“Just now… What did you say…?”
Seeing the dying gaze of the young lady, profound regret pressed heavily on my heart. I could realize again how thoughtless my remarks had been.
In this grand manor, there’s no one for the young lady but me. At least for now, in such circumstances, I must be the only one she can rely on. How anxious she must have felt when I said I was leaving.
Even though it might be okay with others, I shouldn’t have joked like that with the young lady. At least until she gains several allies on her side.
The young lady stood motionless, her gaze fixed. Approaching her and embracing her tightly, she came into my arms without any resistance.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I spoke without thinking in a fit of anger.”
Perhaps she was quite shocked, as the young lady didn’t respond at all. I attempted to speak again with a forced smile.
“I couldn’t leave you alone, my lady. After all, how much does a personal maid’s position pay!”
“…Is it because of the money that you’re here by my side?”
“Oh… haha… It was just a joke…”
The young lady’s eyes grew even colder. It seemed like my attempt to change the mood with a joke was futile.
She wrapped her arms around my waist tightly. Despite the strain on my waist due to her strong grip, I knew she didn’t mean to hurt me, so I endured it.
The faint tremble through our touching flesh. I gazed at her slowly. The young lady was trembling slightly, her head bowed low.
Her complexion was pale. Despite her efforts to hide it, tears were forming in her two blue eyes.
Though I thought she had improved somewhat, the wounds in the young lady’s heart seemed to persist. Suppressing my own sorrow, I gently stroked her hair.
“I’m truly sorry, my lady. I won’t say such things again.”
“…Don’t leave.”
Her voice trembled. She looked at me with eyes wet like a deserted puppy.
“You can’t go anywhere. You are my maid… You belong to me…”
“Of course. I won’t leave you behind anywhere.”
I nodded in response. Her attachment to me seemed strong, but it was okay. This attachment would naturally diminish once she entered the academy.
When the young lady enters the academy, she will make numerous valuable connections. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll make it happen somehow.
“I might end up telling you to leave me alone later.”
Just like how a teenage daughter pushes away her mother, perhaps the young lady will find me annoying once she makes many friends.
I might feel a bit sad when that happens.
I lowered myself to meet the young lady’s eyes. Before, I would have had to kneel to be at eye level, but now, a slight bend was enough due to my slightly increased height.
“Sob…”
The young lady sniffled with her face reddened and tears welling up in her eyes. Seeing the adorable sight of the child, I used my sleeve to wipe away her tears.
“Are you feeling a bit calmer now?”
The young lady timidly nodded her head. Suppressing the urge to laugh at her excessively cute reaction, I gently patted her backside and said, “You’re quite brave, Miss.”
“…Don’t say that again, Alice.”
I really shouldn’t say it again. I hadn’t expected her to be so shaken.
Responding to the mixed emotions in her voice, I nodded without hesitation, and finally, the young lady seemed to be gradually calming down.
Stars seemed to fill her blue eyes once again, and the chilly atmosphere around us began to ease. Seeing the young lady return to her usual self, I heaved a sigh of relief.
“I’ll prepare some meat for breakfast tomorrow.”
“…Okay.”
At the mention of meat, the young lady’s eyes brightened slightly. She couldn’t resist meat, our young lady.
“Shall we go to the bathroom? I’ll help you wash up.”
“…Okay.”
I took the quiet young lady’s small hand and led her to the bathroom. Although I couldn’t shake off the lingering energy she emitted earlier, I decided to postpone dealing with it for now.
“She’ll be fine once she enters the Academy.”
Since there was no one else by her side except me, she might be fixating on me. Indeed, no matter how much I thought about it, the only clear solution seemed to be the Academy.
I clenched my fists and reaffirmed my goal.
“Is the water temperature okay?”
“Yeah… it’s good…”
The young lady’s silky hair flowed through my fingers like liquid. It had become unbelievably soft compared to three years ago.
Was it only her hair? Her skin was not just fair, but almost pure white without any blemishes. Her skin was so flawless, it was almost like a doll’s.
