"I can't believe it!"
A young girl with short black hair held a letter high in her hand, her eyes shining with happiness. Unable to contain her excitement, she immediately dashed out of her room, her feet gliding lightly over the wooden floor as she headed straight for the dining room, where her parents were seated
"What are you saying, Lana?" her father asked, his voice a mix of surprise and curiosity
"Dad, listen to this!" the young girl, Lana, said, holding up the letter and reading it aloud
"Dear Miss Lana Nye
I am the head of human resources for the Eclipse Duchy. Congratulations! You have been accepted for the position of nanny. Please arrive at the duchy as soon as possible so we can arrange your placement"
Upon hearing the name of the noble house, her father froze, his eyes widening in shock
"The Eclipse Duchy?" he exclaimed
Lana's mother also looked up at her daughter, her expression filled with surprise
"Isn't that the family that governs the entire northern territory?"
Lana nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement
"Yes! I saw that they were hiring a nanny, so I applied... I never expected to get accepted!"
Her parents exchanged glances, a mix of unease and astonishment in their eyes
"The Eclipse family is incredibly wealthy... but also very mysterious" her mother said hesitantly
Lana beamed, brushing off their concerns
"That's exactly why I can't miss this opportunity! If I work for them, our lives will definitely improve"
With that, she turned and hurried off to pack her belongings, preparing for her new job.
—
Lana stands frozen, her eyes widening as she gazes up at the massive castle before her
"Oh my god..."
She can't hold back a gasp of amazement. The Eclipse Duke's castle towers against the gray sky, its pristine white spires reaching high as if touching the clouds. It exudes an air of majestic beauty, yet there is an eerie coldness to it
The carriage has brought her all the way to the main gate. Taking a deep breath, Lana steps forward toward the enormous iron gate, where a soldier in white armor stands guard
"What is your purpose here?" The soldier's deep, authoritative voice cuts through the air
Lana quickly retrieves the recruitment letter from her pocket and hands it to him
"I am a new employee here. This is my information"
The soldier takes the letter, his sharp eyes scanning the words on the paper. After a brief silence, he returns the letter to Lana and gives a nod
"Okay. Follow me"
The gate slowly creaks open, the sound of grinding metal echoing through the space. Lana takes a deep breath before stepping through the threshold, officially entering the territory of the Eclipse Duke
—
'Truly fitting for a ducal family...' Lana thinks to herself, feeling smaller than ever as she walks through the grand hallway
Finally, she is led into an office. Inside, an older woman sits behind a dark wooden desk, her sharp eyes following Lana as she enters.
"And you are?" the woman asks, her voice authoritative but not unkind
Lana quickly bows
"Hello, ma'am. My name is Lana Nye"
The woman observes her for a moment before giving a slight nod
"Oh, the nanny. You arrived quickly"
She sets down her pen, her chest rising slightly as she takes a deep breath
"I am Hela Pelos, the head maid and the one in charge of all personnel within the Eclipse Duke's territory"
She opens a drawer, takes out a document, and hands it to Lana
"This is your employment contract"
Lana accepts it, her eyes immediately locking onto the contents. When she reaches the salary section, she can't hide her shock
"Is this real...?"
100 Gols per month
That amount is twice what both her parents earn combined. Though her family was once a minor noble house, years of decline had left them with nothing but an empty title. Now, with just a month's salary, she could support her family more than ever before
"For this kind of pay, what exactly will I be doing?" Lana asks, still skeptical
Hela offers a small smile, as if she is used to this reaction from newcomers
"Only what a nanny is expected to do. This salary ensures that you can devote yourself fully to your duties without being distracted by anything else"
Lana remains silent for a moment, then lifts her head
"Who will I be taking care of?"
The question makes Hela pause slightly.
"I don't know yet" she replies matter-of-factly "The Duchess only requested a nanny but did not specify for whom."
Lana remembers the owner of this castle - Duchess Celeste Comet Eclipse. She is the sole surviving member of the Eclipse family, yet the duchy remains as powerful as ever since Lady Celeste is the highest-ranked mage on the Century continent - a Level 9
"Alright, I'll sign" Lana says
Hela nods in approval and then stands
"Good. Now, follow me. I'll show you to your room"
—
"Hela told me to stay alert tonight… Does that mean I'm officially starting my job?" Lana murmurs
She sits on her bed, gazing out the window. The room isn't too large, but it's well-equipped and far more comfortable than she expected. However, what troubles her most is that—four days have passed, yet she hasn't done anything
Just then, a knock sounds at the door
"Lana, change quickly. Hela wants to see you" a voice calls from outside
"O-okay!"
Lana immediately jumps off the bed, quickly changing into her maid uniform. She adjusts her short black hair, her dark eyes reflecting both excitement and nervousness
After composing herself, she leaves the room and heads to meet Hela
"Good evening, Hela" Lana greets her promptly upon arrival
"Follow me. It's time for you to start working"
Lana hurries after Hela, her mind racing with countless questions
"Has the person I'll be taking care of finally appeared?"
"Cassius Eclipse" Hela answers without hesitation "The child that you'll take care of"
Lana's eyes widen.
"Eclipse… Is he the Duke's son?"
"No" Hela's response is immediate "The Duke made that clear from the beginning. Remember that"
Lana falls silent, her curiosity about the child growing stronger by the second
Finally, they arrive at a grand door on the highest floor of the castle
Hela knocks and announces
"My lady, I've brought the nanny"
A cold yet elegant voice responds from within
"Enter"
As Hela opens the door, both she and Lana freeze at the sight before them
Celeste Comet Eclipse, the most powerful and influential woman on the continent, sits on the bed, cradling a small infant in her arms. She gently places a finger in the baby's mouth, her usually icy expression softened into something unexpectedly tender