episode_0026

“Hey, are you listening to me? Hey!”

Ian’s hand flew towards me as if to strike my head, raising it in the air.

The desire I had just felt to smash a pot vanished in an instant.

Though I wanted to retaliate against Ian, who was about to strike me, the malevolent intent still lingering in his eyes, my body refused to respond.

I already had a suspicion as to why.

This place is not my original world. It’s a fantasy realm with monsters, knights, and wizards.

Furthermore, Ian is the heir apparent training as a knight. While he may lack Lily’s talent, it was clear he possessed the abilities of a knight.

Yet, I am just an ordinary woman. Devoid of any powers or mana, having only received training fit for a maid.

I couldn’t handle the aura of someone trained all their life to kill monsters or people.

For the first time since arriving in this world, I felt fear. Just from a man raising his hand before me, my body trembled with sweat. Though I knew I should dodge, my legs felt rooted to the ground, refusing to move.

In the end, I could only close my eyes weakly in anticipation of the incoming blow.

As I closed my eyes, the hand that was supposed to strike me never made contact.

What?

By now, Ian’s hand should have descended upon my head, yet nothing happened.

I opened my eyes slightly.

Ian’s hand, poised to strike me, was being held back by someone else’s hand.

Ian’s eyes were filled with confusion.

“Mother.”

As I turned my head, a completely different Helena stood before me than the one who usually stumbled over her words and fidgeted.

With charismatic, snake-like eyes and a stern expression, she gripped Ian’s wrist, poised to strike me, with a strong hand.

“Ian.”

-Sigh.

Both Ian and I flinched at Helena’s sharp and chilling voice.

It was entirely different from the usual hesitant and gentle Helena we knew.

“Your mother clearly said… not to belittle maids or servants.”

“But Mother, she disrespected me first…! Ugh…!”

“Disrespected? Her?”

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted, becoming heavier and making it hard to breathe. Ian too, groaned under Helena’s influence, his expression crumbling instantly.

“Ugh…! What?”

Under Helena’s oppressive aura, even I struggled, feeling overwhelmed, until she embraced me, covering my eyes with her hands.

Strangely, as Helena covered my eyes, all tension left my body. The oppressive force that had weighed me down seemed to dissipate, and I felt comforted, like being shielded.

“Ugh…! Mo…ther… I’m s-sorry…”

Though unseen behind Helena’s hand, Ian sounded visibly tormented.

Pathetic. Coward.

“Let’s discuss this later. Go back to your room.”

“Okay… I understand.”

As Ian’s footsteps faded into the distance, and the tension eased, I lost consciousness.

“Amelia!”

==

Helena carefully laid the unconscious Amelia on the bed in her bedroom.

“I feel like killing her right now. But she’s Helena’s son, so I endure.”

Lily had appeared in Helena’s bedroom, gently stroking the head of the unconscious Amelia, speaking with a liveliness not reflected in her calm tone.

“I’m sorry. I should have spoken up earlier… Thank you for enduring. I’ll talk to Ian firmly.”

“Got it.”

Lily and Helena gazed at the prone Amelia lost in thought. No matter how close they stayed with Amelia, there would inevitably be times when they would have to part ways.

When that happens, Amelia, being a powerless maid, could only face dangerous situations.

“First, I’ll attach a bird, my summon, to Amelia. Although weak, she should be able to endure for a while.”

“Yeah, I’ll give summoning a try too.”

“Now…”

…

Watching Amelia comfortably asleep after resolving some incidents, Lily and Helena.

*Gulp*

“I’ll go first.”

Lily approached Amelia first.

“Yes.”

Upon opening my eyes, I was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling. It was remarkably ornate compared to the annex.

Various patterns and chandeliers adorned the ceiling.

It seemed like this was Helena’s bedroom.

Because Lily and Helena were sleeping while holding onto my arms, I thought so.

I couldn’t tell when Lily arrived here or started sleeping with Helena, but it seemed like she came because she was worried about me.

Turning my head slightly to check the time, I realized it was already nearing lunchtime.

