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Chapter 53
“What? Really?” Roze was talking with Jane, who had just finished her work. Since the café was made up of private rooms, she could freely speak about her ex-husband’s marriage.
Even without attending the entire wedding, the part she saw had been thrilling until the very end. Laughter continuously bubbled between them.
Jane took a bite of a cookie on the table, smiling as she did.
“Yes! You have no idea how shocked everyone was when they found out.”
“Truly impressive. How could she think of following them on their honeymoon?”
“She apparently slipped out in the middle of the ceremony and secretly got into the carriage. She probably batted her eyelashes at the count, asking him to take her along. Only the new Countess must have felt sorry for her, that’s all.”
It was a terrifying level of obsession. If you were going to steal someone else’s man, you’d have to put in at least as much effort as Doana did.
So exhausting. Why on earth do people live like that? Roze found herself curious about Doana’s thought process.
“The former Countess nearly grabbed the back of her head and collapsed. But she kept her composure in front of everyone, so she didn’t even properly show her anger.”
“Seems like she was caught off guard. She must not have expected Doana to follow them on their honeymoon.”
“Even knowing that the former Countess would be miserable when she returned, why would she still do that?”
Roze lifted her teacup from the table at Jane’s words, sipped lightly, and shook her head.
“I’m curious about that too.”
“The former Countess made this expression and said, ‘Report to me as soon as you return from your honeymoon.’ It was nerve-wracking even for us,” Jane imitated Tersia’s expression, even mimicking her voice.
Roze couldn’t help but laugh at Jane’s ridiculous performance.
“She’s got some seriously persistent streaks,” Roze said.
Doana, who never stopped and kept rushing forward, seemed like a moth drawn to a flame. Even though Roze had known her for ten years, she had never realized just how relentless she could be. If only she had put that persistence to good use, she wouldn’t have spent her life lazing around. Well, her family was wealthy, so perhaps that explained it.
Jane, who had been laughing so hard she was clutching her stomach, suddenly darkened her expression and sighed.
“…Sigh. The Wens household is going to be absolutely brutal now.”
She spoke as if she were about to die, grabbing her head.
“It’ll definitely be like walking on thin ice. It was satisfying to trick Doana, but… I have no confidence in dealing with her.”
It wasn’t just Jane; the other servants likely felt the same. They had acted relying on Tersia as a solid shield, but Doana, who now knew everything, wouldn’t just stay quiet. Who knew how long she would remain in the Wens household?
It would have been nice if someone stayed with her until Doana was finally driven out…
“Are you worried?” Roze asked gently. Jane nodded weakly.
“Then… should you just quit?”
“No… I can’t. I have four younger siblings to support, so I can’t just leave. Honestly, there’s no other job that pays this well either.”
Jane’s salary was about 1.5 times higher than that of ordinary commoners. Cedric was strict, but he treated his employees better than other nobles. Her annual pay was double that of similar positions, and the bonuses were substantial. Unlike other households that didn’t give servants vacations, the Wens family did.
The Wens household was truly a dream workplace.
That was why everyone endured Doana’s tyranny and stayed at the mansion. They could quit and find another job if they wanted, but no other household could compete with the Wens family in terms of salary and benefits.
“Hmm…” Roze spoke while listening to Jane’s concerns, looking at her intently.
“Jane.”
“Yes…?”
“Excuse me for asking, but what’s your current salary?”
“Eh? I get 2 million res.”
Ordinary servants earned around 800,000 to 1 million, so this was far above average. Indeed, the Wens family was generous with salaries.
Roze smiled gently at Jane and whispered softly:
“I’ll pay you even more than that. Work with me.”
“Eh? But…”
Miss Roze doesn’t have money… Jane forced the words bubbling up in her throat down. No matter how close they were, Roze was still her mistress. She couldn’t speak such a forward statement to her face.
Roze watched Jane, who couldn’t say a word, and smiled.
“I recently received a large investment. I’m planning to start a business.”
“Eh? A business? Then that means Mr. Gwen…!”
The pieces clicked in Jane’s mind. The butler would be brought along by Roze—so that was what she had meant.
“Want to join me?”
The answer was already decided. Jane nodded vigorously.
“Of course!”
“Good. Let’s work out the contract terms right away.”
Jane’s eyes sparkled at Roze’s words.
