Chapter 15: Duke Edmund’s House (1)

Edmund’s life in the Grand Ducal Family was incomparably more comfortable and pleasant than in The Earl’s Family.

Although, in the beginning after arriving here, Yudith had to endure being looked at as a bastard.

But after her Magical power manifested, those whispers vanished, replaced by a chorus of praise for Yudith.

This was all thanks to her achievements, made possible by her exceptional Magic sense, despite not receiving proper Wizard training after her Magical power manifested.

Land reclamation, Magical Creature subjugation, Mana Stone mine development, and so on…

Having accumulated so many achievements that it was hard to list them all, she had transformed from a bastard living in the attic into the Duchess of Edmund, recognized by everyone.

Now, no one in this Grand Ducal Family would dare call Yudith a dirty bastard, and no one would treat her carelessly.

I, too, had spent eight years by Yudith’s side as her exclusive maid, busy assisting her.

Those eight years weren’t always peaceful. There were times when Yudith was very distressed, and I did my best to support her. Though I don’t think I was of much help…

And so, we had run together through eight years.

A life completely different from the original story.

Now, I thought about receiving severance pay and living apart from Yudith after seeing her become the heir of the Edmund Family and walk a happy, flowery path, but…

“Milady? I distinctly remember bringing in a tailor to make your dress?”

“So?”

“What is this?”

“It’s for you.”

I wondered what was going on when I saw a red dress that I hadn’t ordered, and I was about to question the tailor when I found out that Yudith had ordered it behind my back.

Where would a commoner like me have the occasion to wear a dress? Why is she trying to give me this noble experience lately? Feeling overwhelmed, I rubbed my face and called the tailor over.

“Is it possible to get a refund?”

“Ah, why!!”

“Why, you ask!! I told you not to waste money!!”

She’s all grown up now and yelling at me. I raised her so diligently, but lately, unlike when she was younger, she doesn’t listen to me very well.

She was so mature when she was young, but now Yudith has become childish, giving me a headache.

Even in the Grand Ducal Family, we absolutely have to save as much as we can in the impoverished territory at the edge of the domain. Even if we’ve become more affluent thanks to Yudith, that doesn’t justify me wearing a dress like this.

Working under the Grand Duke, his frugal mindset must have rubbed off on me, because I can’t stand to see this kind of waste.

“A refund… might be difficult…”

“Then, can we cancel Milady’s dress and replace it with this one?”

Looking at the tailor’s expression as she rested her chin on her hand, it seemed very difficult. Does she even know how much one dress costs to be doing this…?

Looking at the red dress in front of me, I couldn’t help but be captivated by its undeniably beautiful and elegant appearance.

Honestly, I’ve fallen into this world, and I did have a desire to wear a dress like this at least once.

Every day, I wear a black maid’s uniform, and at most, I have one or two sets of casual clothes in my wardrobe.

Even so, this was not it. What I’ve learned properly in the eight years since coming here is to know my place as a commoner between nobles and commoners.

This dress in front of me exceeded the bounds of a commoner, so it was an item I couldn’t touch.

“…Could I sell it if I sent it to the capital?”

“Chloe… don’t sell it…”

“The Grand Duke will throw a fit if he finds out. He’ll clutch his neck and collapse if he hears that you’re gifting me such an expensive dress.”

“What does it matter? I’m the heir now.”

“That’s… true.”

I was annoyed with Yudith, who had become so arrogant lately that she even tried to win against the Grand Duke. Lately, our conversations have been me saying, ‘No!’ and Yudith responding, ‘Yes!!’

“How much money do you think I’ve earned for the Grand Duchy? Can’t I even buy this? Bring Damian!”

“No, Milady, don’t say the Grand Duke’s name…”

“Did you call?”

Surprised by the unexpected voice from behind, my body leaped up. Damian, leaning against the open door, approached us with a gentle smile, having secretly listened to our conversation.

“I heard the commotion all the way in the hallway, so I came to see… What’s going on?”

“G, Grand Duke, that’s…”

“I bought a dress for Chloe.”

Yudith, looking up at Damian confidently, seemed to think she had done nothing wrong. Damian turned his head and looked at the dress, then chuckled softly and approached it.

“It’s not like the Grand Duchy’s finances will collapse from this much extravagance, so don’t worry.”

“No, Grand Duke…”

“As that annoying daughter of mine said, she’s earned so much money that I can turn a blind eye to this much.”

Damian smiled and approached Chloe, whispering softly in her ear.

“I’ve found a partner for you. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Oh? Really…?”

“? It’s okay to cancel it now.”

“Ah, no. Thank you. It’s a good opportunity, so I’ll give it a try.”

Ah, I was just joking back then… So there really is someone… It’s a good opportunity, should I go…?

Damian, blocking my path before Yudith could come closer, approached her, looking curious about what was going on.

“Annoying daughter, come with me for a moment. I have something to say.”

“Can’t it wait? I’m dealing with the dress right now…”

“Don’t be annoying. It’s important.”

I sighed heavily and saw Yudith off as she followed Damian, then reluctantly decided to accept the dress.

A dress I’ll never have the chance to wear anyway… I should exchange it for emergency funds later if something happens.

---

Yudith, who had grown up for eight years, had grown up beautifully, admirably, and proudly, without envy.

Unlike in the past, her hair had become softer, her skin was flawless, and her appearance had grown beautifully without envy.

Our Yudith, I raised her! Yudith had grown up so beautifully that I wanted to boast.

There was only one, very fatal, flaw.

Perhaps as a reaction to being too mature when she was young, she had become more affectionate and childlike as she grew up.