She was beautiful before, but now, she had become breathtakingly stunning. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it was all my achievement.
While people used to avoid her in the past, now, even the servants of Balaxar occasionally glanced at her radiant beauty. I couldn’t help but feel proud every time.
“Ahem.”
As a sense of accomplishment washed over me, she looked at me with puzzled eyes. I cleared my throat and continued to comb her hair.
I wondered how much time had passed in the steam-filled bathroom. Whether it was because it was boring to just sit in the bathtub or not, she looked at me with a bored expression.
“I’m bored, Alice.”
“Well… shall I tell you an interesting story?”
“Yeah.”
With curiosity sparked in her eyes, she nodded her head. After briefly considering what story to tell, I decided to talk about Lucy.
Certainly, here’s the text with each line starting from a new paragraph:
“Do you know the story of the saint who appeared a few years ago? She’s the same age as you.”
“..Yeah.”
“Well, if you enroll in the academy, you might meet her. Interested?”
The image of Miss and Lucy walking together, how enchanting and beautiful it must be. But contrary to my expectations, Miss’s expression seemed indifferent.
“..Not really interested.”
“Come on, Miss, she’s the saint who appeared in the empire after hundreds of years. Show some interest.”
“..Does Alice have an interest in the saint?”
“Well..”
It’s an interest in Lucy.
At first, I was quite curious, but since meeting Lucy in person, I hadn’t thought much about her. It just didn’t spark any excitement, unlike what I had imagined for the heroine.
“Well, at first maybe. But now, I just think she could be a good friend to Miss.”
“….Hmm.”
Miss’s soft cheek, visible from behind, twitched. After dipping into the bathtub, Miss swirled the water gently, creating bubbles on the surface.
Ah.
That’s right.
While I was endlessly admiring Miss, a thought suddenly occurred to me. Oh yes, that incident happened too.
As I pondered over an amusing story, that event resurfaced in my memory.
“Miss, a knight confessed his feelings to me a few days ago.”
“Pfft!”
Miss’s foot, resting on the edge of the bathtub, slipped, and with a strange groan, she plopped into the water.
“Oh.. Miss?”
The warm water splashed around, soaking my clothes and face. But I didn’t care and urgently pulled Miss’s face out of the bathtub.
“Cough.. Cough..!”
“Are… are you okay, Miss?”
After coughing for a while, Miss turned towards me and grabbed my wrist.
“…When and where?”
“What? Um.. About a week ago? He said he was in love with me and wanted to get to know me better.”
Thud-
Was it a hallucination? For a moment, it felt like hearing a bizarre sound twisting my spine. I looked at Miss with a bewildered expression. Miss, though not as flustered as before, was staring at me with somewhat sunken eyes.
“..So, what did you say?”
“Miss, of course, I rejected him. Where do I have time for romance?”
I have no intention or desire for it. Why would I date a guy? Even if I were dying, I wouldn’t have such thoughts.
Damn, it’s just not my nature. Such things would never happen to me.
If I can’t go back to Earth again… I’ll probably spend my life running a café here and grow old without dying. Well, that’s happiness for me.
I don’t know, though.
“…………..”
“Don’t worry. Just raising a girl is too much for me.”
Her eyes seemed to have calmed down a little. I smiled covering my mouth. You’re so cute, too.
Jealous for this
I can’t believe it.
I’m in charge of all her household chores. Of course, that’s my guess, but maybe she’s the one whom I’m spending time with.
Maybe she was worried that she would be neglected by me.
“I’m done washing up, lady. I’m out now.”
Before I knew it, the subtle scent of flowers was leaking from the child’s body. I brought a towel and shook off the wet lady’s head.
“Name.”
“What?”
I tilted my head at the incomprehensible remark of the lady. The lady looked at me with blazing eyes for some reason and spoke again
All.
“The Knight. What’s his name?”
“Uh…well…”
I don’t know why, but..
I felt like I should never tell her.
