Episode 107. The Dress is Used, the Man is Used
“Duke Flice went to see the Grand Duke?”
“Shh. Your voice is too loud.”
This wasn’t a private place.
People were already glancing at Neruan, who was wearing a helmet, so Rose felt self-conscious about their stares.
“S-Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Let’s talk about this later.”
Jane nodded at Rose’s words.
“By the way, Jane, your face has improved a lot.”
Rose changed the subject to everyday conversation.
“Hehe. Is that so?”
Her face was glowing, as if she was comfortable resting after a break from work. Her once slender cheeks had plumped up.
“Yeah. I guess you feel at ease.”
“After years of working without proper rest, it’s hard to adjust to suddenly resting.”
“You’re really not adjusting? You look really good.”
Jane gurgled and smiled at Rose’s words.
“It’s good, but I’m also a little anxious.”
“Why?”
Jane asked, and Jane’s eyes became quite serious.
Jane, who had been smiling until just now, sighed softly and muttered in a weak voice.
“I can see my bank balance is dwindling.”
“Oh...”
She nodded involuntarily, her worries puzzling her.
“I see.”
Jane couldn’t be paid until the department store was completed.
That was still six months away, and she was worried about her situation.
“You don’t have any immediate expenses, do you?”
Should I give her an advance payment?
Rose cautiously asked Jane.
“Jane... are you having a hard time these days?”
“Huh? It’s not like that. I’m just sad because my money is dwindling.”
Rose couldn’t take Jane’s words at face value.
It wouldn’t have mattered if she were living alone, but that wasn’t the case.
Living expenses would surely double.
“I diligently saved while working as a maid, so I have enough to keep me from starving.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Jane smiled at Rose’s concern and leaned in closer. She whispered softly, “I didn’t want to tell you this, but...”
Rose listened intently as Jane’s voice began to crawl away.
“I have about fifty million res left over.”
“Oh, fifty million res?!”
Rose's eyes widened at Jane's voice. She let out a yelp without realizing it. She couldn't believe her ears.
Fifty million res?
In this world, the value of fifty million res was different from Korea.
It was enough to buy a 500-pyeong luxury home with a garden, and still have some left over. It was enough to buy a dozen well-built townhouses.
To put it more simply, it was five years' worth of living expenses for an average citizen in her bank account.
'My goodness...'
"Oh, how did you save so much?"
"I think it's because I've been working as a maid since I was little. And I keep my expenses to a minimum."
Jane cooed, explaining that she'd been working for nearly ten years. She argued that since maids' salaries were higher than those of other professions, everyone else must have saved up that much.
It wasn't easy to save as much as Jane, but she spoke as if it were nothing special.
'Jane... You seem so strange.'
“Duke Flice went to see the Grand Duke?”
“Shh. Your voice is too loud.”
This wasn’t a private place.
People were already glancing at Neruan, who was wearing a helmet, so Rose felt self-conscious about their stares.
“S-Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Let’s talk about this later.”
Jane nodded at Rose’s words.
“By the way, Jane, your face has improved a lot.”
Rose changed the subject to everyday conversation.
“Hehe. Is that so?”
Her face was glowing, as if she was comfortable resting after a break from work. Her once slender cheeks had plumped up.
“Yeah. I guess you feel at ease.”
“After years of working without proper rest, it’s hard to adjust to suddenly resting.”
“You’re really not adjusting? You look really good.”
Jane gurgled and smiled at Rose’s words.
“It’s good, but I’m also a little anxious.”
“Why?”
Jane asked, and Jane’s eyes became quite serious.
Jane, who had been smiling until just now, sighed softly and muttered in a weak voice.
“I can see my bank balance is dwindling.”
“Oh...”
She nodded involuntarily, her worries puzzling her.
“I see.”
Jane couldn’t be paid until the department store was completed.
That was still six months away, and she was worried about her situation.
“You don’t have any immediate expenses, do you?”
Should I give her an advance payment?
Rose cautiously asked Jane.
“Jane... are you having a hard time these days?”
“Huh? It’s not like that. I’m just sad because my money is dwindling.”
“It’s okay to be honest. If it’s really difficult, I’ll help you, Jane.”
Rose looked at Jane with a worried expression. Then she gently placed her hand on Jane’s hand that was on the table.
