CHAPTER 3

Ariel visited the sewing room next to the garden whenever she had free time. Meryl had given her permission to modify the clothes as she pleased, so Ariel wanted to create even more beautiful garments than the original. While sewing, Ariel held up the clothes to inspect them. Although she didn't know who made them, it was undoubtedly the work of a remarkable craftsman. Each stitch was meticulous and smooth, and she thought that touching it carelessly might ruin the excellent piece.

However, this made her even more ambitious. She desired to make this beautiful garment even more perfect. How could she make it more beautiful? What kind of dress would make the lady stand out at a party? Ariel would spend her nights in the sewing room after finishing her daily tasks, only entering the servant's quarters last.

And she was also the first one to leave the servant's quarters. Ariel would wake up early in the morning, tidy up her bedding, and clean the quarters. The other maidservants were still in dreamland.

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have cleaned the room that everyone used by herself. But a few days ago, she overheard three maidservants secretly crying while trying to muffle their sobs. It seemed like the three friends had entered the maid service together, but now that they were experiencing it for the first time, the work was too difficult and they missed their families, making them feel sad.

Ariel recalled the time when she first worked as a maidservant. It was when her parents were still alive. Ariel loved her mother, but her mother was tired and exhausted from raising eight children in a poor household. She was too busy breastfeeding the youngest child, so she couldn't give enough affection to Ariel or any of her other specific children.

Ariel was originally the second-born, but she practically grew up as the eldest when her older sister died early. Her older sister had worked in a factory and died of pneumonia at the age of eleven due to inhaling too much harmful smoke. In her last moments before dying, she lay in bed, tightly holding Ariel's hand. Her dying sister's hand was cold.

Yet, she held Ariel's hand with strength, as if she didn't want to lose anything. "Rest now, Unnie [Older sister; Also used to call a female who's older than you]." Ariel said as she wiped her tears and placed her forehead against her sister's hand. Upon hearing those words, her sister slowly exhaled and closed her eyes forever.

Ariel's mother patted her back as she sobbed and said, "Now, Ariel, you must lead your younger siblings." After hearing those words, Ariel wiped her tears with her sleeve and nodded. In the face of poverty, even a funeral or a single white flower was considered a luxury. Ariel's siblings, who were not even ten years old, constantly whined about being hungry, and their alcoholic father accumulated more debt every day.

The only ones who could work in this household were herself and her mother, and her mother, being old, only did occasional sewing and laundry work from home. Ariel didn't have time to realize the weight of the burdens placed upon her. The tasks that needed to be done immediately were both her mother's and father's expectations for Ariel to fulfill. However, she didn't want to go to the factory that had caused her sister's death. In that case, the remaining option was to work as a maidservant in someone else's house.

"Ariel, you can have the key to the sewing room now." Meryl handed Ariel a small copper key. Although it was a small sewing room, it was filled with expensive fabrics and decorative jewels. Giving Ariel the key meant that Meryl trusted her. Ariel happily accepted the key. She was delighted that from now on, whenever she had spare time, she could visit the sewing room. It was also heartwarming that Meryl believed in her.

"Thank you." Ariel said with a wide smile as she held the key dear to her chest. She resembled a squirrel that received a treat and was pleased. Meryl silently admired Ariel and encouraged her to work hard on the clothes before leaving.

* * *

On that night, Ariel worked at the sewing machine, stitching and making clothes until dawn. Exhausted, she returned to the servants' quarters with her weary body. Since everyone was asleep, she carefully held a small candle so as not to wake anyone. As she tried to open the door, she heard the whispering voices of the maidservants inside the room. Ariel quietly listened, her ears perked.

"I'm going to sit in front of the fireplace and eat lots of macarons and chocolates."

"I want to have a bubbly bath in a warm tub."

The maidservants burst into laughter together. They seemed to be discussing what they would buy when they received their first pay. Ariel stood still, unable to turn the doorknob.

"I won't spend a single penny, I'll save it all."

"Such a large amount?"

"Yeah, I want to become incredibly rich in the future."

"I wish I were born rich from the beginning."

"Me too."

"Maria, what would you want to do if you became rich?"

Someone asked in a slightly lower voice. It seemed to be a maid with round glasses and braided hair. Was her name Coco?

"I want to get married quickly."

"Me too. I want to have breakfast with the person I love, work during the day, and come back together in the evening, talking about how our day went and giving each other kisses."

"I want to fall asleep while resting my arm on a pillow. Having cozy conversations in bed."

"I... I wonder how the wedding night would be like."

Reyna whispered, and suddenly, the atmosphere became quiet. It felt like everyone was swallowing their saliva. Did I miss the perfect timing to interject? Ariel thought to herself, feeling somehow embarrassed, as she quietly listened, her ears perked.

"Do you guys know how it's done...?"

"Well, first, there's a kiss, right?"

"And maybe some tongue action?"

"Hey, of course. Don't you know that just using your lips is not a kiss but a peck?"

"Maria, have you only experienced pecks?"

"What about you? Have you all tried at least a kiss?"

"Of course."

Coco said. It was a somewhat hesitant voice. Maria and Reyna looked at Coco with surprise. Maria had never seen Coco in a relationship with anyone, ever since they were childhood friends who grew up together. As a joke, they had even promised to live together if they both remained single until old age...

"But with whom?" Maria asked, her mouth slightly agape.

