Chapter 02
“This is a contract independently developed by Illynia. It has high rarity and enforceability, so it’s only used for important transactions.”
Recalling the explanation of the man who introduced himself as ‘Theo’, the vice-captain of <Illynia>, Janet swallowed hard.
‘Important transaction.’
The word lingered in her mind.
Since they used a magical contract that was only used for important transactions, it meant that her contract with <Illynia> was an important deal.
But.
‘Why, exactly?’
Why did they make such an important deal with someone like me?
Honestly, even when she went to Illynia to place her request, Janet had only expected two outcomes.
Either they accept the request, or they refuse.
She never dreamed of ending up in a transactional relationship with Illynia.
And with content like, ‘Protect Lady Julletta Ludwig’ at that.
‘Could there be some kind of relationship between them?’
Illynia and Lady Julletta.
Or.
Theo and Lady Julletta.
‘…No. What does that have to do with me?’
Whichever side was the answer didn’t matter. Even if there was no answer, it didn’t matter.
What mattered was that she had seized a valuable opportunity.
*Hoo.*
Janet let out a relieved sigh.
‘They said they’d submit the application and recommendation letter on my behalf, so I should just wait quietly.’
Yes. Let’s wait.
What she needed to do now wasn’t to harbor doubts about the contract, but to wait for good news.
—
***
—
And then.
A few days later.
“A letter for Miss Janet Graham, from the Grand Duke Ludwig household.”
“…Thank you.”
Janet received the letter with a slightly dazed feeling.
She stood outside the gate for a long while, until the postman who had bowed to her faded into the distance.
‘It’s real.’
It really came…!
Inside the luxurious envelope was an employment contract sent from the Ludwig side.
An employment signing bonus of 30 million Ekl.
A monthly salary of 6 million Ekl.
Bonuses and additional allowances paid separately.
As seniority accumulated, the monthly salary would also increase.
Room and board provided free of charge.
Janet quickly ran the calculations in her head.
‘Just based on the basic salary, that’s 72 million Ekl per year.’
Adding the signing bonus, it meant she could earn over 100 million Ekl in a year.
Add to that the success fee she would receive from Illynia—essentially severance pay—of 500 million Ekl, and…
‘…Maybe, I might be able to purchase a baronetcy.’
‘Purchasing a baronetcy’ was the final goal of Janet’s plan to gain independence from Graham.
For now, she had managed to avoid the crisis by becoming Lady Julletta’s maid, but that was merely a temporary measure.
While unmarried women over the age of 18 could engage in free economic activities, the head of the household had sole authority over marriage decisions.
‘How can such a law even exist…’
The moment Janet was fired from her maid position, or if Julletta were to marry, Viscount Graham would immediately push for Janet’s marriage.
Perhaps, at that time.
‘He might bring in someone even worse than Count Verdin.’
Janet needed a way to become completely free from Graham’s grasp.
A way to legally gain independence from Graham.
And the idea she came up with was ‘purchasing a baronetcy’.
The ‘Ashleyad War’ that had taken place about six years ago.
It was a war that began because the Empire and the Yuperion Magical Kingdom both claimed ownership of the ‘Ashleyad Region’ located on their border.
The war, which lasted a full three years, ended with the Empire’s victory, but the military funds expended during the war were enormous.
To cover that deficit, the Emperor began selling ‘baronetcies’.
Of course, the price was astronomical.
Even if it was a title that wasn’t hereditary, it was still purchasing a noble title with money.
Even Janet, while making the plan to ‘buy a baronetcy and become independent!’, couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a wildly unrealistic dream.
But.
‘Now it’s not just an unattainable dream anymore.’
*Gulp.*
Swallowing dry saliva, Janet’s eyes sparkled with hope.
Janet hugged the contract tightly to her chest and turned toward the house.
But it was only for a moment.
Halting her steps, Janet looked up at the Graham mansion.
‘Come to think of it, the Viscount and his wife said they’d be away today.’
The couple, who had left the house early in the morning after dressing up to the nines, said they wouldn’t return until tomorrow evening.
‘If that’s the case…’
A faint smile formed beneath her narrowed eyes.
