Chapter 2

Instead of grinding her teeth, Harriet imagined sinking them into the emperor.

With that pleasant fantasy in mind, she tossed her mother’s letter onto the table.

She knew putting it off would only make her feel worse later, but she decided she’d read it after she came back.

“I should go visit the count’s estate first.”

Harriet muttered gloomily.

Who knows?

Maybe they’re short-handed and want me back.

And even if they don’t… I’ll beg if I have to.

I was the idiot who resigned!

I was wrong!

As she brushed the dust off her hat, a sudden chill ran down the back of her neck.

…What if they figured out I’m Elliot Dark?

…

No way.

Only Penelope knew.

And if they’d discovered her identity, they wouldn’t have sent a telegram.

The city guard would have shown up instead.

Trying to bury her anxiety, Harriet pulled her hat down firmly over her head.

Her light brown curls became especially unruly every winter.

The more she brushed them, the duller and frizzier they became, so a hat was practically mandatory.

Stuffing the telegram into her pocket, she left her apartment.

It had been three years since graduating from the Royal Academy.

Unable to withstand her parents’ constant nagging, she’d reluctantly become a maid and somehow survived.

During those three years she’d worked in three different noble households.

The third—and most recent—had been House Phelan.

It had been a surprisingly balanced workplace.

The eldest daughter was absolutely vicious.

The younger daughter was adorable.

Both made excellent inspiration for novels, and overall it had been a comfortable place to work.

Harriet had even imagined staying long enough to see the younger daughter get married…

Growing old alongside the countess while joking that they were both becoming crankier with age…

Then she’d come to her senses and resigned.

It was a frightening household that knew exactly when to reward and when to punish.

She’d almost become a maid to the very bone.

And now… somehow I’ve come back as a guest.

Ancient brick walls were draped with ivy that rolled across them like waves.

Above the dark green front door hung a polished bronze plaque bearing House Phelan’s crest.

Harriet stared at it for a moment before pressing the doorbell.

After the loud chime echoed through the house…

The door opened.

“Miss Brown?”

“Marsha! How have you been?”

Seeing the familiar face, Harriet immediately smiled.

Marsha, the maid she’d worked with, simply adjusted her glasses instead of answering.

Harriet took out the telegram and showed it to her.

“I got this this morning.”

“That was fast.”

“Well, we did ask you to come immediately.”

“Is the count home?”

“He’s in his study on the second floor.”

“Come in.”

“You know where it is.”

“Of course I do.”

Though she’d looked like a gatekeeper standing in front of the entrance moments ago, Marsha obediently stepped aside.

Harriet quickly slipped inside.

Perhaps because only two days had passed…

The mansion didn’t feel nostalgic.

Or even familiar.

Instead…

An astonishing sense of normalcy washed over her.

It felt as though she’d merely returned to work after a short vacation.

The nauseating familiarity of labor settled over her entire body.

Removing her hat, Harriet hurriedly tried to smooth down what was undoubtedly a tangled mess of curls with her fingers.

Then she suddenly asked,

“By the way…”

“Is it really alright to let me in without informing the count first?”

“I may have worked here for a year…”

“But I’m an outsider now.”

“Just go upstairs.”

Marsha answered curtly.

She disappeared before Harriet could ask anything else.

Harriet finished tidying her hair before climbing to the second floor.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the study door.

“Come in.”

Hearing permission, she smiled and opened it.

“I hope you’ve been well, Count.”

“Oh, Brown!”

The count immediately stood, even setting aside the book he’d been reading.

Harriet’s smile faltered ever so slightly.

A serious expression would’ve been easier to understand.

But this enthusiastic welcome…

Somehow felt even more ominous.

Then again…

Ever since yesterday, everything has felt ominous.

Why did he call for me?

Smiling warmly, the count gestured toward a chair.

“Sit.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Tea?”

“No, thank you.”

He’s even offering refreshments?

Harriet’s bad feeling grew stronger.

Being treated politely was one thing.

Receiving hospitality that exceeded all expectations…

That was unsettling.

The count had always been a decent master.

But he wasn’t the sort of man who treated former servants like honored guests.

What is he planning?

Despite having promised herself she’d beg for work if necessary, Harriet now sat down prepared to flee at the first sign of danger.

“I received your telegram.”