“Just now… What did you say…?”
Seeing the dying gaze of the young lady, profound regret pressed heavily on my heart. I could realize again how thoughtless my remarks had been.
In this grand manor, there’s no one for the young lady but me. At least for now, in such circumstances, I must be the only one she can rely on. How anxious she must have felt when I said I was leaving.
Even though it might be okay with others, I shouldn’t have joked like that with the young lady. At least until she gains several allies on her side.
The young lady stood motionless, her gaze fixed. Approaching her and embracing her tightly, she came into my arms without any resistance.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I spoke without thinking in a fit of anger.”
Perhaps she was quite shocked, as the young lady didn’t respond at all. I attempted to speak again with a forced smile.
“I couldn’t leave you alone, my lady. After all, how much does a personal maid’s position pay!”
“…Is it because of the money that you’re here by my side?”
“Oh… haha… It was just a joke…”
The young lady’s eyes grew even colder. It seemed like my attempt to change the mood with a joke was futile.
She wrapped her arms around my waist tightly. Despite the strain on my waist due to her strong grip, I knew she didn’t mean to hurt me, so I endured it.
The faint tremble through our touching flesh. I gazed at her slowly. The young lady was trembling slightly, her head bowed low.
Her complexion was pale. Despite her efforts to hide it, tears were forming in her two blue eyes.
Though I thought she had improved somewhat, the wounds in the young lady’s heart seemed to persist. Suppressing my own sorrow, I gently stroked her hair.
“I’m truly sorry, my lady. I won’t say such things again.”
“…Don’t leave.”
Her voice trembled. She looked at me with eyes wet like a deserted puppy.
“You can’t go anywhere. You are my maid… You belong to me…”
“Of course. I won’t leave you behind anywhere.”
I nodded in response. Her attachment to me seemed strong, but it was okay. This attachment would naturally diminish once she entered the academy.
When the young lady enters the academy, she will make numerous valuable connections. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll make it happen somehow.
“I might end up telling you to leave me alone later.”
Just like how a teenage daughter pushes away her mother, perhaps the young lady will find me annoying once she makes many friends.
I might feel a bit sad when that happens.
I lowered myself to meet the young lady’s eyes. Before, I would have had to kneel to be at eye level, but now, a slight bend was enough due to my slightly increased height.
“Sob…”
The young lady sniffled with her face reddened and tears welling up in her eyes. Seeing the adorable sight of the child, I used my sleeve to wipe away her tears.
“Are you feeling a bit calmer now?”
The young lady timidly nodded her head. Suppressing the urge to laugh at her excessively cute reaction, I gently patted her backside and said, “You’re quite brave, Miss.”
“…Don’t say that again, Alice.”
I really shouldn’t say it again. I hadn’t expected her to be so shaken.
Responding to the mixed emotions in her voice, I nodded without hesitation, and finally, the young lady seemed to be gradually calming down.
Stars seemed to fill her blue eyes once again, and the chilly atmosphere around us began to ease. Seeing the young lady return to her usual self, I heaved a sigh of relief.
“I’ll prepare some meat for breakfast tomorrow.”
“…Okay.”
At the mention of meat, the young lady’s eyes brightened slightly. She couldn’t resist meat, our young lady.
“Shall we go to the bathroom? I’ll help you wash up.”
“…Okay.”
I took the quiet young lady’s small hand and led her to the bathroom. Although I couldn’t shake off the lingering energy she emitted earlier, I decided to postpone dealing with it for now.
“She’ll be fine once she enters the Academy.”
Since there was no one else by her side except me, she might be fixating on me. Indeed, no matter how much I thought about it, the only clear solution seemed to be the Academy.
I clenched my fists and reaffirmed my goal.
“Is the water temperature okay?”
“Yeah… it’s good…”
The young lady’s silky hair flowed through my fingers like liquid. It had become unbelievably soft compared to three years ago.
Was it only her hair? Her skin was not just fair, but almost pure white without any blemishes. Her skin was so flawless, it was almost like a doll’s.
