…The next day.

For some reason, Avril was in the laundry room of the separate building. In front of her were freshly washed sheets which she rinsed with water and squeezed.

“Lady Avril, didn’t Lord Dylan tell you to stay put today?”

“Well, indeed he did, but… I’ve finished helping at the main building, so I’m kind of bored. What’s the harm of doing a little bit of laundry?”

Hearing her answer, Grace pulled at her maid cap, covering her eyes.

“In the first place, Lady Avril shouldn’t be here. If anyone finds out, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Is that why Grace came with me? Thank you.”

Even though Dylan asked her to help with some documents, in reality, there weren’t very many of them. In the blink of an eye, Avril had finished her tasks and was left with a lot of free time.

She wanted to ask Dylan for instructions, but she couldn’t meet him that morning because he was in a meeting. His time was also booked in the afternoon.

Since they could still have dinner together, he probably wasn’t going very far. Nevertheless, nobody told her where he was going. Avril, desperate for something to do, came to do some laundry.

Those rumors of me being a villainess helps conceal my identity.

All the servants in the main building still thought that Avril was an incredibly evil woman. Despite Dylan’s concerns, Avril happily went along with those rumors. After all, she also didn’t want to get involved with the former duke.

Although she had fun playing the role of a bad girl, she was sad because the servants kept avoiding her.

As Avril reminisced, Grace quietly asked her.

“By the way, Lady Avril, regarding your breakfast this morning… When you returned the dishes, you also included a letter with them, right? I confiscated it.”

“I see… Why though?”

“A villainess won’t write a thank-you note. Even if you try to sound haughty in the letter, the servants will be shocked that you even bothered to write one to begin with.”

“I’m sorry for being such an incompetent villainess, Grace…”

“Pay it no mind. The lord seems to be supporting your endeavor, so I’d like to lend my assistance as well.”

Avril recalled receiving similar treatment at the townhouse in the royal capital. The servants there were quite tolerant of villainesses… Just as she was feeling moved, Grace’s face twitched.

“However, I believe the servants keep their distance because they find you as weird more so than a villainess, Lady Avril.”

“…Weird? How exactly?”

What does she mean by that?

When Avril was about to ponder, Jesenia showed up in the laundry room.

“Oh, Clarissa, here you are! You’re so dependable! As you’re from an aristocratic family, you must be able to stand in as the head servant, as well!”

“Uh, well, if you say that I can do it, then I can do it, maybe…?”

A head servant was a servant with privileges, such as a steward or butler. In order to maintain their dignity, the Duke of Lancester chose well-educated people with aristocratic backgrounds.

Avril guessed that by ‘head servant’, Jesenia was referring to servants who directly oversaw their master’s personal needs. Despite her confusion, Avril still affirmed. Jesenia’s expression lit-up instantly.

“Great! We’ll be receiving a guest today, one whose somewhat of a hassle. I will take care of the laundry, so can you help me with that?”

“…Hm?”

How on earth did this happen…?

Several tens of minutes later… Avril, who had changed from the garments of a laundry maid to that of a head servant, found herself at the edge of the salon in the separate building.

A tea set had been arranged on the table. A lot of sweets had also been baked in the kitchen earlier.

Apparently, an important guest will be visiting the separate building… For the sake of hospitality, I was called to even out the number of people…

The separate building served as a place for the former duke to live in seclusion. Ever since Avril came to his domain, the former duke spent most of his time either in his own room, or the room of one of his mistresses.

Of course, ‘Clarissa’, the lowest among the laundry maids, never came across the former duke.

I have to stand in as the head servant because they don’t want to borrow the help of someone from the main building… I have no idea who that guest might be, so I should just remain quiet for now.

Just as Avril was about to erase her presence, she realized that the maid standing next to her was staring at her. Then, that maid spoke incredulously.

“Who are you…?”

“…I’m a new maid and I’m here to help out as an attendant. It seems that I was called to even out the number of people.”

“Oh! Our ‘Savior and Beast Tamer’!”

How did her nickname evolve so much?

Well, she could see why Teresa Pannella was referred to as a beast…

As expected, the information network of those who’re directly taking care of the master is wonderful and accurate.

The maid who spoke to her continued, her eyes sparkling.

“You’re so amazing! It’s only been just a few days, and you’re already being invited to welcome the young master! I’m sure your promotion isn’t too far off!”

“No, that’s…”

…Wait, ‘the young master’?

Avril, who was smiling, titled her head as a certain few words stood out to her.

“Wait… Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t we welcoming the old master?”

“That’s not the case. The young master is going to visit us today. He’s only been in charge for a few years. At last, he’s going appear here. Everyone’s so excited to welcome him.”

“I see…”

Avril froze.

In other word… I’m going to welcome Lord Dylan. I’m grateful that it isn’t the old master, but how do I say this…

After all, Dylan especially told her to remain in the main building after finishing her assigned work today…

Avril felt awkward.

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