Chapter 7

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Early in the morning, Benny arrived at the Baron’s mansion. After formal procedures, she became the maid of the new residence. 

It had been a long time since they had seen each other, but neither Eliana nor Benny were fussed.

They kept their manners.

On the contrary, the person who did not follow the rules was Lujan, who had the lowest rank among them. 

“Who are you?” (Lujan)

“I am the Baroness’s first maid!” (Benny)

Lujan seemed angry at the thought that her place had been taken away. Benny didn’t respond to her aggressive words and just stared at Eliana. Eliana said calmly while stroking her fine hair that fell to one side.

“Lujan, Benny is my maid. She’s your boss too. Be polite.”

“But the maid………”

“Go to Sharchen.”

“….”

Lujan bit her lip.

“So I can’t choose a maid? You’re not my maid. Even Karman Hunter didn’t refuse my request.”

“Madam, but…but I am the first maid assigned to you!” (Lujan)

“Lower your voice in front of me. Aren’t you still receiving a maid’s salary? From now on, you must obey Benny’s words. Benny is my hand from today.” 

Eliana said without wavering.As if the script had already been written, Benny was calm.

Lujan, who was anxious, suddenly dropped to her knees and lay flat on the floor and spoke urgently.

“The loyalty you mentioned before, I will prove it now. Guard Joseph is selling Baroness Eliana’s information for money. All the conversations he had with you.”

“Oh my…”

Eliana had a gloomy expression on her face as if she didn’t know anything. 

“That’s some bad news.”

Eliana looked at Benny with a worried expression. Benny was one of the few who could tell the difference between Eliana’s fake expression and her real expression. After checking all the signs Eliana gave, Benny lowered her eyes and said:

“I will find out for myself. Madam.”

“This is the information I was talking about!”

“Do not get too close to Lujan who has this information, madam. She seems to be a dangerous person. Her manners need to be re-educated.” (Benny)

“What?!”

Lujan raised her upper body and shouted. Benny just stared at her coldly without any reaction. Eliana continued to speak, pressing her temples as if she had a headache.

“No, Benny. Rezan is proving her loyalty to me now.”

“I’m sure she can ask as many people as she wants for this information.” (Benny)

“No! Such information is not easy to find. That b*tch is lying! I didn’t ask anyone!” (Lujan)

Lujan couldn’t contain her anger and cursed. However, when the slang word ‘b*tch’ came out of her mouth, Eliana’s expression turned cold.

“What b*tch are you talking about in front of me?”

“Oh, madam, it… .”

“Who the hell is yelling and talking back to the maid I’ve chosen?” 

Eliana said nothing wrong. Lujan was now committing a great sin. She knelt on the floor again, biting her lips in anger. She was completely defeated in the power struggle.

“Madam, please forgive my rudeness. I will bring more information than this to prove my abilities and loyalty. Your maid will never be able to find information.” (Lujan)

At Lujan’s beg, Eliana put on a languid expression. No matter what Lujan did, Eliana would not believe her. But the information she brought was valuable. It was still usable.

After reading Eliana’s expression, Benny continued to speak as if she wasn’t satisfied.

“Get out of here, madam. She is a dangerous person.” (Benny)

“Benny, forgive her one time. Lujan took care of me before you came.” (Eliana)

“Madam.”

“Lujan. Bring me some information that will convince not only me but also the maid, Benny. Then you will always be my first maid. With Benny, you will be the only ones I trust.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Lujan got up, bowed to the two of them, and quickly left the room. Eliana still did not erase her fake expression and let out a languid voice.

“Benny. Can you fix my hair a little? It’s been so hard because I’ve been doing it all by myself.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“The dressing room is over there.”

Eliana gestured and stood up, and Benny followed her. There was still a possibility that Lujan or Sharchen’s maids were watching or eavesdropping through the crack in the door. 

Eliana threw away her fake expression as soon as she arrived in the enclosed dressing room.

“Benny!”

“Ellie!”

The two cheered and hugged each other tightly. Eliana and Benny were not just a master and a maid. They were the only friends who shared the pain of the past.

“Do you know how surprised I was to receive the letter? Baron Karman, is he crazy? It’s so disgusting.”

“Benny. Thank you so much for coming. This place is like a battlefield.”

“Don’t worry. I will be a gun and a sword fighting for you.”

