A Maid's Trembling Heart
A dark room. A scent that stirred the blood. A single candle flickering low.
“Charlotte.”
A hand gently stroking her hair. The warm, affectionate eyes of the man gazing down at her.
“It’s all right now, isn’t it?”
“……Yes, young master.”
At last, she would become one with him.
The touching first night she had only ever imagined in dreams.
Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut.
It was still early dawn. Charlotte woke, finished her preparations in a flash, and stood before the mirror making one last check of her appearance. She knew she looked presentable, yet she refused to show the slightest flaw before the head maid. More than that, she wanted to appear perfect for the young master she served, so she fussed over every detail until the very last second.
“Mmm… Charlotte. You’re already up?”
“Neria. Did I wake you? I’m sorry.”
“Not at all… It’s the perfect time. Haaam!”
She felt a twinge of guilt toward her colleague rising from the bed reflected in the mirror. Unlike Charlotte, who had to rise before the sun, Neria could have slept longer. Yet Neria only smiled and said it was fine.
Neria. Like Charlotte, she was one of the maids who attended the young master. They were the same age, had entered the mansion at nearly the same time, and had worked side by side ever since. They were close friends, colleagues, and had seen each other at their most undignified moments. Still, Charlotte could not forgive the way those full breasts swayed when Neria stretched.
“Haaa. I’ll head out first, then.”
“All right. See you soon.”
Her shift was nearly upon her. After one final satisfied glance in the mirror, Charlotte left the room.
“Acceptable.”
Head maid Lena. The senior servant who oversaw all commoner staff in the mansion. As always, Charlotte and the other servants stood frozen like statues before her. Lena regarded them with an expressionless face, completed her final inspection, and gave a satisfied nod.
Charlotte let out a quiet breath of relief.
“Charlotte.”
“Y-Yes!”
She flinched. At some point Lena had stepped directly in front of her, regarding her with the same chilly gaze as ever.
“From today onward, you are to take full responsibility for the second young master’s chambers.”
“Pardon?”
The words refused to register. As Charlotte stared blankly, Lena’s brows drew together. She immediately straightened her posture.
“Yes!”
“……Good. From now on you will allow yourself not even the smallest error in the young master’s presence.”
“Understood.”
Charlotte bowed her head and answered in her usual manner.
Usual manner?
Hawa wa!
Her mind spun. Alone! She would be serving him alone!
The image of Leoric Franz flashed through her thoughts—the second son of the Franz family, kinder and more wonderful than any man alive. His touch, his gaze, his scent, his voice. She would be the one to greet his mornings by herself?
“……How am I supposed to manage that?”
“It’s obvious. She must have wagged her hips and flirted until he gave in.”
“Filthy whore.”
“A girl with no magic power, no less…!”
The whispered barbs snapped Charlotte back to her senses. A quick glance revealed jealous eyes from every direction—not only the other maids but the sorceress maids as well. The ordinary maids were one thing, but the hostile stares from those who possessed magic sent ice down her spine. Cold sweat broke out before she could stop it.
Should she refuse even now?
No…!
She could not. She had finally reached the position of serving the man she loved, a truth she could never speak aloud. Charlotte tightened her gently clasped hands, steadied her mind, and looked straight at Lena while ignoring every glare around her.
“Understood!”
“Good.”
Was it her imagination, or had the faintest smile touched Lena’s eyes as she looked at her?
“Then.”
It must have been her imagination. The moment Lena’s gaze swept across the murmuring crowd, silence fell at once.
“Conduct yourselves with dignity. Who is making noise?”
“We’re sorry!”
Though she clearly knew everything, Lena spoke as if she did not, then began outlining the day’s duties. Once the early-morning preparations were swiftly organized, Charlotte was about to move when Lena called her again.
“And Charlotte, follow me.”
“Yes!”
“I will now perform a virginity examination.”
“……Y-Yes?”
In a room occupied only by Lena and the maid who assisted her, those were the words Lena spoke after summoning Charlotte.
“The young master seems quite taken with you. Were you aware?”