Since they were young, Maria had never witnessed Coco being in a relationship with anyone. The bakery next door, where Coco mentioned having her first kiss, was a familiar place that Maria often visited. The daughter of the bakery owner had long hair and a bright smile, a pretty person. Whenever Maria had the basket of bread tallied up by her, it made her feel good for no reason... But, Coco and that girl...?

Maria was taken aback by the unimaginable scene, like water and oil mixing. However, Coco added that they broke up quickly. The bakery went out of business, and the girl had to work at a factory. Coco added with a lonely smile. Until that moment, Maria had no idea that she would also become a maid in someone else's house.

"Then... Have you done that too?" Reyna asked. 

Coco nodded. Wow, as expected of Coco. Reyna showed interest and started asking various questions. Maria still seemed dazed from the previous shock but was at least paying some attention to the intriguing "topic."

"We were sitting awkwardly on the bed when she suddenly grabbed my shoulder and gently pushed me back. And then, looking down at me... Her face, the face of the person I liked, was so close that it felt like my heart was going to explode."

"Oh, I can imagine how exciting that must have been."

"Yeah, but then she suddenly asked me if I had ever tried it alone. She said that you have to know where your body feels good to enjoy it more with someone you love."

"So, did you honestly tell her that you did?"

"Yeah. And then she... she asked if she could try it in front of me."

Maria's face in front of the flickering candle turned red, and she couldn't say anything. Reyna urged Coco to continue the story. Why is Maria reacting like that? Coco was momentarily concerned about Maria's reaction but continued the story.

"First, we undressed. It was a bit embarrassing once everything was off. And then, I looked at her once, and she was smiling happily while looking at me. That's when I realized that she had no intention of stopping me. It felt like I had misunderstood. She said that if I didn't want to do it, there was no need to force myself... but I could see it in her eyes. My Unnie really wanted to see me do it alone."

"Oh, it's so scandalous!" Maria covered her eyes with her palms as if she couldn't bear to listen anymore. Coco, who had been continuing the story while Maria closed her eyes, also hesitated and observed Maria's reaction. Reyna was getting frustrated to the point of dying.

We can't continue this tonight. Ariel straightened up from her hunched position and got up from her seat. It seemed like it would be better to go back to the workshop and continue the work she was doing. They were finally having a lively conversation among childhood friends from the same hometown, and Ariel didn't want to disturb that. Ariel picked up the lantern and returned to the workshop. And that night, she fell asleep on top of the workshop shelf, just as she was.

The next day, Ariel's whole body felt stiff. It was true that the work progressed faster because she worked through the night, but sleeping on her stomach made her body feel stiff. Coco and Maria were running around, playing pranks on each other in front of Ariel as she cleaned. They seemed like naive children, and Ariel couldn't help but laugh at the thought that there might only be that time when they could be so innocent. Somehow, she couldn't hate those kids.

"Maria, don't run in the hallway."

Eventually, Meryl scolded Maria in a strict voice. Coco seemed to have run away by then, as she was nowhere to be seen. Maria rolled her round eyes downward and meekly returned to her own area, looking completely defeated. How cute. Ariel chuckled inwardly.

I should go to the workshop. Last night, the sewing room was still scattered on the desk. Ariel cleared them to one side and started looking through the dresses that had some semblance of a silhouette. She added light blue lace to the shimmering blue dress to make the skirt even more voluminous. Embroidered with faint gold thread, it resembled a lake reflecting starlight. Yes, if the young lady wears this... Ariel closed her eyes for a moment and imagined a happy scene. If the young lady comes out wearing this dress and dances, or if, as those kids imagined yesterday, the young lady marries me...

The young lady, wearing the beautiful dress I made, with a white muslin on her long, beautiful hair, would look at Ariel with lovely eyes. The young lady and Ariel would be so close that their noses almost touch, as if they could never be separated for the rest of their lives. Cecilia slowly lifts Ariel's muslin with her gloved hand. And they exchange a kiss, vowing eternity. All the guests congratulate and rejoice in our marriage.

And... we would spend our first night together. Cecilia, lifting Ariel onto the white bed, as if a leopard leaping onto Ariel's disheveled blond hair. Is everything ready, my bride?

Before Ariel could respond, Cecilia kissed her on the neck and collarbone. She pressed her shoulders gently, making sure Ariel couldn't move. Red marks were left all over Ariel's body. There was no need to endure anymore. Cecilia's hand busily slipped into Ariel's skirt, exploring between the layers of voluminous lace, finding Ariel's most sensitive spot. Not long after, Ariel twisted her body and gripped the bedsheet tightly. "Stay still." Cecilia whispered.

The story Coco told last night came to Ariel's mind. "You have to know where your body feels good to enjoy it more with someone you love." Ariel imagined Cecilia's touch and gradually, her hand slid further into the inside of her thigh.

" My lady!"

A shout came from beyond the door. At the mention of "My lady," Ariel immediately stopped and reacted. No way, could they have returned already? Ariel carefully folded the dress and put it in a drawer, making sure it wasn't discovered, then cautiously opened the door. When the door opened, she saw that the glass door to the Garden of Light was open. That place must be off-limits to anyone... Ariel walked towards the Garden of Light. As she tried to enter the greenhouse, someone suddenly rushed out from inside, colliding shoulders with Ariel. Startled, Ariel grabbed the person who was about to fall, only to find a red nose and teary eyes.

"Reyna?"

Reyna looked at Ariel, surprised at first, but quickly turned her head and ran away. What on earth is happening? When did the young lady return? Perplexed, Ariel stood there, and someone else walked towards her from inside the greenhouse.

