episode_0025

Helena opened her mouth with a voice full of tears.

“Th-this is my first time!?”

The issue seemed to be on that end.

“A-Amelia, what are you talking about all of a sudden? Stop it.”

It was unusual to see Lily so flustered. She had always been calm and somewhat charismatic like an adult, but now she was stuttering and flustered.

“If we continue like this, not only will I be unable to eat, but it will take a long time and my arm will just hurt.”

I honestly told her as I patted my shoulder.

Although it was cute to see her like that every time she ate, it was only once or twice.

It seemed like her arm was getting strained from eating. Considering that she was already doing all the chores in the annex, I decided that adding this would be too much.

“There’s a lot of work to do, right!? I should hire a servant quickly…!”

“Wait! Then what about Amelia…?”

As Helena shouted, Lily restrained her, and they began whispering to each other.

Did they suddenly become too close?

Lily and Helena nodded at me simultaneously after looking at each other.

“Then once every three days, is that okay?”

“Three days?”

When I asked back, Lily and Helena swallowed once and then spoke again.

“Once a week…?”

There was a brief silence. Lily and Helena were watching my reaction. I sighed and nodded. Once a week seemed fine.

“Sigh…”

After receiving my permission, Lily and Helena breathed a sigh of relief.

“It seems like it will be tough to do it all at once, so let’s schedule different days for each of us.”

-Nod.

Lily and Helena nodded at my words, then they talked to each other again and set their respective days.

Lily chose Saturday evening, while Helena chose Sunday lunchtime.

Helena decided to have tea time once a week, and that would be on Sundays.

Having lunch together and then having tea time became a new addition to our schedules.

I took out my notebook to make sure I wouldn’t forget.

Just as it seemed like our conversation was over, and I was about to move to do the dishes, Helena sat me down on the couch.

“Helena? Lily?”

Lily held my hand, and Helena placed her hand on my shoulder. Then they both started massaging me.

The sudden massage felt surprisingly good. Unknowingly, over the past two months of working hard on chores, fatigue had accumulated.

With one hand giving a refreshing massage to my shoulders and the other diligently pressing and kneading my hand, my body quickly relaxed.

But I still needed to do the dishes…

==

Amelia quickly fell asleep, feeling good after Lily and Helena’s massage.

Helena carefully carried Amelia to bed, laid her down, then Lily and Helena returned to the kitchen. As soon as they sat at the table, Lily gave Helena a disgusted look.

“Do adults really want to eat like that?”

“Oh, what are you saying? I also have a childish heart.”

“Ha, okay. Do as you please. So, what are we going to do about Amelia’s chores?”

“That’s the problem. We need a servant, but absolutely not a man.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Even a woman…”

“Mm…”

As Lily and Helena thought about Amelia in makeup, their faces quickly turned red.

Recalling the disheveled Amelia they saw this morning, they unconsciously touched their thighs.

“Indeed, it’s dangerous for women too.”

“Yeah. I think the same way.”

The conversation circled back to square one.

To reduce Amelia’s workload, a servant was ultimately necessary. However, whoever the servant might be, they would inevitably fall for Amelia, so they couldn’t rush into hiring anyone.

But Amelia was pushing herself too hard right now. She might not realize it, but Lily and Helena sensed it.

Therefore, there seemed to be no suitable way to reduce Amelia’s workload.

“I’ll try my best to help Amelia with her work as much as I can.”

“Can you do it?”

“Yeah. I don’t know how to do it yet, but I think I can do well once I learn.”

“Okay. Let’s start like that for now.”

Helena suggested to Lily as if she had come up with something.

“How about we make lunch for Amelia ourselves?”

“Sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it?”

Lily nodded at Helena’s suggestion.

Always having Amelia’s cooking, Lily imagined herself cooking beautifully and offering it to Amelia, raising her thumb to Helena.

It was clear that Amelia would be happy.

Helena, too, smiled, imagining the same thing as Lily.

With determination, they started cooking in the kitchen.

—

“…”

I looked at the chaotic kitchen, then at Lily and Helena.