“I’ll turn off the lights.”

Yes… we were still sleeping together.

It was a situation that was too familiar to even mention.

Yudith was now an adult, and she would get engaged and married. So, I decided not to bring it up now, when it was too late and there wasn’t much time left.

I lay on the wide bed and looked at the ceiling. Yudith, who had crawled over next to me, wrapped her arms around mine. She must think of my arm as a bamboo wife, because she hugs it to sleep.

It was uncomfortable at first, but humans are creatures of adaptation, and now I was used to it and didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

“What did you talk about with Damian earlier?”

“Um… it’s not confirmed yet, so I’ll tell you when it is.”

“Is that so…?”

“What about you, Milady? What did you talk about with the Grand Duke earlier?”

“It’s nothing, he just said that after my Debutante, I have to go to the capital to greet the Emperor… and to be careful of the Second Princess… Just trivial things like that.”

‘It doesn’t sound like trivial things…’

Yudith buried her face in my shoulder as if she didn’t like it. What should I do with this Milady… The Milady who was so mature when she was young…

Was this her true personality? She couldn’t have developed this personality if she had suffered so much in the original story…

I stroked Yudith’s hair as she buried her face in my shoulder and closed my eyes.

“Hurry… and sleep… I’m busy tomorrow too…”

“Okay… good night…”

Lately, I’ve been falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Was I that tired? The workload wasn’t that high, but as soon as I lay down on the bed, I was so tired that I fell asleep immediately.

As I felt my consciousness fading quickly with each exhale,

I fell asleep.

**

“…”

Yudith looked at Chloe, who was breathing deeply next to her. She waved her hand slightly in front of her face to confirm that she was deeply asleep, then Yudith got up.

‘The sleep pillow works well…’

The sleep pillow developed in our territory, which had become the center of Magical Engineering.

This pillow, developed for people suffering from insomnia, was also one of the Magical tools developed with Magical Engineering.

Chloe had always been one to fall into a deep sleep and not wake up easily until morning. It was one of Chloe’s weaknesses that I had confirmed while sleeping together for eight years.

“Hehe…”

I couldn’t help but smile. I gently lifted Chloe’s head, removed the pillow, and placed it on my lap.

This was one of the ways I relieved the stress that had been building up from eight years of heir training.

Just looking at Chloe’s sleeping face filled my heart with an indescribable emotion.

Chloe’s black hair, illuminated by the moonlight coming through the window, was shining beautifully.

It was just black hair illuminated by the moonlight, but in my eyes, it looked like gentle glasswork.

It was as if the hair illuminated by the moonlight would fall in seven colors if I brushed it lightly.

‘She’s sleeping well…’

I looked down at Chloe, who was in a deep sleep, breathing softly.

I carefully removed my hair, worried that it might touch her and wake her up, then slowly admired Chloe’s face.

Already eight years. Eight years had passed.

In order to be recognized as an adult by Chloe, who kept treating me like a child, I felt that social recognition was necessary.

That’s why I waited eight years. Now, I was also a little taller than Chloe, though only slightly. Unlike when I was young, the size of my hands was now also larger than Chloe’s.

Even so, Chloe still didn’t see me as an adult.

I had no choice but to relieve this frustrating feeling.

I felt like I would go crazy if I didn’t do this.

Even the pajamas that Chloe wore.

The cosmetics she used.

The maid’s uniform she wore to work.

Even the bath bomb she used today.

Everything, everything that Chloe used.

I chose it all.

In that way, I slowly dyed Chloe with my touch in every aspect for eight years.

The uncontrollable emotion I felt for Chloe was.

An intense possessiveness.

I held my breath and continued to admire Chloe’s face.

What kind of dream was Chloe having right now? If it was a dream with people in it, I hoped it was a dream with me in it.

I thought that.

I gained wealth for Chloe.

And soon, power would come as well.

It was still a long way off before Damian, the Grand Duke, would step down, but once Damian stepped down, there would be no more obstacles.

‘If you just stay by my side, I’ll let you live without any discomfort. Dresses, jewels, I can give you everything you want.’

Why did I feel like time was running out? I felt like I was being constantly urged, and I felt like I had to hurry.

Otherwise, I felt like she would disappear from my sight at some point.

I knew that Chloe was that kind of person after spending eight years with her. That most of the emotions she felt for me were pity.

Was she going to leave me now that I had everything I needed?

That scary feeling seemed to be growing without stopping.

---

When I opened my eyes in the morning, Chloe was not next to me, having gone to work first.

I thought it was amazing that Chloe, who had never been late and always woke up early to start working.

‘I have a hard time in the morning…’

Even after living a second life, waking up early in the morning was still my weakness.

-Knock knock

“Milady, are you awake?”

“Yeah, I’m awake.”

I washed my face and sat down on the vanity chair where Chloe always helped me get ready.

Chloe’s hands gently touched my face, tickling me, but it felt good.

Because this time, when she thought only of me and looked at me for my sake, was the happiest time.

“I received a vacation tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

Chloe was someone who had never taken a vacation before.

I always told her to rest, but Chloe, who never took a vacation, was taking one for some reason, so I felt uneasy.

Chloe, who was brushing her hair, smiled slightly and looked down at Yudith, answering very gently, but the answer was sharp, as if piercing Yudith’s heart.

“I’m going on a blind date tomorrow.”

Yudith turned her head and looked at Chloe. Her red eyes shook madly.

It felt as if yesterday’s feeling was a premonition, and she couldn’t breathe well and couldn’t even answer properly.

“What…?”