Chapter 118: Confinement – 3

“Well, well, please take care of me!”

Joanne, stepping into Rondor Castle as an apprentice maid for the first time, bowed deeply and greeted her seniors.

Thanks to Vivian Rondor’s upcoming birthday, the castle was in urgent need of extra hands, and Joanne was lucky enough to seize the opportunity.

Her family couldn’t contain their joy when they heard she would be working as a maid in the castle.

To think, she would be serving none other than Vivian Rondor herself.

There was no need to elaborate on Vivian Rondor’s numerous accomplishments.

As a citizen of Loctana, everyone revered her, and Joanne was no exception.

Joanne held infinite respect for Vivian, who had single-handedly brought prosperity back to Roktana.

The fact that she had achieved it all as a woman made it even more astounding.

Her family celebrated with festivity in their cramped and shabby home, and during those moments, Joanne felt her chest swell with pride.

She would never forget how her mother had collapsed into a chair in shock when she heard about the salary.

“Alright. You’ve done well to come here. I’m ‘Leah.’ I’ll be in charge of you, so just follow my instructions until you get the hang of things. Got it?”

“Y-yes! Yes!”

Joanne was determined to do whatever it took, especially thinking of her family’s joy.

She couldn’t afford to let their expectations down.

Life outside the castle was far harsher anyway.

Washing clothes, sweeping, and cleaning floors were simple tasks for her.

Even if the Lord of Rondor Castle was a man and demanded her body, Joanne thought she could endure it.

After all, this wasn’t some lowly family, but the prestigious Rondor family.

What couldn’t she handle?

However, there was no need for such worries in Rondor Castle.

The lord, ruler, and head of this castle was Vivian Rondor, and she was a woman.

A woman who had achieved unparalleled accomplishments admired by all.

Could there be a better place than this?

Joanne was certain there couldn’t be.

She only needed to recall her jealous friends’ reactions when she mentioned working at Rondor Castle to know how lucky she was.

Leah, Joanne’s senior, nodded in satisfaction at her enthusiastic response.

“Joanne, I understand. I’m an apprentice too, so don’t be too nervous. Still, you should learn people’s faces quickly.”

“Yes, understood!”

Joanne’s days quickly grew busy.

Before she could even adapt to the castle, she was thrown into work.

Waking up early every morning, she cleaned the castle, which didn’t allow even a speck of dust.

From the rooms and reception halls for important guests to the hallways and servant quarters, everything had to be spotless.

Not a single chair, curtain, or candlestick atop a bookshelf was spared from her touch.

She worked with Leah to tidy guest beds, change pillowcases, and prepare flower petals to scatter on the beds as soon as the guests arrived.

The kitchen, bustling with preparations for the banquet, was full of energy.

Joanne assisted with chores there, all the while observing how the head maid and kitchen maids prepared for the banquet.

The head maid taste-tested wines in the cellar to ensure none were spoiled and prepared plump animals to be slaughtered for the feast.

It was Joanne’s first time seeing preparations for such a large banquet, and her heart raced with excitement just watching it.

It seemed banquets were something women couldn’t help but yearn for.

From a distance, she also had the chance to glimpse the central figure of it all.

She had once seen Vivian Rondor during a procession through Loctana’s streets, but now, seeing her up close, she practically glowed.

“…Wow.”

Vivian’s beauty was overwhelming, leaving Joanne almost entranced.

She wondered if they were even the same species.

With a lofty and elegant demeanor, Vivian watched over the banquet preparations with a cold gaze, giving icy commands to correct any shortcomings.

She was as beautiful and frosty as the rumors claimed.

It was only then that Joanne truly realized the allure of a powerful woman.

And she was just now an adult herself.

Joanne, 24 years old, felt pitiful reflecting on what she had achieved so far.

At night, after finishing her day’s work, Joanne would chat with the other maids in their dormitory.

About ten of them shared the space, with three more rooms like it.

Though she was still shy and spoke little, her mouth would open naturally whenever the conversation turned to Vivian Rondor.

“…She’s just so beautiful. This was my first time seeing her up close, and now I understand why Mr. Thomas next door praises her so endlessly.”

Leah teased Joanne’s reaction with a joking comment.

“Just don’t fall for her.”

