Chapter 4

It was certain there must be an answer between the two.

It was a rude insult thrown at her, but Estelle could pretend not to hear it at this point.

She needed to earn money.

That was the only escape route from her family, and the seemingly respectable position as a maid of the Giselleberg family brought her a generous wage.

This much, this kind of humiliation, was bearable.

“Are you just going to keep standing there?”

His low voice seemed heavy enough to drag her into a quagmire. Estelle’s fingertips, which were resting on the bookshelf, flinched.

She must not speak.

But this was a situation where she couldn’t avoid speaking either.

Estelle shook her head, but it seemed that her gesture didn’t get through to him.

‘Who on earth is this?’

She had no idea who this man was.

Aunt Susan had introduced most of the servants to her.

‘……Could it be the Duke?’

But it wasn’t time for the Duke to be awake.

It was known that the Duke started his day late. And whenever he woke, the servants moved slowly and quietly.

Estelle knew how noblemen treated her.

They teased and eyed her up and down.

Katie had advised her to use her pretty face, but that was impossible. Unless she lived like Lumiere, that would be nothing but poison.

If the person standing behind her was the Duke, he would have checked her face first, just like all the men Estelle had rejected until now.

‘Then who……?’

Most of the servants in this mansion were middle-aged women. But, ah.

There was one person she hadn’t been introduced to.

‘The White Rose Mansion’s butler.’

She hadn’t met the butler due to his absence for an outing. From her old memories, Estelle recalled that the Duke of Giselleberg was elderly.

The voice she heard was that of a young man.

So, it was most likely the butler.

“If you’re confident you can keep standing, then stay. If not, leave.”

“…….”

Estelle understood his true meaning.

He wasn’t telling her to leave the room. To leave meant to be dismissed.

It meant Estelle could no longer work here.

That must not happen. Right now, the Giselleberg Duchy was Estelle’s only lifeline.

Estelle took a deep breath and finally spoke.

“I’m sorry for spilling the water.”

And then she made her decision.

“I’ll stand here until your anger subsides.”

She couldn’t allow herself to be thrown out. She didn’t know how many hours she would have to stand, but it was far less dreadful than being dismissed.

The man, who had naturally expected her to surrender, seemed taken aback by her unexpected words. Estelle could feel his mood twist, almost through her skin.

But Estelle could not back down.

Just as in this place, just as in her current situation.

Estelle, like a proper maid, did not look up at him.

She simply bowed her head as much as she could and pleaded.

“Did you not hear the rule about not making any noise?”

His voice came with a distinct, stern attitude.

“Your words and actions don’t match.”

Estelle kept silent and stood her ground. He wasn’t wrong.

Her face burned, but Estelle could not leave this mansion.

As Estelle stood her ground, the air grew noticeably colder.

When he stepped closer, he was nearly within reach. Estelle bit her lip.

“Please don’t come any closer.”

“Are you trying to give me orders now?”

She could endure standing, but being touched by the man was troubling.

“A servant of the mansion must not speak carelessly, and that applies even to the butler.”

“What?”

“What I did was clearly against the rules, a foolish act of breaking what I learned today. But a butler is different.”

Her fingertips trembled, but she held on with all her strength.

“You as a butler have known the rules for a long time, but now, you’re not following them.”

“…….”

“It’s one thing for a mere maid to be rude and get thrown out for her arrogance, but if you as the butler breaks the rules, it means there’s no one the Duke can trust to manage the affairs of the mansion.”

Estelle straightened her back and pressed herself closer to the bookshelf, widening the distance between them.

“The disappointment caused by someone trusted, and the foolishness of a mere servant, carry different weights. A butler stands to lose far more.”

In the main building, no one was allowed to speak first unless the Duke permitted it. Yet, the butler standing before Estelle had done so.

The butler had broken the rules just the same. Estelle had to cling to that desperation to survive.

“……Butler.”

A low voice of doubt came then. It sounded displeased, as if the title had been used carelessly.

Then, a fleeting laugh escaped his lips.

A quick glance revealed that this man was holding a cane.

Though his voice sounded like that of someone in his twenties, he seemed older in other ways.

