Olivier Dampierre Proposed to the Maid!

“By any chance, what?”

“No, nothing, my lord.”

The maid dropped her head helplessly, afraid of Olivier’s frown. Her cheeks were red and she was wheezing for air, so it seemed she wasn’t lying when she said she was sick.

Olivier looked at the receipt from St. Francis Hospital with displeasure. His face stiffened as he read the name ‘Amélie Gagnier’.

Clearly, then, at this moment, it was Olivier Dampierre’s illusion and mistake.

Olivier glanced at Amélie Gagnier. Now it didn’t seem necessary to check the reception desk.

The maid stood against the wall, her brown hair dishevelled, her face flushed.

Damn it, this isn’t it…

Olivier furrowed his brow and let out an annoyed sigh. He was certain, absolutely certain, that she was the maid sent by Mademoiselle R.

In broad daylight, a second letter from Mademoiselle R arrived. This time, after getting on my nerves with some threats, I had the audacity to scribble down my address. I had no intention of going to see her, but I did chase after the maid who had delivered the letter.

But what the heck, all maids are alike, so who knows. I finally caught the stern one.

Damn, that was a mistake…

Olivier turned the papers in my hand over and over again. It was the letter the maid had been crying for a while ago.

“What is this?”

〈Addressed to: Amélie Gagnier〉

The sender is the court. And the criminal department at that? This is not a normal occurrence. Suddenly, Olivier’s expression turned sour. The recipient’s name was printed in clear, bold red ink as if to remind her of her sins.

Unconsciously, Olivier unfolded the document, which did not belong to him, and read it.

“To Miss Amélie Gagnier.”

The next few lines succinctly summarised how much Miss Gagnier’s father had borrowed, from whom, and what kind of fraud he committed.

“Huh.”

1,700 francs? Olivier frowned, then burst out laughing.

“This is one bad bastard.”

Of course, his words were directed at her father, not at Amélie Gagnier, but he couldn’t help but feel Amélie Gagnier shudder with shame as she listened.

As Olivier continued to read, he saw that the 1,700 francs were due in less than a month, and he was left speechless.

“…”

So, this pale-faced maid is in a really bad spot.

Apparently, she’s paid off her medical bills, but she doesn’t have this much money, so she’s going to be stuck in jail.

“Hey, Miss Amélie Gagnier. Do you think you can pay back this much money?”

The maid’s head dropped, but she didn’t answer. I think I heard her grunt, as if she was holding back tears…

“Here.”

Olivier folded the court letter and handed it back to Amélie. The maid took it with trembling hands and held it up, then dropped it to the floor.

“Ha…”

Olivier grew impatient. The sight of her bending down to pick up the half-soaked papers in the mud was starting to get on his nerves.

In the first place, it was clearly because of me that she was dragged into this alley and suffered from the trickery…

For a brief moment, the mind of Olivier Dampierre, one of Ezon Society’s most generous donors, tilted slightly. 1,700 francs is not a lot of money to pay. Is this the least I can do to compensate…?

In a moment of weakness, Amélie Gagnier looked up. Her tear-stained face was streaked with crimson. Her bloodshot eyes glared at Olivier.

“You’re Olivier Dampierre, aren’t you?”

His identity was finally revealed. Olivier’s face flushed red. There was no one else in the dark, cramped alley, but if anyone saw him like this…!

The momentary feeling of pity disappeared. In a situation where he was already tense and on edge due to the constant threats, his stomach flipped when the maid in front of him glared at him.

“Shut up, will you keep your voice down?”

Olivier, glancing around quickly, lowered his voice to a growl. Breathing heavily, the maid stammered back, undeterred.

“It’s because you’re a proud… master… You’re so selfish, just… reading other people’s letters.”

“What?”

Olivier’s face turned even redder.

“How can you drag a person, forcefully, all the way here, without even checking with them, and then come… and do something rude, and not apologise!”

Tears were streaming down her face, but it seems like she didn’t know who she’s talking to or what she’s saying…

Olivier, who was blushing in front of her, was greatly embarrassed when the maid, who had been muttering incoherently, suddenly lost her balance and stumbled.

“Uhhh, uhh, ugh…”

Startled, Olivier reflexively reached out his arm. The maid’s body collapsed as if pouring down, her fiery body leaned against Olivier’s and the scorching hot forehead touched his neck.

