I stood before the red sandalwood doors, their scholarly fragrance heavy in the air, my heart pounding like a war drum.

This was it—

The Duke’s office.

He had summoned me here today…

Most likely for that incident a few days ago.

“Sigh…”

Knock knock.

I let out a breath and knocked.

“Come in.”

With that response, I pushed open the door, anxiety roiling in my stomach.

The first thing I did upon entering…

Was bow deeply and confess.

“I’m so sorry, Duke!”

“…Hm?”

To that earnest apology, the Duke only tilted his head in confusion.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“…Eh?”

Now I was the one caught off guard.

“You summoned me, didn’t you? I thought… it was to punish me for what I did to the young lady the other day…”

“…Huh? I had no intention of punishing you.”

“…Uh?”

“I just wanted to discuss something with you.”

“Discuss?”

Wait… so I’m not in trouble?

I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“So… what did you want to discuss?”

“That can wait…”

But before I could relax too much, the Duke’s expression suddenly darkened.

“What exactly did you do to Katarina the other day?”

Hands clasped before him, the Duke gave me a smile.

A smile that was… terrifyingly kind.

“Uh…”

Crap.

I just dug my own grave.

Overwhelmed by the Duke’s pressure, I had no choice but to explain everything that happened.

…

“…That’s it?”

To my surprise, the Duke didn’t get angry—he even seemed to forgive me rather generously.

“But… someone like me shouldn’t just go around touching the young lady like that…”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. You’ll have plenty more chances to get close to Katarina in the future.

In fact, it’s good you two are getting along early—it’ll make things easier. Otherwise… it’d be a real headache.”

At that, the Duke’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“…?”

I tilted my head. I didn’t really get what he was trying to say.

“Oh? I haven’t told you yet?” he said casually.

“You’re going to be Katarina’s personal maid.”

“No, you haven’t.”

Before I could respond, the butler standing beside him spoke up first:

“You strayed from the main topic before saying anything. You even said, ‘that sort of thing doesn’t matter.’”

“Ah…”

The Duke looked embarrassed.

“Ahem. Right.”

Clearing his throat, he straightened up and said:

“The reason I called you here is to officially appoint you as Katarina’s personal maid.”

“Personal… maid?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand the term.

It was because I understood it that I was confused.

I’d only been at the Duke’s estate a few days.

We barely knew each other.

Sure, I was grateful, but there was no foundation of trust between us.

And now I was being asked to serve the Duke’s daughter personally?

As if reading my mind, the Duke chuckled.

“You must have a lot of questions. Like, why entrust you with such an important role when we’ve barely met?

But this was all part of my plan from the start.

From the moment I hired you, I intended for you to become Katarina’s personal maid.

Do you know why?”

“…Because we’re close in age?”

“That’s just one small reason.

There are plenty of girls your age in need of money. I could’ve picked dozens.”

After a brief pause, the Duke continued:

“I don’t think you understand just how valuable you are…

You possess an incredibly rare gift—magical power beyond the reach of most people.”

…Magic?

“Judging by your face, you had no idea, huh?”

“So Kate never took her for a magic evaluation.

She really did keep it a secret…”

I didn’t catch what the Duke muttered after that.

“Ahem. Anyway.

As you know, the Anisette Ducal House holds immense power and status.

That naturally earns us enemies—people who would love to sabotage us.

And it’s not just me.

Katarina will soon be appearing in social circles, and many will target her as well…

That’s why I want someone strong enough to protect her nearby.

As for trust… we’ve already investigated your background.

Personally, I see no risk in hiring you.

After all, if you lose this job, you’d struggle to even survive, wouldn’t you?”

“…Haah.”

I sighed deeply.

Now that he’d laid it out like that, I couldn’t exactly refuse.

Still…

“Will I get a raise?”

“Of course.

Being a personal maid is a highly sought-after role.

So? Will you accept?”

“I accept.”

I replied immediately without hesitation.

“Then there’s just one more question…

Can you read?”

“…Most of it.”

My father, a merchant, had taught me to read in hopes I’d carry on the business someday.

Upon hearing that, the Duke smiled.

“Excellent.

When you return, I want you to read these first.”

As he spoke, a massive stack of books appeared on the desk.

Whoa. That butler is fast.

“…Yes, sir. Then if you’ll excuse me.”

I hoisted the books and was about to leave when—

“Oh, by the way… Ailena—

Did you… pat Katarina on the head?”

“…Yes.”

I turned to see the Duke’s face crumple.

He slammed his fist on the desk and grit his teeth, looking like he was about to cry.

“SHE HASN’T LET ME PAT HER SINCE SHE WAS THREE!!
I’M SO JEALOUS AAAAAAARGH!!”

“…Eh?”

While I stood frozen in confusion, the butler subtly gestured for me to leave.

And so, clutching the books, I bolted out of the room.

Meanwhile, after Ailena left…

“Your Grace,” the butler said with a sigh, “I understand that you dote on your daughter, but please try to restrain yourself around others.”

“To me, Ailena isn’t an outsider.”

The Duke’s expression returned to one of quiet seriousness.

“…I still don’t get it.
Why are you so invested in this girl?”

The butler—dressed in formal attire—posed the question earnestly.

“Knowing you, I doubt you’d take in a child with an unknown background on a whim.”

Technically, it was inappropriate for a servant to question their master like this, but he asked anyway.

“What do you mean, ‘shallow reason’?

This is very important, okay!?

If anything ever happened to Katarina, how do you expect me to keep living!?”

The Duke didn’t scold the butler’s tone.

It was clear they were more like long-time friends.

“…Josen, do you remember Kate Wilhelmhain?”

The surname Wilhelmhain was rare.

No—

It was legendary.

Even so, the name meant little to Josen at first.

Frowning as he tried to recall, he finally made the connection:

“That Disgrace of Humanity?”

At that, the Duke’s expression darkened.

“Don’t call her that.

Kate never did anything wrong.”

He leaned back in his chair and exhaled, remembering the first time he saw that silver-haired girl.

“She really reminds me of Kate…

That silver hair—probably from her father.

And that’s likely why her magic is stronger than normal humans’.”

“…”

Josen remained silent.

“…Kate once saved my life.

Without her, I wouldn’t have met you.

I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

“I couldn’t save her in the end…

But I can at least protect her daughter.”

As he said that, the Duke gazed out the window, hand reaching gently toward the sky.

“…Kate…

Are you doing well in heaven?”