“Jane trusted me when I left the Count of Wence, so I can help you with this much.”
“Rose...”
Rose’s voice was filled with sincerity.
It wasn’t a show of bragging, but rather a clear sense of concern for her.
Jane shook her head, her heart pounding.
“It’s really okay.”
She declined Rose’s offer.
“I have enough money to live on right now.”
“Really? I heard you’re the head of the household, responsible for your family...”
Rose looked at Jane with a worried expression. Then she gently placed her hand on Jane’s hand that was on the table.
“Jane trusted me when I left the Count of Wence, so I can help you with this much.”
“Rose...”
Rose’s voice was filled with sincerity.
It wasn’t a show of bragging, but rather a clear sense of concern for her.
Jane shook her head, her heart pounding.
“It’s really okay.”
She declined Rose’s offer.
“I have enough money to live on right now.”
“Really? I heard you’re the head of the household, responsible for your family...”
Rose couldn’t take Jane’s words at face value.
It wouldn’t have mattered if she were living alone, but that wasn’t the case.
Living expenses would surely double.
“I diligently saved while working as a maid, so I have enough to keep me from starving.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Jane smiled at Rose’s concern and leaned in closer. She whispered softly, “I didn’t want to tell you this, but...”
Rose listened intently as Jane’s voice began to crawl away.
“I have about fifty million res left over.”
“Oh, fifty million res?!”
Rose's eyes widened at Jane's voice. She let out a yelp without realizing it. She couldn't believe her ears.
Fifty million res?
In this world, the value of fifty million res was different from Korea.
It was enough to buy a 500-pyeong luxury home with a garden, and still have some left over. It was enough to buy a dozen well-built townhouses.
To put it more simply, it was five years' worth of living expenses for an average citizen in her bank account.
'My goodness...'
"Oh, how did you save so much?"
"I think it's because I've been working as a maid since I was little. And I keep my expenses to a minimum."
Jane cooed, explaining that she'd been working for nearly ten years. She argued that since maids' salaries were higher than those of other professions, everyone else must have saved up that much.
It wasn't easy to save as much as Jane, but she spoke as if it were nothing special.
'Jane... You seem so strange.'
As a salaried worker, she considered Jane to be on the same level as her.
It dawned on her that being a maid was a high-paying job.
A maid working for a high-ranking noble family earned more than women her age. Think of it as an employee at a large Korean corporation.
Jane scratched her head shyly.
"I didn't save solely from my salary, did I?"
Jane's position as a ladies' maid meant her salary was 1.5 times higher than that of other maids.
However, Jane wasn't satisfied with that, and she diligently worked to save money.
When Rose gave her dresses she no longer wore, she sold them used to raise the money. She meticulously saved the extra money she received for tea and sugar, and she also saved every penny she earned from uniform cleaning.
Jane saved and saved, saving and saving, accumulating her wealth.
"Wow, that's truly impressive."
"Oh, it's nothing."
"What are you going to do with the money?"
"Um, I'm going to help pay for my younger siblings' tuition and give them a little something for their weddings."
It dawned on her that being a maid was a high-paying job.
A maid working for a high-ranking noble family earned more than women her age. Think of it as an employee at a large Korean corporation.
Jane scratched her head shyly.
"I didn't save solely from my salary, did I?"
Jane's position as a ladies' maid meant her salary was 1.5 times higher than that of other maids.
However, Jane wasn't satisfied with that, and she diligently worked to save money.
When Rose gave her dresses she no longer wore, she sold them used to raise the money. She meticulously saved the extra money she received for tea and sugar, and she also saved every penny she earned from uniform cleaning.
Jane saved and saved, saving and saving, accumulating her wealth.
"Wow, that's truly impressive."
"Oh, it's nothing."
"What are you going to do with the money?"
"Um, I'm going to help pay for my younger siblings' tuition and give them a little something for their weddings."
She didn't spend any money on herself.
Rose tilted her head in question.
“Is there anything you want to spend on Jane?”
“Me? I’m not that greedy for money.”
Jane waved off Rose’s words.
“Still, you’re probably at the right age to dress up. You’d want to travel, too.”
“Hey. Those things are all luxuries to me. I’m just content with working and earning more than others.”
Not spending a single penny of her hard-earned money on herself?
