Chapter 01
How to Become the Villainess’s Maid
“What did you say you want?”
The man who asked the question had a cold voice. His narrowed eyes scrutinized the other person as if piercing through them.
Pale and somewhat thin cheeks. Dark navy hair and eyes as black as the night sky.
The woman’s body and expression were stiff with tension, but her eyes were very much alive.
The woman answered in a voice full of strength.
“I said I want to become Lady Julletta Ludwig’s maid. So, I’m asking you to tell me how.”
*Whoosh.*
Janet let out a small breath after speaking.
This was the secret reception room of the empire’s premier information guild, <Illynia>, and the man before her was the vice-captain of <Illynia>.
Honestly, she was quite taken aback when he first appeared.
‘Why would the vice-captain himself come out for a request from someone like me?’
Objectively speaking, she didn’t seem like that impressive of a client.
But her surprise was short-lived.
Janet did her best to achieve her goal.
As she clenched her fists tightly, trembling slightly, the man asked another question.
“What’s the reason?”
“What reason?”
“The reason you want to become that woman’s maid.”
*Tap, tap.*
The man’s long fingers rapped on the table.
“I hear she’s violent-tempered and hates people immensely. They say she’s a dangerous woman—if you cross her wrong, you might not even be able to collect your bones.”
Janet had heard those rumors well enough too.
But.
“Rumors are just rumors. I don’t care.”
“And if those rumors are true?”
“…It doesn’t matter either. I absolutely have to become her maid, no matter what.”
“How strange.”
*Hmph.* The man let out a light breath and tilted his head.
“What could possibly be the reason you want to become that woman’s maid so badly? I simply cannot understand.”
At the man’s low-pitched question, Janet blinked once.
At the same time, the tension that had been lingering vanished, and a sharpness formed at the corners of her eyes.
‘What could possibly be the reason I have to become Julletta’s maid?’
It’s simple.
First.
“I need independent funds.”
Second.
“I also need a place to hide my body.”
Before the man’s brow could furrow at the incomprehensible answer—
*Slide.* Janet pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her bag and handed it to him.
“Even if it means dying, I don’t want to become the fifth wife of a man like this.”
Yes.
That was exactly why Janet had to come to <Illynia>.
—
***
—
After Janet left with her greeting.
Hobbs, one of <Illynia>’s executives, approached Kendrick, who was left alone in the reception room.
“How unexpected.”
“What is.”
“The request. I thought you wouldn’t accept it.”
At Hobbs’s words, delivered while lightly adjusting his glasses, Kendrick shrugged.
“Well, I intended to at first.”
Janet Graham.
No matter how the adoption daughter of Viscount Graham had gotten her hands on a VIP-level cipher, from the moment the name ‘Julletta Ludwig’ came up, he had intended to refuse this request.
The reason was simple.
Julletta Ludwig was his twin sister.
The vice-captain of <Illynia> and the third son of the Grand Duke Ludwig family.
Kendrick Ludwig.
That was the man’s true identity.
‘She probably didn’t come knowing that.’
After all, the fact that Kendrick was the vice-captain of <Illynia> was unknown to anyone except a few executive-level members of <Illynia>.
But.
“No matter how coincidental, it’s still unsettling, right?”
Of all things, she had to entrust him with a request to help her become his sister’s maid.
What a cruel twist of fate this was.
“But why did you change your mind, sir?”
“That’s…”
That’s?
“Because the reason was fairly reasonable.”
“Pardon?”
To Hobbs, who wore a puzzled expression, Kendrick handed over a sheet of paper.
After confirming the contents of the paper he received, Hobbs clicked his tongue.
“It’s Count Verdin’s personal information.”
“Yes. That bastard is apparently Miss Graham’s prospective fiancé.”
“Ugh. Really?”
Hobbs made a retching gesture and asked back.
And for good reason—Count James Verdin was an old man turning seventy this year.
He had heard that the Count had recently finalized his divorce from his fourth wife, who was thirty years younger than him, and was prematurely looking for a candidate for his fifth wife, but—
“I never imagined he’d set his sights on such a young lady.”
Janet Graham still had about half a year left until her coming-of-age birthday.
In other words, Janet Graham was still a minor.
“Right? Who would have thought there’d be a man worse than my own father.”
“Oh, oh…”
At Kendrick’s self-deprecating mutter, Hobbs averted his eyes. He didn’t have the courage to utter words against the Grand Duke.
*Ahem.*
After clearing his throat awkwardly, Hobbs naturally continued.
“Anyway. Viscount Graham is quite something too. No matter how much she’s an adopted daughter, to think of selling off a child to such an old geezer.”
“Those inhuman bastards always do things like that.”
At Kendrick’s chilly words, Hobbs nodded.
“Indeed. That’s true too.”
Three years ago from now.
Right after the ‘Ashleyad War,’ which had lasted for three years, ended with the empire’s victory.
Nobles whose finances had stagnated due to the war began adopting orphans of age instead of hiring servants.
It was to make them do housework for free.
The children adopted in this way were often treated not as children, but not even as proper human beings.
Janet was one such case.
“So that’s why Lady Graham wanted to become Lady Julletta’s maid? While serving as the unmarried Grand Duchess’s maid, marriage and engagement are strictly prohibited.”
“Yes. It’s a fairly decent plan. The position of a Ludwig maid pays well too.”
*Tap, tap.*
Kendrick lightly tapped the table, the corners of his mouth drawing a relaxed arc.
“Yes. It’s a decent plan, but…”
Hobbs’s question still remained unresolved.
Certainly, from Lady Graham’s perspective, ‘becoming the Grand Duchess Ludwig’s maid’ was the optimal choice to escape her current situation.
But.
‘Isn’t that separate from the vice-captain accepting the request?’
“Desperate people are easy to deal with.”
*Urk.*
At Kendrick, who casually read his unspoken question, Hobbs asked with a fed-up expression.
“A deal?”
“Yes. A deal.”
Seeing the grinning face, Hobbs sighed.
“Now I see you didn’t just accept the request normally.”
“Of course not. I can’t simply accept anything related to my sister lightly.”
Ah, of course.
“So what kind of deal did you make?”
“I said I’d make her Julletta Ludwig’s maid, but only if she signs a contract.”
A contract?
Kendrick gestured with his chin toward the table. On it lay a single piece of paper, 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 to faintly shimmer.
**«<Contract>**
**Party A: Illynia**
**Party B: Janet Graham**
**Party A shall assist Party B in becoming the maid of ‘Julletta Ludwig’.**
**If Party B becomes the maid of ‘Julletta Ludwig’ with Party A’s assistance, ‘Party B’ shall be responsible for upholding the following clauses:**
**1. Party B shall not betray Party A.**
**2. Party B shall not betray Julletta Ludwig.**
**3. Party B shall work for Julletta Ludwig.**
**4. Party B shall do their utmost to protect the safety of Julletta Ludwig.**
**Party A shall provide all necessary resources for Party B to uphold the above clauses.**
**Upon normal expiration of this contract, Party A shall pay ‘500 million Ekl’ to Party B.**
**(However, if ‘Julletta Ludwig’s’ orders cause significant harm to Party B’s life or honor, Party B may refuse the above clauses.)**
**If either ‘Party A’ or ‘Party B’ violates the above contract, they shall be subject to ‘a punishment worse than death’.**
**This contract shall remain in effect while Party B (Janet Graham) works as the maid of Julletta Ludwig.»**
—
“No way. This is truly amazing…?”
A magical contract with shimmering letters engraved upon it.
After checking the glowing contract several times, Janet let out a small exclamation of admiration.
