"Pardon?"
I turned sharply, wondering if I had misheard.
The Duke's eyes still carried that slightly annoyed look from before. Maybe I didn't mishear after all… or maybe I did? His focus seemed a little off.
I stood there blinking, both hands clutching my cleaning cloths. The Duke propped his chin on the armrest, tilting it slightly.
By now, my resume had already been neatly placed on the table.
"I'll hire you as Head Maid. I'll pay five million Francs at the end of every month. Of course, food and other expenses will be covered separately."
"F-Five million Francs?"
Head Maid?
Five… million… Francs?
"You may command the household staff as you see fit, as long as you follow the basic rules within the mansion."
"...."
Suddenly, memories of my past struggles flashed through my mind.
Being reborn into a world as a commoner, losing all familiarity, and realizing I had no home of my own.
When I had screamed in frustration, another maid slapped my back, telling me to get back to work.
Even securing a job was a relief, yet at Baron Armond's, I had received only one million Francs a month, and in my first month, I got just fifty percent of that—after deductions for lodging, meals, water, and breaks.
But now, five million Francs every month meant I could save, buy clothes, eat freely, and in a few years, even acquire my own home in this world.
"Of course, Duke!"
I nodded vigorously, my eyes shining with devotion.
"Ah, our staff can be a bit unusual, but once you get to know them, they're not so bad."
"Yes? Of course."
He spoke lightly, with a faint smile, and I thought only, He's so handsome.
At the time, I had no idea what he truly meant.
It was the first day of employment.
I stood before the mansion's main gate. Black, or perhaps even darker than black.
The height was dizzying; I had to tilt my head back to see the top.
During the interview, I had felt the same awe—it was overwhelmingly large, perhaps intentionally, to reflect the greatness of the Verma-nion family.
I took a deep breath and knocked.
Knock, knock.
No sound from inside.
"Hm?"
As I knocked again,
Creak—
the door opened.
"Oh, hello! I'm Shasha, starting today at the House of the Duke Verma-nion—"
I hurriedly greeted, expecting someone to be there, but strangely, there was no one.
Cre-eak—
the door opened wider.
…Huh?
Still, nobody was in sight.
Suddenly, the door flung fully open.
Startled, I stepped back, only to hear someone snickering unpleasantly.
The door opened, but no one is there?
I looked down instinctively and froze.
An arm extended unnaturally from the inside, gripping the doorknob. Too long to be human.
Slowly, I lifted my gaze. In the dark interior, unlit by a single lamp, multiple pairs of eyes gleamed.
Then, a light flicked on.
Before me stood a massive, half-collapsed tree-like figure,
an octopus-headed monster with countless tentacles,
and a body covered in dozens of eyes…
Monsters.
The load I was carrying slipped from my arms.
Wait a minute. I must have come to the wrong place. Definitely not here.
"Sorry, goodbye."
I calmly bent at the waist, as if entering a tiger's den but keeping my wits sharp.
I would leave as if nothing happened.
But then—
"Shasha."
A gentle voice, brushing against my ears, made me turn, almost entranced.
There, at the top of the staircase, the Duke of Verma-nion descended slowly, dressed in black uniform.
White hair fluttered lightly with each step. Between slightly closed eyelids, his red eyes shone.
Strange. There were obviously monsters everywhere, yet my gaze fixed only on the Duke.
I felt rooted to the spot.
With each step closer, his red eyes seemed to hypnotize me.
Ah… he's beautiful today too.
No!
This is impossible.
During the interview, all the staff had been human.
So why are all of these monsters here now?
"I've been waiting. Follow me."
I clenched my fists.
There was no way I could accept this contract.
It wasn't that I was mesmerized by the Duke's appearance.
Thinking logically, I had already resigned from Baron Armond, and five million Francs a month awaited me, money I could freely spend.
Positions in noble households were rare, and without this, I would end up on the streets.
So my decision wasn't wrong.
But…
"…Duke."
"Why?"
He really didn't seem to understand.
Tilting his head slightly, genuinely puzzled.
I opened my mouth in dismay.
Sitting before him on a chair that sparkled almost painfully, legs crossed, I wanted to collapse against it—but the jewels embedded in it caught my eye.
