"Nobility's different in the Imperium. If you're not a mage? You aren't anything. But the Comtesse? Doesn't care who you are or what you are- as long as you're willing to work and learn? She'll keep on. I mean- she does have rules for us about keeping clean and eating proper, but that's no hardship." Good food, nice clothes? A maid's dream, really. "...'bout ten years now, I think. Long before I ever got here. Some kinda sickness."