"I'm sorry. Reyna is still a young girl who doesn't understand the ways of the world well."

A woman with rich and shimmering silver hair spoke to Ariel. She was dressed as a maid, indicating that she was likely a maid, but her graceful footsteps revealed a certain elegance. Ariel looked closely at the woman and then spoke as if she had realized something.

"...Did you come from the north, by any chance?"

As Ariel recognized herself, the woman's face contorted slightly with displeasure. The rumor that a wealthy noble family from the northern region had fallen from grace overnight after engaging in a fight with other families to seize an untamed harbor was the most entertaining gossip among maidservants from every region. Ariel vaguely remembered hearing a rumor that the youngest daughter of that family ended up living as a maid. Her name was... was it Natasha?

"...Please pretend you didn't see what just happened."

Natasha muttered in a low voice with a stern expression, and then disappeared along Reyna.

* * *

After that, Ariel tried to talk to Reyna whenever she had the chance. However, Reyna intentionally began to avoid Ariel, as if she didn't want to be caught in that state again. Reyna, whom Ariel had observed during her time as a maid, was always lively and mischievous... But on the day they collided, Reyna was holding back her bursting tears. She clenched her molars tightly, but tears seemed to uncontrollably flow from her eyes.

Natasha also had an equally troubled expression. Standing in the greenhouse, Natasha's lush and wavy silver hair shimmered in the light. As Ariel looked at Natasha's hair, she thought it resembled fluffy cotton candy. With her fair skin and blue eyes befitting someone from the north, Natasha looked like an exquisitely beautiful transparent ice sculpture.

As far as Ariel remembered, the northern region had a small population, with only two noble households. Being an isolated region, these noble families monopolized everything, and Natasha's family, in particular, was known for having a foolish daughter of a count. When Ariel caught on to Natasha's background, her expression contorted greatly. It was understandable that someone who had been showered with love and suddenly fell to the lowly treatment of a maid would have their pride wounded.

What kind of relationship do they have? A fallen young lady and a maid. It seemed that Reyna had been Natasha's maid for a long time before coming to this house. Otherwise, she wouldn't dare to take the risky job of serving Cecilia as her mistress and calling someone else "My lady." Luckily, Ariel happened to discover it that day. If Meryl had seen Reyna calling someone else "My lady," she would have kicked her out immediately.

Ariel recalled the shout Reyna had made, calling out Natasha. "Lady...!" That shout wasn't just a formal tone. Having worked as a maid for a long time, Ariel could instantly tell. Such a voice didn't come out just when addressing the mistress, and it meant that Reyna had strong affection for Natasha.

"Ariel, help Reyna with the kitchen chores. She says she needs more hands to make pancakes."

Upon Meryl's words, Ariel, who was sweeping the hallway, looked towards Reyna. Reyna was also looking at Ariel, but as soon as she saw Ariel looking at her, she quickly turned her head away. Meryl noticed the awkwardness between them but didn't mention it. The two walked silently down the hallway towards the kitchen.

"...You mentioned that you and Coco and Maria are from the same hometown, right?"

Ariel tried to strike up a conversation discreetly, but Reyna didn't respond. It seemed that she wasn't easily willing to speak now that her secret of serving another mistress had been exposed.

"I grew up in a different place from them. The north is my hometown."

Reyna responded belatedly. However, she still avoided making eye contact with Ariel.

"Oh, the north. I've never seen snow before!"

Finally, they were able to have a conversation. Ariel spoke with a delighted voice.

"It's a place where people starve to death on the snow-covered plains. Or freeze to death."

Ah... Ariel couldn't come up with a response. As Reyna said, the north was the harshest place, with brutal snowstorms every day, and both humans and animals starving on the snowy and icy land. Come to think of it, Cecilia must be in the north now. Ariel suddenly became worried about her.

"Don't worry about it. Lady Cecilia has been taught on how to prevent frostbite and not lose her way in the snow before she left."

"How did you know I was thinking about Lady Cecilia...?"

Reyna burst into laughter at Ariel's words.

"Unnie, it's all written on your face. It's written all over your expression."

"Is that so...?"

Ariel touched her own face. She thought she had become accustomed to emotional labor through her long life as a maid...

"...Unnie, do you like Lady Cecilia?"

"...!"

Ariel stared at Reyna in surprise as she threw a direct hit. On the other hand, Reyna remained calm even after dropping a bombshell statement.

"Don't think about lying when it's all true. Sometimes you came back to the dormitory late... You were with Lady Cecilia at night, right?"

"..."

Ariel didn't know how far she should go with her words, so she couldn't give a response. If someone were to overhear this conversation, and if by any chance Meryl found out, even if Cecilia didn't sever ties with her, she would be driven out by Meryl. In this incredibly confined world of maids, if rumors spread that she, a maid, had feelings for a lady, she would never be able to work in any noble household again. Moreover, the gossip among her fellow maids would be relentless, and Ariel couldn't bear the thought of enduring that rumor.

Was that why Reyna kept asking her about it? But Ariel couldn't just let it slide with Reyna.

"So, please don't say anything, Unnie."

"What?"

"Lady Natasha and... me."

Reyna spoke in a sad voice for some reason. As Ariel suspected, you also like the young lady. Ariel was convinced in that moment. Reyna said so while opening the kitchen door. The hot air from the kitchen hit Ariel's face.

"Reyna! What's happening in the kitchen?"

Maria, who was busy whisking meringue, spotted Reyna and greeted her happily.

"Meryl asked me to make pancakes. Should I show off my skills?"