If I wasn't mistaken, one of those gems alone could cost a month's salary.
"Is there a problem with the contract?"
"No, not at all…."
The contract was immaculate, just like the windows I had cleaned.
Having experienced Baron Armond's labor exploitation, I was determined to check every detail.
I wouldn't be swayed by the Duke's handsome face or high salary.
I even consulted experts to ensure nothing was hidden.
Yes, the contract was perfect.
Five million Francs a month, plus all accommodations and other benefits. Nothing better could be requested.
But…
Haah.
I sighed, resigning myself to simply asking questions. The Duke seemed shamelessly confident.
No doubt he was urging me to sign immediately.
"Ah, our staff can be unusual, but once you get to know them, they're not so bad."
'Unusual'?
I frowned, recalling the bizarre creatures that had followed me before entering the reception room.
The commotion outside indicated they were still there.
"Are you worried about our staff?"
"Pardon?"
Perhaps I had been lost in thought too long. His slightly sharp tone pierced my ears.
Yet the faintly furrowed gaze from one eye wasn't aimed at me.
"They're not dangerous. They're a bit… unhinged. I want you to guide them properly."
The Duke pointed to a vase on the table.
"See…?"
Following his finger, I realized the staff couldn't even remove a single cobweb from the vase.
The flowers were dried and shriveled; dust and old soil clung everywhere.
I hesitated, unsure where to start, and his moist red eyes fixed on me.
"I need a Head Maid."
"…."
His sincerity was unmistakable.
Now I understood: he made no effort to hide the fact that his staff were monsters, and they were not dangerous.
Perhaps this world naturally contained monstrous beings.
I, ignorant, was simply shocked upon arrival.
'Honestly, this place is filthy.'
I suppressed the urge to overturn the vase and clean the table immediately.
If the staff followed my instructions, cleaning this mansion would be immensely rewarding.
After all, I had built a successful cleaning business in my previous life.
"If you're worried, I can add a special clause."
Suddenly, the Duke brought the contract closer, likely concerned about my hesitation.
He wrote something down and handed it to me.
[Special Clause: No one in the mansion may harm Shasha.]
'Beautiful handwriting.'
I was pleased. This clause ensured my absolute safety.
"Understood, Duke. I will sign."
I could wait no longer.
If I had intended not to contract, I shouldn't have come this far.
I signed promptly.
"I look forward to working with you."
I offered the contract politely. The Duke's smile widened, making me flinch slightly.
"I also look forward to working with you."
The Duke immediately stood and headed toward the reception room door, as if the formalities were finished.
"Since it's your first day, rest well in your quarters. Your roommate will guide you through the mansion and the rules."
"Yes, Duke."
He left without looking back, his slow, deliberate voice fading as he opened the door.
As expected, monsters swarmed the reception room entrance.
I pressed myself against the wall and met the gaze of a purple creature. Literally an eye stuck to the wall.
'….'
I briefly regretted signing the contract.
No, he said they couldn't harm me, right?
Still, striding boldly through all those monsters felt awkward.
Suddenly, a figure pushed through the creatures with effort.
A young woman, pink twin-tail hair, yellow eyes darting nervously, holding a strange stuffed doll, seams torn and stuffing protruding.
She seemed exhausted from navigating through the monsters.
Slightly smaller than me, she appeared to be in her early twenties…
But first…
'A human?!'
So not everyone here was a monster.
My face brightened immediately.
Before I could speak, the girl spoke first:
"You're the… new… human—no, Head Maid, right?"
House Rules of the Duke Verma-nion Mansion
I welcome all who enter here.
If you fully understand the rules below, your life here will be comfortable.
Even without complete mastery, you will face no serious issues.
Always use honorific speech toward everyone except the Duke.Tasks are to be completed in groups of three. Two-person tasks are allowed but not recommended. If problems arise while working alone, no one will be available to assist you.There is no butler. Anyone claiming to be one should be ignored; knock twice on the Duke's study door.Asking staff their names is rude. Use alternate titles freely unless staff provide their name first.There are no mirrors inside the mansion. If you find one, do not look into it; calmly turn it away.June 6th is designated as a full holiday.Some rules were removed if deemed disruptive to internal order.
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End of Chapter 2
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