episode_0016

Blackwood Manor, Basement 1st Floor. Etiquette Classroom.

Dragged here without a chance to even make excuses after the brawl in the restaurant’s prep room, we, four maids including myself, sat on our knees listening to Maid Chief Melissa’s sermon.

Well, more like we had no choice but to listen.

“What in the world is all this commotion about?!!”

The maid chief lectured us with a thunderous voice that could rival a dragon’s roar, her hair styled up in an elaborate fashion, belting out high notes that could fill the entire manor.

As lower-ranking maids, we were stuck here, unable to escape, forced to endure the loud sermon of the maid chief.

“You are disqualified as ladies! As maids! Disqualified!”

Though her exact age was unknown, she was probably in her mid-40s or early 50s.

There was no official information, so I couldn’t be certain. Even if I had played “Luminor Academy” for over 2000 hours in my previous life, there were details undisclosed by the game company.

“Lilith!! Are you paying attention?!!”

“S-Sorry!”

Wow, thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest.

Can’t just space out and shout back at someone while they’re speaking.

It was a blessing in many ways that Melissa wasn’t the main character.

If Melissa’s voice had been implemented in the game, many players would have been startled during gameplay by her sudden outbursts.

After catching our attention with a yell, the maid chief turned back to us four and continued her noisy sermon.

Starting from the basics of ladylike posture, the lecture went on tirelessly for a whole hour.

“Oh, my legs hurt…”

After an hour of kneeling and listening to the sermon, my calves were cramping, and my whole body was tingling.

Luckily, I had discreetly used a cleaning spell to get rid of the garlic smell lingering in my mouth.

If I had to endure an hour in a proper sitting position and withstand self-biochemical attacks, I would have lost my mind in multiple ways.

“…As servants of Blackwood, you must always maintain composure, carry yourselves with dignity in your duties…”

Melissa continued the lecture for another 30 minutes, then scanned each of our faces before starting to call out each person’s name one by one.

“Eirene Lawrence.”

“Yes.”

“Alicia Hayes.”

“Yes.”

“Katarina Lane.”

“…Yes.”

“Lilith Rosewood.”

“…Uh, yes.”

“You will be assigned the task of cleaning the entire ground floor corridor and stables of the manor for one month.”

Oh, damn. Screwed.

Already felt like I was approaching kitchen duty support over the past three days, but now this?

Cleaning the entire ground floor corridor and stables, on top of that?

And with Eirene and Alicia too?

In my right mind, I couldn’t accept this sudden job transfer, and I felt dizzy for a moment.

Just as I was about to voice my opinion on the transfer, Eirene cut me off and interjected.

“Just a moment, Maid Chief…”

“Maid Chief, please reconsider this job transfer and disciplinary action.”

Damn, that girl acts fast.

Interrupting Eirene’s words again in this situation would only worsen the impression on the maid chief, so I lowered my hand and quietly shut my mouth.

I knew another opportunity to speak would come eventually.

“Eirene.”

“Yes, Maid Chief.”

“Are you suggesting that there is injustice in the disciplinary action I have imposed?”

The head maid stared at Eiria sharply in response to her statement.

However, Eiria remained unfazed and strongly demanded a revision of her disciplinary terms.

“I believe that the judgment on the disciplinary matters by the head maid is entirely fair and just. However, I think it is a decision made without understanding that Alicia and I were inevitably dragged into an unjust conflict.”

…That woman is something else.

Look at her already diving into work as if she’s the craftiest woman alive.

An unjust conflict? Didn’t Katarina strike first?

And what about those women who ganged up on Alicia and me?

Suppressing the urge to unleash a barrage of curses, given the volatile situation, the head maid managed to contain herself.

Eventually, Eiria’s brazen and deceitful claims continued within the etiquette classroom.

“Please, go ahead and explain.”

“Firstly, I want to clarify that the recent violent incident arose during our attempt to address Lillis Rosewood’s lackadaisical attitude towards kitchen duties.”

“…Lackadaisical attitude?”

“Yes. Since Lillis Rosewood was reassigned to the kitchen three days ago, she has not properly fulfilled her kitchen duties even once.”

“Don’t speak nonsense!”

“Lillis, be quiet.”

“…”

Just as the head maid attempted to intervene in Eiria’s nonsensical speech, she paused to observe quietly what Eiria would say next.

“What do you mean by not fulfilling kitchen duties, Eiria?”

“Exactly as stated. Alicia, Katarina, and I had been working together in the kitchen efficiently. Our usual routine involved starting vegetable preparation at 4 a.m., considering breakfast preparation and the arrival time of the chefs, even though maids are scheduled to start at 6 a.m.”

“Please continue.”

“However, Lillis Rosewood failed to understand our working hours and never showed up at 4 a.m., not even once. Even after arriving at 6 a.m., she continued with her lackadaisical work ethic. She would leave before break time despite hardly working.”

