Alice fidgeted with the silver necklace bearing the Walsh family crest. Mariam frowned at the necklace.

“That’s the kind of necklace slaves wear. You’re not a slave anymore.”

Mariam had heard this from Zachary. He had asked if the necklace Alice wore was the kind slaves wore, wondering if she might be a runaway slave. Mariam had become angry at this suggestion.

“What are you talking about! She paid off her debt in full!”

“If you say so. Just asking.”

Alice’s face turned bitter.

“…When I returned to my hometown, I found out my parents had gone into debt and were sent to Helgrip.”

“What?”

“…Lord Khalid made me an offer. He said he would pay my family’s debt… if I became his bed slave.”

“Lord Khalid?”

“Yes.”

Mariam found it hard to believe. There were many maids who would sleep with Khalid without payment. A young, handsome noble man. Not a bad person to admire.

But Alice, sitting before her, still looked like a man despite having shoulder-length hair now. She might look cute because of her small frame, but compared to mature women, Alice wasn’t particularly sophisticated. Especially not in the capital.

“Well, since you say so, I’ll believe you. …Though it’s hard to believe.”

“Okay.”

“So you ran away from Lord Khalid?”

“…More precisely, I ran from the Countess.”

“Ah.”

Mariam thought Alice was lucky to be alive.

The Countess never left her husband’s women alone. Mariam had left the mansion after hearing that Leah, a slave, would report to the Countess. With such a woman, she might be even worse toward her son’s woman.

Looking out the window at people moving busily, Alice said:

“I’d like only you to know about my pregnancy. You know how children born to slaves are treated.”

“…I certainly do.”

“Please.”

“Sure.”

Mariam covered her mouth tightly with both hands. Seeing this, Alice smiled. Mariam could somewhat understand why Khalid had slept with Alice. Her bright, innocent smile was pretty.

* * *

Four years later.

Alice was working at the inn where Mariam worked. Fortunately, no one had come looking for her in four years, so she felt at ease. However, part of her felt disappointed that Khalid seemed to have forgotten her.

“Alice! The guest in room 15 is calling for you!”

“Coming.”

Mariam took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Alice’s forehead. She had learned Alice’s real name directly from her. At the time, she had been surprised by how pretty the name was.

“Your shift ends soon, so don’t overwork yourself. Where’s Dorothy?”

“I left her at the daycare.”

“Good! Oh, I want to get married and have a child soon too. Every time I see Dorothy, I want to kiss those jelly-soft cheeks!”

Alice smiled silently.

Dorothy would run away in disgust whenever Mariam tried to kiss her. Despite being so young, she spoke well and was intelligent, constantly reminding Alice of someone.

Alice knocked on door number 15.

“Come in.”

This was a guest who had been staying frequently lately and specifically requested Alice.

The table was full of alcohol and snacks. Since the inn’s food was expensive, Alice could only guess he was some wealthy merchant.

The man poured alcohol into a glass and offered it to Alice.

“Drink.”

“…”

Having been scolded by the inn’s owner after refusing once before, Alice drank the alcohol he offered. It made her feel tipsy, but it was fine since her shift was ending soon.

“Are you just going to drink? My glass is empty.”

“…Yes.”

Alice sat next to him and poured alcohol into his glass. No matter how many times she said this was an inn, not a bar, he wouldn’t listen.

“Alice. How about becoming my wife? Hmm? I know you have a daughter. It must be hard raising her alone.”

Alice shook her head while pouring his drink. Her cheeks were flushed red after just one glass.

“It’s not difficult.”

“…Hah. You really don’t get it, do you? I’m telling you I’ll let you live in luxury if you come to me.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Belfi.”

The man’s name was Belfi. He had enough wealth to make the owner bow to him, but since he had no surname, he wasn’t a noble.

Belfi stroked Alice’s hip.

“I have more wealth than you can count. Hmm? I told you to come visit my house once.”

Belfi, in his early thirties, wore an eye patch over one eye, giving him a frightening appearance.

Just then, Mariam burst through the door.

“Oh my! It’s time for Alice to finish her shift! Would you like me to serve you instead?”