“Wh-what? How could I… And besides, she’s a woman. I don’t swing that way. I prefer strong men.”

“Well, that’s a relief. But many do fall for her, you know.”

“I-I haven’t fallen for her, but… it would be an honor to serve her directly. That much I mean sincerely.”

Leah nodded.

“Work hard. You never know, one day it might happen.”

To personally serve the renowned Vivian Rondor.

Could there be a greater reversal of fortune?

Joanne’s heart swelled with anticipation.

As she smiled, reminiscing about Vivian’s achievements, someone suddenly came to mind, prompting Joanne to ask a casual question.

“Oh, now that I think about it, isn’t there always someone by Vivian’s side?”

“Who?”

“You know, that demon. The man with black hair… Alan… No, I mean Kailo Alan.”

At Joanne’s innocent question, the dormitory fell into complete silence.

“…What?”

Feeling as though she’d made a mistake, Joanne froze in place.

The atmosphere grew heavy, as if the air itself had shifted.

“Joanne.”

Leah leaned in and whispered seriously into her ear.

“In this castle, there’s one taboo for maids.”

“…W-what is it?”

“For us, Kailo Alan doesn’t exist. Got it?”

“But what does that mean…”

“If you see a towering man with black hair, just pretend you didn’t. Turn your head. Understand?”

Thinking it was some sort of joke, Joanne tried to smile, but the nine pairs of cold eyes fixed on her quickly silenced it.

Joanne had no choice but to nod, utterly clueless.

“Ah, alright.”

But even this wasn’t something she needed to worry about too much.

The giant with black hair that the maids were so concerned about was nowhere to be seen.

When someone tells you not to think about something, it only makes you think of it more.

Without realizing it, Joanne began rolling her eyes around, looking for such a figure the next day.

But… she couldn’t find anyone.

It was as if he was a creature from a fairy tale, an unreal existence.

She thought maybe it was natural, considering she hardly saw Vivian either.

It had been several days since Joanne started living in the castle, but she hadn’t seen even a glimpse of him.

“Is the work suiting you?”

One day, while she was busy sweeping the yard, someone suddenly asked her.

Hearing the lofty voice, Joanne turned her head, assuming it was the head maid.

But the person standing there was unexpected.

Red hair.

Red eyes.

It was Vivian Rondor herself.

The figure she had only observed from afar now stood within arm’s reach.

Joanne quickly bowed her head, suppressing the feeling that her heart might leap out of her chest.

“V-Vivian, ma’am! Ah, um… yes! I-It’s going well! Everyone has been so kind…!!”

Did she even remember that Joanne was a newly recruited maid?

The unexpected kindness almost brought tears to her eyes.

Perhaps this was why those under Vivian were so loyal to her.

“I see. Keep up the hard work.”

With that, Vivian ended the conversation cleanly and walked away.

Maybe she was too lost in thought to notice, but Vivian and the crowd of people following her passed right by Joanne.

How did she not notice such a large group approaching?

The head maid glared at her disapprovingly, as if to ask why she had been standing there.

But Joanne had simply been doing her job diligently.

She felt wronged, but there was nothing to say.

As Vivian Rondor’s departing figure faded away, Joanne also glanced at the soldiers accompanying her.

Among them was one particularly tall figure.

With a helmet on, the color of his hair couldn’t be seen.

…Could that be Kailo Alan?

If so, he was smaller than the rumors suggested.

That night, after finishing her work early, Joanne was resting alone in her room when the maids burst in urgently.

“Is there an empty hand here? We need to deliver warm water to Lady Vivian’s room, but no one’s available…”

Being the youngest and eager to seize any opportunity to approach Vivian Rondor, Joanne raised her hand instantly.

Even though her senior, Leah, wasn’t around, she didn’t mind.

“I-I’ll help!”

“Then hurry up!”

Suppressing her excitement, Joanne ran alongside the maid.

Perhaps this was her chance to leave a lasting impression on Vivian Rondor.

Should she try to express her desire to serve more closely?

If she could even assist in bathing Vivian Rondor, it would be the greatest honor.

She was the ruler of this vast territory, after all.

Standing before her, one naturally felt compelled to bow.

Joanne stopped by the backyard and filled a basket with warm water.

Three or four senior maids were doing the same.

“What’s your name?”

One of the senior maids asked.

