Chapter 7 : The Unspoken Terms of Loyalty
Chapter Seven
Johannes Schultz took a step back, as if the space that had briefly closed between us had never existed.
I inhaled involuntarily at his detached gesture, then slowly released the breath I had been holding with my words.
“But I don’t have any of the professional certificates the duchy is looking for.”
He let out a soft chuckle, as though my concern was amusing.
“Even if you brought the most prestigious credentials, the duchy would never hire you.”
I tilted my head, confused. He continued, his tone still marked by that distant formality.
“The Schultz Duchy doesn’t recruit servants to begin with.”
“What? Then the job posting was…?”
“A smokescreen.”
He said it so plainly, it only deepened my bewilderment.
“Are you saying there isn’t a single servant in the manor?”
“Hardly. Of course, there are some.”
His voice held a hint of exasperation, a faint crease appearing above his brow, as though questioning my grasp of basic logic.
“But you’re planning to hire me anyway? Even though the duchy doesn’t hire anyone new?”
“That’s correct.”
I stared at him, stunned, as he carried on with the same unshaken composure:
“It seems you now have another secret to keep, Miss Prim.”
Was that why he said it? Just to bring me in as a servant? Why? For what reason?
While I stood there, silent and overwhelmed, his calm voice reached me once more.
“The pay will be generous. More than what the Russell March offered.”
“…Do you even know how much they offered me?”
The question slipped out without malice—just genuine curiosity.
Sure, noble families possessed unimaginable wealth, but the royal family had recently stripped the Schultz Duchy of its financial control.
Did he really have that kind of money?
The offer from the Russell March had been enough to astound any commoner—perhaps even some nobles.
Even if it came with the burden of winning over the Dowager Marchioness and enduring her temper for at least three months.
Reading my expression like an open book, he answered coolly:
“The royal family may have restricted our funds, but not to the extent that should worry you, Miss Prim.”
His calm smile subtly pointed out the impudence behind my doubt.
“…Ah.”
On second thought, it had indeed been a foolish question.
“I apologize. That was rude of me.”
Even if the Russell family were the wealthiest of all, the Schultz Duchy certainly had more than what was just locked in accounts.
At worst, it would be a temporary inconvenience. Even the monarchy couldn’t bring down House Schultz in one strike.
When I apologized, he murmured more to himself than to me:
“Sergeant Prim spoke of you with great pride…”
“…”
“So? What do you say?”
It made no logical sense, yet somehow, it felt like Johannes Schultz was… asking me for a favor.
Could my father have saved his life? Because it was clearly not about money.
If so, rejecting the offer outright would feel ungrateful—even disrespectful.
I turned toward the west.
The sun was nearly set, its crimson glow sinking behind the silhouette of the Evanstein estate—the Schultz Duchy’s ancestral home.
It wasn’t far from my house. Only about thirty minutes by carriage.
Though the Russell offer had been attractive, the six-hour round-trip and the infamous temperament of the Dowager Marchioness were heavy drawbacks.
This was no time to hesitate.
My eyes drifted to the bouquet of lilies on my father’s casket, then to the cigarette pack left there like a parting token.
(What should I do…)
But in truth, I already knew the answer.
If this wasn’t pity… nor favoritism for my father’s sake… but genuine gratitude for a great deed—then refusing would be sheer foolishness.
I had to seize the opportunity.
Turning my gaze from the Evanstein estate, I looked him squarely in the eyes.
“Then, I’ll accept your offer. Thank you.”
I had expected the ride home after the funeral to be filled with emptiness and grief.
But reality was nothing like that.
A swirl of emotions tangled within me, yet the most dominant feeling was… sheer disbelief.
I recalled the events as the sea wind bit at my cheeks.
Johannes Schultz’s offer had blown away all my expectations. Compared to his proposal, the Russell March’s pay seemed laughable.
(A million berks…)
Even now, it sounded unreal.
(And paid weekly? With that kind of money, I could cover my living expenses and continue my pharmacy studies without interruption.)
Yes, the work would be grueling. But with good time management, it was doable.
At first, I had been suspicious. Was it just because I was Sergeant Prim’s daughter? Some sort of favor?
But no. I was mistaken.
When I told him the amount was too much, he calmly replied:
“It’s comparable to what the other servants at the duchy earn. Mr. Fratt Gunner, the head butler, will explain everything on your first day.”
I had no idea what the other noble houses paid, but it made me regret not earning some certifications sooner.
Well then, first things first—I had to inform the Russell March that I wouldn’t be accepting their offer…
“Edith, you’re back!”
I was lost in thought when someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I flinched.
It was Madam Pensler.
I hadn’t even realized I was already home. I gently lowered her hand. Her fingers were icy cold—she must’ve been waiting outside for quite some time.
“Why are you standing out here in the cold? It’s late. You should’ve gone to bed.”
“It’s not cold. I couldn’t sleep without seeing you come home. And besides… I won’t be seeing you much anymore.”
She waved her hand dismissively, but the concern in her eyes was unmistakable.
She still thought I’d be commuting to Boeln every day.
“Ah, actually—”
“Did everything go well? I was worried about you going alone. They said only family was allowed at the funeral…”
She ushered me inside. The house was toasty, the fireplace clearly lit long ago.
“Sit here, Edith. I’ll bring some tea.”
It seemed best to wait until she finished speaking. Her talkative nature was familiar by now.
She returned with tea, and continued to chatter on in a stream of anxious murmurs.
When her tone finally softened, I seized the chance to speak.
“Madam, I have something to tell you.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“I met someone at the funeral, and they offered me a job nearby. So… I won’t be going to the Russell March. The pay is good too.”
“What are you saying?!”
To my surprise, her expression twisted in dismay. She looked at me as though I’d lost my mind.
I blinked, bewildered, and her frown deepened.
“Edith!”
Her voice turned serious—graver than I’d ever heard it.
“Let’s be honest. You’re a pretty girl. Just this fall alone, we got several marriage proposals for you. And now you’re just accepting a job from some stranger you met at a funeral?! What if he had ill intentions?”
She began scolding me, one concern after another, all rooted in genuine care.
Caught off guard, I didn’t know how to respond.
I couldn’t very well say, “I accepted a job from the Duke himself.”
So I endured her lecture in silence.
“Really… I’m fine. I’m not as reckless as you think, Madam.”
I reassured her with vague words—that he was trustworthy, that she needn’t worry.
Only then did she finally let me go.
