Dog Fight (3)

After escaping the nearly two-hour-long hell of the head maid’s lecture.

Somehow managing to stand up while clutching my tingling legs, I stepped outside the etiquette training room with the other maids.

Only the head maid remained inside to tidy up, while the other four maids had already moved outside.

The moment the door to the etiquette training room closed, Eiria’s sharp voice rang out.

“Katarina.”

“H-Hyuuuk…!”

As soon as the head maid’s watchful gaze disappeared, Eiria shot a piercing look at Katarina.

She was probably about to say something about how Katarina had taken my side instead of hers during the disciplinary action earlier.

There was no way Eiria would let Katarina’s actions slide.

“What were you thinking? After I tried to save you, you took that bitch Lilith’s side?”

“Ugh…”

“I didn’t think you’d still be this clueless after a whole year. Did I not beat you enough? Huh?”

“H-Hyuuuk…!”

Eiria raised her palm threateningly at Katarina.

Watching Katarina tremble as if she were about to burst into tears, I reflexively stepped between them to separate them.

“Cut it out, will you?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Try laying a hand on Katarina one more time. I’ll fucking kill you, disciplinary action be damned.”

“You think you have the power to do that? You’re just a junior maid too, aren’t you? How would you deal with the aftermath if you killed me?”

“I don’t fucking know. But I can at least make sure you won’t have to worry about dealing with the aftermath for the rest of your life.”

Of course, actually killing her would turn the already nightmare-difficulty Lilith playthrough into hell mode, so it wasn’t a real option.

But in fights like this, the one who loses momentum first loses. Since she’d already gotten hit once this morning, she wouldn’t think I wouldn’t hit her again.

Even if you don’t have the balls, talking tough is the way to win the battle of wills.

“Let’s just go, Eiria.”

“……”

“It’s not worth picking a fight with a crazy bitch like her. Just looking at her eyes, she seems dangerous somehow…”

“Yeah, there’s no need to keep this brawl going by throwing punches.”

“Besides, we have witnesses. We can just sit back and watch Lilith and Katarina get disciplined later.”

…What? They have witnesses?

Witnesses to prove the diligent work of maids who hadn’t properly worked a single day in three days?

Caught off guard by Alicia’s unexpected statement, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

Seeing my reaction, Eiria smirked and asked,

“Judging by that reaction, I guess you don’t have any witnesses to back up your claims?”

“……”

“That’s what happens when you pick fights without thinking. Just swinging your fists around whenever you get pissed.”

“…Bullshit. I know you’re just bluffing.”

“Whether it’s a bluff or not, we’ll find out tonight. Whether there are witnesses who can testify that Alicia and I worked diligently while you, Lilith, slacked off every day.”

…I’m screwed.

Judging by her attitude, she really seemed to have something up her sleeve.

Well, she had been a maid for over a year longer than me, so naturally, she would have more connections around the mansion than Lilith.

In contrast, while Lilith stood out in terms of appearance, her actual network was obviously inferior to Eiria’s.

The only people I could think of as connections were Isabel and Katarina.

“Looking forward to seeing your face tonight.”

“…Bullshit.”

“And Katarina, I’ll make sure you pay dearly for daring to stand up to me.”

“……”

“Let’s go, Alicia.”

“Yeah.”

After giving me and Katarina one last sinister glare, the two of them headed upstairs.

Left behind at the foot of the stairs with Katarina, I agonized over how to survive this situation.

“L-Lilith…”

“……”

“Y-You… have someone, right? You have a witness you can bring, right…?”

“…Yeah, sure.”

“T-That’s a relief… You’re a noble lady, after all…”

I felt bad for Katarina, who still thought of me as a noble lady.

To be honest, I had nothing.

No evidence to back up my claims, not even a single reliable witness.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Time passed, and after dinner.

The etiquette training room, now much noisier than in the morning, was filled with quite a crowd.

Not only the four junior maids being disciplined and the head maid, but also various servants of the mansion had gathered to watch the disciplinary proceedings. Roughly estimating, there must have been about fifty people.

Even the family head Harold and Ethan were present, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that over half of the Blackwood family members had attended this disciplinary committee.

Since this was an internal family matter, no external guests seemed to have attended.

‘Why are there so many spectators for a mere junior maid disciplinary hearing…’

For a moment, I wondered if enjoying others’ misfortune was a universal human trait, but it seemed most of the attendees had been summoned by the head maid to hold the disciplinary committee.

“Originally, I intended to handle this disciplinary matter quietly under my authority, but considering the severity of the punishment, I requested others to attend as observers.”

“……”

“Since the disciplinary action has already been issued once and so many have gathered as witnesses, there will be no further reversals of the disciplinary measures decided today. Do all four of you understand?”

“”””…Yes.””””

With no way out, we quietly answered the head maid’s question.

Soon after, the disciplinary committee to determine the severity of punishment for the four junior maids began.

“First, regarding the violent incident involving the junior maids that occurred around 6 AM this morning, I will explain to the observers…”

The head maid’s voice recounted the morning’s incident to the entire etiquette training room.

A brief overview of the fight between me, Katarina, Eiria, and Alicia.

How my and Eiria’s claims conflicted during the process leading to the fight.

