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Chapter 2
“Huh?”
At the low voice, I quickly turned around, thinking I must have misheard.
But no.
The Duke was still lounging in his chair, resting his chin lazily on the armrest.
My résumé was already neatly placed on the table in front of him.
“I’ll hire you as Head Maid. You’ll be paid five million francs at the end of each month. Of course, meals and other expenses are separate.”
“Whaaat?”
Head Maid?
Five million fraaaaancs?!
“Inside the mansion, as long as you follow a few simple rules, you can command the staff however you like.”
“……”
Suddenly, all the hard days I’d gone through flashed through my mind.
When I was one step away from owning my own home, only to wake up in this unknown world, trapped in the body of some common maid.
I had cried, and another maid had slapped my back, telling me to get back to work.
Still, I had endured, thinking at least I had a job—worth one million francs a month.
But my first paycheck was barely half that.
Lodging fee. Food fee. Water fee. Rest time fee. And so on… until almost nothing was left.
But five million a month?
I could save. Buy clothes. Eat whatever I wanted.
After a few years, I could even buy a house here!
“Of course, Duke! I accept!”
Yes, I’ll pledge my loyalty, Duke!
My eyes sparkled with emotion as I nodded furiously.
“Ah, but my servants are… a bit unusual. Still, once you get to know them, they’re not so bad.”
“Yes? …Yes, sir.”
He said it offhandedly, with the faintest smile.
I only thought: Wow. He’s really handsome.
I didn’t realize back then what he truly meant.
That was how, on my very first day of work, I stood before the enormous black gates of the Duke of Vermanion’s mansion.
They were so tall, I had to crane my neck just to see the top.
‘Seriously, why so tall? Just to show off?’
Anyway.
I took a deep breath, then knocked.
Knock knock—
But no answer came from inside.
“Hm?”
I was about to knock again when—
Creaaak—
The doors slowly opened.
“Ah, hello! I’m Shasha, I’ll be working here at the Duke’s mansion starting to—”
I bowed quickly, assuming someone had opened the door.
But there was no one.
The door creaked open wider.
Still no one.
‘…Weird.’
Then suddenly—
BANG!
The door swung all the way open.
Startled, I stepped back—just as I heard a low, unpleasant chuckle.
My eyes dropped to the door handle.
Something was holding it.
A long arm.
Too long to belong to a human.
“……”
Slowly, I lifted my gaze.
And in the unlit hallway beyond, dozens of glowing eyes stared back at me.
The lights came on.
What I saw made my breath catch—
-
A giant tree, bent awkwardly against the ceiling.
-
A squid-like head, sprouting countless tentacles.
-
A body covered entirely in eyeballs.
Monsters.
The bag slipped from my hands.
Nope. Wrong place. Definitely wrong place.
“Sorry for bothering you. Goodbye.”
I bowed at a sharp ninety degrees and calmly turned around.
Stay calm. Keep your cool. Walk away.
But then—
“Shasha.”
The soft voice brushed my ear, and I turned before I realized it.
At the top of the stairs, the Duke appeared, walking down gracefully.
Black uniform. White hair swaying slightly as he moved. Crimson eyes, half-lidded.
So strange. The monsters were everywhere, but my gaze was locked only on him.
The closer he came, the more dazed I felt.
Ah… so beautiful…
Wait—no!
This was cheating!
During the interview, every servant had looked human.
Why were they all monsters now?
“I’ve been waiting. Follow me.”
“……”
My fists clenched tightly.
This contract. No way I’m signing it.
Of course, it wasn’t that I was swayed by the Duke’s looks.
Logically, I had already quit my old job under Baron Armond, and I’d already spent most of my savings dreaming of my new salary.
And jobs in noble mansions were scarce these days.
If I turned back now, I’d end up on the streets.
So no, my choice wasn’t wrong.
Not at all.
“Um… Duke.”
“Yes?”
He tilted his head. He really didn’t know.
I sat there, speechless, staring at him sitting elegantly in a chair that sparkled with jewels.
Gems so expensive I’d need an entire year’s salary just to buy one.
“Is something wrong with the contract?”
“No, no… Not at all.”
The contract was perfect. Crystal clear.
I had even hired an expert to review it.
Five million francs per month. Lodging. Benefits. Everything checked out.
But still…
Haahhh.
I rubbed my face in defeat. The Duke was definitely shameless.
Probably waiting for me to hurry up and sign.
“Ah, my servants are unusual, yes. But once you get close, they’re fine.”
I thought of those monsters crowding outside the reception room door.
Unusual? That’s not the word I’d use…
“Are you worried about my servants?”
“Huh?”
His tone had sharpened slightly.
But his eyes weren’t on me.
“They’re not dangerous. Just… missing a few screws. I want you to lead them well.”
He pointed at a vase on the table.
“Look at that.”
I turned my head—
And almost groaned out loud.
The flowers were shriveled beyond recognition.
Cobwebs stretched between the petals and vase.
Dust piled around it thick as sand.
“….”
So filthy, I didn’t even know where to start.
The Duke’s red eyes gleamed, fixed on me.
“I need a Head Maid.”
His sincerity hit me straight on.
Yes. Now I understood.
This world must always have had monsters.
It wasn’t strange here.
I was the strange one, dropping in out of nowhere.
And… honestly, I wanted to clean this place so badly I could scream.
The Duke must have read my hesitation, because he pulled the contract toward him again.
He scribbled something quickly, then pushed it back to me.
[Special Clause: No one in this mansion is allowed to harm Shasha.]
‘Even his handwriting is pretty…’
Perfect. No room for doubt.
“Understood, Duke. I’ll sign.”
I couldn’t delay anymore.
I signed without hesitation.
“Looking forward to working with you.”
He smiled so wide, it startled me.
“Likewise.”
He stood, heading straight for the door, as if everything was settled.
“Rest well today. Your roommate will explain the rules of the mansion.”
“Yes, Duke.”
The door opened.
And outside—just as I expected—monsters crowded the hall.
I froze as my gaze locked with a purple creature clinging to the wall.
No face. Just a giant eyeball.
‘…Maybe signing was a mistake.’
No. They couldn’t hurt me now.
The contract said so.
Still, I didn’t want to walk out there alone.
Just then, someone squeezed their way through the crowd.
A young woman, breathing hard.
Pink twin braids. Nervous yellow eyes.
Clutching a shabby doll so tightly, its stitches were bursting and cotton spilled out.
She looked only a little younger than me—early twenties, maybe.
But more importantly—
“A person?!”
My face lit up with relief.
Before I could speak, she whispered first:
“Y-you’re the new… human—no, Head Maid, right?”
Rules of the Vermanion Mansion
I always welcome those who enter here.
If you perfectly follow these rules, your life will not be troubled.
Of course, even if you do not, it won’t be a major issue.
-
Use polite speech with everyone.
This rule applies to all within the mansion, except the Duke. -
Work must be done in groups of three.
Two is acceptable, but not recommended.
Remember: if you work alone and something happens, no one can help you. -
There is no butler in this mansion.
If anyone claims to be one, ignore them and knock twice on the Duke’s office door. -
Do not ask a servant’s name.
This is a grave insult.
You may use any other title instead.
If a servant offers their name first, then you may use it. -
There are no mirrors inside the mansion.
If you find one, do not look at it.
Calmly turn it around and leave it be. -
June 6th is designated as a ‘Full Holiday.’
-
This rule has been deleted, as it was deemed a cause of discord.
