In her childhood, Lilia Suntory is a lonely child. Born as a merchant's daughter, she saw many people coming and going in their shop, she also met and acquainted with many people because of this but in all of that, she was never allowed to go outside on her own.

Lilia was curious as she was active. The regular customers of their shop greet and talks with Lilia, and even play with her. But she wasn't satisfied with that just that.

Her father as well always dotes on her daughter whenever he has free time. But the affection of her father is just not enough. Or rather, there's was something missing.

Those who go to their shop are almost always adults. Rarely do children come in their shop, even though they also sell candies, toys and other commodities that children would like.

She knew of some children too but she rarely gets to meet them and even when they managed to meet up and play, it always turns awkward. One of those children even forgotten about Lilia until she reminded them.

Lilia wanted someone her age. There was just something from adults that made them hard to get along.

Lila wanted someone that would play with her. Adults are just always busy with things that she didn't understand.

Lilia wanted someone to understand her. Not even her father could understand every bit of her feelings.

Lilia wanted someone she can play with frequently. Her father is an adult so he didn't qualify.

It was selfish and she knows it. She understood why her father never wanted her to go outside alone.

Misfortune befalls their family, is what her father believes. His father had lost his mother, his only parent, and his wife to whom she loved dearly. Lilia is the only family he has and he intends to protect her even for the cost of her childhood.

Not leaving the house without her father meant not going to school either. Normally, only wealthy families could send their children to schools and those children only consists of males. Rarely do girls would get proper education since it'll just be a waste.

The girls would be married off in the future so giving them proper education is pointless. As for boys, they would be able to help in their parent's business so there's some merit in sending them to schools.

But Lilia's father isn't like that. Her father tutored her from a very early age. Because of this, she knew how to read, write, and basic arithmetics. She also knew a little about history and geography, and as well as the trade and such.

She was thankful for that but she couldn't really be happy about it. As she reached 5 years old, Lilia's loneliness just grew. She couldn't smile on the day of her birthday, she rarely left her room and she would throw tantrums more frequently.

Her father grew concerned. He knew why she's like that but he can't afford to risk his daughter's safety. Even going out more frequently wouldn't really help much as he still needs to manage his shop and he didn't think that Lilia's loneliness would disappear just from that.

Then he got an idea.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

A week had passed and just when Lilia went downstairs to greet his father, she saw a little girl.

She's wearing something odd. She recognises it. It was what they would call a maid uniform.

For a child to wear a maid uniform, what is his father intends on doing? Surely he wouldn't make her become a worker here. Wouldn't it be wiser to hire someone older? Lilia thought to herself.

She saw her father having an oddly wide smile as well. She began to feel more suspicious, and strangely excited about this.

"Come closer, Lilia." Her father said in a cheerful voice.

Uneasily, she walked over.

She then saw the girl up close. The girl has short black hair and droopy brown eyes. Her mouth formed a straight horizontal line. Her complexion is slightly brown in color as if she's been in under the sun frequently.

Lilia is confused about all of this. She then looked at his father inquisitively.

"Meet Roosevelt. She'll be your personal maid from now on. Please get along well with each other."

Personal maid?

She heard of maids before from her father. They're people hired by rich families to clean their golden mansions. They're also super expensive to hire so how could father managed to hire one, and why a child?

Seeing her daughter is still confused, he then explained how he managed to hire someone like her.

To put it shortly, her father helped a family that he's acquainted with pay off their debt to a loan shark in exchange for their daughter to work under her as a maid. Of course, he also allowed the family to visit their daughter and vice versa, and he would even offer them financial support every 3 months.

The debt itself is pricey and would certainly lighten his wallet but little do Lilia know, he was saving up large amounts of money in the years he's been in business, only spending his profit on what's necessary so Lilia thought that they don't have much.

The family was thankful for the offer but they didn't want to part with their daughter. So what Lilia's father did is that for a week, their daughter would work under him as a personal maid for Lilia as a trial. If she didn't like Lilia then she would be returned to them and their debt paid as well, and if Roosevelt thinks that she wanted to serve Lilia then the deal goes as normal.

From that, they agreed.

However, Lilia and Roosevelt weren't informed on that last bit.

The first thing that she made the little maid do is to play with her.

Upon arriving in Lilia's room, the little maid was astonished. The room wasn't what she expected. Rather than piles of toys, the walls are covered by shelves filled to the brim by books of all kinds.

"Sorry, I don't have many toys," Lilia said in embarrassment.

"No, it's wonderful."

To Roosevelt, it was like a small personal library. Her family could hardly buy even a single book but this room has at least a hundred of them.

Her family is really rich, Roosevelt thought.

She began to feel even more nervous. Unpleasant thoughts ran through Roosevelt's mind. What if I somehow disrespect her, what'll happen to me? If I broke something here, would my family pay for it? I don't even know how to do chores properly, how could I serve someone like her? She began to ask herself such things.

Lilia noticed Roosevelt's nervousness. She didn't know why.

"What's wrong?" Lilia asked in the most concerned voice that she can make.

"O-oh, it's nothing, miss Lilia." She said. Her voice cracked at the end.

"Miss? Don't call me that. Just call me Lilia."

"But I couldn't possibly do—" Roosevelt tries to say but was cut off.

"Nope. Just call me Lilia. It feels weird if you add miss. It feels like I'm an adult. I don't want that." Lilia said in a demanding tone.

"T-then Lilia..." She said as she cast her gaze towards the floor.

"Good!"

She nodded exaggeratedly.

She couldn't help but see Roosevelt as a shy cat that was thrown off in an unknown land. She chuckled at the thought.

Of course, she can't have her acting like that towards her forever. She knew she has to get Roosevelt used to all of this. She didn't know why her father hired her in particular and she doesn't know anything about Roosevelt. That's why the first thing on her agenda would be to get to know Roosevelt. If she knew about her then it would make it easier for her to get along with Roosevelt.

She was the very first person that is the same as her age that she has a guarantee that would be with her all the time. How could she not get every single chance to get closer to her.

The thought of playing with her while the two of them laughing in joy makes her excited.

She didn't even see Roosevelt as a maid.

She could only see a potential friend. For the lonely Lilia, it was the best gift she could ever have.