“Th-That… He’s taken with me?”
Charlotte felt her cheeks burn. She covered her face with both hands. Simply thinking of him made her heart hammer against her ribs.
Watching her, Lena let out a small sigh.
“What feelings you hold for him is your own business, but you must never forget your duty.”
“I-I’m sorry! I’ll be careful!”
“No. As I said, your heart is your own. I will not interfere. However, you must know your place.”
“……Yes. Understood.”
Charlotte lowered her head carefully. She knew exactly what it meant to be a commoner. Simply being allowed near him was already more happiness than she deserved.
Lena nodded in satisfaction, then began explaining the virginity examination.
“You will now be working directly by the second young master’s side. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
Ever since the day of sexual education, the hours she spent near the second young master had slowly increased. Those hours had grown more intimate in secret, a source of joy for those who cherished him. Yet the eyes of others—especially the sorceress maids—had grown steadily colder.
Originally, direct service to nobles was reserved for trained servants, and many of them, particularly the maids, had coveted those positions. Yet it was commoners without magic power who had claimed them. The arrangement had never been formally announced, and working alongside Neria had made it bearable, but now they had been officially permitted to remain at his side.
The two of them did not know that Lena had secretly shielded them both.
“From now on you will attend the young master from the moment he wakes. I will speak with Neria separately, but the two of you will also begin receiving instruction on the proper etiquette for serving nobility.”
“Yes, understood.”
This was not the usual training given to ordinary maids, but the refined etiquette required of those who attended aristocrats.
“And though it is still a secret, the second young master will eventually leave this mansion for another territory.”
Another territory… She was hearing this for the first time. When Charlotte looked up, Lena produced a contract.
“This is the agreement prepared for that day. Once you sign it, you will no longer be able to return to the life of an ordinary commoner.”
Charlotte stared at the document in a daze. It was clearly different from the standard contract for maids. The text was longer, with many additional clauses.
“Confidentiality is mandatory. Even on holidays, leaving the mansion will be restricted. Furthermore……”
Lena calmly listed the duties that would follow. Charlotte barely heard the words. If she signed that contract, she would remain by his side forever…!
“Haa.”
“Eek! I’m sorry!”
When Lena sighed, Charlotte apologized on reflex. Lena shook her head.
“If you have grasped the general idea, we will move on. I will now conduct the virginity examination.”
“I-I am a virgin!”
“I am aware. However, if you wish to remain at his side, this inspection is mandatory.”
“U-Understood.”
At Lena’s signal the assisting maid stepped forward. Shame burned through Charlotte, but if this was the price of staying near him, she would endure it. She assumed the required position.
“Uuu…”
Only after several thorough checks could Charlotte pull her panties back on and smooth down her skirt. Her face was scarlet. Lena spoke in her usual cool tone.
“Final confirmation.”
“Yes…”
Once Charlotte had calmed, Lena emphasized the most important point.
“While you remain at his side, you must preserve your chastity.”
“Chastity?”
Did that mean she must remain a virgin forever? Charlotte’s face fell. The dream of her first night with him flickered through her mind. Even if it was only a single night’s whim, she would have been content with that memory alone…
“That is not what I mean.”
“S-Sorry!”
Lena’s pitying gaze made Charlotte want to sink into the floor.
“While you are by his side you must avoid contact with other men. Should you take a lover, you are to inform me immediately.”
“A lover! That would never—!”
“Understood. Be quiet.”
“Sorry!”
Lena shook her head again.
“If you share his bed… a child may result. That is what I am saying. Should you believe the child to be yours only to discover it belonged to another man……”
Lena’s icy voice sent gooseflesh racing across Charlotte’s skin. She understood the warning perfectly. Yet such a thing would never happen. Meeting Lena’s eyes, she nodded firmly.
“Yes. That will never occur, but if anything should happen, I will tell you at once.”
“Good.”
After receiving detailed instruction on the responsibilities that came with her new near-exclusive position, Charlotte parted from Lena. She recalled her changed status, clutched her trembling chest, and looked at the door before her.
She had arrived at the young master’s room.