episode_0083

“To Miss Lillis Rosewood.”

“….”

Upon seeing the first line of the letter, a chilling sentence that made my skin crawl, I was momentarily startled, but managed to calm my surprised heart somehow.

It couldn’t be helped. Seraphine was always a character with remarkable insight even in the game.

After Ethan revealed his recent appearance at the masked ball, love letters from various noble young ladies would surely come pouring in from all directions.

It would be too much for one noblewoman to verify all the love letters, so as the head maid, I would likely be tasked with managing them all. For Seraphine, it was probably a ‘predictable situation.’

“It’s a bit eerie to meet in real life after all.”

It couldn’t be helped. That’s just the kind of character she was from the beginning.

It would be absurd to deny Seraphine’s character now. I gave up on that thought and proceeded to read Seraphine’s letter.

The letter she pretended to send to Ethan, but actually directed to me.

“Have you been well, Miss Lillis Rosewood? I apologize for contacting you in this manner due to the many eyes watching, but I trust that as someone who has cooperated with the Moonlight before, you can understand who I am without me revealing my identity. Therefore, I will not include any personal information in this letter for your safety.

I am truly indebted to you. If you hadn’t cooperated with me that day without any suspicion, we would have suffered much greater losses. Thinking about the alternative choices we could have made, I consider it fortunate that things ended as they did thanks to you.

I will refrain from explaining how you know about my intelligence increasing every Moonlight. Despite being a commoner, you are able to handle that power as well. Rather, considering that day, I believe I should reward you adequately, and I am currently preparing for that.

I have written the details on the back of this letter.”

‘The back of the letter?’

…Is she referring to the second page sealed with sealing wax?

It’s best to check Seraphine’s letter as soon as possible for safety reasons, as I learned in the game, so I immediately used a letter opener to separate the second page.

Compared to the first page, which was filled with greetings and past events, the second page had only a short sentence written in the center of the letter.

“I will see you soon to talk.”

…Soon?

When exactly is ‘soon’?

For Seraphine to send such an ambiguous message through a letter, there was only one situation I knew of.

When a person like Seraphine uses a moderate expression, it must be a situation where there is no problem even if it is written like this…

‘No way.’

With a thought in mind, I peeked out the window and spotted a splendid carriage approaching near the mansion.

I had to put aside everything I was doing and call for Ethan in the next room.

“My lord! Princess Seraphine has arrived at Blackwood Mansion!”

“…Now?”

First, I had to welcome the noble guest who had suddenly arrived at Blackwood Mansion.

***

“It’s been a while, Lord Ethan.”

“Thank you for taking the time to visit Blackwood Mansion, Princess Seraphine.”

A sudden noble reception that began in the reception room of Blackwood Mansion.

In the reception room where Seraphine and Ethan sat facing each other, all sorts of household staff had gathered around the table, creating a tense atmosphere.

Most of the servants were tense as they saw the nobility for the first time, with the male servants particularly focused on Seraphine’s appearance.

Just as it seemed difficult to have a serious conversation in this situation, Seraphine waved her hand, clearing out the crowded reception room with a single gesture.

“I have some personal matters to discuss, so could everyone please step back except for those who are necessary?” Seraphine declared, causing the Blackwood Manor servants to hurriedly leave the reception room.

As I hesitated whether I should also leave in this situation, Ethan decisively made the decision regarding my whereabouts.

“So be it. Everyone except for my exclusive maid, Lillith, should step back.”

…I guess I should stay after all.

After all, it wouldn’t make sense for the main participants to disappear after sending me a letter. The conversation we need to have is probably about me at least half of the time.

After all the other servants had left the manor, only four people remained in the reception room.

From the Blackwood family, Ethan and I.

And the noble Seraphine and her guard, Luke.

Luke is probably Seraphine’s closest confidant, so he was probably left behind. He wouldn’t casually reveal any information about me…

“What are you doing, Luke? You should leave too.”

“…Me?”

“I said only necessary people should stay for this personal conversation.”

“…!”

Realizing he wasn’t considered ‘necessary,’ Luke showed a shocked expression, but he couldn’t refuse Seraphine’s order and quietly withdrew instead.

…Except for the resentful glare he gave me before leaving the reception room.

