Abandoned Maid of the Grand Duke - Chapter 5
“You must be that Julie, the loyal maid.”
“A maid who truly sets an example.”
“If there were more like you, we could rest easy managing our households.”
No, that’s not true at all. I’m only acting like this because I’m terrified of a bad ending. If it weren’t for that, I’d have gladly accepted his advances and dreamed of a Cinderella ending.
He’s handsome, has a great body, a good personality, and a lot of money. Plus, he’s of high status and incredibly devoted. What woman in her right mind would reject that? I’m not some prudishly pure Confucian girl either. As long as contraception is assured, I’m open-minded enough not to turn down a night of fun.
The only reason I’m being cautious is because I know he’s the kind of jerk who’d abandon me the moment I got pregnant.
Despite my reluctance, the ladies started calling me “loyal Julie,” as if I were some faithful dog. Not in a derogatory way, but like a faithful pet—like a loyal white pupper.
In other words, I became famous for various reasons. A maid of the era, renowned for my supposed virtue.
This lofty reputation lasted until the Duke ended the civil war, received his title of Grand Duke, and married Lady Elva.
“It’s just a marriage of convenience. Trust me, Julie.”
I knew that was utter nonsense. The Grand Duchess would soon be pregnant.
So, according to you, the Grand Duchess is the Virgin Mary, right? What nonsense are you spouting?
After his marriage to Lady Elva was decided, the Duke kept looking for opportunities to talk to me and eventually called me out.
After a long hesitation, he used the excuse of a political marriage, and that single statement made my heart, which had been wavering due to his constant flirting, close off once again.
So, during their marriage and honeymoon, I consistently held my position. Until today, I believed that if I persevered diligently, stable employment and a secure old age would eventually come.
“What do you say? Will you accept?”
To my surprise, because of my supposed reliability, the Grand Duchess wants to make me her close maid, despite her husband’s advances towards me.
‘Does this even make sense?’
Instead of sending me far away, she wants to keep me close? If it were me, even if I didn’t punish the maid, I’d give her some money and send her far away.
Honestly, part of me had been enduring with the hope that this might happen. If they gave me a large sum to leave, I’d pretend to refuse for like a few good seconds, but eventually take all the money and run.
The Grand Duke’s pure love? Ah, of course, it’s enticing. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t tempted when a stunningly handsome man only had eyes for me.
I should be thankful his appearance didn’t deteriorate. His body has also become incredibly fit after going through the war, and sometimes when I attended to him during his baths, I felt quite fluttery myself.
But so what? Thinking about giving birth on the street and then getting stabbed to death extinguishes even a thousand-year love.
Moreover, considering that while the other woman he’d soon have a baby with would be lying in a warm room being well-fed, I was the only one abandoned and suffering… It makes me feel uneasy in a different way.
So I sat there resolutely, but what? Instead of being driven out, I’m being asked to come even closer?
As I stood there dumbfounded, not understanding what I had just heard, the Grand Duchess smiled. She, who would someday send an assassin to me, caressed my cheek with a hand that felt somewhat ominous and whispered.
“Why, is it strange to be kept close instead of being driven out?”
Gulp—
I swallowed hard, and her fingers slid over my throat as she squinted her eyes and gave me an answer.
“Even if I were to dismiss you, he wouldn’t leave you alone.”
No, but he did ignore me when I got pregnant.
“So it’s better to keep you where I can see you.”
In other words, rather than letting him mess around out of sight, she would keep me under her watch. If I remained steadfast, it would be easier for her to manage me directly.
“So, what will you do?”
Faced with her insistence for an answer, I hesitated.
My mind was a whirl. She was right. Over the past few years, rejecting the Grand Duke’s affection had made me the subject of too much gossip. At this point, no noble family would take me in.
‘If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have run away sooner.’
Who could have guessed that guy’s insane obsession would last this long?
Seeing how he abandoned me when I got pregnant, I thought he would give up after a few attempts if I just held out. Who knew it would drag on for a full decade?
But quitting as a maid meant finding work outside, and with the prolonged civil war, the empire’s economy and security were in shambles.
In short, leaving was not an option at that time.
‘It’s not like they’ll let me go if I decide to leave now.’
I glanced up at the Grand Duchess. Her eyes were sharp as she looked down at me over the peacock-feather fan.
Judging by her decision to keep me within sight, she must have thought the same. She probably suspected that if I left, the Grand Duke would hide me somewhere else.
That would undoubtedly lead to a deadly ending, so I had to avoid it. What other choice did I have?
“I am truly grateful for Your Highness’s kindness.”
