Chapter 9

“Just look at the way I’m dressed. My position in that family wasn’t any different from a servant’s.”

Diena held out her worn dress.

“In that situation, if my uncle found out about my ability, it’s obvious what he would’ve done.”

“And what do you think he would’ve done?”

“He would’ve used me as much as he could. I know my uncle. He would’ve pretended to be kind while never letting me rest, squeezing every last bit of power out of me until I died.”

Hasen muttered with an expression of disbelief.

“Surely not. No matter what, how could someone do something worse than a beast? Duke Rothwell can’t possibly be that kind of person.”

Diena gave a bitter smile.

Because her uncle truly was worse than a beast…

She could understand why people found it hard to believe.

Even now, he carefully hid his true nature.

But…

‘Varkan is different.’

Varkan stared at Diena.

Most people wouldn’t believe her words.

After all, Duke Rothwell had an excellent public reputation.

“Yeah, that bastard would absolutely do something like that.”

But Varkan alone knew she was telling the truth.

“I thought I was the only one who knew what he was really like. Turns out you knew too.”

Their eyes met.

“I want to follow you, Lord Varkan. I don’t want to be used anymore. I want revenge against the people of House Rothwell who made my life miserable. Please let me work for you.”

Everything Diena said sounded absurd.

Now she was even talking about taking revenge on House Rothwell.

Honestly, it was ridiculous.

As long as Baltazar had both his own power and the Temple behind him, they were untouchable.

“What kind of work can you do?”

“You’ll find out if you take me with you.”

Even so, he found himself curious.

What exactly could she do?

Varkan narrowed his eyes.

“Have you considered the possibility that I might use you too?”

“At least you’d be giving me something to do, right? If that’s the case, then I can still get revenge on my uncle. Lord Varkan, my uncle really hates you.”

“You…”

Diena hid her nervousness and waited confidently for his answer.

A moment later, he spoke.

“You’ve got guts.”

Just as she expected.

“But you’re a kid with terrible judgment. Anyone who heard this would laugh. Choosing Kardian over House Rothwell.”

Varkan scratched the back of his head and looked out the window.

“Well, come along for now.”

Taking her to House Kardian was dangerous.

After all, he could go berserk at any time.

Still, she claimed to possess a purification ability.

Letting her stay temporarily shouldn’t be a problem.

‘Well, if she wants to leave later, I’ll find somewhere else for her.’

Somewhere warmer and safer than House Kardian.

He would protect her until she got settled somewhere.

Just until then.

That was what he thought.

* * *

Some time later, they arrived at their destination.

Before them stood a massive estate shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

Even so, Diena couldn’t help admiring its grandeur.

‘As expected. A family worthy of standing alongside House Rothwell.’

House Kardian was wealthy.

‘Varkan said they invested well and managed successful merchant companies with the funds they received after being elevated to a ducal house.’

All of that had been Varkan’s achievement.

The family had a Family Head, but he apparently spent more time away from the estate than at it.

As a result, Varkan naturally ended up managing the estate and the family’s merchant companies.

“Believe it or not, I’m actually pretty talented when it comes to running things. Back then, our family had an absurd amount of money.”

Diena looked around the estate with unfamiliar eyes.

‘When I met Varkan, House Kardian had already fallen and become impoverished, so I never really understood.’

She had thought he was exaggerating.

But House Kardian at this point in time was astonishingly wealthy.

Just then, a butler emerged from the estate to greet Varkan.

“Jordic. Where’s Father?”

“He hasn’t returned from the subjugation yet. I heard this campaign will take quite some time.”

“I see. Looks like I’ll be leaving again right away. Please take good care of Bianca.”

“Didn’t you just finish your mission?”

“Yeah. But we have a guest. I’m just dropping her off before heading out again.”

“A guest?”

After nodding, Varkan gestured toward Diena, who was standing awkwardly beside him.

“She’ll be staying with our family starting today.”

Jordic looked stunned.

Diena looked far too fragile.

Everyone who worked for or even briefly visited the family had trained their bodies extensively.

Jordic himself was tall and heavily built.

The same was true for the maids.

House Kardian wasn’t a place suited for weak people.

Since it lay outside the Purification Zone, the Temple’s suppressants weren’t distributed there reliably.

Because of that, Ability Users could go berserk at any moment.

And now they were bringing that tiny creature into the family?

“Lord Varkan, if she’s going to be a guest of our family, she seems rather…”

“She looks too fragile?”

“Y-Yes.”

“No. She’s stronger than she looks. Don’t judge her by appearances.”

“Strong?”

“Maybe not physically, but mentally. Probably.”

Varkan smirked and looked at Diena.

“Right?”

“Yes. You don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“See how quickly she answered? I told you I was right, Jordic.”

Jordic looked at Diena suspiciously.

He couldn’t understand what part of her seemed strong.

“Young Master.”

“Just a few months. That should be enough.”

Varkan cut him off before he could continue.

In the end, Jordic let out a faint sigh.

“Understood.”

He couldn’t oppose a decision his master had already made.

“Then should we treat her as a guest?”

The moment the head butler finished speaking, Diena immediately lifted her head.

“No. Please give me work.”

“Work?”

Jordic blinked in surprise.

At the same time, Varkan also looked at her suspiciously.

“You really want to work that badly?”

“I feel uncomfortable doing nothing.”

“That’s unusual. I hate working and still end up doing it. Though there probably isn’t much in this estate that you can do.”

“I’m fine with maid work. I’m good at it.”

“…Maid work?”

“Yes. I used to work alongside the maids where I lived before.”

A young lady from a ducal family doing maid work?

Varkan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Please let me work for you, Lord Varkan.”

The words Diena had spoken on the way here suddenly resurfaced in his mind.

So this was the kind of work she had meant.

He remembered Duke Rothwell calling her useless.

If she had been forced to prove her worth even while living in her own home, then he could understand why she spoke this way.

And why she wanted revenge on House Rothwell.

Varkan stared at Diena.

She met his gaze without looking away.

Originally, he had planned to hide the fact that she came from House Rothwell and give her some sort of cover identity.

But he had never intended to make her work as a maid.

Even so, Varkan nodded.

He wasn’t the type to stop someone from doing what they wanted.

“Bring Matilda.”

Soon, a middle-aged woman came out of the estate.

She was Matilda, the head maid of the family.

“Is there any work she can do? Something from the maids’ duties.”

“Yes, there is.”

“What kind of work?”

“Looking at how delicate she is, one job comes to mind immediately. Lady Bianca’s maid.”

“Bianca’s?”

“Yes. Another maid quit not long ago.”

At that answer, Varkan let out a small sigh.

“Did Bianca throw another tantrum?”