Chapter 81: Even Though they’re Bound as Master and Maid—No, because of that! A Special Emotion Only They can Share Begins to Intertwine…!

“What kind of black tea do you like, Big Sis Heine?”

“Milk tea, but…”

Roslin and Heine, who had fought a match with my Ladies’ Maid position on the line.

The result, of course, was an overwhelming victory for Heine.

However, the match, which I thought had ended just like that, produced a strange result.

For reasons entirely unknown, Roslin had fallen head over heels for Heine after the match.

“Oh my, your taste is exactly the same as mine!”

Roslin asks about Heine’s preference for black tea.

Upon hearing the desired answer, Roslin leans her head back on her two hands, which are cupped over her cheeks, looking pleased.

‘Of course it’s the same….’

‘In the Empire, the only people who drink black tea, and with milk at that, are us Westerners.’

‘In the first place, the only tea regularly distributed in the Empire is black tea, you know?’

‘It was practically a question with a predetermined answer.’

Hearts were practically dripping from Roslin’s eyes as she looked at Heine.

‘And to think she was just saying she wanted to be my maid.’

What?

Are you asking if I’m sulking?

No, no, no, I had no intention of accepting her as a maid from the start.

But… that’s right.

Should I call this a matter of so-called fidelity?

A proper noble young lady should display a fittingly chaste attitude.

For her heart to be swayed so easily like this.

For a child of a branch family who should be dedicating deep loyalty to me in the future to show such a side, I can’t help but ponder a little about future personnel selection….

“At what point do you eat the strawberry on a strawberry shortcake? From the beginning? Or are you the type to save the best for last?”

Regardless of all that.

Even with the young lady of the direct bloodline—yes, that would be me—whom she should serve for life, sitting right next to her, Roslin was completely engrossed in her own little blind date.

“I prefer to eat it in portions that match the composition of the cake.”

“Oh my, to not succumb to a girl’s desires and to boldly pursue only the practicalities of the present and future…. As expected of you, Big Sis Heine, I am deeply impressed!”

Roslin showed her favor regardless of whether they had common ground or not.

Even Heine, who always maintained a poker face except when with me, her master, was starting to show subtle cracks in her composure, as if it was becoming too much for her.

‘By the way, you.’

‘At this point, does it even matter what Heine’s answer is?’

This level of total affirmation—the act of affirming everything about the other person—was almost becoming respectable.

“Roslin.”

I quietly removed the teacup I was drinking from my lips.

It was a villainess-style warning signal to be prepared for the very serious conversation that was to follow.

However, despite my blatant warning sign, Roslin merely tilted her head slightly.

“Yes?”

‘What is this lack of tension?’

‘In front of the noble direct bloodline, a relative from a branch family who is merely talented dares to…!’

To reiterate, I was not sulking.

She did say some rather cute and admirable things at our first meeting, like wanting to be my maid, but there was no way I would be upset over her changing the person she should serve as easily as flipping her palm, right?

That’s right.

To pout over something like that would be nothing more than being a mere immature child.

As a proper fifteen-year-old adult, there was no way I could be jealous of such a trivial childish change of heart, or of the attention and praise Heine was receiving.

In that case.

Why am I giving Roslin a warning now?

It’s simple.

It is because Heine, my excellent maid, is in trouble.

Considering the hierarchical relationship between a baron’s daughter and a viscount’s daughter.

And, considering Heine’s position as a maid.

The current situation is that Heine finds it difficult to frankly point out Roslin’s impertinence, even if she wants to.

In other words, here, I, as Heine’s master, must step in and correct her habits.

This is the true duty of a villainess protecting her subordinate.

This is true noblesse oblige!

I must emphasize again, I am absolutely not doing this because I have any sort of feelings for Roslin.

“Have you not learned the table manners of a young lady?”

“Pardon?”

“Is my Heine not in distress?”

I looked at Roslin with eyes as cold as ice.

A sharp dagger plunged deep into her chest.

Roslin clutched her chest roughly, crying out in pain.

Just as the pen is mightier than the sword, words were mightier than the pen.

“L-Lady Lin….”

I predict that even in bed ten years from now, that coldness will startle her from her sleep.

The thought of that scene made me wonder if I had gone too far, but it couldn’t be helped.

The aloofness of a villainess is inherently meant to take this form.

“If you wish to converse with me at the same table, I ask that you at least observe the minimum of etiquette from now on.”

Clatter…

I slammed the teacup in my hand down on the saucer with great force.

Then, as if to say I had lost my taste for the tea because of her impertinent attitude, I let out a short sigh.

A delicate sound, not clearly audible but just brushing past the tips of the ears.

…

‘Just now, even I thought I was a real villainess.’

A masterpiece of method acting that comes once in a decade.

A smile was about to escape me out of pride.

But I had to hold it back.

If the corners of my mouth went up here, the villainess points I had earned would surely be greatly reduced.

Heine already looked like she had noticed my subtle expression, but it was fine.

As long as Roslin didn’t find out, I was golden.

“Aah, Lady Lin…. If you look at me with such cold eyes…”

Roslin’s face looked as if she were about to cry.

