Marquess Doreta placed his right hand on his left chest while bowing half of his body. "May the Sun God always bless you, Her Majesty the Grand Duchess."
Rowena who was busy dealing with the documents on her desk turned to Marquess Doreta who was talking.
"Who are you? I don't remember when we met," Rowena said coldly.
Marquess Doreta seemed a little troubled in responding to Rowena's words. His forehead also started to wrinkle. He seemed to have started to get angry with Rowena's words, which seemed to have forgotten him. Even so, he still tried to contain his anger.
"I am Marquess Doreta. We met at my wife's birthday celebration party which you attended with crown prince Odelette," replied Marquess Doreta.
Rowena pretended to be thinking. "Oh, I remember you. You were the one who threw the party but didn't invite me at that time even though I have a higher peerage than you right? What business did you come here to see me for?"
Marquess Doreta also looked embarrassed. "I hope Her Majesty the Grand Duchess can forgive my mistake for forgetting to invite you to the party that time."
"I'll think about that later. So tell me the real purpose of your coming, Marques Doreta. There's no way you bothered to come here from your territory which is on the border land of Sunverro," said Rowena who resumed her work.
"I want to ask for your help. Can you lend me five hundred thousand dell (dell is the currency in Sunverro)? In return I will help you to achieve the position of crown princess. As you know the Doreta family has a very long history in Sunverro. With my help, it will be easier for you to obtain the position of crown princess and become empress in the future," said Marquess Doreta with full of confidence and confidence.
Rowena took a deep breath and was getting tired of hearing the ramblings of Marquess Doreta. "Stop babbling nonsense, Marquess. I never said I wanted to be the crown princess of Sunverro. Even if I could choose I'd rather be the crown princess of Odelette. So stop saying such unimportant things."
"I have a request in return for lending you money," Rowena said with her trademark grin.
"Please say so, Your Majesty."
"I want Alicia and her mother to be my maids," Rowena said.
Marquess Doreta's face paled instantly. Even so the man still laughed awkwardly like a fool and pretended not to know. "What do you mean, Your Majesty? I never knew that girl named Alicia."
"Hey, I told you to stop talking nonsense again! You think I don't know your rottenness that likes to fuck other women including maids until they are pregnant with your child. Basically I want you to give me Alicia and her mother who you locked up in an old house that must be accessed, through the maze," Rowena said firmly.
Marquess Doreta's throat went dry in an instant as his dark secret which he had hidden for years was exposed by the woman who was only 18 years old right in front of her.
"Essentially bring those two people here. I'll give you a deadline until sunrise tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you in the library with five hundred thousand dells," Rowena said.
"Cecille, please escort Marquess Doreta to the gate!" Rowena ordered Cecille who was standing by the door.
Cecille walked over to Marquess Doreta and escorted the man until he left Rowena's residence.
In the middle of the night, the carriage bearing the Doreta family crest returned to Rowena's residence. Now not only did Marquess Doreta come alone but she came with Alicia and a maid who was Alicia's mother. Cecille who was still not asleep at that time directed the three of them to the library.
Alicia and her mother walked around in fear because after all they were just commoners. They didn't know what awaited them behind the library doors. All they know is that Marquess Doreta told them to sacrifice themselves for the glory of the Doreta family.
Cecille opened the library door and told the three of them to go inside. The library is quiet and dark. It's very hard to see there. After walking a few steps, the lights in the library suddenly turned on by themselves.
Marquess Doreta who saw Rowena sitting arrogantly holding several large money bags immediately ordered Alicia and her mother to kneel down and bow their heads.
"Your Majesty the Grand Duchess, I have brought these people at your request," said Marquess Doreta.
Rowena smiled and tossed several bags of money at Marquess Doreta. "Good job, Marquess."
After taking all the money bags, Marquess Doreta immediately left the library without paying any respects to Rowena.
"Cecille, have you delivered the letter I wrote to that person?"
"Yes, Your Honor. The man himself received your letter. He said he himself would do what you said in the letter," Cecille reported.
"Turns out the guy really kept his word at the time," Rowena muttered.
The atmosphere became silent for a moment.
"Your Majesty the Grand Duchess, I beg you to release my mother. I will do anything as long as my mother can live safely. Don't kill my mother," said Alicia who was still kneeling and bowing her head in tears.
Rowena's face turned into a frown. "Hey, Alicia! How can you say something like that when a few days ago you gave me a few compliments about my majesty."
Hearing the words and the familiar voice in her ears, Alicia immediately lifted her head. "Rowena!"
"Yes, What is up?".
"Aren't you an ordinary maid why do you..." Alicia began to be confused.
"When I met you I was only in disguise. Never mind you guys better get up and also I'm not a crazy person who just kills people," said Rowena.
Alicia and her mother rose to their feet.
"Cecille, from today onwards Alicia will be your housekeeper. Now you can direct Alicia and her mother to the rooms in the mansion where the maids live. Then the next day, you take her around the residence."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cecille replied curtly.
"But I don't have that great ability to be a housekeeper, especially since I have to take care of the residence of an honorable Grand Duchess like you. After all, the housekeeper has always been a man," said Alicia, who was stricken with disbelief.
"You promised to do all my requests when I saved your mother's life and I also accept no refusal. If there is no woman to be the housekeeper, then you will be the first housekeeper in the entire empire. I am also the commander of the blue army and a Grand Duchess even though I'm a single woman," Rowena replied.
"Believe in yourself. You are a person I have recognized. So you have nothing to fear." Rowena walked away leaving Alicia and her mother who was still standing.