Chapter 8

As I stepped into the main building, I could feel the startled gazes of students in their uniforms directed at me. Well, it made sense since maids rarely visited the main building. Usually, they either waited in the dormitory or went out to buy necessary items, but here I was, sprinting into the main building with a lunch basket in hand. It was only natural that I was attracting attention dressed so unusually and walking at such an incredible pace for a maid.

Perhaps it was because I had entered just in time for lunch, but the garden of the main building was bustling with students. Among them, I quickly spotted a glint of silver hair. It was only natural since it stood out, but finding the young lady so easily was somehow a relief.

I approached Lilian and gently tapped her shoulder, still unnoticed. She jumped in surprise and turned to me.

“What, what is it? Catherine? What are you doing here?”

“I’ve brought a lunchbox, my lady. You usually don’t eat anything except for the food I make.”

“Ah, right? Oh! Yes!”

“Lilian! Weren’t we supposed to have lunch together? What are you doing over there?”

As Lilian flustered, another familiar face popped out from behind her. It was Yulia.

“Huh? Catherine!”

“Greetings, Lady Yulia. Have a nice lunch.”

“Hey! And you can just speak casually with me, you know?”

“It’s more comfortable for me this way.”

Yulia puffed up her cheeks at my dismissive remark, alternating her gaze between me and the basket I was holding. Ignoring that look, I handed the basket to Lilian, who took it with a blank expression.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”

“…Are you not going to join us, Catherine?”

At Yulia’s question, Lilian’s head perked up slightly. With a look that said she hadn’t even considered that, she nodded at me while glancing between me and the basket. I sighed quietly and shook my head lightly.

“…A maid cannot dine with her lady.”

Besides, I wasn’t that hungry since I had snacked a bit while cooking. That’s the privilege of being the cook, you know.

“But there are no class restrictions at the academy.”

“That may be true here, but I am still your maid, my lady. I will be returning to the mansion someday. Of course, you, Lilian, wouldn’t be that sort of person, but what if I failed to observe etiquette here and got whipped when we returned to the mansion? I’d probably resent Lady Yulia more than I would you, Lilian.”

“…Eep.”

At that, Yulia fell silent, as if she had no response. She probably knew that the old Lilian wouldn’t have acted like that, but as for the current Lilian, she couldn’t be sure, having only known her for about two days.

For a moment, Lilian looked a bit disappointed at my answer but quickly reverted her expression.

“By the way, my lady. Are you enjoying life at the academy?”

“Uh? Well, yeah. It’s okay, except for being a bit uncomfortable with the way people stare at me.”

“I see.”

If she were her usual self, she would have grabbed onto me and leaned on my shoulder to vent, but the current Lilian wasn’t my lady anymore. I didn’t know if she was hiding something or if she really felt that way, but if she said so, I had to refrain from questioning her. After all, that girl over there isn’t my lady, but she is still my master.

I think there’s a difference between a lady and a master. Fundamentally, I barely remember anything from before entering this mansion. I only have memories of being an orphan and getting beat up for stealing food in back alleys. I have always felt grateful to the lady who picked me up. Even if she did it out of whim that day, she was nothing less than my savior.

While my previous life wasn’t miserable, it certainly wasn’t happy either. This second life has completely changed that, but it didn’t mean the beginning was all roses. Since I was still just a 7 or 8-year-old child back then, it’s a miracle I didn’t end up becoming a street whore.

Catherine, well, I might have been quite pretty, so I’d probably have been a valuable one. Of course, saying that now holds no meaning. Everything I enjoy in life was swapped for something better all because of the lady’s whim.

Because of that, I couldn’t bring myself to forgive the current ‘Lilian’ who had replaced her. A shameless interloper occupying the place of my lady. But I couldn’t dispose of this ‘Lilian’ before the real lady returned. Once a human heart stops, decay begins immediately. In a world without science or even magic, keeping the lady’s body in its original state is impossible.

So for now, I let it be. Every time I feel the dissonance with the lady, a foul feeling arises, and it makes me nauseous, but for now, that Lilian is my master. I merely console myself with the thought that I’m just a humble maid serving my master.

“Catherine. Should I go back?”

“No, I won’t be heading back.”

Lilian spoke to me. If it were the lady, she would have simply grabbed my hand and put me on her lap. She used to fidget with my hand when she got bored. When she was younger, she’d often place me on her lap, but as she grew older, that occurrence diminished noticeably. Of course, she didn’t completely stop doing it.

‘Now that Catherine has grown bigger than me, she probably doesn’t want to do that anymore.’

‘Should I shrink a bit?’

‘What? Hahaha, what are you talking about?’

I still remember our conversations from back then. I had stored those memories in my drawer, each labeled with ‘memory.’ I could remember the lady’s breath, her voice, her laughter, and every action vividly.

I glanced at my left ring finger, which still bore the faint mark from where the lady bit me. I still could see the trace of her bite.

With a sigh caught in my throat, I gazed quietly at Lilian, who nodded in response. Suddenly, Lilian covered her face with her hand and spoke.

“What, what’s wrong?”

“If you tell me where we’ll be eating, I can prepare it directly.”

“Uh? Ah, I see! I was thinking of eating over there on that bench. Is that okay?”

“Yes.”

Nodding my head, I immediately went to the bench and set up our spot. Then, I neatly laid out the lunch items I had brought. The lunchbox contained salmon steak, sandwiches, salad, and even fruit—all things that Lilian liked. I arranged the various side dishes I knew she enjoyed and then looked at the two young ladies.

The spread was quite fancy for a mere lunchbox, making both of their eyes go wide. I slightly bowed to the two of them, feeling pleased.

“Well then, enjoy your meal. I’ll take a quick stroll around here.”

“Uh? Are you coming back?”

“Yes. I need to bring the lunch container back, after all.”

“Ah, I see.”

Nodding, Lilian sat down next to Yulia. There was plenty, so they would be fine sharing. I cast a quick glance at them and began to keep a lookout around. I had to prevent unnecessary approaches to Lilian.

Sure enough, I spotted several young men approaching the two, having noticed them. Most were young lords from lesser noble families who didn’t know who Lilian was, so it was easy to chase them away, but the one standing here before me was a different case.

“Hm? You. You’re Catherine, right? The maid of Lilian?”

How on earth does this prince know my name? That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but as a maid, having personal curiosities was forbidden, so I suppressed my questions and opened my mouth.

“That’s correct, Prince Bellus.”

“Hmm. So why are you protecting Lilian here?”

“She is having a meal with her friend.”

“Is that so? I’m fine, right? I’m her fiancé, after all.”

“Yes.”

I didn’t know why Lilian disliked Prince Bellus, but in the end, he was her fiancé—the one personally arranged by the Marquis of Portus. So, I couldn’t prevent them from meeting. Nodding, Prince Bellus offered me a kind smile and slightly bowed his head.

“Thank you. Can I pass by then?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

…Honestly, I want to block him. Despite that kind smile, if Lilian dislikes him, I wouldn’t want to let him through. Even if she says she’s not my lady anymore, she is still my master.

Sighing, I lightly kicked a stone in the garden. It was unlike a maid from the House of Portus to act this way.