It was obvious. Allen was trying to seduce another maid to bring into his bedroom.

“Oh my, young master. Did you call for me?”

The responding voice was one Sheila recognized all too well. Cindy, the freckled maid. Unlike how she sounded when chatting with other maids, her voice was now dripping with flirtation. She must have been deliberately lingering near Allen’s room.

Wait a second, didn’t Cindy say she had a longtime boyfriend back in her hometown?

Or maybe not. Who knows? They might’ve broken up…

Not wanting to be a witness to something unnecessary, Sheila shook her head and turned away.

Thankfully, she slipped out of sight and into a blind spot just as a few more words passed behind her.

“You look tired. Want to rest in my room?”

No matter how tired she was, a maid resting in her master’s room made no sense.

“Well, shall I?”

Ah… so it does make sense.

Just as Sheila was reaching a moment of realization, Cindy exclaimed in admiration and praised Allen.

“Young master, you’re the only one who truly thinks of us maids.”

“You get it! Smarter than you look, huh?”

“Of course, hohoho.”

At his questionable compliment, Cindy giggled frivolously.

Sheila shook her head and climbed the opposite staircase.

That womanizer, planning to be a clergyman…

Allen, the third son of House Calley, claimed he would become a clergyman. Set to enter the monastery next year, he had lately been pulling every maid he could into his bed, regardless of age or looks.

Then again, in a structure where the eldest son inherited nearly everything, there weren’t many paths left for a third son. Of those, becoming a high-ranking cleric promised not only honor but also considerable wealth, so perhaps it was a shrewd choice.

Besides, once one became a cardinal, they might not marry, but they could still openly keep mistresses and have children. Of course, reaching that level required a life of abstinence; perhaps this frenzy was his way of enjoying things while he still could.

Either way, so long as she didn’t get involved, it was none of Sheila’s concern.

She didn’t want to get involved with anyone from House Calley, not just Allen. Nothing good came from a maid getting entangled with nobles.

Life should be long and quiet.

That was one of Sheila’s core principles.

Living as a maid for a long time, surviving, and retiring to live freely. That was Sheila’s one and only dream.

She had given up on marriage back in her teens, so all she needed was to earn enough to support herself. Still, Sheila never did anything half-heartedly. If she’d approached her work with a weak mindset, she’d have been fired by Judith a dozen times over.

When she reached the third floor, Sheila headed to the room at the very end of the hall. Unlike other maids who shared rooms, this one was for Sheila alone.

It was a former attic storage room under the roof, now assigned solely to her. After constant complaints from maids who used to share a room with her because of her nonstop side jobs day and night.

Hard work really does pay off.

On her way to her room, Sheila passed by Cedric’s room, still under renovation. Normally, she would have taken another staircase just to avoid even thinking of him, but thanks to Allen, she had come up the opposite way today.

The major renovation to connect the two central guest rooms on the third floor was nearly complete, just in time for Cedric’s return from studying abroad. Once finished, she would end up living on the same floor as Cedric.

Still, she reasoned, even if they were on the same floor, it wasn’t like a maid attending the youngest daughter would cross paths with the eldest son very often.

Even so, Sheila couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

“Get lost.”

The first words he ever said to her, four years ago, still echoed vividly in her ears.

Why had he said something like that…?

Even now, she couldn’t figure it out. It was early on, shortly after she began working as Judith’s maid, and there hadn’t been any interaction between them. It had happened without any reason or prelude. Yet even if she couldn’t understand the reason, the words themselves remained burned into her memory.

“Stay out of my sight as much as possible.”

Yes, of course. Naturally.

Right… the reason doesn’t matter.

If he says so, then so be it.

Since then, she had lived her life trying not to be seen. Come to think of it, doing her job diligently while avoiding the nobles’ attention was exactly how Sheila preferred to live anyway.

So Cedric’s return didn’t really change anything.

Stay out of sight. Quietly.

Doing her maid’s duties long and quietly, just as she always had. This was all Sheila ever wanted.

***

Large wagons loaded with luggage lined up as they entered the mansion. One after another, bags packed to the brim were unloaded without rest from each wagon.

They were the belongings Cedric had brought back with him after finishing his studies abroad. With three years’ worth of baggage, the volume was considerable. Ranging from small gifts for his family to large items like furniture and even a bathtub he used overseas.

Naturally, all the servants in the household were mobilized to help move them.

The luggage was steadily carried up to Cedric’s room on the third floor, where renovations had just been completed.

