Sheila asked again in a startled voice, “Why?”

She couldn’t think of any reason why she would be summoned by the young master.

“I don’t know that either,” Molly replied.

“Don’t you have any idea?”

“None at all…”

“Anyway, go quickly. He’s probably waiting.”

Molly urged Sheila. A properly trained maid should always respond promptly to the master’s call.

Sheila, who knew the importance of her job better than anyone, forced herself to move her reluctant feet.

Whatever the reason, it was surely not good.

***

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

At the room owner’s permission, Sheila hesitantly stepped into Cedric’s room.

It was the first time she’d entered since the day his luggage had arrived and she’d helped clean. Even then, she had noticed how spacious the room was, once used as a guest suite.

Now that it was furnished, the room looked noble and elegant, completely different from Judith’s. The wallpaper and furniture were in the typical colors of the Beloica kingdom, but the simple yet intricate decorations and paintings gave off a unique atmosphere. Naturally, many of the items had been imported from abroad.

How much must all this cost…?

Sheila unintentionally glanced around the room, and her eyes met Cedric, who was seated at his desk. His posture was arrogant. His sculpted face, too, looked sharp and cold to her.

Sheila quickly lowered her head, frozen. She still couldn’t forget how, at sixteen, he had once coldly told her to get lost.

“You called for me, Young Master.”

Sheila bowed, trying hard to hide the tremble in her voice.

“Let’s keep it brief.”

His voice, as handsome and chilly as his appearance, echoed through the room. That single sentence made Sheila’s fine hairs stand on end with tension.

“I fired Judith’s tutor. I’ll be taking charge of her from now on.”

Hearing that, Sheila felt disheartened. If what Cedric said was true, she, as Judith’s personal maid, would be seeing him much more often.

Yet she still had no idea why he had called her. Why was he telling her this…?

“Taking charge of Judith means I’ll be far stricter than any previous tutor.”

So… what about it?

Sheila kept her thoughts to herself and listened closely.

“I plan to assign a Whipping Maid.”

A Whipping Maid…?

She knew what that was. A maid who takes the punishment in place of her mistress when she misbehaves.

She had never seen one in person. Did such a thing still exist these days?

But that wasn’t the point. The fact that he’d summoned her… Could it mean…?

“You’ll be the one.”

The shocking words came from his mouth as if it were nothing.

Startled, Sheila looked up at him. “M-Me…?”

Her voice trembled faintly. Cedric gave a ridiculous reason in response.

“Judith likes you.”

Utter nonsense. Sheila had never once felt that Judith particularly liked her. In fact, a noble lady treating a maid with affection? Especially Judith, who saw maids merely as convenient servants.

Cedric seemed to notice her skeptical expression and added, “I heard you’ve faithfully served Judith for four years.”

Well… that was just to survive.

Still, she had to admit it was true. She had served Judith diligently to avoid being fired.

But to be a Whipping Maid… Sheila wasn’t confident in enduring pain. Even when hit the same, her skin swelled far more than Molly’s.

Maybe that’s why, it always felt more painful.

“Um… what happens if I don’t do it?”

She knew that as a maid, she had to obey, but she still asked hesitantly, hoping for a chance.

She was worried that agreeing without thinking might lead to a mistake that would get her kicked out of the mansion.

“If you won’t, then another maid who serves Judith with you will have to. You two have served her the longest.”

At Cedric’s words, Sheila’s eyes filled with panic. “B-But she’s about to get married soon.”

She was already discouraged from her recent leave being cut. Sheila couldn’t let Molly be forced to take the role of Whipping Maid too.

“That’s why I’m telling you to do it,” he said.

After telling her to stay out of sight, why was he doing this now? No, maybe it was because Molly was about to get married, so he offered it to her first.

As Cedric said, only Sheila and Molly had served Judith the longest.

She couldn’t refuse, nor could she push it onto her colleague who was about to be married. In other words, the answer was already decided, and Sheila just had to give it.

Even so, the words didn’t come easily.

Cedric spoke again, “The term is three months. The whipping maid’s wage will be paid separately, equivalent to a maid’s monthly wage.”

“Ten solid… separately?”

Sheila’s eyes and mouth opened wide.

Unbelievable… That meant her pay would double overnight.

“No need to be surprised. It’s a physically taxing job, so it’s only fair.”

“Ah…”

Sheila’s shoulders slumped.

How taxing must it be to warrant the same pay as a full maid’s wage?

Sheila had a healthy body, but she wasn’t particularly strong. She had only endured all this time through sheer willpower and grit. Her body was all she had.

But if it broke down here, her whole life could become harder. Doubling her pay immediately wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Noticing Sheila’s bowed head and hesitance, Cedric said, “It’s just a few strokes of the cane in Judith’s place. Sure, it’ll hurt, but nothing so serious you need to worry.”

“I, I…”

At Sheila’s reluctant response, Cedric cut her off.

“If this is the extent of your loyalty, then forget it. You may leave.”

Cedric was as sharp in personality as he was in appearance.

Sheila recalled what Cedric had said to the servants when he returned.

“It’s been three years since I last saw your faces. I’m pleased to see you again. I recognize most of you, which makes it all the more welcome. I hope you continue to serve House Calley with sincerity. We have no need for disloyal servants here.”

No. I can’t get fired from here.

Seeing Sheila’s wavering eyes, Cedric spoke again, “If you agree, I’ll have Rufus give you the whipping maid’s pay immediately.”

Immediately…? Sheila looked up at him.

He added with finality, “In advance.”

At the word ‘advance,’ Sheila’s eyes widened. Though a grand estate like this wouldn’t default on a maid’s pay, based on her experience, getting paid in advance was far more reassuring.

“I-I’ll do it,” Sheila answered.

Cedric, hearing the answer he wanted, let out a slight bitter smile.

Of course, he had expected it wouldn’t be hard. But this was too easy.

A maid’s wage of ten solid was pocket change to Cedric.

Even if he had offered twice that, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But the issue was Sheila.

There was always a market price. Offering too much could raise suspicion or frighten the other party.

So he had suggested a reasonable amount and prepared a backup plan in case she declined. But it turned out unnecessary. It had been laughably easy.

Still, that wasn’t a bad thing. After all, this was just a bit of indulgence before marriage. The easier, the better.

That way, discarding would be easier too…

“Lessons begin next Monday. Before that, I’ll have the advance pay and contract delivered.”

Contract…

While Sheila was still processing the unfamiliar word, Cedric gave the order.

“You may leave.”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Sheila bowed deeply. She had no desire to be alone with Cedric any longer than necessary.

And just as she turned to leave Cedric’s room, her eyes fell on the door that led to the next room.

It was the space renovated before he arrived.

Since the renovation, the hallway door leading to that room had been sealed off. Now, only Cedric’s room had access to that door.

That day, workers had brought in dark bags with locks and loaded them into the dimly lit room.

Recalling that scene, Sheila shuddered involuntarily.

Why would someone like cold-blooded Cedric build a room like that? Sheila couldn’t begin to guess.

Still, like the bags trapped in that sealed room, she couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that if she were dragged in there, she’d never come out alive.

‘I won’t ever have to go in there anyway, so forget it.’

Shaking her head, Sheila forced herself to ignore the sinister room and exited Cedric’s quarters.