Marisa’s face brightened at Judith’s answer. “How wise! You really are my daughter.”

Not long after Cedric started his business, the finances of the Count household became abundant.

At first, Marisa could not understand why Cedric, who would eventually inherit the title, would engage in something like business. Back then, she had even shed tears in front of her taciturn husband, calling it vulgar and shameful.

But not anymore.

This time, Marisa thought she would use Judith as an excuse to get herself some new things as well.

“Didn’t I tell you? You don’t need to study much, just grow up to be wise like your mother.”

Marisa, moved by her daughter’s rather commendable words, spread her arms.

“Come here, my baby.”

Judith, as if waiting for it, threw herself into Marisa’s arms.

“My darling, don’t worry and just keep doing as you are. That’s why we have the whipping maid.”

“But I don’t want to.”

Judith was not a fool. She knew exactly what Marisa meant. Even if she failed at her studies, she would not be the one getting beaten.

Still, she disliked the lessons all the same. Listening to Cedric’s explanations for three hours was tiresome, and watching the maid being beaten was uncomfortable.

Even so, after receiving the promise of a gift with a coaxing complaint for the first time in a while, Judith left Marisa’s room.

She couldn’t do anything about her eldest brother, but persuading her mother and father was the easiest thing in the world.

***

The romance was a success.

Allen easily managed to pick up a young maid in the corridor. She was a bit lanky but had a shy smile.

Judging by the way new maids appeared in front of his room at this hour, it seemed the rumor about them taking turns to come up was true.

It was only natural to think that no maid would refuse a night with a young, handsome noble like himself.

Whenever Allen flirted, he would say he was practicing universal love before entering the monastery, and the maids seemed to understand perfectly well. They knew he had no intention of spending a long time with just one woman.

Allen thought of the saying, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” In the end, it was a win-win situation for everyone.

However, thanks to Alfonso suddenly interrupting him twice, Allen had been lying low recently.

Even though Allen was the second son, Alfonso was still his older brother, and it was true that Alfonso was more trusted by their father.

Anyway, now that he had succeeded after a while, he was in a very good mood.

As long as he didn’t run into his second brother…

“Oh? Brother…”

Coming out of the study was Alfonso. Allen’s mouth dropped open when their eyes met. Of all things, the maid he had seduced today was so tall…

Allen stood in front of her, blocking her with his entire body.

He could almost hear the inevitable, “What do you think you’re doing with a maid?”

But he was ready. Since Alfonso had not caught him in the act this time, he planned to deny everything.

However, to Allen’s surprise, Alfonso only gave him a look of pity and turned toward his own room.

The unexpected reaction made Allen even more uneasy.

He’s not going to go and tell Father, is he?

Opening his door, Allen spoke quickly to the maid behind him, “Go in first. Eat whatever you want.”

Pushing the nameless maid into his room, Allen approached Alfonso.

“Brother, what is it?”

Stopped on his way, Alfonso turned to his younger brother with an annoyed expression. Seeing Allen’s nervous face, he immediately understood why.

A guilty conscience needs no accuser.

“Why, do you want another scolding?”

Allen bristled and snapped back. “You were the one who picked a fight twice first. I’m only worried because you keep doing that!”

Alfonso chuckled at his shameless younger brother. “So stop doing foolish things. I’m only letting it slide because you’re going to the monastery.”

Alfonso did find it commendable that, foolish as he was, Allen had volunteered to enter the monastery. Once the eldest son inherited almost everything, the remaining brothers were little more than competitors for what little was left.

In a noble family, that was what ‘brothers’ usually were.

Still, Allen caught on to the phrase “letting it slide.”

“So you’ll turn a blind eye to today?”

Alfonso briefly wondered how his younger brother’s mind worked before replying.

“Move.”

When Alfonso tried to walk past, Allen blocked him.

“Say it! That you won’t tell Father or our eldest brother!”

“So Father and our eldest brother scare you, but I don’t?”

“Of course not.”

