Paula was stunned.
"What? It's ridiculous. Saintess Charlotte wants me?"
"You know that Saintess Charlotte was adopted by the Count of Albrecht, right? She needs a handmaiden as she has become the lady of a Count. It is said that she wanted you to be her handmaiden."
"Why...? I wasn't a handmaiden. I was a maid."
Paula's expression was stunned.
She read an article that Charlotte became Count Albrecht's daughter. There was also news that Fernand and Rolf were dead.
But why her? They don't know each other, and she doesn't even work for the Count's residence anymore.
'I don't really like it.'
Paula was immersed in aristocratic life. In the comfort of Viscount Kodell's house, in the comfort of her life every day.
No matter how different the handmaiden and the maid were, working for others couldn't be the same as it is now.
Moreover, Count Albrecht!
"Well, then, should I go to Count Albrecht? I don't like that!"
How determined she was when she came out. She said she would never go back to that mansion again.
And when she thought of the time right after she ran away from the Count's residence, when the servants searched for her, she was really nervous.
'They must have been the people the Count named because he was afraid that I would make fun of him.'
Paula was sure. The Count must have been prepared to kill her.
'After Odette's death, the search stopped, and the divorce proceedings were over. I didn't think I would get involved with the Count anymore.'
"I want to refuse. Isn't it weird in the first place? If it were the Handmaiden of the Purifier, there must be many people who wanted to do it! Why are you doing that?"
A-Class Purifier Charlotte. Moreover, if she were even a daughter of a Count, the position of handmaiden was coveted by everyone. A position that even the Viscountess and Baroness, who are quite powerful, would covet.
"I don't know why, either."
Viscount Kodell rhymes in a serious voice.
"This is your chance, Paula. When you become the handmaiden of the Holy Woman, I will be able to formally ask you for fellowship."
Paula's pupils fluttered at that.
"F, fellowship?"
"Don't you know? You know I have a heart for you. The only thing is that the deacons and vassals are so opposed that I can't ask for fellowship."
"Viscount..."
"But if you become Lady Charlotte's handmaiden, I will be able to convince the vassals. They won't oppose you."
"..."
"If it helps the family. It's an era where high-ranking nobles marry wealthy commoners."
Former Countess Sasha got married right away. Kodell's words were persuasive.
Paula remembered Gisela's words.
'An opportunity to increase your value significantly in the marriage market.'
It certainly was. If she becomes the handmaiden of a Purifier and a young lady of a Count, she will be able to enter the social world with respect.
Viscount Kodell's vassal will have no choice but to change his mind.
"So, Paula. I want you to take on this handmaidenship. The Count has agreed to appoint you as her handmaiden, so you can go without too much worry."
Paula remembered how she felt when she left the Count.
She will never go back to the place where she was treated like this. She decided not to even look at the Count, who neglected her mother.
Viscount Kodell in front of her was too sweet. Distant and handsome appearance. Paula's only chance to rise to the rank of nobleman.
And the fate that Gisela spoke of.
"Yes, Viscount. If so, I'll accept it."
So Paula had no choice but to say so.
***
The four-wheeled carriage stopped in front of the main entrance of the Count's residence. Charlotte got off there.
To welcome the new lady, the waiting servants and maids greeted Charlotte in unison.
"Nice to meet you, Lady Albrecht."
Charlotte, who was holding the trunk, smiled at them.
"Nice to meet you. Everyone."
Lady Albrecht... It's a strange but not bad title.
Charlotte thought of the face of the Count who had visited the cathedral a few days earlier.
"Rolf, I mean, our dead butler. He said that the Saintess didn't like Odette. Is that true?"
His face turned white. A voice filled with hatred.
Charlotte replied Yes, and the Count said.
"I want to kill Odette. Of course, I can't be a murderer. So please come into our mansion as soon as possible. Come in and deal with Odette. If you become Odette's opponent and get rid of her, I will do anything."
The Count pleaded with Charlotte. If you can get rid of Odette, I'll do anything for you.
'Funny. It's like a change of face from a month ago.'
He said he would put the adoption on hold. Whenever he had carefully written a contract stating that even if he adopted her, she would not have the right to take the title or property of the Count.
'Someone is interested in that property.'
Charlotte snorted. She doesn't know how great he is, so he's saying that.
Charlotte also needed a Count. Because of Odette, the reality of the cathedral that she had captured was dead.
'Now I'm going to break through head-on.'
Attempts to attack the High Priest using chess pieces were all blocked by Odette.
Now she had no choice but to fight Odette with all the abilities she had.
Charlotte ended her reminiscences by generously agreeing to forgive the Count and looked at the servant in front of her.
"Give me the luggage. I'll take it, Lady Albrecht."
After handing him the trunk, Charlotte entered the lobby on the first floor. The Count was waiting in the lobby to welcome her.
"Welcome, Holy Maiden."
"Yes, Count."
The Count did not ask her to call him father. Charlotte did not ask the Count to lower his head.
The two are allies united only by their hostility to Odette.
"We have a private room, so you can go up and relax. This child, Maleah, will be your maid."
"Hmm. I understand."
"Use her as a maid until Paula comes, and then as a maid in her entourage."
"Hello, Lady Albrecht."
"Nice to meet you, Maleah."
Charlotte smiled at Maleah.
"You can follow me."
As she followed her guide to her room on the second floor, Charlotte looked around endlessly in the Count's house. However, his face was nowhere to be seen in the mansion.
'Why isn't there one? I heard that he must be a slave in this mansion.'
That filthy Fenril, who dared to deceive the status window and ruin everything Charlotte had prepared in her past life.
'Karl, he doesn't have any memories of his past life, does he?'
Charlotte traced the memories of her previous life. At that time, it was clearly not Karl himself who was the axis of the regression.
'I won't be fooled twice.'
In this lifetime, she was going to get that child somehow. Even more so because she knows the value of Karl.
***
Ever since he came to the dungeons, Karl had been dreaming every day. The dream was unusually connected to the content of the dream he had the day before. As if all dreams were a story.
In the dream, Karl chased after his master. Not. He chased Odette, the evil woman who killed all the Fenril children.
Terrible stench. Old and messy rags. Roughly cut hair.
Thinking that he had to kill her, he followed Odette through the desert endlessly.
Even though he didn't know much about this dream, Karl had a vague intuition as he was driving in the desert.
That this dream he has today will be the last chapter of all these dreams.
In the end, as expected, Karl managed to catch Odette. Then, without hesitation, he swung the blade at the woman's neck.
At the same time, something terrible penetrated Karl's body.
"Hahaha"
Karl's eyes flashed.
'...What is this?'
His teeth crackled as if he were feeling nauseous and cold. The surroundings felt excessively cold. As if in horror.
"Fear...?I...?"
Karl was very unfamiliar with that feeling.
Fear. He had never felt that way in his life.
Why did he have a feeling that he had never felt on any battlefield or in any situation?
Karl frowned, unable to understand. The fear slowly subsided, but the bitterness left by the dream remained.
It was then. As if to break his thoughts, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
"Ah..."
The fear and the bitterness that had made him uncomfortable disappeared in an instant.
Because he knows the owner of those footsteps.
He knew the identity of the person standing on the other side of the door.
As expected, the door of the dungeon opened with the sound of the key turning.
"Hello, Karl."
It was his master.
Ever since she came to this mansion, he felt the fragrance that had filled the mansion deepen.
More than any drug the Count injected, it was the wait that bothered Karl.
A terrible wait that never knows when it will end. His master, who gave him that wait, finally returned it to him.
"...Master"
A sharp euphoria ran up Karl's back.
His master, who should be punished so much.
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