Mio never imagined she would be chosen for the maid position when she first heard about the opportunity at the mansion. The grand estate, set on fields through which the Goldrain River flowed gently, was known for its immense wealth, even by the standards of those in the Pylon region. Rumors about the noble who lived in such splendor were common.

Some claimed It’s where royalty lives, while others whispered that a high-ranking royal magic technician resides there. But the truth remained a mystery. When Mio was first offered the position, the lord of the Pylon region gave her a stern warning more than once.

“I recommended you because you’re discreet and good at what you do. Just keep doing your job as you always have, and you’ll be fine.”

Having worked in the lord’s castle from a very young age without ever meeting the lord, Mio took his advice to heart, filled with both curiosity and fear.

Mio rode the family’s old shared bicycle towards the Goldrain Estate (as everyone in town referred to it). The grand gate alone was enough to intimidate anyone who saw it.

At first, this mansion didn’t attract much attention. Originally, a poor painter lived there, someone who had no contact with the townspeople. Nobody knew much about him. He only came to the market once every two months to buy supplies, a man whose presence was as faint as wild grass.

When Mio was young, she often lingered around the estate because of its beautiful garden, but whenever she encountered the painter, his intense gaze would frighten her and she would run away. The estate was so isolated from the village that no one passed by unless they made an effort to visit. Over time, the garden and the estate faded from people’s memories. Even when the painter died, the villagers didn’t know. It was only when a new owner moved in that they learned of his death.

A year and a half? The villa hadn’t been built for long. At first glance, it was clear that this was no ordinary mansion. The eagle statues perched high on the walls seemed so lifelike, as if they were watching Mio. With trembling hands, she pressed the bell next to the front gate. The cold metal surface immediately recognized her fingerprint and seemed to transmit the information inside the mansion. High-level magic was at work.

‘So, it really is a magic technician,’ she thought.

Considering the respectful attitude of the lord, it was clear that the person who lived in this mansion held a position so high that even nobles would not dare to treat them lightly. These were people beyond Mio’s imagination – people who lived in a world above the clouds.

After a while, the scan finished and a side gate, about 10 meters away from the main entrance, clicked open. Mio rode her bike through the small gate and entered.

A narrow path led straight to a wide walkway. The air in the garden was filled with the fresh scent of grass, earth, and living trees. The once picturesque flowering trees, planted during the painter’s time, had grown significantly, now towering and filling the sky. Sunlight streamed through the scattered branches, casting white patches across the dirt floor.

The closer she got to the mansion, the more beautiful it looked. Even the lord’s castle couldn’t compare to its splendor. The white exterior walls and clear glass windows reflected the sunlight, making the whole place shine brightly.

The inside of the mansion was even more breathtaking. From the moment Mio saw it, she fell in love with it. She couldn’t imagine anyone not liking a place like this.

But Mio wasn’t the only one there. Two other candidates had already arrived. Both were familiar faces by reputation. One was a maid from the esteemed household of Marchioness Catherine, and the other was a former royal servant who had recently retired and returned to her hometown.

Mio felt a pang of disappointment. She had been told that only one person would be hired, but with such strong competition, her chances of being chosen seemed slim.

What made it even worse was how much she loved the mansion. The three of them sat close together in the living room, waiting to be called into the study one by one. Surprisingly, this grand estate didn’t have a single butler.

But then again, it didn’t seem like one was needed. High-level magic was evident everywhere, making the wait far from boring. It was the first time Mio had ever seen a mansion so intricately imbued with such refined magic. She wondered if she was the only one so impressed, but the former royal handmaiden was also wide-eyed, glancing around in awe, clearly taken by the mansion.

The maid from Marchioness Catherine’s household went in first, followed by the royal maid. As soon as they came out, they left immediately. It was impossible to read anything from their expressions. They seemed either dazed or completely devoid of thoughts.

Finally, it was Mio’s turn.

Mio steadied her trembling legs as she pushed open the heavy, dark brown door and stepped into the study.

The room was huge. From behind a partition, a man walked with deliberate steps and sat down on the sofa. Stunned, Mio stared blankly at the man, taken aback by how incredibly handsome he was.

