episode_0030

“I will go in, Master.”

“Until next time then. Lillis Rosewood.”

“…Yes.”

With a creaking sound, the door of the Blackwood Mansion’s office closed cautiously.

Harold Richard Blackwood fell into quiet contemplation as he watched the disappearing figure of the maid.

No matter how much he thought about it, she was a peculiar woman.

Externally, she appeared to be a somewhat pretty maid, but inside, she displayed a completely different demeanor and behavior, as if inhabited by someone else.

Ever since the disciplinary committee recovered Tanashia’s stolen necklace based on Lillis’ statement, she had been a woman of many mysteries.

The recent monster subjugation incident in the commercial district only deepened those mysteries.

Through the just-concluded question-and-answer session with her, Harold could now form some assessment of this individual known as Lillis Rosewood.

A bold character who would courageously risk her life rather than flee like a commoner in front of a giant monster.

A pragmatism that allowed her to calmly assess her enemies and identify weaknesses even in dire situations.

And a strange personality unhesitant to sacrifice herself for others, regardless of the risks involved.

That was Harold’s brief evaluation of Lillis Rosewood as he left the office.

“Perhaps it would have been better to raise her as a knight rather than a mere maid.”

As a common girl sold into debt, Melissa probably filled the role of a deficient servant without much thought.

It wasn’t a wrong judgment. The fate of a common girl bound by debt was often predetermined upon arrival. Almost anyone, not just Melissa, would have made a similar judgment.

In fact, Lillis Rosewood’s appearance itself was optimized for reception in various ways.

Although he had sworn not to love any other woman besides Tanashia, her beauty was objectively captivating from a male perspective.

Had she been a bit more polished, she could have easily captivated some remote nobleman and married into a distant estate instead of being sold as a debt maid.

For a woman with such potential to become a servant of the Blackwood family, it was merely a coincidence.

…However.

“She resembles her.”

Even the feeling of encountering a long-lost person in a simple commoner maid reminded him of the beloved person he had bid farewell to long ago.

He had known such a woman for a very long time.

And loved her for a very long time.

“Tanashia…”

Gazing at the portrait of a woman on his desk, Harold murmured quietly.

Tanashia Louise Briceswell.

The second daughter of the Briceswell minor noble family, whose possessions were limited to farmland and undeveloped forests in the outskirts.

She was also the name of his former wife, whom Harold had loved for a very long time and still couldn’t forget.

“I thought I had let go of such old feelings.”

Seeing the resemblance to Tanashia in the girl brought back memories of her most beautiful days, indicating that perhaps his heart still held onto those emotions.

Moreover, whether it was due to assisting in retrieving the necklace linked to memories of Tanashia or not, it felt even more so.

“It seems Eden follows her well; there must be a reason after all.”

Perhaps that girl could serve as a surrogate mother for Eden in place of Tanashia.

Of course, one couldn’t expect too much from a mere maid, but at least it was expected to provide some comfort to Ethan, who had lost his mother and started to drift away.

There was no flaw to be found in her abilities as a maid, as confirmed through Melissa’s reports.

Her discretion and loyalty towards Ethan were deep, as witnessed firsthand during the previous incident.

A meticulous observation and memory to recall Tanasia’s necklace after seeing it once.

And though not strictly necessary, it seemed she also possessed the ability to protect her son when needed.

After pondering various thoughts, Harold soon nodded decisively.

“Though she may be too young to attach to Ethan… still, that girl seems to be the best choice after all.”

Having barely awakened from a long curse and recovered her body, her only illegitimate son.

It was the moment when the exclusive maid to pen Ethan Richard Blackwood was chosen.

***

“Ugh, I’m going to die….”

The day after returning to work at the Blackwood Mansion.

After three hours in the etiquette classroom on the first basement floor, I struggled to climb the stairs, rubbing my sore legs.

“I expected to listen to a sermon, but kneeling and talking for three hours straight is too much….”

After about an hour, it became hard to remember what Melissa had said. Most of it was repetitive anyway.

“Is it sane to confront dangerous monsters like a fishwife with the body of a young girl?! What happened to the etiquette I drilled into you as a lady?!”

“Moreover, isn’t protecting oneself as a servant of the Blackwood family basic?! You are unfit as a maid or a lady! Unfit!!!”

Last time, there were four people present, so it felt less intense.

Listening to that dragon-like voice for three hours alone felt draining.

Even my knees were quite sore from kneeling for so long.

“Just forbidding me from going out would have been enough, why the sermon….”

Even though multiple punishments are common in this world, this seemed excessive.

Well, considering this outing was arranged by Maid Chief Melissa’s favor, the ban on outings was expected.

For debt maids like Lillis, this punishment was almost default.

If I had actually caused an accident outside, it would have been troublesome for the maid chief who granted me permission to go out.

It was fortunate that this matter concluded without any casualties; the maid chief must have been relieved to hear that I was taken to church.

…Still, a three-hour sermon felt a bit too much.

“With that unreasonable tone throughout, doesn’t she ever get tired?”

Anyway, the silver lining was that I managed to level up to Level 5 before the ban on outings was imposed.

It was regrettable not to reach Level 6, but there might be another opportunity in the future.

Even if I were in a position where holiday outings were allowed instead of being a debt maid, achieving Level 5 in such a short time would probably have been impossible.

With no basic magic and having to rely on raw attacks, it would have taken ages for Lillis to defeat even a single slime.

“In that sense, I guess it’s somewhat fortunate….”

“…What do you mean by fortunate?”

“Ahh!!”

At the sudden low-pitched voice right next to my face, I was momentarily startled and almost fell back.

There stood the young assistant manager I had encountered yesterday, looking at me without changing his expression.

Ah, damn. I forgot the name again.

I remember something about Colin, but what were the other names…

“Dietmayer Colin Evercroft.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Even though he’s called a butler, why does he have a middle name when it’s just servants’ business?

Already a difficult name to remember, but because the middle name is short, that useless part keeps coming to mind.

“….”

Dietmayer, the butler, made a strange expression, whether he was accepting my apology or not.

Feeling irritated at forgetting the name twice, I wondered where his gaze was directed. Dietmayer’s pupils were slightly below my face.

As I discreetly brought my hand to my chest, he quickly shifted his gaze upward, pretending not to notice.

“Yeah, this guy is definitely a man.”

As mentioned before, Harold was the only man in the mansion who didn’t send me uncomfortable glances.

The butler with a somewhat trimmed expression that seemed to cut through some emotion probably found it hard to ignore Lillis’s chest.

As a fellow man, I understand. Some instincts can’t be helped.

“Lillis Rosewood.”

“Yes.”

Glancing at my chest, the butler casually met my eyes and called my name.

I didn’t point that out and answered.

“There is a statement from the master.”

“…Yes?”

It feels like I was called yesterday too… again?

Wait, did Harold really show interest in a mere maid two days in a row?

A sense of unease brushed my spine, and that unpleasant feeling didn’t take long to become reality.

“W-what statement is it…?”

“Starting tomorrow, Lillis Rosewood will be transferred from the position of junior maid to a different role.”

…No way.

“Based on the master’s judgment, it is believed that Lillis is more suited for a position slightly higher than that of a junior maid…”

No, it can’t be. It won’t be.

“Complete your assigned tasks for today, and starting tomorrow, you will no longer hold the position of a junior maid…”

This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.

Please shut up, Dietmayer.

“I am here to inform you that you have been appointed as the exclusive maid to Lord Ethan Richard Blackwood.”

Oh.

Fuck.

This is a joke, right? It has to be a joke.

“Congratulations, Lillis Rosewood.”

“….”

Shut up, you clueless bastard.