episode_0022

Disarrayed. Helena’s sudden confession.

Lily’s magic noticed by Helena.

And that magic is none other than surveillance magic.

“This magic allows one to hear and see everything around the target. Even now, the mage who cast the spell is listening to our conversation.”

Surveillance magic. Lily clearly mentioned she cast a protective spell. So, was it a lie?

No. Surely Lily would have cast a protective spell. She probably just hid the fact that she also cast surveillance magic on me. When you think about it, it’s not really a lie.

And she must have cast it because she was worried.

“Hmm… This kind of magic usually requires physical contact with the target. Huh? Hmm~ How interesting.”

As Helena observed the magic like this, she suddenly let out a meaningful laugh and distanced herself from me.

Helena must have realized. The owner of this magic. That means she knew Lily could use magic along with mana awakening.

‘This is bad.’

It’s the worst-case scenario. I should have thought about it when Lily said she would cast a protective spell. Helena is a mage too.

There was no way Helena, who looks up to an 8-year-old child casting spells, wouldn’t notice.

“Could it be that the child is her rival? Quite mischievous, isn’t she?”

Helena, who had been murmuring for a moment, looked at me and smiled brightly.

“Just in case that mage might do something bad to Amelia, I’ll cast a spell for you.”

Saying that, she got up from her chair and approached me.

-Gulp.

Helena’s hand gently rested on my shoulder. It was a careful touch as if not to startle me.

These little things were definitely not the Helena I knew.

-Snap.

Now I have to admit it. The Helena in front of me is not the Helena I know. Then why did she kill the head chef?

That was the biggest question mark.

“It’s done. If there’s a problem, I’ll receive an alert. And just in case, take this.”

In Helena’s hand was a pretty silver brooch in the shape of a flower.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I pin it on for you?”

-Nod.

She asked so politely that I found myself nodding, and once she got my permission, Helena smiled brightly and carefully pinned the brooch to the left side of my chest.

“It suits you very well.”

“Thank you.”

“This brooch is enchanted with various protective spells. I made it with great care.”

-Snap.

Unable to bear Helena going this far for me, I finally spoke up about what happened back then.

“Why did you kill the head chef when you care for me this much?”

“Ah…”

As soon as she heard my words, Helena’s expression was like that of a child caught playing a naughty prank.

Then, hesitantly speaking while carefully watching my reaction, Helena seemed to lose her charismatic demeanor and appeared somewhat like Lily making excuses after causing trouble.

She used me for family matters, which was quite unpleasant.

Perhaps sensing my expression, Helena suddenly stood up and bowed to me.

I was quite surprised.

Could it be that someone like Helena was bowing and apologizing to a maid?

Helena never lowered herself to anyone. No matter if she was the Helena from two years ago, she was still Helena.

Yet here she was, bowing to a maid. Just because of me.

What have I done?

“I understand. But I’m not convinced yet.”

I don’t know when or how she might turn against Lily.

“When I first saw Lily, I was shocked.”

Nobody cared, so Lily suffered more than anyone else, enduring pain alone.

“How could they neglect a child like this?”

Helena, no matter how kind she is now, her past actions towards Lilly will not disappear.

Of course, it’s not that she doesn’t understand her feelings. Being a bastard child in this world carries that meaning.

However, she is still a child. A child who should receive love.

“I have nothing to say about Lilly… I’m sorry.”

“Please apologize to Lilly, not me.”

“Yes. I will definitely apologize to Lilly as well.”

Her sincerity was palpable.

She made up her mind.

Helena doesn’t know what happened over the past two years. But during those two years, Helena went mad and turned into a villain. That’s why Lilly became unhappy.

So, I decided I would intervene for those two years. To prevent Helena from changing like that. For Lilly’s sake.

To create a happy future for Lilly.

“If Lilly forgives, I will forgive too.”

“Really!?”

“Yes. But only if you forgive from your heart, without any ulterior motives towards Lilly.”

“Of course! Oh, I’m so relieved…”

Helena sat down as if deflating into the chair.

“I was worried about what to do if I wasn’t forgiven…”

Is that woman really Lady Estelle? Is that really Helena?

The sharp tone and charismatic demeanor were gone, replaced by a hesitant woman.

“I think Lilly might be worried, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Oh, yes! Um…”

Helena tapped her index fingers together, glancing at me. Twisting slightly and hesitantly opening her mouth.

