“Hey, little girl.”

“Huh…?”

The sensation of her cheek being pressed made Wendy open her eyes.

A long-whiskered cat was looking down at her from the bedside.

“Master…”

“Time to wake up. It’s time.”

“Yeaah…”

Wendy rubbed her eyes and sat up.

It was 4 a.m.

Outside the window, it was still pitch dark.

“Yaaawn…”

She stretched and yawned.

Turning on the light, the room lit up brightly.

Not long ago, Wendy had been promoted to an exclusive maid and was given her own room.

The room was so spacious that it was hard to believe it was for a mere servant.

It was a luxury she could never have dreamed of in her past life.

“Well, work hard today. I’m going to sleep now.”

“Yeaah. Sleep well, Master…”

“Yaaawn.”

After a long yawn, Myohail took the spot where Wendy had been lying and curled up.

He claimed it was just the right warmth for sleeping.

Myohail quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Checking the time, Wendy began to wash up.

After drying her face and looking in the mirror, she saw a disheveled, curly-haired girl with sleepy eyes.

Wendy diligently brushed her hair and tied it into a ponytail.

That made her look a bit more presentable.

Wendy opened the wardrobe.

The massive wardrobe, as big as the room, held only four outfits.

Originally, she had only one, but after becoming an exclusive maid, she got a few more.

Wendy changed out of her pajamas and into her workout clothes.

It was almost 5 a.m.

Wendy hurried out of her room and tiptoed down the empty hallway.

Soon, she stopped in front of a door.

A classic door adorned with a black lion, the symbol of the Ruelberta family.

It was her master’s room.

“Phew…”

She always felt nervous at this moment.

Wendy adjusted her hair one last time and knocked gently.

*Knock knock*

“Count, may I come in?”

“Mhm.”

Opening the door, she saw a man standing by the window.

A man with sharp features and jet-black hair.

Her master, Tristan Ruelberta.

“G-good morning…”

“Yeah.”

Tristan was already prepared.

Like her, he was dressed in workout clothes.

Originally, he used to jog around the mansion grounds every morning, but due to an injury, he now only walked.

It was the result of Wendy’s persistent persuasion.

The two left the mansion for their workout.

Wendy trotted alongside Tristan, sticking close.

“Count, how’s your injury?”

“It’s fine.”

“Please don’t overdo it today…”

“Okay.”

“The doctor said you need to rest until your injury heals…”

“Okay.”

“You’ve lost so much weight, you look so thin…”

Then, Tristan, who was walking ahead, stopped.

“Wendy.”

“Y-yes?!”

“You seem extra worried today.”

The usual Wendy might have apologized and bowed her head.

But lately, she felt an inexplicable surge of courage.

“W-well, it’s my job…”

“…I see.”

Tristan replied indifferently.

Then he started walking again.

Following his unchanged figure, Wendy noticed.

His stride had shortened compared to before.

‘…Count.’

Wendy thought.

Among the mansion servants, Tristan was still an object of fear.

His arrogant and cold demeanor meant he had no close noble friends, and most believed he was the worst kind of noble, using his wealth to bully others.

Yes. Maybe that was true.

Wendy didn’t know everything about Tristan either.

But Wendy knew.

That they could speak so freely because they knew nothing about Tristan.

And they didn’t know.

That Tristan was the kind of person who would match his pace to someone who walked slowly.

That he would quietly listen to someone who spoke slowly.

That he would hold the hand of someone who couldn’t climb stairs.

That he was someone who could trust others.

And… that he could also become someone’s trust.

“…!”

Wendy quickly placed her hand on her chest.

If she didn’t, she felt like her heart would ache unbearably.

Wendy felt her small heart beating rapidly.

As she spent more time with the Count, she felt she understood him a bit more.

But the more she understood him, the more she was gripped by an inexplicable feeling.

‘Count… am I okay…?’

Wendy hesitantly looked at Tristan.

Perhaps due to the dim dawn light, his expression seemed dark.

A face that seemed lost in thought, yet somehow sad.

Wendy hesitated.

