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Episode 2
I shouted without thinking.
“I’m fine!”
The annex was a good distance away from the main house.
I hadn’t been there yet, but from what I’d heard while waiting for my interview, it was old, rundown, and didn’t get much sunlight.
“What if I pass but get assigned to the annex?”
“Yeah, I want to work here if I can.”
“Me too. I hope I get an easy job.”
I added my own thoughts, recalling what I’d overheard while waiting.
“I’m okay with dark places. I’ll do whatever job you give me, and I’ll work hard.”
I didn’t care if it was the main house or the annex, even if it meant taking care of the storage. As long as I could work here, it didn’t matter.
A fourteen-year-old girl like me wouldn’t get a chance like this often: free room and board, good pay, and experience working for a prestigious household like the Hamiltons! I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
Maybe Lady Lianne could see how eager I was to work, because she nodded with a gentle smile.
“Alright. I think you’ll be fine.”
Looking at her kind face, I found myself wishing she’d touch my hair again someday.
In the end, I was hired as a maid in the annex.
The moment I left, the smile disappeared from Lady Lianne’s face. She returned to her usual calm, expressionless look.
“Ma’am, it’s not too late. If it’s bothering you, you could give her a severance and send her away. A girl like that, from a lowly background, as a servant to the young master…”
“‘Hire whoever is suitable, regardless of background.’ That’s the Hamilton principle.”
“But, Ma’am…”
Head Maid Lisa had served the Duchess for a long time. She was wise, capable, and a great housekeeper.
But this decision seemed a bit impulsive. Hiring such a young, inexperienced girl after just a short conversation and trusting her with the young master was unusual for Lady Lianne.
“She didn’t seem uncomfortable at all when I touched her face,” Lady Lianne recalled of the moment.
A small, bright-faced girl pointing to the desk with no fear, barely showing any reaction.
For someone who has touched countless people without flinching, even her own hands, blackened and rough from past injuries, were startling at times. Yet Mary didn’t even blink or flinch.
She seemed to be thinking about something for a moment, then softly murmured something with her tiny lips.
“She’s the first person who’s ever worried about whether I’d be uncomfortable in that situation.”
Mary was completely different from anyone Lady Lianne had met before.
That kindness, that early morning bird-like energy, that warmth brighter than sunlight—had melted the frozen parts of Lady Lianne’s heart. And that was why she made such an uncharacteristic decision.
“Let’s trust that kindness,” Lady Lianne thought.
“…If you say so, Ma’am, I have no objections,” Lisa said with a deep bow.
Lady Lianne believed that this little sunbeam of a girl would light up the dark annex. She would even heal the hidden hurts of her precious child, just as she had melted Lady Lianne’s own heart.
After moving into the annex, I signed a pledge.
It promised I would never reveal anything I saw or heard there to the outside world.
Once I signed, Lisa explained my duties.
“Mary, you’ll be serving the young master.”
“The young master?”
I was surprised. Was there a son in the Hamilton household? I had no idea! And to think it had been kept so secret that no rumors had spread…
Learning this secret was intimidating, but the biggest worry was…
“Can someone like me really serve someone as important and noble as the young master?”
Only people of the same noble level usually attended aristocrats. But I was just a commoner. I hadn’t even gone to the academy properly, so I didn’t know much.
“Didn’t you say you could handle difficult work?”
Lisa’s strict voice snapped me back to reality. Right, as long as I could work here, I’d do anything.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to complain,” I said, bowing my head.
Lisa softened her tone.
“This was decided personally by Ma’am. I’m sure you’ll do well, Mary.”
“Yes! I’ll work hard!”
Lisa smiled in approval and led me to the young master’s room.
On the way, she gave me some instructions to memorize.
Never talk about the young master’s appearance.
Bring his meals to him every day.
Make sure he takes his medicine after meals (very important).
Dessert only if he requests it, and only after confirming he took his medicine.
Change the sheets and his clothes every morning.
The tasks didn’t seem too difficult—everything was doable.
I also learned a few things about the young master:
He was ten years old—four years younger than me.
I remembered Colin, a timid little boy from next door, whom I’d once babysat. At first, he was scared and hid whenever I was around. But after we became friends, he always stuck by my side, calling me “sister.”
If I could get along with shy Colin, I could get along with the young master, too.
Soon, we reached the young master’s room on the fourth floor of the annex, at the end of a dark corridor.
Lisa knocked on the large door.
Knock knock.
After a while, there was no response.
“Master, we’re coming in,” Lisa announced and opened the door.
Even though it was daytime, the room was as dark as night. Lisa didn’t turn on the light but followed the rays of sunlight filtering in from the corridor. I cautiously followed her.
“Young master.”
Lisa called again, but there was still no reply.
Was he out?
Then, a sharp voice cut through the darkness.
“Go away!”
It was rough and fierce, like a hissing cat.
“We brought someone to serve you,” Lisa said.
“I don’t need that.”
“The room is too dark, so we’ll open the curtains.”
“What? No, don’t….”
Before the young master could finish, Lisa flung the curtains open.
Blinding sunlight poured in, and I squinted.
Whoosh.
A pillow flew straight at my face. Reflexively, I reached out and caught it.
“Mary! Are you okay?”
Lisa’s shocked voice made me laugh.
“Yes, I’m fine! Catching a soft pillow like this is nothing!”
I carefully put the pillow down and saw the mischievous young master lying on the large bed, looking just as surprised as Lisa.
His messy light brown hair, soft skin like fresh bread, eyes as green as spring shoots…
He’s just like a prince from a fairy tale.’
There was a black mark on his face, similar to the one on Lady Lianne’s. It snaked across his cheek.
Maybe I was staring too long, because he scrunched up his face.
“What are you looking at? Look away!”
The young master flailed, searching for something on the bed.
“Are you looking for this?”
I held up the pillow he’d thrown.
“I’ll bring it to you, so don’t throw it again.”
His face turned red as I approached, holding the pillow.
Why was he so angry? Didn’t he want the pillow?
Whoosh.
This time, it wasn’t a pillow. It was the alarm clock from the nightstand.
Clang!
I caught it safely again.
“Master, don’t throw the clock! It’s dangerous and might break. And of course, don’t throw pillows at people either, but if you really want to throw something, throw the pillow instead.”
I carefully put the pillow and alarm clock back where they belonged.
The young master, still frowning, shouted at me.
“Who… who are you?!”
Perfect. The first impression question!
I smiled brightly and replied.
“Hello, young master. My name is Mary. I’ll be your maid from now on! Please take care of me!”
