Prologue

The Worst Day of My Life

“You should start repaying the family’s kindness soon.”

At Baron Graham’s cold voice, Janet swallowed dryly.

“Father, what do you mean…?”

“It’s your marriage partner.”

Thud.

The paper the baron tossed fell at Janet’s feet. With trembling hands, she picked it up.

James Verdin

Under the clearly written name was Count Verdin’s personal information.

Age: seventy.

Three children.

The eldest was forty-two years old.

A few days ago, he divorced his fourth wife.

His third wife had died mysteriously during their marriage.

“For an orphan like you, this is an excessive match.”

“……”

“To avoid committing any rude mistakes later, memorize everything about the count.”

At the baron’s words, Janet could not answer at all. She could only clutch her rapidly beating heart and bite her lips.

“Now leave.”

At the baron’s dismissal, Janet turned around. Tears streamed down her pale face.

That day was the worst day of Janet’s life.

And on that worst day—

Janet suddenly remembered memories of her previous life like a bolt of lightning.

Learning that this world was the same world as the book she had read in her previous life was only an extra surprise.

Although she could not clearly remember the title of the book, the detailed plot, or even who the protagonist was, it did not matter.

Because among the fragmented memories she recalled, there was information Janet needed.

“…Illinia.”

First, I have to go to Illinia.

Holding the paper with the count’s information tightly, Janet muttered softly.

Chapter 1

“What did you say you wanted?”

The man asking the question spoke in a cold voice. His narrowed eyes scanned the other person as if piercing through them.

Pale and slightly thin cheeks.

Dark navy hair and eyes like the night sky.

Though her body and expression were stiff with tension, her eyes alone were fully alive.

The woman answered in a voice filled with determination.

“I said I want to become Lady Julieta Ludwig’s maid. So I’m asking you to tell me how.”

Hoo.

After speaking, Janet let out a small breath.

This place was a secret reception room of the Empire’s greatest information guild, <Illinia>, and the man sitting across from her was the vice leader of <Illinia>.

Honestly, she had been quite flustered when he first appeared.

‘Why would the vice leader personally come out for a request from someone like me?’

Objectively speaking, she did not think she was such an important client.

But the confusion lasted only briefly.

Janet did her best to achieve her goal.

As she tightly clenched her fists and trembled slightly, the man asked again.

“What’s the reason?”

“What reason?”

“The reason you want to become that woman’s maid.”

Tap tap.

The man’s long fingers tapped against the table.

“I heard she has a violent personality and hates people very much. They say she’s such a dangerous woman that if you get on her bad side, you won’t even survive intact.”

Janet had also heard those rumors many times.

But—

“Rumors are just rumors. I don’t care.”

“And if the rumors are true?”

“…Even then, it doesn’t matter. No matter what happens, I have to become the lady’s maid.”

“That’s strange.”

Hmm.

Letting out a light breath, the man tilted his head.

“I truly can’t understand why you’re so desperate to become that woman’s maid.”

At the man’s quiet question, Janet blinked once.

At the same time, the tension lingering inside her disappeared, and sharpness appeared in her eyes.

‘Why do I have to become Julieta’s maid no matter what?’

The answer was simple.

First.

“I need money to become independent.”

Second.

“I also need a place to hide.”

Before the man could frown at her strange answer—

Swoosh.

Janet pulled out a crumpled paper from her bag and handed it to him.

“Even if I die, I refuse to become the fifth wife of a man like this.”

That was why Janet had come to <Illinia>.

“Then, I look forward to working with you.”

After Janet left with a greeting—

Hobbs, one of <Illinia>’s executives, approached Kendrick, who remained alone in the reception room.

“This is unexpected.”

“What is?”

“The request. I thought you wouldn’t accept it.”

Adjusting his glasses lightly, Hobbs spoke, and Kendrick shrugged.

“Well, at first I planned not to.”

Janet Graham.

He did not know how a VIP-level password had ended up in the hands of the adopted daughter of the Graham barony, but the moment the name ‘Julieta Ludwig’ came up, he had planned to reject the request.

The reason was simple.

Julieta Ludwig was his twin younger sister.

Vice leader of <Illinia>, and the third son of the Ludwig Grand Duchy.

Kendrick Ludwig.

That was the man’s true identity.

‘She couldn’t have come here knowing that.’

