Obviously, it wasn’t the kind of question that required an answer. Eliza’s jaw trembled as she realized the master’s intention.

“Eliza.”

“……”

“Have you decided not to answer anymore?”

“N-no, Master.”

“Tell me in your own words why your predecessor was fired.”

This, on the other hand, was a question that couldn’t be avoided. As the successor, she had been thoroughly trained not to make the same mistakes her predecessor had made.

“She… barged in much earlier than the appointed time.”

“And then?”

“……”

“I’m asking what happened. Have you forgotten already? Or do my words mean nothing to you?”

As the master’s voice rose, Eliza’s face turned deathly pale.

“A si-situation like to-today…”

“Yes. She saw me undressed, just like now.”

She had come in much earlier than the appointed time and, like today, saw the master in his shower robe. That was the exact reason why the predecessor was fired.

They must have bullied her until she got fired. Kian, as if he had already expected this, withdrew his gaze and began walking among the maids again as if inspecting them.

“Usually, dismissals at the Larson house happen during roll call.”

Kian returned to Vivianne’s side and addressed all the lined-up maids.

“Which means you all knew about this. Except for Vivianne. All of you.”

No one dared to breathe easily. Everyone kept their eyes on the ground, hunching their shoulders like children walking on thin ice.

“Eliza, you’re fired. Pack your things and leave within an hour.”

At the master’s words, Eliza lifted her head with a shocked expression.

“M-Master, but I clearly told her…!”

“I don’t care about your circumstances, and I don’t want to hear any excuses.”

Kian cut her off with an icy voice.

“Handing over your duties to your successor and ensuring there are no problems is part of your job, isn’t it? Whether you told her or not, what difference does it make?”

“……”

“Perhaps it’s because the master is often away from the mansion. You all become such a pathetic group when Matilda isn’t around.”

One head had just been cut off. Before sheathing the drawn blade, it wouldn’t hurt to cut off a few more.

“Now, I’ll give you all a chance. Anyone who has even the slightest objection to my words is free to leave Larson.”

There was no way anyone could answer. Kian smiled faintly.

“If not, then make sure there won’t be any more annoyances. Go about your business.”

Finally, the dismissal order was given. The maids responded in subdued voices and quickly left the master’s bedroom.

What in the world is this all about? Did he take my side?

Or did he just make things difficult for me?

He probably both helped and made things difficult at the same time. Strictly in his own way. There couldn’t have been any other intention to begin with.

Vivianne’s mind was in chaos because of the series of events that had occurred because of her.

Though Eliza, who had changed her story against her, was fired on the spot, it didn’t make her feel better. She couldn’t shake off a feeling of fear.

Regardless, he returned to the sofa and picked up his teacup as if nothing had happened. Perhaps because time had been wasted with all the commotion, it was obvious at a glance that the warmth had long since left the teacup.

Kian emptied it to the bottom in two or three sips, then set the teacup down with a clinking sound. Since there was no order for more, her duty was finished here.

She felt like she would suffocate in the uncomfortable air. As she hurriedly tried to gather the tea set and leave.

“Vivianne.”

A soft voice from behind. Vivianne paused in her steps.

“The tea was good.”

His voice clearly contained a bright, smiling tone.

* * *

Kian was watching the round crown of her head as she walked under the corridor.

Vivianne. That woman, didn’t she say she only knew her own name?

Even with the oversized men’s slippers on, she walked around without a single complaint. Drag, drag. The labored sound of footsteps tickled his ears.

The way she dragged her feet made her look like an injured small animal. It was quite amusing to watch. Of course, this too was a twisted pleasure.

Kian rested his elbow on the railing and propped his chin. Then he drew deeply on the rolled tobacco leaf until his cheeks hollowed.

The mixture of pungent smoke and sea air made his head clear. He wasn’t usually one to enjoy smoking often, but somehow lately, he kept finding moments when he craved it.

When he first learned this at military school, someone had said that a few puffs give you the courage to deviate. He thought it was complete nonsense then, but here was the fool who now believed that nonsense.

Indeed, doing something you don’t usually do leads to doing other things you don’t usually do. Come to think of it, this was also the first time he stood here looking down at the ground instead of the sea.

A woman he picked up out of curiosity.

No, a woman he picked up to avoid unpleasantness. He had picked her up intending to look into it someday.

But she couldn’t wait and came to greet him first. He was wondering what she would do, but that fool begged to stay here first.

