maid chapter 9

Ellie dreamt an old dream. A memory from when her parents were still alive. Her mother, holding her baby brother in her arms, had said to her, “Ellie, you must protect your siblings when I’m not here. Understand?” 

“Yes,” young Ellie had nodded seriously. Marcus, Matthew, Amy—her beloved younger siblings. Her mother would never truly be gone, but if she ever left the house, even for a little while, Ellie knew she would have to take care of them.

They were poor, but happy. Despite their hardships, the Brewers, unlike other families, didn’t make their children work the fields. Instead, they sent them to the charity school in the neighboring village. They ignored the nosy neighbors who questioned the need to educate a girl. Learning to read and write allowed Ellie to dream new dreams.

But their happiness was short-lived. Before the year was out, her parents died in a carriage accident.

“Mommy!”

“Sister, will we never see Mom and Dad again?”

On the day of the funeral, arranged with the help of the villagers, even her brothers, who had tried to be brave, wept, rolling on the dirt floor. Their cries set off their baby sister, too young to understand what was happening.

Ellie didn’t cry, not until the very end. Watching as the coffins were covered with earth, she vowed to protect her siblings, no matter what.

“Wake up.”

An unfamiliar voice startled Ellie from her sleep. The exhaustion from her long journey couldn’t have dissipated in a single night. She burrowed deeper under the blankets.

“Amy… just a little longer…”

Daniel scoffed at her sleepy murmur. He had barely slept a wink because of her, and here she was, sleep-talking peacefully.

He couldn’t bring himself to touch her. Instead, he grabbed the bedpost and shook it hard.

“Wha—?”

The earthquake-like tremor jolted Ellie upright. But instead of a collapsed roof, she saw a beautiful face looking down at her with exasperation.

Daniel was already dressed in his crisp blue morning uniform. Ellie suddenly remembered where she was and scratched her head. Right, she had gotten a new job.

“Sorry, I’m so tired…” she sighed deeply. While the nobility woke up late in the morning, a servant’s day began much earlier. As expected, dawn hadn’t even broken outside.

She had been so exhausted she’d fallen asleep without even washing up, but her employer wasn’t interested in such excuses. Daniel remained unsympathetic.

“I’m only waking you up today. From tomorrow on, I’ll leave you to your own devices, whether you get scolded or not.”

“Alright…” Ellie mumbled, pushing back the covers and swinging her legs out of bed. The faint light of dawn filtering through the window illuminated her thin nightgown. Daniel frowned and turned away abruptly.

“Hurry up and get dressed. We’re late.”

He left the room before she could respond. Ellie blinked her heavy eyelids. Did they really have to change clothes separately every single time? It wasn’t like they would wear out from looking.

Well, she’d probably get tired of it after a few days. Ellie stood up and stretched.

“Aaah…”

She hadn’t even begun to unpack. As she reached for the bag she’d shoved under the bed, she noticed a round wooden tub at her feet. Clean water and a soft, fresh towel. It was clearly meant for her to wash up. Ellie’s jaw dropped. Someone had prepared warm water for her. This had never happened before.

She dipped her hand in, feeling the lingering warmth. A wave of emotion washed over her. Diana might have a sharp tongue, but she had a kind heart.