ITHTJ 07

Chapter : 07

I’ll Sign a Lifetime Contract (3)

Looking a little dejected, I carefully checked the contract I was holding so dearly, afraid it might get creased.

The document detailed my duties, benefits, salary, and more with meticulous thoroughness.

‘Huh? What’s this? An allowance for maintaining dignity? And overtime pay outside of working hours is paid separately?’

On top of that, there was even a clause stating that a private guest room in the annex would be provided for the tutor.

“How is it? The terms are good, right? You have no idea how hard I worked to persuade that notoriously picky Grand Duke.”

At some point, Linette leaned her head toward me and whispered slyly.

“Conditions like these are rare, Elsie. You won’t find them anywhere else.”

Linette was right.

To be honest, the offer was excessively good compared to my qualifications.

With this kind of monthly salary, I could open a shop in my own name—and before long, even buy a house.

‘Should I just sign the contract? It seems like what happened a few days ago wrapped up as a perfect crime, after all.’

Otherwise, there was no way these two would be treating me this well.

‘Alright. I’ll sign. If something happens later, I can always quit then.’

Getting a stable paycheck every month under a solid employer who wouldn’t screw me over?

There was no way I could let such a golden opportunity slip by.

I clenched my fist tightly and made up my mind.

‘No matter what, I’m taking this deal!’

Just as I resolved myself, Eclipse suddenly called out to me.

“Bloomhire.”

“Yes!”

“I apologize for my younger sister’s rudeness. I hope you’ll be generous enough to forgive her.”

Eclipse offered me a polite apology.

Oh, rude? Not at all! I waved my hands lightly and replied.

“No, it’s fine. I’m really okay. I don’t mind at all.”

Because I’m planning to extract full compensation for that ‘rudeness’ from you, after all.

‘In the form of financial therapy called salary!’

Eclipse’s expression as he looked at my bright smile was rather inscrutable.

“I see. That’s a relief.”

Of course it is. It’s such a relief.

I’m so relieved you haven’t realized that I once tried—and failed—to scam you!

As I set the precious contract down on the table, the siblings’ gazes fixed on me.

Before signing, I lifted my head and looked straight at Eclipse.

“Um, by any chance… would a lifetime contract be possible?”

“…….”

At my ambitious question, Eclipse looked more than a little taken aback.

He fell silent for a moment, as if choosing his words, then spoke in a calm voice.

“You are not a slave. There’s no need for you to bind yourself to one place.”

I get what you’re trying to say, Your Grace.

But wouldn’t being a voluntary slave be okay? Honestly, it doesn’t sound that bad.

‘Where else am I going to find a workplace that takes care of everything this well?’

I was sure of it. Anyone in my position would think the same.

“Then how about extending the contract period?”

The duration written in the contract was two years.

But I had noticed another clause written beneath it.

Pointing at the line with my finger, I said,

“It says here, ‘Contract extensions may be negotiated at a later date.’”

“That’s true, but…”

Eclipse wore a rather doubtful expression.

He seemed hesitant to answer somehow…

‘Am I pushing too hard? What if he changes his mind about the contract?’

Suddenly anxious, I signed my name before he could respond.

Watching this, Linette clapped her hands and laughed.

“So now I can call you Teacher Elsie, right?”

“Yes! Call me whatever you’re comfortable with, Saintess.”

I smiled brightly at Linette, who was now both my client and my student.

‘So those eyes really did symbolize gold coins!’

I finally understood why people fell into religion.

I walked confidently up to the desk and held out the contract.

“Here’s the contract.”

As I waited for Eclipse’s response, my gaze landed on a glass jar sitting on the desk.

‘By the way, what am I going to do about that?’

Being reunited with my lost little one that night was wonderful, but the problem was how to retrieve it naturally.

‘If I ask for it outright, it’ll obviously look suspicious. Hmm, what should I do?’

Next to the glass jar was the silver candlestick I had tried—and failed—to steal, one that could hold no fewer than five candles.

But in this situation, it barely even caught my eye.

‘What matters is that glass jar.’

My crime would only be complete once I recovered that.

“The place you’ll be staying is in the annex behind the main building. There’s still some time before you officially begin work, so it would be best to return to your lodgings and gather what you need.”

“…….”

“Your future schedule will be conveyed through Silbern, so keep that in mind. And…”

I was still staring intently at the glass jar.

Then, sensing a gaze on me, I shifted my eyes.

“What are you staring at so intently, Bloomhire?”

I met Eclipse’s eyes as he looked at me with deep suspicion.

Startled, I laughed awkwardly.

“Oh, no, it’s just—well—aha ha, the candlestick is very pretty.”

“…The candlestick?”

“Yes!”

I nodded rapidly, trying to smooth things over.

‘I can’t let him realize I was looking at the glass jar.’

Panicking, I hastily made something up.

“I’ve always used wooden candlesticks before. They could only hold one candle, but this one is made of silver and can hold five candles at once. I guess I zoned out because it looked so nice.”

Had I ever spoken so fast in my life?

After blurting everything out in one go, I panted, my shoulders heaving.

“I see.”

Eclipse fell silent again, as if lost in thought.

“…….”

“Y-Your Highness?”

“If you need it, you may take it.”

“…What?”

I asked back, eyes wide like a startled herbivore.

“You’re giving this to me?”

“Yes. There are plenty of extras.”

Ah, I see. Is this where you show off your wealth?

‘Or is this because I’m considered one of your people now?’

Trying to hide my bewilderment, I bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Your Grace. I am deeply honored by your generosity.”

I might have said something unnecessarily grand out of sheer shock, but…

Following Silbern, I left the office.

In my hands was not my precious glass jar, but a silver candlestick that could hold five candles.

“This is a gift from the Grand Duke. Please treasure it.”

“Y-Yes…”

“Your quarters are on the second floor of the annex. We’ll stop there first, then head to Windelton Street, No. 7.”

“Please do…”

I walked along, barely listening to Silbern.

Every servant we passed bowed to me in greeting, but none of it registered.

‘I can’t believe this. Can coincidences really line up this perfectly?’

Everything that had happened over the past few days felt like a dream.

‘Me, who was nothing more than an extra, becoming the heroine’s private tutor.’

And my employer is the final villain from the original story?

And I even had the nerve to try to scam that villain?

‘What kind of situation is this?’

By the time I realized it, I had arrived at the annex and was standing blankly in front of the room assigned to me.

Silbern had already left to prepare the carriage.

I had no idea how long I stood there absentmindedly.

Then, suddenly, I heard a voice calling me.

“Um, Lady Bloomhire.”

At the same time, my wandering mind snapped back.

The one who had called me was a red-haired maid.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Penny, and I’ll be attending to you from now on, Lady Bloomhire.”

Wow, they even assign a personal maid to a commoner-born tutor?

‘Money really is amazing.’

I greeted her with renewed admiration.

“Hello, Penny. I look forward to working with you.”

“The pleasure is mine. This will be your room from now on. Please, come inside.”

I followed Penny into the room.

“Wow.”

The deep green wallpaper with intricate patterns, paired with matching wooden furniture, made it feel like a cabin deep in a lush forest.

Even with a thick carpet covering the floor, the place was so clean that not a speck of dust was allowed.

Just what in the world was this level of upkeep…?

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