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Chapter 9
Lady Sophia looked at me with slightly gentler eyes.
“The reason you must be able to read is because the grandmother takes many medicines. You must make sure she takes the right medicine at the right time. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Lady Sophia.”
“Of course… since she has dementia, you may get hit or injured while dealing with her. Ahem. We will definitely compensate you for that, so don’t worry…”
“I came prepared for that as well.”
Yesterday, while working at the bakery, I had been told everything about dementia patients.
The bakery owner’s mother had passed away from dementia, and when I said I was thinking of applying as a maid at the Kester Count’s estate, he insisted on telling me everything he knew.
He said that even though they are patients, they can be stronger than ordinary people. That they behave like three-year-old children. That they may have incontinence and even violent outbursts.
He also said they sometimes leave the house without saying a word.
Even after hearing all of that, I still chose this job. There was no turning back now.
“In that case… can you start today?”
“W-wait, is the interview already over?”
Isn’t this supposed to be the Kester Count’s estate? Isn’t this a little too easy?
“We’ve already checked your documents, and we’re short-staffed. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to start today. And your wages for today will be paid in advance.”
Lady Sophia said this as kindly as possible. But I could read many things in her expression.
She was trying hard not to let me run away. Paid in advance, too.
I had definitely caught a lifeline dropped from the sky.
Kaisa stood blankly as the carriage driver tapped him.
“We’ve arrived.”
It was an unfamiliar word, but it probably meant they had arrived.
Kaisa looked around and got off the carriage.
He only took requests that could be completed within a single day and allowed him to return home.
Because he couldn’t understand the language, staying outside overnight or sleeping in inns felt dangerous.
And more than anything, he was worried about leaving Milena alone in a land where no one knew her.
So today as well, he had volunteered for a wild boar extermination mission in a nearby village.
A boar the size of a house kept coming down from the mountains, destroying crops and causing severe damage.
But no one in the village could handle it.
As always, he intended to finish the job as quickly as possible and return. So that Milena, who always waited for him, wouldn’t have to wait long.
Waiting.
That word was strange.
Ever since losing his parents as a child, Kaisa had always been alone. No one had ever told him they were waiting for him, nor had he ever told anyone he was waiting.
Only Milena did that.
He didn’t want to make her wait. Even if he was late, he didn’t want her to worry.
But Milena had seemed uneasy lately.
She had lost part of her memory from the accident that day. As if she had erased the fear herself. She only remembered it as a storm, forgetting the enormous shadow.
Kaisa didn’t want to leave her alone.
But today—
‘I might be late. We probably can’t leave work together today.’
‘Why? I can pick you up anywhere. I can just wait if you’re late.’
‘It’s okay. Could you just prepare dinner instead? It’s my first day, so I don’t know when I’ll finish.’
‘Work ends at 6 p.m., doesn’t it?’
‘Still… our goal isn’t just being maids and caring for the grandmother. If we want to get close to the Count quickly and move up, we have to do this.’
Milena’s eyes, burning with determination, came to mind.
He knew she was just going to work, and he even knew exactly where she was.
So why did he feel uneasy?
Because she told him to go home alone today?
No. Why would that matter?
Kaisa ran a hand over his face.
“Excuse me, is something wrong?”
The carriage driver seemed to be asking something.
“No.”
Kaisa shook his head to indicate no. The driver still looked worried.
Then Kaisa suddenly jumped down from the carriage.
He should just go back quickly, prepare dinner, and wait.
As always, she would return with a bright smile.
Now I understood completely why Lady Sophia had reacted like that—and why I was the only applicant.
The grandmother was a thin, stick-like old woman, but despite her dementia, she had incredible strength and stubbornness. And she was violent.
I had heard she was once so skilled that she personally taught the Kester Count swordsmanship. She had been a knight who wielded a sword.
Maybe that was why she was so strong.
I also heard she had raised the Count herself since he lost his parents at age five.
To the Count, his grandmother was both a benefactor and his only family.
Normally, nobles in situations like this would send such relatives to a villa far away, but I could understand why the Count kept her close.
If it were me, I might have done the same.
“Please don’t lie down here, Grandmother!”
I spoke as loudly as I could—she couldn’t hear if I spoke softly. She was lying stubbornly in the hallway.
“I’m not your grandmother! I’m Emily!”
“Yes, yes, Emily. But you still can’t lie here!”
“Waaah! No, I don’t want to! Bring my sister! Where is my sister?!”
“Earlier you said I was your sister. You need to go inside and eat your candy. You want candy, don’t you?”
By now, working hours were long over. Lady Sophia had already gone downstairs after promising overtime pay.
She said the Count would be returning today with friends and that preparations were urgent.
So the grandmother was entirely my responsibility now.
“Ca-candy? Emily likes candy! I want candy! My candy!”
“Yes, yes. There’s candy waiting for you inside.”
“Really?”
“Why would I lie? Let’s go check.”
The grandmother suddenly stood up and ran into the room. Fortunately, despite being elderly, her walking wasn’t a problem—she really had once been a warrior.
I sighed and followed her.
She was rummaging around the table.
“You also need to take your medicine—ah!”
Her swinging hand struck me, and I barely swallowed my scream.
Wow. She’s really strong. Her fist might actually be stronger than mine.
How many times has it been today already?
Maybe I should learn self-defense from Kaisa when I get home.
The grandmother hit my side again with a wild, uncontrolled punch, and I crouched down.
“Big sister?”
She looked at me carefully and called out.
“Yes, I’m your big sister.”
“Scarlet sister?”
“Yes… I’m your Scarlet sister.”
I answered weakly.
Scarlet was the grandmother’s deceased older sister. She was seeing the past through me.
Maybe she was trapped in the happiest time of her life.
Even now, she couldn’t recognize the Count himself. But I didn’t feel angry—because I knew she wasn’t doing it on purpose. It just hurt.
If she wanted to stay in that time, maybe it was better to play along.
So I took a deep breath.
“You promised you’d listen to your big sister if you want to be a good child, right? You have to take your medicine before candy.”
“No… I don’t like medicine! I hate it!”
“You promised you’d listen to me.”
The grandmother glanced at me hesitantly.
I gave her the medicine, then handed her the candy again.
