Iris 2

The old butler, Walter, called out names one by one and assigned rooms.

He was the butler named Walter.

He had that warm voice I first met on the interview day.

“Iris, you are assigned to the room at the far east of the second floor.”

My belongings were just a small bundle.

Some old clothes, soap provided by the director, and a small doll made by Serena were all I had.

Standing in front of the room guided by the butler, my heart raced.

The door opened smoothly as I turned the doorknob.

“Is this… really my room?”

My mouth dropped in awe.

The room was larger than the entire orphanage.

A large bed under soft sunlight from the window, a wardrobe, a desk, and even a bathroom were all there.

The floor was covered with soft carpet, and the walls were adorned with light crystals.

“This is… too luxurious.”

In the orphanage, thirty of us shared one room, but here I had this huge room all to myself.

The garden view through the window was like a painting.

Sitting on the bed, I was surprised by how soft it was.

Touching the bedsheet, it felt like silk from the market stories.

The bathroom had a large bathtub and fragrant soap and shampoo.

“If Serena and Rendi could live in a place like this…”

Serena’s hands always got rough in the winter, and Rendi suffered with frostbitten toes.

They would be so happy in this warm room.

I sighed and unpacked my bundle.

My humble belongings looked so out of place in this fancy room, making me laugh.

An hour later, butler Walter called everyone to the first-floor hall again.

“Now, your tasks will be assigned.”

Looking around at the gathered servants, there were about twenty people.

Everyone’s face was tense with anticipation.

“Iris, you are assigned as the exclusive maid for Licoris.”

My heart sank.

Licoris… the center of all the rumors.

“Y-yes… understood.”

I replied with a trembling voice.

The expression of the other maid in front of me twisted.

Her eyes showed concern.

Walter continued with the assignments.

Betty was assigned to the kitchen, Clara to Frostia’s room, and others to the garden and corridors.

“Licoris’s room is at the far east of the third floor. Your duty is to attend to all of Licoris’s needs.”

My throat was dry, but I nodded calmly.

The walk to Licoris’s room felt heavy, as if my legs were leaden.

The rumors I heard were horrifying.

“Licoris tried to devour the prince, but His Majesty knelt and pleaded to spare her life.”

“Really?”

“Didn’t you know? When Licoris gets angry, she drains the blood of all living beings without a drop left… but she looks like a child, so people let their guard down.”

Even after hearing such rumors, I couldn’t imagine what she was really like.

Arriving at Licoris’s room, my hand trembled as I reached for the doorknob.

Taking a deep breath, I carefully opened the door.

“This… this is…”

I was speechless.

This wasn’t a room-it was a palace.

The entire room was decorated in silver and red.

Shimmering crystals adorned the walls, with red flowers blooming between them.

A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling, adorned with thousands of small crystals.

It sparkled like the night sky filled with stars.

In the center of the room stood a bed covered in red velvet.

It was larger and more extravagant than any bed I could have imagined.

Beside it was a silver table with a vase of red flowers.

The floor was made of smooth crystal, transparent like ice but warm to the touch.

The contradictory sensation added to the mystique.

The window stretched from floor to ceiling, framing a view so beautiful it could be a painting.

“Um?”

A voice behind me made me jump.

It was Clara, the other maid.

She looked older than me, with neatly tied golden hair.

“This place… I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I was surprised too when I first saw it. It’s far more luxurious than the king’s chamber.”

“Have you seen the king’s chamber?”

Clara smiled slightly.

“I used to work at the palace. But this… it’s incomparable. This is truly a realm of the gods.”

Her words made me more anxious.

A being who lives in a room more lavish than the king’s.

“Um, whose room is that?”

I pointed to another room at the end of the hall.

Besides Frostia’s and Licoris’s rooms, there was another room with an mysterious aura.

“Oh, that’s the most special guest room.”

“Special… guest room?”

“Rumor has it… it’s for Nis.”

A name I’d never heard before.

“Nis… who is that?”

Clara glanced around and lowered her voice.

“Nis… well, Nis-nim is the ruler of the Deathmere Labyrinth. A friend of Frostia. She appeared at the meeting point of the two empires recently, didn’t you know?”

“Another dragon?”

“No, the rumors say… she takes the form of a giant snake. Also called Ouroboros.”