Reyna smiled confidently and left Ariel's side to go to the pantry. Ariel also put on her mask and apron and watched Reyna's retreating figure. That child is forcing herself to appear cheerful.

"Come on, hurry up and move. We have to finish this today."

The head cook, wielding a ladle as if it were a frying pan, shouted.

"Why are we making so many cakes when Lady Cecilia isn't here?"

"We're maids. if we're told to, we just have to do it."

Everyone was busy, each holding something in their hands, stirring or kneading, spreading dough with rolling pins. There was a reason why Meryl sent Reyna and Ariel to the kitchen. Since there were so many people involved in making cookie dough, there were separate individuals who only kneaded the dough with rolling pins and others who just pressed cookie molds. Once a certain number of cookies were filled on trays, the maids carried them back and forth to the oven, tirelessly baking cookies. It was truly a bustling scene.

Ariel and Reyna immediately joined in, vigorously whisking the pancake batter without a break. Everyone was working frantically. Then, the door slowly opened. It was Natasha, struggling to carry a pot filled with a white liquid that was bubbling.

"Oh, you came at the right time. We're short on people to cook pancakes, so hurry and help."

The head cook, pointing to the maids, who were sitting in a corner, said with a gesture.

"Me... Isn't this the laundry area?"

"What? Can't you see that everyone here is making bread? Who would make fun of you for mistaking her for a lady?"

"No, it's not that. Earlier, some maids said that if they came this way, there would be a laundry room, so..."

"Ah, forget it. You're bothering me. Just leave quickly since we're busy."

The head cook pushed Natasha as if she were a nuisance. Natasha, who was carrying the heavy pot, took a few steps back to avoid falling. In the process, she collided with a maid who was moving cookie molds. The maid slipped and fell backward, screaming. The pot Natasha was carrying bubbled, and she accidentally spilled the liquid all over the cookies. Chaos ensued, and everyone in the kitchen turned their attention to Natasha. Ariel and Reyna, who were making pancakes, were no exception. Reyna tried to rush towards Natasha, but Ariel grabbed her wrist, stopping her. "Everyone is watching now, Reyna."

"Oh no, what should we do? I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Natasha looked flustered and repeatedly bowed her head. The fallen maid, supported by other maids, stood up and glared at Natasha.

"What is wrong with you? What will happen to all these cookies?"

"I'm sorry. I'll clean it up. I'm really sorry."

Natasha fumbled around, intending to pick up the damp cookies with her bare hands. In that moment, Ariel had a foreboding feeling.

"Don't touch them!"

But it was already too late.

"Ahh!"

When the lye water touched her hand, Natasha screamed and let go of what she was holding. The part of the cookie she had grabbed turned red, as if it were burning, and she felt a searing pain. Furthermore, a soaked cookie fell onto her ankle, causing a burn there as well. Reyna couldn't stand it anymore and rushed to Natasha.

"Are you okay? What's happening...."

Trembling, Natasha lost strength in her knees and sat down on the floor. Reyna supported her, while Ariel hurriedly fetched a bucket of cold water for Natasha to put her hand in. Natasha was barely suppressing her screams, clearly in agonizing pain.

"...It's because of the lye water."

"No, who uses lye water these days?"

Ariel didn't respond. It was probably intentional that the maids had given Natasha lye water to torment her, knowing that she was a lady and wouldn't be familiar with it. If you hadn't worked as a maid, you wouldn't know that lye water was just a white liquid but could cause burns when touched. It was a common method used by maids to harass newcomers. Ariel had fallen into this trap a few times when she had just started working as a maid. However, at the moment, there were too many ears listening for her to immediately reveal the truth.

"Are you crazy? Bringing lye water to the kitchen? Did you intend to pour it on my face?"

The head cook shouted, and the maids began to murmur.

"Head cook, lye water is too dangerous to dispose of in the kitchen. I will go and dispose of it. Reyna, take Natasha to Meryl. Bringing hazardous substances into the kitchen is such a big mistake that Meryl will surely punish her."

Ariel spoke to the head hook. Although the head cook had control over what happened in the kitchen, Meryl held the highest position and was in charge of the maids' lives. It was ambiguous for the head cook to tell Ariel, who was beneath him, to take it to someone higher than himself, Meryl. Emptying the kitchen was not an option. With a helpless expression, the head cook sent Ariel, Reyna, and Natasha away.

"Now that the spectacle is over, get back to work quickly!"

* * *

Reyna looked at Natasha with a worried expression. Natasha seemed to be barely enduring the pain. Ariel quickly poured the lye water down the drain.

"We need to apply medicine quickly. But the maids can't use medicine without Meryl's permission... It would be nice if we had some herbs..."

"...I'm fine. You don't have to strain yourself to help me."

Natasha barely managed to open her mouth and speak. Reyna, who had been supporting her, also pushed her away. Natasha could barely stand, gripping the wall for support, but as soon as she tried to take a few steps, she stumbled and fell again.

"My Lady..."

Reyna's voice was choked with emotion.

"I'm neither a lady nor a noble anymore. You just saw it yourself."

"But how can I..."

"Ariel, you should go back now too. If you go back too late, the head cook will suspect something. ...I appreciate your help."

Natasha spoke with lowered eyes. Heavy silence hung between the three of them.

"If you're going to work as a maid, there will be much more difficult tasks than this. How do you plan to work with hands like this? You won't even be able to use proper medicine, do you know what the herbs used in medicine look like?"