How Katarina and Alicia had sided with me and Eiria respectively, and how this disciplinary committee was convened to determine the credibility of these claims.

After the head maid’s concise summary of the incident, she immediately called my name.

“Lilith Rosewood.”

“Yes.”

“Regarding this incident, I informed you to bring any witnesses or evidence, correct?”

“…That’s correct.”

“Do you have any witnesses or evidence to prove your diligent work?”

“…Yes.”

…I really didn’t want to resort to this, but…

To survive, I had to grasp at any straw, so I suppressed my guilt and called the name of the witness who could vouch for my diligent work.

“I summon my fellow maid and roommate, Miss Isabel Grace, as a witness.”

“Isabel Grace, are you present?”

“Yes, Head Maid-nim.”

As soon as her name was called by Melissa, Isabel stepped forward without hesitation.

Despite being a junior maid with only a year of experience like me, her confident demeanor exuded considerable dignity.

“Lilith Rosewood has summoned you as a witness. Do you wish to testify?”

“Yes, Head Maid-nim.”

“Proceed.”

“My colleague Lilith Rosewood, who began working at Blackwood Mansion at the same time as me and shares the same bedroom, has diligently performed her duties without fail for the past three days since starting kitchen duty.”

“Do you have any evidence to support this testimony?”

“Miss Lilith and I share a bedroom and use a bunk bed to efficiently utilize the limited space. As you know, Head Maid-nim, bunk beds are quite noisy and shake noticeably when the person in the other bunk moves.”

“Continue.”

“For the past three days since Lilith Rosewood started kitchen duty, I have been awakened by the movement of the bed and confirmed her leaving for work at 4 AM.”

“Is that all, Isabel Grace?”

“Yes, Head Maid-nim.”

Isabel spoke fluently, delivering her message clearly and confidently.

Her reliable presence made my chest swell with emotion.

No wonder Isabel was nicknamed “Clever Isabel” in the game.

Though she wasn’t a playable character due to her lack of combat abilities, Isabel played a significant role in Lilith’s episode.

The fact that she even had a nickname meant the developers had put some thought into her character.

While playing Lilith’s route, I often wished I could romance Isabel instead.

Though a character’s in-game importance doesn’t necessarily reflect their competence, I had a very positive impression of Isabel based on her portrayal in Luminor Academy.

I was deeply grateful to her for stepping forward to save me in this crisis.

…Just this morning, I had resolved not to burden Isabel, but I never imagined I’d end up indebted to her within a single day.

“In that case, Isabel Grace, I have one question.”

“Yes, Head Maid-nim.”

“Did you witness Lilith Rosewood entering the first-floor kitchen of Blackwood Mansion after leaving the bedroom at 4 AM?”

“No…”

“Then you don’t actually know where Lilith Rosewood went after leaving the bedroom.”

I had expected this line of questioning.

Since this was a disciplinary committee to determine the facts, it was only natural to verify the information thoroughly.

I thought Isabel would have no choice but to concede that point and bow her head, but surprisingly, she stood her ground and continued to assert my innocence.

“Lilith isn’t the type to abandon her duties and go somewhere else! When we worked together, she always took on the hardest tasks, and even after collapsing from illness recently, she returned to work as soon as she recovered…”

“I’m not necessarily claiming that Lilith Rosewood neglected her duties. I’m merely confirming the possibility.”

“…My apologies, Head Maid-nim.”

“Still, Isabel Grace, your trust in Lilith Rosewood has been well conveyed. This testimony will be considered when determining disciplinary action. You may step back.”

“Understood, Head Maid-nim.”

After finishing her statement, Isabel raised her head and returned to her original position.

Before leaving, she briefly made eye contact with me, and I winked back at her.

Without her, my situation as Lilith would have been far more dire.

Thanks to Isabel’s passionate testimony, the suspicion of my negligence was somewhat dispelled.

It would seem odd for a junior maid leaving her bedroom at 4 AM to wander the mansion instead of going to her workplace.

Though Isabel couldn’t testify to seeing me enter the kitchen, her testimony alone was a great help.

Since both Eiria and I had only made claims favorable to ourselves, even a small testimony could sway the judgment.

Unless concrete evidence emerged that I had completely skipped kitchen duty, the head maid couldn’t impose severe punishment on me, no matter what witnesses Eiria brought.

“After hearing Isabel Grace’s testimony, it seems credible that Lilith Rosewood did report for duty in the early morning.”

“That’s correct.”

“Eiria Lawrence.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any witnesses or evidence to prove Lilith Rosewood’s negligence or to refute Isabel Grace’s testimony?”

Please let there be none. Please let her morning claims be a bluff.

But contrary to my desperate hope, Eiria also seemed confident.

With an assured expression, she answered the head maid.

“Yes, Head Maid-nim.”

“Summon them.”

“I summon the chefs responsible for the Blackwood family’s breakfast as witnesses.”

As she finished speaking, the chefs of Blackwood Mansion stepped forward one by one.

Not one or two, but a full five chefs came forward to testify for Eiria.

As the room buzzed with the appearance of five witnesses, Eiria turned her gaze toward me and smirked faintly.

The moment I read her expression, I felt with my entire being that something had gone terribly wrong.

…Now I understood why that damn bitch had been so confident all along.