It hadn’t even been that long since he returned home, yet Cedric’s desk was already piled with documents from abroad.

Cedric quickly skimmed through the papers and handled the work efficiently. Most of the documents had been sent from the company he established during his studies overseas. As such, the reports were all written in the Lotas language.

For the sons of noble families, studying abroad in Lotas—a country renowned for its culture and arts—was considered essential. This was especially true for the eldest sons who would inherit their houses, like Cedric. Even the royal family of Beloica would go so far as to fabricate identities to study in Lotas when necessary.

Of course, the purpose of studying abroad wasn’t limited to university education. Expanding one’s horizons, acquiring refined taste, building networks with one’s peers, and grasping the flow of global affairs—these were all things to be gained from studying abroad.

Cedric went further and even established a company there.

‘Rovenhagen,’ the name of the trading company Cedric founded in Lotas. It was a move that leveraged Lotas’s geographic advantage for trade, superior to Beloica due to its peninsula location.

Before long, a stack of signed documents began to pile up on the left side of his desk.

“Send the signed documents to headquarters.”

“Yes, young master.”

Rufus approached and gathered the documents. Cedric stood up to clear his mind. Even while working through paperwork, the image of a certain maid lingered in his mind.

The way she timidly stood at the very end when he got out of the carriage, the sight of her with a swollen cheek in the dining room—

That maid who, as always, got under his skin without reason, had become even more gaunt and haggard than before.

He had heard some things in passing, so he could guess the cause. Even so, Cedric couldn’t help but speak to Rufus.

“Rufus. Is it possible for a woman in her twenties to be smaller than she was in her teens?”

Rufus, who had been sorting documents, lifted his head. For a moment, a look passed over his face as if wondering what nonsense that was. But soon, as a dutiful secretary, he composed himself and answered seriously.

“That would be… unlikely, I believe.”

And perhaps feeling the answer wasn’t enough, he racked his brain and added more, like the competent aide he was.

“If she’s lost her baby fat, her face might look a little smaller, though.”

“Baby fat, huh…”

Indeed, she had lost that compared to the first time he saw her.

But that alone didn’t explain it. She looked far more emaciated and worn-out now than she had three years ago, before he went abroad.

“If you’re referring to ‘that person,’ I can conduct a thorough investigation…”

Rufus trailed off as he watched Cedric deep in thought. But Cedric cut him off.

“No, there’s no need.”

There was absolutely no need.

That maid would fall into his grasp soon enough anyway.

Binding a lowly maid was hardly a challenge for Cedric, heir to a count’s house.

His gaze unconsciously shifted again toward the annex.

Just imagining that maid inside that room sent a thrilling shiver through his entire body.

***

Sheila’s ominous feeling proved true. The Soreth baronial family had formally declined the engagement.

No wonder their backs looked so cold as they left that day…

When Bernard and Marisa called Judith in to break the news, they looked haggard and far from their usual radiant selves.

“Looks like you and the young master of Soreth weren’t meant to be. Don’t worry, sweetheart, your mom and dad will find you a better match.”

“I’m not worried. I didn’t like the Soreth boy anyway,” Judith replied.

But remembering how she’d silently eaten strawberry cake after returning to her room that day, Sheila couldn’t help thinking that maybe Judith hadn’t disliked him after all. Still, she kept that thought to herself.

At any rate, Judith took the news rather calmly and returned to her room. But then the trouble fell on someone else entirely.

“Molly, your wedding’s in ten days, right?”

At Judith’s sudden question, Molly answered nervously, “Y-yes, miss.”

Judith’s eyes narrowed as she pressed further. “So how many days off are you taking?”

“F-five days…”

Molly’s time off for the wedding had been scheduled far in advance. Judith herself had even readily approved it.

“And what are you doing taking five whole days off? A wedding takes just one day, doesn’t it? If you’re going to do that, just quit your job.”

Judith picked a fight for no reason. Molly’s face fell. She had already made all her plans around those five days.

“I’m sorry, miss. Then… I’ll just take four…”

“Make it three.”

Judith cut her off sharply. Her tone left no room for argument.

“Yes, miss.”

Molly barely managed to hold back tears as she answered. In front of her mistress, whose engagement had just been broken off, she couldn’t say she wanted more time off for her wedding. Sheila, standing beside her, couldn’t offer any help either. If she spoke up rashly and Judith lashed out by reducing the time off even more, that would be a disaster.

