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SAAMIACM-02

SAAMIACM-02

The weather was strange.

 

Just moments ago, the sky had been so clear and cloudless that it seemed unbelievable how overcast it had suddenly become. As the carriage approached the Rosépina estate, dark clouds filled the sky ominously.

 

“You’ll see crows over there. And beneath them, the mansion. That’s the place.”

 

The mansion the young lady had been searching for.

 

Following the coachman’s voice, I turned my gaze and saw dozens of crows covering the high rooftop.

 

“I’ll remind you—I can only take you this far. From here on, just follow the visible road.”

 

As soon as I stepped out of the carriage, the coachman pointed somewhere with his index finger. Judging by the smooth, well-paved road he indicated, it seemed I only needed to follow it straight ahead.

 

I glanced at the path briefly before turning back to the coachman and bowing politely.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Watch out for puddles along the way.”

 

With that brief warning, he quickly turned the carriage around and drove off.

 

Just as he said, puddles were scattered everywhere. It seemed it had rained recently.

 

‘So this is the place.’

 

Upon reaching the front gate, I could see a fountain at the end of the wide central path, with gardens lining both sides.

 

Considering that it supposedly rained every day here, the flowers were surprisingly lush and vibrant. Then again, in a world where elements as fantastical as “magic” existed, such things weren’t entirely unexplainable.

 

Perhaps there was some special element or secret method that allowed the flowers to thrive even in constant rain.

 

‘Come to think of it, they mentioned separate dorms, didn’t they?’

 

I had heard that the servants’ dormitories were divided by gender and located near the mansion. Sure enough, beside the grand estate, I spotted two small buildings.

 

‘It’s enormous.’

 

But what truly captured my attention next was the mansion itself, swarming with crows. It was so vast and imposing that I had to tilt my head back to take it all in.

 

At that moment, someone suddenly threw open the doors and stepped outside.

 

“Oh, it’s Miss Yvonne. Come in. We’ve been expecting you.”

 

From a distance, Susan, the head maid, called out as she approached. Having interviewed me personally, she recognized me immediately.

 

“You can hand me your acceptance letter, and we’ll go over the rest once we’re inside.”

 

She extended her hand expectantly, and as I reached into my small bag for the letter, I recalled the contents of the message I had received along with it.

 

「…Thus, we inform you that you have officially been hired by the ‘Rosépina’ estate.

 

Once again, congratulations. Enclosed with this acceptance letter, you will also find a copy of the ‘Rosépina Household Work Regulations.’

 

These rules have been carefully designed to ensure your smooth transition into employment at the mansion. We strongly encourage you to read them thoroughly.

 

Now, please set aside this letter and read through the enclosed document.

 

Have you finished reading it carefully? If so, we trust that you have returned to this letter and are now reading the next sentence.

 

You are now permitted to visit the estate on the designated date, bringing only the ‘acceptance letter’ and the ‘Rosépina Household Work Regulations.’

 

However, note that you are only required to show the acceptance letter to the estate’s personnel upon arrival. There is no need to reveal the contents of the work regulations.

 

Once you are assigned a room, place the work regulations on the desk inside. It will be collected during the ‘daytime’ hours.

 

To ensure a comfortable stay, you must memorize the work regulations before arriving at the estate on your first day.

 

This concludes our instructions.

 

We wish you an uneventful and ordinary life at the estate.

 

P.S. The ‘Rosépina Household Work Regulations’ must not be disclosed to anyone, even fellow employees. We advise you to remain silent if asked about them.」

 

I had brought the ‘Rosépina Household Work Regulations’ without even reading them.

 

TL/N: GIRL, PLZ TELL ME YOU DIDN’T!!!

 

‘At least the acceptance letter is intact.’

 

On the day I received the acceptance notice, I had been overjoyed. But luck and misfortune often come hand in hand. A small accident had occurred—before I could even read it, an entire cup of water had spilled onto the document.

 

Thanks to that, by the time I hastily grabbed the paper, the ink had long since smudged, and it remained the same even after the paper had dried.

 

TL/N: SHT. GIRL, YOU’RE DOOMED LOL.

 

‘It’ll be fine. Workplace regulations are always similar, after all.’

 

For instance, they usually specify things like the start and end of working hours or restricted areas within the premises.

 

And typically, such things are reiterated as a precaution.

 

Just like now.

 

“Everyone here treats each other more like family rather than mere employees, so the work should be manageable.”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Having received the acceptance letter, she (the head maid) was the first to take the lead into the mansion.

 

“Meals are only prepared at fixed times, so as long as you’re not late, you won’t have any issues. Also, the menu changes every month, so keep that in mind.”

 

“I understand.”

 

It wasn’t a full-course meal, but eating the same thing repeatedly would surely get tiresome.

 

“As mentioned during the interview, after completing the probationary period, you will become an official employee. Of course, during this period, if ‘Miss Juliet’ calls for you, you should carry out any tasks she assigns.”

 

Listening attentively to Head Maid Susan’s words, I walked while observing my surroundings.

