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Chapter 6
“Make sure to study the book I gave you. In three days, there’ll be a test.”
Madam Emilon spoke kindly, raising her voice slightly at the end. She even pinched El’s cheek lightly, as though she’d finally found a pupil she cherished.
Without a word, El greeted Madam Emilon politely with the etiquette she had just learned today.
Madam Emilon, looking pleased with how well El followed along for her first lesson, gave a small nod and left.
“Young Lady.”
A maid arrived just in time for the end of the lesson, watching El’s expression carefully.
“…”
“Young Lady?”
“Ah, the lesson just ended. Is there anything else I should do today?”
El quickly smoothed her face into a smile.
She had to make a good impression—on everyone here. Only then could she also leave a good impression on Caron. That was the only way to prove her worth.
“There isn’t. The master also said you should rest for today.”
El nodded, glancing cautiously at the maid.
“Then, could I perhaps borrow some paper and a pen?”
Paper and pens were valuable. People rarely wrote things down.
So much so that scribbling on paper was thought to be a privilege reserved only for nobles.
If a common child scrawled on wood or stone, no one minded—but if they scribbled on paper, they’d be scolded harshly.
“It’s not borrowing, Young Lady. Paper and a pen were already delivered for your use. Shall I bring them?”
“Thank you, um…”
“Ena.”
“Ena.”
Having learned the maid’s name, El softly repeated it with a bright smile.
Ena turned her gaze away, ignoring the pang of guilt that rose in her chest.
“I’ll be right back. Please rest.”
Ena went to fetch the paper, and El dropped into a chair.
She hadn’t understood half of what was said during the lesson. Since it was supposed to be material children learned, she couldn’t bring herself to ask for it to be explained again.
“Haa…”
El’s tired gaze landed on the book on the desk.
A book. El had never seen a book before. The only thing close had been the ledger the orphanage director made her memorize.
What use were books in the slums? In a place where alcohol, smoke, and fleeting pleasures were everything?
Even outside the slums, books weren’t something commoners could buy freely.
That was why libraries held such influence. And even then, most were restricted to nobles.
With difficulty, El stood and clutched the book tightly to her chest.
Madam Emilon’s assignment was to memorize the entire book.
She said it was the very foundation of culture and refinement.
But today was the first time El had ever learned to read. She had started from the alphabet, the very letters children learned first.
El was quick to notice things. It hadn’t taken much to realize Madam Emilon didn’t see her as human.
More like the pity and fondness a person might feel toward a stray dog they’d found—or perhaps even less than that.
Pitiful, wretched, weak, insignificant, laughable.
“I must do this. No matter what.”
El opened the book with trembling fingers. Most of its contents were far beyond what she could understand.
Still, she had to memorize it.
The Duke who had saved her did not seem to be a gentle or compassionate man.
His eyes were more like someone who had glimpsed a possibility in her.
Which meant, if she failed to meet his expectations, he could discard her at any time.
Her clear brown eyes quivered. The thought chilled her to the bone.
He was the first person ever to reach out to her. The first to feed her until she was full.
He had even given her a name—when she’d once been called only by a number.
No one else had ever given her such a thing.
He was like a god.
God had come to El. And so, she resolved to become His most faithful servant.
Ena knocked on the study door and entered, finding Madam Emilon in high spirits and Caron resting his chin on his hand with a detached expression.
“Already something to report?” Caron asked casually, glancing at her.
“N-no. It’s just that the Young Lady needed paper and a pen.”
“She’s diligent.”
Caron gave a faint smile, then gestured for her to leave.
Ena wanted to say more, but with Madam Emilon present, she couldn’t speak of inappropriate matters. She left quietly.
“So, what do you want to say?” Caron asked.
“The lesson went well. You know me—I’ll teach her properly.”
“Don’t push her too hard. She’s never studied before, so it’ll be overwhelming.”
“Of course. I’ll use my judgment.”