He leafed through the documents on the table and then looked at Mio, gesturing for her to sit on the opposite sofa. Like a broken doll, Mio walked over awkwardly and sat down, the sound of her steps squeaking as she moved.

“You were recommended by Marquess Iron.”

The man said, his deep, cold voice slicing through the air above her. Mio nodded quickly, recognizing the lord’s name.

“They say you’re discreet and good at your work.”

The man’s slow, cold voice made Mio feel like she was going to wet herself with fear. She was terrified. His gaze was icy, and every time he looked at her, it felt like his sharp eyes were cutting straight through her heart.

“Do you have family?”

Mio nodded, though she couldn’t understand why he would ask that. The man gently rubbed his eyebrow before crossing his arms. His fingers were straight, with thick joints that made his hands look strong and masculine.

“And who are your family members?”

“My mother, younger brother, and older sister,” Mio answered quietly. “My mother works as a maid in Count Keaton’s household.”

“…”

The man fell silent after hearing her answer, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be deep in thought, and Mio’s mind raced as she tried to understand why he was asking all these personal questions. Did he think that having a family would distract her from her work? Now that she thought about it, the former royal handmaiden had no family left after her parents died last year, and the maid from Marchioness Catherine’s household was estranged from her older brother.

‘I won’t be chosen.’

Mio thought, strangely feeling a sense of calm as she accepted her likely rejection.

“There is only one thing I expect from you,” the man finally said. “To remain unnoticed. An important guest will be arriving soon. That’s why I’m hiring you. But if that guest becomes aware of your presence, or if you fail to do your job properly, I will fire you. You are to behave like a fool who sees nothing, hears nothing, and knows nothing. Do you understand?”

Mio nodded, her heart pounding as she realized the seriousness of his words.

The man calmly explained the terms of the contract. Mio blinked in surprise. From the way he spoke, it almost sounded like she had been accepted as the mansion’s maid.

“Um… did I get the job?”

“They say you’re discreet, so I’ll trust that.”

His name was Theo Blaine. Though his exact status remained unclear, one thing was certain – he was incredibly wealthy. He spoke in a refined, polished tone, and his face was as handsome as a sculpture. And… he was absolutely terrifying.

The cold tone in his voice as he said I trust that carried the weight of something deeper, something ominous. Mio swallowed hard, feeling the unease creeping up on her.

And so Mio started working at Goldrain mansion.

***

As she tidied up the mansion and prepared the guest room for the soon-to-arrive visitor, Mio often thought the mansion was unnecessarily large. It was breathtakingly beautiful, but at the same time, it felt lonely. The master, Theo, spent most of his time either holed up in his office, which also served as his bedroom, or away on long business trips. Sometimes he would be gone for a month or two, leaving the house empty for long periods.

For all its beauty, the mansion lacked life. It was like a flower without fragrance.

That is until that person arrived.

One day, Theo called Mio in and reminded her of the terms of their original contract. She was to do the laundry, cleaning and cooking either early in the morning or late at night, and under no circumstances was she to be seen by the guest.

“Has the guest arrived?”

Mio’s excited tone met Theo’s sharp gaze. She froze in fear. Her master was always particularly sensitive when it came to matters concerning this guest. As Mio’s spirits dropped and she lowered her head, Theo gestured for her to leave. Mio couldn’t help but wonder who this mysterious guest was, someone even her cold, distant master seemed so concerned about.

But with her job on the line, she knew she couldn’t risk meeting the guest.

After that, the days passed much as they had before. But it became clear that the guest had arrived. Laundry, which hadn’t been an issue before, now appeared – stained sheets, soiled clothes. Whenever Mio thought about what might have caused the stains, her face flushed with embarrassment.

She might be young, but she wasn’t ignorant of the relationships between men and women.

Her master was strange. It seemed that he personally looked after the guest’s linen and towels, or even prepared his meals. Where exactly the guest was staying remained unclear. The Goldrain Estate had many empty rooms, and one thing was certain: the guest wasn’t staying in the beautifully decorated room Mio had prepared at her master’s request.

Mio’s curiosity grew with each passing day.

“Mio.”