episode_0032

“…uh?..”

I blinked blankly.

What happened?

A study room filled with dust from fallen shelves.

It had become such a mess that the previous neat and tidy appearance was nowhere to be found.

..Did I do it?

I just touched it lightly..?

no.

Something is definitely wrong.

There was no way a shelf that looked three times as tall as mine could collapse so easily.

“This… First, let’s clean it up…”

“What is this..! Oh my god!!”

Hearing a loud noise, several maids came hurriedly into the study.

They were startled when they saw the study in disarray, and then turned their gaze to me.

“….Miss..?”

I waved my hand at them who were looking at me with bewildered expressions and spoke urgently.

“It wasn’t me..!! I just touched it and the shelf fell over on its own!”

“…Huh?”

“I was trying to take out a book, but I just touched it lightly and the shelf…”

“…..”

“Ah..I just touched it slightly…”

As they listened to me, their eyes slowly sank.

My voice gradually lost its confidence as they looked at me with pitiful expressions.

“That…so…”

They looked at each other in silence, then approached with bitter smiles on their faces.

“It’s okay, miss. We’ll clean it up. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Really..I told you, I didn’t do it..?”

I tried appealing once more, but their expressions remained unchanged.

I know that too.

Unless the shelf had fallen over by itself, I was the only one here.

Anyone could see that it was my fault.

From their perspective, it must seem like I’m making some lame excuse.

Tears welled up in my eyes from the injustice, but I couldn’t say anything else.

Because there was no evidence that I didn’t do it.

It’s as if he’s actually being considerate of me.

One of the maids looked at me warmly and said:

“It’s really okay, miss. I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

“…..”

“I need to clean up, so could you please step out for a moment?”

“…..Yes.”

Eventually, I followed her words and trudged out of the study.

Tsk-

I thought that the sound I heard over my shoulder must have been my imagination.

“I’m sorry, Miss..I got caught by the maid on the way back..”

“….”

Eventually, I had no choice but to crawl back into bed and escape.

Alina came to find me like that.

She says she was caught by Rosewen while trying to find the ladder and was held back for quite some time.

Unable to reprimand her, I buried my face deep in the pillow and gave off the impression to those around me that I didn’t want to talk anymore.

“Miss.. Cheer up.. Yes?”

“Just get out of here..I don’t want to do anything anymore today..”

“But Miss..”

“Get out!..”

I shouted at her for a moment and regretted it, but I couldn’t take back the words I had already said.

“…Then, take a rest for today. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

Alina lifted the blanket over me with a compassionate expression and quietly left the room.

“…Pathetic.”

I hated myself for treating Alina so harshly.

It’s not her fault.

I felt guilty about myself for nagging at her, wanting to blame someone for no reason.

Was I originally such a pathetic person?

I don’t think it’s ever been like this before.

At some point, my self-esteem became extremely low.

Even when I was with Lily and Dania, I always lived with a positive attitude and strength.

Right now, only thoughts that were bothering me were floating around in my head.

‘Let’s apologize again tomorrow.’

He apologizes to Alina for being cold to him.

Even in the study, you couldn’t just leave the cleaning up to the maids.

I should have taken care of what I did myself, but I was so embarrassed that I just ran away.

I thought I should go see them tomorrow and ask for their forgiveness.

“…I’m tired….”

I closed my increasingly heavy eyelids and slowly fell into a deep sleep.

I promise to work hard again starting tomorrow.

* * *

“Miss Hera… I think you’re a bit of a clumsy person.”

thud-

My heart is pounding.

“That’s right. Last time I cleaned the room, I did something weird. It was hard to fix it.”

Knock knock-

My body began to tremble along with my heart.

“If you weren’t someone the master cherishes. What would you say?”

“But your face is really pretty. Every time I see it, I feel good for no reason.”

“It would be great if you could just stay still.”

Gyarrr- Their laughter could be heard through the door.

I covered my trembling breaths with both hands and tried to hide my breathing as much as possible.

As soon as I woke up, I went to the maids’ lounge to apologize.

Just as I was about to open the door, I heard their small talk from beyond the door.

Their lighthearted chatter struck me as a stabbing pain.

Eventually, I had no choice but to back away and run away from that place.

Ta-da-dak-

I ran like crazy.

I thought I heard someone’s voice calling me, but I ignored it and ran to my room.

– I think you have a clumsy side..-

– Even cleaning the room is weird..-

– I wish you would just stay still… –

Even as I ran, the words they said lingered in my mind and rang in my ears.

I didn’t want to run into anyone.

I wanted to be alone.

“Ha…hak..”

How far did you run?

By the time I was out of breath, I was able to reach my room.

My room.

