Prologue: The Witch Sets Out
SHE messily folded her robe and stuffed it in the bag, then tapped the floorboard twice with the tip of her boot.
Her bag, packed with the bare minimum necessities, was light enough for Rose to carry with ease. Thick curtains covered all the windows, making the inside of the house darker than night despite being morning.
This was but a momentary parting, yet subtle sadness filled her.
“…Well then, see you later, I guess.”
Sweeping her gaze over the room one last time, Rose slightly bowed her head.
Of course, the hermitage didn’t respond. The serene, still air neither said anything nor blamed her for leaving.
Refreshing spring air greeted her when she opened the front door. Rose took a deep breath and then, after sticking a piece of paper on the door, departed the lake.
Today Rose was starting her new life—by moving into Harij’s mansion.
Her unrequited love of many years had finally advanced to mutual feelings with the object of her affections after Harij had requested a love potion from her.
Although she was making him wait before accepting his sudden marriage proposal, Rose decided to take him up on his offer to stay as a houseguest at his mansion at night because he was worried about her living in that dilapidated shack after it had already been ransacked once.
While she would continue to go about business as usual at the hermitage during the day, Rose still felt anxious about this new world she was entering because she had never considered moving before.
She wondered whether it was the right choice to leave—and those doubts still plagued her even after she walked away from the hermitage with her bags packed. However, even if she couldn’t be confident in anything else, she believed in her decision to trust Harij at least.
Starting today, she was going to be staying the night at Harij’s mansion. He had told her about the general location of his property the last time they went to the city together.
Apparently, the Azm mansion wasn’t located in the residential area but a little ways from the hustle and bustle of the city. It wasn’t far from the forest where Rose’s hermitage was.
Harij had given her specific directions, too, so she should be able to get there on her own if she took a fiacre. Safina was supposed to pick her up in the afternoon, but she decided to go alone because she didn’t want to add to his work.
It shouldn’t be a problem if I get there before he leaves. With that thought, she left as soon as she finished watering the garden.
And now, after passing through several animal paddocks and shoving her way through the brush, she had finally arrived at Harij’s mansion well before noon with little trouble.
“I-It’s…HUGE!” Rose blurted as she dusted the leaves off the top of her head. “He said it’s the one with a black roof, right…?”
Looking around, none of the other homes had a black roof except for that one.
She had expected the mansion towering before her to be large, but the real thing was even bigger than she imagined. The enormous building was large enough to fit several dozen hermitages and still have plenty of space left. Designed by what could have only been a master architect, the stately home was as elaborate and beautiful as a piece of priceless art. The walls were unbelievably tall and embellished by a shocking number of expansive windows.
Rose had done business with a great many customers during her years as a witch, but not once had they invited her to their homes or given her the opportunity to visit before. Consequently, she could only imagine the kind of extravagant domiciles the aristocracy dwelled in.
A magnificent stable and even a chicken coop were located at the back of the vast mansion garden surrounded by perfectly manicured, green bushes. Excitement grew within Rose; she used to raise chickens at the hermitage while her grandmother was still alive.
Rose quietly approached the wired fence, and the chickens spread their wings as if welcoming her. The nostalgic and distinct smell of a livestock pen—a mix of mud, bird feed, and droppings—hung in the air.
She deeply inhaled that familiar aroma as she made up her mind to have Harij show her around the coop once things settled.
A splendid chimney towered over the weathercock spinning on the rooftop, puffing out a steady stream of smoke. The kitchen staff was likely preparing lunch.
I wonder what’s for lunch today. Rose’s nose twitched in anticipation. She dawdled while gazing up at the billowing smoke and remembering the many delicious treats Harij had brought her.
Suddenly, the door opened, and an elderly woman with her hands full stepped out of the mansion. She wore a plain day dress with an apron and a white mobcap.
The woman’s expression grew suspicious when she noticed Rose. “Who might you be? Do you have business here?”
“Excuse me, is this Sir Azm’s mansion?”
“It is.”
“Good afternoon. Starting today, I will be in your care as—”
“Oh, it’s you!” the woman interjected before Rose could finish. “You’re LATE!”