“Treat her well. She’s someone I value.”
“Naturally.”
Madam Emilon smiled gently, sneaking glances at Caron.
Caron was both elegant and like an untamed beast. People rarely dared to approach him, all because of that unique air he carried.
But right now, Madam Emilon was speaking to him alone.
That alone made her feel as though she could fly. To think that Caron trusted her—it was overwhelming.
“When El has learned to read,” Caron said.
“Yes, my lord.” Madam Emilon’s lips curved so high she could barely control them.
“Teach her how to read the ledgers.”
“…What?”
Madam Emilon’s face stiffened instantly. She knew all too well what teaching her the ledgers implied.
“Young Lady, here are the paper and pen. If you need more, just pull the bell cord.”
Ena handed the items over kindly, and El received them with grateful eyes.
“Thank you. This is more than enough.”
The atmosphere was warm. Ena couldn’t bring herself to look directly into those pure, guileless eyes, lowering her head instead.
“Please, speak informally with me.”
“…All right.”
Speaking down to someone—it felt strange, like wearing clothes that didn’t fit.
But if that helped her secure a place here, she could endure the strangeness.
El carefully picked up the pen. It wasn’t crude like the ones she’d seen before.
Hesitant, she pressed it hard against the paper. The pen snapped, and black ink burst out, staining the sheet.
“Ah!”
She immediately looked at Ena in alarm, retreating a little, eyes filled with both wariness and embarrassment at the unfamiliar object.
“Um, Ena… Sorry, but do you know how to use this?”
“Shall I show you?”
“That would help a lot.”
For the first time, El learned how to use a pen, guided by Ena. It was trickier than she expected—you couldn’t grip it too tightly.
After practicing a few strokes, El set the heavy book beside her and opened the first page.
Watching from the side, Ena cautiously asked,
“Young Lady, may I ask… what are you planning to do?”
“Oh, Madam Emilon gave me a test.”
“What kind of test…?”
“She told me to memorize this whole book in three days. She said even children can read it—it’s just a basic text.”
“…A basic… text?”
Ena’s eyes fell on the book.
It was indeed a book that noble children might study under private tutors.
But it was by no means “basic.” It contained the full history of the Empire.
Someone who had just learned the alphabet could never manage it.
And certainly not in three days.
Normally, even if one studied quickly, it would take at least three months.
“…But I heard from the master that you can’t read yet.” Ena’s face stiffened.
“That’s right.”
El answered innocently as she began to copy down the book, line by line, onto the paper.
Ena watched her anxiously.
“I may not be well educated, but I still think this is far too much for a first assignment.”
“Really? I wouldn’t know…”
El gave a sheepish smile, tucking stray hair behind her ear.
“Um…”
“Yes?”
Ena opened her mouth several times, as though wanting to say something, but in the end, shut it tightly.
“It’s nothing.”
“I know you care about me, Ena. Thank you, always. You can rest now.”
“…Yes. Then, I’ll be going.”
Ena hurriedly excused herself and left the room, almost fleeing.
Once outside, she shut her eyes tightly before opening them again. Her eyelids trembled.
“How could the master think someone like that harbors ill intent…”
During El’s lesson, Ena had met with Caron.
Only the butler or head maid usually had private audiences with him. But as his personal maid, Ena had enjoyed some privileges.
Born and raised in this mansion, Ena, though only a maid, was deeply trusted by its people.
So for her to be assigned as El’s personal maid carried two implications.
One: Caron treasured El.
The other: Caron did not trust her.
Naturally, it was the latter.
That was why he’d tasked Ena to watch El.
He hadn’t used the word “surveil,” but asking her to report on what El ate, wore, saw, and did was surveillance by another name.
“Haa…”
Ena sighed softly as she walked the long corridor.
But Caron had given another instruction too—one even more important than watching.
She was to win El’s trust.
To make her long to stay in this mansion forever.
(To be continued…)
