"P-Passed?"
My eyes widened upon hearing her words.
The princess who whispered behind my ear hovered to sit beside me. She pushed a plate of desserts towards my face.
"I like you." She giggled. "You are analytical, capable.. and honest."
My cheeks blushed.
I was used to hearing compliments but not from such a charismatic and beautiful person.
If she were a little closer, I would think that she was trying to seduce me.
But that's not the situation now!
"Does this mean that you won't continue to harm the dove?"
"HA? HAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!"
Lady Austen laughed once more, almost choking.
I felt embarrassed.
I do not know whether she is laughing because I said something funny or foolish.
Again, the head maid only smiled at me.
"Really, and a little bit naive too." She stated. "I'm glad I can have you on my side before my brother." She put some of my fallen fringes beside my ears.
"Yes?"
"I don't intend to kill that 'dove'" She confessed. I was finally able to breathe out the sign I held onto. It looks like the lady is not completely crazy...right?
Even if she does feel a bit crazy...
"It was all a farce to choose as you have said, my 'personal' maid."
Ah!
So it was still for that competition after all.
Now that the lady cleared that up then that means...
My eyes gleamed as I realized what she said.
TRIPLE PAYMENT?
It felt like gold coins were pouring into my eyes.
Or that her ladyship's face was one big gold coin.
If that was the case then... I can find a great school for my baby Jude to go to elementary!
"Then? Am I now your ladyship's personal maid?"
"You're hired." She then made a circular sign with her right thumb and forefinger. "And I think you deserve much more than what was promised!" The lady winked at me.
"I---" I gulped down the big rock in my throat. Even more than triple pay... "How could I accept more than what I deserve?"
I was not someone who would accept such a huge amount easily.
If you ask for too much, it will bite you back one way or another.
"What you deserve?" Her smile has gotten wider. "I think much is only enough, especially in the capital."
"Pardon? The capital??"
In this case, it bit me back even before I accepted it.
*****
I remember yesterweek as clear as day.
After that, I returned home to Baby Jude whom I asked Clora to take care of for a while since I would come home late.
The next day, I said 'no' to her request and the unexpected offer because I sincerely did not want to go to the capital where the 'Dukedom' was located.
I even made my poor baby a reason just so I could not continue.
But the lady and the maid followed me every day like flies on dog poop, and in the end, I was sold when the lady promised that she would take care of my little boy's education and future and that she would sponsor him.
Really, it was right to think that the Lady was not a foolish person.
But she's too wise.
She caught my heart so easily.
I was defeated and now I stood beside her in front of the Dukedom.
To think that there's a possibility of encountering Erden weighs on my heart this heavily... but a mother's love can endure anything for her child.
And I doubt that Erden still remembers me.
Besides, the lady also allowed me to bring Lucas... because I can't be far away from him.
And already prepared his admission to a preparatory school before he steps up in elementary.
It was hard to explain to Baby Luke at first, but when he heard about the capital, he was more than excited to go here than me.
It seemed like... everything would be fine after I accepted the hand that the lady held out.
I just can't believe that I'm a servant to one of my ex-husband's might-be 'future' wife.
"Wow..." My little child looked over the window with stars in his eyes.
The carriage we are riding just passed the last hilltop that revealed the Ducal territory.
It was a wide land with almost no end, there were colorful roofs of houses and the town's roads were a dazzling gold.
"Do you like it Baby Lucas?" Milady asked my little boy.
This was also one of the reasons why I accepted the job.
The lady was very gentle with Lucas.
"Love! I love iiittt princess!!" Lady Austen giggled with my child, he's even raising his hands upward.
Lucas has been calling her princess rather than lady, I'm happy that Lady Austen recognized it as a child's natural misconception rather than criticizing him. It was hard to live as a noble, especially in a place where one's rank is the first thing that matters more than values.
And sometimes, issues could arise.
I can correct and teach Lucas one step at a time.
But there was one small problem.
It's that Lucas looks too much like Erden when smiling.
Why do I only realize that fact now?