1
In the hallway outside the servants’ quarters office, where faint scents of coal and wax lingered, three women were loitering. Dressed in typical maid uniforms with black dresses and white aprons, they had just guided a foolish “job applicant” who had barged through the mansion’s main entrance.
The maid who had first spotted the outsider spoke with an anxious voice.
“They’re not going to hire her, right?”
“Surely not… no matter how short-staffed we are, not a child like that.”
Another maid waved her hands in horror. Although there was a shortage of people willing to do housework these days, this was the mansion of a distinguished count’s family. Therefore, those who worked here had appropriate qualifications and a certain pride.
The maid who had been dragged along by her flustered colleagues responded in a disinterested tone.
“She said she’s not a child.”
“I’m not talking about her age. She’s obviously slow-witted.”
“And she reeks of country bumpkin.”
The two maids countered competitively.
The entire city faced a serious labor shortage. While servants were leaving the mansion one by one, hardly anyone was being replaced. They had already placed advertisements in local newspapers multiple times. However, every mansion was struggling to find people.
Now they were truly desperate for an extra pair of hands. Even so, the existing maids didn’t want just anyone to be hired. They’d rather work harder physically than have their collective standards lowered dramatically.
The maid who had arrived first pressed her eye against the keyhole.
“She has a letter of introduction from a baron’s household. If there are no major issues, she’ll probably be hired, right?”
The woman who had just arrived from the countryside was obviously provincial. Despite her shabby appearance, she possessed a letter of introduction, and from a noble family at that. Without it, they would have chased her away immediately.
The maid who had been complaining the most raised her voice sharply.
“She’s obviously problematic!”
The previously indifferent maid quickly put her index finger to her lips. The maid who had inadvertently shouted hurriedly covered her own mouth. Instead, she pressed her cheek against the door and listened to the sounds from inside.
Unaware of the situation outside, the interview was in full swing inside. The letter of introduction handwritten by the baron first passed through the housekeeper’s hands and was ultimately given to the butler. While he verified the letter’s authenticity, the housekeeper addressed the dazed “job applicant.”
“Miss Ellie… Brewer.”
“Yes.”
Ellie, who had been hunched over nervously, quickly corrected her posture. Her palms were drenched with sweat, and she clenched her fists. The housekeeper’s gaze fixed on her was extremely sharp.
Baron Mayers had made a great show of writing the letter of introduction, but Ellie didn’t completely trust him. He might have just made empty promises to get rid of her constant visits.
Mrs. Wise, the mansion’s housekeeper, scrutinized Ellie from head to toe with a critical eye.
“So you’ve only worked as a maid for one year at Baron Mayers’ house.”
“Yes, that’s correct…”
Ellie’s initially confident voice grew progressively smaller, almost shrinking. She knew it herself. That she didn’t belong here.
She came from a poor rural village and had barely completed basic education at the church’s charity school. She was so uninformed that until today, Ellie didn’t even properly understand how significant a count was in the nobility.
But the mansion she had come to was far larger and grander than expected. Honestly, would a place like this hire a poorly educated country woman like her?
In truth, even getting her first maid position had been merely a stroke of luck. Baron Mayers, who had moved back to his hometown after his finances deteriorated. He accepted any young woman who came looking for work, without conditions.
Originally, being such a remote place, there weren’t many unmarried women suitable for maid work. Thinking about it now, he might have been a perverted old man with an interest in young girls.
Mrs. Wise exchanged a subtle glance with the butler. The butler nodded as if he’d been waiting for this. With that, the authenticity of the letter was confirmed. The housekeeper immediately continued.
“We’ll hire you for now.”
“Yes…!”
Ellie’s face lit up momentarily. However, her joy didn’t last long.
“However.”
“Yes…”
“It’s temporary employment. For the first four weeks, your wages will be half. Is that acceptable?”