“…Is it okay if I hug you?”

-Thunk!!!

“It seems like you haven’t been forgiven yet, right?”

“T-That’s right? Ah, maybe it’s too soon…?”

Helena lowered her head in disappointment.

Wait, where did that Helena go? Why does she seem more childish than Lilly? How can she look older than Lilly?

At this point, switching bodies between Lilly and Helena wouldn’t feel awkward at all.

“Phew…”

“Eep…!”

Even my sigh startled Helena. Is the stress of family matters affecting her so much that she’s acting this way?

At least she doesn’t seem to be showing interest in me in a negative way.

“If Lilly accepts the apology, I will hug you.”

“Really!? Is it true!?”

-Nod.

Suddenly lifting her head, Helena leaned towards me, momentarily surprising me.

After calming Helena down and preparing to leave to return to the annex, her expression looked very sad.

Why is she so upset because of me?

Well, Helena is a married woman with a husband and son.

“I’ll come visit again next time.”

With that one statement, Helena’s expression brightened. What’s going on?

-Thud.

-Squeak.

As soon as I opened the door, the maid I saw earlier was there to take the teacup away.

“May I come in, Lady Helena?”

“Come in.”

Instead of the hesitant voice from earlier, an authoritative voice was heard.

‘Wow.’

When I turned to look at Helena, the previously relaxed childlike expression was gone, replaced by a snake-like gaze and a charismatic presence.

Her body, which had just been slouched moments ago, was now stiff and exuding confidence.

‘Is this also an act?’

I thought as I returned to the annex.

Lilly, who usually seems like a child but acts like an experienced adult when something happens to me.

Helena, who usually exudes charisma as the Lady of the Estelle family, suddenly behaves like a child in front of me.

It feels like they’ve switched roles…

And I’ve been getting goosebumps since earlier, right? Maybe it’s just my imagination?

‘Ah.’

Helena said something like that.

The magic can hear and see everything around the target. Even now, the mage who cast the spell is listening to our conversation.

So does that mean Lily saw and heard everything Helena and I did up until now?

Hmm… This is bad.

Lily really dislikes Helena for leaving her alone, to say the least. She even dislikes her smell.

She seems quite upset.

As expected, as soon as we arrived at the annex, Lily’s aura was palpable.

Looks like she’s in a bad mood for at least three days.

As I approached Lily, she grabbed my wrist and led me somewhere.

Of course, it was the bathroom.

Upon arriving at the changing room, Lily roughly stripped off my servant’s clothes.

Then she abruptly stopped and clapped her hands on the floor. I knelt down to meet Lily at eye level, and as I did, Lily’s hand reached out, and I instinctively closed my eyes.

– Crack!

Lily’s hand passed over my head, then clenched a fist in mid-air, making a breaking sound.

– Pat, pat.

Lily clapped her own hands.

“Only I can see Amelia naked.”

‘Ah, Helena must have cast a surveillance spell. If Lily sees me as a mage so clearly, right? Ah, I don’t know. It’s too much; my head hurts.’

Lily started undressing me again. My outer garments had disappeared, leaving only undergarments.

It’s funny how her charismatic demeanor from just a moment ago has vanished, replaced by tension as she nervously eyes my undergarments.

I don’t understand why she’s so tense about this when she’s always touching me.

Lily acts like a child, doesn’t she? That expression is too mature for her.

“Shall I undress?”

– Nod, nod.

Lily’s small hand moved towards my back.

– Click.

– Rustle.

As the undergarment loosened, my chest jiggled slightly downward.

Still heavy. My chest.

Lily buried her head in my body, smelling me. I supported Lily’s buttocks in that position and stood up.

With my remaining hand, I removed my panties.

I entered the bath without showering first today. The tub wasn’t filled with water yet, but judging by Lily’s state, it seemed like I wouldn’t be left alone.

Probably planning to erase Helena’s scent and cover it with her own.

At times like this, Lily still seems like a child.

I stroked Lily’s head as I watched the steam rise in the bathtub.

It seems like I’ll be spending all the remaining time with Lily today.

==

Lily, who usually sleeps well, suddenly slept with her mouth open, drooling. I wiped Lily’s drool this morning.

==

Lately, it seems like Lily has been drooling a lot in her sleep. I wonder if there’s something wrong with her body. I’m worried.