Her parents were unwell, her family relocated to the countryside, and she married the love of her life, to whom she had long pledged her future.
The reasons were all different, but with so many people suddenly quitting, the atmosphere in the house was bound to become ugly.
The vassals who had served the dukedom for generations from the Weishafen estate were still around, but this huge capital mansion could not be maintained with just that number of people.
“I see. It must have been difficult alone.”
Roderick made deep wrinkles between his eyebrows as if he were sorry for leaving her alone in such a difficult situation.
“I’m embarrassed. I guess I have to save people.”
Even the nanny they firmly trusted disappeared and took Ayla with her. So they couldn’t trust and use someone unfamiliar.
However, since the mansion could not continue to be a mess like this, it was necessary to hire someone.
“Let’s discuss together and select a few trustworthy employees who are likely to do a good job, Roderick.”
Ophelia gently touched her husband’s hand and smiled.
This time, she promised to let the same tragedy never repeat itself.
* * *
“Did you say Miss Laura?”
“Yes, the Duchess. This is Laura Spencer.”
A few days later, Ophelia and Roderick were sitting side by side, watching the interview of the person who applied for the position of maid.
Usually, minor interviews like this were handled by the butler, but Ophelia and Roderick wanted to see and judge the applicant in person, so they stepped in as interviewers.
The slim-looking woman sitting in front of her was the first applicant to start the interview. Because they were very selective, there were only a few applicants, and most of them were rejected at the document stage.
“You worked for the Marquis Caenis?”
“Yes, I have served the Marquis’s daughter for five years.”
Ophelia and Roderick secretly exchanged glances with each other.
Marquis Caenis was a member of a prestigious family for a long time. Although he had no contact with them, he was trusted by the Emperor to the extent that the Marquis served as Minister of Finance.
Someone who has worked in such a place for a long time could be trustworthy.
The application even included a letter of recommendation from Marquis.
Even though it was in front of the duke and duchess, she didn’t seem overly nervous, and they liked her way of answering confidently.
Usually, in situations like this, people tend to make mistakes by being overly nervous or excited by the desire to look good.
However, no matter how much she liked Laura, a problem bothered her enough to make a decision right away.
She was so curious to know why she suddenly left her previous job, where she had worked for 5 years.
Neither Roderick nor Ophelia would normally have the personality to be involved in the employees’ secrets, but now was the time to consider all issues carefully.
“By the way, is it okay if I ask why you decided to become a maid?”
While having a conversation face-to-face with his wife, the Duke asked carefully. Laura looked at the Duke and Duchess with a slightly embarrassed face.
It looked like she didn’t expect to be asked this question.
“Why is this embarrassing to talk about?”
When Ophelia wrinkled her nose slightly, she raised her palms, quietly gathered and placed them on her knees, and denied them.
“No, that’s not it.”
Then she began to explain the reason slowly.
The daughter of the Marquis Caenis, whom she had served, married a foreign nobleman and left the country. Due to circumstances, following her to a foreign country was difficult, so she quit.
“So, the Marquis wrote a letter of recommendation, so we’re thankful to him… As we’re looking for someone new to serve,
“Hmm, now I think I have heard something like that. The story is that the daughter of the Marquis Caenis was married to a great nobleman of Ropelstein.”
Ophelia said this while tucking her flowing hair behind her ear.
If the rumor was not heard by Ophelia, who had not been active in social circles since losing Ayla, there was a high possibility that it was not true.
“If you don’t mind, I want to hear about it.”
When a noble lady got married, it was common for her to take her beloved maid with her. It was not understandable to wonder why she did not do so.
“Oh, I’m the only daughter… so my mother doesn’t want me to be far away.”
Laura’s face, which had not changed much until now, turned red for the first time. She seemed embarrassed because it seemed like a grown adult was being overprotected by her parents.
“It looks like a harmonious family. It’s nice to see.”
Ophelia smiled pleasantly and nodded at her human appearance.
She felt like she had enough interviews at this level.
“Would you mind going out and waiting for a moment? I’ll let you know the results right away.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
At Ophelia’s words, Laura politely left the room.
And the couple, left alone, talked in a low voice.
“What do you think, Ophelia? I think it’s okay.”
First of all, he liked the impression that she would do her job well. And if she had been too dignified, she might have aroused suspicions, but thanks to her human appearance of being embarrassed at times, she was more trustworthy.
“Well, me too. And… … I heard you served a noble lady for a long time. Could it be…”
Ophelia, who was about to hear her husband’s answer, looked around and kept her mouth shut.
Although she couldn’t finish her sentence, Roderick understood what she was trying to say.
He thought that they might be able to entrust Laura to look after the child after she returned later.
“Okay, then let’s hire her.”
It was a decision made quickly.
And Laura, who received the notification of acceptance, smiled shyly as if she couldn’t believe it. She seemed happy.
It was not natural. Everything she showed to the Duke and Duchess was just an appearance designed to bring her into this house as a maid.
That wasn’t the only thing. The fact that the duchy’s employees quit repeatedly was all planned by one of Marquis Caenis’s subordinates.
This was done either by injuring the maid’s father, forcing the daughter to quit work to take care of herself, or by pretending to be the maid’s fiancé, who was working as a double-earner to raise funds for the wedding, and paying a large sum of money to hasten the marriage.
In addition, he used his help with the manpower office to block competitors from applying to the dukedom.
Spencer was the maiden name of her mother, Capella. It was true that she had served the daughter of the Marquis Caenis, but it was only for a short time after entering the Empire from the Kingdom of Inselkov.
She had already expected that she would ask why she quit being a maid there, and then she deliberately pretended to be embarrassed. That would make her seem more humane.
Laura Spencer, or rather Laura Eyre, smiled crookedly as she unpacked her simple belongings into the simple room provided by the Duke’s house.
The purpose of joining Venator in the first place has been achieved.
Then all she had to do was wait for Ayla Heiling Weishafen to return home.
* * *
As dinner preparations were in full swing, Ayla left Debbie and Scott’s cabin to collect branches for firewood.
“You must return before dark, Ayla! Be careful not to get lost.”
Debbie was nagging her, full of worry. It was an unnecessary worry for her.
She knew the geography of this area well, and even if she encountered strangers or wild animals, she had the power to overcome them on her own.
Still, Ayla didn’t hate Debbie’s nagging. Her kind heart was so full that it made her feel good.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ayla headed into the forest with light steps.
It felt comfortable to live a life without Laura, who had been watching her every move, and Byron, whom she had to please.
She was so happy that she started humming without even realizing it.
Of course, whenever she went out like this, eyes were watching her, but she didn’t feel that heavy because she knew that the owner of those eyes was Cloud.
She still couldn’t completely trust him, but seeing as she was still alive and well, it was clear that he hadn’t revealed her secrets to Byron.
In hindsight, she would barely be able to survive. So thanks to Cloud for keeping his mouth shut, but her stubbornness in not trusting him felt futile.
At that thought, Ayla snorted and was about to pick up dry tree branches when she heard the small sound of leaves rustling behind her.
“Who are you?”
She looked around with a very nervous face.
The tree branches she was holding in her arms fell to the ground. She had put it down to get a hold of the dagger she had hidden in her hand, in case it was someone other than Cloud or Scott.
“It’s me, lady.”
Putting those worries in vain, it was Cloud who showed up. She squatted down with a steamy expression on her face and started picking up the tree branches she had dropped.
She felt a little annoyed at having to start over from scratch after making such a fuss.
“You were surprised. Do you have something to say?”
“Capella will come to pick you up tomorrow.”
