Chapter 3

'This mansion looks like a demon might come out of it.'

Even the doorbell was broken, so I had to shake the iron gate at the main entrance to call someone out. After shaking the gate for about three minutes without stopping, someone came out from the front door.

A woman in her late thirties, dressed as a servant, stared at my face for a moment before opening the main gate.

"Are you Daisy Pagger, the new maid? I'm sorry for your late arrival. I am the head maid of the Weatherwitz mansion. Please come in."

As the head maid was about to lead me inside, she stopped and turned to look at me.

"Where is your luggage?"

I was about to shake my head but then remembered the interviewer's advice.

"None."

The head maid, who had been looking at me with a strange expression, turned back around.

"Normally, maids are not allowed to use the main gate or the front door. However, in this mansion, you can use them freely."

We passed through a small garden that looked as if it had been ravaged by a war, completely desolate.

"The owner of this mansion is only Lord Weatherwitz. Including you and me, and the cook and gardener who will arrive in four days, there are a total of three of us. Your duties will be appropriately distributed. You will do everything from cleaning, laundry, cooking, errands, to garden maintenance."

We stepped on the faded carpet in the main hall and went up to the second floor.

"Your salary will be paid on the 1st of every month, and your work hours start at 6 AM and end at 7 PM."

We arrived at a room at the end of the corridor, looking at the dusty windows on the second floor.

The head maid opened the door, and a spacious but empty bedroom greeted us.

"Big, isn't it? The only place where a maid can use a bedroom on the second floor, not an attic, annex, or basement, is the Weatherwitz mansion."

The reason I knew this was a bedroom was due to the large, old bed placed in the corner of the room.

An elegant but outdated stone fireplace, an elegant but old desk, an elegant but old chair, blackout curtains that would likely shower dust like snow if shaken, an elegant but rusty iron box, and a door that seemed to lead to a bathroom.

The room was well-equipped. As the head maid said, it was quite luxurious for a maid to use.

"You can freely move around any part of the mansion. There is only one thing you must remember."

The head maid warned me with a firm voice.

"Do not enter the master's bedroom. If someone asks about the master's whereabouts, tell them he is out. This applies to no one, not even acquaintances, friends, or distant relatives. The master is a very busy person and cannot receive visitors. Remember this."

Nod.

"Don't just nod, answer me."

"Yes."

There was something else I was supposed to add, but I forgot.

"Ha. You... No, never mind. Now, unpack your luggage. Once you're done, start your work... Oh, you said you don't have any luggage? Then come down to the first-floor entrance in 10 minutes. Since this is your first job, I've also folded the clothes you'll wear and placed them there. I hope you have a good stay."

The head maid quickly left the room after saying her piece.

Although I was alone, I wasn't in the mood to be lost in thought. I threw myself onto the bed.

"Cough!"

Dust enveloped me in a grand manner, but I didn't feel like getting up. It had been so long since I last slept in a bed. My body felt like it was melting.

After losing consciousness in a showdown with the great mage Mephisto.

When I opened my eyes again, it was surprisingly after nearly four years.

When I opened my eyes in the ashes, I was no longer in the form of my younger brother, Andert.

The male body maintained by powerful ancient magic had returned to its original female form.

'Have I died and fallen into hell?'

The question didn't last long. I could hear my heart beating strongly inside my chest.

"Didn't I die?"

But to come back to life? What exactly happened?

I went down to the island village where I used to live. The village, charred black by fire, was left in ruins, with no sign of human life.

Among the ruins, I found a piece of cloth that still retained the shape of clothing and put it on, heading to the port.

Fortunately, there was a military outpost on the coast. The soldiers coming from there found me and took me to the outpost.

While investigating my identity, one of the soldiers looked at the loose sleeves of the dress I was wearing and asked,

"Verty? Is your name Verty?"

Verty Lushan.

That was the name engraved inside the sleeve, and it was also the name of someone I knew well.

'This dress belonged to Verty.'

I caressed the name of my long-dead friend with my fingertips.

Verty and her family had passed away during the war, due to the bombing by the great mage Mephisto. I still vividly remember the day I buried their bodies.

"How old are you, Miss? Is your name Verty?"

After a brief moment of thought, I nodded.

The subsequent investigation was quickly concluded. Verty was my old hometown friend. Knowing her home, family, and life better than anyone else, it was easy to forge my identity as 'Verty.'

'Sorry, Verty.'

I'll only borrow it for a little while and return it to its original place.

"Don't worry, Miss Verty. The world is now safe. The Magic Alliance has defeated Mephisto and brought peace! It's been four years. The empire is now peaceful!"

I learned from the soldiers about what had happened to the alliance and the direction the empire had taken over the past four years.

They suggested I go to a refugee camp in the southern part of the empire, but I refused.

The reason was simple. I didn't want to be recognized and get entangled with my old comrades, including Raphael.

By this time, I had already realized that my body had a significant flaw.

The clash between the soul of the great mage Mephisto and my own soul had reduced my lifespan to three years.

I had no desire to meet Raphael again in this body.

I was no longer Andert, and there was no reason to continue living as Andert.

Weren't Raphael and the old comrades all connected to Andert?

'Even if I return in this broken woman's body, I'll only elicit pity and sympathy.'

I didn't want to trigger their guilt.

Considering all aspects, it felt best to live as 'me' rather than Andert.

'I'll live as me and try to fix this broken body.'

Even if it's impossible, I'll give it a try.

To do that, I chose Midwinter among the many cities in the empire.

If I can find 'that item' hidden in Midwinter... my limited three-year lifespan might be extended.

As I recalled the month it took to get here, it was nothing but hardship, so I gave up on reminiscing.

After changing into the maid's uniform and going down to the entrance, the head maid was waiting for me.

"I spent a lot of money to bring you here. I hope you can last at least a week. That way, you can get paid for your work and leave."

Was that why the interviewer looked at me as if I were a golden pig?

"Shall we start? There's a lot of work that has been delayed. It will be tough."

From that moment on, the head maid treated me like a slave.

And I worked like a slave.

Taking down the chandelier in the main hall, which hadn't been sold yet, to dust it off, clean it, and reinstall it. Dusting and cleaning the stair railings and stairs. Beating and cleaning the large carpet. Endlessly beating it. Cleaning the window frames. Cleaning the windows. Dusting the floor. Cleaning the floor with a broom. Oiling...

"Mi."

Is this my home? Am I a maid here? Or a slave? Am I a slave maid?

"Indeed, it's much faster with two people. You have good stamina and a quick mind."

It was a sincere compliment, but I couldn't even manage a smile.

The head maid will feed, house, and pay me for the next three years. I can't hit her.

"The sky is already getting dark. We need to get the ingredients before sunset. I'll finish today's work, so go on an errand."

The head maid will feed, house, and pay me for the next three years. I can't argue with her.

"Here, take the necessary ingredients and expenses. Don't even think about stealing. I know the prices of all the ingredients sold at the nearby market. It won't be good to have a bad relationship with the merchants. Be polite, especially in your tone."

If you're worried, buy them yourself.

It seems the head maid's duty is to protect the mansion.

As I took the small amount of money and left the mansion,

"Watch your head! If your pretty face gets scratched, it will be a big problem, Miss."

A large dining table passed by my face.

It seemed that the men were moving furniture out of the house opposite the Weatherwitz mansion.

'They're moving out.'

Is the owner changing? I wouldn't want a dark and gloomy neighbor either.