“Joanne.”

“Alright, Joanne. Do you know the rules for entering Lady Vivian’s room?”

Rules?

She wasn’t sure, but saying she didn’t know didn’t seem like a good idea.

She couldn’t afford to miss this chance.

“Ah, yes, I know.”

“Good. Don’t make any mistakes.”

Whatever it was, as long as she didn’t upset Vivian, there shouldn’t be a problem.

Joanne decided to put aside any daring ideas about offering her service.

As the senior had said, acting without mistakes was the priority.

Well, she didn’t think anything would go terribly wrong anyway.

Vivian Rondor was a figure known for her overwhelming charisma and dignity, but up close, she seemed attentive enough to notice even a lowly maid like Joanne entering the castle.

She was kind.

It was said that public reputation often painted a more fearsome picture.

As Joanne struggled to carry the heavy water, she finally arrived at Vivian’s door.

Her heart raced as she thought of Vivian being just behind this door.

The senior maid took a deep breath and knocked.

“Lady Vivian, the warm water has been prepared.”

A refined voice responded.

“Come in.”

At those words, the senior maid glanced at Joanne.

“…Watch your eyes.”

“Huh?”

Without explaining, the senior maid opened the door.

Joanne lowered her gaze to the floor as she stepped inside.

The air in the room carried a strange tension.

There was the warmth of the room, a floral fragrance, the crackling sound of burning logs, and the luxurious carpet underfoot.

Feeling sweat forming on her hands that held the basin, Joanne followed the senior maid, keeping her eyes focused only on her heels.

Then, a voice reached her ears.

“…Are you still refusing to eat?”

Joanne doubted her ears.

It was Vivian’s voice, but it lacked its usual coldness.

Instead, it was soft and affectionate.

It was a voice filled with various emotions.

Who could evoke such a tone from Vivian Rondor, who could bring everyone to their knees except the king?

Before she could stop herself, Joanne glanced up.

“…Huh?”

What she saw shocked her.

A massive man was bound to the bed, his wrists cuffed.

And next to him, leaning closely as if teasing, was Vivian.

A man.

In Vivian’s room.

Black hair, black eyes.

Broad shoulders and a muscular upper body laid bare, riddled with scars.

And… a strikingly handsome face that perfectly matched Joanne’s type.

No one needed to say it.

This was Kailo Alan.

A man as infamous as Vivian Rondor herself.

He exuded a heavy atmosphere with his intense charisma and dangerous presence.

He was imprisoned in this room.

That explained why no one had seen him until now.

…But why was he here?

Joanne’s mind couldn’t keep up with the situation.

The fact that there was a man in Vivian’s room was hard enough to believe.

Her breath quickened as if she were witnessing a grave crime scene.

It felt like she had just glimpsed the dark side of Vivian Rondor.

Vivian, who seemed lofty and pure.

Wasn’t nobility supposed to be extremely cautious about scandals?

Wasn’t purity particularly important for women?

Vivian Rondor was considered a symbol of nobility itself.

It was said many noblemen of high status had proposed to her, only to be rejected.

Even the most eligible bachelors in the kingdom had been rebuffed by Vivian Rondor.

People said she distanced herself from men for the sake of her family and land.

She was a woman who had survived countless deadly trials to eliminate her enemies.

She wasn’t someone close to men.

That’s what everyone believed.

“…I cut it into bite-sized pieces for you. It’s the lamb you like.”

“Or do you dislike the smell? Should I have them cook a fresh one?”

What is this?

Joanne’s mind went blank from the shocking scene before her.

The most surprising thing of all was Vivian’s behavior.

She looked desperate, trying to cater to the man’s mood.

Vivian gazed at him with a mix of affection and obsession.

Only now did Joanne realize that a person could look at someone else with such a gaze.

And yet, it was equally unbelievable that Kailo Alan rejected such beauty.

Could a human willfully refuse this beauty and charm?

Besides, wasn’t Kailo Alan and Vivian Rondor supposed to be…

While she was frozen, Kailo Alan’s gaze shifted to Joanne.

Perhaps it was because of his confinement, but his decadent eyes looking at her made Joanne’s face flush.

Maybe it was because she’d heard so much about how dangerous he was—her heart pounded instinctively.

She knew she shouldn’t think this way, but… he was handsome.

