The Maid With a Child

8. The Too Fascinating Poisonous Mushroom.

 

Adelen averted her eyes without meeting his burdensome gaze.

The situation was urgent, so she came running, but no matter what, she couldn’t take care of this baby. The risk was too great.

“I’m sorry, Master. As expected, I…”

“Double the salary.”

Adelen paused for a moment.

Was he saying that he would double my salary?

If it was double the current salary, it could easily be an amount that most people save up for their wedding expenses after working for a year.

Her heart, which had not been shaken despite the baby’s cuteness and pitifulness, Sigelion’s sense of belonging, her sense of responsibility as a maid, and her pride in being able to do anything, wavered.

It was too much money to give up on.

“…Three times?”

Rakalt, who interpreted Adelen’s surprised response as hesitation, made another suggestion.

“No, w-wait, Master.”

Adelen was flustered and interrupted Rakalt’s speech.

Double and triple the salary?

It was too fascinating. It was so fascinating that it was like a poisonous mushroom.(tempting but deadly, it means)

“It’s not the salary that’s the problem…it is something else.”

“Then what else do you want?”

“…”

Adelen was speechless.

The master, who had been so cold that he could freeze someone to death, became sullen.

This wasn’t even a salary negotiation. It was begging.

“W-why are you doing this to me… It’s like that inside the mansion, but if you make it known that you need a nanny, really capable people will flock to you. With this salary, you can hire the best nanny in Teplan, right?”

“No, no outsiders.”

Rakalt shook his head, cutting her off.

Even in the midst of all this, she was relieved that it wasn’t because ‘it has to be you.’

If he said that, it would have been so suspicious that she would have run away many many more times.

“Why?”

I was afraid to dare ask the master, “Why?” but I was locked up after almost quitting anyway. I thought it would be okay to open up a little.

“It’s a confidential matter. There should be as few people involved as possible. Also, in this situation, hiring a nanny is like opening the door for a spy.”

If that’s what you mean, then I can understand.

The Sigelion family had a few unique customs.

The servants showed a considerable sense of belonging to the name Sigelion, and they were very strict about keeping their mouths shut. That’s why the security checks for outside merchants entering and leaving were especially strict.

Probably, until someone outside started talking, even the word that the baby was in Sigelion wouldn’t cross the fence.

Adelen groaned and looked down at the baby. Even amidst the adults’ complicated and disturbing conversation, the baby was sleeping soundly with his mouth shut.

“I’m not saying you should take care of him for the rest of your life. Just for a few days until things are sorted out.”

When Adelen showed signs of worry, Rakalt added.

My heart wavered like a blade of grass before a typhoon.

In fact, it was daunting to find a new job without a letter of recommendation.

If I found a job without a letter of recommendation, it was like starting over as a total rookie. Naturally, my salary would drop to rock bottom.

Regardless of my career, there wouldn’t be many houses that treated me as well as the Sigelion family.

But on top of the already good treatment, double or triple the salary…

Since he said it would only be like that for a few days, it meant I wouldn’t have to be a nanny or personal maid for the rest of my life. If that’s the case…, if that’s the case…

Rakalt drove a wedge into Adelen’s wavering heart.

“If you don’t like it, you can leave right now.”

“Oh, you’re not going to lock me in?”

“But who knows who you’ll end up getting killed by.”

“…”

It could be by his hand, or it could be by the hand of another.

He swung a sharp whip that would blow my neck off after a sweet carrot-like treat. Either way, it was extreme.

Adelen made a decision quickly.

“If it’s for a few days….”

“Is it possible?”

The answer wes already obvious. Either I say yes, or I could get killed.

Rakalt smiled with satisfaction as he watched Adelen who kept nodding her head in fear of the whip flying at her.

“No matter how many days it takes, I will definitely give you at least three times the salary.”

Has it really tripled?

Adelen opened her mouth in surprise.

“Four times?”

He misunderstood that she wanted to ask for four times instead.

“Oh, no! Four times! Even if you give me only twice, I would be grateful.”

“What…?”

Rakalt narrowed his eyes as if he was suspicious.

“When someone gives twice as much, it is human nature to ask for twenty times. But when I say I will give you four times, you want me to cut it in half and give you only twice?”

“Ah…uh…that is…The maids can also get twice sometimes, but if I get four times, that is a bit…”

They say that if a person is too greedy, it will cause trouble.

Adelen, the maid, knew the habits of noble ladies the best. To them, who considered maids as just talking furniture, a promise with a maid would be nothing special.

Even if the master was different, who knows? After giving her the money, he might just silence her and get away with it.

Since it involved even the war-torn states, I, a commoner, had to be careful with every step I took. Haven’t I already seen many people who gave their lives without knowing it because they were blinded by money? The life of a child who grew up without parents during the war was never a flower garden.

Adelen swallowed hard, praying that her neck would remain intact even after she left this place.

“This is also a matter of Sigelion’s honor.”

Rakalt emphasized the importance of this job to Adelen, who was refusing the high salary.

“There can be no case where you fail to properly carry out the orders given by His Majesty. All of that responsibility is included in the salary you receive.”

Adelen also knew the story of the previous count who founded the family alone with his sword as soon as he entered Sigelion. So, from the moment the master was born, he was brainwashed to live for the Sigelion family.

To the master, the name Sigelion was the reason for living, the goal, and the life itself.

The honor of Sigelion.

It was a burden heavier than quadrupling the salary.

Adelen nodded, barely able to breathe properly.

 

* * *

 

Adelen headed to the dormitory with a dragging gait.

These two days were truly long.

She had certainly gained a lot, but she felt that all she was left with was a tattered body and mind.

“Please take good care of me from now on, baby.”

The life or death of this baby was her life or death. Please just grow up healthy. And if possible, please resolve the issue with Morn well so that she can escape this childcare prison quickly.

Adelen begged the baby who didn’t know anything.

“Bo-ba…”

The baby babbled instead of responding. The fatigue from crying all night had finally come back to him, and he slept well even in her arms that were shaking as she walked.

“I wish he could continue to sleep well like this for the rest of the night, and tomorrow too…”

“Huh?”

“Ayo, are you awake? Sorry, sorry.”

“Huuu, Aah!”

“Uh…You’re not crying?”

I thought he would cry whenever he woke up, but he didn’t.

The baby looked up at Adelen with wide eyes, and when their eyes met, he smiled brightly.

“Oh, you smiled.”

Adelen stopped walking, feeling moved. It was so pretty when the baby, who had only been crying, smiled.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him, so she just stared blankly at the baby for a long time, her eyes completely absorbed in.

That was when…

She discovered something moving in the dark shadows of a corner of the hallway.

“W-who are you?”

Something was suspicious. There was no reason for someone who worked at the mansion to hide.

After seeing so much today, Adelen’s mind was filled with all sorts of imaginations.

“I, I’m going to scream…Master Master…!”

“Shh.”

However, before she could even scream, a knife touched the tip of her neck.

Adelen’s imagination was not a delusion. It was a perfectly accurate prediction.

Adelen gasped when she saw the sharp blade flickering in front of her nose.

“Hmph….!”

This was not the imaginary blade/whip that her master had threatened her with, but a real blade that could cut off her own neck.

Adelen stared at the person who had emerged from the darkness with frozen eyes.

Their entire body was covered in black cloth, so she couldn’t see anything. The only thing that was revealed were their yellow eyes that glowed like a beast’s even in the darkness.

Although they were half-immersed in the darkness, the intimidating feeling of their body, as large as her master’s, crushed Adelen.

The yellow eyes that had been staring at Adelen, who was frozen in place, narrowed for a moment.

“You…”