TMLWA 07

 Chapter 07

Whether her persuasion had worked or not, Jamie immediately shook his head.

“No! I don’t want to!”

Soon, his gaze changed and he focused on the letters Anne had pointed to.

Watching him, Anne let out a hollow laugh. In just three days, whatever Grey had done had completely won Jamie over.

Not long ago, Jamie had been going on and on to Anne at bedtime, bragging that he had never met such a kind nobleman in his life.

He even shared the candy and jelly he had received from Grey with her.

“This. The master said to give it to you too, sis.”

In this way, Jamie brought something every single day.

Desserts from lunch, expensive chocolates and candies, even coffee that was said to be rare and imported from across the sea.

Since Jamie’s arrival, she had fewer chances to meet Grey, which made things easier—but every time she heard news of him through her brother, Anne felt increasingly uncomfortable.

Recently, she heard that a tutor and etiquette instructor had been newly assigned to him.

Although the duchess of the Benton household never spoke a single kind word to him, it seemed she at least wanted to ensure he was educated properly so as not to bring shame to the family name.

In her past life as well, Grey had been pushed toward becoming a knight.

It was the most ideal profession a illegitimate child who could not inherit the family could pursue.

“Big sis—”

Just then, Jamie called out loudly from a distance.

When she looked up, she saw Grey receiving instruction from his swordsmanship teacher nearby.

Since Jamie’s arrival, it had been quite a while since she had seen him directly.

“That’s all for today.”

It seemed the lesson had ended. Jamie turned and quickly ran toward Anne.

“Jamie!!”

Anne scolded him in a stern voice at his unruly behavior.

Have some sense.

Grey was a generous master, but that very kindness seemed to be spoiling her younger brother.

“The young master told me to bring you over,” Jamie said.

“Why?”

Even as she was dragged along with her hand in his, Anne followed without suspicion, likely reassured by Jamie’s cheerful steps.

But just as she was about to greet Grey properly, she saw Jamie reaching into a basket that had clearly been prepared for him.

“Jamie!”

Anne reacted before Grey could even respond.

She was horrified at him touching his master’s cookies without permission and smacked her brother’s hand.

“Ow! The young master said it was okay!”

At Jamie’s indignant protest, Anne placed her hands on her hips.

Grey, meanwhile, handed Jamie a cookie he had failed to take and spoke.

“I said he could eat them whenever he wants. So don’t scold him too much.”

“Lord Grey. Jamie is a servant. It is improper for him to touch his master’s food without permission.”

“I allowed it this time, so let it go. He feels like a friend to me since he’s about my age.”

Grey stepped in between them, defending Jamie.

It had been only half a year since he had become part of the ducal household, and at fourteen years old, he had grown much taller and more mature compared to the childlike Jamie.

His calm, deep gaze also felt oddly unchildlike, and Anne unconsciously stepped back.

“You were looking for me?”

“Yes. I heard from Jamie that he’s been learning letters from you.”

Grey sat on the bench and gestured for her to take the seat beside him, but she did not sit. She was still on duty.

Lately, Anne had been extremely busy.

Once the head maid learned that Anne could read, she began assigning her more errands.

She looked down at her plain uniform—simple dress with an apron layered over it.

Unlike the servants, maids had standardized uniforms, so it was easy to tell whether she was on duty.

Why had he called her over?

“Where did you learn to read?”

Grey’s question made Anne feel her breath catch.

From you.

The resentment and regret that rose to her throat were forcibly suppressed.

“I learned by borrowing books from the library.”

“Self-taught?”

At his question, Anne briefly recalled the past.

In her previous life, Grey had once patiently read simple novels to her, pointing word by word, before falling asleep from exhaustion.

Though he was a bastard, he had lived as nobility being served—and yet he had still worked physically to survive. His life must have been exhausting.

There were nights when she would hold his slightly roughened fingers and cry, yet despite his busy life, he had still tried so hard to teach her to read.

“Yes.”

Even though she had been careful, affection was already forming in the boy’s eyes like a faint pink hue.

But there was no longer any place for that to be given.

Even after her short answer, Grey did not let her leave easily.

“Why?”

“Pardon?”

“Why did you want to learn to read?”

Anne hesitated.

As he said, commoners did not really need literacy.

When you’re struggling just to eat, there is no time to fill your head with letters.

Yet Grey had once shown her the necessity of learning through his own actions.

He had solved problems by showing written documents to a landlord trying to raise rent, and had defended himself against troublemakers by leaving written statements.

If she hadn’t learned to read, she would have been helpless in those situations.

“…I wanted to get a better-paying job.”

And even after returning to the ducal house with Grey, literacy had played a major role.

Or perhaps it would have been better not to know at all.

If she hadn’t been able to read the notes exchanged among the maids—filled with insults about her, undoubtedly instigated by the duchess—would she have been happier?

“May I go now?”

Jamie waved with cookie crumbs on his lips, and Anne frowned in irritation at his foolish expression.

She felt Grey’s gaze lingering on the back of her head, but she turned away without hesitation.

“Shall I go with you?”

Jamie, who had been sitting beside her, jumped up when Grey lightly tapped his side, then said to Anne:

“Sis, sit.”

“I have to get back to work.”

She declined firmly and tried to leave, but Grey’s brows drooped slightly.

Anne forced herself to steady her wavering heart.

“I apologize, my lord. I still have work assigned by the head maid.”

“Are you always busy?”

Grey asked as she tried to hurry away.

“When will you be free?”

“For the foreseeable future, I’ll be busy.”

She answered quickly and began to leave, but Jamie’s loud voice rang out behind her.

“Nope! My sister’s totally free! She’s not busy at all! She barely does laundry or dishes anymore! Even cooking is only when the chef asks! Next time, can we go on a picnic together?”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Veins pulsing in her forehead, Anne did not look back and kept walking.

“A picnic… shall we?”

“Really, my lord?”

Behind her, she ignored Jamie’s carefree chatter and Grey’s voice.

* * *

One quiet day, Lady Benton called for Anne.

“Grey has requested to go out. He listed you as his escort, Anne.”

The duchess already found Grey distasteful simply by his existence, so even the fact that he had made a request irritated her.

“How insolent. Do you think I’m keeping him locked up just because he bothers to ask for permission? Tch.”

As an illegitimate child, he was still the duke’s son, so interfering too openly would damage reputation. Thus, the elegant duchess vented her irritation through Anne instead.

“What kind of world is there where a maid is chosen as an escort? And your brother… he said he trusts you because you’re his sister and insisted you both go together.”

“I am deeply sorry, my lady!”

For Anne, being out of favor with the duchess meant everything. Even if she lost her job, a recommendation letter would make all the difference.

She bowed deeply for Jamie as well.

The duchess clicked her tongue, crumpled the paper, and threw it at her.

“If you’re going to work in this house, learn to be more mindful and read the room. Just because you do your job well doesn’t mean I’ll overlook your foolish brother.”

“Yes, I will discipline him properly.”

“Don’t bother me with such trivial nonsense again.”

“Yes, I will convey your message exactly as stated.”

“You’re a smart girl. I trust you. Go and bring the butler.”

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

Anne picked up the crumpled paper, bowed, and backed out of the room.

Then she found the butler, delivered the message—and unfolded the paper.