DYKWRI - Chapter 2
Personnel Matters Are the Wife’s Job, After All
I accepted my husband’s choice and have been living in the Rilaias household without even spending our wedding night together.
I will remember well the faces of the ladies and maids who watch me with that careful, pitying look.
On the very first day I was introduced to my personal maid, Mina, she openly wore a sneer and began handling things more and more sloppily.
I made sure to tell the three maids I’d brought from my parental home not to interfere with her for a while.
The other day she finally said, “You're nothing but a trophy wife, so please don’t summon me for every little thing.”
It seemed the three of them were reaching the limit of their patience, so I summoned the butler, Daniel, and Mina.'
“Have you called, Madam?” Daniel bowed and addressed me. Mina was bowing too, but she wore a sulky expression behind Daniel.
I wondered what she would do if Daniel happened to turn and look at her, but I put that thought aside for the moment. Oh — will there be a next time, I wonder?
“Now, Daniel. Do you know who currently holds personnel authority in this mansion?”
It was a perfectly reasonable question, and yet Daniel’s expression did not change. Mina looked to the side as if mocking me.
“Of course, Madam. The other day the master instructed that all personnel authority belongs to you.” Daniel said, lowering his head deeply.
Mina stared at him in astonishment.
“Why…”
“Oh? How odd to ask that. I am my husband’s wife, after all. As the lady of the house I have an obligation to manage the mansion.”
“That is correct. If there is anything, please let me know, Madam.”
“Thank you, Daniel. Then, immediately, dismiss Mina. I will write her a letter of introduction — listing all the tasks she has performed for me as my personal maid, without omitting anything. If there is any household willing to hire her after reading it, then good luck to her.”
Mina made an unnatural sound from the back of her throat, her face gone deathly pale. I wondered if she was even able to breathe.
“Ah — in that case, will he have to leave the treatment clinic right away?”
That was pitiful, I thought, and the eldest of the three maids, Ivy, answered for them.
“No, Madam. The Count’s household pays one year of hospitalization fees at the start of each year, so he won’t have to leave immediately. If, within the remaining three months, Mina finds a new job and pays the monthly hospitalization fees herself, he can continue receiving treatment.”
“Oh, is that so? That’s a relief. Very well then — I’ll give you three days to pack. In three days, you can take your wages up to today and vacate your room.”
I smiled, saying she could leave even tomorrow if she preferred, but Mina began trembling violently.
“No! I can't afford the clinic with my salary alone! It’s impossible! I have only one younger brother! He’s the only family I have! He finally showed signs of recovery after entering the clinic!”
Well, well — so she was devoted to her brother after all. I had already asked Daniel and learned that her parents were deceased; her only relative was this younger brother. Her parents had long served in the Rilaias household, and it seems Mina and my husband had known each other since childhood. I heard my husband had some contact with her, but he never abused his position. Most likely she had simply dreamed of a romance with a childhood friend.
It seems my husband’s judgment had been a bit naive for not making his intentions plain. Was she aiming to be his mistress? I don’t tolerate lovers who do not understand their place.
Mina kept repeating, “Please,” so I asked her directly.
“Is that so? And what does that have to do with me?”
Mina was speechless. I reported to Daniel how Mina had been performing her duties so far, and then asked again.
“So... I’ll ask you once more.
Can being ‘just a trophy wife’ be a reason to abandon one’s duties?”
Tears welled and spilled from Mina’s eyes.
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