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Chapter 7
Johannes Schultz stepped back as if he had never come close at all.
I inhaled sharply at his indifferent behavior, then exhaled along with my response.
“But I don’t even have the professional qualifications the ducal household expects.”
He snorted.
“Even if you applied with professional certifications, the Schultz household doesn’t hire anyone.”
I tilted my head in confusion, and the young Duke Schultz continued.
“The Schultz family doesn’t look for servants in the first place.”
“What? Then the job postings…”
“Are just for show.”
His tone was so matter-of-fact that I became even more perplexed.
“So, you’re saying there isn’t a single servant in the mansion?”
“Of course not. That’s not the case.”
A slightly incredulous voice responded. A faint crease appeared over his eyebrows—a look that said, Is that really a question?
“But you’re saying you want to hire me. Even though the Schultz household posts job openings but doesn’t actually recruit new servants?”
“Exactly.”
When I froze in shock, he continued calmly, with perfect courtesy.
“It seems another secret for Miss Prim to keep has appeared.”
Was he saying that to hire me as a servant? Why?
I remained silent, hesitating, when the young Duke Schultz’s low voice reached me.
“The salary will be generous. More than the Russell Marquessate.”
“…How much did the Marquessate offer?”
I asked without thinking, with no malice—just genuine curiosity that slipped out.
Of course, I knew that the wealth of nobles was unimaginably enormous from a commoner’s perspective.
But the royal family had recently stripped the Schultz household of financial privileges.
Does he even have that kind of money?
The salary offered by the Russell Marquessate was already astronomical for a commoner—and perhaps even for a noble.
Granted, it required winning the favor of the dowager and enduring for at least three full months.
He seemed to read my expression and replied:
“Even though the royal family took away the financial privileges, it’s not to the point where Miss Prim should worry about being left destitute.”
He smiled lightly, almost casually, but it subtly reminded me of my rudeness in doubting the wealth of the ducal household.
“Ah…”
The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous my question seemed.
“My apologies. That was rude of me.”
Even if the Russell Marquessate were the wealthiest, the Schultz household surely had far more than just the money in its accounts.
The only minor inconvenience would be that they couldn’t earn enormous interest for a while. The royal family couldn’t possibly crush the Schultz household outright, given its immense power.
As I apologized, he muttered to himself:
“Miss Prim brags a lot.”
“….”
“What do you think?”
It was absurd, but Johannes Schultz looked as if he were asking me to work for him.
Had my father really done him a tremendous favor? Perhaps not financially—but maybe saved his life.
Thinking that, it felt almost rude to refuse outright.
I turned my gaze westward. The day was nearly over, and the deep red sun was sinking behind the Schultz ducal residence.
Evanstein Castle, home of the Schultz household.
Not too far from my house—only about 30 minutes by stagecoach.
The Russell Marquessate’s salary was decent, but considering the six-hour round trip and the dowager’s temperament… it wasn’t the time to overthink.
I shifted my eyes to the pile of lilies on my father’s coffin, and the decorative cigarette case placed atop it.
“What should I do…”
In truth, the answer had already been decided.
Johannes Schultz wasn’t hiring me out of pity, nor due to any friendship with my father…
If he had truly received great help from my father, rejecting this offer would be utterly foolish.
So I decided to seize the opportunity. I turned my gaze back to him, staying firm.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept without hesitation.”
I had expected the journey home after my father’s funeral to feel hollow and empty, but reality was entirely different.
Mixed emotions arose, but to sum it up simply: I felt dazed.
I recalled what had just happened, standing in the sharp night breeze by the sea.
The salary Johannes Schultz offered far exceeded my expectations—so much so that the offer from the Russell Marquessate now seemed paltry.
One million Berkrani.
Even thinking about it now, it was an absurd amount.
And that’s per week. That’s more than enough to cover living expenses and continue my pharmacology studies without pause.
The work would be demanding, but manageable with good time management.
At first, I had been surprised, wondering if it was because I was Sergeant Prim’s daughter, and if the amount was some sort of favor.
But that was a misconception.
When I remarked that such an amount would be a huge burden for the young Duke Schultz, he replied calmly:
“The salary is comparable to that of other ducal household servants. Butler Fret Gunner will explain the details when you start.”
I wondered how much other nobles would pay, regretting that I hadn’t obtained a few relevant certifications earlier.
I would need to contact the Russell Marquessate to decline…
“Edith, you’re here!”
I had been lost in thought when someone suddenly grabbed my arm, making me jump.
It was Mrs. Pensler.
We had already arrived at my house. I quickly held her hand to steady it—her fingers were frozen from waiting outside so long.
“Why are you standing outside in the cold? It’s late… why didn’t you sleep earlier?”
“I’m not cold. How could I rest without confirming you returned home? Besides, we won’t see each other often from now on.”
She waved her hands, worried. She still believed I commuted to Bohl.
“Ah, well—”
“But did you send your father off properly? I was worried sending you alone. They said only family could attend…”
She led me inside, where warmth filled the room. It seemed the fire had been lit long ago.
“Edith, sit here and wait. I’ll bring tea.”
I realized I would need to stay quiet until she finished speaking. She was quite the talker.
Even after bringing tea, she continued her stream of worried words.
Only once her voice quieted could I speak.
“Ma’am, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Actually, someone I met at the funeral introduced me to a job nearby, so I’ll be working there. I won’t be going to the Russell Marquessate. The salary is good…”
“What on earth are you saying?”
Mrs. Pensler, whom I thought would be happy, frowned and looked at me as if I were foolish.
Seeing my confused expression, her brow furrowed further.
“Edith!”
Her voice was unusually serious.
“Honestly, you’re quite pretty. Even this past autumn, several suitors sent proposals. And now you take a job recommendation from someone you just met? What if they have ill intentions?”
She went on, voicing concern after concern, about trusting a stranger and what could go wrong.
I hadn’t anticipated this reaction and was at a loss.
In truth, I had decided to work at the ducal household on the young Duke Schultz’s offer. I couldn’t exactly tell her the truth, so I had to endure her scolding for a while.
“Really… it’s fine. I’m not that reckless, ma’am.”
Only after assuring her I was trustworthy could I finally leave her house.
