maid chapter 3

And actually, Ellie’s hometown wasn’t Newchester. It wasn’t that she wanted to lie. Her village was much further out than Newchester. There was no point mentioning its name; nobody would know it. To someone born in the capital, or at least a nearby town, her village’s farmhouses probably wouldn’t even look like proper homes. Even Ellie had been stunned when she first arrived at this train station.

Sarah headed straight for the stairs. The servants’ staircase, devoid of carpeting and poorly maintained, creaked with every step. Ellie, lugging her heavy suitcase, struggled to keep up.

Beneath the roof of the grand mansion, as was customary, were small rooms for the maids. This house was no different. Multiple doors lined the hallway, nearly touching one another. Sarah opened the one furthest down the corridor.

Ellie peeked inside. Two beds sat side by side in the small room. Although the ceiling sloped low beneath the eaves, there was a window, and the walls were clean. A few belongings rested on a shelf, indicating she had a roommate.

Leaning against the doorframe, Sarah said, “Unpack later. Change your clothes and come out immediately.”

“Yes!”

The door slammed shut with her enthusiastic reply. Ellie quickly hoisted her bag onto the empty bed. Determined not to keep the head maid waiting, she hastily unfolded her belongings and changed.

Since it was already past lunchtime, she pulled out a dark, plain dress. She added a crisp white collar and cuffs and donned a frilled afternoon apron. With the addition of a ribboned cap, she transformed from a hopeful job seeker into a proper maid.

Ellie immediately left the room. Even for a maid doing menial tasks, overly shabby attire would diminish the house’s prestige. Sarah scrutinized Ellie’s appearance.

“Not bad.”

A marginal pass. Ellie breathed a sigh of relief. The stingy baron, who paid meager wages, seemed to have at least invested in decent uniforms.

Sarah led Ellie down a narrow hallway. Regardless of a mansion’s size, the servants’ quarters were always similar. Drab, whitewashed walls replaced cheerful wallpaper, and cleaning supplies lay scattered about. This place was no exception.

However, the moment they reached the main hall, Ellie’s eyes widened. The soaring ceiling and the enormous chandelier, adorned with hundreds of crystals, were dazzling. The sheer opulence, incomparable to Baron Myers’s estate, momentarily stunned her.

The face of the mansion, the space occupied by the family, was naturally decorated to reflect the family’s status. A count’s family in the capital and a baron’s family practically exiled to the countryside were simply not comparable. The quality of the furniture was equally impressive. So intricately crafted, they could be mistaken for ornamental pieces.

Housemaids in pristine uniforms diligently dusted the furniture. They all ignored Ellie, focused on their tasks. Sarah gestured towards one of them.

“Where’s Diana?”

“She’s on the second floor.”

“Tell her I’m looking for her.”

“Yes.”

The maid quickly ascended the stairs. Sarah, leaving Ellie standing there, gave additional instructions to the other maids.

Ellie gaped at her surroundings. Paintings adorned the walls, and sculptures lined the pillars. The glittering decorations made her head spin. Even during the carriage ride from the train station, she hadn’t seen many mansions this grand.

Lost in thought, she heard an unfamiliar voice beside her.

“Did you need me?”

A slightly low voice. Ellie’s head automatically turned toward the sound. Upon seeing the speaker’s face, her eyes widened even more than when she first entered the hall.

Dazzling blonde hair, vivid blue eyes, and a statuesque figure. A striking beauty befitting the luxurious mansion. If not for the maid’s uniform, Ellie would have undoubtedly mistaken her for a daughter of the house.

Sarah gestured toward Ellie. “Yes. This is Diana Dawson, and this is Ellie…”

“Ellie Brewer!”

Ellie blurted out, louder than she intended. Diana winced, as if her ears hurt. Even frowning, the beauty was captivating.

Ellie’s cheeks flushed. Her heart fluttered inexplicably. Perhaps even a woman’s heart could race when faced with such beauty.

Sarah continued, sounding exasperated, “Yes, that’s her. She started today. You’ll show her around until she gets settled. You two will be sharing a room.”

“Yes. Yes?”