I dragged my exhausted body over the firm mattress and crawled beneath the covers, bone-weary.
The moment I lay down, every event of the day drifted slowly through my mind.
‘I never imagined the Duke himself would come all the way down here…’
Simply being unable to ignore Callius had led to such unexpected consequences.
All I had wanted was to spare him the suffering described in the original story, yet it had drawn the Duke’s attention back to his son.
‘Perhaps this is for the best.’
If the Duke could maintain a good relationship with him, he would never consider bringing in an alternate heir.
And perhaps Callius could ascend to his rightful place as Duke without having to kill his father.
A proud smile spread across my face at the thought.
Ever since I arrived here, I had only ever done what I knew how to do—cleaning, laundering, weaving baskets…
Yet this time, I felt as though I had truly accomplished something, and my heart swelled with quiet joy.
The following day, perhaps as an aftermath of what had transpired, another guest came seeking Callius.
It was the Head Maid, Melissa.
After inspecting the hallways and the washrooms, she stepped into Callius’s room.
“Young Master.”
Melissa spoke in a tone that was both strict and deferential.
“I know that my heavy duties throughout the estate kept me from monitoring your circumstances closely. What those two previous maids did was undeniably my failing.”
Then came the soft rustle of her skirts.
Even in the dark room, I could sense that she was bowing deeply, offering Callius a sincere apology.
“I also apologize for the delay in assigning new maids. I shall send them promptly so that you suffer no further inconvenience.”
“…There is no need to rush. Select only those who are diligent.”
Internally, however, I thought otherwise. Heavens, please send the new maids at once!
Lacking the boldness to interrupt, I could only protest silently in my heart.
"…"
Melissa, visibly surprised by Callius’s measured response, fell silent for a moment.
After promising once more to send capable, hard-working maids, she quietly took her leave.
“Still, it seems the Head Maid cares a great deal about you, my Lord, doesn’t she?”
Once Melissa was entirely out of earshot, I spoke up in her defense.
Callius merely offered a dry, mocking snort.
“I doubt that. She never once came to check on me while I was stuck in here.”
He kept his distance, unaffected even by her apology.
“She is likely just minding my father’s wishes. In the end, she is merely an employee of this house, no different from any other servant or advisor.”
Perhaps… he was not entirely wrong.
From what I had seen, the Head Maid was never swayed by personal feelings; she was as rigid and precise with everyone as a machine.
She was probably no different when dealing with Callius.
In truth, that might well have been the wisest way to survive so long in such a grand estate.
Callius’s voice turned slightly darker.
“I have no desire to waste my feelings on whether someone stands by me or not.”
Perhaps because he had been isolated for so long,
he seemed to have abandoned all expectations and trust in others.
Given everything he had endured, it was only natural for him to feel that way…
Unable to offer a counterargument, I felt a pang of sorrow for him.
Late into the night, the Duke’s study in the Rivannion mansion remained as bright as day.
Yet the expression on the Duke’s face, seated behind his grand desk, was far darker than the brilliance around him.
Deep in contemplation, he rang the bell on his desk, and his advisor, Jerome, stepped inside.
“You summoned me, Your Grace?”
“Make the necessary arrangements to procure the defective magic stones for our household as swiftly as possible.”
“Yes, Your Grace. I shall see to it.”
Jerome, already reviewing the relevant paperwork, accepted the order and began to withdraw, but the Duke called him back.
“One more thing. Send missives to Amarcus and Michael at dawn. Tell them to report to the ducal estate with all haste.”
“To both gentlemen, Your Grace?”
Jerome asked, bewildered.
They were noblemen from collateral branches of the Rivannion family who resided on distant estates, having played no part in Callius’s succession line.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but…”
Jerome ventured, finding the instruction perplexing.
“Did you not just give orders to secure the magic stones to attend to Young Master Callius?”
He meant to ask whether Callius was still regarded as the sole son and heir, particularly when the Duke had just authorized further expenditures for his condition.
“Naturally, Callius is my only son. I will spare no effort in finding a cure.”
The Duke spoke calmly, raising an eyebrow.
“Yet the line of succession must always remain clear and unshakable.”
He cast a stern gaze out into the dark night beyond the window.
“We cannot be certain when a cure will be found. Therefore, we must prepare for the worst. It must never be said that our house lacks a worthy heir.”
‘Preparing for the worst…’
No ordinary father weighed calculated contingencies when it concerned his own child’s health.
Jerome could not help but shudder at the Duke’s cold detachment, well aware though he was of his master’s ruthless separation of duty from sentiment.
Setting all such thoughts aside, Jerome bowed low to confirm his obedience.
“Yes, Your Grace. It shall be done.”
“Yaaawn…”
“Goodness, mind your jaw! How can you gape like that when you yawn?”
Early the next morning, Tilda watched me as I stretched my jaw wide in a long yawn.
The other servants were lined up in neat rows across the main hall.
Once every week, the entire household staff gathered in the ducal mansion to receive their instructions.
“Silence!”
As always, Melissa cut through the murmurings with a single word.
The maids instantly ceased their chatter, turning their undivided attention toward her.
After scanning the assembly to verify that no one was missing, Melissa went straight to the point.
“I believe you are all aware that Mary and Dorothy were disciplined and reassigned to the laundry quarters for their negligence toward the Young Master, are you not?”
Who could fail to know?
Even now, everyone held their breath whenever the matter arose, terrified of sharing the same fate.
Yet why bring it up now?
Was Melissa looking to tighten discipline among the staff once more?
Amid the collective uncertainty, Melissa made a sudden announcement.
“To fill the vacancy, Lizzy Swan will officially serve as the Young Master’s Dedicated Maid, effective today.”
I could not hide my sheer astonishment.
A ripple of confusion swept across the hall.
Upon hearing Melissa’s decree, the maids began murmuring to one another with heightened unease.
It was only natural: I was a newcomer who had barely spent two months in the mansion, and I was blind.
Up until now, I had attended to the Young Master merely to cover a staff shortage, and everyone had assumed experienced maids would soon take my place.
“Lizzy, that’s wonderful!”
Tilda alone beamed at me, whispering her bright congratulations.
