Quick Transmigration of the World Destroyer

Chapter 5: The Transmigrator and Aileen (5)

[Host Ai, what are we doing here?]

"Looking for a job."

[But, why here?]

"They're hiring."

[...]

Ye Ai together with the other applicants were currently waiting in the side chamber of the Grand Duke's grand mansion. The said mansion even looked like a smaller version of the castle up north. These applicants were all applying as new servants of this household. Observing around, Ye Ai dryly noted that even this spare room looked ten times better than that of their house. Sigh.

"Introduce yourselves," demanded the old matron the moment she opened the door. She's a bit haughty and demanding at first glance. Some of them even peeped in surprise but immediately shut up.

When everyone started introducing themselves, Ye Ai can't help snorting with how these young ladies tried to sell themselves. Instead of trying to win their future employer's empathy they tried to sound as if they came from quite a well-off family instead. Her ears pricked when one girl even said that she can read and write, while the other one said she can play the lute. And there were more like them!

Why would they hire people who're already living virtuously to work as servants? What help can playing instruments do to wiping of the displays or reading and writing when they needed to sweep the grounds? In this era, commoners were not supposed to be well-educated. They may learn basic computation, but that's that. The rest would be due to one's experiences. Education and etiquettes were for the nobility. Girls who can read and write or play musical instruments or paint were the young misses and noble women. For commoners who'd learn these, although morally useless, they can still be hired as entertainers, low ranked scribes and writers, or as assistants of physicians, merchants or some aristocrats and officials. Aside from these better future prospects, these kinds of girl who would rather live to be virtuous originally had a better life condition than most commoners and basically didn't do much manual works. And so, if one such was sent to be a servant, they might just complain for the hard labor, worse they might simply slack off and eventually AWOL. These girls should have applied as assistant to the young lady instead.

"My name is Aileen. My father is a farmer and my mother is also a servant. She has been training me since childhood with the household chores. I can wash the dishes, sweep the floor, wipe and scrub and I learn easy if you want me to help in the kitchen," Ye Ai stated clearly before she added with a bit smaller voice. "I had to work to help my brother's medication and support my little sister's growing."

[Host Ai, your life here is so miserable, it's heartbreaking.]

"That's how you sell. Not too pushy but should hit the interviewer's strings," she told her system silently.

[... You're really...]

"Great? I know, no need to rub it."

[...]

At the end of the day, Ye Ai was one of the chosen for the job. The matron seemed a bit soft towards her though and explained her tasks in better consideration. Of course, she continued acting as the eager but pure commoner girl.

"Now, if you have any questions better ask instead of doing something wrong. Do you understand?"

"Yes, matron."

Days went and passed and Ye Ai was to reach her one week milestone. Her time in the grand mansion went peaceful, though. But all good things were meant to be ruined to keep the thrill of life. It's just the normal way of things.

Ye Ai was cleaning along the hallway, dusting here and there. She's enjoying these simple tasks after her long imprisonment. Suddenly, a shadow passed from the bend. As trained, servants were supposed to stop and greet the masters. She rounded to bow and greet that shadow, who turned to be the transmigrated bug.

"Good morning, Young Miss," she greeted as protocol.

The girl who usually had no care with these servants stopped on her tracks. "Do I know you," she said when she rounded at her.

That surprised Ye Ai. She knew the two, Aileen and Althea, had never met before. When the original villainess tried to personally confront Aileen before, the Crown Prince intercepted her. But unknown to the Crown Prince, this villainess hadn't only tried once looking for Aileen. She also had her goons targeting her but luckily the one they found was already Ye Ai instead of the frail original girl. Imagine what could have happened otherwise. Anyway, she’s the protagonist. Ye Ai sent those goons back to the villainess with some interest. Coincidentally, a new soul has already transmigrated into the villainess body then and was 'convinced' by those goons suggestion of creating rumors against the prince and commoner girl.

"This servant is new, Young Miss."

"What's your name?" she had an inkling that she should know this servant girl. Why, though, she wasn't sure.

"This servant's name is Aileen," she gave a bow after the introduction.

There was a long pause but Ye Ai didn't lift her body from the bow as trained. Suddenly the young lady's voice was a level colder than before. "What are you doing here?"

Since she knew the villainess has now recognized her, Ye Ai schooled her face with a confused look before straightened up. "This servant was tasked to wipe the displays, Young Miss."

"My question—why are you actually here?" Althea felt apprehension knowing that the world's protagonist suddenly appeared in front of her. Wasn't she busy flirting with the Crown Prince and crying about those rumors.

"I-I don't understand—I should not work here?" Ye Ai stuttered as her eyes started to water.

"Of course."

"But, but, I need...for brother's medication...Chichi..." she said in sorrowful voice as it faded out of volume.

"..."

"Young Miss?" a new voice suddenly called out.

"Matron Rone," she greeted back. "Send this woman out."

"Did Aileen do something wrong? Please forgive her, Young Miss. She's a new servant."

"I just don't like her," unable to explain the truth, Althea was forced to answer haphazardly. She was also rattled with this surprise encounter.

The matron had witnessed the changes with this young miss and was happy about it. She was no longer a spoiled brat or too willful unlike before. It all started when she fell sick after learning that the Crown Prince has another lover and decided to cancel their engagement. Although, they understood the choice of the Prince and why he can't like their Miss, they can't help siding with their employer.