Chapter 3

After a long walk through a dense conifer forest without the help of a carriage, Elysia finally reached the end.

There, in the distance, stood a mansion so enormous and magnificent that anyone could recognize it at a glance.

Covered in sweat, Elysia arrived at the massive front gate.

As she looked around, a nearby guard approached her.

“H-Hello! I’ve come to see His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“Do you have a prior appointment with His Grace?”

“…Uh, no.”

Since he was such an important person, perhaps she was supposed to have exchanged letters with him beforehand.

Though flustered, Elysia answered honestly.

“Please wait a moment.”

The guard signaled to another soldier nearby, who nodded in understanding.

Fortunately, the gate opened, and she was allowed inside.

“Wow. The garden is as big as the central plaza.”

Elysia looked around in fascination.

Following the guard farther in, she eventually arrived at an entrance hall nearly as grand as the front gate itself.

A short while later, a man appeared.

He was neatly dressed, wore glasses, and had his hair tied back.

“Assistant Hylmaiton.”

The guard approached him and whispered something.

After listening, Hylmaiton glanced at Elysia.

Noticing his gaze, she awkwardly bowed her head.

“I am Hylmaiton, an aide responsible for managing the estate. I hear you’ve come to see His Grace.”

“Ah, yes. My name is Elysia. Um… my father used to serve in the knight order here. His name was Galfon.”

Hylmaiton looked her up and down.

“And you have not corresponded with His Grace beforehand?”

“No…”

“What brings you here, then?”

“I have something I wish to discuss with His Grace.”

Nervously, Elysia clasped her hands together.

Hylmaiton nodded.

“His Grace is currently out. Please wait inside.”

“Thank you.”

Elysia bowed deeply.

Seeing how naturally she expressed her gratitude, Hylmaiton smiled.

* * *

The interior of the mansion was even more impressive than the outside.

Expensive chandeliers.

Luxurious flooring.

A grand staircase leading to the upper floor.

…How much would all of this cost?

Thinking such thoughts, Elysia hurried after Hylmaiton so she wouldn’t lose sight of him.

After leading her upstairs, he brought her to a reception room and quietly informed her:

“His Grace should return shortly, so please wait here.”

With that brief explanation, Hylmaiton left.

Alone in the room, Elysia looked around.

Even though it was simply a room for receiving guests, everything inside looked incredibly luxurious.

After hesitating, she sat down on the sofa.

It was so soft that it seemed perfect for lying down and falling asleep.

“I wonder what it feels like to live in a house like this.”

Leaning against the comfortable sofa, Elysia finally relaxed.

“It’ll be our first meeting in three years… I hope I can explain things properly.”

She needed to ask for work.

Any kind of work would do.

Working at the Grand Duke’s estate would surely be better than laboring in the marketplace.

“Still…”

As she leaned back, the tension slowly drained from her body, and her vision began to blur.

Just sitting on the sofa made her exhaustion surface all at once.

“Is His Grace coming back late? My eyes keep closing…”

Elysia failed to notice her voice growing quieter and quieter.

How much time passed?

“What is this?”

A cool voice broke the silence.

But Elysia never heard it.

Two men stood looking down at her sleeping peacefully on the sofa.

Assistant Hylmaiton.

And the man standing beside him.

He was tall with broad shoulders.

Everything about him was imposing.

Dressed neatly in uniform, with his hair slicked back, he cut an intimidating figure.

His narrowed orange eyes stared directly at Elysia.

Smiling awkwardly, Hylmaiton spoke.

“This is Lady Elysia, daughter of Sir Galfon.”

“I’m asking why Galfon’s daughter is sprawled out asleep here.”

Hylmaiton scratched his brow.

“…Perhaps she’s tired?”

Yulias frowned.

“Shall I wake her?”

“No.”

Seeing Hylmaiton hesitate, Yulias sat down across from Elysia with a tired expression.

Then he made a familiar gesture.

He wanted the urgent documents that required his attention after returning home.

Even as Hylmaiton brought the paperwork and placed it before him, Elysia showed no signs of waking.

“Another bowl, please…”

Not only was she talking in her sleep, but she had curled up like a cat and was smacking her lips.

Seeing this, Yulias let out a quiet laugh and turned his attention to the documents.

Yet every now and then, he glanced at her over the papers.

One page became two.

Then three.

By the time he had reviewed around five documents…

“Mmm… huh?”