Jane spoke nonchalantly, but Rose’s heart ached.
'I guess she thinks what she wants is a luxury because she’s so busy supporting her family.'
Rose looked at Jane, pondering whether there was anything she could do for her.
“Jane, would you like to visit the Arteum Estate sometime?”
“The Arteum Estate?”
“Yeah. I know you’re busy, but give me just one day. There’s something I want to do with you.”
“If you’re okay with it, Miss Rose, then that’s fine.”
Rose’s face brightened at Jane’s words.
She was determined to pick a day and treat her properly.
“I was already planning to take my parents, but I should take Jane too.”
Of course, she gets them a separate room.
The thought of treating them to a full-course meal at a luxury hotel made her laugh.
“Yeah. Just trust me that day and come. I’ll surprise you the best.”
“Wow. Just hearing it makes me so excited, Miss Rose!”
Their relationship wasn’t like that of a maid and her master. Jane and Rose were now friends.
Bright laughter echoed joyfully.
That’s when an uninvited guest barged in.
Clink!
The glass on the table fell to the floor.
Rose’s drink, which she hadn’t even finished, splashed everywhere.
“Oh my, who’s this?”
A familiar voice rang in her ear.
“Hic! Miss Rose, are you okay?”
Jane looked at Rose in surprise. Fortunately, no shards of glass flew.
Rose stared at the glass on the floor, then raised her head to look at Doana.
When Neruan, clad in armor, tried to stop Doana, Rose motioned at him.
Telling him not to interfere.
She didn't react to Doana's provocation.
"Doana, it's been a while. It's nice to see you here."
"Of course. It's nice to meet you."
Doana twitched, the corners of her mouth lifting.
"But you... Heh. Heh heh. What's with your appearance?"
Doana sneered, unable to suppress a wry laugh.
"You've become a total country bumpkin since you left the capital?"
Rose tilted her head in question.
“Is there anything you want to spend on Jane?”
“Me? I’m not that greedy for money.”
Jane waved off Rose’s words.
“Still, you’re probably at the right age to dress up. You’d want to travel, too.”
“Hey. Those things are all luxuries to me. I’m just content with working and earning more than others.”
Not spending a single penny of her hard-earned money on herself?
Jane spoke nonchalantly, but Rose’s heart ached.
'I guess she thinks what she wants is a luxury because she’s so busy supporting her family.'
Rose looked at Jane, pondering whether there was anything she could do for her.
“Jane, would you like to visit the Arteum Estate sometime?”
“The Arteum Estate?”
“Yeah. I know you’re busy, but give me just one day. There’s something I want to do with you.”
“If you’re okay with it, Miss Rose, then that’s fine.”
Rose’s face brightened at Jane’s words.
She was determined to pick a day and treat her properly.
“I was already planning to take my parents, but I should take Jane too.”
Of course, she gets them a separate room.
The thought of treating them to a full-course meal at a luxury hotel made her laugh.
“Yeah. Just trust me that day and come. I’ll surprise you the best.”
“Wow. Just hearing it makes me so excited, Miss Rose!”
Their relationship wasn’t like that of a maid and her master. Jane and Rose were now friends.
Bright laughter echoed joyfully.
That’s when an uninvited guest barged in.
Clink!
The glass on the table fell to the floor.
Rose’s drink, which she hadn’t even finished, splashed everywhere.
“Oh my, who’s this?”
A familiar voice rang in her ear.
“Hic! Miss Rose, are you okay?”
Jane looked at Rose in surprise. Fortunately, no shards of glass flew.
Rose stared at the glass on the floor, then raised her head to look at Doana.
When Neruan, clad in armor, tried to stop Doana, Rose motioned at him.
Telling him not to interfere.
She didn't react to Doana's provocation.
"Doana, it's been a while. It's nice to see you here."
"Of course. It's nice to meet you."
Doana twitched, the corners of her mouth lifting.
"But you... Heh. Heh heh. What's with your appearance?"
Doana sneered, unable to suppress a wry laugh.
"You've become a total country bumpkin since you left the capital?"
She was already unsophisticated, but now she was beyond compare, giggling.
"Heh heh heh. What the heck. Do you even call this business? You have no sense."
Doana clutched her stomach and couldn't stop laughing.
The conference hadn't even been a day, but rumors had already spread to Doana.