I looked back at the kitchen and then at Lily and Helena.

Contrary to the incredibly messy kitchen, the kitchen was very quiet.

Lily and Helena knelt down, unable to meet my eyes.

That’s right. That’s how it should be.

I remember getting a massage. It felt really good, so I wanted to thank them.

But when I woke up and came downstairs, I couldn’t say a word.

The air was hazy from flour being thrown around, kitchen utensils transformed into white color.

And what did they do with the pepper to make the smell of pepper vibrate everywhere? That expensive pepper.

Surely all I had to do before going to bed was wash the dishes, but when I opened my eyes, the kitchen was dirtier than when I first arrived at the annex.

The silence was so eerie that Helena cautiously spoke up.

“I-I’m sorry… We wanted to help you with your things and give you a delicious lunch…”

“Sorry…”

*Sigh*

As I sighed, Lily and Helena trembled.

They meant well. They did it for me.

But if they make such a mess, what will happen? My head hurts just thinking about cleaning it up.

Still, before it gets even harder to clean up, I have to do it quickly.

Without saying a word, I took out cleaning gloves to start cleaning.

The moment I was about to start cleaning.

“I-I’ll help!”

“Me too!”

*Tingling*

Lily and Helena stood up to come towards me without saying a word, but I stopped them with my gaze.

If they cause such chaos cooking, cleaning is obvious. Lily and Helena, who received my gaze, knelt down again.

I sighed inwardly and silently began cleaning.

Cleaning ended earlier than expected. It was somewhat easier because there was magic involved.

Of course, it costs money every time I use it. But it’s not my money anyway; it’s the family’s money.

Now Helena will be on our side too. It seems okay to spend on things like this without being stingy.

While cleaning, Lily and Helena didn’t move an inch, still kneeling.

“You can get up now.”

“S-Sorry…”

They bowed their heads and apologized.

What should I do with these kids? Helena, when you think about it, can be considered the head of this family…

—

During a peaceful daily routine, on the way to the main house to get ingredients as usual, I was enjoying the warm sunlight and cool breeze. Humming a tune and strolling happily, I noticed someone entering the family estate.

“It’s Ian.”

He was a man with the same hair color as Helena, meaning he was Helena’s son, Ian.

Despite being 12 years old, he stood over 170 cm tall, with the same reddish-brown hair as Helena, and well-balanced muscles developed since childhood.

His appearance was unmistakably shabby, just like in the illustration. He had been staying in a separate building and since he left early for the main house, we rarely crossed paths.

However, this dawn-like morning, Ian was entering the family estate.

He seemed to notice me as he turned his head towards me, our eyes meeting.

‘Trouble.’

Ian’s eyes widened, and he started approaching me intensely, glaring at me.

I quickly turned my head and ran to the kitchen.

“Just a moment!”

Ignoring Ian’s voice from behind, I sprinted away.

My chest was pounding so hard, perhaps due to its size, causing immense pain, but I fled as fast as I could.

“Whew…”

As soon as I reached the kitchen, I caught my breath. Despite the stares from the people inside, I couldn’t help it.

If I don’t stop now, I feel like I might throw up…!

Gasping for air, clutching my knees, I calmed my racing heart as much as possible.

Why is he coming to the family estate at this early hour? I feel like I’m getting dragged into something incredibly bothersome.

I shouldn’t dwell on that thought.

“Maid!”

‘Ah, she followed me all the way here…’

Ian’s voice came from behind. Come to think of it, Ian was preparing his knights, and I couldn’t evade him.

‘Just had to steal my strength…’

“Good morning, Sir Ian.”

Turning around, I politely bowed to Ian.

Though bowing, Ian’s gaze was so blatantly fixed on my chest that it was clear where his eyes were focused.

I wanted to pluck those eyes out right then and there, but I held back.

The way Lilyna or Helena looked at me wasn’t unpleasant; in fact, it felt nice. But Ian’s gaze was disgustingly different.

“I won’t question your escape separately. I don’t know who you are, maid, but from today, serve me as my maid.”

I feel like smashing a pot.

Should I just hit him and run to Helena?