“Shasha. I heard you’re working until today and then quitting.”

“Yes, that’s correct, Baron Armond.”

 

A forefinger adorned with a ring set with a large gem clasped the handle of the teacup.

That handle. When I used to wipe it, the empty space seemed vast.

‘It looks so tightly filled now.’

Gulp—

 

As the teacup slowly touched the baron’s lips and then moved away, I clenched the hands resting on my knees.

I had to suppress the urge to wipe his glossy, tea-wet lips.

 

“Why are you quitting?”

“I believe I am far too inadequate to work at the Armond Barony. I intend to leave here to gain a bit more learning.”

 

What is there to learn in a maid’s job?

It’s just a roundabout way of saying she wants to leave. 

 

Not that the baron would understand.

 

“Your monthly pay was a million francs, wasn’t it?”

“…Yes, Baron.”

 

Conscience, are you doing well?

A million francs was just enough for a single-person household to live frugally for a month. Though I’d glared at the baron knowingly or unknowingly, I honestly didn’t want to answer either.

 

After possessing this body, I realized I was already employed here as a maid, and without a proper contract at that.

They called it a million francs, but not only did they deduct pay precisely for breaks and meal times, they even took lodging fees out of it.

And even the monthly leave they emphasized as a benefit was unpaid time off!

 

But now, it’s all goodbye, so I’ll let it slide.

“I’ll raise it to 1.2 million francs a month.”

 

Haha, quite funny!

Actually, not funny at all.

“I’m sorry, Baron.”

 

The baron, who had looked as if he’d made an offer I couldn’t refuse, widened his eyes. Now he seemed to be gauging something.

Unconsciously, my brows began to furrow, so I forced the corners of my mouth upward.

 

Yes, if you really wanted to keep me, you should’ve at least thought that I might get hired elsewhere.

 

The baron, seeming slightly flustered, spread all five fingers wide.

“I’ll raise it to 1.5 million francs.”

“I’m sorry.”

 

Do your best to call out. As if I would do it.

 

Everyone’s been slacking off, doing just enough work to match the pay they’ve been getting.

 

He has no idea how hard it was for me, the only one putting in extra effort and polishing things until they shone.

 

All because of that damn… occupational habit from my past life!

 

I was the successful owner of a cleaning company in my early twenties.

 

And I was dragged into this world just as I was about to buy my own house.

 

Well, thanks to that, I did go out to buy cleaning supplies myself and saw an incredible job posting.

 

And I even passed the application, so in the end, it worked out for the best, right?

 

‘Thank you, Baron.’

 

While I was lost in thought for a moment, the Baron’s face across from me turned bright red. He looked like an angry, warty toad.

 

“Just where have you been hired that you would refuse 1.5 million francs! Just because you’re good at cleaning, they coddled you, and now you dare, a mere maid, you dare!”

 

“The Duke of Vermaniòn’s household.”

 

“…What?”

 

The Baron, who had been shouting and had risen to his feet just moments before, deflated rapidly as if it had all been an act.

 

But the spit he had sprayed in his excitement lay thick on the table.

 

Ugh, disgusting.

 

‘…’

 

My eyes kept drifting to that dirty table.

 

Honestly, it’s none of my business anymore, and I’m not even a maid here now…

 

Sigh—

 

This damn occupational habit.

 

I rummaged through my pockets, pulled out two neatly folded cloths and a bottle of sloshing liquid.

 

Swish, swish—

 

I sprayed the liquid on the table twice and wiped it down with a cloth. Then, I went over it once more with a clean, dry cloth.

 

‘There.’

 

I smiled proudly, looking at the perfectly clean table again.

 

Now, next…

 

I looked up to see the Baron watching my actions quietly, his mouth agape.

 

Ah, right. I was in the middle of telling him I’m leaving.

 

Ahem, ahem. Where was I?

 

Right! When did you ever coddle me?

 

“Duke Vermanion said he would give me 5 million francs every month. All I did was show him some cleaning during the interview.”

“…”

“Though I am lacking, I was hired for the position of head maid.”

How about that?

The Baron won’t be able to hold me back anymore.

Anyone who would hire three maids for 1 million francs each and spend the remaining 2 million on their own luxuries with 5 million francs would do just that.