While adding one more mouth to feed in this huge mansion wouldn’t be difficult, gentle kindness wasn’t the kind of behavior he particularly liked.

“Is she innocent or just stupid?”

Kian expressed his honest impression of her while looking at the now shortened end of his cigarette that had burned down.

Despite his refusal, the woman was quite desperate. She was beautiful by anyone’s standards. Standing there with her clear face, saying she would do anything if only given orders. It was enough to make her prey for unsightly men.

Of course, he was just as unsightly, as her defenseless statement made him want to play some mischief. He didn’t particularly want to deny that.

No, perhaps she had aimed for that from the beginning. He was a man too, after all. Knowing whose arms she had thrown herself into, how dare she—an unpleasant emotion welled up.

He thought she was a woman who knew no shame, only spouting nonsense, but then what was with the crying and trembling? Acting so arrogantly as if she were the victim. She was scattered, vexing, and impossible to figure out in many ways.

He had been curious about what she planned to do.

When she was doing laundry or whatever, he didn’t see her much, but after bringing her to the main house, she certainly caught his eye more often. Yes, that made things less boring for him too.

When the back of her head disappeared into the building and out of sight, Kian crushed the now stubby tobacco leaf in the ashtray.

Then he walked slowly and pulled the bell. A maid hurriedly entered and gave a deep bow. Indeed, beasts become more docile with each trampling.

“Yes, Master.”

There was something important to be done.

Since the maids might play some tricks again, it would be better to have it done through the butler.

“Call Richard.”

* * *

The next day, Vivianne arrived at the bedroom door exactly at 8:00 AM. It was already her sixth day as a maid.

After what happened yesterday morning, she could hardly sleep. Perhaps thanks to the master’s intervention, no one bothered her anymore. But at the same time, no one spoke to her first either.

When she sat at the dining table for meals, the other maids who were sitting there all stood up at once. Seeing this scene, Vivianne realized she had become completely alone.

A sense of alienation. It was a feeling she couldn’t get used to even after experiencing it for years since the mermaid palace. Like her sisters had done, people around her whispered while pretending not to.

“Look at her. She’s still wearing those so shamelessly.”

“…She must be crazy. Is she showing off?”

She was only wearing them because she had nothing else to wear. It was clear hostility. The words whispered to be discreet somehow pierced her ears even more clearly.

Though she felt drained and exhausted, she couldn’t skip eating if she wanted to work. Vivianne forced the food into her mouth and chewed mechanically.

“Someone got fired because of her, and yet she can still sit here and swallow her food?”

No, it wasn’t going down. But even if it wouldn’t go down, she couldn’t just keep it in her mouth forever.

Vivianne’s day started with serving tea, but that wasn’t the end of it. As part of the main house staff, she also had to handle various cleaning duties.

The indoor slippers he had given her were cumbersome to walk in. She couldn’t ignore the burning gazes that fell on her while pretending not to notice. They made her steps as heavy as their large size.

Did Kian help me?

Or did he put me in trouble?

He probably both helped and caused trouble at the same time. Strictly in his own way. There couldn’t have been any other intention to begin with.

She didn’t want to wear them, but she knew that walking barefoot could provoke people in a different way.

Especially in front of Kian, it was even more so. Kian would surely think someone had stolen her shoes, and he would interpret that as defying his will again. Unable to do either this or that, she felt uncomfortable in many ways.

Matilda won’t return until tomorrow. She had to endure until tomorrow, but everything seemed dark ahead.

“If you ever have any difficulties, or if someone bullies you, please come find me anytime.”

Suddenly she remembered Theodore, who had said he was Matilda’s son.

Should she ask for help? He said he could be found at the training grounds. Should she ask him to help her get shoes?

She had thought about it, but he was someone she’d only met once, and she felt a bit sorry about involving him in unnecessary matters.

Stop thinking unnecessary thoughts.

I should just do my job.

Vivianne pressed her toes firmly inside the slippers and swallowed hard.

Knock knock—

As expected, there was no answer to her knock. Though everything she had learned was suspect after yesterday’s events, she couldn’t not enter when it was time. Vivianne carefully opened the bedroom door and went inside.

She shouldn’t be late, but her heart sank when she saw the familiar figure already sitting on the sofa.

She definitely wasn’t early either, yet he was still in his shower robe today.

…What is this all about?

“Welcome, Vivi.”

When she lowered her gaze in embarrassment, a gentle voice called out her nickname, not her name.

Her heart pounded as if it would burst.