Chapter 11: A Day Off?

Two days later, Chloe finally survived her first week of work.

Over the week, she’d learned more about the palace.

Larvia and Silia weren’t that alike—just similar enough to fool an outsider like Chloe. Vampires could tell them apart instantly.

Ironically, she looked more like Silia, getting mistaken for her multiple times.

She was just a lowly maid with no wages left—how could she be confused with the esteemed princess?

Her docked pay initially made her want to slack off. But then she realized further slacking might bring harsher punishments.

Plus, she didn’t want the other maids thinking she was lazy.

So, she worked diligently for four days straight.

Her daily tasks were wiping tables and floors in the kitchen and assisting other maids—mind-numbingly dull work that left her brain numb.

She’d asked Larvia for other duties, but Larvia insisted she start with the basics and move up later.

Now, she’d finally made it to the fifth day.

Ding-a-ling-ling—

Early in the morning, Chloe was sprawled on her bed, fast asleep, when a shrill alarm jolted her awake.

Without looking, she slapped the alarm clock off.

“So annoying. Forgot to turn it off.”

Mumbling, she rubbed her face on the pillow, wiping off drool, flipped it over, and nestled back, ready for a luxurious natural wake-up.

But her next awakening wasn’t natural either.

Knock, knock, knock—

“…”

Chloe squinted, then closed her eyes again, ignoring the knocking.

It wasn’t the first time. She vaguely recalled similar sounds from her sleep earlier.

Click. The door opened.

“Hey, you’re late already. Still not up?”

“Ugh…”

Chloe raised a hand to cover her ears.

“Late for what? It’s my day off… Stop bothering me, I’m sleeping.”

“If you don’t get up, you’ll lose next month’s wages too.”

“Lose it, whatever, wages don’t mean—wait, what’s getting docked?”

Chloe snapped upright, realizing something was off.

That voice… so familiar.

She saw Larvia sitting beside her and hurriedly lowered her head.

“Sorry, Your Majesty! I didn’t recognize you!”

“Hm, get to work.”

“Yes!”

The word slipped out before Chloe caught herself.

‘Wait a sec.’

‘It’s my day off!’

‘D*mn Larvia, messing with me again!’

Chloe paused, sneaking a glance around the room.

Confirming Sheffield wasn’t there—just her and Larvia—she shot Larvia a glare and dove back under the covers.

“What’re you standing there for? Get up!”

“…”

“I’m telling you, if you don’t, next month’s wages are gone.”

Whoosh!

Chloe shot up, glaring at Larvia.

“Why’re you messing with me? It’s my day off!”

“Day off?” Larvia frowned. “What’re you talking about?”

“You said so! Four days on, three days off!”

“When?”

“That day on the battlefield, when you beat me!”

“Ohhh~”

Larvia nodded thoughtfully.

“Remember now?”

“I do.”

“Then get out, I’m sleeping!”

“Nope.” Larvia shook her head. “You still have to work today.”

Chloe crossed her arms, annoyed.

“Hey, I said it’s my day off! Didn’t you say four days on, three off? Plus thirty gold coins a month and twenty days of annual leave?”

Chloe counted on her fingers, reciting Larvia’s offer from that day.

“But little Chloe, you didn’t agree back then.”

“Didn’t agree? When didn’t I?”

“You flat-out refused, so I had to use forceful measures.”

“I…”

Chloe thought back.

‘Oh no.’

She’d been so confident, but now she deflated.

“Then… Larvia, my salary now…”

“Six gold coins. Ten after you’re permanent.”

“Days off…”

“Five on, two off.”

“Annual leave…”

“Probationary maids don’t get annual leave.”

“Ugh…”

Chloe hugged her knees, shrinking into the corner of the bed.

“Tch, tch, tch…”

Larvia sighed, shaking her head at Chloe’s regret.

“If only little Chloe had agreed back then. You’d be sleeping soundly now, no one bothering you, no extra workday, and twenty days of free vacation. Even…”

Larvia paused.

“Even thirty vampire gold coins a month! That’s nearly a year’s income for an average Montbelle resident!”

‘Holy sh*t, vampire money’s that valuable?!’

Chloe was stunned.

Back then, she’d judged it by imperial gold coins.

An average imperial capital resident earned about ten imperial gold coins a month, so she hadn’t thought Larvia’s offer was that great.

She’d even thought thirty coins was low for a high-bar job like royal maid!

‘So much regret!’

But there was nothing she could do. She’d rejected it.

“Can I swap days? Work the day after tomorrow and rest today?”

“Hm… not impossible. But…”

“But what?”

Chloe’s eyes lit up.

“Come here for a hug.”

“Huh? What?”

“Let me hug you, and I’ll approve the swap. Rescheduling’s a hassle, you know.”

Larvia opened her arms.

“Guh…”

Chloe didn’t want to.

But for some reason, her body moved toward Larvia’s embrace, like it was drawn by magic.

“Just one hug, no more…”

Chloe mumbled, burying her face in Larvia’s shoulder.

Unseen by Chloe, Larvia smiled softly.

This was the first time in days she’d hugged her daughter.