The Lady's Voice
Elizabeth’s chin trembled as she understood her master’s intent.
“Elizabeth.”
“……”
“You’ve decided not to answer anymore?”
“Ah, no, Master.”
“Tell me in your own words why my predecessor was dismissed.”
This question could not be evaded. As her successor, she had been thoroughly trained to learn from her predecessor’s mistakes so she would not repeat them.
“I… arrived far earlier than the appointed time.”
“So?”
“……”
“You’re asking what happened, aren’t you? Forgot it already? Or do my words not sound convincing?”
Kian’s tone rose sharply, and Elizabeth’s face drained of all color.
“I… was in a situation… like the one today…”
“Yes. You saw me exactly as I am now—bare.”
She had arrived earlier than usual and seen her master dressed in nothing but a bathrobe. That was precisely why her predecessor had been let go.
Perhaps he had pushed her out of the way. Kian had already known that. He averted his gaze and began walking among the maids, as if inspecting them.
“Normally, dismissals at Larson are handled at the designated hour.”
Kian turned back to Vivienne and surveyed the row of maids.
“You knew. Everyone except you.”
One hesitant breath. All heads bowed toward the floor, shoulders hunched like children on thin ice.
“Elizabeth is dismissed. Clear out within the hour.”
Elizabeth lifted her shocked face.
“M-Master! But I did explain everything!”
“Your excuses hold no interest. I’m tired of hearing them.”
Kian’s voice was ice. “Transferring the duties to your successor without incident is part of your job. Whether you spoke or not is irrelevant.”
“……”
“Perhaps it’s because the master spends so much time away. Without Matilda here, the household would be in this sorry state.”
One neck had already been severed. If it was time to sharpen the blade, a few more cuts would not have hurt.
“Take this chance. If any of you have the slightest complaint about what I just said, you’re free to leave Larson.”
No one could answer. Kian gave a faint smile.
“Then see that your days remain peaceful. Each of you, tend to your duties.”
The order to disperse rang out. The maids answered in trembling voices and swiftly fled the master’s bedroom.
What on earth was this? Had someone finally stood on her side?
Or was it simply that her authority had not been respected?
Vivienne’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion from the events surrounding her.
Elizabeth had been cut down for speaking out, yet the relief was gone. She could not shake the fear.
Whether or not that was the case, Kian returned to the sofa as if nothing had happened and lifted his teacup. The warmth had long since vanished, likely because he had been distracted by other matters.
He drained the cup twice or three times to the bottom and set it down with a clatter. Her duty ended there.
The suffocating air felt as though she might choke. She hurried to collect the tea set and leave.
“Vivienne.”
A low voice came from behind. She stopped mid-step.
“You drank your tea well.”
His voice carried a faint, mocking lilt.
***
Kian followed the round head of the man below the railing as he wandered.
Vivienne. The woman had said she only knew his name.
She walked without complaint in the oversized men’s slippers. Tap, tap. The dragging footsteps tickled his ear.
Dragging her feet like a creature in pain. The sight was strangely amusing. Of course, it was also his twisted taste.
Kian rested his elbows on the railing and propped his chin on his hand. He sucked on the tobacco until his cheeks hollowed.
The pungent smoke mixed with the sea air, leaving his head clear. He did not usually enjoy smoking, yet lately the urge had grown stronger with every moment.
When he first learned it at the academy, someone had told him a few pulls would give him courage for daring deeds. He had dismissed it as nonsense, yet here he was, believing it.
Once again, doing what one should not do led to doing something else one should not do. Looking down at the floor instead of the sea from here was a first.
A strange woman he had picked up.
No, she had been picked up to spare him discomfort. He had intended to observe her later.
But he could not wait and had come to greet her first. When he spoke, she had begged to stay here.
Placing even one foot inside this vast estate could hardly be difficult, yet kindness was not his style.
Was she naive… or foolish?
Kian stared at the short, half-burned cigarette and voiced his honest thoughts about her.
Despite being rejected, she had fought desperately. She was undeniably beautiful with her smooth skin; any glance at her face and she would have done anything. She was more than enough prey for the scoundrels of the world.
Yet he was no better. The helpless words had made him want to play a prank. He had no desire to deny it.
No, perhaps she had intended it from the start. She, too, was human. Knowing she had been brought here, an unpleasant feeling rose inside him.
He had thought she was the kind who never felt shame, only rattling and crying out as if she were the victim. That made her several kinds of irritating and impossible to understand.
He wondered what she was planning.
When it was time to bathe, she had been gone. Now that she was brought to the main house, she was constantly in sight. Yes, that was better for him too.
The moment her back disappeared around the building, Kian crushed the shortened cigarette into the ashtray.
He walked slowly to the railing and pulled the chain. A maid entered hastily and bowed deeply.
Of course. Human beasts grew docile with every step.
“Yes, Master.”
There was something long she needed to do.
Ordering the maids would lead to more mischief. It was better to instruct through the butler.
“Summon Richard.”
***
The next morning, Vivienne arrived at the bedroom door exactly at eight o’clock. Her maid life had now reached its sixth day.
She had not slept well since yesterday morning. Thanks to Kian’s intervention, no one else had touched her, yet the person who had spoken first had disappeared.
When she sat at the dining table for breakfast, the other maids rose simultaneously. Vivienne realized she was completely alone.
Alone. The feeling had never faded, even after years in the mermaid palace. Like her sisters, the others whispered behind her back.
“Look at her. Still walking around in those ridiculous shoes?”
“She must be insane. Is she bragging?”
She had no shoes to wear, so she wore those. The hostility was unmistakable. The whispered words cut deeper than they should have.
Her appetite vanished. She forced food down anyway. Chewing was mandatory.
Who cut the neck because of her. Was the food going down her throat?
No. It did not. She could not keep it in her mouth forever.
Her day began with serving tea, but it did not end there. As a new member of the main household, she had to handle all sorts of cleaning.
The slippers he had given her were too large; she could barely walk in them. The cold stares she received could not be ignored.
They made every step feel heavy.
Was he helping her?
Or causing her trouble?
Helping and causing trouble at the same time. That must have been it. He did it strictly in his own way. He had no other intention.
She had not wanted to wear them. She knew walking barefoot would provoke people in another way.
Especially in front of Kian. He would surely think someone had taken her shoes. He would interpret that as defiance. She could not please or displease him. Her heart was troubled in many ways.
Matilda would not return until tomorrow. She had to endure until then. The future looked dark.
“If you have any difficult tasks or anyone bothers you, come to me anytime.”
Theodore’s face flashed in her mind. He was Matilda’s son.
Should she ask for help? He had mentioned the training grounds. Would she dare ask him to retrieve her shoes?
She had considered it, yet she felt a twinge of guilt. She had met him only once, and she did not want to cause him unnecessary trouble.
Stop thinking useless thoughts.
Just do your own work.
Vivienne clenched her toes inside the slippers and swallowed hard.
Tap tap tap
No answer at the door. Everything she had learned since yesterday made her doubt it, yet she had to enter. She cautiously opened the bedroom door and stepped inside.
It was not late. She saw the familiar figure already seated on the sofa, and her heart sank.
It was even earlier than expected. He was still wearing the bathrobe.
…What on earth was this?
“Come in. Vivi.”
At the embarrassed tone, her gaze dropped. A soft voice called her name—not quite her name, but a nickname.
Her heart pounded as though it might burst.