Natasha raised her head at Ariel's words. The expression on her face showed that she didn't understand why Ariel wasn't leaving immediately as expected.

"If we don't treat it now, I won't be able to do anything for a while. Let's go, there might be herbs in the greenhouse."

Ariel reached out her hand towards Natasha's unburned hand, intending to help her up. However, Natasha didn't take her hand.

"Why are you going to such lengths to help me?"

"..."

"Is it because I, who used to be a noble, look so pitiful as a maid?"

Natasha spoke with sharp eyes. A lovely child who had grown up receiving everyone's love had fallen into the abyss in an instant. While she had thought that everyone in the world loved her, now it felt like everyone hated her.

"...You seem to be mistaken. It's not for your sake, but for hers."

Ariel pointed to Reyna standing next to her and spoke.

"I'm helping because of her."

Reyna was crying, wiping her tears with her hand, partially covering her face. It was only then that Natasha noticed Reyna crying. Reyna sniffled and looked at Natasha.

"Reyna..."

"I'm sorry. I should have warned you about the danger in advance. I've done more maid work... But you got hurt again..."

Reyna was speaking with hiccups, unable to hold back her tears.

"Why is this your fault...?"

Natasha patted Reyna's back gently with one hand as she cried. However, when the young lady's touch reached her, Reyna found it even harder to hold back her tears.

"Come on, let's get up. We need to treat the burns before I can give you a hug."

Ariel reached out her hand again. Natasha hesitated, but this time she finally took Ariel's hand.

Ariel looked around inside the greenhouse. If she was a young lady, she would probably have herbs or plants that could help treat burns or wounds. Natasha thought Ariel was going through unnecessary trouble because of her. She couldn't understand why Ariel was being so kind to someone like her, who was nothing. But Natasha still leaned against Reyna, unable to bear the sight of herself like that.

"Oh, there it is, just as I thought!"

After rummaging around for a while, Ariel found herbs that were good for burns. Will the young lady forgive me for this much? Ariel plucked the herbs and went into the warehouse to find a suitable container for grinding.

"It's fortunate that we can treat the wounds, My lady." Reyna said with a bright smile. However, Natasha's face remained stiff. After a while, Ariel poured water into a ceramic vessel and mashed the herbs, creating a sticky green liquid. It had a pungent smell, but Ariel could be proud of its effectiveness. It was a natural herbal burn remedy she had acquired through her life as a maid.

"Now, if we apply this to the burned area, it should improve a bit. Phew, it's tiring."

"I'll do it! Unnie, please rest now. I'm really grateful."

"Okay. Then I'll tidy up these things and come back."

Reyna knelt in front of Natasha and sat down. "Please extend your hand, My lady." In response to Reyna's words, Natasha reached out her hand, revealing the burned area. Reyna firmly held that hand. Then, gently and without a word, Natasha began applying the ointment to the wound, ensuring it didn't cause her any pain. Neither Reyna nor Natasha spoke, and there was no exchange of words between them. The sunlight shone brightly through the glass greenhouse, slightly dazzling their eyes. The surroundings were filled with green leaves, and it was so quiet that they could only hear each other's breathing.

"Still, it's fortunate. It's not your face or any important part that got hurt."

"... If only I had known it was lye water."

"It's natural that you didn't know. I didn't know anything at first either."

"Then I could have just drunk it and died."

Natasha said with a self-pitying smile. "My lady!" Reyna scolded Natasha as if she were upset. However, Natasha couldn't hold back her tears. Long tear marks flowed through her white eyebrows. When the tears touched the corners of her mouth, they tasted bitter.

The maids' torment was not a new experience for Natasha. In the past, there were times when they put dead mice in her bed or filled the soup with bugs. When her family fell into ruin and she started working as a maid, she thought that if she worked hard, she could quickly pay off the debt and get along well with the other maids. However, the debt grew day by day to the point where it was impossible to repay. The more her father tried to fix the situation, the more it escalated. As the money ran out, the family became increasingly sensitive. The harmonious and happy dinner they used to have became a distant memory. Natasha realized that the reason her family could be forgiving and gentle with each other was because they were financially well off.

Even her father, who had loved himself so much, changed his attitude in an instant when the money ran out. Of course, he still loved his daughter, but he no longer doted on her as before. It was a realization that they had to face the harsh reality. The reason she came to Cecilia's house as a maid was because of her father's request for help in working and paying off the debt.

On the first night working as a maid, she was struggling so much that she called her father. Natasha spoke with a choked voice. "I can't do it, Dad. Everyone just seems to hate me. They make me work all day long, but there's no one to tell me how to do things."

My father, who answered the phone, didn't respond for a while, probably because it was too noisy to hear. He seemed to be drinking with people, probably trying to start a new business.

"You have to endure even if it's difficult. Or... there is a higher-paying job... In a way, it could be easier. Just flatter and entertain the nobles who used to visit our house... You know how difficult our house is now, Natasha. Think about it."

"......"

After that, Natasha never called home again. Then, letters started to arrive asking her to send the money she earned as wages home every month. Natasha sent most of the money she received as wages back home. She prayed every day to escape from this hell as soon as possible.

Natasha found it difficult to endure solely based on the fallen circumstances of her family. However, as an inexperienced and naive young lady who didn't know how to work, she was a perfect target for the maids' pranks. Whenever Natasha tried to read a book before bed, the maids in the same dormitory would mock her and pretend to be smart. But the more they did that, the more determined Natasha became to read her books. She realized that the maids, who were of lower status than her, wanted to see her apologize and beg for forgiveness. Because of that, she made even greater efforts to maintain her dignity. No matter how much anyone tormented her, she never thought of giving up on herself. Just wait and see.