Rose wiggled her eyebrows at Doana's words and asked back,
"Business? What are you talking about?"
She said this to see how much Doana knew.
"Ouch. Heh heh. Oh, no. I lost my words."
She closed her mouth, as if she had no intention of telling Rose properly.
Doana laughed heartily at Rose's appearance for the first time in a long time.
'This guy is really funny.'
Her stomach hurt from biting that rich nobleman, but looking at her, she didn't feel so envious.
'How low of her to be sharing a meal with a maid.'
If she were Rose, she would have swept through the social world.
What use would there be to waste time with a mere maid?
Despite her smiling face, Doana blurted out quite rude words.
“But you’re still the same. Seeing how you can’t socialize with noble ladies, I guess you still don’t have any friends?”
She snorted at Jane, finding it sarcastic.
“Why don’t I have any friends? I have Jane in front of me.”
Rose’s words made Doana burst out laughing again.
“Oh my goodness. This is the first time I’ve heard of someone being friends with a maid. Do you think we’re on the same level as them? A maid is just a handyman, nothing more, nothing less. How can you be friends with a maid when you have no friends?”
Jane’s face flushed at her aggressive words.
Not only had she disregarded the profession of a maid to her face, but she had also insulted her.
The giggles continued. Rose’s expression remained impassive as she spoke.
“You talk strangely. If you get along, you’ll all become friends. Why do you talk like that?”
The giggles died down.
“And... they say a frog doesn’t know its tadpole.”
She exhaled softly and spoke in a clear voice.
“You’re a maid too, Doana. You speak as if you were some nobleman?”
“What? What kind of maid am I? I’m the Count’s woman! I’m clearly carrying his child.”
She sternly declared that she was clearly different from a mere maid.
“The real power in the empire, Count Wence, is my husband.”
You, living in the remotest region, are on a completely different level, Rose.
She was ignoring the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
A powerless Prince banished to the remotest region.
A man in a precarious position, not knowing when or how he might die.
‘You foolish woman, you don’t know how the Grand Duke is treated, and you can’t act so ignorantly.’
She had no doubt that Eric would rise to a higher position.
And, she thought the Grand Duke would fall soon.
However, the Grand Duke was of royal blood, so he couldn't easily utter such words.
Rose's expression remained unchanged even after hearing Doana's words, and she continued speaking.
"You're still the same, Doana."
Doana frowned at Rose's words.
"What are you talking about?"
"You stole my husband and don't feel a shred of guilt. And on top of that, you're even boasting about being pregnant in front of me."
Doana chuckled, finding Rose's provocation laughable.
"No one in their right mind would do something like that."
Doana's expression hardened. She glared at Rose with a cold expression.
"What did you just say? Is that something you say in front of a pregnant person? Where did your courtesy go to the person who tried to say something because they felt sorry for you?"
Rose let out a sneer at Doana's sarcastic words.
"I think it's you who's in trouble, not me, right, Doana?"
Rose slowly looked Doana up and down. Then, with a smile, she said,
“I guess your husband, whom you love so much, can’t even afford to buy you a dress.”
Doana felt a sudden jolt of shock at Rose’s words.
The dress she was wearing was the one Rose had left behind when they divorced.
“Or are you being treated so badly that you can’t even afford a dress to wear?”
“Watch your words. Our relationship is so passionate that you can’t just say something like that?”
“Really? I guess that wasn’t the case.”
Rose took a step back at Doana’s words. Doana frowned at Rose’s meek retreat.
“What? Why are you backing off so blandly?”
Doana felt a sting in her pride at having worn Rose’s dress, but she tried to pretend otherwise.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I just wore it once because it suited my taste.”
Rose smiled faintly at Doana’s words.
“It’s strange. I don’t like things that belong to others because I find them unsettling. You only like things that have been touched by someone else’s hands.”
Rose slightly lowered her head and shrugged her shoulders as if she found it amusing.
She raised her face to a smile and said to Doana,
“You really only like used things. Even dresses are used... even men are used. Your tastes are so consistent, aren’t they?”
In your past life, and now.
You’re always the same.
Rose’s eyes were filled with disgust toward Doana as she finished speaking.
"Heh heh heh. What the heck. Do you even call this business? You have no sense."
Doana clutched her stomach and couldn't stop laughing.
