I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince

An Afternoon of Leisure with Strawberry Shortcake and Tea

A slice of strawberry shortcake and a cup of tea in front of me—this was the very definition of a peaceful afternoon.

I gazed at the passersby outside the café window, soaking in a rare moment of worry-free relaxation.

‘Even with morning sickness, strawberry cake goes down just fine.’

Just this morning, I couldn’t even touch my soup and potato salad.

After three pregnancies, I was finally starting to recognize the patterns in my morning sickness.

For one, fruits seemed to be the safest bet—I could stomach them without too much issue.

I had even struggled with buttered toast at first, but the moment I spread some strawberry jam on it, it suddenly became palatable.

‘I should ask the kitchen to focus on fruit-based meals for a while.’

With that thought, I sliced another piece of cake with my fork and popped it into my mouth.

‘Back then, the three of us had to split a single slice of cake.’

Now, Isabel and I each had our own, along with tea to leisurely enjoy alongside it.

The difference was stark.

I had gone from being a debt-ridden maid to the Duchess of Blackwood.

And Isabel, once a low-ranked maid, had risen to the highest-ranking maid in Blackwood in all but name.

She didn’t officially hold the title of head maid, but in practice, she held more influence than the actual one.

As both a maid and the Duchess’s closest friend, Isabel’s position was uniquely unshakable.

‘She could easily find a good match if she wanted to.’