MHC 19

Chapter 19

“It’s alright. Really.”
“Even this….”
“I’m going to have my bag burst, ma’am!”

Jane’s bag was wide open, showing no sign of closing. This was because Chloe had indiscriminately stuffed into it anything in the room that might be valuable. A bag that had once been almost empty was now so full that the zipper wouldn’t close.

“If anyone asks who gave this to you at the interrogation office, what should I say?”
“Say I gave it to you. If they don’t believe you, call me. I’ll come running anytime.”
“You really are something, ma’am!”

Even in jest, Chloe’s tone was firm, which made Jane laugh and wave her hands wildly.

Jane tried to delay packing as much as possible, pulling out the valuables from her bag with various excuses. At first, Chloe pouted, but eventually she joined in the playful act.

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t push back the assigned carriage time forever. Eventually, it was time to part ways. Chloe placed a bracelet on Jane’s wrist—the one she cherished most, bought for her coming-of-age birthday.

“…After you leave, be sure to send me letters. Even if I can’t read them right away, I will, someday.”

They shared a deep hug in front of the door, wishing they could feel this warmth again someday.

Jane’s home was in a village farther from the estate. By carriage, it was at least an hour and a half away.

During the carriage ride, Jane reflected on many things. Her reason for coming to the Archene Estate was simple: a high salary and room and board for the maids. For Jane, who was trying to stand on her own, it was the best possible opportunity.

But reality mocked that simple mindset. Harsh work awaited her. The head maid always scolded her, and at first, her fellow servants disliked her clumsiness. She had traveled far to earn money, yet she often felt like giving up. She missed her family terribly, and every day felt so sorrowful that she dreaded waking up.

“Rest if you’re too tired.”
“…Huh?”
“Shall we have a snack together?”

It was just another day. Jane returned scolded as usual and did laundry with a heavy heart. Chloe, noticing the young girl working with tears in her eyes, approached and spoke to her, offering a basket of snacks. At first, Jane refused, but soon she was sitting under a tree with Chloe, resting.

When the head maid came looking for Jane in anger, it was frightening. Though Chloe could cover for her that day, Jane would surely be embarrassed during the evening meal without her.

“Beniaz. What’s this girl’s name?”
“Jane. Did she do something wrong?”
“I find her talk amusing. If possible, I’d like to keep her as a companion. Could you transfer her to my side?”

After that, Jane was rarely scolded. Chloe had asked for her work location to be changed. Chloe had watched the young girl struggling alone a few times. She felt sorry for the small girl, who had been given too difficult tasks because of the urgent hiring of servants. Chloe stepped in and brought Jane under her care.

There, Jane met new colleagues and, with shallow dedication, took care of Chloe.

“Now, you don’t have to work here anymore. Go.”

This was before Jane returned to her original post. After the Duke said he would reduce staff, all maids who followed the Duchess, as well as other attendants, were transferred elsewhere.

A few days later, “that incident” occurred at the Archene Estate.

“…I shouldn’t have backed down so easily back then. I should have protected the ma’am from that moment on.”

Jane snapped her nails in frustration. Her throat was dry, so she drank water prepared in the carriage.

“Suddenly….”

Soon, fatigue overtook her. Falling asleep in a rattling carriage was difficult, yet her eyelids kept drooping.

“I’m so sleepy….”

Fighting the drowsiness, she eventually collapsed.

“Ah!”

Jane shrieked and sat upright. Time felt like it had passed for far too long. She hurriedly checked her watch, and the time seemed off.

‘Could it be a full day has passed?’

Even with her recent fatigue, she hadn’t slept for an entire day. In such an uncomfortable carriage, she certainly couldn’t have slept so deeply.

The carriage had stopped. The driver was nowhere to be seen. Jane drew back the curtain and looked around; darkness surrounded her. Checking her watch again, she confirmed that it was not the time when the sun had disappeared.

Jane mustered her courage and stepped outside.

“A forest?”

There was no forest route on the way to the outer village. Sensing something wrong, she looked around.

“Ah, ugh!”

A few steps in, someone covered her mouth and dragged her away. Her limbs barely resisted as she was pulled to a cliff’s edge.

“How pitiful, Jane.”

A familiar high-pitched voice sounded in her ear. Amid its sweetness was a chilling undertone. Jane finally recognized the speaker: Helena.

Helena deliberately stepped closer, making Jane’s feet dangle over empty air.

“If you had chosen me, this wouldn’t have happened….”

Helena whispered into her ear, then added a sinister laugh.

“Let’s make a deal, shall we? Serve as a spy for the princess while working here. I’ll promise you a maid’s post—one that someone like you could never attain otherwise, you understand?”

Before Chloe could wake, Helena secretly made her proposal to Jane. If Jane agreed to spy, she could obtain a coveted maid position.

But Jane refused without a moment’s hesitation.

“Refuse? Are you stupid? Why! What more could you want?”
“I like the sparkling, admired princess. I have no intention of serving anyone else.”

She offered a trivial reason. Even a flimsy excuse would have sufficed for Helena to overlook it. Comparing herself, a mere maid, to Helena and Chloe was audacious.

“The sparkling princess must be crying alone in her room. Waiting for you, but she won’t be able to save you.”

With a meaningful farewell, Helena let go.

The grip holding Jane disappeared, and she fell without even having a chance to scream.

“Hmph. Foolish ones, indeed.”

Helena gazed at the disappearing Jane, snorting. Clearly, the foolish die young.

That night, Chloe couldn’t easily fall asleep.

Lying on her bed, dazed, she turned her head restlessly. Her hair was scattered on the sheets, her limbs weakly flopping. Her eyes, moving in elaborate patterns, suddenly stopped at a single point.

‘Oh, right. There are letters.’

Jane had informed her that numerous letters had arrived while she had been unconscious. They were always left at a designated spot each evening without a sound. Thinking they might be important, Jane had gathered them in a drawer.

Chloe got up slowly and stopped at her desk. She opened the drawer and, as Jane had hinted, found new letters stacked inside. They were all from her close friend. Chloe had apparently been unconscious for three full days, and there were three letters in the drawer, one for each day.

Chloe picked up the bottom-most letter. The paper smelled of musty wood.

P.S. I’m not angry. Don’t worry. How could I be mad at my one and only friend?
I was just a little sulky, that’s all. Really, nothing more.

Kuhn’s handwriting was neater than usual. The tone was softer than their last exchange, though slightly brusque. Chloe realized from this letter that he had been joking.

A small twitch lifted the corners of her mouth as she read the postscript. A shiver ran from her toes upward, though she tried to ignore it.

She quickly opened the next letter. It faintly smelled of herbs. It was more recent than the bottom one.

Perhaps you’re busy, which is why there’s no reply? If my joke upset you, I sincerely apologize.
Even if you don’t feel like it, please send a reply. Even a letter filled with curses would be an honor. And if that’s too much trouble, just put a dot.
…I have no friends when you’re gone, Chloe.

The handwriting was messy, revealing the hurried nature of the letter. Some strokes were neat, some uneven. Some spelling and grammar were incorrect. Chloe realized he had written this in a flurry. His usually mischievous tone had become so gentle. She marveled at how great and significant a friend could be.

Her nose tingled as if she could cry, though she couldn’t.

Finally, she held the last letter. After several failed attempts, she had finally opened the envelope on the tenth try.

The moment she opened it, Kuhn’s scent reached her. Even though it had been nearly a month since she last saw him, the letter brought back the memory of his scent.

This letter was the shortest yet, barely two lines, showing raw emotion:

Chloe,
Are you alright?