All Sheila could do was avoid Judith’s gaze and gently pat Molly’s back.

That was when Allen burst in, his voice brimming with excitement.

“Hey! I heard your engagement got broken off?”

Although the Count and Countess had told Judith first, word had already reached Allen through some channel.

“Get out!” Judith screamed.

“Come now, little sis. You shouldn’t treat your dear brother like that when he came to comfort you. It’s exactly that nasty temper that got your engagement canceled.”

Judith, in turn, expressed her gratitude for her brother’s comforting visit by throwing precious objects at him.

Allen nimbly dodged the flying items, flitting about with ease. Being in his prime physically, avoiding a few flying objects was nothing. In fact, he even caught a few mid-air to further provoke Judith.

Thanks to Allen, who had practically come to fan the flames, Sheila and Molly felt on the verge of tears.

“Get out, I said get out!”

Now truly enraged, Judith finally burst into tears.

“Oh, listen to that mouth.”

“Ahhh!”

Judith grabbed the porcelain vase, her last line of defense.

To stop her from throwing it, Sheila and Molly threw themselves forward. But it was too late. The vase had already left Judith’s hand, flying through the air. Allen quickly shut the door and slipped out, and the vase shattered against it with a crash. Just like Judith’s engagement that had nearly succeeded, only to break.

Judith pounded her fists into her bed and sobbed bitterly. Sheila and Molly, hearts heavy, had to clean up the shards of glass scattered across the room.

Of course, the hellish time didn’t end there.

For a while, they had to console Judith, who lay crying face down on the bed. Let her cry it out? Not a chance. Unless they wanted to be fired on the spot for neglecting their mistress, they had to do their utmost to comfort her.

Once she finally stopped crying, Judith demanded a full refresh—new bedding, curtains, even the carpet.

Next came the furniture.

“Move the display cabinet over there.”

When the maids finally moved the heavy cabinet with great effort—

“No. It looked better where it was.”

And so it went.

That evening, she skipped dinner and demanded various desserts late into the night. The head chef, clearly irritated, had to be coaxed into complying.

“I hated him too! I was the one who hated it the most!”

During her luxurious bath, into which she dumped an excessive amount of fragrant oils, Judith lashed the water in anger, leaving the maids soaked like drowned rats. She’d claimed she didn’t want the engagement, yet being dumped clearly left a big impact.

After the bath, they spent a full hour dressing her up as if for an outing. Seeing her doll-like, prettily made-up reflection seemed to finally please Judith. She lay down at last on her newly changed bedding.

Finally, having calmed Judith and put her to bed, Molly and Sheila exchanged wordless looks of mutual acknowledgment and praise before heading to their rooms.

Upstairs, Sheila still had to mend the clothes entrusted to her by other maids and update her ledger before she forgot. She dragged her exhausted body forward.

Still, at least she hadn’t been fired.

Sheila decided to take that as a blessing. Not being fired and staying employed at the count’s manor was more important to her than anything.

Food and lodging were provided. It was safe. She could even take on side jobs. This household job was incredibly valuable to Sheila.

Most of all, the steady monthly wages were essential. That was how she could send money to her brother back home.

Having strengthened her resolve, Sheila dragged her weary body and headed for her room on the third floor. Just as she was about to climb the stairs, a familiar voice echoed through the corridor.

“Hey there, pretty.”

The line was all too familiar.

‘Surely he doesn’t mean me,’ she thought in vain.

But unfortunately, there was no one else in the corridor except Sheila and the one who had just spoken.

She hadn’t even had a nightmare the night before, yet today was shaping up to be one hell of a day.

“Young Master Allen.” Sheila turned politely toward Allen and asked, “Did you mean me?”

“Is there another pretty girl here besides you?”

Allen, his bright blond hair a blessing from his parents, wore a sly smile on his fresh, handsome face.

Do you really have to use that face like this?

Sheila thought to herself.

He hadn’t been like this as a child… puberty must’ve hit him hard.

“Is there something you need…?”

“If I need something, will you give me anything?”

Ah… here we go.

“If there’s something you require, I’ll inform the appropriate maid. If you need a late-night snack, I’ll let the head chef know…”

“You.”

There it is.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not assigned to you, master,” Sheila replied in the most respectful voice possible, asserting that she wasn’t his attendant and trying to excuse herself.

But Allen, in a deliberately mellow voice, repeated himself, “You, the one I need.”