Chapter 013
“A job?”
Madeleine looked surprised when Adele asked.
“Yes, is there any work I can do in the mansion?”
“Youâre feeling better now, so you want to work? But why so suddenly?”
“I canât just keep staying here without doing anything forever.”
“There is an open position, but…”
“Please!”
Adele bowed deeply.
“But how can I make a guest work? If the young master agrees, then Iâll think about it.”
Madeleine was firm. That meant Adele had to go see Lucas.
Knock, knock.
“Itâs Adele. Do you have a moment?”
Lucas was in his study, where he spent most of his time after the training grounds.
“I have time. Whatâs the matter?”
Adele calmly explained her situation.
“So please let me work in the mansion.”
“Making a guest work? That sounds ridiculous.”
“Then just treat me like any other servant.”
“Thatâs not…”
Lucas stopped mid-sentence. Adele looked completely serious.
“My room is too big anyway. Iâll just stay in the servantsâ quarters.”
“And Ronschka?”
“He can stay with me.”
That was possible since Ronschka was still a child, but something about it didnât feel right.
“In any case, being a maid is out of the question.”
“But I need a job.”
Lucas thought for a while before suggesting, “Then how about a compromise? Instead of being a maid, you can help me with my work.”
“Your work?”
He meant light paperworkânothing difficult. It seemed like an easy enough job.
But Adele hesitated.
“I donât know how to read.”
Ah. He had forgotten that she came from a remote village in the mountains.
People are shaped by where they grow up. Lucas had no intention of looking down on her background, but usually, uneducated people had noticeable gaps in knowledge.
Yet, Adele never seemed that way. She gave the impression of someone who had grown up in a proper household.
Reading, huh?
After a brief hesitation, Lucas walked over to his bookshelf and took out an old book. He handed it to Adele.
She blinked in surprise. The cover was faded, but it was well-preserved.
“I used this when I first learned to read. Itâs explained simply, so it should be helpful.”
That meant this book was important to Lucas.
“Are you sure I can have this?”
“Iâm lending it to you. Bring it back when youâre done learning.”
He wasnât sure how long it would take her to learn, but even if she did, applying it in real life would take time. Without a teacher, just one book wouldnât be enough.
‘Sheâll probably struggle for a while, which means sheâll be quiet.’
Thatâs what Lucas thought.
****
LaterâŚ
“This is actually really easy!”
Adele smiled as she opened the book. There were pictures next to each word, making it simple to understand.
Back in her old world, Adele had lived in Korea, a country with intense education standards. Like most students, she had gone through high school, so she was used to studying.
Holding a pen eagerly, she started memorizing at a rapid pace.
When Ronschka walked in, he widened his eyes.
“Mom⌠Mom is studying?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Th-The same thing as me?”
“Yep, the same thing.”
Adele felt a little embarrassed. It was common to say that children learn from everything around them, but in this case, it felt strange.
“D-Do you need help?”
She could do it alone, but Ronschka looked so adorable offering to help that she nodded.
“Can you help me a little?”
“I-I can help a lot!”
“Okay, then help a lot.”
They smiled at each other and continued studying together.
***
A month laterâŚ
“I memorized everything!”
Adele looked exhausted but proud.
She had studied non-stop for an entire month, barely taking breaks except for short walks.
At one point, Ronschka even tried to burn the book in secret.
“You need to actually use it, not just memorize it,” Lucas reminded her.
Adele confidently puffed up her chest. “I can use it!”
“Then you wonât mind a test?”
“Of course not.”
Lucas tested her, starting with simple words and moving to full sentences. She passed with ease.
“Have you learned to read before?” he asked.
“No, this was my first time.”
(Well, in this life, at least.)
“Impressive.”
Lucas gave a small nod of admiration.
“Now, give me a job,” Adele demanded.
Lucas felt a strange amusement. It was like he was finally seeing her true personality.
“Alright. But first⌠Can you do math?”
Was he delaying her job again?
“I can.”
“I donât mean just reading numbersâI mean addition and subtraction.”
“Yes.”
“Hmm?”
Was that too much? Adele kept a straight face.
(I actually know multiplication and division too! And I can even do mental math!)
But she held back and gave a modest smile.
“I know a little bit.”
“Alright. A promise is a promise. You get the job.”
Lucas pulled a cord, and a few moments later, Kish, the head servant, arrived.
“You called, sir?”
“Adele will start working today. Prepare things for her.”
“What kind of work?” Kish asked.
“Helping me organize documents.”
Kish hesitated. Even if they werenât important documents, was it really okay to let an outsider handle them?
But he trusted Lucas and didnât question it.
“Where should I set up her desk?”
“Here.”
Both Adele and Kish looked surprised.
“Here?” Adele repeated.
“Yes, here.”
Lucas wasnât going to let an outsider handle documents alone. He planned to keep a close eye on her.
Adele understood and didnât argue.
“At first, your salary wonât be much. But if you prove yourself, Iâll increase it.”
Lucas even brought up money first.
Adele clenched her fists in determination. She was going to do her best!
***
One afternoonâŚ
Sunlight streamed through the windows as Adele flipped through papers quickly.
Lucas wondered if she was really reading them properly but decided not to ask. He could tell she was working hard.
Soon, it would be time for the childrenâs lessons.
Ever since Adele and Ronschka arrived, Leon had become more energetic. He still trained hard and was improving quickly.
Ronschka, too. He could now control multiple spirits and even make them visible to others.
(His speech is also improving steadily.)
One day, Adele asked if she could join Ronschkaâs lessons. Of course, Lucas allowed it.
After attending the lesson, Adele came out with a red face.
“I’ll try teaching,” she said to Lucas.
“You?”
“Yes.”
With a determined expression, Adele started spending time in the evenings teaching Ronschka. Sometimes, Leon joined them as well.
Even Madeline and Kish seemed to have received requests from Adele, as they often helped too. Finally, she also asked Lucas for a favor.
“For now, when talking to Ronschka, please donât speak too fast. Also, donât interrupt or interfere when heâs talking. Avoid correcting him, giving open-ended questions, or using difficult words.”
“And?”
“Lastly,” Adele said with a soft smile, “please listen carefully to what he says.”
“That doesnât sound too difficult.”
“But it will help him a lot.”
Everything she said seemed to be beneficial for the child.
“If it helps, Iâll follow it. But first, can I ask you a question?”
“What is it?”
“Are you really from a small mountain village and never learned to read?”
Adele answered, “Thatâs a very direct question.”
“So, whatâs your answer?”
“Itâs true.”
“Then where did you learn all of this?”
“Thatâs⌔
Adele hesitated, took a deep breath, and smiled. But for some reason, her smile looked sad.
“Itâs a secret,” she said.
That was all she said. Lucas could have pressed for more, but at that moment, he decided not to. He wasnât sure whyâhe just felt like he shouldnât.
After that, Ronschka continued improving. Sometimes, he even spoke without stuttering. It seemed his motherâs lessons were working. Even Leon, who sometimes joined, looked happy.
It was another peaceful afternoon.