The conference hadn't even been a day, but rumors had already spread to Doana.
Rose wiggled her eyebrows at Doana's words and asked back,
"Business? What are you talking about?"
She said this to see how much Doana knew.
"Ouch. Heh heh. Oh, no. I lost my words."
She closed her mouth, as if she had no intention of telling Rose properly.
Doana laughed heartily at Rose's appearance for the first time in a long time.
'This guy is really funny.'
Her stomach hurt from biting that rich nobleman, but looking at her, she didn't feel so envious.
'How low of her to be sharing a meal with a maid.'
If she were Rose, she would have swept through the social world.
What use would there be to waste time with a mere maid?
Despite her smiling face, Doana blurted out quite rude words.
“But you’re still the same. Seeing how you can’t socialize with noble ladies, I guess you still don’t have any friends?”
She snorted at Jane, finding it sarcastic.
“Why don’t I have any friends? I have Jane in front of me.”
Rose’s words made Doana burst out laughing again.
“Oh my goodness. This is the first time I’ve heard of someone being friends with a maid. Do you think we’re on the same level as them? A maid is just a handyman, nothing more, nothing less. How can you be friends with a maid when you have no friends?”
Jane’s face flushed at her aggressive words.
Not only had she disregarded the profession of a maid to her face, but she had also insulted her.
The giggles continued. Rose’s expression remained impassive as she spoke.
“You talk strangely. If you get along, you’ll all become friends. Why do you talk like that?”
The giggles died down.
“And... they say a frog doesn’t know its tadpole.”
She exhaled softly and spoke in a clear voice.
“You’re a maid too, Doana. You speak as if you were some nobleman?”
“What? What kind of maid am I? I’m the Count’s woman! I’m clearly carrying his child.”
She sternly declared that she was clearly different from a mere maid.
“The real power in the empire, Count Wence, is my husband.”
You, living in the remotest region, are on a completely different level, Rose.
She was ignoring the Grand Duke of Artaeum.
A powerless Prince banished to the remotest region.
A man in a precarious position, not knowing when or how he might die.
‘You foolish woman, you don’t know how the Grand Duke is treated, and you can’t act so ignorantly.’
She had no doubt that Eric would rise to a higher position.
And, she thought the Grand Duke would fall soon.
However, the Grand Duke was of royal blood, so he couldn't easily utter such words.
Rose's expression remained unchanged even after hearing Doana's words, and she continued speaking.
"You're still the same, Doana."
Doana frowned at Rose's words.
"What are you talking about?"
"You stole my husband and don't feel a shred of guilt. And on top of that, you're even boasting about being pregnant in front of me."
Doana chuckled, finding Rose's provocation laughable.
"No one in their right mind would do something like that."
Doana's expression hardened. She glared at Rose with a cold expression.
"What did you just say? Is that something you say in front of a pregnant person? Where did your courtesy go to the person who tried to say something because they felt sorry for you?"
Rose let out a sneer at Doana's sarcastic words.
"I think it's you who's in trouble, not me, right, Doana?"
Rose slowly looked Doana up and down. Then, with a smile, she said,
“I guess your husband, whom you love so much, can’t even afford to buy you a dress.”
Doana felt a sudden jolt of shock at Rose’s words.
The dress she was wearing was the one Rose had left behind when they divorced.
“Or are you being treated so badly that you can’t even afford a dress to wear?”
“Watch your words. Our relationship is so passionate that you can’t just say something like that?”
“Really? I guess that wasn’t the case.”
Rose took a step back at Doana’s words. Doana frowned at Rose’s meek retreat.
“What? Why are you backing off so blandly?”
Doana felt a sting in her pride at having worn Rose’s dress, but she tried to pretend otherwise.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I just wore it once because it suited my taste.”
Rose smiled faintly at Doana’s words.
“It’s strange. I don’t like things that belong to others because I find them unsettling. You only like things that have been touched by someone else’s hands.”
Rose slightly lowered her head and shrugged her shoulders as if she found it amusing.
She raised her face to a smile and said to Doana,
“You really only like used things. Even dresses are used... even men are used. Your tastes are so consistent, aren’t they?”
In your past life, and now.
You’re always the same.
Rose’s eyes were filled with disgust toward Doana as she finished speaking.
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