Elysia suddenly woke up.

The moment she regained consciousness, she sat upright and looked around.

Then she saw Yulias directly in front of her.

“Sleep well?”

“…Pardon?”

“I hope you did. Judging by the fact that you were sleeping with your legs up in front of a man.”

Perhaps because three years had passed, the youthful face she remembered was long gone.

Elysia stared blankly before suddenly jumping to her feet.

“M-My apologies, Your Grace!”

Unlike the nervous Elysia, Yulias remained silent.

Hylmaiton, who was standing beside him, explained:

“She came seeking an audience with Your Grace.”

Yulias’s gaze slowly traveled over her.

Elysia rubbed her sleepy face vigorously with both hands.

Her eyes now shone brightly and alertly, but Yulias’s expression remained unchanged.

“I’m sorry for showing up without notice. I truly, truly wanted to speak with Your Grace.”

“Hylmaiton.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Prepare some tea. Bring suitable refreshments as well.”

“At once.”

Without acknowledging her greeting, Yulias simply gave orders to his aide.

He ignored my greeting completely?

Elysia felt she had already ruined her first impression.

Still, she refused to give up.

If she were the type to quit this easily, she never would have come here.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

Yulias looked at Elysia, who was still standing there.

Frowning slightly, he spoke in an impatient tone.

“You came here without an appointment. Wasn’t your business urgent?”

“It is.”

“Sit.”

He gestured toward the sofa opposite him.

Without hesitation, Elysia sat down across from him.

With a weary sigh, Yulias loosened his necktie.

Watching him, Elysia finally noticed something.

There were clear bloodstains on his shirt, as though he had just returned from battle.

“Your business.”

Pressing his fingers against his temple, Yulias spoke.

Elysia quickly gathered herself.

“I want to work for the Grand Duke’s household.”

“Here?”

The request was clearly unexpected.

“Why?”

Of course he wouldn’t simply agree immediately.

He was asking why he should hire her.

“After my father passed away, my mother raised my brother and me by herself. But recently… we’ve lost contact with her.”

“Did she run away?”

“…No.”

Her expression darkened noticeably.

At that moment, Yulias remembered the woman he had seen at Galfon’s funeral three years earlier.

A woman who had lost her husband but concealed her grief and faced him calmly.

And behind her had stood the underage Elysia and her younger brother.

Yulias showed no reaction.

No sigh.

No expression of sympathy.

“…Her body was never found after a shipwreck.”

Elysia continued as calmly as she could.

Yulias crossed his arms, signaling for her to continue.

“I need to take responsibility for my brother. But… I can’t find suitable work.”

“Do you know how people usually become maids in noble households?”

“You need a recommendation letter or some sort of status…”

“Correct. At the very least, you’d usually be a minor noble. Galfon was an excellent swordsman, but he was only a member of the knight order. He wasn’t the commander or vice commander.”

“…”

Elysia fell silent.

Yulias let out a long sigh.

She seemed to understand what he was saying, and he didn’t need to ask how she felt after hearing it.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

The head maid entered carrying tea and refreshments.

“Herbal tea and cookies.”

Even after everything was placed on the table, an awkward silence remained.

“When you’re finished, I’ll have a carriage take you home.”

“No, that’s alright. You seem busy, and I should be leaving as well.”

When Yulias stood up first, Elysia quickly rose and bowed.

“…Um, Your Grace.”

“What is it?”

“If it isn’t too rude.”

Elysia’s gaze shifted toward the table between the sofas.

The untouched herbal tea was still warm, faint steam rising from it.

The cookies on the plate were studded with almonds.

Noticing the food-grade paper liner underneath them, Elysia pointed toward it.

“May I take these refreshments with me?”

“As you wish.”

“Thank you. It’s an honor.”

Even while expressing her gratitude, her hands were already busy wrapping the cookies in the paper liner.

“Do you like sweets?”

“Not particularly… My younger brother likes snacks. I can’t buy them for him often, so whenever I get a chance like this, I try to save some.”

“Most people would be embarrassed to do that. I suppose you could call it determination.”

“…When you’re struggling just to survive, worrying about what others think doesn’t put food on the table.”

Elysia gave a bitter smile.

Yulias looked at that smile but said nothing.

Afterward, Elysia left immediately without lingering and without looking back.

“…It’s true enough. Worrying about appearances doesn’t feed you.”

Letting out a dry laugh, Yulias stared at the closed door.