The Duchess Is Looking for Her Husband

Chapter 6

Unfortunately, Artia had been almost out of her mind at the time, so all she remembered about the maid was her large, rough hand.

But now she knew everything.

Her name, her face, everything.

Looking into Bibi’s deep black eyes, Artia said,

“Out of all the dozens of people in this mansion, you were the only one who stood on my side. I want someone like you by my side.”

“……”

Even though Artia’s words sounded almost like a confession, Bibi’s face remained expressionless.

Artia became a little discouraged.

“Do you really hate the idea of becoming my maid?”

Bibi’s eyes widened slightly before she shook her head.

“No, that’s not it. Like I said earlier, I’m simply not good enough to serve you, Madam.”

“What are you lacking?”

Bibi answered seriously.

“I come from a mountain village.”

“You must have grown up somewhere with clean air and clear water. You must be very healthy.”

“I may be a maid of the Duke’s household, but I’ve only done difficult and dirty work until now. I have no experience serving a noblewoman.”

“Then all that hard work must have made you strong. You’ll learn everything quickly.”

Bibi looked confused by Artia’s endlessly positive answers.

“Thank you very much for saying that, Madam. But no matter how much experience I gain, you would be embarrassed to have me beside you.”

“Why?”

Artia genuinely did not understand.

Bibi hesitated before answering.

“Because of how I look.”

“……!”

“As you can see, I’m much bigger than most women. I also have a frightening-looking face.”

Bibi touched the long scar on her cheek.

“I was lucky enough to become a maid who does physical work because I’m strong. But I was strictly warned to stay out of sight as much as possible because my appearance might make the people I serve uncomfortable.”

Bibi’s ears had drooped sadly.

Then Artia’s clear voice reached her.

“Really? I actually like the way you look very much.”

“……!”

“Compared to my weak body, which is as soft and fragile as a thread, you look strong and reliable. You’re amazing. I want to become like you.”

“……”

Bibi’s eyes widened as if she had just been hit by a powerful punch.

Artia asked,

“Is that the only reason you think you can’t become my maid?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t dislike me, do you?”

“No.”

Bibi answered firmly.

Artia gained confidence from that answer and said again,

“Become my maid, Bibi.”

Of course, it probably wasn’t the most attractive position.

Artia was the Duchess in name, but right now, even a commoner mistress could treat her with disrespect.

Even so, there was one thing Artia could promise with confidence.

“I’ll treat you well.”

“……!”

Those short words had a powerful effect.

For the first time, Bibi’s expressionless ears turned bright red.

After a moment, Bibi bowed deeply.

“Thank you for choosing someone as lacking as me. Bibi Blank. I will serve Madam with my whole body and heart.”

Artia smiled brightly.

I finally have someone on my side!

The next day, the maids of the Edenberg mansion were in an uproar.

“Is it true that Lady Lirika has been locked in her room?”

“Yes. I heard Elma ordered that Lady Lirika must not leave her room until Madam calms down.”

The maids’ faces became dark.

Royd’s love for Lirika was no joke.

If he returned and found out what had happened, there would be a huge problem.

“He might even have all the maids involved in this beaten…”

The frightened maids heard a sharp voice.

“You’re talking about useless things.”

Elma appeared.

The maids immediately stopped what they were doing and stood straight.

Elma glared at the line of maids with snake-like eyes.

“Lady Lirika slapped Madam. A commoner touching a noblewoman’s body is such a serious crime that she can be punished immediately, even without a trial. No matter how much our master loves his mistress, she must be punished.”

“……”

“Stop gossiping and get back to work!”

After Elma left, the maids whispered in disbelief.

“Until a few days ago, she treated Lady Lirika almost like the Duchess and treated Madam like some old woman hidden away in the mansion. Why is she suddenly taking Madam’s side?”

“Why do you think? Because Madam has completely changed into someone else.”

What shocked the maids was not only that Lirika had been locked in her room.

The most unbelievable part was that Artia had looked Lirika straight in the eyes, said exactly what she wanted to say, and ordered them to lock up Lirika for hitting her.

“I still can’t believe it. How could someone who could barely even look us in the eyes suddenly do something like that?”

“They say the shock from falling into the lake affected her head.”

No matter how much the maids whispered, they could not know the real reason Artia had changed.

But one thing was certain.

“I bet our head maid is shaking inside too, afraid Madam will punish her just like she punished Lady Lirika.”

The maids looked at each other and giggled.

They were delighted that Elma, who had treated the other maids badly every day, was now in such an uncomfortable position.

Just as they expected…

After returning to her room, Elma nervously bit her nails.

She was terrified of what Royd might do when he returned in a few days.

But she was even more afraid that Artia would expose the weakness she had discovered.

After thinking for a long time, Elma muttered,

“Madam can act like such a crazy little horse only because the master isn’t here.”

Once Royd returned, Artia would become frightened and weak again, just like before.

That would be her chance.

“I’ll comfort Madam and make her depend on me. Then I’ll stay by her side, find her weakness, and turn the situation around.”

Elma had risen to her current position through flattery and reading people’s moods.

She was more than capable of doing that.

As Elma imagined Artia grabbing the hem of her dress and begging for forgiveness, a sly smile appeared on her face.

Artia was sitting at a table in the garden, enjoying the warm sunlight.

Beside her, Bibi held a teapot with an expression more serious than a knight going into battle.

It was completely different from the relatively relaxed expression she had worn while cleaning.

Artia asked,

“Do you dislike pouring tea?”

“No.”

The answer came immediately, despite Bibi’s usual blunt manner.

Bibi thought for a moment before speaking.

“Serving a noblewoman has been my dream for a long time. And serving tea was one of the things I admired most.”

When Bibi was young, she had studied a difficult instruction book until it was worn out.

Every night, she had practiced serving tea using wooden cups that she carved herself.

“But now that I actually have to pour tea, I’m worried I won’t do it well.”

Artia smiled softly at her honest answer.

“You’ll do well. You’ve practiced hard.”

Bibi looked at Artia and swallowed nervously.

“Then I will begin.”

First, she warmed the teapot and teacups.

Then she used a teaspoon to put one spoonful of tea leaves into the strainer inside the teapot.

Bibi moved her hands extremely carefully, with an expression so serious that it looked like her life would end if she made even one mistake.

Artia became nervous just watching her.

Unfortunately, effort and results did not always match.

Bibi moved stiffly, like an unlubricated metal doll.

Then disaster struck.

Some tea splashed outside the cup.

Bibi’s deep black eyes shook.

“I’m sorry, Madam.”

Instead of blaming Bibi, Artia looked worried.

“Some tea splashed onto your hand. Does it hurt?”

“……I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

Artia sighed in relief and held out her hand.

“Can you give me the teapot?”

“……!”

Bibi looked as serious as if the world had just ended.

Artia spoke gently.

“I’m not taking away your job of serving tea. I’m going to teach you. Watching someone do it directly will help you more than reading a book.”

What noblewoman would personally teach her maid something like this?

Bibi was shocked.

But unlike Bibi, Artia’s pink eyes were completely innocent, as if there were nothing strange about it at all.