Home/The villainess's personal maid is very good at her job/ch 6

Episode 6

After passing through the main gate, the carriage traveled for quite some time before finally coming to a stop.

Before Janet could open the door, a footman who had hurried over from somewhere opened it for her.

"Mind your step, my lady."

The footman extended his arm to her.

Flustered by the courteous treatment she was receiving for the first time, she paused for only a moment.

"Thank you."

Janet took the footman's arm as if accustomed to such treatment and stepped down from the carriage. The footman quickly retreated after she stood on solid ground.

Janet tried not to look around too much.

But even keeping her eyes forward was overwhelming.

The pressure she felt through her spine was immense. Today was the first time she realized that a 'space' could feel so imposing.

'Yes. This is Ludwig.'

It truly sank in just where she had set foot.

The only Grand Ducal house in the Empire, whose current head was the Emperor's elder brother.

The king of Western high society, and the wealthiest among all Imperial noble families.

Janet straightened her back as much as possible and took a step forward.

---

"Good. The paperwork is in order."

Nova Morgan.

The head housekeeper of Ludwig.

Her family, the House of Morgan, was one of the loyal houses that had sworn fealty to the Emperor for generations.

Born as the eldest daughter of the Morgan household, she had become a handmaiden to the current Grand Duke when he was still a prince. After moving to Ludwig, she had also briefly served as governess to the second son and first daughter.

With her accumulated experience and the Grand Duke's trust, Nova had finally succeeded in securing the position of head housekeeper.

Having never married and devoted her life to Ludwig, it was worth it.

It had only been a little over a year since she took the position, but her authority within Ludwig was considerable.

'—so the notebook Theo gave me said.'

The information Janet recalled from the original was only a tiny fragment.

Meaning there was almost no information there that would help her in her duties as a handmaiden.

In contrast—

'This is really useful. I'm glad I read it in advance.'

The notebook Theo had given her was incredibly helpful.

Thump.

Nova stamped the document Janet had brought with the head housekeeper's official seal.

"Janet Graham."

"Yes, Head Housekeeper."

"From now on, you will serve exclusively as Lady Julietta Ludwig's personal handmaiden. Understood?"

"Yes, I understand, Head Housekeeper."

That Nova preferred people who were formal and proper—that too was written in the notebook.

That she preferred to be called 'Head Housekeeper' rather than simply 'Housekeeper' was also information from the notebook.

"Your quarters have been prepared in Lady Julietta's villa. Unlike other servants, handmaidens reside in their mistress's villa. What do you think the reason is?"

"I believe it is to serve the Lady at the closest possible distance."

"Correct."

Nova answered gracefully.

"Working hours are from eight in the morning to seven in the evening. However, if the Lady requires you, you must attend to her outside of working hours as well."

In other words, she might have to work day and night—but she didn't mind.

During her time in the Graham household, Janet had been forced to pull all-nighters more times than she could count.

"For today, go to your room, unpack, and wait. If the Lady calls for you, go and pay your respects. If she does not call, do not seek her out unnecessarily."

"Yes, Head Housekeeper."

"Your actual duties begin tomorrow. As a proud handmaiden of Ludwig, do your utmost to attend to the Lady."

At Nova's sharp warning, Janet bowed.

"I will keep that in mind."

Staring intently at the crown of Janet's bowed head, one corner of Nova's mouth twitched upward.

"And."

Her voice, which had been sharp throughout, softened considerably.

"If you encounter any trouble during your work, you may come to me. I am rather known for looking after my subordinates."

"Yes. Thank you for your consideration, Head Housekeeper."

At Janet's reply, Nova nodded with a kind smile.

It was about time for her to say "You may go."

But instead, Nova suddenly began stroking her own neck.

"Oh dear. My neck feels rather bare today."

Nova, flauntingly touching her neck, checked Janet's expression.

Janet before her eyes was……

"Hm?"

Blinking her large eyes, she simply tilted her head.

