In the northern outskirt of Lily Pier, several hours from the Caden family's main residence, stood a secluded estate tucked away behind tall stone walls.
The grounds were spacious, though noticeably quieter than those surrounding the family's main residence. A long stone path led through carefully maintained gardens toward the mansion, where ivy had begun to creep along parts of the outer walls. The building itself was elegant but somewhat old-fashioned, its pale stone facade and tall windows carrying the appearance of a residence built in an earlier era.
For many years, this had been the main home of the Caden family.
That was before their wealth and influence expanded enough to demand something grander.
As the family prospered, they eventually moved into their current residence, leaving the old estate behind. It remained unused for some time, until Lord Caden's second marriage gave the property a new purpose.
The marriage had not been welcomed by everyone.
The Caden family gradually divided between those who supported Lord Caden's decision and those who strongly opposed it. Marion Caden, in particular, had been deeply displeased by the situation, and her resentment only made the tension within the family worse.
Rather than allow the dispute to continue growing, Lord Caden eventually had the old residence restored and prepared as a separate home for his second wife, Cecilia. It was a decision that caused further disagreements, especially on Marion's side of the family.
Cecilia came from a relatively new noble house, one that had only recently risen into the ranks of the nobility. Her family possessed wealth and status, but neither could compare to the influence of Marion's family, which had been established for generations and stood among the wealthiest in the region.
They were understandably unwilling to accept the arrangement without protest.
There were arguments and a few attempts to challenge the decision, but the situation never developed into an open confrontation. Lord Caden and the family matriarch eventually intervened, managing to settle the matter before the disagreement could tear the family apart.
The old estate remained standing through it all, quietly separated from the family's main residence, and it was here, one year after her marriage, Cecilia gave birth to the Cadens' s only daughter, Eleanor.
The tour began shortly after Stella had finished settling in.
Henry led her through the main corridor at an unhurried pace, occasionally pointing out a room or explaining one of the household's routines. The residence was larger than Stella had expected, but it lacked the constant activity she had grown accustomed to at the Caden family's main estate.
There were no servants hurrying through the corridors or carrying trays from one room to another. Even the spacious entrance hall felt unusually quiet.
"Does everyone live here?" Stella asked as they passed another empty corridor.
"Not quite," Henry replied. "There aren't that many of us."
He briefly counted them off. "Three cooks, a few gardeners, and several maids who mainly attend to Madam Cecilia. I'm responsible for most of the household's affairs."
Stella nodded as she took in the surroundings.
The house was well maintained, but there was something strangely restrained about it. The furniture was elegant, the carpets clean, and every surface carefully dusted, yet many of the rooms seemed barely used.
It was nothing like the main Caden residence.
"That seems like a rather small staff for a house this size," Stella remarked.
"It is."
Henry's answer was simple. "But we don't need many people."
They continued toward the upper floor.
As they passed a set of tall windows overlooking the gardens, Stella caught sight of several gardeners working among the flower beds. Beyond them, the grounds stretched farther than she had expected, though even the gardens seemed quiet and sparsely occupied.
"Are there any other personal servants?" she asked.
Henry's steps slowed slightly, "not for Miss Eleanor."
Stella turned toward him.
"None?"
"None."
He resumed walking. "She hasn't had a personal maid for the past five years." Stella's expression shifted with mild surprise.
"Five years?"
"Her previous nanny left for the East five years ago. She never returned."
There was no particular emotion in Henry's voice when he said it, but Stella noticed that he offered no further explanation.
She decided not to press.
So this was the woman she had been asked to serve.
Stella tried to recall everything the group had managed to learn about Cecilia and her daughter. There hadn't been much. Compared with the rest of the Caden family, the information surrounding this branch was surprisingly scarce.
Cecilia Caden came from a relatively modest noble family, and her position within the Cadens had never been particularly influential. Her daughter, Eleanor, seemed to have inherited much of that distance from the rest of the family.
Even their lifestyle was noticeably more restrained.
The furnishings were expensive, but there were fewer of them. There was no display of extravagant wealth, no endless stream of guests, and none of the ostentatious decorations Stella had seen elsewhere in the family's residences.
And yet, that did not mean the estate was unimportant.
"Does Lord Caden come here often?" Stella asked.
Henry nodded. "Quite often, actually."
That caught her attention.
"What about the rest of the family?"
"The great Madame comes from time to time."
He paused briefly. "As for the others, only a few members of Madam Cecilia's family visit."
Stella nodded slowly.
There was something odd about the arrangement.
The master of the Caden family visited this residence regularly, yet the household remained small, quiet, and almost isolated from the rest of the family.
She had expected a residence belonging to one of the Caden branches to be far busier.
Henry stopped at the end of the corridor and opened another door.
"This is the study room. Miss Eleanor spends quite a bit of time here."
Stella glanced inside.
A large desk stood near the window, surrounded by shelves filled with books and neatly arranged documents. Unlike the rest of the residence, the room showed clear signs of frequent use.
"Your tasks will begin here as well," Henry explained, "I'll show you what needs to be handled each morning, then we'll go through the rest of the household tasks."
"All right."
For the next hour, Henry took her through the responsibilities she would be expected to handle.
Checking the study, organizing correspondence, keeping track of household requests, assisting with Eleanor's schedule, and making sure anything she required was prepared without delay.
None of the tasks seemed particularly difficult. What interested Stella more was the person she would be performing them for.
Eleanor Caden had chosen her personally.
And after seeing the quiet residence for herself, Stella found herself even more curious about the woman who had lived here without a personal maid for five years.
For now, there was work to be done.
Stella quietly set her questions aside and focused on learning everything Henry showed her.
She had come here for a reason, and she intended to make the most of it.