Chapter 2002

"She'll be my maid from now on," Severin said openly. His straightforward response came as a bit of a surprise to them. Though they knew of Emery's earlier bet, they hardly expected her to hold on to her word and become his maid. The usually mediative Gilda voiced her concern. "Having her become a maid doesn't seem like a particularly good idea." Doing so might bring disgrace to the Sixth Mountain if word got out. Severin understood the reasons behind her concern and reassured her with a smile. Emery, on the other hand, offered her reassurance to Gilda. "It's just a bet. I lost to Severin, and it is my obligation to fulfill my end of the bet." The firmness in her reply helped reassure them that she seemed to have done it out of her own free will. They all got up and approached Emery. As the first wife, Diane had a caring character that could set everyone at ease. She smiled and suggested, "Don't think of yourself as a maid. Just make yourself comfortable as one of us." Gilda and S