My name is Marm.

I am a lady's maid in the service of Count Kuzma.

I started as an apprentice when the father of the current Count, Luis, was in good health.

When I came to the house, Master Luis had just been born.

He and his wife are good people, and although it was difficult for me to learn the work, there were few hardships.

My family was a merchant, but my father's business failed and the family split up. I had to take care of my younger sister, so I became an apprentice to the previous Count.

I started serving him when I was 14 years old. ......This gives away my age, doesn't it? Yes, I will be 38 this year.

Let me back up.

After about three years, I went from being an apprentice to an official lady-in-waiting. The head maid of honor at the time was a woman named Aruna, who was a kind but strict boss.

All my skills were trained by her.

In the winter of that year, his wife died of illness. The little boy, Luis, was only 3 years old.

Then it was decided that I would take care of the little boy.

The reason is simple. I was the maid closest in age to the late Mistress. She was 19. I was 17 at the time. The other maidservants were in their mid-twenties at the youngest.

For a while, Mistress Lewis couldn't understand that her mother had passed away (of course, she was only 3 years old), and she cried a lot at night.

So they looked for someone to sleep with him, and I was chosen.

After I started to sleep with him, Master Luis stopped crying at night.

But I am sure that I was delayed because of this role.

The marriageable age for women is between 15 and 25. I devoted just that period of my life to the Lord Luis.

I have no regrets. It may be inappropriate for me to say this, but I consider Luis as if he were my son. I served him.

The master---the previous Count was a single man who never had an attendant. I think he could not forget her.

Even from my point of view as a homos*xual, she was a wonderful person.

When Luis was just 10 years old, there was a conflict on the border with the neighboring Kingdom of Cerroa.

It brought misfortune.

The master---the previous count---sent to the battlefield as the commander of a company and lost his life.

When the news came, Master Lewis accepted the fact without shedding a tear.

Ten years old is old enough to take over the reigns of a noble family.

At that moment, my little boy disappeared and became the .

The new head of the family, Master Luis, sat at his desk every day.

He was learning from the family lords so that he could quickly become a worthy successor to his predecessor.

But I know.

I know that at night, when everyone was asleep, Master Luis was alone, weeping aloud.

In the twinkling of an eye, Master Luis has grown up to be an honorable man and has even participated in the government of the country.

Before I knew it, I was appointed as the head maid of honor, in charge of all the ladies-in-waiting.

Aruna?　She retired at the age of 50.

And my younger sister grew up and married a merchant.

One day... * * *

One day.

One day, a boy, or rather a master, took a young lady into his house.

Her name is Bina, a magecraftsman.

She's quite a young woman, but she's got a very strong mindset and says she wants to make things that will be useful to the common people.

That's good.

It is also good that she has a younger brother and a younger sister who were taken in with her and work in the house --- only as imitators.

But they are talking to the Master in a friendly way.

I wonder if the Master is planning to take her as his wife. ....... My heart is aflutter.

What is the Master's happiness?

Now that I am the only one who knows about the previous master and his wife, it is my duty to think about the happiness of my .

There was an event called the Golem Garden Party in the capital.

The Master, as a countess, was to prepare a golem.

And the Master hired a young magecraftsman named Jin Nido to make a golem.

I don't know anything about golems, but the golem made by Jin Nido was a wonderful piece of work. The only complaint I have is that it looks just like Ms. Beena.

But that is the Master's request, not mine to interfere.

But there was one thing that made me happy.

The golem, which was to be presented to the royal family, was modeled after me inside, if not outside.

And I was told later that the golem protected the king and the prince with her own body.

I am proud to be a model for her. No, let's rejoice that the royal family's affection for the master will be more blessed.

I am not a model, but I am a model.

That Miss Beena has become the Master's fiancee.

As a commoner, she could be a concubine but not a full-fledged wife. Therefore, a friend of the previous generation, the Earl Bernard Hams Lonsdale, became her foster father.

However, Bina's behavior is not that of a nobleman's wife.

She should behave in a manner befitting a wife of a master who is a part of the national government. .......

The behavior of the wife may cause her husband to be disrespected and belittled.

I am sorry to say, but such is the way of aristocratic society.

For the sake of your happiness and that of the two of you, I have made up my mind to be serious.

No, you shouldn't pick up the hem of her skirt so much.

"Yes."

"Yes, and shortly!"

"...... yes."

I'm training Miss Beena now.

I thought it would be my last task to at least make her worthy of being a countess.

