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Chapter 14
“Isn’t she the one who got in through a broker after paying money? Or am I wrong?”
“No, that’s not it. I heard it wasn’t money—it was something else. Her family had a lot of debt, so they sold their daughter to the broker.”
“So that’s how she ended up at Count Clade’s place? To earn a fortune and pay off the debt?”
The three of them exchanged shocked glances while Anne blinked up at the ceiling.
“Anne, haven’t you heard anything?” Cassie asked.
“You were the last one cleaning the party hall. You saw Matilda then, right?”
At the natural follow-up question, Anne recalled that moment.
“Yeah. She told me that if I followed her, she’d make me head maid once she became a countess. She said the maid salary there was double what we get here.”
“Wow, really? Double?”
“A countess? Hahaha!”
One maid burst out laughing at the idea of salary, sitting up in bed, while another slapped the blanket in amusement at the idea of a “countess.”
Cassie turned to Anne.
“You did well refusing. That place is really dangerous.”
Anne nodded faintly, unconvinced.
A place filled with nothing but rumors—an area that might even be on the brink of war.
And a place so harsh that Matilda had risked her life crossing the border.
If she had to leave the ducal house anyway… was there anywhere better than here?
Anne pulled the blanket over her head.
The next day, Anne went to find Jamie before afternoon tea.
Since Gray usually trained after finishing his morning studies, Jamie was also at the training grounds.
“The young master is training inside,” someone said.
“I know.”
Jamie inspected both of Anne’s hands thoroughly.
She rarely came empty-handed.
“What’s wrong, sis?”
“I need to talk to you.”
Anne’s gaze drifted toward Gray and the knight instructor sparring in the distance.
Jamie followed her gaze, then looked back.
“To me?”
“Jamie, you said you still want to serve Young Lord Gray, right?”
“Yeah. Forever. There’s no better master than him. Really!”
Jamie said proudly, convinced his master was the best in the world.
Anne didn’t correct him.
“If you go to the knight academy with him, I think I’ll look for another job.”
“…Sis?”
Jamie’s voice dropped.
There were no spies among servants who would report such talk, but if the master heard it, nothing good would come of it.
“I’m going to leave the Benton ducal house, Jamie.”
As soon as possible. Any time.
She would leave this place for good.
Anne had never intended to spend her entire life in the Benton ducal household.
If she was going to remain a maid anyway, it would be better to go somewhere with slightly lower pay but a more comfortable life.
If necessary, she could work in Count Clade’s border territory, save money, and live quietly farming in a village.
A maid from the Benton household would be welcomed anywhere.
“Why? Sis, you know there’s nowhere in the empire with better conditions than here.”
Jamie whispered in concern.
She knew that—but this was not about conditions or pay.
Anne simply wanted to live as a person, and that would begin with leaving this place.
“Jamie, we can still write to each other no matter where we are.”
“But if I go to the knight academy, I’ll come home during breaks. What if you’re not here then?”
“You’re fifteen. You’re not a child anymore.”
“……”
Jamie knew Anne better than anyone—his sister who had started doing menial work at age seven.
Realizing her decision was firm, he had no way to stop her. To him, Anne was sister, mother, and guardian all in one.
Knowing pleading wouldn’t work, he pressed his lips together in dissatisfaction.
“Nothing’s decided yet. I just wanted to let you know in advance.”
Even if Gray didn’t need to know, Jamie had to.
And even if Gray found out, it would not affect her plans at all.
That night, unexpectedly, Gray came to Anne’s lodging.
“Wooow~.”
A maid whistled, and Anne’s face flushed—not from embarrassment, but anger.
To come all the way to the servants’ quarters looking for her.
“He’s asking you to come to the back garden? Our young master is quite romantic~.”
“Anne Ferro! Good luck~!”
“Go on, go on~!”
Whether they were cheering or teasing, Anne quickly grabbed her coat and headed out.
In the garden behind the manor, Gray Benton stood anxiously under a dim orange lamp.
“Lord Gray, what is it?” Anne asked.
Calling her out at such a late hour—this was inappropriate, even reckless.
“You said you’re leaving the ducal house?”
“…Yes.”
“You’re looking for another job? What kind of work?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
Gray stepped closer and grabbed her arms.
When had he grown this much?
His gaze was now nearly level with hers.
“Do you hate me?”
“What?”
Anne blinked, startled.
Hate or like—what was he talking about? What had they even done?
Anne had always drawn a clear boundary, rejecting Gray’s one-sided affection.
The head maid only assigned her to serve him because she trusted her.
“I’ll be going to the knight academy soon anyway. I won’t be able to come back for six months. So you could just stay in the ducal house, Anne.”
“My lord, I simply mentioned to Jamie that I might look for another job. I don’t know what misunderstanding you’ve had…”
Anne didn’t care whether Gray went to the academy or not. It was his path.
So why did he look like a heartbroken man about to be abandoned?
Suddenly, Gray buried his face in her shoulder.
Sniffling sounds followed.
“Lord…?”
When Anne tried to gently push him away, he clung tighter, trembling.
“Anne… I’ll leave instead.”
“…?”
“I’ll go to the academy and never come back. I’ll only send Jamie during breaks. So you should stay here.”
Gray lifted his head slowly while still holding her shoulders.
“I like you, Anne.”
“……”
A curse almost escaped her lips.
Gray’s tear-stained face looked painfully young, almost fragile.
Who wouldn’t waver at a confession like that?
“I liked you once too,” Anne thought.
She had loved him in a way she could never repeat.
But she would never go back to that.
She slowly spoke.
“I do not like you, my lord.”
Would it have been better to soften it with an apology befitting a maid?
But Anne’s inner voice rejected that.
Not loving someone is not something to apologize for.
“Anne…”
Tears rolled down his face.
“My life, my decisions—none of them are your concern anymore, my lord. Please do not call me out like this at night again. I do not wish to be misunderstood.”
With that, Anne bowed and turned away.
Gray covered his face with both hands, crying.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
His voice followed her back, but Anne did not stop.
She returned to the servants’ hall.
After Gray’s confession, Anne grew restless.
She needed to leave as soon as possible.
But fate moved faster than she did.
“Lady wants to see you, Anne.”
Following a servant back from errands, Anne cleaned herself and went to the duchess’s room.
“Lady, it’s Anne. I came as you requested.”
“Come in.”
The duchess sat by the window, calmly drinking tea.
Anne stopped a few steps away after bowing respectfully.
“Here, take this.”
The duchess handed her a letter.
Anne accepted it with both hands.
“It is a recommendation letter for the maid position at the estate of Lord Tegenes.”
