Chapter 6
Hmm. So she wasn’t just nasty to me — she’s like that with everyone?
Rin couldn’t decide whether to find it ridiculous or admirably consistent. She approached Olga, who had wandered off on her own to hang laundry.
“Olga.”
“Eek! Y-Young Lady? What are you doing here…?”
Olga stumbled back, startled, her shoulders tensing the moment she saw Rin.
“Don’t you have any friends?”
“W-What? Friends? Of course I do!”
Her face, obviously struck where it hurt, turned red as she fumbled for a response.
Not that Rin was surprised. Anyone who treated their younger employer like garbage clearly wasn’t normal.
So she bullied me more because the other maids shunned her. I was just the easy target.
Growing up in an orphanage, Rin had met plenty of girls like Olga.
Kids who’d lost their families carried heavy wounds — all of them. Some withdrew, unable to connect. And a few — the ones most deeply scarred — turned their pain outward, bullying those weaker than themselves.
And those kids usually…
Got beat up by me.
With precision and care.
Rin had been born with a sturdy build and, once she began training in swordsmanship under her master, no one her age could lay a finger on her. Her time invested always paid off.
But with this weak excuse of a body, trying to “teach” her that way might backfire.
After a brief moment of thought, Rin called out.
“Come with me.”
“W-Why?”
“Talk back again, and I’m calling the Second Wife.”
Olga pressed her lips shut and followed quietly. Rin led the reluctant girl to her room, then opened a small box from the drawer.
One of Yana’s few possessions — a collection of old earrings, outdated and worn. Judging by their design, they must have belonged to her late parents.
Rin paused, staring at the box.
Is it really okay to use these? It’s not like they’re mine…
Well, if Yana never comes back, they’ll be thrown out anyway.
Ahem. Healthy self-justification never hurt anyone.
Before pulling anything out, Rin decided to shake Olga’s mind a little.
“Olga.”
“…Yes?”
“I’m getting sent back to Pindias Grand Seminary.”
Olga pouted. “Yeah, I already know.”
“Then do you know why you weren’t fired?”
The pout vanished, replaced by a guilty frown.
“No…”
“I begged the Second Wife to keep you. Said I’d fix your attitude myself.”
“I-I didn’t look down on you…”
Sigh. “Do you still not get what that means? If I leave for the seminary, you won’t have a reason to stay here either.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“You know the House Tusslena Staff Regulations, right?”
Olga’s face went pale. Fear flickered in her eyes.
House Tusslena — descendants of the Apostles of the Divine.
In the theocratic La Empire, the family’s secrets were as good as state secrets. Servants of House Tusslena signed special contracts, and those contracts could be summed up in three lines:
Extremely high wages.
If dismissed dishonorably, an additional secrecy oath must be signed.
Those who sign the oath may keep their lives.
Just their lives — since they’re thrown out with their tongues and hands cut off.
Everyone in the empire knew about the Tusslena Staff Regulations. Officially endorsed by the Imperial Court, it was notorious for its brutal and inhumane punishments.
From the moment the Second Wife tried to dismiss her, Olga was already marked for dishonorable discharge.
“Olga, if I’m gone, you’ll be cast out with your tongue and hands cut off.”
“Ghh…”
Her lashes trembled violently — she must’ve been imagining the scene.
“Shunned by everyone, kicked out as a mute cripple… What a tragic ending…”
“Sniff… Waaah!”
Oh. Now she’s crying?
Unbelievable. She tried to boss me around — her employer — and now she’s crying just because I said a few harsh words?
Rin let out a sigh. She really is a child, huh?
Still, one thing was clear.
If I handle her right… I can control her. No more nonsense.
Keeping Olga in check was far more useful than tossing her out. Rin watched the girl crouched on the floor, sobbing into her hands.
“Cut it out. If you just do as I say, I won’t get sent to Pindias Grand Seminary. If I stay, you’ll keep your tongue and hands, and things will smooth over with the staff too.”
“Sniff… H-How…?”
“You’ll be my eyes and hands.”
Olga looked up from the floor, eyes still wet.
“To do that, you’ll need to get closer to the other servants. There are some who don’t hate you, right? They might not like you either, but they’re neutral.”
“…Yes.”
Rin picked out a few of the smallest, least valuable accessories from the box. Olga watched, bewildered, as Rin handed them over.
“These are…”
“Gifts. Give them to those girls. Say they’re from me, but you didn’t need them, so you’re passing them along. It’ll show you’re on good terms with me and help you get close.”
“But…”
“And from now on, greet them every morning. Say good night in the evenings. Gossip about me if you want — you probably already do, right?”
“What?! I do not! What kind of person do you think I am? Besides, I don’t even have anyone close enough to gossip with—”
“Also, your tone. You’ve got a knack for annoying people. Fix it. Fast.”
Rin must have boosted her confidence too much, because Olga suddenly puffed up and stood with a huff.
“When have I ever annoyed you?!”
“You think you haven’t? Maybe that’s why you don’t have any friends. I’ve known you for years. I’m sure. Are you sure you aren’t?”
“…”
“It’ll be tough, but try. If it’s hard, copy someone else. Someone popular, or someone you like. That alone should get you halfway there.”
“…”
“You’ve got nothing to lose, do you? Trust me — even if it’s just this once.”
After a moment of sulking, Olga muttered, barely audible.
“…Young Lady, you’ve changed.”
You’d change too if your soul was swapped. Rin replied without missing a beat.
“Uncomfortable now that I’m not a pushover?”
“A-A pushover?! No, I didn’t mean that…”
“Whether we stay in House Tusslena depends on you. Got it?”
Olga swallowed hard and gave a tiny nod.
Finally, Rin felt things might actually get easier.
The next morning, Rin’s entire body screamed with pain. Her muscles felt like they were being stabbed with hot needles.
Still, she didn’t give up — she went for her run. Starting was always the hardest part. The thought of building strength and picking up the sword again filled her with energy.
Her days began with exercise and ended with searching for any trace of Yana. But despite the effort, days passed with no results.
I thought for sure she’d have a diary or something, given how stifling her life was…
Rin searched every inch of the room, but nothing.
Soaked in sweat, she returned to her room — only to find something new on the table: a lavish bouquet and an unfamiliar vial of medicine.
“What’s this?”
Olga, as if annoyed by the obvious question, answered flatly.
“A gift from the Fourth Master. Recovery tonic and flowers. He sent them again.”
Fourth Master? How many sons does this family have?!
And why did this Fourth Master send this to me?
She said “again,” meaning it wasn’t the first time. Seemed he often worried about Yana’s health. But knowing what a mess this family was, Rin couldn’t believe it was just goodwill.
She stuffed the suspicious medicine into a corner of the room and asked Olga, “Any news?”
Last night, Rin had given Olga a new mission: bring back gossip about House Tusslena from the maids once a day. Thankfully, the accessory gifts had proven effective.
“Of course.”
Olga, now far more confident, grinned smugly.
“Well, they’ve set the date for your departure to Pindias.”
“When?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“…What?”
The day after tomorrow?!
“And you’re smiling about that?! That’s practically your own execution notice!”
“…Oh!”
Leaving the now-pale Olga behind, Rin rushed out of the room.