Then, Reyna entered Cecilia's mansion. It had only been a month since Natasha became a maid. Cecilia's mansion was popular among the maids and had higher wages, and Natasha had managed to get in there with the help of her father's connections. The moment Natasha saw Reyna waving her hand towards her, everything she had endured up until then crumbled. She didn't want to show Reyna this side of her. Reyna, who used to follow her like a sister, her maid, Reyna. She never wanted to show her that her respected mistress was living such a destitute life.

Natasha looked at the medicine smeared on her hand. The heat that was warming her palm was dissipating, and a refreshing feeling washed over her.

"I... can't do anything for you anymore, Reyna."

"......"

"Even if you keep treating me and helping me. I'm nothing now. I'm just an ordinary maid like you."

"My lady..."

"So, please don't treat me well anymore. When I was a young lady, I could treat you as well as I wanted, but now I have nothing to give."

Natasha withdrew her hand from Reyna's hand and spoke. She didn't know when she was a young lady. How precious Reyna's kindness and affection towards her were. At that time, it was such a natural thing, and she could easily accept that favor. But now... she was scared because she felt like she couldn't repay that kindness.

"I... can do it."

Reyna started to choke up again.

"You're crying again? Reyna, stop crying now. Don't cry because of me anymore. I'm no longer your mistress."

"...Just like you said, you're no longer my mistress!"

Reyna spoke abruptly. Natasha was taken aback, her eyes widening. It was the first time Reyna had raised her voice at her.

"So, I should be the one to provide for you now, right?"

"...What?"

"I can't repay you as much as you gave me when you were a young lady, even if I start repaying from now on. I won't be able to repay it until the day I die. Instead, I'll be by your side for the rest of my life. So..."

Reyna spoke with determination, but then her crying started again, and she sobbed uncontrollably. Natasha was taken aback and tried to comfort Reyna. It was a completely unexpected turn of events.

"So, please don't abandon me. My lady."

"...Why would I abandon you?"

"You keep trying to go on alone."

When Natasha's family suddenly fell from grace, the maids hurriedly moved to work in the households of other nobles. But Reyna never once thought about leaving Natasha's side.

However, one day, Natasha left without saying a word, leaving Reyna behind. Reyna anxiously waited for Natasha to return, not having seen her for days. Then, one night, by chance, Reyna overheard a conversation between nobles who had come to meet the Count and Countess.

"They're talking about your daughter. I remember her being quite beautiful. If the household is struggling, how about arranging a marriage and providing some money?"

"That's not a bad idea, but I wonder if there's a household that would marry into our family right now... Instead of forcing them into a marriage with a meager amount of money, it would be better to let them pursue a career and steadily earn money by their own means."

"I see. Wasn't she working as a maid now?"

"That's right. But it seems like she's not sending money on time even before getting married, maybe she's fooling around with men..."

"Haha, make sure you keep an eye on your daughter. By the way, how is your son doing? Is he still attending school?"

"Fortunately, he seems to be able to graduate somehow. He's quite an admirable young man."

Reyna finally learned that Natasha had become a maid for a wealthy noblewoman named Cecilia in the southern region. It was a place completely different from where the young lady lived. Reyna began to worry endlessly about whether the young lady would be able to adapt well in such a place on her own. Reyna had been serving the young lady since she was very young. She believed that the young lady couldn't live without her. Even though there wasn't a significant age difference, The young lady was practically raised by her own hands. Reyna was confident in that belief. Just as she couldn't live without the young lady, she believed the young lady couldn't live without her either. The next day, Reyna packed her belongings and boarded a ship heading to the eastern region.

However, as soon as Natasha saw Reyna, her expression became vacant, like a shattered mirror. She couldn't bring herself to say anything, but it was incredibly heartbreaking. It was even more so because Reyna had missed the young lady so much during that time.

"My lady, you don't have to do anything for me anymore. Just... Can you stay by my side?"

Reyna looked up at Natasha and spoke. Tears welled up in Reyna's eyes. Her unwavering gaze spoke volumes, conveying sincerity with every word. Through her trembling voice, Reyna's desperation could be felt. Natasha looked at Reyna's face, on the verge of bursting into tears or laughter, and simply stared at her without saying a word. And then, she kissed her. More than a hundred words, it seemed like the best answer. Reyna was taken aback, but soon accepted Natasha's kiss. Whether it was because of the sunlight shining above their heads or the warmth emanating from the other person's heart, she couldn't tell. The ceiling of the garden of light reflected the sparkling light.

* * *

The day of Cecilia's return was approaching. Meryl was preparing a grand banquet for the lady who must have suffered in the cold. All the maids in the mansion were busy preparing to welcome her, but Ariel was busier than anyone else. It was because she hadn't finished the dress she was going to present to the lady. She had been sewing all day, helping in the kitchen, cleaning, and even trying to sew during her breaks, but there was not enough time to sleep.

Knock, knock.

In the late dawn, someone knocked on the door. It was Reyna and Natasha. The two of them were holding hands tightly, confirming each other's feelings completely since that day. Ariel had actually witnessed that moment, but she kept it a secret from the two of them.

"If it's okay with you, I can help with making the dress." Reyna said with a smile. Ariel remembered that Reyna had been a maid for as long as she had. Naturally, she welcomed the offer.