Striking.

For a moment, forbidden thoughts of indulging in a reckless dalliance with him crossed her mind.

However, as Kailo’s gaze moved from Vivian to Joanne, Vivian’s gaze also shifted—from Kailo to Joanne.

And in that moment, Vivian’s look wasn’t affectionate—it was filled with dangerous jealousy.

It was as if she had read Joanne’s improper thoughts just moments ago.

“…Who are you?”

Vivian whispered.

Her tone suggested she felt mocked, as if Joanne had made a fool of her desperate attempts to win Kailo over.

Her senior maid grasped Joanne’s trembling hand anxiously.

“…Gasp!”

Joanne hurriedly averted her gaze, but it was already too late.

“…Ha.”

Vivian let out a hollow laugh, as if she found it all absurd.

“Are the maids not being properly trained these days?”

She directed her words toward the senior maid, who could only tremble in response.

Vivian broke away from Kailo’s arms and walked toward Joanne.

Joanne bent over, her body trembling.

Each step Vivian took felt terrifyingly heavy.

Vivian’s small feet stopped right in Joanne’s line of sight.

She spoke coldly.

“…My man is handsome, isn’t he?”

It was a question meant to boast, but her words carried a mix of jealousy and fury.

It was as if she couldn’t stand the fact that Kailo’s gaze had even briefly turned toward Joanne.

“…But I don’t remember saying you could look at him.”

“V-Vivian, my lady…”

Seeing Vivian consumed by such deep jealousy, Joanne felt her illusions about her slowly shatter.

“I-I-I’m sorry…”

“…Do you think saying sorry is enough? You’ve already seen what you shouldn’t have.”

The cold pressure from Vivian suffocated Joanne.

Never before had she felt such fear in her life.

Her past self, who once admired and wanted to serve Vivian, now seemed utterly foolish.

Joanne finally understood why the senior maids had warned her to pretend Kailo Alan didn’t exist.

“…Vivian.”

At that moment, a low voice called out her name.

Vivian let out a sigh and asked,

“…Don’t tell me you’re siding with a maid you’ve never even met before.”

“Stop making a fuss. What exactly did she do to deserve this?”

“…You ignore everything I say, but you glance at another woman, and you expect me to act calm?”

Kailo Alan seemed completely unafraid of Vivian, his demeanor unwavering despite being chained.

Vivian slowly composed herself at his words.

She looked at Joanne and said,

“…Leave. I’ll give you this one chance.”

It was hard to believe, but Vivian appeared to be yielding to Kailo.

Had she not, her attitude wouldn’t have changed so quickly.

“Y-Yes. Th-thank you, my lady.”

“If this happens again… I won’t let it slide.”

Joanne nodded frantically and began pouring warm water into the prepared bath.

All she wanted was to leave this place as quickly as possible.

“Oh, Joanne, wasn’t it?”

Just as Joanne was about to leave, Vivian called her name.

For the first time, Joanne realized how terrifying it was to have someone remember her name.

“Y-Yes, my lady.”

“Joanne, you’re aware that we’re expecting visitors at Rondor Castle soon, aren’t you?”

“Y-Yes. Of course, my lady.”

“Raise your head when you answer me.”

Joanne flinched at Vivian’s irritated tone and lifted her head.

“Yes…!”

She met Vivian’s red eyes, which glowed menacingly.

Joanne’s hands trembled against her will.

The compassionate figure of a lord speaking kindly to her maids was nowhere to be found.

Instead, before her stood a woman who was maddeningly obsessed with her lover.

Vivian spoke.

“What you saw today, when the visitors arrive at the castle…”

She raised a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.

Her elegant smile carried a sharp warning.

Joanne hurriedly nodded.

“I-I didn’t see anything.”

“How lovely you are to say that.”

Satisfied, Vivian smiled.

“…Now, leave. And don’t ruin my good time again.”

Joanne left the room immediately.

As soon as the door shut, she collapsed on the spot.

She was so shocked and terrified that tears streamed down her face.

“Hicc… Sniff…!”

It felt like she had narrowly escaped death.

Her senior maid was panicking nearby, while the guards tried to calm her down and comfort Joanne.

Joanne couldn’t shake the thought that she might be working in a far more dangerous place than she had initially realized.