Chapter 3

Indeed, the Duke's family, with royal blood, is worthy of marrying their daughter into the royal family of the neighboring country. The Duke's mansion, said to rival the royal castle, was truly impressive. The accumulated history of pride did not just gather as dust in the corners.

Working as a maid here would be quite challenging. The maids of the Duke's family are daughters of noble families. My family, though a barony, is so poor and weak that it is unclear which faction we belong to. I thought about promising not to reveal the secret of the Adam's apple and asking for a job in the future, but it seems better to give up on that idea.

Overwhelmed by the history that the furniture in the guest room seemed to tell, I sat on the sofa and examined the patterns on the fabric.

"Oh, you really came. I'm so glad."

At the arrival of the noble lady, I stood up and bowed.

"Thank you for inviting me today."

"Thank you for your kind words. But please, don't be so formal. I want to be friends with you."

She gently took my hand. The hand of the noble lady had a clear bone structure, thickened by holding a sword, a bit nostalgic and familiar, like my brother's hand. It was different from the hands of female knights, who, though trained, still had a feminine bone structure.

Smiling, the noble lady gestured for me to sit, and I sat on the sofa.

"I want you to be my friend."

Considering the difference in our status, this was an order.

"Someone like me?"

"You will do. After all, you are very skilled at embroidery. I've seen a few of your secret works."

I knew the secret works the noble lady was referring to. Embroidery is a pastime for noblewomen, but skill levels vary. The higher the noble, the more skill is required, but the world is not so simple.

One of my tasks was to prepare works that met the standards of embroidery expected from the hands of high-ranking noblewomen. They would eventually become the mistresses of high-ranking noble households. As a form of investment, I put a lot of effort into it.

"I really want you to cooperate with me."

She must be asking me to create works that could be published as her embroidery. I was at a loss for an answer. The hands that hold the needle and pierce the fabric are not the same as the hands she saw. I don't think a high-ranking noble would be fooled. Besides, the Duke's family has many connections to arrange for embroidery artisans.

"My mother gave me something, but I can't use it. If you accept the task, I will add this to your salary. After all, it would be a waste for me to keep it."

I was won over by the charm of what the noble lady held. It was a set of embroidery threads sold to commemorate the current king's 20th anniversary on the throne. The set included many limited colors not found elsewhere and was a topic of discussion among embroidery enthusiasts.

It was a coveted item for me. It was too expensive for my allowance, and I couldn't ask my parents for it. As a limited edition, its value had increased since its initial release, making it even more out of my reach. Now, there were two sets. This meant that even if I used up the limited threads, I would still have more. It was wonderful.

"I will accept the task."

My words were honest.