Her innocent expression seemed to say, "Why would your neck feel bare?"

'Oh dear. A dim-witted fool has arrived.'

Most people would have taken the hint and offered even a piece of jewelry they were wearing.

Even if not that, they'd at least signal something like "I'll repay your kindness."

Hoo.

Nova let out a faint sigh and her brows twitched irritably.

'Now that I look, she seems penniless, doesn't she?'

She had expected someone from a wealthy family since she came with a Marchioness's recommendation letter, but her appearance was shabby beyond measure.

Tsk. Clicking her tongue, Nova widened her eyes and said.

"Aren't you leaving yet? Your business here is finished, so go on now."

"Oh, yes! I'll be going then. I look forward to working with you, Head Housekeeper."

Janet, who had been waiting with her hands clasped over her stomach, bowed politely and left the room.

Thump.

After the door closed, Nova's expression twisted fully.

Leaning back against her chair in annoyance, she fidgeted with her well-manicured long nails and murmured.

"Dim-witted, stupid, and penniless? Well. That handmaiden suits that Lady perfectly."

She didn't look like she had any source of money at all.

Tick, tick. A sly smile formed at the corner of Nova's lips as she flicked her nails.

'But that's fine.'

After all, Janet's mistress was none other than Julietta Ludwig.

The ill-tempered villainess!

If she endured Julietta's capricious nature, there would come a day when she'd want to ask for help.

And even if she didn't—

"There are many ways to make people miserable."

Picking the pockets of naive young things who entered the Grand Ducal Ludwig household with illusions of grandeur—that was her hobby and specialty.

Grind them down so thoroughly that they came begging for help on their own.

Of course, she never granted favors to those who came empty-handed.

There was no such thing as a free ride in this world.

Maids, servants.

Valets and handmaidens.

Even if someone looked penniless, people in desperation always found a way to scrape together money from somewhere.

Hmph.

A pleasant humming escaped through her crooked lips.

---

«Nova Morgan – Fond of Bribes»

Hmm. So that was true too?

After leaving Nova's room, Janet once again marveled at the notebook's accuracy.

'But I never expected her to be so blatant about it.'

Since it was only briefly written as 'fond of bribes,' she hadn't known the manner of demand. She'd had quite a hard time keeping her expression in check when Nova had blatantly murmured, "My neck feels bare."

Now, what to do.

In the conventional approach, giving Nova a bribe wouldn't have been a bad idea. Getting on the head housekeeper's good side could only benefit her.

But Janet found that method distinctly unappealing.

'Bribes are bad!'—it wasn't about that kind of naive sentiment.

Though she did feel somewhat uneasy about the act of bribery itself, there was another, bigger reason.

Namely—

'That brazenness reminds me too much of Graham.'

The Viscount and Viscountess Graham, and Simon Graham.

The way they did nothing themselves yet sought to satisfy their greed by taking from the weak—it was exactly like them.

It wasn't that she harbored some grand, righteous resolve to eliminate Nova.

'I just don't want to give in so easily to bribery.'

Hmm.

After a moment's thought, Janet quickly reached her decision.

She wouldn't give.

With her employment already confirmed, the dismissal of a handmaiden was fundamentally under the jurisdiction of each mistress.

Terminating a contract mid-term was also uncommon, so it meant the risk of being fired was practically nonexistent.

As long as she wasn't fired, there was nothing major to worry about.

---

Chapter. How to Respond to Hazing

The next morning.

No sooner had the sun risen than Janet pulled herself out of bed.

She'd worried she might not sleep due to nerves on her first day, but the fluffy bed and soft covers had eased her concerns.

She could count on one hand the number of times in her life she'd slept so soundly.

Stretch. Janet yawned and looked blankly around the room.

Neat wallpaper and curtains. A fairly large personal wardrobe. A sturdy-looking desk and chair.

And the room itself was not small either.

It took a full eight steps to get from the bed to the desk.

"……A room this nice is mine now."

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