“Are you trying to threaten me now?”

“I’m sorry.”

She didn’t deny it, and a heavy silence fell. In that silence, the thick smell of paper from the books filling the space was palpable.

When Estelle turned her head to the side, he was leaning on the bookshelf, looking down at her.

“For someone who broke the rules, you’re quite brazen.”

It was fortunate the room was dark. Her reddened cheeks wouldn’t be visible.

“My apologies.”

“You may go. I won’t dismiss you.”

“But…….”

“Just go. You’re being noisy.”

Estelle quietly bowed her head in greeting and hurried out of the main building. As she left, her light footsteps made no sound at all.

The door, left ajar, slid shut just as an elderly gentleman entered.

“What do you think, Frederic?”

The name of the elderly gentleman who entered after closing the door was Frederic. 

He was the butler of the White Rose Mansion and the chief butler of the ducal estate, personally chosen by Duke Theodore Giselleberg. 

Frederic, who had quietly listened to the series of conversations that had just taken place, approached him. 

A man stretched out his graceful long legs and leaned against the bookshelf, closing his unfocused eyes. 

An elegant man standing with a cane. 

“I broke the rules, so she said I’d be punished.” 

The man’s lips curled up in a faint smile. 

“Do you agree with that maid’s opinion?” 

“I will take action.” 

“No.” 

With a short command, he lifted his eyelids. 

Beneath his prominent brow bones, sharp eyes cast deep shadows. His striking, cool appearance radiated a masculine elegance. 

A high, straight nose without a curve, thick and smooth lips. A sharp jawline and firm, angular jaw below the ears gave him a noble air. 

If one saw him head-on, it would be impossible to mistake him for a butler. 

From his posture to his looks, everything about him was noble. 

His blue eyes, opened late, seemed to emit a chill. 

“Let that maid continue cleaning the main building.” 

Frederic unconsciously repeated the words, surprised by his unexpected mercy. 

Duke Theodore Giselleberg. 

As the 8th Duke of the venerable Giselleberg Duchy, he had not shown kindness to anyone since returning from the war. 

“If you wish……” 

“When she finds out the truth about me as a fake butler, she’ll want to leave on her own.” 

His blue eyes, fixed on the closed door, were filled with languid indifference. 

The Duke dropped the book he was holding and struck the wooden floor with his cane as if crushing the ground. 

As Theodore brushed past Frederic, he gave him an order. 

“Make sure to give her a generous severance pay so the secret of the ruined Duke doesn’t leak out.” 

Step, tap. Step, tap. 

Twice the sound of shoes and once the sound of a cane echoed through the dark, silent main building, sending chills down one’s spine. 

It had been 513 days since Duke Theodore returned. 

It was the 513th day since he became a war’s defeated soldier, lost his sight, and injured one leg. 

* * *

The next day, Estelle wore her maid’s uniform early in the morning as usual. 

She worried inside that she might have been fired, but the ducal residence’s morning went on as always. 

“Lumiere! Good afternoon. Did you finish cleaning the east wing?” 

“Yes, Madam.” 

It was still strange to be called Lumiere, but Estelle answered briskly. All the odd jobs she had done to earn money had helped her. 

There was certainly a lot to do at the White Rose Mansion, but Estelle was skilled enough to handle it. The other servants quickly accepted Estelle as one of their own. 

“Then come here. There’s someone you haven’t met yet.” 

Susan smiled fondly and pulled Estelle along. 

Estelle instinctively guessed who it would be. The butler. The man she met in the study yesterday. 

“Wait a moment, Madam……” 

“Mr. Frederic! This is the new maid. She’s the one Amy recommended, so please look after her.” 

“Miss Lumiere Muhamot, I presume.” 

When she raised her head and met his gaze— 

The elderly gentleman standing before her was not the man she expected. He had silver hair. 

“I am Frederic, the one who manages the mansion. If you have any difficulties, feel free to tell me, Miss Muhamot.” 

His gentle smile, the hand not holding a cane, and the unmistakably warm atmosphere—everything was different. 

‘What is going on?’ 

Then, who was the person she met yesterday…… 

‘Who?’