Episode 04
After leaving the post office, Janet took a deep breath.
It was strange.
She felt like she might burst into laughter, yet at the same time, tears seemed about to spill out at any moment.
As she bit her lips tightly, holding back the inexplicable emotions—
“You haven’t forgotten I’m here, have you?”
“Of course not.”
“I’m relieved. I was about to be sad, thinking I’d been forgotten.”
The man spoke as if joking, then approached with his long legs and stood beside Janet.
“But this is unexpected.”
“What is?”
“That you forgave him so easily.”
“Did you really think I would call the guards?”
“Yes.”
At Theo’s firm answer, Janet laughed and shook her head.
“Then there would be all the trouble of giving statements and such. I wanted to avoid that kind of thing before I even start working.”
“That’s reasonable enough.”
“Right? That’s why I’m going to find someone to repay him in my place.”
At Janet’s words, Theo’s eyes narrowed.
“That someone wouldn’t happen to be…”
“Yes. I’ll request it from Illynia. I want you to gather evidence of that man’s crimes and report him.”
Theo couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter.
What an interesting woman.
Just a moment ago, she was about to leave in silence despite the post office employee’s insolent behavior.
But with just a little push from behind, she had returned victorious like a soldier returning from war.
And that wasn’t all.
Her skill at stepping back from troublesome matters while wisely planning a greater revenge was truly impressive.
After laughing for a long while, Theo nodded and answered.
“Very well. I’ll report him on your behalf. No fee is necessary. It’s been a while since I’ve laughed this much.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“And also, thank you so much for helping me today.”
At Janet’s careful addition, Theo tilted his head.
“Did I help with something?”
As far as he remembered, she had gone out on her own and fought well before returning.
But Janet was firm.
“You did help. You told me not to endure injustice.”
“I only said what was obvious.”
At Theo’s words, Janet gave a bitter smile.
“That obviousness didn’t exist in my world.”
No one had ever said that to me before. At Janet’s words, Theo’s face went blank.
But it was only for a moment.
“And, there’s one more thing I’d like to request.”
“A request?”
“Yes. For this one, I’ll pay the proper fee.”
At her firm voice, Kendrick’s eyes also sharpened.
“Very well. Let’s hear what kind of request it is.”
—
***
—
Inside the massive Grand Duke Ludwig mansion, which was practically the size of a small town.
Among the separate villas of the six children scattered around, inside the one painted purely white—
“Really, I don’t need a maid at all.”
A pale-faced beauty murmured as if complaining.
As bright sunlight poured in through the large window, her golden hair sparkled dazzlingly in the light.
Her golden eyes, brighter than the sun, gazed out the window with dissatisfaction.
“Lady Julletta. I’ve gathered information regarding the personal maid you mentioned.”
A maid approached her side and carefully reported.
“Speak.”
At Julletta’s indifferent reply, the maid bowed her head and recited the information about Janet.
“Here. This is the document with the information.”
Juletta skimmed through the documents half-heartedly and nodded.
“…Janet Graham, is it.”
Graham?
She’d never heard of that family before.
‘Never mind. It’s obvious without even looking.’
Some obscure family must have forced their unwilling daughter in.
Otherwise, who would willingly want to become her maid?
‘Horrible personality, finicky, eccentric villainess who hates people.’
Just thinking that far made her mood turn impossibly sour.
Julletta hadn’t become a personal maid of her own will.
A few weeks ago, at a rare family dinner, her father had casually remarked, “It might be about time for Julletta to have a maid too,” and everything had been set in motion.
It was just a passing comment, but the problem was that nothing her father said could be easily dismissed.
At least not here in Ludwig.
*Rustle.*
The paper containing Janet’s personal information was crumpled within her white, slender hands.
“I don’t want to see it. Get rid of it.”
*Thud.* Julletta tossed the crumpled paper carelessly and spoke in a flat tone.
—
“Good.”
Having woken early, Janet grabbed the bag she had packed the night before.
The bag, smaller than a small woman’s upper body, was only half full.
Though she had lived in the Graham household for about three years, this was all she had to pack.
Holding the light bag to her chest, Janet slipped out of the house silently.
Fortunately, there were no signs of anyone inside.
‘Of course. Everyone’s still asleep at this hour.’
Standing outside the gate, Janet looked up at the sky. A faint dawn was breaking over the early morning sky.
She was blankly watching the subtle shift of light when—
*Clatter, clatter.*
At the sound of horse hooves approaching from afar, Janet’s gaze shifted.
A pure white two-horse carriage was slowly approaching her.
Soon.
“Miss Janet Graham?”
The carriage came to a gentle stop before her.
“Yes, I’m Janet Graham.”
At her reply to the coachman’s question, he smiled brightly and bowed his head.
“I’ve come to escort you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the closed carriage door opened.
She was startled at the door opening without anyone touching it, but only for a moment.
Through the open gap, someone’s long leg stepped out.
Soon, the owner of the long leg revealed himself.
The man’s jet-black hair suited the early dawn.
“Please get in, Miss Graham.”
“Vice-Captain Theo?”
*Oops.*
She unintentionally uttered his name blankly, then flinched and closed her mouth.
Her flustered eyes glanced at the coachman’s face. Seeing her transparent emotions, Kendrick—Theo—let out a small laugh.
“He’s also my man, so you needn’t worry.”
Ah.
With a short exclamation and a sigh of relief, Janet nodded.
“That’s a relief. I was surprised, thinking I’d used the wrong name in front of an outsider.”
“Even if you did, it wouldn’t be a problem. It’s a name that can be used in front of outsiders in the first place.”
He answered leisurely and extended his hand to Janet.
“It’s a pseudonym?”
“That’s right. Given my profession, it’s hard to use my real name.”
“I suppose so. That makes sense.”
It would be strange for the vice-captain of an information guild to use his real name anyway.
Janet readily agreed and took Theo’s hand, boarding the carriage.
The interior of the carriage was spacious and clean. The seat and backrest she carefully leaned against were also very comfortable.
“Is there anything uncomfortable?”
“No. It’s very comfortable.”
“I’m glad. I considered bringing something better, but I thought something too flashy wouldn’t be good.”
…Well, I’m not so sure.
This seems flashy enough already.
Swallowing her thoughts, Janet looked at Theo with nervous eyes.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to come pick me up yourself.”
“I believe I mentioned I’d send a carriage.”
“I never dreamed the vice-captain himself would be in that carriage.”
At Janet’s honest answer, the corners of Theo’s mouth curved into a relaxed arc.
“I thought it would be good to see your face one more time before you officially set foot in the Ludwig mansion.”
*Tap, tap.*
The man’s large hand lightly tapped the carriage wall.
“And I have a few things to tell you in advance.”
Things to tell?
In the meantime, the carriage began to move slowly.
Perhaps because it was a carriage with excellent ride quality, there was no discomfort even as it moved.
“I should have told you when we met before, but I forgot.”
Before—was she referring to when they met at the post office?
‘I see. I wondered why he was following me.’
It turned out he had something to give her. What Theo pulled out was a small notebook.
“That’s…”
“A notebook containing internal information about the Ludwig mansion.”
Internal information about Ludwig?
Janet took the notebook and quickly flipped through it with trembling fingers.
The notebook contained internal and external descriptions of Ludwig, along with information on several key figures.
“Referencing that will make it easier for you to adapt to Ludwig.”
“It certainly will. Thank you for your concern.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Theo chuckled lightly and shrugged.
“We’re partners now, aren’t we? We’re in the same boat, so there’s no need to thank me for such trivial things.”