What a hopelessly naïve fool…

“Move while I’m asking nicely. I have no interest in brats like you.”

Though Alfonso spoke calmly, Allen had no intention of moving.

After all the effort Alfonso had put into interfering twice before, now he was pretending not to notice?

Allen was dumbfounded by the sudden change in Alfonso’s attitude.

Consistency was important, but the members of this family had none.

Well, it wasn’t as if his second brother had ever cared about him.

Although Alfonso kept his ears open to everything, Allen was an exception. Like their parents, he doted on their youngest, Judith, but was utterly indifferent toward Allen.

Then why had he meddled last time?

Although Alfonso liked to act in front of others, the corridor had been empty that day, save for himself and the maid.

Could it be…

“Was it because of that maid?” Startled by the thought, Allen asked bluntly.

“What maid?” Alfonso feigned ignorance.

“Judith’s maid. You only made a fuss when she was around.”

“Nonsense.”

Seeing Alfonso’s denial, Allen smirked knowingly. “Don’t pretend you don’t know. I can tell. You’re interested in that maid, aren’t you?”

“You must be talking about Sheila.”

Alfonso muttered as if he had just realized, and Allen remembered hearing the maid being called something like that in the dining room.

Now that he knew her name, Allen shouted loudly, “That’s right! That maid, Sherry or Sheila or whatever!”

His bright voice echoed loudly down the corridor.

***

Sheila used the worktable as a dining table and busily put the food Anne had brought into her mouth.

In a maid’s life, to simply sit and be served food was truly a rare event.

If only her thighs didn’t hurt, it would have been perfect…

She had folded a blanket neatly and placed it like a cushion on the hard wooden chair, but it was still difficult to sit for long.

On top of that, there was so much food Anne had brought.

‘Is she telling me to eat well and build endurance?’

She thought she didn’t eat little, since she usually did physical work, but this was far too much.

Forcing herself to keep chewing, Sheila eventually pushed the tray aside and focused on her side work.

She had eaten, so she had to work to earn her meal.

She went back to eating a few bites of the leftovers during her work, but in the end, she gave up.

For Sheila, who had never spent her own money even on a snack, continuing to eat after a meal felt more like torture.

‘My stomach’s going to burst.’

She even wanted to lie face down because of her thighs, but her bloated stomach made her feel miserable.

Sheila stood, picking up the tray of leftover food to help her digestion. No matter how much it hurt, she had to go down at least once. If she left the tray of leftovers in her room, it would surely attract mice.

That would never do. Not in her precious space…

Holding the tray, Sheila walked down the hallway and started descending the stairs. As long as nothing touched her injured thigh, she could walk without trouble.

Just as she reached the second floor, she heard voices conversing in the hallway.

Even without listening closely, she could tell it was Alfonso and Allen.

Sheila kept her footsteps quiet and continued down the stairs. Just because the masters were present was no reason she couldn’t pass, but it was better not to disturb them if possible.

A servant’s second virtue, after all, was to act as if they didn’t exist, like a shadow.

With each step she took, the conversation grew clearer.

“Nonsense.”

After Alfonso’s incredulous voice came Allen’s sly tone.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I can tell. You’re interested in that maid, aren’t you?”

Honestly, that guy was always talking about women. Did he think Young Master Alfonso was like him?

Sheila scoffed inwardly.

Unlike the flashy but hollow Allen, Alfonso was intelligent and noble. There was no way he would take an interest in a mere maid.

When she couldn’t clearly hear Alfonso’s answer, Sheila unconsciously strained her ears.

Setting aside Alfonso’s character, she was curious which maid they were talking about.

Then, a moment later, Allen’s bright voice rang out.

“That’s right! That maid, Sherry or Sheila or whatever!”

Huh? Could it be… me?

‘No, surely not.’

But both Sherry and Sheila were her…

No matter how she thought about it, they were talking about her. And when Alfonso’s next words reached her, Sheila froze in place.

“That’s right, I’m interested.”

…What?