Chapter 06

 

Anette hesitated for a moment before looking for Head Maid Anna.

She planned to show Anna her wound to emphasize her diligence.

It might not seem very professional, but this was only her second day on the job. 

A wound like this could be seen as a sign of hard work.

“Lucy, have you seen where Anna went?”

“I saw her leave after lunch when a knight called for her… but she hasn’t come back yet.”

Lucy, who had quickly become friendly with Anette, replied kindly.

Lucy was a very kind and thin girl. She was surprisingly strong for her frail wrists, which even amazed Anette.

Anette secretly thought of Lucy as her friendly rival.

Lucy went on with her cleaning, while Anette tidied up the maids’ resting area as she waited for Anna.

Not long after, Head Maid Anna walked into the room.

“Oh, Anette!”

“Ah, Anna! Where have you been? Look at this—I got a wound on my hand—”

“You… you’re Anette…?”

“Yes?”

Anna looked visibly shocked, unlike her usual composed self.

It seemed she couldn’t even see the small wound Anette was showing her.

“Your last name… is it Etheled?”

Anna stuttered, and Anette paused before nodding.

Anette Etheled—that was her full name.

As soon as Anette confirmed it, Anna felt like she was going to faint.

Of all the new hires she could have liked, it had to be Anette Etheled.

No one in the capital didn’t know the name Etheled.

The Etheled Kingdom had fallen long ago, but, like the Aureolus Kingdom, it had worshipped the goddess Hella.

The Etheled royal family was even rumored to carry the bloodline of the goddess herself.

Before its downfall, Etheled had been ruled by a ruthless tyrant.

Eventually, the nobles forced him to take his own life, and the rest of the royal family followed, choosing death over capture.

Instead of taking Etheled’s throne for themselves, the allied nobles decided it was better to merge its lands into the Aureolus Kingdom.

In exchange for keeping their titles and lands, Etheled’s noble families agreed to hand over the kingdom’s territory.

Its lands were then divided among Aureolus’s other nobles.

However, there had been one exception.

A young princess had survived—too young to understand or take her own life like the rest of her family.

For the nobles who overthrew the tyrant, this child was a problem.

She was too young to be placed on a throne, and there were fears she could grow up and start a rebellion.

Some nobles wanted to kill her.

But no one dared to do it themselves, fearing the goddess’s curse.

Even they were worshippers of Hella.

So, in the end, the young princess was taken in by Duke Royce, a distant relative—or so they claimed.

Many doubted they were related, but no one questioned Duke Royce taking in the troublesome child.

Etheled royalty was known for having a unique hair color, but few knew what it looked like.

Anna nervously glanced at the hair hidden beneath Anette’s headscarf.

And to make matters worse, this wasn’t just any Etheled—this was that Anette Etheled.

The one with the rumors of being a demon.

Anna took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Duke Royce’s family is looking for you.”

“Duke Royce?”

Duke Royce was the man who had kicked her out.

He had even slapped her. The bruise inside her cheek still hadn’t fully healed.

Anette frowned.

Why on earth are they looking for me now?

Anna forced herself to stay composed.

“The First Knight Commander wants to see you in his office.”

“What?”

“The First Knight Commander?”

Anette’s face twisted even more.

That meant him.

The rude bastard from yesterday.

She never wanted to see him again.

Anette followed Anna’s instructions and made her way to the First Knight Commander’s office inside the temple.

A knight waiting at the door knocked before opening it for her.

“Thank you.”

Anette politely bowed to the knight before stepping inside.

The office faced south, allowing plenty of sunlight to stream in.

After living in dimly lit places, she envied the warm sunlight.

Her room now was south-facing too, but the window wasn’t this big.

A man stood by the large desk, looking out the window, then turned around.

Oh…

This was the first time she’d seen him properly dressed.

The pure white knight’s uniform made his broad shoulders stand out even more.

Like most women, Anette loved a good uniform.

She scanned his figure as she walked forward, hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Why do you always look at me like that?”

“…”

Anette quickly lowered her gaze as if she had done nothing wrong.

“It feels like you’re undressing me with your eyes.”

“I wasn’t—”

“Never mind. What’s your full name?”

Anette hesitated before answering.

“Anette Etheled.”

“Etheled, huh…”

His eyes gleamed with interest.

Lucas studied the beautiful woman before him carefully.

The Etheled bloodline was rumored to be striking, and she lived up to the reputation.

But she didn’t carry the arrogance of royalty.

Lucas had heard plenty of stories about Anette Etheled.

She was said to have tormented and envied Duke Royce’s daughter endlessly.

There were at least dozens of terrible things she had supposedly done.

He didn’t know why she was here working as a maid, but she had caught his attention.

“Duke Royce’s family is looking for you.”

“What?”

“They said you belong to them and demand you be returned. But legally, you are not a noble anymore, are you? You’re a commoner.”

“…That’s true.”

Anette’s homeland had fallen.

Though she had been raised in a noble house, her current status was nothing more than that of a commoner.

“As long as you work here, you belong to the temple.”

“…”

“So, I called you here to ask your choice. Will you return with them?”

Lucas didn’t care either way.

But he was curious about her answer.

Duke Royce’s heir, Berndt Royce, had looked furious.

“Berndt?”

That was Heine Royce’s brother.

He was also one of the people who had treated Anette the worst.

He was the one who had grabbed her jaw so roughly.

Just remembering it made her feel disgusted.

“So, what will it be? Go with Berndt Royce? Or stay here?”

Anette didn’t hesitate.

“I’ll stay.”

She liked Anna.

She liked her friend and rival, Lucy.

And most importantly, she liked her sunlit room.

If she went back, there was no way they’d treat her well.

At best, they’d ignore her.

At worst, she’d get slapped again—maybe even lose a tooth.

And in a world without dental implants, that was not an option.

“Good. Then you’ll have to tell Berndt Royce yourself.”

“…Do I have to?”

“What?”

She didn’t want to see him.

He was handsome, sure, but he had nearly dislocated her jaw.

“…Do I have to*?”

Before she could finish, Lucas laughed loudly.

She found him annoying.

But damn, he was hot when he laughed.

She hadn’t realized she had such a weakness for handsome men.

“Fine. I’d love to see his reaction. You can go now.”

As Anette turned to leave, Lucas stopped her.

He grabbed her wrist and lifted it.

“How did you get this wound?”

“Oh, just… kitchen work.”

Lucas scowled.

He hated the sight of it.

“I’ll send a knight with you. Go see a healer.”

“What? No, it’s just a small scratch—”

He ignored her and gave orders.

Anette sighed.

What a bossy man.

Then, she had an idea.

She had to show this wound to Anna first!

So, she turned to the knight and pleaded.

She won.