“For now, my business has to remain secret. I don’t want anyone to know until the plan is fully clear.”
“Yes, yes! I can keep that secret.”
“Good, I trust you. You’ll take a middle management role.”
“What exactly will I be doing?”
“I’ll be in distribution. You’ll handle customer service—listen to complaints and provide appropriate compensation.”
It was a challenging job, but being a manager was quite appealing to Jane.
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
“I’ll raise your salary to 2.1 million. How’s that?”
Jane’s mind raced.
“Wait a minute.” She spoke clearly and professionally. “Middle management for 2.1 million res? You should give me 2.5 million.”
2.5 million…! Jane, asking for six months’ living expenses for commoners, immediately began negotiating with Roze.
“Hmm. That’s too much. How about 2.15 million?”
Seeing Roze willing to increase the salary, Jane persisted.
“2.3 million?”
“2.2 million.”
“Then 2.25 million!”
“Hmm.”
Roze stroked his chin, looked at her, then grinned mischievously.
“Nope. This negotiation is off.”
“…Eh?!”
Jane, who had been serious, now widened her eyes like a startled rabbit.
“The terms just didn’t match,” Roze said, standing without a trace of regret, signaling goodbye.
Jane leapt up and grabbed his sleeve.
“Waaah! Wait, please,” she sobbed, unaware it was just a joke.
“It’s okay if you don’t raise my salary, just don’t go.”
Roze hurriedly reassured her:
“Jane, don’t cry. I was just kidding.”
“Waaah! You’re really mean! I really don’t want to go back to the Wens household!”
Jane sobbed violently, her shoulders shaking. Roze comforted her:
“Sorry, from the start I intended to take you with me. I’ll raise your salary to 2.3 million. Now stop!”
Miraculously, Jane stopped crying.
“Really… you’re raising it to 2.3 million?”
“Of course.”
Jane’s pure gaze turned instantly into a capitalistic smile.
“What’s with this expression!”
She looked bright and cheerful, as if she had never cried, and spoke firmly:
“Good. No changing your mind later!”
“….” Roze realized he had been outsmarted. Jane had proven to be a step ahead.
Jane returned to the sofa, picked up a piece of bread, and said:
“Mmm, this is tasty.” She swallowed it in one bite and gestured at Roze.
“Miss Roze, your legs must be tired. Please sit.”
Her cheerful expression was infuriatingly charming. Roze squinted, then smirked. Jane’s enthusiasm, even pretending to cry to raise her salary, was too much.
He relented and sat gently across from her.
“By the way, when did you get so close to Archduke Artium?”
Once the salary negotiation ended, Jane returned to her normal self.
“Huh? Do I look close to him?”
“Yes. You even escorted him to the wedding today.”
Jane had no idea Roze’s parents, the Serviatts, were connected to the Archduke.
“Oh, yes, but we’re not particularly close.”
“Really?” Jane’s eyes widened in surprise.
But he seemed to put in quite an effort for Miss Roze… Coming to the Wens wedding without being invited, making Doana kneel in front of Roze…
Well, even if it wasn’t for Roze, he might have done the same for anyone who treated him that way.
Jane nodded, realizing she might have been mistaken.
Neither Roze nor Jane knew that the Archduke rarely touched commoners. His blade targeted nobles trying to take down others—not powerless commoners. That’s why all his actions at the wedding were for Roze’s sake.
“Time’s flown by. We should head in soon.”
The clock pointed to nine. The shop where Roze and Jane were was preparing to close.
“Contact me here if anything happens,” Roze said, giving Jane the Serviatt address.
“From today, quit your job immediately.”
“I’ll pack my things right away.”
Jane nodded solemnly.
“I need to meet the princess first for my business to progress.”
“You’re seeing the princess too?”
“Yes. Archduke Artium will act as a bridge for me.”
“Wow, that’s amazing!”
Jane looked at Roze in awe, tears of admiration threatening to rise.
“I don’t know what to bring to the princess’s birthday banquet.”
“Birthday… banquet?” Jane froze at Roze’s words.
“You’ll go with Archduke Artium?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
Jane’s heart pounded irregularly.
The princess will drink the wine from the Archduke without suspicion. Even a small amount could be dangerous.
Archduke Artium will not be able to escape accusations of poisoning Princess Diana.
The memory of Cedric and his subordinates’ conversations—the day Jane tried to forget—came rushing back.
