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Chapter 26
Tyburn gazed at the back of Rani’s round head. It was as if her head was saying, “I’m really excited right now!”
Though he had three grandchildren, this was the very first time he had ever received such a gift.
And it was also the first time he realized just how warm and fuzzy such a thing could make one feel.
It was like the distant memory of when he first held newborn Hider in his arms.
Rani had a peculiar talent for stirring up emotions Tyburn thought he had long forgotten.
“Handmade socks and handkerchiefs, huh…”
Just imagining those small hands stitching them made her seem both cute and pitiful. Tyburn narrowed his eyes.
“Doesn’t Rani need a maid herself? She works so much—someone ought to help her.”
He stroked his chin.
“Besides, she’s responsible for looking after Hider. Isn’t it strange that she shares the same quarters as the other maids?”
Once he started thinking about it, it seemed Rani lacked all sorts of things.
She could use more hair ribbons for tying up her long hair, hand cream to protect the backs of her hands, and warmer clothes—the ones she wore looked far too thin.
Meanwhile, Rani—completely unaware of Tyburn’s thoughts—was happily rummaging through the cookie box.
“I think this much is plenty. Thank you, Lord Tyburn!”
Smiling brightly, she darted out of the room without fear of him.
As the sound of her small footsteps pattered away, Tyburn made up his mind.
If Rani lacked something, he would simply provide it.
Soon, someone trustworthy would be arriving from the North.
Once that person became the new head maid, Tyburn would be able to put his plans into action.
* * *
It was early winter when the guests from the North finally arrived—about ten days after Tyburn had confronted the Duchess in the dining hall.
Rani, together with Dania, had been watching the enormous northern carriage roll in before heading back inside the mansion.
“So, the new head maid is arriving this time, right?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“Phew… I hope she isn’t scary.”
“I hope she’s the type who’s bad at noticing things.”
“Huh?”
“…Never mind.”
She shook her head. But the moment they saw the woman stepping down from the carriage, both Rani and Dania let out sighs of despair.
Anyone could tell she looked strict and intimidating.
Our freedom might be over.
Strictly speaking, side jobs weren’t forbidden for maids—but not to the extent that Rani and Dania were doing them.
Even after maxing out her Detoxification skill, Rani had continued working on different things with Dania—like knitting socks for sale, or making teddy bear slippers.
And oddly enough, those things had become incredibly popular, selling out every single day.
Dania looked at Rani with a tearful face.
As expected, the northern guests began changing many things.
After a short meeting with Tyburn, the new head maid paid her respects to the Duke and Duchess, then immediately summoned the maids.
Rani had to stop in the middle of tidying Hider’s blankets and run over.
“My name is Luella. You may call me Madam Luella or Head Maid Luella.”
“Yes!” everyone answered in unison.
“From now on, I’ll inform you of some changes. First of all—Rani.”
“Y-Yes?”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward her. Was she being reassigned? But that couldn’t be—Tyburn had specifically ordered her to look after Hider.
As she stood there bewildered, Luella continued.
“You’ve been attending to Young Master Hider all by yourself, haven’t you?”
“Yes, well… the previous head maid told me to do so.”
In truth, the other maids had avoided that task out of fear. Rani felt their sympathetic gazes on her.
But she wasn’t pitiful.
She almost wanted to shove her growing pile of wealth in their faces.
What do you all know, anyway?
“From now on, continue with your duties. But your quarters will be moved to the room beside Young Master Hider’s.”
“…Pardon?”
What did she mean? The room beside Hider’s? That wasn’t for servants—it was normally one of the rooms reserved for the children of the ducal family.
Rani’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The maids began whispering.
“And you’ll need someone to assist you. Dania, was it?”
“Y-Yes!”
Dania straightened up nervously. She turned to Rani with worried eyes.
“From now on, you’ll stop your current work and focus solely on assisting Rani.”
“B-But I’m a maid…”
Since when did one maid serve another? Was Rani the only one who thought this was strange?
But Luella remained composed.
“You don’t need to worry about anything else. Just focus on Young Master Hider. This is Lord Tyburn’s order, so keep that in mind.”
At the mention of Tyburn’s name, silence fell over the group.
In this mansion, Tyburn was a figure of dread. The younger maids even thought of him as some kind of ogre.
Dania’s eyes were sparkling with excitement, though—she clearly had a lot she wanted to say.
The looks from the other maids made it obvious what they were thinking. They were convinced Rani had sided with Tyburn.
“So she chose to cozy up to him, huh?”
“Traitor.”
“She should’ve told us, too!”
“Are you happy being the only one to survive?”
Well, let me be clear—life is something you live alone anyway.
Hmph.
* * *
The changes brought by the northern guests didn’t stop with the maids.
Luella also reassigned servants for Kiera.
“Greetings, Duchess!”
“From now on, we’ll be serving you. I’m Sally, and this is Julie!”
But they were slow, clumsy, and had no talent for work. Kiera’s lips trembled as she swallowed hard.
Tyburn had said she could fill the empty positions with whomever she wanted—except for the head maid. She had already brought in attendants from her family home, but now they were suddenly replaced.
“Where are Roy and Georgina? They were supposed to be attending me.”
“Oh! Madam Luella said they’d be more useful elsewhere. Since they’re quick and capable, she thought it better for them to serve Lord Tyburn!”
Kiera bit her lip hard. Hiring maids had always been her prerogative. Luella’s actions were blatant overreach—but the problem was that Luella had Tyburn behind her.
The sharp look in Tyburn’s eyes when he stared at Kiera still haunted her.
Perhaps he was testing her. No matter how humiliating, she had no choice but to endure.
This was her mistake for not killing him in one blow.
“…I see.”
“Yes, I heard Lord Tyburn’s health isn’t good, so he needs quick, clever attendants around him!”
So her people had been taken by Tyburn. They were loyal, yes—but also talkative.
They shouldn’t run their mouths so carelessly…
Kiera’s lips went dry.
And the two new ones seemed especially loose-tongued. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Tyburn had tied her hands and feet in the most effective yet peaceful way possible. Their eyes would watch her, and their mouths would spread her every deed outside.
Even if he was lying in bed, Tyburn would hear everything they whispered.
The exorcism must be carried out properly.
That ritual was her one chance. If it succeeded, she could finally drive Tyburn out of this place.
Just a little longer. Please.
Clenching her teeth, Kiera forced a smile.
“I’ll be counting on you. Please forgive me if I fall short.”
“Yes, Duchess!”
“But Duchess, what about Young Master Hider? These days he’s been sticking to Lord Tyburn like glue, flattering him constantly.”
“Exactly! Ugh…”
The more chatter she heard from her new maids, the more hopeless she felt.