Ariel showed the dress she had been working on to Reyna and Natasha. It was the first time she showed it to someone else after receiving the torn clothes from Meryl. Reyna's eyes widened in awe when she saw Ariel's dress. Natasha seemed even more surprised than she had anticipated, spinning around the mannequin to admire the dress. It was a magnificent garment, with deep navy fabric and delicate blue lace layered like a calm yet dazzling winter lake.

"It's an outfit that reminds me of my hometown. If it were the old me, I would have wanted it no matter how much I had to pay."

"Did you make this all by yourself, Unnie?"

"Ah, no, I just helped a little. I only worked on the decorations, the basic outfit was already complete."

"The embroidery is really delicate."

Natasha commented while looking at the silver snowflake-shaped embroidery at the end of the sleeve. It was something Ariel had meticulously embroidered, imagining the day when she would walk through the snowy birch forest with the lady.

"It's reassuring to hear that from someone with good taste like you, Lady Natasha. Actually, I haven't seen dresses like this very often..."

"You can call me Natasha comfortably."

Natasha said with a radiant smile. With her rounded white eyebrows curving, she had a crescent moon-like smile. Reyna mentioned that she knew how to sew to some extent and offered to help with the embroidery. Perhaps because she had been a maid for a long time, her stitching was tight and even, giving a sense of stability. Although Natasha couldn't sew yet due to her burn injury, she offered to help with stuffing cotton in the cape that would be placed behind the dress. With their hands extended three times longer, Ariel felt much more at ease. At this rate, they might be able to complete it before the lady arrived. The three of them gathered in the small workshop, tirelessly sewing and using the sewing machine throughout the night.

* * *

The next day, Meryl looked at the dress Ariel had fixed with a satisfied expression. Ariel stood next to her, eagerly waiting for any comment Meryl had to say about the dress.

"Very good. It has become even more exquisite."

Meryl, known for being strict, made Ariel feel like all the hard work she had put in so far had paid off. She had to tightly hold back her desire to cheer or shout out in joy.

"When should we show it to the lady?"

"With this level of completion, it should be fine even on the day before the party. She will definitely like it."

Ariel smiled brightly in response to Meryl's words. Meryl noticed that Ariel's smile was trying too hard not to be too wide, but she pretended not to see it and let it pass.

"Ariel, there's one more thing I want to entrust to you. It's something very important..."

Meryl looked at Ariel with an expression that asked if she could handle it. Ariel's eyes sparkled brightly.

"What is it? Please entrust anything to me!"

"Really? Then..."

Ariel followed behind Meryl as they walked down the corridor. Ariel could proudly boast that she worked diligently more than anyone else, even though she received a high wage. It seemed like Meryl also acknowledged that fact, which made Ariel feel even more proud. That was until Meryl brought Jackal from Lady Cecilia's room.

Although Lady Cecilia had tamed Jackal, being a wild wolf by nature, it was allowed to roam freely in the garden and inside the mansion. Thanks to Jackal freely roaming the mansion and garden, the maids had to sweep the floors without missing a spot. With a large number of maids, even though Jackal roamed freely, the floors were always spotless and clean.

The reason Jackal could be partially domesticated like this was that it had been the leader of the nearby wolf pack in the wild, but it was defeated and nearly killed in a fight against a young ascending wolf. As a result, it was driven out. Due to that, Jackal only roamed around Lady Cecilia's garden and did not venture into the true wilderness of the wild, which was the territory of the wolves. At first, Ariel had worried that Jackal, being a wild animal, might feel stressed living like this. However, even just Lady Cecilia's garden was a car ride of over an hour away, so it seemed that Jackal didn't experience much stress. It would regularly return to the mansion after eating whole, well-prepared raw meat or going for walks with Lady Cecilia.

Jackal showed no signs of intimidation or cowering even in crowded spaces. Instead, with each step, it exuded a majestic presence as a wolf, with its luxuriant fur swaying.

Ariel stared at the jackal with a frozen expression. Jackal seemed as if it didn't pay any attention to Ariel's presence, whether she was there or not.

"Why did Jackal suddenly...?"

"Even though it roams freely, it still needs regular walks."

Ariel glanced at the large gray wolf standing in front of her. Its sharp, blue eyes and raised jaws. The dignified posture that never forgot its past as the pack leader. Ariel would be grateful if the maid who took her for walks didn't even think about fresh prey or chew toys.

Their eyes met for a moment. Ariel gasped, quickly turning her gaze away. Meryl was looking at Ariel with a stern and serious expression.

"By any chance... what about the other maids?"

An emergency bell was ringing in Ariel's mind. No, I can't do it under any circumstances. Lady Cecilia may be capable of handling wild wolves as her owner, but... I... I'm just glad if I don't get eaten...

"Since Lady Cecilia treasure it so much, she can't entrust it to just anyone. Jackal only follows Lady Cecilia... But you, Ariel, are the closest maid to Lady Cecilia. You can do it, right?"

Ariel was so frightened that she forgot to respond to Meryl, saying, "Yes, I can" She swallowed her saliva and looked at Jackal again. Judging by its teeth, it seemed that one strike would be enough for someone like Ariel.

From the start, Ariel wondered if it was possible for someone other than Lady Cecilia to become friends with Jackal. Although Jackal didn't show signs of being a lapdog, it didn't avoid Lady Cecilia's touch. Lady Cecilia would put her hand through its fur and gently stroke it, burying her face in its soft fur.

Ariel was too scared to pet it. However, after staring at Ariel for a while, Jackal glanced briefly at Meryl and then stood up as if understanding. 

