Chapter 1. An Unwanted Child

Morning arrived at the Aradis house. The viscount couple and their daughter had returned very late from a banquet at the royal palace the previous night. Because of this, the servants moved as cautiously as possible.

The Aradis couple was known for their fiery temper. If they were accidentally woken up by loud noises on such a day, it was obvious they would be severely scolded.

The servants thought it was rather fortunate and, like their masters, did not get up until late.

In another noble household, the butler or head maid would have scolded them severely, but not here. It had been a long time since the viscount had dismissed the senior servants like the butler and head maid because he couldn’t afford their wages.

The only remaining people were transient servants. Even they couldn’t be hired generously, so only the minimum number of staff was barely employed.

Because of this, Ael was busy moving alone in the kitchen from the morning.

A month ago, her father had fired the chef for not making a perfect dinner.

It was only natural that he couldn’t prepare a banquet. After all, they had brought someone who worked in a regular restaurant, not a noble’s kitchen.

Moreover, there was also a shortage of food ingredients.

So it was only natural that he couldn’t create a banquet at the level of other noble families.

〈Do you think there’s nowhere else for me to work? I only came here thinking I could add something to my resume because you were bragging about being a noble! That’s it! I was already planning to quit.〉

The chef packed up his things and left in a showy manner. He didn’t forget to spit in the middle of the foyer on his way out.

How much did Viscount Aradis shout, demanding that the man be brought back?

It was impossible. There were no strong male servants left in the viscount’s house to exert such force.

Even if there were, there was no reason to catch the chef since he hadn’t committed a crime.

With the chef gone, the meals at the mansion became an immediate problem.

The viscount ordered Jenna, a maid who had recently joined, to take charge of the entire kitchen.

He threatened her, saying she would be kicked out without any severance pay if she couldn’t do it properly.

Jenna’s face turned pale. It was understandable since she was a maid who had just come up from the countryside and got her first job here.

Jenna, who had never done kitchen work other than disposing of food waste, couldn’t possibly prepare meals for the viscount couple and others alone.

In the end, Ael, unable to watch any longer, spoke to the viscount.

〈Father, may I help Jenna?〉

At those words, Viscount Aradis shouted angrily.

〈If you do such menial work, what will the remaining servants say to me! How far do you intend to disgrace my dignity!〉

He was only angry because he was afraid of his dignity being tarnished, not because he was particularly worried about Ael.

Ael knew that fact better than anyone, so this time she pleaded with her stepmother.

〈Mother, you know how sensitive Elise is about what she eats. I don’t think Jenna can match Elise’s delicate taste. Especially now that the social season is starting, we need to pay more attention to Elise’s meals…〉

〈Yes, you’re right. Our Elise is a bit sensitive, isn’t she? That country bumpkin Jenna doesn’t seem like she can satisfy Elise, who has only eaten the finest things. So, if you’re okay with it, I think you can help. Right, dear?〉

Just a moment ago, her stepmother had looked at Ael, seemingly wondering how a noble could talk about working, but her expression changed when Ael mentioned her half-sister Elise’s name.

Then she glared at her husband as if urging him to grant permission.

〈If it’s for Elise, well. There’s no choice. It’s only natural for you to take care of your sister.〉

Even her father, who had been shouting loudly, softened when Elise’s name was mentioned. It was only natural.

Elise, the beloved daughter of the viscount couple and the one they pinned their future on.

Born between Viscount Aradis and his new wife, Elise had been admired as the flower of the social world, gaining immense popularity with her outstanding beauty from a young age.

Despite their modest means, the viscount couple spared no effort in providing the best for Elise.

From clothes and accessories to even the smallest stationery that Elise touched.

It was only natural that Elise had a picky palate.

Moreover, although he had shouted out of pride, the viscount couple knew well that they didn’t have the money to hire another chef.

But Ael volunteered to work. Of course, not because of ‘financial difficulties’ but for her ‘beloved sister.’

〈Yes. It’s commendable that you want to help in such a way. From now on, you and Jenna will manage the kitchen together.〉

Saying that, the viscount couple returned to their room. After that, Ael and Jenna took charge of the kitchen work together.

While Ael was alone handling ingredients and preparing food by adding seasonings to the pot over the fire, the kitchen door opened, and Jenna, with a flushed face, entered, coughing.

“Miss, why didn’t you wake me… Give it to me, cough. I’ll do it…”

“I didn’t wake you on purpose so you could sleep. Why did you get up? Go rest some more.”

“No, I can’t. How can I let Miss do it all alone… cough! cough!”

Jenna, who was trying to stop Ael, clutched her chest in pain and hunched over as she started coughing. Ael hurriedly ran to pat Jenna’s back. Then Jenna murmured in a pained voice.

“They say even dogs don’t catch summer colds…”

Ael let out a small laugh at those words. She was worried because Jenna seemed sick, but at least she still had the energy to joke.

“Anyway, go rest. What if I catch it too?”

“That’s true, but…”

Jenna’s eyes wavered, unable to find a proper response.

“But you can’t do everything alone, Miss. Even if it’s something simple…”

“No, it’s fine today. Father, Mother, and Elise came home late yesterday. The servants who went to the banquet are all sleeping in today. So I only need to prepare for the few who are awake.”

“But…”

Jenna, who was about to reply, soon had tears welling up in her eyes and sniffled.

“The masters are so unfair. You were invited to the banquet yesterday too, Miss… but they only took Miss Elise… and left you alone…”

Ael gave a bitter smile at Jenna’s words.

Jenna had said she grew up in a family with strong family bonds. So she couldn’t understand how Ael, who was clearly family even if she was the daughter of a previous marriage, was being treated so poorly.

“Jenna, at this rate, I’ll have to add taking care of you to my tasks. There’s already some soup prepared, so take it and go rest.”

When Ael spoke in a deliberately cold voice, Jenna finally stopped crying, apologized, and weakly took her portion of the soup and left.

Ael felt sorry for being cold to the sick child, but if she didn’t, Jenna seemed like she would sit and cry all day, so she had no choice.

After Jenna left, Ael moved even more busily. Thanks to that, by the time there was about an hour left before lunch, she had almost finished preparing both lunch and dinner for the mansion’s residents.

After checking the clock, Ael fell into brief contemplation. Then, making up her mind, she moved upstairs.

Entering her father’s study on the second floor, Ael walked carefully to avoid making a sound. She looked like a thief to anyone who saw her.

‘It’s no different.’

She had come to steal something, so she was indeed a thief.

Ael’s face brightened as she quietly opened the drawer and searched inside. Because what she was looking for was there.

A rectangular ID card, half the size of her palm.

Ael put it in her pocket and hurriedly left the study. Fortunately, there was no sign of anyone else in the hallway as she returned to her room.

Back in her room, Ael quickly changed her clothes.

It was a neat and modest outfit that a governess from a noble family might wear.

Clothes that, if worn outside, no one would see her as a young lady from a noble family.

Once dressed, Ael left the mansion through the back door via the kitchen.

‘It’s 11 o’clock now.’

Her parents and Elise had returned home at dawn. Unless something special happened, they would surely wake up late in the afternoon.

‘I can be back before then.’

Ael quickly walked to the main road and hailed a passing carriage.

“To the Academy Library! Please hurry!”

“Yes, yes, understood.”

The coachman, giving a completely unconvincing reply, started the carriage.