Side Story: A Maid’s Memoir
I am a maid working at the Karamanlis Estate.
It has been five years, perhaps?
Of course, I also knew the Previous Madam.
That was a tragic incident.
Several years have passed since then, and I was surprised to hear that the Master was remarrying.
The Previous Madam and the Master were so loving, living in their own little world. The Master’s despondency when the Previous Madam passed away was so painful to witness.
That’s why I thought he would never remarry, but it seems that wasn’t the case. Perhaps it was because he needed an heir.
The New Madam is different from the Previous Madam; to put it kindly, she is generous, but to put it harshly, she is sloppy. No, I like her. I like the New Madam.
The New Madam remembered my face as soon as she came to the estate.
Usually, people who don’t know my name call out, “Hey, you, maid,” but the New Madam was different.
“Hey, you, young lady.”
…At first, I thought some scoundrel had broken into the mansion and was trying to pick me up.
Madam is a bit of a slacker—no, well, she’s hasty—no, that’s not right either. I can’t think of the right word… she’s the type who does everything herself.
She gets dressed by herself, and she always puts the sheets and laundry together at the entrance to her room. She comes before I even go to call her—that’s not a compliment, is it? Hmm. Anyway, she was completely different from the Previous Madam in every way.
Also, Madam doesn’t call us servants “servants” or “maids.” She calls us “Housefolk.” I didn’t know what this word meant at first, but someone else told me.
It seems that it means “family” in a broad sense.
I was a little—no, very—happy. I knew that the New Madam included not only the Master and the Young Miss, but also us, in the category of “family.”
I was impressed by how generous she was.
…Well, she doesn’t seem to be good at remembering people’s names.
I’ve told her my name several times, but she doesn’t seem to be able to remember it. In the end, she calls me “Young Lady.” “Young Lady with hair as beautiful as the sunset,” “Young Lady whose dusting is always perfect,” “Young Lady with light footsteps.”
…No, I’m not complaining? It can’t be helped. There are many servants.
It’s just that sometimes, I get a little excited, wondering if I’m being hit on by some handsome guy.
—Speaking of handsome guys.
I once saw a handsome gentleman coming out of Madam’s room. Who was that?
I don’t think there were any visitors that day. If there were visitors, I wouldn’t be surprised.
His face looked similar to Madam’s, so maybe he was one of Madam’s brothers. I think I heard that Madam has many siblings.
Surely, the Master didn’t like the idea of a man, even if he was Madam’s brother, coming to see her, so he came to see her secretly.
So, I haven’t told anyone. I think it’s okay to have a few secrets.
…I feel a little regretful. I’d like to chat with that handsome gentleman a little—oops. That was unnecessary.
Speaking of which, I’ve recently felt that the Master has been acting strangely.
When they first remarried, I felt that there was a distance between the Master and Madam, but suddenly, one day, the Master was all over Madam at zero distance—ah, no, well, he seemed to be very devoted to her.
Especially around the day of the Young Miss’s surprise birthday, I think.
Whenever he opens his mouth, he asks where Madam is, what Madam is doing, Madam this, Madam that, and he often calls her name.
It’s a little annoying—no, it’s nothing.
The Young Miss has changed remarkably since Madam came.
Before, she was like a beautiful doll that was just ‘there,’ but recently she talks a lot and laughs a lot. I didn’t know her smile was so adorable. Even if I weren’t Madam, I would adore her.
The only thing I’m worried about is… I overheard the Samuel complaining to the Head Nanny that she seems to be wanting to ride horses and learn swordsmanship, following Madam’s example.
I think Madam has some amazing nickname. No, I don’t know anything about it. I’ve never heard anything about horses.
Even though she’s a girl, I think it’s great that she’s a little active, but swordsmanship—what do I think? I can’t judge it myself.
Ah, speaking of Samuel.
To be honest, I didn’t like him very much. He was a little overbearing, and I felt like he looked down on us maids.
However, since Madam came, I feel like his attitude has softened a little.
Did something happen?
Until then, he always had a composed attitude and a faint smile on his face, but before I knew it, he started showing various expressions.
Well, maybe it’s just my imagination.
Speaking of attitude changes, I think the Head Nanny has changed too.
I think I heard that she was also a lady from a noble family. Perhaps that’s why. She seemed to be harsh on the other maids, but only when it came to the Young Miss.
She was stubborn, I guess. It was an attitude that conveyed that she didn’t want anyone to interfere, that no one understood, even though they pretended to.
However, since Madam started meddling—no, doing various things for the Young Miss, I feel like the tension in her shoulders has eased.
Her prickly attitude hasn’t changed much, but how should I put it… she seems to have more余裕, that’s how it feels. It’s strange, what changed in her?
Speaking of changes.
No one other than the Master’s relatives used to come to this mansion.
But now, the Duke’s Son and the Son of the Prime Minister have started coming.
I was honestly surprised by that. Moreover, they’re coming to see Madam, not the Young Miss.
When did they get to know each other?
Moreover, they don’t come to chat, but to roll around in the garden and move their bodies. Sometimes they come with the Samuel.
At those times, we lead them to the Lounge, but sometimes Madam’s voice leaks outside. Madam’s voice carries. However, I can’t hear what she’s saying.
“That’s not good,” or something like that.
I don’t understand it well.
Madam is like a storm, if you say it badly, or like the sun, if you say it well.
She can’t help but influence the people around her.
Of course, that includes me.
It’s also true that I’ve started to enjoy working at the mansion.
Next, what will Madam do—no, what will she get up to—that’s not right either, well, I can’t seem to come up with anything other than bad expressions. I want to say it in a good way.
Anyway.
The Master has welcomed a good person as his Madam.
As someone who serves at the Karamanlis Estate, I am truly happy from the bottom of my heart.