Does that mean it will listen because it recognizes her as Lady Cecilia's person?

Meryl waved her hand, saying that Ariel should just follow Jackal as it usually goes for a walk. Ariel followed behind Jackal, feeling extremely tense.

"How in the world am I going to become friends with Jackal..."

Meryl said with a significant smile.

Ariel held the flashlight given by Meryl and followed Jackal as it confidently walked through the darkness. The garden had sporadic street lamps that emitted a faint glow, so it wasn't too scary.

"We shouldn't go too far..."

Jackal paused for a moment, turned back to look at Ariel. Its sharp blue eyes were shining in the darkness. Then, it swiftly turned around and continued on its path. Jackal! Ariel hurriedly started chasing after the jackal.

The jackal began leaping over small bushes that reached Ariel's knees and ventured into the mountains. Now what should I do? Ariel stood in front of the bushes, looking at the darkness beyond where the jackal disappeared. In that moment, Jackal's eyes shone in the darkness, looking at Ariel as if beckoning her to follow.

She remembered Lady Cecilia smiling as she buried her face in Jackal's fur. Thinking that she was a cherished child to Lady Cecilia, Ariel felt that she could overcome it.

Ariel clenched the edge of her apron and crossed over the bushes. A branch grazed her calf, leaving a small cut.

After that, Ariel and Jackal began a game of chase. Just when Ariel seemed about to catch Jackal, it would suddenly disappear into the distance. Then, just when she thought she had lost it forever, it would reappear somewhere else, as if beckoning Ariel to follow.

Ariel climbed rocks and pushed through the dense foliage, clearing branches that blocked her path as she ventured deeper into the forest.

Even energetic as she was, Ariel began to tire gradually. She looked at Jackal, panting, but it remained standing there, seemingly unfazed and just as energetic as before.

She started to wonder if it was toying with her. Wolves are said to serve only one master. Does that apply to those who are not their masters?

Once again, the jackal turned its back, concealing its form.

"I should start heading back now..."

As Ariel tried to run towards where Jackal disappeared, she tripped over a tree root and fell. She screamed as she rolled down the slope and managed to get up barely. Mud covered her entire body, and dry leaves clung to her. She couldn't see where Jackal was anymore. Ariel wandered around, unsure of where to go. ...It felt just like when she was a child.

After both of her parents passed away, the debt collectors came and told Ariel that she had to give up the house and furniture or hand over her younger siblings to them to repay the debt. Ariel was already working as a maid in the wealthiest house in the neighborhood.

Like Natasha, Ariel was also subjected to severe torment. Her younger siblings blinked their eyes and looked at their eldest sister. She couldn't let her siblings go through such things. Ariel had no choice but to give up the house.

Since then, Ariel and her siblings held each other's hands and wandered through the alleys. They didn't know where to go, but Ariel couldn't completely leave this neighborhood because she worked as a maid here. Fortunately, every corner of the city was filled with shadows, where homeless people sought refuge. Between the newly built tall buildings and the gaps between them, slums were forming.

It was around that time that Ariel became afraid of dogs. For those without a home, finding a space that could provide temporary shelter from rain and block the wind was crucial, and they had to fight each other for a good spot.

Ariel couldn't fight against grown adult men, so she had to retreat to colder and damper places compared to others. And it wasn't just homeless people who were rejected by the city and driven to the outskirts. Stray dogs also roamed the shadows of the city, and Ariel had to compete with hungry dogs.

Ariel shone her flashlight into the distance, trying to find her way back to the mansion. However, all she could see were trees and rocks, and the path home remained invisible. Trembling in the cold, Ariel leaned against a large tree.

'I hope someone will come to save me.'

Ariel unknowingly had such thoughts. She knew that the lady liked her and cared for her in a special way. However, Ariel wanted to become a presence that could help the lady. She didn't want to be abandoned again.

'You must have been cold and hungry all this time. Now, you can rest.'

A voice from Ariel's memories resurfaced. Normally, it would send shivers down her spine, but when she was tired and exhausted, it was a sweeter voice than ever. It was the voice of Ariel's former mistress, Cruella.

Cruella gently placed her hand on Ariel's trembling shoulder. Her fingernails were long, sharp, and coated in red manicure. The touch of the artificial nails against Ariel's skin felt peculiar. But Cruella's whispering voice in her ear was incredibly soft. "Come here, into my embrace." Cruella's nails dug into Ariel's flesh. Ariel's heart began to beat rapidly.

Awoo!

What snapped Ariel back to her senses was the howling of Jackal. She immediately recognized it as the howl of Jackal, not the howl of the wild wolves that lived in the vicinity. Ariel stood up from her spot.

The sound of Jackal's howling seemed to be coming from a very close distance. As she walked towards that direction, she saw a magnificent sight of a giant cherry blossom tree blooming abundantly on a snowy field.

Pink flower petals were scattered all over the snowy field. The branches of the cherry blossom tree swayed with the wind. A few cherry blossoms flew in the wind and landed on Ariel's cheek. Beyond that, a jackal was watching Ariel from atop a large rock.

So, it was trying to bring me here.

Ariel suddenly remembered that Jackal, like herself, had been abandoned by the pack. She had heard that Cecilia saved him from near death. That's why she didn't shy away from the touch of the lady.

Ariel walked steadily on the snow, gazing at the cherry blossom tree. Jackal was suddenly in front of her. This time, Ariel was able to stroke Jackal's forehead.

[8,697 words]

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