Is it really okay to keep getting to know him?

Is it okay for someone like me to know him?

“Wendy.”

“Y-yes?!”

Her heart almost stopped.

Looking up, Tristan was gazing down at her.

“You stopped walking.”

“S-sorry…! I was lost in thought…”

“…Let’s take a break.”

“Huh?”

“I think we’ve walked enough for now.”

Looking around, Wendy realized they had indeed walked far enough that the mansion was now a distant view.

“T-then I’ll find a place to rest right away.”

“Don’t bother.”

Tristan simply sat down on the grass.

“C-count…! You shouldn’t sit there!”

“I’m tired, so I’ll rest here.”

Since Tristan was adamant, Wendy had no choice.

Hesitantly, she sat down beside him.

The mansion grounds were vast and quiet.

Even if you combined all the fields from the village Wendy came from, it would still be smaller than this place.

She could truly feel the immense wealth of the Ruelberta family.

Then, Tristan spoke.

“Tell me about the Ruelberta family.”

“Huh…?”

The sudden question made Wendy’s eyes widen.

No, it was more surprising because he had never asked such a question before.

Wendy cautiously began to speak.

“Um… I know it’s the most famous family in the Meikhael Empire…”

“Why is it famous?”

“Huh? Uh… well… I heard they have businesses all over the Empire… so everyone knows them…”

“Is that so?”

“Y-yeah! I, I came from the countryside where we only farmed… so I don’t know the details…”

Wendy broke into a cold sweat, unable to bring herself to mention their infamous reputation.

No matter what, she couldn’t talk about that in front of the head of the Ruelberta family.

Though Wendy desperately tried to excuse herself, Tristan didn’t give her a way out.

“Then let me change the question.”

“Y-yes?”

“What do you think of Ruelberta?”

“H-how do I think of it…?”

“I’m not a fool. I know well the infamous reputation of the Ruelberta family. I’m just asking for your thoughts. So…”

Tristan continued in a soft voice.

“Be honest.”

Why was he suddenly asking such a question?

She had no way of knowing.

But there was something irresistible in his words.

As if under a spell, Wendy opened her mouth.

“I… thought it was a scary place at first. People around me only said bad things about the Count’s family. That they crush people with money and enjoy it… that they have ties to the underworld and eliminate anyone who opposes them…”

Tristan, who had been silently listening, spoke.

“If what they say is true… what would you do?”

“Huh…?”

“Ruelberta is a much scarier family than you think.”

Tristan was staring into the distance.

With an expression Wendy couldn’t yet understand.

“You might regret having worked for our family.”

When she decided to become a servant of the Ruelberta family, everyone around her tried to stop her.

They said not to go to such a cursed family.

That the curse would spread to her.

That she would surely regret it.

Despite their pleas, Wendy joined the Ruelberta family as a servant.

Part of it was the hope that she might hear news of her brother in the city.

But looking back, it was fate that moved Wendy.

The moment she heard the name Ruelberta, she felt something she couldn’t resist.

Yes. She could only say it was fate.

Tristan’s gaze slowly turned to Wendy.

“Even so, will you still stay by my side?”

Without avoiding his gaze, Wendy slowly opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry… Count. I don’t serve the Ruelberta family…”

Wendy realized her thoughts weren’t wrong.

“I serve you, Count…”

Her fate was here.

“I will only serve you from now on.”

At that moment, Wendy didn’t know what expression she was making.

But the sun was slowly rising in the distance, and Tristan, perhaps because the light was too bright, covered his face with one arm and said.

“…Serving me is a difficult task.”

“It’s okay…!”

“And it will be frightening.”

“I-I don’t mind.”

“Sometimes you’ll want to run away.”

“I’ll try not to run away…… maybe.”

“…I see.”

Tristan’s arm slowly lowered.

“!”

At that moment, Wendy thought she saw Tristan smile for the first time.

No, maybe it was just her imagination.

His face quickly returned to its usual stiff expression.

“Then are you prepared to see the darkness of the Ruelberta family from now on?”

Wendy’s answer was already decided.