‘I didn’t stay because I wanted to.’

Why is she jealous that Seraphine and Ethan have something to tell me?

Thinking that she might be holding a grudge against me for no reason, I pondered, and in the midst of my dilemma, Ethan, who had moved from the center of the reception room sofa to a corner, called me over and pointed to the empty seat.

“Sit down, maid.”

“Yes?”

“Since we will mainly be talking about the maid, it would be better to sit together and listen rather than standing separately.”

“I agree, Miss Lillith.”

“…Understood.”

With both of them urging me, I reluctantly sat down in the empty seat.

With Seraphine in front of me and Ethan beside me.

Sitting between the princess who could crush me with her status and the duke, I cautiously observed the situation.

It was Seraphine who broke the silence and started the conversation.

“First, I must explain the reason why I have come to the Blackwood Manor.”

“…?”

“…?”

“I sincerely thank the two of you who put in the most effort in subduing King Serpent during the monster wave at the Royal Palace.”

“Oh, no… It was just… that much…”

“If my humble efforts were of help to the Empire, I am more than delighted.”

Unlike me, who was at a loss and flustered, Ethan responded as if it were all too natural.

Seeing this natural interaction, it was clear that he was indeed a nobleman.

“Today, instead of inviting you to the Royal Palace, I have personally come to the Blackwood Manor as a gesture of gratitude. It would be rude in many ways to make you come all the way to the palace, so I wanted to express my thanks here. It is a small token of appreciation for your efforts in saving as many lives as possible until the very end.”

“Oh, no… It’s nothing…”

“No need to be so formal, Your Highness. If you call, it is only natural for a noble to respond to that call, isn’t it?”

…Why is Edan acting so sweet today?

Could it be that he is really interested in Seraphine?

Even though he said one thing with his words, in reality, Edan is no different from any other guy…

“And also, it would be even more difficult to create such a place in the palace.”

“…?”

“Including Master Edan and Miss Lillis, there is no other place where we can leisurely converse. Isn’t that right?”

“W-well….”

Certainly, if I had been invited to the palace with Edan, we wouldn’t have been able to create such a space.

It seems like only the three of us, Seraphine, Edan, and me as Edan’s personal maid, can have a conversation in this environment.

“May I ask how things are progressing as I mentioned before, Your Highness?”

“It’s a bit tight on time, but I think we can complete it within half a year. No matter what, attaining the rank of a viscount seems to be the best outcome.”

“That will be sufficient. As long as we can prove the fact that you are a noble, that’s all that matters.”

…What? What are they talking about now?

They called me over and suddenly started having a serious conversation amongst themselves, which somehow made me feel a strange sense of unease.

Seraphine, who was sitting across from me, confirmed my reaction first and then told me about something that she and Edan were discussing.

“Don’t worry, Miss Lillis. We are not actually taking away the status of other nobles, but rather creating a new fictional family.”

“…What?”

“We can’t keep the secret that maids can use magic forever. Fortunately, Your Highness said that half a year should be enough, so we should be able to make it in time for next year’s academy enrollment.”

“W-wait a minute. I can’t understand anything you’re saying. Creating a new family, academy enrollment… These are all unfamiliar stories to me….”

The more they explained, the more questions arose in my mind, and the unease in my chest grew even faster.

Sensing that something was amiss, Seraphine cautiously asked Edan about what they were discussing.

“Master Edan, did you not properly explain this matter to Miss Lillis?”

“I did mention it once before, but this is the first time I am providing detailed information about it.”

“…You told me about it, Master Edan? I’m truly sorry, but I have no recollection of hearing anything related to your conversation just now.”

“What are you talking about? I told you before. I said I would help the maid who is struggling with not being able to use magic. I also mentioned that we might be able to get cooperation from Princess Seraphine.”

“T-that… I just understood it as a promise to keep the secret that I can use magic….?”

Edan, who was spouting incomprehensible words, made me feel quite flustered, and Seraphine, who was observing us, continued to explain the previous conversation we had just had.

“Miss Lillis.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Since it seems that Master Edan has not heard the full story from you, let me clearly explain it again.”

“….”

“Miss Lillis, do you have any intention of enrolling in the academy as a noble?”

“….Me?”

“Enrolling in the academy?”

…What is going on?