This is the only place where I can breathe comfortably.

But when I opened the door with trembling hands,

Contrary to my wishes, Alina was waiting for me in the room.

“Ah. Miss, you’re here! Where have you been?”

She approaches me with a bright expression.

“Miss..Are you okay? You don’t look well. Do you have a fever?”

“Oh…don’t come!”

When she put her hand on my forehead, I pushed her away without realizing it.

“Huh?”

Kudangtang – Alina falls backwards with a loud crash and lets out a short scream.

Her gaze, which looked at me in absurdity, made my body tremble.

What have I done?

I can’t even apologize to her. I hurt her.

“…I’m..sorry!! Are you okay..?!”

He hurriedly approached her and held out his hand.

Then Alina looked at me for a moment, then sighed and took my hand.

“Haa.. Miss, what’s wrong with you these days?”

“I’m really sorry..I didn’t know I was doing that..”

She rubbed her buttocks a few times with her hand and then a smile appeared on her face again.

“Let’s go out and get some fresh air.”

So, holding her hand, he led her to the garden of the mansion.

A variety of flowers in bright colors decorated the garden beautifully.

As I walked through the garden, a refreshing breeze brushed my face.

“Isn’t it pretty? It’s a place that is managed quite diligently.”

“…Yeah.. That’s right.”

She continued to treat me kindly as if nothing had happened.

‘..I’m really stupid.’

I can’t believe I’m receiving this kind of consideration from someone younger than me.

I felt so small.

I decided to think positively, Hera.

Those women who were talking about me probably didn’t have bad intentions.

I thought that I had just happened to hear it at a bad time and tried my best to erase the delusions that were rising in my head.

Actually, I had caused some problems, so it wasn’t strange for that to come out.

are you okay.

You can fix it from now on.

I need to apologize to them properly and ask for their forgiveness.

When I thought positively, the flowers around me looked even more splendid.

Warm sunlight enveloped me as if giving me courage.

I stopped dead in my tracks, clenching my fists.

“Alina. I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

At my words, she also stopped walking.

“I’m really sorry for being cold to you yesterday…and for pushing you away today. I just got emotional for a moment and did that…”

Alina looks at me with a blank expression.

I continued to express my feelings to her without stopping.

“But thank you so much for always being so kind to me. I will try to be of help here in the future.”

“….”

Is it because I’m feeling down?

For a brief moment her expression seemed to frown.

But when I looked again, she was just smiling.

There was silence for a while, and then she finally answered.

“You are truly amazing, Miss.”

Positive answer.

It felt like a ray of hope was blooming in my exhausted heart.

I think the right answer was to face each other properly and apologize.

“But, if possible, I think it would be more helpful to do nothing!”

It’s better to face each other and apologize properly…

An apple….

…

“…..Huh?”

“The young lady was brought by the master! Of course I should treat her kindly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have paid any attention.”

“Ah…..no..”

“We really appreciate your willingness to help us, but honestly, you’re not very good at this, are you?”

It would be easier for us if you just stayed still!

dump-

For a moment, my legs gave out and I fell to my knees on the bare floor.

Red blood began to flow from his pure white knees, but I didn’t notice it at all.

“Miss? Are you okay?”

Alina approaches me with concern.

I felt like my insides were twisted.

Her concern for me began to feel like cheap sympathy.

Her bright smile that had been smiling at me until just now began to look like a mocking sneer.

Their voices were heard again from around them.

– I think you have a clumsy side..-

– Even cleaning the room is weird..-

– I wish you would just stay still… –

“Ah..no..I..can help..”

really?

Is that really true?

I cause accidents everywhere I go. Can I be of any help to them?

Maybe, as Alina said, it would be better to do nothing?

My breathing became ragged again and my body began to tremble.

“I need help..”

“Miss.”

She gently holds my hand as it trembles violently.

“Ah..Alina..”

I looked up at her, and she was still smiling kindly.

“Still, you did a great job apologizing. I was touched.”

“…..”

“Now that you’ve made up your mind, go apologize to them too! I’m sure they’ll accept it.”

“Those…those people..?”

“I’m just nearby, so I guess we’ll meet up soon. Come on, follow me!”

I could only be dragged along by her like a helpless doll.

But was it just a wicked prank from God?

“I clearly said I hoped you wouldn’t come back.”

A man looking down at me.

This man, clad in gold-colored armor.

It was a man I had seen before.

“You came here to apologize… Are you doing this for a reason?”

“Ha….Listen carefully, young lady.”

“Dylan, that bastard. He retired from the Order due to the aftereffects of his trauma. You’ll never see him again.”

“So, I can’t accept the apology. Please go back now.”

like that.

The last rope that was protecting my sanity was snapped.