Prologue
Thud.
A heavy pouch was dropped on the table. From the jingling sound, it seemed to be full of money. I stared at the person in front of me, asking with my eyes what this was.
“Your name is Chloe, right?”
“Yes, Lady Ivna.”
“So you remembered me.”
Ivna spoke in a surprised tone. It was the first time I had seen Ivna again since I came to the House of Shainen about a month ago, but I remembered her clearly.
‘Well, I haven’t met many people here.’
At that time, Ivna was the head maid, and I had just started working as a maid. After the first and second day when she introduced me to the one I’d be serving, I hadn’t seen her again.
The room was dimly lit, so I didn’t recognise her at first, but once I heard her voice, I remembered.
‘Why are we talking in such a dark place? They could at least light a lamp.’
Well, I knew she probably called me here to talk about something no one else should hear. Still, even though she cleared the area and arranged to meet secretly, I didn’t get why the lighting had to be this bad. I could barely make out the shape of a person—it was frustrating.
Even the pouch—I was guessing what it was just by the sound.
“So, how is it serving Lady Lilith? Is everything alright?”
I nodded without thinking, then realized Ivna probably couldn’t see me in the dark, so I spoke.
“Yes, everything is fine.”
“The master was very worried because this time the maids are all so young. I’m glad to hear things are going well.”
That was a complete lie. Including me, they brought in little girls around the age of ten and called us maids, without giving us any proper training.
Lilith, who was even younger than us, was placed in our care as our lady, and yet no one had come to check on us for over a month. I really didn’t think people like that were worrying about anything.
“They didn’t expect anything in the first place…”
Ivna muttered as if this was all unexpected, like it wasn’t something she wanted to deal with.
“But… what is this?”
I brought up the real reason I came. I didn’t want to leave Lady Lilith alone for too long. Pointing vaguely in Ivna’s direction, I looked at the pouch on the table.
“…Is it really not hard, serving Lady Lilith?”
“Sorry?”
Ivna asked again, as if testing me.
“Even experienced maids were scared, and some were killed by Lady Lilith. You never know when it could be your turn. Are you really okay with that?”
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say, Lady Ivna.”
“This is from the master. It’s for you.”
Ivna pushed the pouch toward me.
“For me?”
Not for the annexe where Lady Lilith stays? It couldn’t possibly be some bonus for doing a good job… So why?
Something felt off. I frowned slightly, but my voice remained polite and curious.
“Why…?”
“I heard your family is struggling with money. The master is being generous, so don’t refuse.”
“But why only me?”
I wasn’t the only young maid assigned to serve the troublesome Lady Lilith. So why was I the only one secretly called here and handed money?
‘Something really smells fishy.’
And it wasn’t just a little fishy—it stank.
I didn’t know yet why they called me, but I could already tell Ivna’s next words wouldn’t be normal. They wanted to ask me to do something. Something involving Lilith, something very wrong.
I felt Ivna lean closer toward me. Then, in a whisper, she said something even more secretive.
“The master wants you to make her rest. For good, Chloe.”
“…”
“You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“W-Why would you… ask me to do that to the lady…”
I made my voice tremble on purpose, like I was frightened.
“You don’t need to know the reason. Just do what you’re told and take the money.”
Ivna spoke gently, as if trying to comfort me, as if knowing too much would only bring trouble.
“You’re the one who takes care of Lady Lilith the best, so it’s your job. You can handle it, right?”
When I hesitated, Ivna added another pouch.
Thud.
Another heavy sound hit the table. I flinched. Then, slowly, I reached out and pulled both pouches toward me.
“Then I’ll count on you, Chloe.”
I gave a small nod in her direction and left the dark room. As soon as I stepped outside, the bright light made me squint. I was holding the heavy pouches tightly in my arms.
“To kill the lady…”
The reason the House of Shainen wanted to kill Lilith— Ivna hadn’t told me, but I didn’t need to hear it. I already knew.
Lilith must have inherited a huge fortune from her other parents. If she died before becoming an adult, all of it would go to the House of Shainen.
“Tch.”
I clicked my tongue and checked the pouch. Just as I thought—inside was a small vial of poison.
“Well, I guess I can make our lady something tasty for once.”
I stuffed the poison bottle into my skirt pocket and hugged the heavy money pouches close. I planned to get rid of the poison without anyone noticing.
‘Kill Lilith? That’s ridiculous.’
Lilith Shainen—the villainess of this world. If I tried to kill her, I’d be the one to die instead. I didn’t even want to try something that stupid.
‘And I’ve already let go of any feelings for the family that threw me away just for money…’
I’ll live well and happily with our lovely Lady Lilith.
To do that… I picked up my pace and whispered to myself, “I need to find her a guardian.”
Someone who could protect Lilith and her inheritance.
“Isn’t there a good parent out there somewhere?”
Maybe a tyrant who’s sweet to his daughter or cold men who are only kind to their younger sister. At the very least, until Lilith becomes an adult, I need someone who can protect her from the House of Shainen.