“Benny, my dear Benny. I’m so sorry I called you to the battlefield.”

Eliana could not hide her sincere apology. But she needed Benny. At the same time, she thought that Benny would also need this position. Although her family’s financial situation had improved a little, it was not enough to pay Benny’s salary generously. Benny continued speaking as if she knew everything.

“You think I don’t know that you’re doing this because you want to give me a higher salary?”

“No. I really needed a side like Benny.”

In fact, Eliana was getting tired. In a situation where she had to deceive everyone and believe only in herself. It was a lonely fight. But with Benny, they could win. Benny was smart and quick-witted.

“Don’t worry. The moment you brought me, abandoned on the street, to be your maid even in difficult circumstances, I decided to be loyal to the Rose family. It has not changed even now.”

At Benny’s words, Eliana cried and hugged her again. However, Eliana quickly wiped away the tears. There was no time to cry. With Benny joining, the plan had to go faster.

Eliana headed to the library just in time for the shift of the guards. She left Benny at the secure entrance and took Joseph into the library.

She asked as soon as the library door closed.

“How much did you get?”

“I got 200 Dion.”

“Not enough. Next time, double the number.”

“Double?”

Guard Joseph said as if he felt bad for receiving 200 Dion. 200 Dion was equivalent to Joseph’s full salary. If he received double, it would be a month’s pay. But Eliana continued speaking without blinking an eye. 

“Of course. If you are a man favored by a Baroness.”

Eliana said, scanning his cheek. Joseph’s cheeks turned red. Eliana continued, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Favored?”

“It should be exaggerated like that.”

Eliana grabbed Joseph’s hand and went to the window. Then she put her hand on Joseph’s hard armor.

“Baroness!”

“At this time, the Baron is going for a walk. He’s going to see us very well right here. But what can he say to me? He can’t. Because he has Sharchen. But he will be curious about what I am doing.”

Joseph’s ears turned red. Eliana had a lovely expression on her face, but what she spoke was like a viper. They were all planned.

“I’m already in the midst of an obscene rumor that I’m a seducer. If you don’t want to get involved with me like this, leave me right now.”

“I can’t…… .”

“Okay, I like it.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Well. Do I have to tell you everything?”

Looking at his red cheeks, Eliana said as she leaned on Joseph’s shoulder.

“How much do you know about Gillian?” 

“Are you talking about Gillian Hutt?”

Eliana looked at him and smiled. Then, Joseph turned his blushing face and spoke.

“I don’t know anything other than that he hates people in this mansion terribly. If he met someone belonging to the Hunter’s family at the tavern, he would punch them. He is popular with other knights because of his friendly personality.”

It wasn’t much information from what Eliana already knew.

It was information that did not improve much from what Eliana knew. But it was satisfactory enough to check once more.

Eliana turned her body toward the window as she took her hand away from him. She smiled brightly as if she was happy, and said softly.

“Spread the words that I’m curious about Gillian. And that I want to know about him desperately.”

“But, he’s Helen Hutt’s older brother.” (*Helen is Baron Karman’s ex-wife.)

“Do I not know that?”

Eliana spoke as she made eye contact with Karman Hunter, who was standing still in the garden. She had a bright smile that he had never seen before. She smiled, not paying attention to eye contact, then turned around and closed the window.

Joseph looked confused, as if he had no idea why she was acting like this.

Eliana walked past him like that. 

“Madam, what are you doing this for?” 

Eliana recalled the moment she was doing this for.

There was only one answer. Poverty.

Eliana just hated being poor. She continued without turning around. 

“I have the same reason as you.”

“Yes?”

“I also have sick parents and younger siblings. It’s hard to support them with a normal life. Poverty is hard to get out of. So that’s why. To live.”

Eliana half turned her head. Joseph didn’t say anything. She spoke slowly.

“Is it better not to tell anyone about this? Well, everyone knows.” 

Eliana walked away gently. She had something to discuss with Benny. As she approached the door, there was a thump. Joseph knelt on one knee and bowed to Eliana. 

“…I will do my best. For the Baroness and myself….”

“….”

“To be freed from poverty.”

Eliana looked at him and smiled gracefully. There was a sympathy known only to those who had long been oppressed by poverty. It was a tighter bond than expected. As Eliana looked at the top of his head, she realized that she was beginning to have her own allies in this Baron’s residence.