For a moment, my heart weakened, but right now, preventing a proud smile from appearing was the top priority.

“As expected, for me, it’s Lady Lin…. B-But. If that’s the case, Big Sis Heine…”

‘What on earth should I do….’

Along with those words, far from reflecting, Roslin fell into her own strange anguish.

“I see…!”

And so, after pondering for a moment, Roslin exclaimed as if she had come to some realization.

“Lady Lin, you must have felt jealous of me and Big Sis Heine’s appearance, right?”

“That’s not… true…?”

“So. You want to have Big Sis Heine all to yourself, which is why you’re being so cold…”

“That’s not…”

“Hah…!”

Roslin covered her mouth with her hand as if something terrible had happened.

Soon, with a look of immense guilt, she seemed about to hastily leave her seat.

‘Huh?’

‘You don’t have to go that far….’

‘Was my villainess act too much?’

‘Well, if it were me, I might have burst into tears on the spot from the heartlessness.’

I resolved to be more careful with the intensity in the future.

“…Despite being a viscount’s daughter. To be so clueless. I apologize, Lady Lin. Big Sis Heine. It seems I have disturbed your precious time together.”

“No, you just have to be careful in the future, so you don’t need to leave…”

“Such kindness to me, who has disturbed your precious date…. That kindness must be what has captured Big Sis Heine’s heart, right?”

“That… is true, but…”

“As expected…!!”

Heine, who was about to affirm Roslin’s guess, felt something was different.

An instinctive wariness made Heine’s words trail off.

“I apologize. Then, this clueless intruder will take her leave, so please, have a good time.”

And so.

With a disciplined, ladylike bow, Roslin took her leave and disappeared.

“……”

Heine and I looked at each other, recalling her incomprehensible words and actions from just a moment ago.

Was it just my imagination?

I had a feeling that Roslin, who I thought had left, was peeking at us from between the flowering bushes.

It was not my imagination.

Since I had learned a certain degree of spirit arts, I could borrow some of the dolls’ powers.

So, thanks to borrowing a small amount of Dinavel’s unique sensory ability, I could feel it clearly.

“The way they gaze at each other so fondly…. As expected, as expected, my prediction was correct.”

…
‘What was correct?’

“Master and maid. Maid and master. Despite being bound by a master-servant relationship, no…! Rather, because of it!

The special feelings that only the two of you can share are intertwined in that affectionate gaze…! Ah, I can feel it…. To me as well, very much so….”

………….

“Because it is so precious, you cannot say it…. Your lovely and pitiful feelings, I can feel them well too…!”

Dinavel’s sensory ability had always been very helpful, but this time, I thought it might have been better not to have it at all.

***

“She was… quite a peculiar person.”

“I know, right.”

That night.

Heine personally, carefully, undressed her master, one layer at a time, to help her change.

“Well, it is my mission to lead even such relatives.”

As always.

Heine looked at Lin, who had entrusted everything to her without any doubt.

“I see.”

“That’s how it is.”

When everyone in the castle was getting ready to pull up their blankets,
the only person who could enter the room of the precious, only daughter of the Rosegarden family at this late hour was Heine.

It might have been different when she was a child, but since Lin had become an adult, even Edwin and her brothers could not enter freely.

In other words, this time. It was her own exclusive time that no one could dare to disturb.

“Lady Lin.”

Under Heine’s touch, Lin changed into a single, thin, transparent nightgown.

At the maid’s request, she naturally lifted her hair with both hands.

Finally, it was to take off her mother’s keepsake from her neck and place it by her bedside.

That was why every night, Lin would personally reveal her pure white nape to Heine like this.

“……”

“Heine?”

Heine’s hand, which was about to take off the necklace as usual, hesitated for a moment.

She had suddenly recalled Roslin’s words from that afternoon.

“…I apologize.”

Soon, Heine came to her senses and unfastened Lin’s necklace.

Lin’s falling hair gently tickled her wrist.

“Could it be! Were you hurt during the match!?”

With a worried face, Lin turned around and grabbed Heine’s hand to examine it.

Her eyes lit up as she diligently checked Heine’s hands here and there.

Seeing her master like this, Heine smiled inwardly.

“No. I’m fine. It’s just that my hands felt cold today, and I was worried you might be startled.”

“Really?”

Lin didn’t even doubt the natural excuse.

She had also confirmed there were no wounds on her hands, and above all, she trusted her maid completely.

“…Is that so?”

As if to confirm, Lin clasped Heine’s hands with both of hers.

She tilted her head at the warm temperature, then brought Heine’s hand to her own cheek to check more thoroughly.

“It’s warm as usual.”

“It must have been just my imagination.”

Heine smiled and carefully withdrew her captured hand.

Then, she placed Lin’s necklace on her palm and, navigating through the crowd of fluffy dogs, carefully placed it on the small table next to the bed.

“Then. Sleep well. Lady Lin.”

“Yes. You too, Heine, have sweet dreams.”

‘If you’re talking about sweet dreams, I’m already having them every day.’

Lin’s door closed.

Her time ended, and moonlight seeped in through the window.

And so, tomorrow.

The Rosegarden family’s official skills test was about to begin.