“So, are you saying that a fight broke out while pointing out Lillis’s negligent work attitude?”

“Yes, Head Maid. Therefore, I urge you to focus more on Lillis’s faults rather than blaming us.”

“Can you take responsibility for that statement?”

“I can.”

“…I also agree with Eiria’s opinion, Head Maid.”

…Those two women, really.

After diligently arriving two hours early every day to finish all the tasks, what? Negligent work attitude?

Watching Eiria’s shameless lies and Alicia’s complicity, I almost let out a string of curses up to my chin.

Even subtly trying to win over Katarina to their side.

Katarina can be manipulated later; right now, they’re probably focused on making me look bad.

Stay calm, Lillis. If you lose your temper here, you’ll definitely lose.

…And to be precise, I haven’t even been ‘taken away’ by Katarina yet.

“Katarina, do you also agree with the opinions of these two?”

“…”

Katarina hesitated, bowing her head deeply without giving an answer, likely conflicted about how she should respond in her own way.

Up until now, it would probably be natural for me to surrender to her, considering what I’ve experienced with Eria.

At least more so than embracing a lower maid I’ve only just met a few days ago.

However, Catherine is currently under the misconception that I am some nobleman.

In that case, there was also a possibility that I wouldn’t simply agree with Eria’s opinion.

After all, I had already concluded sufficient persuasion rather than coercion with her early this morning.

“Uh… no….”

“Yes?”

“I-I don’t… a-agree with Eria’s opinion….”

“So, you’re saying that Lily’s argument is that she has diligently carried out her duties?”

“Y-yes…. In fact, Lily has… c-completed everything we were supposed to do…. e-everything….”

Despite her weak nature, Catherine managed to defend me somehow without succumbing to Eria’s temptation.

It was fortunate that we didn’t end up in a situation where I was helplessly outnumbered 3 to 1 in public opinion battles.

I owe Catherine an apology for calling her a useless maid who wets herself in front of juniors, even if it was just a thought. Anyway, I’ll apologize.

Thanks to her finding the courage somehow, we narrowly avoided the worst-case scenario of losing our right to speak.

Now it was my turn to somehow rescue Catherine.

More accurately, it was closer to rescuing only her from a sinking ship.

“So, it seems we have a clash of opinions. Eria and Catherine are at odds.”

“Catherine is merely lying out of sympathy for Lily. Head Maid!”

“No, Head Maid. Catherine’s senior is correct. I can explain in more detail.”

“…Go ahead, Lily.”

Lily secured her right to speak by refusing to echo Catherine’s opinion.

It was a precious opportunity that needed to be utilized effectively.

I had to prove my innocence and, above all, somehow argue even the part where Eria ‘initiated’ the conflict.

“Since the day the workplace was relocated, I have been arriving promptly at 4 a.m. every day to start preparing vegetables. From that time until 6 a.m., the other seniors did not show up for work and instead of helping me with my tasks… no, they just left their work for me to handle.”

“When you say seniors, does that include Catherine as well?”

“Yes. I do not lie.”

Emphasizing the word “lie” while looking at Eria deliberately, I continued to advocate separately to save Catherine this time.

“And the seniors who induced me to come to work alone at 4 a.m. were Senior Eria and Senior Alicia. Catherine, due to her delicate nature, had no choice but to agree with their opinions. In reality, Catherine arrived one hour earlier than the other seniors this morning to assist me with my tasks. She even apologized for overburdening me. That’s the truth.”

“Is that true, Catherine?”

“Y-yes…. I-it’s true…. Head Maid….”

She did not lie.

Catherine did arrive early to help with kitchen tasks more than usual, and she did apologize for overburdening me. It was all true.

Of course, the process was not as dry as I just described, but naturally.

“I will actually report Senior Eria and Senior Alicia, who have unjustly neglected my duties so far.”

“Can you take responsibility for that statement?”

“I can. Also, I ask for leniency towards Catherine, who shielded me from Eria’s unjust violence and ended up getting hurt.”

“Hmm.”

Melissa, the head maid, alternately gazed at me, Katarina, Eiria, and Alicia.

After glancing at each of our eyes, she nodded once and spoke up.

“If one side’s claim is true and the other false, we cannot determine the disciplinary measures as they stand.”

“…Pardon?”

“Madam Head Maid, Miss Lillis has been lying….”

“In that case, we will resume the disciplinary proceedings after dinner. Each of you, return to this place with evidence or witnesses to support your statements.”

“…Evidence or witnesses?”

“If none are provided, you may return without them. However, if one side can secure solid evidence or witnesses backing their claims more than the other, we will adjust the disciplinary measures accordingly.”

“….”

“….”

I never expected Eiria to stir up trouble to this extent.

In the end, she managed to drag these meal preparations into utter chaos.

At that moment, I had a gut feeling that at least one of us, either Eiria or myself, wouldn’t escape severe punishment.