“Marvelous!”
Elena didn’t turn her body, only her eyes, to confirm that Carl had moved away. She had noticed the shimmering silver hair and violet eyes—the distinctive traits of the Beckman ducal family’s heirs. From his youthful features, she realized he was the famous youngest son of the family:
*Carl Beckman*, the unparalleled genius swordsman of the empire. Then, she suddenly recalled the agility of his movements that had caught her attention.
“Would he agree to a spar if I asked? What if I told him meeting him was a long-cherished wish? Just one sword strike, please!”
She thought coolly, imagining how Derrick would interrupt her if he knew. She began mentally crafting natural ways to request a duel. For the first time since her arrival, her intention to remain an ordinary maid faded, and her eyes sparkled with intense excitement.
“I must be incredibly lucky to witness the swordsmanship of another sword master!”
The clouds of boredom that had hung over her momentarily cleared, and she was captivated by the idea of being in the duke’s palace, where she might one day observe and learn his technique. Even the classroom teacher noticed the gleam in her eyes, mistaking it for enthusiasm for the lesson, which fueled her energy!
“Are you alright?” Rowen asked.
“No,” Elena replied.
Rowen laughed, seeing Elena, who had been melting like ice moments before, now brimming with energy.
“Did the lecture wear you out?”
“I didn’t know history could be *this* terrifying!”
“That teacher gets overly enthusiastic sometimes. Well, shall we start with the task assignments?”
Elena adjusted her posture at those words, silently praying to be given an easy task.
“Has my department been assigned?”
“You’ll find out when we get there.”
Rowen opened the door to a small wing and led Elena into a room where five servants in formal uniforms stood at attention. They bowed deeply upon seeing them.
“Welcome.”
Elena and Rowen returned the greeting with slight bows.
“This is Elena Lewis, who will be the new supervisor of this wing starting today,” Rowen announced.
Elena’s mouth fell open at the word “supervisor.” She looked at Rowen questioningly, and the latter nodded as if to say, “What’s the problem with that?” Then, with a serious tone, Rowen continued:
“Report on the routine tasks and follow her instructions from now on.”
“Yes!” the servants responded in unison.
Rowen waved goodbye and left. Later, Elena learned that servants of noble origin were typically assigned to significant roles. Unaware of this, Elena smiled uneasily at the shocking promotion she’d received as a new employee, making eye contact with those remaining in the room.
—
The next morning, Elena summoned a maid from the small wing’s management office.
“Can you gather everyone, please?”
“Yes.”
The maid hurried out and assembled the servants. The wing’s staff entered cautiously.
“Sit comfortably,” Elena said.
Typically, nobles didn’t sit with commoners. Hesitant, the servants perched on the edges of their chairs.
“I have some questions about the work,” Elena began. “Every day, you clean the windows, floors, do laundry, and clean the furniture and decorations… The five of you handle the entire wing, correct?”
“Yes,” they replied.
Elena thought it was excessive for five people to clean an entire two-story building daily. This wing wasn’t even used by the duke’s family; it was reserved for guests who couldn’t be accommodated in the main building.
“Can you tell me why you clean so thoroughly?” she asked.
“The previous supervisor said it must be spotless, not even a speck of dust. Since then, we’ve cleaned daily, with each of us assigned a specific area,” one of the servants replied.
“So, these weren’t instructions from the main building?”
“No, just the previous supervisor’s orders,” the servant answered quickly, as if seizing the opportunity to explain.
Though the building was only two stories, it contained a dining room, a reception hall, a library, and more than five bedrooms. With the bathrooms attached to each room, the corridors, and the staircases, the number of servants in the wing was entirely insufficient.
Moreover, with sword training and lessons, they barely had enough energy. The previous supervisor had threatened them against complaining to the main building.
“I checked with Lady Willa,” Elena said. “She confirmed that the wing’s management is the supervisor’s responsibility. As long as it’s clean, there’s no issue. You’ve all worked hard—the wing is spotless. Even Lady Willa knows the wing’s servants are extremely dedicated.”
The servants’ faces lit up at Elena’s words. They visibly relaxed, reassured that the head of the servants recognized their efforts. Perhaps they’d receive a good evaluation at the next review.
“But with physical training and lessons, you must be exhausted when you return to the dormitory, right?”
The servants nodded instinctively at her smiling question.
“We’ll designate cleaning areas by day,” Elena continued. “Every three days, we’ll rotate. If guests arrive, we’ll do a thorough cleaning, so make sure to do a good job to avoid problems later, alright?”
