Chapter 7

My name is Tanya. I don’t have a first name. Most commoners, especially those living in the slums, didn’t have surnames, so I never really cared about it.

Despite that, I now serve as a lady’s maid to a duchess’s daughter. I never would have dreamed that I, who once struggled to find food and didn’t know if I would survive the next day, would end up in such a position.

The lady I serve, Miss Iris, is a noble lady, dignified and graceful, yet she has a charmingly innocent side that makes her endearing.

How did I, a commoner, come to serve in one of the most prestigious families in the country? Simply because of Miss Iris’s whims. But I’m grateful for her whims, as they saved my life when I was on the brink of death. That alone is enough for me.

Moreover, Miss Iris often tells me that I am “precious” to her and treats me like a friend, which is truly humbling. Because of this, I want to serve her with all my heart. She has given me a reason to live, even though I once thought I was insignificant.

Recently, my precious Miss Iris was jilted by that despicable man.

It’s hard to understand how a man from the royal family could be like that. Not only does he fail to see Miss Iris’s wonderful qualities, but he also had the audacity to slight her, a duchess’s daughter, in front of a crowd, which is utterly unforgivable.

However, when Miss Iris returned to the secondary residence, she seemed to have already moved on. I was surprised, as she had previously been so openly infatuated with him. But I didn’t press her too much, thinking she had no reason to linger over such a man.

Miss Iris had mentioned that she might dismiss me, depending on what her father decided. But I firmly refused. My wish was to serve her, even if it meant following her to the ends of the earth.

Fortunately, Miss Iris was only placed under house arrest in the estate and faced no further punishment.

However, before I could feel relieved, I was shocked by the additional decree. Miss Iris was to act as the regent of the duchy?

When I heard this, I couldn’t believe my ears. My precious Miss Iris is a noble lady with a dignified demeanor and a well-rounded education, but I wasn’t sure if that would translate into practical administrative skills.

After all, her schedule as a child focused mainly on etiquette, and at the academy, she studied arithmetic, poetry, literature, history, and geography—general education.

I wondered how she would handle this new responsibility...

She gave me a series of instructions and is now poring over the documents she received from Sebastian.

I glanced at the documents and saw that they were filled with numbers and complex information, yet she read through them at an incredible speed.

Occasionally, she jotted down notes, which made me realize she was truly reading and understanding them.

Miss Iris, it seems, is beyond my comprehension. I realized this.

However, I promised myself to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t overwork herself, as she tends to lose track of her surroundings when she’s too focused.