing how to answer, Marien lowered her gaze, and his low voice pressed down on her.

“Tell Will this: He should be properly at his post until I return.”

Though his displeased tone was directed at Will rather than her, Marien felt as if she were the one being scolded, her heart pounding nervously.

Fortunately, that was the last thing Young Master Tamilan said before he led his horse out of the stable.

It ended without a major scolding.

Marien also felt relieved that there would be no more interviews or evaluations at Berkshire.

Realizing that she had exchanged a few words with the young master made her cheeks flush in hindsight.

Marien pressed both her palms against her flushed cheeks with a soft slap. For some reason, whenever she spoke to him, her mind felt unsettled and jumbled.

What exactly had I said…?

I hope I didn’t look like a fool.

Watching Young Master Tamilan’s receding figure, Marien tried to calm her pounding heart.