“What? I only want Alice….”

Alice jumped up and bowed to the man.

“…I’m sorry, but I need to pick up my child.”

“Whatever.”

Belfi’s lips protruded in disappointment. Mariam waved her hand, urging Alice to leave quickly. Alice felt embarrassed for being indebted to Mariam again.

‘I should treat her to dinner at a nice restaurant sometime.’

Perhaps due to the lingering effects of her slave life, Alice wasn’t good at refusing. Especially with a man like Belfi who looked intimidating.

Leaving the inn, she went to pick up her child from daycare. The place called daycare was an ordinary home where several nannies took care of many children.

“It’s Dorothy’s mother! I’ll bring her right away.”

“Thank you.”

Soon, a pretty little girl with brown hair and blue eyes walked out. Dorothy, with her bright, alert eyes, was only four years old but very perceptive. The child bowed her head to the nanny.

“See you tomorrow, Aunt Dotty.”

“Yes, Dorothy! See you tomorrow.”

Dorothy waved her hand at Dotty. Her small, cute hand firmly held Alice’s, afraid of letting go.

“Mom. What’s for dinner tonight?”

“Spaghetti, your favorite.”

“Hmm. That’s good.”

A blush appeared on Dorothy’s cheeks despite her matter-of-fact tone.

A cute child who pretended to be mature but was actually quite reserved. Whenever Alice looked at her, she was troubled by how much the child reminded her of Khalid.

As Alice was about to leave, Dotty stopped her.

“Dorothy’s mother!”

“Yes?”

“Dorothy is definitely a prodigy! How about having her interview to be a servant for nobles?”

In the capital, intelligent commoners were employed as servants by nobles.

“…She’s only four years old.”

“Oh! Right. Hoho. I’m sorry. When I look at Dorothy, I keep forgetting her age! I just heard that the Marquis Hill family is looking for a child attendant. Such opportunities are rare, you know? Hoho.”

“The Marquis Hill family?”

“Yes. Their young master is also four years old.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Please do! They pay well, and there are many benefits that commoners usually can’t enjoy.”

“Yes…. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

After saying goodbye, Alice left with Dorothy. Dorothy held her neck stiffly.

“I’m not going to be a servant for nobles or anything like that. Aunt Dotty is nice, but her flaw is being too nosy.”

“…”

‘…Dorothy might speak better than I do.’

Alice smiled quietly.

Dorothy stared intently at one place. It was Crystal River Private School, which only nobles attended. Khalid had also attended there for six years.

“Dorothy.”

“…Why can only nobles attend that place?”

Students in uniforms walked out, chatting with each other. Just the uniform cost a commoner’s yearly salary. The tuition was expensive, and they didn’t offer scholarships.

“Aunt Dotty is tiring because she only tries to teach what she already knows. Oh, Mom. Buy me a book.”

“Again…?”

“I’ve already read all the ones you bought before.”

“…Okay.”

Dorothy loved reading books. Perhaps that’s why she wanted to go to school. Crystal River Private School was famous for its large library, but it was only open to current students and alumni.

At a small bookstore frequented by commoners, Dorothy chose a very thick book.

“Yes. With this, I can read for a long time. Mom.”

“…”

The more pages a book had, the more expensive it was. Moreover, wasn’t that a dictionary? Alice thought she would need to work overtime as she headed to the counter. Dorothy looked at Alice with an expectant face.

“Twenty silver coins.”

That was five months’ salary. Alice rummaged through her wallet, scraping together all her remaining silver coins. The clerk counted them one by one and nodded.

“Thank you.”

The book looked heavy even for Alice to carry. While she was wondering how to carry it, someone snatched the book from her.

“…Excuse me!”

“Noel.”

“…”

There was no one here who called Alice “Noel.” Alice had been living under her real name all this time. Even Mariam, who used to call her Noel, now called her Alice.

Khalid, dressed in a high-quality suit that didn’t fit in here, was standing there. Holding the book she was about to buy.

“…Lord Khalid.”

Alice gripped Dorothy’s hand tightly. Dorothy blinked her eyes, looking at the man before her. She had never seen such a handsome man in the world.