“Ouro… what?”

“This is a secret, but… she symbolizes the Evil God. That’s why the cult followers were so excited… and there are rumors she’s even more terrifying than Frostia.”

I caught my breath.

Frostia, Licoris, and now Nis.

Could I really survive among such beings?

My hands began to tremble.

My heart raced, and cold sweat trickled down my spine.

“…Okay.”

Clara’s voice didn’t register.

“Iris?”

“Huh? Sorry, I didn’t hear.”

“Let’s gather in the dining hall. It’s time for dinner.”

…

The dining hall was cozier than I imagined.

A heater warmed the room, and a long table was laden with abundant food.

Everyone sat around the round table.

“From today, you will be working together. Take this time to get to know each other.”

Walter said.

“I’m here because of debt. My father left so much of it…”

Betty started the conversation.

Tears glistened in her plump cheeks.

“My mother is ill, and the medicine is too expensive… I thought the salary here could help save her.”

Others began sharing their stories too.

Most were there because of poverty or debt.

But a few had other reasons.

A sharp-eyed woman at the corner spoke up.

“I came from prison.”

All eyes turned to her.

“I killed a slave trader. But I don’t regret it. I was waiting to die in prison, but they offered me this place.”

Her name was Lily.

She was a cat beastman, with long, pointed ears on her head and slitted, cat-like pupils.

Another man also claimed to have come from prison.

He was once a royal sculptor but was arrested for counterfeiting coins.

“My skills are just that good… I replicated the royal coins perfectly, so they couldn’t tell the difference. Anyway, this place is heaven compared to prison.”

His name was Dallen.

A man with sharp eyes and a bushy beard.

Listening quietly, I gathered the courage to speak.

“I… came from an orphanage. I’m here so the children can have a better life.”

My words caused surprise around the table.

“You… how old are you?”

Betty asked.

“Twelve.”

“Twelve!? My goodness, so young…”

Betty’s voice was full of shock.

The expressions around the table changed.

Coming from an orphanage and being twelve shocked them.

“No, I’m fine. I was the eldest at the orphanage. I can cook, clean, do laundry, sew… and brew…”

Betty grabbed my hand tightly.

“We’ll take good care of you. Don’t worry.”

Her words warmed my heart.

For the first time, my fear of this place lessened.

After that, the servants treated me with extra care.

Walter taught me manners and etiquette, Betty always gave me delicious snacks, and Lily offered to move her room next to mine.

“You might get scared alone. It’s better if I’m nearby.”

Their kindness made life here gradually more comfortable.

…

A week passed.

“Frostia and Licoris still don’t seem to be coming.”

Clara said as we met in the hallway after morning cleaning.

“Yes.”

I involuntarily sighed in relief.

My first task every morning was to clean Licoris’s room.

It wasn’t much work since the room was unused, but I still changed the flowers daily and replaced the bed sheets.

“But… will they really come?”

Clara smiled.

“Of course. All of this is for them.”

My heart grew heavy again.

Yes, they will come someday.

And when that day comes…

…

After two weeks, Clara handed me a small box.

“Here, a gift.”

“What is it?”

Opening the box revealed a purple dress made of velvet.

It was a beautiful dress.

Touching it, it felt soft.

“This… looks expensive. I can’t accept it.”

Clara smiled warmly.

“I bought it for you. Someday you’ll have a day off. Your clothes are too worn out.”

“But… this doesn’t suit me.”

“Doesn’t suit you? What are you talking about? A pretty girl like you saying that means we older ones have nothing to wear.”

At Clara’s urging, I tried on the dress.

Standing before the mirror, I saw a strange girl staring back.

She was me, but not me.

After years of ragged clothes, wearing a proper dress for the first time made me look different.

Tears welled up.

This was the first time I’d worn such a beautiful dress.

The director, Serena, the other kids-none of them had seen me like this.

“Iris? Why are you crying? Don’t you like it?”

Clara asked with concern.

“No… I love it. It’s just… I’m so happy to have such good people around me.”

As I spoke, tears streamed down my face.

Clara tried to wipe them but I hugged her first.

“Thank you so much, Clara.”

Clara hugged me back.

Her face bore a faint, sad smile.

“Don’t cry. Only good things will happen from now on.”