Sheila, who was hauling the bags with difficulty, let out a long sigh. It wasn’t just because the work was hard. The sigh slipped out involuntarily at the heavy burden of the eldest son’s return.

But all tasks that seem endless do eventually come to an end.

Just as the last of the baggage was carried up, a luxurious carriage adorned with golden trim approached the mansion from afar.

Upon spotting the carriage, the butler quickly rushed into the house. He had to inform everyone that Cedric had arrived. Soon after, the entire Calley family came out to greet their eldest son, returning from a long journey.

Sheila and the other servants who had been mobilized for the luggage quickly lined up in formation. In that moment, the carriage carrying him came to a dignified stop at the main gate.

The door of the carriage opened, and finally, he appeared.

Cedric Calley.

The eldest son of House Calley and the man who would be the next count.

The first thing visible was his sleek, jet-black hair. Then, as he fully stepped down from the carriage, his sculpted, handsome features lit up under the setting sun.

Sheila unknowingly swallowed dryly.

Gasp! Kyaa—. Unable to hold back, the maids who hadn’t seen Cedric in three years let out admiring exclamations.

With eyes even deeper than before he left, Cedric calmly surveyed his welcoming family, the servants, and the mansion of House Calley. Sheila quickly bowed her head to avoid his gaze.

“You’ve done well.”

“Welcome home.”

Standing tall, Cedric stepped forward at his parents’ welcome. He lightly embraced Bernard and Marisa Calley, his mother and father. Though it was a heartwarming sight to see a family welcoming their son, the embrace felt too dry for a reunion after three years.

“You’re back.”

“Brother.”

It was the same when shaking hands with his two younger brothers, who had grown considerably in his absence.

“Brother, welcome home.”

Judith lifted the hem of her skirt with both hands and bent her knees in a formal curtsy. Cedric was the only brother to whom Judith ever spoke in honorifics.

Cedric glanced without much reaction at his now-grown little sister, then strode into the mansion.

The welcome at the front gate ended quickly and succinctly.

Once the heir’s return was complete, the servants poured back into the mansion to resume unloading the luggage.

***

The luggage had already been meticulously categorized. Gifts for the family were delivered to their respective rooms as labeled. Boxes meant for storage went to the warehouse, and those meant for his room were carried upstairs.

The furniture was moved and arranged by the male servants. The suitcases secured with locks—likely holding valuables—were carried into the newly renovated room.

And the hundreds of remaining items were left to the maids to unpack. Dozens of exotic paintings and ornaments began filling Cedric’s room.

‘Even knocking down two rooms isn’t enough.’

No wonder they had ordered renovations in advance. It was far too much to fit in a standard room.

Sheila glanced at the door connecting Cedric’s room to the adjoining one.

With so much luggage, what on earth had been moved to that room?

She knew nobles enjoyed extravagance, but she hadn’t expected someone as seemingly indifferent as Cedric to be this materialistic.

For Sheila, who got by just fine with two sets of clothes, this lifestyle was incomprehensible.

Following the instructions of Rufus, the secretary who had accompanied Cedric, the maids busily unpacked and arranged the items. Then, without warning, the door suddenly opened.

Sheila, in the middle of working, happened to glance up and met eyes with the person entering.

Cedric.

Since the room wasn’t yet fully arranged, Cedric was to stay in his former room on the second floor for the night. His sudden entrance was unexpected.

Hiccup—

Startled, Sheila hiccupped involuntarily. She quickly clapped her hand over her mouth and turned her back.

“Is the unpacking going smoothly?”

Hiccup—

Cedric asked Rufus, but his detached gaze was clearly fixed on Sheila.

“Yes. All the maids have been mobilized, so it should be finished by midday tomorrow.”

Hiccup—

Even as Rufus responded dutifully, Sheila’s hiccups continued without a hint of awareness for the situation.

She hunched her back as if hoping to disappear, pouring all her will into a wish to vanish. But against her hopes, she could feel Cedric’s gaze lingering on her.

Ah… I’m doomed.

She had no intention of defying her master’s command like this. All she could do now was hope that Cedric had forgotten the order he had given her years ago. Though the odds were slim.

Sheila silently prayed that her dream of living long and quietly as a maid wouldn’t be shattered.

Thankfully, after a moment, Cedric turned and left without saying another word.

Right, it’s not like I farted in front of him, it’s just a hiccup. Haha.

Sheila tried to comfort herself.

But it felt like she might cry even as she laughed.