No!　When you drink tête-à-tête, you hold the saucer with your left hand.

"...... yes."

"Oh my God, you should pick the cup instead of holding it!"

"...... yes."

Her frustration with me is evident on her face, but I don't let it bother me.

"Clean more quietly!　You're making the dust stand up!"

Bina seems to have a bit of a temper, and her cleaning is a bit messy.

"I can't clean because I'm an aristocrat," she says, "that's no excuse. That would be a disservice to your husband's reputation.

We practice hard from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. I am tired, too, but this is the best I can do. I am also tired, but this is for my husband's sake.

"In the bathroom, I sometimes join other noble ladies. You must cover your front with a towel, be aware of your surroundings when you pour hot water on your body, and avoid splashing hot water on others."

"Yes, ......"

I expected her to immediately raise her voice, but to my surprise, Bina followed my lead.

"Listen, in the bedroom, you are not allowed to sleep before your husband. After your husband is on the floor, you must say <> and lie down."

"......"

But I can see that she is on the verge of an emotional outburst towards me. But I will continue to handle her without caring.

However, Bina endured one or two months without an emotional outburst.

The strength of her endurance was undoubtedly the letter from her husband, who is currently in King's Landing on business.

And I must admit that her love for her husband is the foundation of her strength. Good luck, Ms. Beena. You can hate me as much as you want. .......

It was the end of August, two months past the scheduled date, when the Master returned from the big job of cleaning up the golem incident in King's Landing.

"I'm home now, Beena."

"Mr. Lewis!"

Beena's face was the most radiant I had ever seen, freed from the loneliness of not seeing him for 5 months.

"Did you miss me?　I missed you too.

And the face of the husband who held her hand was also something I had never seen ...... before.

At this moment, I realized once again that my < was nowhere to be found.

However, I did not feel lonely. Well, to be honest, I did miss him a little.

I have neither a husband nor children. I don't mean to be arrogant, but my << boy> is like a child to me.

No parent would be sad to see their child become a man and marry a woman.

I feel that I now have the peace of mind to honestly congratulate you both.

I am happy for you and your family.

Today is their wedding day.

Their lord, the Duke of Breu, will be the officiant. It's not an occasion that a mere maid of honor is allowed to attend.

I'm content to wish them happiness from afar.

There's nothing more I can do.

I will pack my bags slowly.

I don't want to disturb the young couple, and above all, Bina, now that she is a countess, will not forgive me.

No, I don't think she would accuse me to my face, but I think it is unforgivable to have a maid of honor whom I hate, even loathe, in your presence.

In that case, it would be better for the family if you left without saying a word.

Just as you hired me, a 14-year-old, as an apprentice maid that day, you can hire someone new.

With the maidservants who serve you now, you will be able to do your household chores for the time being.

It will be a little sad to leave the house where I have worked for 24 years, but I consider it a new beginning. ......

......I shouldn't, I almost burst into tears.

Today is a new beginning for two young people. Tears are bad luck.

Gently turn your chest and take a step: .......

* * * *

"Oh."

"Marm?"

I was just about to walk out the front door when, lo and behold, I ran into the master and his wife. Why did they come back so early ......?

As I was thinking about this, the Master asked me a question.

"What in the world...... are you wearing?"

I was thinking about that, and the Master asked me, "What in the world are you wearing?

"Marm, what's going on?　Why are you leaving?"

I have no choice but to tell you the truth.

"Boy...... no, sir. From today on, you and your wife will create a new history for the Countess. There is no need for old people. That's why I'm ......"

But the master didn't let me say anything and snatched the package out of my hand.

"I won't let you do it, okay?　You are like my ...... mother. What kind of son would kick his mother out of the house just because she got married!"

What a nice thing to say. But what will your wife say .......

"Yes, Mr. Mallum. I know you are not happy to call a commoner like me your Mistress, but for the sake of Luis, please stay here. And I hope you will continue to teach me what I am not doing well."

The words came out of her mouth unexpectedly.

"Today, when I went to the ceremony, I understood. This is the reason why Mr. Mallum has been so strict with me all these years," she said. Thank you ....... I just wanted to say that."

Oh, you're so kind, young missus. I can see that the Master chose her.

"Are you sure ......?"

I'm asking you too.

The young mistress took my hand and bowed. Her hand was so warm that I couldn't help but cry .......

And today, as Countess Kuzma's maid of honor, I am in charge of the young ladies-in-waiting.

Now, my greatest pleasure is to hold my little boy in my hands.

May this happiness last forever.