Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The director was not a good man. If he were, he wouldn’t have ignored her when she was ostracized for being one of the cursed twins, when her meager daily meals were stolen, when she was surrounded and kicked for no reason.
He wouldn’t have turned a blind eye even when her twin sister breathed her last, not even providing a small grave… A sudden pang of grief gripped Hilde’s chest.
She clutched at the familiar pendant beneath her dress, and only then could she breathe again. As she composed herself, the director spoke. “You’ll be of age soon.”
“…Yes.” Hilde managed to reply. A week from now marked exactly twenty years since she and her twin sister were left at the orphanage gates, wrapped in a single blanket.
Upon reaching adulthood, orphans had to leave, whether they wanted to or not. Most found work beforehand. Except for Hilde.
Job offers were rare, and even when she managed to secure a temporary position, some unfortunate mishap always led to her dismissal. Hilde’s situation was dire. She had been agonizing over whether to beg the director to let her stay and do chores, at least for a while. She was about to ask when the director said, “A good job opportunity has come up for you.”
“What?” Hilde’s eyes widened in surprise. “A j-job for me? Really?”
“Yes. A maid position in the esteemed household of Count Berg.”
Hilde covered her mouth with her hands, overwhelmed by this incredible stroke of luck. “The head maid saw you helping out here and was quite impressed.”
“Th-thank you…” Hilde stammered, gratitude flooding her. Her bleak future had been weighing heavily on her mind, and for a moment, tears welled up.
She was so overcome that she failed to notice the meaningful glance exchanged between the director and the teacher.
A single horse-drawn cart traveled down a dark road. “This time, I won’t make any mistakes,” Hilde murmured to herself.
She had been initially taken aback when told she had to leave immediately, but the explanation about a large upcoming banquet and the resulting shortage of staff made sense. Besides, she wasn’t in a position to be picky.
“It’ll be alright…” Hilde fiddled with the worn pendant hidden beneath her collar, a habit she’d developed to soothe her anxieties.
The cart finally stopped. In the darkness, Hilde was startled to see a woman holding a lantern. It was the same woman she had encountered at the orphanage. “Oh, hello.”
Despite her surprise, Hilde bowed her head in greeting. The response was cold. “Stop dawdling and get out.”
The icy tone made Hilde tense as she climbed down. “What about my luggage…?”
“We’ll take it. Now come and get washed.”
“Yes, Head Maid.” Before she could finish, hands grabbed her arms from both sides. Hilde was dragged towards the bathhouse. “W-what are you doing?”
“Shut your mouth.” They ripped off her clothes and doused her with water. Then, they exchanged quiet, knowing smiles.
‘I must be really filthy.’
She was probably a sight, unfit to work in a noble household. Especially after working in the laundry all day without a chance to wash.
Hilde remained silent, enduring their rough handling. The scrubbing was so harsh that her skin burned, but she gritted her teeth and bore it.
The scrubbing lessened somewhat when they finally began to lather her with soap. As the grime and dirt washed away, her fair, smooth skin emerged.
“Now you’re presentable.”
As Hilde stepped out of the bath, the head maid assessed her with a critical eye and then gestured.
“Prepare her.”
The maids poured fragrant oils over Hilde. She flinched at the cold touch against her skin.
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Obsessive peony