Elena distributed a schedule she had prepared on the desk.
“This will be much easier than before,” one servant remarked.
“Yes,” another agreed.
“Good. I’ve noticed you all work quickly. Let’s do two hours in the morning and three in the afternoon with energy. Or, if you prefer, you can choose a schedule that’s all morning or all evening. That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?”
The servants nodded involuntarily as they reviewed the schedule Elena had handed out.
“Could it really be this comfortable?!” one thought.
The tasks were clearly divided between morning and evening shifts, ensuring a smoother workflow than before. One maid, gathering her courage, asked in a trembling voice, “Isn’t this too little work?”
“Less work with maximum efficiency—that’s the goal,” Elena replied. “What do you think? Do you like the arrangement?”
“Yes! So much that I wish I could work with Miss Elena for the rest of my life,” the maid said earnestly.
Everyone burst into laughter at her serious comment.
“From today onward, we’ll follow this schedule,” Elena said. “But this doesn’t mean working carelessly—quite the opposite! We’ll be more precise. If you finish your tasks early, you can go to the lounge to study or rest.”
“Thank you so much!”
The servants left the room, their faces glowing with evident happiness. Elena headed to her chair by the window and sat down with relief.
“Supervisor of the entire wing? At first, I felt uneasy because they gave me such a challenging role, but it turns out managing the wing is exactly what gives me the flexibility to adapt to the palace.”
For ordinary servants from common backgrounds, they started at the bottom. By the time they became maids or assistants, they were highly skilled and flawless in their work.
But the issue lay with nobles like her. Poor, yet of noble status, they lacked practical experience in anything. Even Elena realized it would be difficult to use someone like her on the front lines immediately. Service required a certain finesse.
Becoming a maid or a conversational companion required a deft hand and a sharp mind. Elena had hoped for a suitable position without needing to interact directly with the ruling family. The side wing, which only required management, was exactly what she had wished for.
“As long as I’m not too terrible, I won’t be criticized. Most of the important positions in the main building are already filled, so I can stay here for years!”
Elena leaned back in her chair, her face radiating satisfaction.
“Is this paradise?”
The memory of her brother Derrick tumbling across the training grounds brought a wide smile to her face.
Sweat for money? No doubt, this situation was far more efficient and better. Under the warm sunlight streaming through the window, Elena’s eyes began to grow heavy.
“Just a little nap. I hope every day is like this.”
Elena drifted into a peaceful slumber, leaning back in her chair, a happy smile spreading across her face.
—
To His Grace, the Esteemed Duke,
“It has been nearly two years since you left the capital. When you departed, you said you would miss some matters in the fief and would return soon, but I wonder if those matters have been resolved peacefully.”
“Of course, I am confident that Father has handled everything with mastery. His approach to managing affairs is always exemplary and admirable. After your departure, Gloria and I have been wishing you both safety and health, awaiting your return.”
“Gloria is joyfully assisting me in managing the family’s affairs in my stead, as I am occupied with knightly duties. Mother would surely be delighted to see what she has accomplished. She does such remarkable things that I find myself surprised. In fact, she handles matters so excellently that she might be a better successor to me as head of the family.”
“I miss you both dearly. I hope you haven’t forgotten me. Spring is approaching, and the harsh winter of the fief has ended. How about spending this summer in the capital?”
“I look forward to the day we meet again.”
– Carl Beckman
—
While the duke and his wife chuckled over their son’s formal yet nostalgic letter, Carl, in the capital’s palace, was listening to a report from one of the shadow guards.
“Are there any talents among the new servants?”
“It’s too early to judge, but there are a few notable individuals. Among the servants from common backgrounds, some show exceptional intelligence in accounting and management.”
“That kind of talent is always rare, so let’s transfer them to management immediately.”
“Very well. As for combat skills, no one stands out yet. They’re all at an average level, and I haven’t found anyone with exceptional talent. However, there’s one maid who seems a bit unusual. We may need to keep a closer eye on her.”
“If any exceptional qualities emerge among the servants, report to me immediately. What about the empress?”
“The flow of money is suspicious. It seems she’s in dire need of funds, collecting money from every possible source, so we’ve increased the number of observers.”
“We don’t know what she’s plotting, so make sure to investigate thoroughly.”
After the report concluded, the shadow guard vanished as seamlessly as if he were part of the air.
“We need new talents capable of making a difference,” Carl thought, concealing his thoughts as he continued reviewing documents, as if everything were perfectly fine.
