Grace Virelle was visibly surprised by the news. "The Lord is hiring maids? Are you sure?".

"I'm sure. I'll go to Wilson Manor tomorrow to check," Anna said. "As for the wedding... let's talk about that later, Mom!".

Compared to other parents in this world, Grace and Evan were far more respectful of their children's opinions; otherwise, they wouldn't have even consulted Anna about her marriage. At Anna's earnest plea, Grace finally relented. "Then go and try. May the Goddess bless you. If you become a maid in the Lord's household, perhaps you can find an even better husband later".

Anna nodded with a smile, not bothering to argue. If she could secure a position at the manor, she could undoubtedly save a significant amount of money. With money came autonomy—husbands could wait.

The tavern where Evan Virelle and James Virelle worked stayed open until the early hours. By the time they returned, Anna was already sound asleep. James was quiet and didn't wake her, though he was a light sleeper and woke up when Anna rose the following morning.

"Sorry, James, was I too loud?" Anna whispered. "I left some white bread for you and Dad. It's delicious, so make sure you eat it".

James was only ten, but like his father, he was a boy of few words. He didn't get up, simply mumbling, "Okay, Anna," before drifting back to sleep.

Anna put on her best dress—a grey-blue one that made her look far more vibrant than the faded smoke-grey dress from the day before. She tied her long red-brown hair into a centipede braid, giving her a tidy yet youthful appearance. Evan was still sleeping, so Anna bid farewell to Grace, who sent her off with a blessing: "May the Goddess protect you".

This world had mages, and naturally, it had religion. Everyone worshiped the Goddess of Light. Evan and Grace were devout believers, dedicating at least a third of their meager monthly savings to the Temple of Lumenia in Bluestone City. Anna's host only had a vague understanding of the world's geography: they were in the Kingdom of Ingloria, which was one of the many nations surrounding the independent Holy See of the Goddess of Light. The temple in Bluestone City was presided over by a priest—an unremarkable middle-aged man in Anna's memories, yet someone the original host had viewed with absolute awe.

It took Anna half an hour to walk to Wilson Manor, as her knee injury still hindered her movement. She was stopped at the very first gate. When she explained she was there to apply for a job, the guard told her that no one was allowed in without a recommendation.

Anna recalled Lily Hawke's boast—Lily had indeed said she couldn't get in without one. Refusing to give up, Anna pleaded with the guard. "Please, I'm from a respectable family... A maid inside named Anna knows me".

She didn't hesitate to use the name of Lily's aunt, but the guard remained unmoved, his expression growing impatient. Just then, a man walked over with a laugh. "I know her".

Anna and the guard both turned. The guard immediately broke into a grin. "Brother Shane! What brings you here?".

Anna recognized him instantly—it was Shane Mercer, the coachman who had been driving Lord Patrick's carriage the previous day!.

"A relative's kid is looking for a job," Shane said naturally.

As the personal driver for Lord Patrick, Shane had considerable influence. The guard immediately relented. "If she's someone you know, Brother Shane, then there's no problem at all!".

"Hahaha, I'll buy you a drink when I'm free!" Shane laughed. "I'll take her in, then?".

"No problem! It should be my treat next time!" the guard replied.

With that, they easily decided Anna's entry. Anna followed Shane inside, feeling a bit dazed. I'm actually in? But then, a chilling realization hit her: Wait... does this mean the demon is still watching me?

The realization that she might be under constant demonic surveillance startled Anna, but she quickly forced herself to relax. Wasn't this a possibility she had already considered? She wondered if the Goddess of Light truly existed. If she sought help at the temple, could a priest use the Goddess's power to exorcise the demon?.

As she followed Shane deeper into the estate, Anna was struck by the contrast. The difference between Wilson Manor and Pomegranate Lane felt like a gap of nearly a hundred years. In any era, those at the top who monopolized resources always lived in comfort.

Because she was unfamiliar with the manor, it wasn't until she saw a familiar figure ahead that Anna realized Shane wasn't taking her to the kitchen. He had brought her directly to the demon!.

Anna took one look and quickly averted her gaze. The demon was still inhabiting the body of Lord Patrick. Recalling their previous encounter, she tried to steady her nerves. I didn't let him have his way before, and he didn't do anything to me then...

This was Rothgar Valemont's second day of possession. According to his original plan, he would have easily convinced dozens of human women to accept his proposals by now, allowing him to move to a new city, find another handsome host, and win the wager within days. However, yesterday's failure had forced him to reconsider.

His assumption—that any woman would accept a proposal from a man of Patrick's status without hesitation—had proven false. Though a small experiment on a maid later confirmed his charm still worked on "typical" humans, this unexpected outlier annoyed him. After a day of observation, he was convinced that the human realm was exactly as he remembered, and the woman from yesterday was merely an anomaly.

Then, Rothgar saw the very woman who had caused his first defeat being led toward him by his own coachman. He let out a cold sneer in his heart. So, it wasn't an accident after all.

He concluded that this seemingly innocent woman was actually a deep-seated schemer. Falling before his carriage and her subsequent rejections had been nothing more than an elaborate opening act. Drawing on Patrick's memories, Rothgar suppressed his chilling sneer and replaced it with a tender smile.

"My lady of yesterday, have you finally come to respond to my affection?".

He would play along with her "expectations." How else could he enjoy the pleasure of torturing her later?.

Anna saw Patrick's flawless smile and compared it to the icy killing intent she sensed from the demon within. Her body went rigid, and she quickly lowered her head. To Rothgar, this looked like shyness. He was already imagining the various ways he would make her suffer once she finally accepted.

Keeping her head down so she wouldn't have to look at the demon's face, Anna found her voice. "No, Lord Patrick. I am only here to find work... I wanted to apply for a position in the kitchen".