“Hey, you got a fever…”

The touch was disconcerting.

Olivier grimaced in disgust, but he couldn’t shake the maid off. In his arms, the maid muttered to herself.

“Scum… master… selfish bastard.”

Scumbag Master…?

Selfish bastard…?

The words were short, but the blow was hard, and Olivier, at a loss for words, just stood there. Unable to control her fevered ramblings, he remained stiff and rigid, supporting the maid.

Normally, he would have been extremely disgusted by this kind of obvious manoeuvre, but now the patient in front of him looked very sick indeed and…

After a few seconds of this, the maid, desperate to somehow regain her senses, shook him off and staggered to her feet.

“Excuse me, are you going to the hospital…”

It was only when Olivier, unable to leave her alone, cautiously called out to her.

“Gagnier, Miss Gagnier!”

Just then, a loud call for her could be heard from the opening of the alley. It was the gruff voice of a coachman looking for a booked passenger.

“Miss Gagnier! Count Biché! Count Biché! Amélie! Gagnier!”

The maid gasped and gathered up her luggage. Honestly, Olivier felt a bit hollow as her hot body suddenly slipped from his arms.

What the hell, can you go alone…

With an awkward expression, Olivier watched Amélie Gagnier and eventually strode over to her. He hastily opened his wallet and pulled out a bundle of bills, pressing them into her hand.

“This is for laundry.”

After forcing the money into the hands of the woman who looked like even standing was difficult, Olivier hesitated for a moment before finally hardening his expression.

He had to say something too. Since he’s already heard words like ‘scumbag master’ and ‘selfish bastard.’ Olivier lowered his voice and threatened her.

“If you go around talking about your meeting with me today, you’re going to have a lot of trouble.”

“…”

The maid glanced up at Olivier with wet eyes, then stumbled wordlessly down the alley.

Olivier stared after her for a moment, then swiped a hand across his face with a shrug.

“Damn, I’ve been through a lot…”

He could still feel the tingle on the nape of his neck, and after clicking his tongue and brushing the collar of his coat a few times, Olivier tilted his head as if he’d just gotten something weird on it, then took the other way out of the alley.

* * *

The carriage reeked of urine, but at least it had a cover this time.

Leaning against the window of the carriage, Amelie closed her eyes and slowly opened them to the yellow sunset streaming into her face. Her head cleared a little, she were feeling a little better.

The streets were now bathed in golden light from the fading sun. A gas lamp keeper with a long pole on his shoulder walked down the boulevard, and labourers hurrying home poured into the streets, creating a chaotic scene.

Amelie, who had been watching the scene in a daze, suddenly felt damp and looked down at her feet.

“Ah…”

Her heart sank. She realised that she was soaked to the skin, down to her shoes, in mud. This is what he paid me to clean…

Suddenly, her face flushed bright red as she remembered the moment when she met Olivier Dampierre.

What did I say…?

I’d blurted something out, but now I couldn’t quite remember what. All I remember is that all the anger I’d been trying to hold in, all the rage I’d been trying to contain, was bubbling up in that alley.

I still don’t know what I could have told that stranger…

I felt embarrassed, as if I had been drunk, and even more embarrassed that I had done it to someone like Olivier Dampierre…

I’m surprised we even ran into each other in that alley, but I’m not sure how I could have said something so stupid…

A sigh escaped Amélie and she covered her mouth, only to recoil again when she saw her hand in the murky water. She pulled the envelope out of the muddy water, making her fingernails blackened and dirty.

These are the hands that took the money.

Amelie leaned her head back against the sheet, and though it was now irreversible, it would remain an embarrassing memory for a long time.

She didn’t want anyone to see her shitty life like this… Especially not someone who is synonymous with all things beautiful, valuable, and good.

Maybe it was because I used his name when I rode the carriage to Ezon. Maybe I was being punished. If this was punishment, what had I done wrong?

Amelie looked down resentfully at her messy hands as she wiped away the tears that kept flowing even though she diligently wiped them away.

This isn’t how Amélie Gagnier is supposed to be. She’s supposed to be the cleanest person in the world…

You pushed me into the alley, misunderstood me and frightened me, causing me pain and making me fall.

I don’t like to cry alone, but I can’t help myself. Some sorrows are unavoidable