“You said it was urgent, so I came right away.”

“Yes.”

“I returned from my territory this morning and immediately sent for you.”

“When I heard you’d resigned while I was away, I was quite surprised.”

“Ah…”

“Haha…”

“It just… happened.”

“I had my reasons.”

There was no way she could admit,

“I quit because I thought my novel royalties would make me rich.”

Apparently having no intention of wasting time, the count got straight to the point.

“Brown.”

“I’ll be blunt.”

“I need you to keep working.”

It was exactly what Harriet had hoped to hear.

Yet…

She couldn’t immediately answer yes.

He’d sent an urgent telegram…

Just to ask her to come back?

Even if they were short on staff, would a count really swallow his pride and make the first move?

When Harriet hesitated, the count nervously rubbed his thigh.

Only briefly.

Then, as though putting on a performance, he stopped and smiled leisurely.

“I’m not sure what’s worrying you.”

“But this will be an excellent opportunity.”

“Because you won’t be working here.”

“You’ll be working in the Royal Palace.”

Harriet wondered if she’d misheard.

“…What?”

“The palace?”

The count nodded cheerfully.

His hearty smile, usually so reassuring…

Now felt strangely terrifying.

“That’s right.”

“As a palace maid.”

Has the count lost his mind?

Harriet’s mouth fell open.

She wasn’t offended that someone had decided her career without asking.

Nor was she thrilled by the honor of qualifying to work in the palace.

The very first thing that flashed through her mind was yesterday’s newspaper headline.

[Exclusive] Elliot Dark Announces: The Villain of the Next Novel Will Be Modeled After the Emperor of the Swan Empire! Stay Tuned!

Her impulsive act of provocation.

She had come to her former employer after receiving a telegram…

Only to be handed an even bigger disaster.

Me?

I never asked for this!

Instead of joy or excitement…

All Harriet felt was utter disbelief.

The emperor had already ruined her life once.

Now the count seemed determined to do the same.

Her face turned pale.

“M-Me?”

“Can I even become a palace maid?”

“As you know…”

She had no titled relatives.

No noble family.

She was nothing more than the daughter of a middle-class household.

She was about to explain she wasn’t even qualified to set foot inside the palace when the count interrupted her.

“You graduated second in your class from the Royal Academy.”

“And you have my recommendation.”

I don’t need your recommendation!

More importantly…

She didn’t want to go anywhere near the palace.

What if someone discovered she was Elliot Dark?

A horrifying future unfolded vividly inside her mind.

For the first time ever…

She cursed her own vivid imagination.

“Setting status aside…”

“In terms of ability and character…”

“I honestly can’t think of anyone better than you.”

Being praised as an outstanding maid didn’t make Harriet particularly happy.

Still…

She appreciated that he judged people by merit instead of family background.

“As it happens, the palace recently announced they’re recruiting talented people regardless of status.”

“So I casually mentioned your name while passing by.”

“It turned out to be perfect timing.”

“If I get you in now and secure a recommendation…”

“It’ll greatly help when Sally eventually enters the palace as the princess’s maid.”

There it is.

People always revealed their true motives in the end.

This had all been for the eldest daughter’s future.

The Royal Palace…

Objectively speaking…

It was an incredible opportunity.

Someone as desperately broke as Harriet should never turn it down.

But I don’t want it!

Why does it have to be the palace?!

That’s the one place where, if people discover I’m Elliot Dark, I might actually get arrested for the sake of international diplomacy!

Harriet hurriedly opened her mouth to refuse.

But the count suddenly clapped his hands.

“Excellent!”

“Then it’s settled.”

“You’ll begin work at the palace tomorrow.”

“Just don’t disgrace the recommendation I gave you.”

“…What?”

“Count?”

“I’m rather busy now.”

“We’ll talk another time.”

“When you visit again, have a chat with Emily.”

“She always liked you.”

“Count…”

“I can’t possibly—”

“I’m sure it won’t happen.”

“But if I hear that you failed to report to the palace…”

“And my reputation suffers because of it…”

He paused.

The warm smile vanished from his face as quickly as the tide receding from shore.

His voice turned frighteningly flat.

“I’ll have your skin flayed off…”

“…and throw it into the river.”

The coldness in his tone sent goosebumps racing across Harriet’s entire body.