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Kardian brushed back his bangs and leaned against the chair.
He spoke to Norbert, who was muttering nervously beside him.
“I’ve confirmed that the woman isn’t dangerous.”
“But, Your Highness…”
“I plan to keep her close and watch her. I’d feel more uneasy if she were to disappear from sight.”
Norbert’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“If you’re going to be uneasy, why not just kill her now…?”
But Kardian called him sharply.
“Count.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“When she wakes up, prepare the employment contract immediately.”
“…”
“And one more thing.”
Kardian opened a drawer and took something out.
Thud—he set it down on the desk.
“Once the contract is signed, put this around her neck right away.”
It was a necklace.
A golden chain adorned with a blue gemstone.
“Ah.”
Norbert immediately recognized what it was.
“A necklace with a binding spell.”
“We need at least some safety measures. Who knows when her memory might return and she might point a sword at us.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Very wise.”
“And have Allen keep an eye on her.”
“Sir Allen?”
“Yes.”
Sir Allen was the vice-captain of the Grand Duke’s knight order, the Mars Order.
Norbert tilted his head.
Is that really necessary?
The necklace alone was already more than enough to prevent her from escaping the Grand Duke’s residence or leaking any secrets about the house.
It also prevented any hostile action against the Grand Duke—an extremely useful magical item.
And on top of that, Sir Allen…?
It felt a bit excessive.
This wasn’t just surveillance. It almost felt more like…
Protection?
Norbert shook his head.
No, come on. This is His Highness we’re talking about.
The Grand Duke was ruthlessly rational and never acted on emotion.
Norbert placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply toward Kardian.
“I will carry out your orders, Your Highness.”
This was the return of Norbert Millard, the legendary butler.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar room.
The air was filled with the bitter scent of boiled herbs.
Ah, right. I passed out.
My tongue still tasted faintly bitter.
My head was still fuzzy, and my lips were swollen and sore from how much I’d bitten and chewed them.
But what concerned me more right now was something else entirely.
“You’re awake?”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Why are you here, old man?”
The old man shrugged lightly, giving a somewhat lonely smile.
“What’s so strange about a vassal of the Grand Duke being in the Grand Duke’s residence? If anything, it’s stranger that you’re lying in a room instead of a cell.”
“…”
He wasn’t wrong, so I didn’t respond.
When I tried to sit up, the old man stopped me.
“They said you shouldn’t get up yet. They expected you wouldn’t regain full consciousness until tomorrow morning…”
But here I was, awake in less than an hour.
“Monster,” he muttered disapprovingly.
Ignoring him, I forced myself to sit upright anyway.
“Don’t act like you care. You’re probably the one who wants me dead the most.”
“…”
He couldn’t deny it.
“…”
“…”
An unbearably awkward silence followed.
Then the old man sighed.
“You need to understand—I put the Grand Duke and this household’s safety above everything else.”
His voice softened unexpectedly.
What’s this?
Why did his tone suddenly change?
Just moments ago, he’d been nothing but stern and overbearing.
Now, he seemed almost… reflective.
After a brief pause, he continued.
“Besides…”
“Besides what?”
“You lied.”
“…”
I flinched. There were so many lies, I couldn’t even guess which one he meant.
Unbothered, he went on.
“You claimed to have lost all your memories, but your answers after drinking the sap said otherwise.”
“…”
True.
I did babble something about losing my memory but not really, didn’t I.
I said to him,
“That’s exactly what I meant. I did lose my memories.”
“Then what memories didn’t you lose?”
His wrinkled eyes bore into me sharply.
When I didn’t answer right away, he pressed,
“Don’t lie. I could easily get more sap from the temple and make you drink it again.”
“…”
I met his gaze steadily.
This was the gaze of a loyal retainer—determined not to allow any suspicious person near his lord.
In a situation like this, it was better to give him something.
Reducing suspicion was worth it.
After a moment’s thought, I spoke.
“My name.”
“Your name?”
“Yes. I actually remember my name.”
“…What is it?”
“…”
I looked at him for a moment, then slowly said,
“Freya.”
“…”
“It’s Freya.”
My real name is Freya.
When I first met Serhin, that name was the only thing I remembered clearly.
Even the Crown Prince, Serhin, didn’t know that name.
He was the one who saved me, but back then, I couldn’t bring myself to trust him either.
Most of my face was covered in burn scars—not the result of an accident, but deliberate torture.
Yes. They were torture marks.
That’s why I concluded that I might be connected to the rebels who led the uprising in the Tenacis Empire.
I couldn’t reveal my real name.
I’d lost my memories, but I wanted to live.
I didn’t want to be crushed like embers of a rebellion just because of a name I barely remembered.
So I kept my true name hidden from Serhin, too.
I quietly began investigating my identity.
And found nothing.
The name “Freya” alone wasn’t enough to trace my identity in the Tenacis Empire.
It was a common name, and I couldn’t remember my family name.
And in the Kadea Empire, it would matter even less.
I was in a completely different empire.
Besides, I kind of want to try living under this name for once.
My true name—one no one remembered, no one ever called.
“Freya, you say? Is that truly all you’re hiding?”
Even after hearing my name, the old man’s eyes were still suspicious.
“Yes.”
“No family name? Or are you not a noble?”
“I don’t remember that part.”
When I shook my head, he barked,
“I could fetch more sap from the temple!”
“Then go ahead! I have nothing else to hide!”
“…”
He’s not used to being talked back to, huh?
I lifted my chin defiantly.
His wrinkled eyes narrowed further, assessing whether I was bluffing.
Even if you bring the sap, old man, it won’t work this time.
I smirked inwardly.
I know how to detoxify and purify any foreign substance that enters my body.
It’s a technique only those who’ve trained their aura can master.
And while this body is still at the beginner stage…
It’s true that this body had already shown signs of aura awakening.
And the binding seal suppressing my power is gone now.
With a bit of time, I could purify something like the sap the moment it entered my system.
So while he’s fetching it, I’ll just awaken my aura.
Having thought it through, I had nothing to fear anymore.
The old man looked at my expression for a long moment, then sighed softly.
“…From now on, you’ll be using this room.”
I blinked at him.
Not going back to the dungeon?
Seeing my confused look, he explained,
“The Grand Duke has decided to take you in. Which means…”
He paused briefly, picking his words carefully.
“You’re now employed at Ballot Grand Duke’s estate—the most coveted workplace in the Empire.”
“…What?”
He straightened his posture and looked down at me sitting on the bed.
“Ah, of course, I’ll be the one to train you.”
He added with a mischievous grin.
What is he even talking about?
“You mean… I’m supposed to…”
His grin widened.
“Yes, sharp girl. Starting tomorrow, you’ll begin training as a maid.”
He laughed heartily and casually placed a document on the nightstand.
It was an employment contract.