She was beautiful before, but now, she had become breathtakingly stunning. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it was all my achievement.
While people used to avoid her in the past, now, even the servants of Balaxar occasionally glanced at her radiant beauty. I couldn’t help but feel proud every time.
“Ahem.”
As a sense of accomplishment washed over me, she looked at me with puzzled eyes. I cleared my throat and continued to comb her hair.
I wondered how much time had passed in the steam-filled bathroom. Whether it was because it was boring to just sit in the bathtub or not, she looked at me with a bored expression.
“I’m bored, Alice.”
“Well… shall I tell you an interesting story?”
“Yeah.”
With curiosity sparked in her eyes, she nodded her head. After briefly considering what story to tell, I decided to talk about Lucy.
Certainly, here’s the text with each line starting from a new paragraph:
“Do you know the story of the saint who appeared a few years ago? She’s the same age as you.”
“..Yeah.”
“Well, if you enroll in the academy, you might meet her. Interested?”
The image of Miss and Lucy walking together, how enchanting and beautiful it must be. But contrary to my expectations, Miss’s expression seemed indifferent.
“..Not really interested.”
“Come on, Miss, she’s the saint who appeared in the empire after hundreds of years. Show some interest.”
“..Does Alice have an interest in the saint?”
“Well..”
It’s an interest in Lucy.
At first, I was quite curious, but since meeting Lucy in person, I hadn’t thought much about her. It just didn’t spark any excitement, unlike what I had imagined for the heroine.
“Well, at first maybe. But now, I just think she could be a good friend to Miss.”
“….Hmm.”
Miss’s soft cheek, visible from behind, twitched. After dipping into the bathtub, Miss swirled the water gently, creating bubbles on the surface.
Ah.
That’s right.
While I was endlessly admiring Miss, a thought suddenly occurred to me. Oh yes, that incident happened too.
As I pondered over an amusing story, that event resurfaced in my memory.
“Miss, a knight confessed his feelings to me a few days ago.”
“Pfft!”
Miss’s foot, resting on the edge of the bathtub, slipped, and with a strange groan, she plopped into the water.
“Oh.. Miss?”
The warm water splashed around, soaking my clothes and face. But I didn’t care and urgently pulled Miss’s face out of the bathtub.
“Cough.. Cough..!”
“Are… are you okay, Miss?”
After coughing for a while, Miss turned towards me and grabbed my wrist.
“…When and where?”
“What? Um.. About a week ago? He said he was in love with me and wanted to get to know me better.”
Thud-
Was it a hallucination? For a moment, it felt like hearing a bizarre sound twisting my spine. I looked at Miss with a bewildered expression. Miss, though not as flustered as before, was staring at me with somewhat sunken eyes.
“..So, what did you say?”
“Miss, of course, I rejected him. Where do I have time for romance?”
I have no intention or desire for it. Why would I date a guy? Even if I were dying, I wouldn’t have such thoughts.
Damn, it’s just not my nature. Such things would never happen to me.
If I can’t go back to Earth again… I’ll probably spend my life running a café here and grow old without dying. Well, that’s happiness for me.
I don’t know, though.
“…………..”
“Don’t worry. Just raising a girl is too much for me.”
Her eyes seemed to have calmed down a little. I smiled covering my mouth. You’re so cute, too.
Jealous for this
I can’t believe it.
I’m in charge of all her household chores. Of course, that’s my guess, but maybe she’s the one whom I’m spending time with.
Maybe she was worried that she would be neglected by me.
“I’m done washing up, lady. I’m out now.”
Before I knew it, the subtle scent of flowers was leaking from the child’s body. I brought a towel and shook off the wet lady’s head.
“Name.”
“What?”
I tilted my head at the incomprehensible remark of the lady. The lady looked at me with blazing eyes for some reason and spoke again
All.
“The Knight. What’s his name?”
“Uh…well…”
I don’t know why, but..
I felt like I should never tell her.