Temporary employment, half wages. Ellie was momentarily speechless. The temporary part was fine. It couldn’t be helped. She would just have to work twice as hard to secure permanent employment. But receiving only half the wages was concerning. She needed to support three younger siblings on her own.
But she had no other options. She had already spent all her remaining money on travel expenses, so she couldn’t return empty-handed. Nor was there any guarantee she could quickly find another job in the capital, especially one that provided room and board.
She answered in a thoroughly dejected voice.
“Yes…”
“Then read this.”
Mrs. Wise handed her a sheet of paper. An employment contract written in neat handwriting. Ellie took it and read it carefully.
Her eyes widened after just a few lines. The wages were extraordinarily high. Even half of this salary was more than her previous weekly wages.
Ellie’s heart pounded. This might even satisfy her aunt. Her aunt frequently complained that the children ate too much. She also realized that the baron had severely underpaid her, but for now, her excitement about her future earnings was greater.
Below that, the working hours, holidays, and other working conditions were densely written. Standard requirements for a house maid. Not particularly good or bad compared to the mansion’s magnificent exterior.
As her gaze reached the end of the document, Mrs. Wise asked in a cool voice.
“Have you checked everything?”
“Yes, yes…!”
Ellie quickly nodded. She didn’t want to appear dimwitted and risk losing even this temporary position, so she focused intently. Mrs. Wise immediately offered her a pen. Ellie carefully dipped it in ink and signed, holding her breath.
Mrs. Wise was secretly relieved to see Ellie reading and writing. Her appearance was so shabby that she thought even her literacy might have been a lie. Of course, even if that had been the case, in the current situation, they would have put her to work washing dishes at least. With rumors about earning big money abroad, it was impossible to find anyone willing to work.
Just as the contract was completed, a knock was heard. Then a maid with her hair pinned up entered the office.
“You called for me.”
“Yes, introduce yourself. This is Sarah, the head maid.”
The woman remained standing straight, only rolling her eyes to look at Ellie. Her gaze was as indifferent as if she were looking at a roadside stone. Somehow, it felt like the room’s temperature dropped. Ellie meekly lowered her eyes, feeling intimidated. Mrs. Wise continued amidst the chilly atmosphere.
“This is Miss Ellie Brewer. We’ve decided to hire her temporarily starting today.”
Only then did a sharp, appraising gaze fly toward her. Ellie unconsciously drew in a breath. A house maid typically deals with the head maid more often than the housekeeper. Therefore, falling out of favor would make continuing as a maid difficult.
In any case, the hiring authority ultimately belonged to the mistress, and by delegation, the housekeeper. Sarah responded immediately with a proper posture.
“Understood.”
Having survived the crisis, Ellie exhaled the breath she had been holding. This was her first long-distance journey, and she had even gotten a bit lost. After traveling with a tired body and going through the interview, she was completely exhausted.
Having finished her business, Mrs. Wise nodded lightly.
“Then I’ll leave the rest to Sarah.”
“Yes. Follow me.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Sarah turned abruptly and left the office. The bundle of keys tied to her waist jingled. Ellie, who had been standing in a daze, snapped to attention at the sound. She hurriedly gathered her luggage and followed the head maid.
When they entered the hallway, Sarah had already gone some distance ahead. As Ellie hastily caught up, Sarah asked in a brusque voice.
“Is that all your luggage?”
“Yes.”
Sarah looked Ellie up and down again. Just as the maids who had come running had described, her appearance was quite shabby.
Ellie fidgeted with the worn cuffs of her coat. Was it really that noticeable? This was her only outer garment.
Unlike the maids who put pride first, the head maid cared more about how well someone could work rather than their appearance. And that was something to be determined over time. Sarah strode ahead again and continued.
“You’re from the east, right?”
“Yes, New Chesterton…”
“Real backwater.”
Despite the cutting criticism, Ellie couldn’t offer any objection. She understood now that she had arrived here. To city folk, New Chesterton was indeed a backwater. Even the train station was a very recent addition.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