“Th-the Duke of Vermanion…”

As expected, the Baron couldn’t speak any further. He seemed to have thought of something, started trembling, and then covered his own mouth.

He must have been shocked after realizing the value of that amount.

“Well, I’ll be on my way now. Baron. Thank you for everything until now.”

Thanks, my foot!

It was filthy all this time, and let’s never see each other again.

Baron Amond or Almond or whatever.

Bowing my head with the full intention of never looking at his face again, I left the parlor.

Heheh, my steps feel light.

Holding the black envelope containing the contract that the Duke had ‘personally’ handed to me, I recalled the day of the interview.

 

🫧

 

So, this is the Duke’s residence.

Even though it was just for hiring a maid, the interview was conducted very meticulously.

The servants of the Duke of Vermanion’s residence led each applicant to separate rooms, one by one. Without uttering a single word.

Even that seemed to have a certain atmosphere.

The unusual part was that you would enter an empty room, clean by yourself, and then leave. The next day, a letter would arrive notifying you whether you passed or failed.

Of course, I passed.

The final interview was with the Duke himself.

My first impression…

It was truly astounding.

The moment I opened the door to the parlor, silver hair scattered by the faint breeze from the window. Red eyes, seemingly bored and unfocused, looked at me, and it took my breath away.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace.”

“Sit.”

A voice not only dry and monotonous but completely devoid of inflection.

 

From the moment I landed in this world, he was the first person I had ever seen who was so mysteriously and captivatingly beautiful.

 

Frankly, I was beyond nervous; I was so flustered trying to close my mouth, which had dropped open without me realizing.

 

Fortunately, the Duke’s gaze, which had been on me, soon turned to the resume.

 

“Where have you worked?”

 

“I am currently working as a housemaid at Baron Armond’s residence.”

 

“I see.”

 

It was just a simple interjection, so I didn’t know until then whether the Duke had taken a liking to me.

 

Of course, the moment I entered the drawing-room, I had already decided I would work here.

 

“I really want to work here.”

 

“Is there a reason?”

 

“It’s too…”

 

“Too?”

 

I took a deep breath.

 

‘Stay calm. Calm.’

 

But I could no longer contain my excitement.

 

“It’s dirty. Even… this drawing-room right now!”

 

I said it to appeal that I’m good at cleaning—no. 

 

Actually, I genuinely, absolutely, couldn’t hold back. I should have realized it the moment I saw the multiple handprints left on the drawing-room door handle.

 

Yes, the most shocking thing when I entered this drawing-room wasn’t the Duke’s appearance.

 

It was the fact that the window behind the Duke was so dirty it looked hazy rather than transparent.

 

That was the most shocking thing!

 

As if entranced, I moved my steps toward the window.

 

Oh, my God!

 

I didn’t get far before I was plunged into shock.

 

The smears left all over the window…

 

“Th-These water stains! Just who cleaned this, leaving all these water stains behind?!”

 

It looked even more horrible up close!

 

If it’s going to be like this, it’s better not to clean it at all.

 

A wet cloth must be wrung out at least five times before use, and then it must be wiped with a dry cloth to get it clean without streaks.

 

That is a rule that anyone who cleans should never forget.

 

Never, ever.

 

It definitely looked like someone had just dunked a cloth in water once and then scrubbed the window recklessly with it.

 

I made a resolution.

 

‘I’ll clean it.’

 

Yes, it must be cleaned.

 

It was certain that if I ignored it, dozens of water-stained windows would haunt my dreams and torment me.

I took out a rag from the pouch I always carry in my bag for such occasions.

Calmly rolling up my sleeves, I held a wet rag in my left hand and a dry one in my right.

Ready…

Sigh—

 

After taking a light, deep breath, I began wiping the window in front of me first.

…But I was annoyed from the very start.

“Seriously, they didn’t even wipe the corners.”

Just who on earth wiped this? They just carelessly smeared the center of the window with no sincerity.

And they had the nerve to take payment for this. They must have no conscience.

“Really, is there no head maid here? How is this not being managed?”

I regret only bringing rags.

If I had known it would be like this, I would have brought at least one sharp tool to scrape the window frames!

 

After I had been fuming and wiping for a while, about three or four windows in…

“…”

It was only then that I remembered this was an interview.

Ah…

“You’re hired.”