How long did I sleep?

Lily and Helena were sleeping so comfortably. Even if I wanted to move my arms away, they held me tightly, making it impossible to move.

Eventually, as lunchtime approached, I cautiously woke them up.

“Helena, Lily, it’s time to wake up.”

“No, I don’t want to…”

…

Helena pouted, clinging even more to my body, while Lily remained silent, keeping her eyes tightly shut, sticking close to me.

Seeing their resolute refusal to get up, I sighed inwardly and decided to go back to sleep myself.

*Rumble*

…

After coming to this world and consistently eating meals, waking up on an empty stomach made my hunger loudly known.

Naturally, in the quiet room, the rumbling sound from my stomach was unmistakable.

“Shall we try something delicious for lunch today?”

“I was just getting hungry too.”

Suddenly, Helena and Lily got up. Helena instructed a maid to bring lunch, while Lily, perhaps worried she might cry again, pressed her ear against my stomach.

After giving her instructions, Helena rushed over to me and pressed her ear firmly against my stomach.

My stomach, oblivious to my feelings, rumbled loudly once more.

*Rumble.*

Surely, my face must have turned into an apple by now.

Unaware of my embarrassment, Lily and Helena chuckled happily.

“Wow… it’s delicious.”

Certainly, the food I made was tasty, but as a professional chef, the dishes prepared by the kitchen staff were on another level.

I was impressed by the sophistication of the food with each bite. The dessert that followed the main course complemented the meal perfectly.

From the initial dish to the concluding dessert, it was a flawless lunch.

As we sipped our tea, I mentioned what I had been thinking.

“What? You want to learn cooking from the head chef?”

“Yes. I want to cook better for Lily. Of course, for Helena too.”

“Mm…”

I calmly explained my reasons for wanting to learn how to cook, and Lily and Helena began to ponder.

“It’s a good idea, but…”

With closed eyes, Lily and Helena contemplated, and Helena spoke up first.

“I will personally ensure the head chef receives proper training.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes. I will make sure to educate the head chef thoroughly to prevent any mishaps.”

“Got it.”

What’s this? Why do I need to learn from the head chef? Why does the head chef need training?

I wasn’t quite sure, but for now, it felt like I could learn from the flow.

Learning cooking from the head chef was scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It was decided that I would learn in the annex rather than going to the main building.

Helena emphasized that it was fine when asked if she was okay with the fact that I was in a learning position.

Then, she instructed me to report immediately if the head chef made any physical contact with me.

“Isn’t the head chef a woman?”

I distinctly remembered the next head chef being a woman after the previous one had been replaced. If it’s a woman, a little physical contact shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

“Still, it’s absolutely not allowed.”

“Yeah, Amelia is so clueless.”

==

As Amelia left with Lily to a separate building, Helena called her maid to attend to her appearance.

Then, she walked towards where her son was.

A son born out of a strategic marriage. Ian.

Although he was forcibly brought into this world, Ian was her son.

While raising him strictly, she cared for Ian with a mother’s heart and showered him with love.

Ian diligently grew up while training as a knight. However, lately, as he rapidly grew stronger, he started showing signs of adolescence, often rebellious.

He particularly angered Helena when he attempted to sexually harass a maid.

She told him that not respecting someone just because they were of lower class or weaker was a despicable act.

She understood. If Ian had seen Amelia for the first time, he would have inevitably been smitten. After all, wasn’t she captivating even to herself, despite being a woman?

Ian, in the prime of his raging hormones, would have found it irresistible to look at Amelia. Nevertheless, he had to endure and exercise patience; that was what defined a knight and a nobleman. And a human being.

In truth, if it had been an ordinary maid or servant, she wouldn’t have been as furious.

When Amelia trembled, about to strike Ian, Helena felt something snap and found herself holding Amelia in her arms, shielding Ian.

As she embraced Amelia for the first time, she felt her trembling in her arms.

Having arrived in front of Ian’s room before she knew it, Helena entered his room, where Ian faced the angriest mother he had ever encountered in his life.