Chapter 7: The Novice's Challenge

Early the next morning, Anna walked briskly to the Earl's mansion. Her knee had healed, and the walk took less than half an hour. Work started at seven, which meant she had to rise by six. Fortunately, she had never been one to sleep in, and Pomegranate Lane was bustling well before six, making it easy for her to get up.

Spring had just begun, and the days were already growing longer. As she walked, she saw other commoners busy with their daily grind. While they needed to start early to make a living, nobles lived comfortably, often partying late into the night and waking after nine. Hence, the kitchen maids started at seven to prepare for the day ahead.

Anna greeted the guards at the back gate and made her way to the kitchen, following the path Rebecca had shown her. The mansion's kitchen was vast, staffed by over a dozen people. There were several rooms, including a large preparation area with a clock in the corner. When Anna arrived, the clock showed 6:55.

Anna sought out Rebecca, who was busy cleaning up after the previous night's banquet. Upon seeing Anna, Rebecca set her to work.

Despite being only three years older than Anna, Rebecca had worked at the mansion for five years and was highly trusted by Mrs. Mary. She emulated Mrs. Mary's stern demeanor, always keeping a serious, no-nonsense attitude. "Anna, start by washing these napkins. Later, I'll teach you how to fold them into flowers. For the next few days, focus on mastering this task to my satisfaction."

"Yes, Rebecca," Anna replied obediently.

Rebecca demonstrated the proper method for washing the napkins and removing stubborn stains. Anna listened attentively.

It took Anna half an hour to wash and hang over a dozen napkins to dry. Rebecca inspected her work and, though she said nothing, her nod indicated approval.

Next, Rebecca taught Anna how to fold the napkins into flower shapes. To Anna, this task was simple. She had nimble fingers, a good memory, and excellent spatial awareness. After one demonstration, she grasped the technique.

Rebecca had expected the task to take one to two hours, but Anna quickly brought her completed napkin folds over. The flower-shaped napkins, while the simplest requirement for kitchen maids, were still somewhat complex. Rebecca hadn't anticipated Anna mastering it so quickly.

"Did you fold these yourself?" Rebecca asked.

Anna nodded. "Yes, once I understood the technique, it was easy."

Rebecca, polishing silverware—a task reserved for senior kitchen staff—called another maid over to teach Anna more complex folds. Watching Anna's focused learning, Rebecca began to acknowledge her competence.

After finishing her own tasks, Rebecca returned to check on Anna's progress. The maid teaching Anna had left, and Anna was now folding a napkin into a pattern Rebecca didn't recognize.

Rebecca cleared her throat, and Anna looked up, smiling. "I've finished learning."

Despite knowing Anna was quick, Rebecca still found it hard to believe. Most newcomers took about three days to learn the folds, but Anna had done it in less than two hours.

"I'll test you now. If you pass, you can move on to the next lesson," Rebecca said, keeping her tone neutral.

"I'm ready," Anna replied seriously.

The test was straightforward: Rebecca named different napkin folds, and Anna had to replicate them. It felt like a vocabulary test from school. Out of twenty patterns, Rebecca selected three basic and three complex ones, and Anna executed them flawlessly.

For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Rebecca's usually stern face. "Well done."

"Thank you. It was all thanks to your teaching," Anna said modestly.

Rebecca nodded, then proceeded to teach Anna about setting the table. This task involved knowing which utensils to use for different courses, a simple memory exercise compared to the data Anna used to handle.

As Anna continued to excel, Rebecca found herself spending the entire morning teaching her. Rebecca usually let newcomers practice on their own after a few lessons, but Anna's rapid progress kept Rebecca busy.

Just as Rebecca was about to start a new lesson on table etiquette, a young boy appeared at the kitchen door, calling out, "Where's the new maid?"

Anna froze, realizing he was looking for her.

The boy, scanning the room, repeated, "Which one of you is the new maid?"

Anna raised her hand. "That's me."

She recognized him as Parrysh's valet, often seen with him. It seemed the demon hadn't forgotten about her.

Bracing herself, Anna followed the boy, who introduced himself as Wardo, to Parrysh's breakfast room. She carried a breakfast tray with various delicacies, including sausages, warm sheep's milk, white bread, and meat sauce.

Wardo verified Anna's identity and informed her, "Master Parrysh wants you to serve him."

"I'm still learning the rules. I'm afraid I might upset the master," Anna hesitated.

"Master Parrysh specifically requested you," Wardo insisted.

Sighing inwardly, Anna resigned herself to her fate. As she entered the sunroom, she marveled at the large glass windows creating a bright, warm space. Parrysh sat bathed in sunlight, his angelic appearance contrasting sharply with the demon she knew lurked within.

She kept her head down as she set the table, arranging the dishes before stepping back. Parrysh's gaze never left her.

Rotgar, inhabiting Parrysh's body, had avoided a party the night before, feigning illness to skip interacting with humans he despised. His focus remained on winning the bet with Balan.

As he watched Anna, a faint smile played on his lips, not out of happiness but irritation. Why couldn't she just accept his proposal and suffer for the rest of her days?

Leaning on the table, he used Parrysh's memories to address her with a charming smile. "My dear girl, how are you finding the kitchen? If anyone mistreats you, you must tell me. I'll protect you."

Anna, recognizing the demon's insincere charm, thought, He still doesn't know my name.

"Thank you for your concern, Master Parrysh. Everyone in the kitchen has been very kind to me," she replied respectfully.

Parrysh gestured to the seat beside him. "May I have the honor of sharing this meal with you?"

Anna kept her head bowed. "I am just a maid, sir. I dare not tarnish your reputation. Please, don't ask this of me."

If the demon appeared in his true form, she would be terrified, but as long as he was bound by the rules of this world, she could resist openly.

Rotgar, still irritated, decided to play along for now. He had ample time to break her spirit, and he relished the challenge.

Anna stood by, maintaining her composure, determined to outlast the demon's patience.