Janet took the employment contract out of the envelope she was holding. After checking the remaining contents, she resealed the envelope and placed it in the mailbox.
After confirming the slightly protruding end of the envelope.
‘Hmm. This should be noticeable enough at a glance.’
Janet leisurely headed toward the empty house.
—
***
—
And that evening.
“Janet! Janet!”
At the loud calling, Janet stopped eating.
…Looks like I won’t be able to eat anymore.
She glanced at her half-finished meal and was just about to stand up.
“Where on earth are you—! Oh, there you are!”
The owner of the loud voice appeared, even more noisily than the voice itself.
Simon Graham.
The precious only son of the Viscount and Viscountess Graham.
“Brother. What brings you—”
“Hey, hey! You adorable and impressive little thing!”
“…Pardon?”
What a dreadful term of address.
Janet’s brow furrowed at the address that was unpleasant just to hear.
Regardless.
The excited Simon waved the paper rolled in his hand and exclaimed.
“You! When did you pull off something this impressive?! A maid for the Grand Duke Ludwig household! And a personal maid for the Grand Duchess at that?!”
*Krrr.*
His eyes, exaggeratedly admiring, were filled with greed.
“A 30 million Ekl signing bonus? As expected of the Grand Duke Ludwig household. They sure think big!”
His tone made it sound as if that money were his own.
Sure enough.
“Hey, hey, Janet. How about keeping this money a secret from your parents?”
“You want me to keep it a secret from Mother and Father?”
“Yes!”
At Simon’s vigorous reply, Janet blinked once. She pretended to be flustered, but her true feelings were completely different.
‘Just as I expected. I knew he’d react this way.’
Simon had not deviated even an inch from Janet’s predictions.
“If your parents find out you received this much money as a signing bonus, they’ll take it all away in one go, won’t they? So don’t do that—leave it to me. Then I’ll double it… no! I’ll triple it for you! How about that?!”
How ridiculous.
Janet barely suppressed a sneer.
Simon was a gambling addict.
A severe addict who, if he had no money in hand, would even steal and sell his parents’ clothes to raise funds to go gambling.
The problem was that his gambling skills were terribly poor.
He never won even once, and it was a relief if he didn’t come back with more debt.
Simon’s gambling addiction likely played a part in the decline of the Graham family’s fortunes.
Janet fell silent for a moment, as if thinking.
And then.
“…Yes. Let’s do that.”
“Whaaa? R-really? You’re really going to keep it a secret from your parents?”
“Yes. Brother said he’d triple it for me, didn’t he?”
“Ah, yes! That’s right, of course. I’ll triple it and give it back to you! Just trust me!”
Seeing Simon nodding his head vigorously, Janet smiled sweetly.
“In that case, you’ll have to sign my guardian consent form, brother.”
“Guardian consent form?”
“My coming-of-age birthday hasn’t arrived yet. Since I’m under 18, a guardian’s consent is required to find employment. There should be documents inside that envelope—didn’t you see them?”
At Janet’s question, Simon tilted his head and examined the envelope.
It seemed he had only checked the part explaining the signing bonus and hadn’t even taken out the guardian consent form.
“The guardian consent form also includes information about the signing bonus. If I ask our parents, they’ll naturally learn about the signing bonus’s existence.”
“Ugh. That would be a problem.”
“Right? So I’ll ask you, brother. The successor of a family who has come of age is recognized as a guardian for their siblings.”
To Simon, who wore an expression as if hearing this for the first time, Janet handed him a pen.
“Here. Sign it quickly.”
“R-right.”
Somewhat swept along, Simon took the pen and hesitantly signed the guardian consent form.
‘For some reason, I feel like I’m being swept up in this?’
…No. It must be my imagination.
The Janet he knew wasn’t the type of person to manipulate anyone.
Wasn’t she the one who would just stupidly say, ‘Yes, yes.’ no matter what she was told to do?
“It’s done.”
“Wow. Thank you, brother.”
Seeing Janet’s innocent smile as always, Simon thought, ‘Of course,’ and let it pass.
Soon, his mind was filled with thoughts of the 30 million Ekl that would come into his grasp.
‘That money will never make it into your pocket, Simon.’
Without knowing even a hint of Janet’s true intentions.
