The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 108
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
Igmeyer was unsure how to make Amber look his way again.
‘But… no children.’
It wasn’t out of stubbornness. Nor was it because of his personal views on disliking the idea of having children.
Igmeyer genuinely wanted to explain why they couldn’t have a child.
Now that a self-sustaining method was emerging in the North, the notion of having children became even less tenable.
However, Igmeyer found himself unable to explain. He couldn’t articulate why it wasn’t possible beyond simply saying it wasn’t.
It was like a curse. Something that tied his tongue and blocked his throat, preventing him from uttering a single word about it.
“I’ll go pick out a personal maid. You do what you need to.”
“….Okay.”
Igmeyer nodded sadly, but Amber turned away sharply.
Unable to hold or embrace her, he could only swallow his sighs.
His heart was burning up.
* * *
As the monsoon rains poured, the temperature in the castle quickly dropped.
After gathering candidates for the personal maid position, Amber, dressed elegantly in a coat made from Fenrir’s hide, sat gracefully in her chair.
The maids swallowed their saliva at the dignified appearance of their mistress, wondering why only the senior maids with over five years of experience had been summoned.
At the back of the line, Iona stood, seemingly oblivious to the discomfort she was causing around her.
“I’ve called you here to select one more personal maid.”
“!”
“This person will work under Betty, and receive the same treatment as Nora and Betty… Any volunteers?”
Amber’s calm announcement instantly brought a flush to the maids’ faces.
They all coveted the position of a personal maid.
Such an opportunity arising made all their years of loyal service feel worthwhile. The senior maids clutched their fluttering hearts, thinking this.
“Here! I, I want to do it. That job…!”
Just then.
“I can do it well!”
Iona’s naive proclamation caught the senior maids off guard. Some showed displeasure or hostility.
This is a reward reserved for those who have proven their diligence over time.
Of course, there are special cases like Nora, who received such privileges because she served the mistress well from the first day in this castle.
And Betty is known among the maids for her exceptional skills.
Then suddenly, a woman who appeared out of nowhere, and even lied about carrying the Grand Duke’s child, wants to become a personal maid? That’s audacity to another level.
The senior maids bit their lips and looked back at Amber, trusting that she wouldn’t simply let this go.
“Iona, I said you may watch, not that you could speak out.”
As expected.
Amber’s sharp rebuke seemed to soothe the maids as if they had drunk cold water.
Exactly. Our mistress wouldn’t engage in anything so improper.
The senior maids nodded in relief, but Iona stubbornly tried again.
“I can do well, really. I will even massage and care for your feet every day. I’m good at that.”
“Pfft.”
The maids giggled and sneered at her claim.
Being good at such tasks doesn’t qualify someone to be a personal maid.
Clearly, this woman seemed to know nothing about how the world works. Well, that would explain her brazenness.
“Haa. Iona, please step outside for now.”
“But…!”
“This position isn’t for you.”
Amber sternly dismissed Iona. Then, she turned to the senior maids to continue.
“The butler and Elder Greta will conduct a few tests. Only those who pass all of them will receive a golden brooch.”
“!”
“This brooch will be a symbol of the most excellent maid. The skilled maid exams will be held once every three years, and only maids with at least five years of service may participate.”
The castle’s discipline was nearly perfect.
All that remained was to establish a promotion system.
Until now, maids were categorized based on their years of service: first-year maids as newcomers, third-year as regular maids, and those with over five years as senior maids.
With Amber’s arrival, a very special rank of ‘personal maid’ was introduced, but this position was extremely limited in availability.
Originally, a permanent maid received an extra gold coin, three smoked hams, a block of Shardroch cheese, and a barrel of butter beer each month, with only ten such positions available. There was no real need to increase this number.
However, such a system hardly inspired diligence.
Thus, Amber decided to create the position of ‘skilled maid,’ open to those with over five years of service, separate from the existing ranks.
“Once you become a skilled maid, you’ll receive various special bonuses and more priority, increased vacation days, of course paid leave.”
“Paid leave?”
“Yes, it means you get paid even when you’re off.”
Until now, the common understanding was that you wouldn’t get paid on your days off.
The maids were visibly excited by this surprising announcement.
“I will choose my personal maids from among these skilled maids. Naturally, they must reside within the castle.”
Several ambitious maids’ eyes sparkled with the prospect of success.
Amber calmly surveyed them, then stood up from her seat.
“The butler will announce the details tonight. The exam will be challenging, but that’s what makes the position of a skilled maid prestigious, isn’t it?”
She was quite eager to see how many maids would earn the brooch that signified ‘skilled’ status.
