Episode 8: The Success of the Plan and the Forbidden Romance (3) Fin
Thankfully, it was not that people had mistaken it for another book, or that the bookstore had scammed them, or that the author had gone mad and made the female protagonist a brothel slave from the very beginning.
"Uh, so. I'll be working as a maid from now on?"
"Yes. Until you pay off all the debt you've incurred, Mary, earn it properly by working with that body of yours."
"...Wasn't trying to sell me off to a brothel?"
"What? What kind of terrible slander is that!
Just what do you take me for?!"
"Uh... a debt-slave trader?"
"I am a moneylender, not a slave trader.
Unlike those lowly, illegal scoundrels, I work honestly and legally!"
In the content that followed, exactly what could be inferred from the title appeared immediately.
The female protagonist named Mary, having inherited the debt left by her deceased parents, had been caught by a moneylender.
Fortunately, because the moneylender was a conscientious and honest person who worked legally, she could avoid the worst-case scenario of being sold to a brothel.
Instead, she was given the task of working as a maid.
"Normally, grand noble households like this ducal family thoroughly screen their maids and are particular about status as well.
But at the Bahajar Ducal Estate, no one wants to enter as a maid, so I have no choice but to send indebted women like you there."
"What's the story? Does he perhaps lay hands on the maids...?"
"The master kicks them all out."
"What?"
"The Duke's personality is so dirt— *ahem* so picky that people can't endure it and all quit quickly.
That rumor spread, and proper maids afraid of damaging their careers began avoiding the place."
The female protagonist Mary, who had no maid experience whatsoever, entered the service of the foul-tempered Duke as a maid.
A scent wafted off the two of them that something was bound to happen.
"Hah, so that's what it was.
Anyway, it still gives a shock from the very first chapter."
"But thanks to that, it certainly got me hooked."
And those who had hurriedly read up to that point, startled by the first chapter's content, breathed sighs of relief.
The parts that could have been pointed out as problematic—the moneylender being too kind, or the process of entering the ducal estate as a maid being somewhat awkward.
Were obscured by the first chapter's shock and subsequent relief, so they unintentionally glossed over them without even realizing it.
Though people hadn't realized it, this was exactly as Wade had intended.
Since the work's theme was a love between a Duke and a commoner—something that normally would be impossible.
It was a deliberate attempt to shock the readers from the very beginning, lowering their psychological resistance to what they could accept.
Instead of the bad thought, "No, but still, is it really okay to recruit a maid into the ducal estate so carelessly?"
He made it so they would think the rational thought, "Ah, the Duke's personality must truly be insufferable."
Once they accepted that, it would be easier to accept the forbidden love that transcended status that came later.
And so, with their psychological resistance lowered without their knowledge.
They read through [I Became the Ice Duke's Maid] smoothly without any great aversion.
"So you're the new maid?
Ha, now they've brought in some random country bumpkin calling her a maid.
Tsk. I am Michael Bahajar, the master you will serve from today.
I have no expectations whatsoever, so don't cause any problems until you quit."
"...The moneylender was right, his personality really is foul.
No wonder all the other maids couldn't endure it and left.
Such a waste of a handsome face. What a waste.
Sigh, to think I have to serve someone like that as my master..."
The male protagonist Michael, called the Ice Duke for his cold demeanor, and the female protagonist Mary, a new maid, in their first meeting.
Mary, who had nearly lost her mind over Michael's handsome face, experiencing his foul personality firsthand and growing sick of it.
'A protagonist like this...?'
'He's so different from the hero in the previous work.'
Such thoughts came to mind, but.
"Hmph. You're enduring quite a long time, country bumpkin.
You're the first maid to last this long.
It's a new record. I'll deign to praise you, so receive it gratefully."
"Huh? But it's only been two months...?"
"Hm? Has it already been two months?
Then you've doubled the new record.
I shall grant you a separate bonus for this."
"Uh... thank you?"
"If you're grateful, work hard from now on as well.
All the maids keep quitting, so there's always a shortage of hands."
"Honestly, that's because the master is at fault..."
"Come to think of it, perhaps there is no need to give a bonus.
To an impudent maid who speaks ill of her master."
"...T-that's not it, it's the fault of those maids with no perseverance!
I will continue to serve the master diligently from now on!"
"Good."
Though Michael found Mary peculiar as she forced herself to endure to pay off her debt.
Praising her with his clumsy efforts, from the point where their relationship gradually began to progress.
They felt a strange tickling around their hearts and began to feel excited.
"Mary. You won't leave me like everyone else...?"
"Of course. Where would I even go?
I haven't even paid off my debt yet?
I'd cling on desperately even if you told me to quit.
So don't worry. Michael-nim will always be my master."
As time passed, they began to lay bare and embrace each other's secrets and scars.
By the time they had begun to truly exchange their hearts.
They were already writhing in tooth-rotting sweetness and a heart-flushing excitement that made their faces burn.
"A worthless commoner who doesn't know her place, gazing at a mountain she cannot climb.
How dare you speak my fiancée's name with those vulgar lips?"
