Excuse (1)

Meeting Lizzie, talking with Seraphine, and even the Monster Wave.

About half a day had passed since the Imperial Palace Masquerade Ball, where many incidents had occurred overnight.

First, the Imperial Palace began its own investigation as soon as the Monster Wave incident that day concluded.

The Monster Wave incident that occurred at Verdan Lake this time was highly suspicious in many ways.

Originally, a Monster Wave occurring in the Imperial Capital itself was unthinkable.

After all, there was something like the Imperial Capital Guard precisely to prevent environments where monsters could spawn from forming in the first place.

Furthermore, the sheer number of monsters crawling out of just one lake implied that someone had intentionally caused the Monster Wave.

The Imperial Palace would likely conclude within a few days that it was the work of the Demon Tribe.

‘That’s only if the story flows according to the original plot, though.’

While there’s a possibility that the story, which had begun to twist somewhere, might suddenly flow in a different direction, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

At the very least, it would be entirely possible for them to discover that the Demon Tribe was involved in this Monster Wave.

Thus, the Imperial Palace would be quite busy investigating the Monster Wave incident, and rewards for those who distinguished themselves in this Monster Wave would likely be given out a little later.

‘In the original story, Agnes received the biggest reward, and then Orion, was it?’

If one were to strictly assess their contributions, Seraphine and Agnes would have been on similar levels, but as a member of the Imperial family, Seraphine only received a rather formal reward, not a monetary one.

Next, Orion would have been highly praised after Agnes for recruiting a talent like Agnes during the crisis and contributing to the defense.

And Karaham, who had defended the carriage parking lot near the South Gate, was also scheduled to receive a reward, but in the original story, he likely didn’t attend due to issues with his sister, Lizzie.

Karaham in the original story was a character who longed for his sister, Lizzie, until the very end.

‘Still, I don’t know for sure. I can’t know every single action of every character in the work.’

Honestly, I don’t even know the exact contents of the rewards. I just assume they received cash or rare materials.

Anyway, with my and Ethan’s intervention, there were many changes in positions regarding the Imperial Palace’s defense, so the reward procedures would have been altered as well.

Since there were six people who played a major role in this Monster Wave, it was highly likely that these six would be called upon during the award ceremony.

Princess Seraphine of the Moonlight Shadow.

Orion the Verdant Sage.

Agnes the Inferno.

Karaham the Tactless.

Pig Prince Ethan.

And me, Lillith, the Brave Exclusive Maid.

…Now that I list them like this, Karaham’s and Ethan’s titles are quite merciless, aren’t they?

Of course, they were villains in the original story, so it couldn’t be helped, but now that I have the chance to organize it like this, I can’t help but feel sorry for them.

Well, as for Karaham, judging by how he was when I last encountered him, his tactless demeanor seems to be unchanged, so that title probably isn’t awkward for him right now.

However, the title ‘Pig Prince’ felt completely unfitting for the current Ethan, no matter how I thought about it.

The current Ethan wasn’t a ‘pig,’ nor did he show any signs of becoming a villain.

If such a dramatic story change had happened to Ethan in the game, his title would surely have changed to something else.

And while I don’t know about others, my own title has certainly changed.

Three years ago, when I first checked my info window, my title was ‘Junior Maid’.

However, the title currently displayed in my info window was ‘Brave Exclusive Maid’.

It wouldn’t be strange now to give Ethan a title other than ‘Pig Prince’.

Of course, even if his title actually changed, there was no way for me to confirm it from my perspective.

From the start, titles were merely a system created to make it easier for players to distinguish characters from a player’s perspective.

In this world, there had been no instances of anyone checking another person’s title, let alone mine.

‘…But still, he’s definitely not the Pig Prince.’

What title would suit the current Ethan, who is no longer the Pig Prince?

Ethan, the Blackwood Noble Young Master? There aren’t just one or two nobles at Luminor Academy, so ‘Noble Young Master’ is too common a title.

Ethan, the Sword Master’s Son? That’s practically Harold’s title, not Ethan’s.

Slimmed-down Ethan, Black-haired Ethan, Swordsman Ethan, Imperial Palace West Gate Guardian Ethan, I’m Not Ethan….

…Now that I think about it, Ethan really didn’t have any catchy distinguishing features.

Moreover, any titles I could attach to him were merely elements that other characters already possessed.

Looking back, the disgusting Ethan from the past game truly had no character traits other than ‘pig’ and ‘nasty personality’.

Indeed, now that those two elements are gone from the current Ethan, he’s become somewhat subtle, hasn’t he?

Something unique to Ethan that other characters don’t have… Hmm…

“…No, why am I even bothering to think about this?”

Now that I think about it, there was absolutely no reason for me to be pondering Ethan’s title, was there?

It’s not like the title would be reflected in this world just because I came up with it.

My habit from being a core gamer in my previous life just popped out again. The habit of playing while wondering ‘What’s their title?’ whenever a new character appeared, back when I was really enjoying the game.

…Actually, what was important right now wasn’t Ethan’s changed title or anything like that.

What I should be worried about isn’t what title to give him, but my own personal safety.