The fact that Kendrick was the vice leader of <Illinia> was known only to a few executive-level members within the guild.

But—

“Even if it’s a coincidence, it still feels unpleasant.”

Out of all things, she had asked him personally to help her become his sister’s maid.

What kind of ridiculous coincidence of fate was this?

“Then why did you change your mind?”

“That’s…”

That’s?

“Because her reason was fairly reasonable.”

“Huh?”

At Hobbs’s puzzled expression, Kendrick handed him a sheet of paper.

After checking its contents, Hobbs clicked his tongue.

“It’s Count Verdin’s personal information.”

“Yeah. Apparently that old man is Miss Janet’s future fiancé.”

“Ugh. Seriously?”

Hobbs pretended to gag as he asked.

And understandably so.

Count James Verdin had turned seventy this year.

Not long ago, they had received news that he had finalized the divorce with his fourth wife, who was thirty years younger than him, and had already started searching for a fifth wife candidate—

“I didn’t expect him to target such a young lady.”

There were still about six months left until Janet Graham’s coming-of-age ceremony.

Meaning Janet Graham was still a minor.

“Right? I never thought there could be someone worse than my father.”

“O-Oh…”

At Kendrick’s self-mocking mutter, Hobbs avoided his gaze. He did not dare speak badly about the Grand Duke.

Ahem.

After an awkward cough, Hobbs naturally continued speaking.

“Anyway, Baron Graham is really unbelievable too. Even if she’s only his adopted daughter, he’s actually planning to sell his child to an old man like this.”

“That’s the kind of thing those inhuman bastards do.”

At Kendrick’s cold remark, Hobbs nodded.

“Well, that’s true.”

Three years ago—

Right after the Empire won the three-year-long ‘Ashlade War.’

Nobles who could no longer circulate money because of the war began adopting grown orphans instead of hiring servants.

It was to force them to do housework without pay.

Those adopted children were often treated not even as people, let alone as family.

Janet was one of those cases.

“So that’s why Miss Graham wanted to become Lady Julieta’s maid? Since marriage and engagements are strictly forbidden while serving an unmarried grand duchess.”

“Yeah. It’s actually a pretty good plan. A maid position in the Ludwig household would pay well too.”

Tap tap.

Kendrick lightly tapped the table, the corners of his lips curving lazily.

“Yes, it is a good plan, but…”

Hobbs still had not solved his question.

Certainly, from Miss Graham’s perspective, becoming the maid of the Grand Duchess of Ludwig was the best possible choice to escape her current situation.

But—

‘That and the vice leader accepting the request are two separate matters, aren’t they?’

“Desperate people are easy to make deals with.”

Ugh.

Kendrick casually read the unspoken question, making Hobbs look exhausted as he asked,

“A deal?”

“Yeah. A deal.”

Seeing the grin on Kendrick’s face, Hobbs sighed.

“So you didn’t simply accept the request normally.”

“Of course not. I can’t lightly accept anything related to my sister.”

“Ah, I knew it.”

“So what kind of deal did you make?”

“I told her I’d make her Julieta Ludwig’s maid if she signed a contract.”

“A contract?”

Kendrick gestured toward the table with his chin. A single sheet of paper lay there face down.

Hobbs reached out and flipped the paper over.

“This is…”

At the same time as his mutter, the letters on the contract began glowing faintly.

Contract

Party A: Illinia
Party B: Janet Graham

Party A shall help Party B become the maid of “Julieta Ludwig.”

If Party B becomes the maid of “Julieta Ludwig” through Party A’s assistance, then Party B shall take responsibility for following the conditions below.

1. Party B shall not betray Party A.
2. Party B shall not betray Julieta Ludwig.
3. Party B shall work for Julieta Ludwig.
4. Party B shall do her utmost to protect Julieta Ludwig’s safety.

Party A shall support Party B with all resources necessary to fulfill the above conditions.

If the contract reaches its proper conclusion, Party A shall pay Party B “500 million Ekl.”

(However, if Julieta Ludwig’s orders seriously threaten Party B’s life or honor, the above conditions may be refused.)

If either Party A or Party B violates this contract, they shall suffer “a punishment worse than death.”

This contract shall remain valid while Party B (Janet Graham) serves as Julieta Ludwig’s maid.

“No, seriously… this is amazing…?”

A magical contract with glowing letters.

Janet repeatedly examined the shining contract and quietly admired it.