"Here, take this. I've generously put about 10,000 gold inside.
That should be more than enough to pay off your remaining debt.
Take it and disappear forever from Michael's sight.
Our family's standing isn't so low that a commoner like you could dare aspire to it."
"Who are you?
That I love a commoner maid?
Even if I've lost my memory, that's an amusing piece of nonsense."
As if unable to tolerate that love between them coming to fruition.
All manner of trials and conflicts arising from the status gap came rushing in one after another.
Readers who had been in high spirits began to get angry and sad at this absurdity, immersing themselves even deeper.
"Mary. Will you marry me?"
"Sigh, Michael, what are you saying right now."
"Huh? I, I thought we felt the same way..."
"Didn't I tell you before?
That I would stay by your side forever.
So don't ask me so unlike yourself for no reason. All you have to do is declare confidently, 'We're getting married!'"
"...Ah. Hahaha!
You're right. That's true. That wasn't like me.
Ahem. Then I'll say it again.
Mary. Marry me. I'll definitely make you happy."
"Of course! My eternal master!"
And finally!
When they overcame all trials and conflicts and achieved a love that transcended status.
Clap, clap, clap!
*Sniff sniff*. I'm so glad they could get married properly...!"
It was a state of realizing the greatness of true love while feeling happy satisfaction, falling into a deep lingering emotion.
***
Two weeks had already passed since the release of [I Became the Ice Duke's Maid], the new work by author Wade, who wrote *Betrayed Hero* which had shaken the entire Kingdom of Yustia.
And during those two weeks.
The Kingdom of Yustia was spending rowdy days once again.
The cause was naturally author Wade's new work, [I Became the Ice Duke's Maid].
Like the saying that one who has tasted meat knows how to eat well.
Perhaps because of the experience of having shaken the entire kingdom once before.
This time too, he had succeeded in controlling people's emotions.
People who couldn't control the overflowing emotions after finishing the book naturally began sharing their impressions in conversation with others.
"When Mary brightly smiled and accepted Michael's proposal at the end, I even teared up a little, you know?"
"Wasn't it really cool when Michael shouted at the senate elders?
To think that status and title mean nothing for love!
Sigh— I want to meet a man like that too."
"The love between Mary and Michael is true pure love!
The political marriages those nobles carry out nowadays are mere counterfeits!"
They talked about the beautiful love of the protagonist couple and what they personally thought were famous scenes.
"Am I the only one who doesn't like this so-called fiancée of Michael from the Count's family?
I know her actions are justified as a fellow noble.
But watching her torment Mary, she really is detestable!"
"Right! Even though the attendant tried to stop her prepared for punishment, she kept tormenting her.
It's truly a waste of an attendant for a woman like that!"
"The old men of the senate too, trying to devour the family while taking advantage of Michael's parents' death, interfering at every turn—truly wicked!"
Conversely, they poured fierce curses on the characters who played villainous roles as if they were sworn enemies.
"Looking back now, isn't the moneylender practically Mary's benefactor?"
"He even got her into the ducal estate as a maid.
He did increase her debt, but he also procured medicinal herbs to treat Michael's amnesia.
And when Mary was assassinated, he said she couldn't die before he collected his debt and hid her for a while."
"He truly did everything.
Thanks to that, didn't he receive heaps of rewards from the protagonist couple later?"
Mentions of supporting characters who served as comic relief occasionally appeared as well.
Wherever one went.
It had risen as a major topic of conversation that everyone chattered about regardless of whether they were noble or commoner.
"What on earth is everyone talking about?
A marriage between a Duke and a commoner?
Such a thing couldn't possibly happen."
"What? There was still someone who hasn't read [I Became the Ice Duke's Maid]?"
"That's a guy who's lost half his life."
"Hmph— how could someone who hasn't even read [I Became the Ice Duke's Maid] know love?"
"No, is it really something to be attacked over for not reading a single book?"
"It's not just a mere book!
It's life!"
"What."
If one hadn't read it, they reached the point where they couldn't properly join in conversations.
And for good reason.
This was the first romance work that expressed a romantic relationship between men and women so explicitly and aggressively.
Not only did it immerse people to that extent, but Wade had also deliberately included scenes that were easy to talk about here and there.
Especially since it was a forbidden love story between a noble and a commoner that had been taboo until now, it made people even more enthusiastic.
It could satisfy commoners' longing for nobles and their vicarious pleasure.
And for nobles, it gave a fresh feeling through unfamiliar information about commoners and the boldness of not being bound by formality.
And all these people's affection and fervor.
Returned entirely as commercial success.
"This is the final revenue earned this time, author."
"...How much is all of this?"
"After deducting all the production costs.
And excluding taxes, which the Royal Family specially exempted for this year alone.
The total for both works is 100,000 gold!"
"...What?"
"Ah, my explanation was lacking.
This is only the settlement for the sales of the first edition copies.
The additional reprints will be settled separately later!"
"...Whaaat???"
Wade, who had been treated as an idle good-for-nothing, instantly became a wealthy man.
For he had been able to turn love into gold.
Capitalism was truly amazing.