After all, I had caused quite a stir during this Monster Wave.

The insane act of defeating the King Serpent with a large-scale magic spell called Mana Blast right before Ethan’s eyes.

‘It couldn’t be helped given the circumstances at the time…’

If I had hesitated there, not wanting to reveal my magic, not only I, but also Ethan and Princess Seraphine, would all have been in mortal danger.

And by the time enough people gathered to subdue the King Serpent later, there would probably have been even greater casualties than in the original story.

If Seraphine and Lillith had truly died in that incident, then this world itself would simply have no future.

Of course, even if I had saved the world’s future in the long run, I couldn’t just pretend that my use of magic never happened.

It was practically impossible to hope that Ethan would simply overlook this matter without any questions.

‘How am I going to explain this…?’

And so, I walked towards Ethan’s room, feeling a little uneasy, timing my arrival with his morning wake-up.

Desperately hoping in my heart that the method of apology I had prepared would somehow work.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Generally, what methods of apology are there when a commoner commits an offense against a noble?

First, a monetary form of appeasement was impossible in my situation. No matter how much money I, a Debt Maid, could accumulate, it wouldn’t be enough to silence the Blackwood Noble Young Master.

Moreover, it was impossible to deceive him with words this time. I had used magic so blatantly right before his eyes; it was absurd to think I could trick him.

Money wouldn’t work, and neither would deception through words.

Given my current situation, where other methods were unusable due to my status and limitations, there was only one way I could deal with Ethan.

…Somehow, I had no choice but to make up for it with my body.

-Thump!

“For this matter, I truly have no words to express my apologies, Young Master Ethan!”

“Ma-Maid?!”

“I sincerely apologize, Young Master, for not only being a mere commoner capable of using magic, but also for concealing that fact until now!”

-Thump! Thump!

“W-wait, Maid! I get it, stop! Don’t keep banging your forehead on the floor!”

Do you know the old saying, ‘You can’t spit on a smiling face’?

This is just my personal opinion, but that saying is wrong in many ways.

Just go into the Republic of Korea military, and you’ll find more than a few bastards who’ll spit phlegm on a smiling face.

In fact, it’s a miracle if the offending bastard doesn’t get beaten even more for ‘grinning’.

So, thinking in reverse, what’s a way to make a mistake and get beaten less?

Naturally, it was simply to prostrate oneself on the floor and beg before getting beaten.

Soft-hearted seniors can’t even think of tormenting you further the moment you prostrate yourself and beg, and even the ill-tempered bastards significantly reduce their nagging once you show a submissive attitude.

With the calculation that universal human reactions wouldn’t change just because the world I lived in did, I prostrated myself tightly on the floor, showing the utmost remorse.

After banging my forehead on the floor about five times and uttering apologies, Ethan, surprisingly, began to stop my actions.

“To Young Master, who trusts me, I concealed such an important fact, so even if I confess my sins with my very life, it wouldn’t be enough….”

“Ah, I get it, so stop now! I’m not particularly angry with Maid about this!”

“…Is that so?”

“L-let’s just sit down calmly and talk for now. Okay? Please.”

Indeed, the best way to gain the upper hand in a conversation was to make the other person feel sorry.

After all, it would be difficult to properly gain the upper hand in a conversation while harboring feelings of guilt.

…Though, in truth, Ethan hadn’t really done anything wrong to me right now.

As he said, I stopped banging my head on the floor and moved to the table as Ethan instructed, beginning our conversation.

Ethan met my gaze and began the conversation by recalling what had happened at the Imperial Palace last night.

“What happened yesterday, I was a little surprised.”

“…Is that so?”

“I never imagined that Maid could use such magic. And magic of such a large scale, at that.”

“Regarding what I’ve concealed until now, I apologize once again.”

“It’s fine. As I said before, I’m not particularly angry about it. Rather, I’m only grateful.”

“……”

“Originally, Maid intended to keep it hidden, right? But if it hadn’t been for Maid then, it would have led to even greater casualties. I, too, owe my life to Maid and Princess Seraphine.”

“I’m glad my magic was of help to Young Master.”

“Yes. Thank you, Maid. You must have wanted to keep it hidden, but you made a big decision.”

This feels a bit awkward, somehow.

Anyway, judging by Ethan’s reaction, he truly didn’t seem to mind that I had concealed my ability to use magic.

Moreover, he also seemed genuinely grateful that I had used magic to defeat the King Serpent.

At least, the situation was much better than some of the worst scenarios I had worried about.

…Though I couldn’t help but wonder if I had unnecessarily banged my head on the floor at first.

“So, Maid.”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

“Maid might dislike it if I ask this, but I feel like I absolutely must ask this question before we move on.”

“…What is it, Young Master?”

“Maid, are you perhaps a young lady born of noble lineage from somewhere?”

“……”

Finally, this question has come.

Faced with Ethan’s cautious question, I was once again engulfed in internal conflict.

Should I simply shake my head and choose to quietly bury the truth, as I have until now?

…Or, should I trust Ethan to keep the secret and reveal this bombshell of a secret that Lillith possesses?

It was the moment I became certain that I had arrived at a crossroads of a lifetime choice.