Rose was taken by surprise by the woman’s loud yell. She didn’t appear as angry as she sounded, but she also didn’t seem very welcoming, either. The woman beckoned her over by moving her whole body in an exaggerated gesture because her hands were full. “Come here!”
Rose stood straight and pulled her shoulders back before running over to her.
“Heavens, child. I can’t believe you arrived this late on your first day. You should be grateful that His Lordship is a lenient man.”
Rose was in shock—here she thought she had arrived earlier than planned, but she ended up being accused of arriving late.
Oblivious to Rose’s reaction, the woman dumped the kitchen waste she was carrying into a wooden container in the garden as she continued rambling. “My name is Tala. You may call me Ms. Tala.”
“Hello, Ms. Tala.”
“Goodness gracious! They didn’t tell me you’d be this short and puny. And look at you! You’re dirty from head to toe like some ragamuffin! This way. Hop to it, lassie.”
Pressed to hurry, Rose rushed after Tala.
They entered the mansion through the back kitchen door. The kitchen had washing tubs filled with clean water, a long wooden table with cutlery and earthenware laid out, and a large stone oven for cooking.
But the most noteworthy thing of all was the sweet, tantalizing aroma filling the air.
When Rose stopped to breathe in the mouthwatering smells, Tala turned back and beckoned her once more from the door into the next room.
“This way, lassie.”
“Coming.”
Rose obediently followed Tala after mentally saying goodbye to the apple compote that had tempted her.
The inside of the mansion was even bigger than it had looked from the outside. Rose stared at everything with wide-eyed fascination as she walked the hallways behind Tala, who kept to the side of the carpet rather than leading her down the middle.
Sun shone through the windows spaced every few feet from each other, warming the mansion. The hallways alone were lined with fancy furniture and decorations. The ceiling—which she thought was just painted with pure-white plaster—actually had artistic patterns carved into it.
Rose was gaping up at the ceiling when Tala beckoned her for the third time. As they ascended the staircase, which had been polished to a perfect amber hue, Tala spoke to her in a barely audible whisper.
“What was your name again? Morée?”
“It’s Rose.”
Tala acknowledged her name with a small nod.
Am I moving in as Harij’s servant? Maybe that’s how he interpreted my request to only stay at his mansion during the night? If that’s the case, then I guess I have to do my best to serve him, Rose absently thought as she stared at the back of Tala’s graying head.
“We’re here.” Tala stopped and turned the unadorned doorknob with her pudgy fingers.
Urged inside, Rose entered a bare-bones room that was the polar opposite of the grand hallways she had just traversed. The décor was painfully simple, with little more than a homely bed, tiny closet, and a single small desk.
The room was far smaller than the hermitage, but it was clean enough that she wouldn’t have to throw things off the bed to sleep at night. There was a small window through which, at least, sunlight seemed to enter.
Tala opened the closet, revealing impeccably ironed liveries hanging from a pole. She then proceeded to pull out several dresses of homespun, plain fabrics, but in suitable colors for a young woman to wear, and held them against Rose.
“There are a total of five servants in this household, including you, Rose. His Lordship mostly looks after himself. He won’t trouble you much—keep your face up, please.”
Rose, who was staring at Tala’s hands, lifted her chin as she was instructed.
“The gardener comes four times a month. There’s a stable boy who comes during the day, but no coachman. As long as you get Mr. Safina’s permission first, any of the men can take you by carriage if you get sent on a long-distance errand.”
“I see.”
“We don’t have many colleagues, so I expect you to remember everything snippety snap, all right? You’re replacing the girl who left to have her baby. Do your best to keep up—good, this seems to be your size.”
Tala handed Rose a rather plain livery consisting of a simple dress worn under an apron with a matching mobcap of the same material.
“You must dress to impress because we can’t have you embarrassing His Lordship. I’ll hang afternoon dress and formal dress liveries of the same size in your closet later.”
“Thank you.”
“Change up lickety-split and return to the kitchen. Things are going to be chaotic with Her Ladyship’s arrival later today.”
Her Ladyship’s arrival later today.
Rose finally grasped the situation after hearing those five words. In other words, she had been mistaken for a newly hired maid who should’ve come earlier that morning. At least it sounded as if they were going to welcome the real Rose as a guest.