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~Chapter 16~
It was a crazy situation, but Aisha still slept well.
“I don’t know what he’ll make me do tomorrow. So I need to save up my strength somehow.”
She wasn’t allowed to bring a maid, and her luggage was packed with only the basics. There wasn’t much to sort out or worry about.
So, the moment Aisha entered her new bedroom, she fell asleep right away. Maids came in during the night to prepare her bath or dinner, but in the end, none of them even saw their future mistress and quietly left again.
“Ugh…”
The next morning.
Aisha sat up in bed, blinking blankly.
“I wished it was just a dream. But no—it’s real.”
Of course, she couldn’t expect miracles. With a sigh, Aisha slowly stood up and began looking around the room she hadn’t checked the night before.
“Hm. This is better than I thought.”
From Killian’s tone yesterday, she expected to be thrown into a stable. But now that she saw it, the room was much larger and more luxurious than the one she had at the Ashton estate. Honestly, it was at the level of a princess’s chamber.
Of course, that didn’t make her feel any better toward Killian.
“Must be rich. Well, he was always at war. Just the rewards he’s collected must be huge.”
And now, as head of the Winters Duchy, it was obvious Killian was wealthy.
“Hm…”
Aisha wandered around until she reached the wide terrace opposite the bed. She opened the window, and cold winter wind rushed in.
“Well… at least this wakes me up.”
Sighing, she closed the door again.
“Killian must be awake by now… but what exactly does he plan to make me do? Is it some kind of punishment? No… there are too many eyes here. He can’t do that openly.”
As she was lost in thought—
Knock knock.
From beyond the closed door, came a polite knock.
“Good morning, Lady Aisha. Are you awake?”
“…Who’s there?”
“I’m Sien. From today onward, I’ll be serving you.”
“Well… come in, then.”
The door opened right away.
She worried Killian might assign her some old, strict maid—but Sien looked about her age. Maybe just over twenty.
“Good. At least I can talk with her normally.”
In this cursed house, having even one person she could speak comfortably with was already a blessing. Aisha looked at Sien with relief, but then—
“Since it’s the first day, I let you sleep in. But from tomorrow on, you must wake up at 6 a.m. It’s the Winters family rule. Of course, you must follow it too, Lady Aisha.”
And just like that, all her hopes shattered.
“I’ll also be following you everywhere you go. If you need anything, tell me.”
Sien’s brown hair was tied high, pulling her eyes into sharp fox-like slants. She wore a perfectly pressed maid’s uniform, her shoes shining like new.
Unlike Aisha, who looked messy, Sien looked sharp and disciplined.
“This is like the military.”
“Pardon? Did you say something, Lady Aisha?”
“…Nothing.”
“You may just call me Sien. Speak comfortably. After all, you’ll be the future mistress of the Winters house. I don’t dare take honorifics from you.”
What the—how can someone this young already be so strict and scary?
“Now, I’ll explain today’s schedule. First, bathwater has been prepared. Please follow me to the bathroom—”
“Wait! I’m hungry. Can’t I eat first? Please?”
The last meal she had was lunch at the Ashton estate the previous day. Surely, food was important for survival—even on a battlefield. Aisha looked at Sien with pleading eyes, but the maid stood firm.
“Sorry, but this is the Winters family rule. One cannot appear at the dining table in a messy state. That is behavior for commoners or lowborns.”
And just like that, Aisha’s status dropped to commoner-level in Sien’s eyes.
“Now, I’ll escort you to the bath.”
Sien gestured politely, and Aisha followed, thinking:
“Can I really… survive here?”
Just like Sien said, only after the bath was Aisha allowed to eat.
The food was excellent. But with Sien’s sharp gaze watching her every bite, Aisha couldn’t eat properly.
After the meal, Sien led her upstairs to the second floor.
Soon, they arrived at Killian’s office.
“Duke, it’s Sien.”
“Come in.”
Sien entered with perfect courtesy and greeted Killian politely—so different from the way she had spoken to Aisha earlier.
Unbelievable. Is there no one in this place who’s actually kind to me? At this point, I almost miss Leoric and even Rohan.
“You did well. You may leave, Sien.”
“Yes, Duke.”
Even as she left, Sien blushed slightly and bowed deeply, stepping out with care.
Now only Killian and Aisha remained in the office.
“…So this is it.”
“From tomorrow on… a very, very terrible day is waiting for you.”
What does that even mean?
Aisha glared at him, determined not to flinch.
Killian, who had been sitting at the table, slowly rose from his seat.