 

The moment I stepped into the mansion for the first time, I fully grasped what it meant to be overwhelmed by beauty.

 

The long carpet, immaculate and free of even a single speck of dust, the stunning paintings, the grand chandelier overhead—everything was breathtaking. As I was guided through each floor, I was introduced to what was located where.

 

However, for places frequently visited, like the dining hall, I would explore them myself, while rarely visited areas, such as the kitchen or banquet hall, would be explained separately if I ever had cleaning duties there.

 

‘This is my first time here, so why doesn’t it feel unfamiliar?’

 

As I followed her, exploring every corner of the mansion, the question suddenly arose in my mind.

 

Why did this place not feel strange? Why did I feel a sense of déjà vu?

 

“Now, let me show you to your room. I’ll only explain once, so please remember it well, Miss Yvonne.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

Pushing aside my questions, I followed her out of the mansion and toward the adjacent dormitory.

 

Just as I stepped into the dormitory for the first time, the sound of rain suddenly started to pour down. My gaze instinctively turned to the window, and reflected in the glass, against the backdrop of the unfamiliar yet oddly familiar downpour, was a figure.

 

Sleek, jet-black hair cascaded elegantly past the shoulders, curling slightly at the ends. Beneath the clear, fair skin, calm, lake-like blue eyes shimmered.

 

“Your room is just ahead, Miss Yvonne.”

 

Ascending the stairs of the two-story dormitory, we stopped in front of a certain room.

 

“This will be your room. It’s small and cozy, isn’t it? You won’t find it inconvenient. As you can see, it’s equipped with all the essentials for daily life.”

 

Inside, there was a creaky wooden floor, a slightly dusty desk, outdated curtains, and a bed that, at least, didn’t seem uncomfortable to sleep in.

 

“This is the key to your room. Make sure to lock the door when you’re not inside.”

 

With that, a small key dropped lightly into my outstretched hand.

 

I accepted it and placed my small bag, which had been slung over my shoulder, onto the bed.

 

* * *

 

 

Today, known as the first day of work, was busier with receiving guidance rather than being assigned actual tasks.

 

After introducing the mansion and the accommodations, the head maid explained what kind of work I would be doing as a trainee maid—along with a few other things.

 

“The same applies even after you become an official employee, just like during the probationary period.”

 

Wake-up time: 6:30 AM.

Breakfast: 7:00 AM.

Work starts: 7:30 AM.

Work ends: 6:50 PM.

Dinner: 7:00 PM.

 

“That concludes the explanation. I hope you can follow the schedule properly starting tomorrow, Miss Yvonne.”

 

I listened to all of this for quite a while, and only after the sun had set was I finally able to unpack.

 

Since everything I had brought fit inside a single bag, tidying up my room didn’t take much time.

 

And so, at last, 7:00 PM arrived.

 

The only thing I had done today was listen to explanations, but since that could be considered work as well, I made my first visit to the ’employees’ dining hall.’ There, I was given soft bread, lukewarm milk, and a bit of salad.

 

‘This is actually pretty decent.’

 

The portion and taste were just right, and I was starting to feel good when—

 

“Th-That… isn’t it, Yvonne?”

 

One of the maids sitting in the same row, whom I had briefly introduced myself to earlier, seemed to have finished her meal and suddenly rushed over to me, grabbing the hem of my clothes.

 

Then, out of nowhere, she leaned in and whispered in a hushed voice.

 

“In… In exactly 30 minutes, someone w-will come to check if everyone is properly in their rooms. S-So, no matter what, d-don’t come out.”

 

Her voice trembled as if she had just seen a ghost, stammering over her words. But when I listened carefully, something seemed off.

 

It was just a routine check to ensure that employees were in their rooms, so why was she telling me not to step outside or make my presence known?

 

“Y-You absolutely m-must not come out. P-Promise me, okay?”

 

…She made me promise.

 

And the moment she finished speaking, she bolted out of the dining hall, leaving me bewildered.

 

A sudden warning, and a promise that felt like it had to be kept.

 

‘But she didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives.’

 

It didn’t look like she was trying to get me into trouble by keeping me in my room, disrupting management, and drawing their sharp gazes onto me.

 

A small, trembling rabbit—

That was the impression she gave me, like a timid prey animal in front of a predator.

 

So, just this once, I decided to trust her words.

 

If she did have bad intentions, I could simply distance myself from her after today.

 

Even though I had suffered in my previous life at work, I didn’t want to be someone who doubted others so easily in this world as well. I didn’t want to live choosing who I could and couldn’t trust.

 

* * *

 

「<Work Regulations of the Rosépina Household>  

 

Article 1. This mansion does not conduct nightly rounds to check on each employee’s well-being. The practice of ‘roll call’ has long been discontinued.  

 

If anyone uses this as an excuse to ask you to open the door, ignore them and silently hum the lyrics of your favorite song for ten minutes.  

 

If you disregard the presence of “them” and remain unresponsive for ten minutes, “they” will lose interest and simply pass by your room.」

 

* * * *

 

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