Chapter 41

“What the heck is that?”

As I returned to Lilian’s Room, she glared at my face, her brows furrowed. I tilted my head at her.

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb. What’s that thing stuck to your face?”

“It’s a gauze.”

Lilian scowled at my evasive answer. Oh, she sure reminded me of those noble ladies from back in the day. While I was lost in thought, Lilian suddenly grabbed my chin. Just as I was caught off guard by the sudden action, she poked the gauze. Ouch.

“That hurts.”

“…It doesn’t hurt, though.”

“Liar.”

Actually, it did hurt. I might’ve pretended to be tough in front of others, but it stung. After all, I just got hit by a guy who was at least 20 cm taller than me. If it didn’t hurt, that would be weird. Lilian seemed to know that too, biting her lip slightly.

“Who did it?”

“Charles Garington.”

“Charles, that jerk…!”

“My lady. Your language.”

“There’s no one around!”

Well, that’s true, but one’s usual manners tend to show in social settings. That’s why she gets corrected regularly. However, Lilian seemed oblivious to the empty space as she started swinging her fists in the air, fuming.

“Who gave him the right to lay a hand on my maid? This is a challenge to the House of Portus!”

“Oh.”

I couldn’t believe Lilian was saying such things. Has she gotten used to this world? As she shouted, acting like a true noble lady, Lilian sat down and began to think.

“My lady, we should be leaving soon.”

“…Hmm. Alright. Catherine, tell Yulia to stay behind and rest.”

“Yes.”

It was a sudden order, but of course, I had no intention of following it. I’ll sneak after them. After all, there’s nothing for me to do alone at the academy without Lilian.

“Think of it as a break and get some good rest, understood?”

“Yes.”

“…Your eyes look suspicious.”

“What do you mean?”

What part of my eyes looks suspicious? My face was expressionless. When I tilted my head in confusion, Lilian shrugged it off, saying it was nothing, and began packing her things. When I tried to help, she swatted my hand away.

“I have hands and feet, you know? Where do you think you’re going, patient?”

“…It’s not that painful.”

“Don’t lie.”

Lilian clicked her tongue and pulled me onto the bed. Looking down at me with a grave expression, she nodded and then headed out. What on earth was she planning? I lay there for a moment and, after the sounds died down completely, got up from the bed.

If it were her, she’d have come up multiple times to check on me, but it seems she’s still oblivious. I chuckled inwardly and quickly changed into the maid outfit gifted by the princess, preparing my gear. Hmm… it’s probably best not to take the black one. I settled on a few daggers tucked into a holder strapped to my thigh and headed out.

#

“…Catherine?”

Yulia’s eyes widened as she absorbed the whole story. Seeing her like that, Lilian suddenly remembered her healing abilities.

“Yeah. Oh, wait. Should I have asked Yulia to take a look?”

“I think Catherine would refuse.”

“Yeah, that brick-headed maid…”

What kind of healing power would one use for such wounds? Imagining the maid’s resolute refusal only made Lilian angrier, and she gritted her teeth. Seeing her like that made Yulia burst into laughter. Unlike the usual Lilian, she seemed just like the Lilian from the previous round.

Complicated but calm, elegant yet vulgar, graceful yet ugly. That was the phrase that could describe Lilian from the last round. While it was just quoting someone who spread rumors in high society, Yulia believed it to be accurate.

As if she had multiple personalities, her temperament was a jumble of extremes. That’s why when people were asked about Lilian, they’d each express a different impression. Despite her chaotic nature, there was one word that consistently pierced through that description.

Direct. Lilian was one to express her feelings bluntly. While the current Lilian was also somewhat like that, she mostly did so only with those who entered her inner circle. She displayed her feelings candidly to Yulia, even more so to Catherine, but in general society, she hid herself away.

One might argue that everyone is like that, but Lilian certainly took it to extremes. While her rogue behavior lessened, she maintained walls against those who approached her. Because of this, recently, those trying to approach her in social circles had been dwindling.

Of course, one reason for her spending time with Yulia was part of it, but the main reason was undoubtedly the wall she built. While all nobles have some walls between them, the thickness of Lilian’s wall felt beyond imagination.

Being icy and beautiful, erecting a wall like that would naturally deter people from approaching. Plus, there were those old rumors that only made things worse.

“…So, is there any way to get revenge on that Charles jerk?”

“Huh?”

“What? Were you listening?”

Yulia smiled softly at Lilian, who narrowed her eyes and stared back at her.

“Ah, sorry. I wasn’t listening. I was lost in thought.”

“Thinking of something else in front of people?”

Lilian pouted, and Yulia couldn’t help but smile as she gently grabbed Lilian’s arm.

“Say it again, okay?”

“…Ugh.”

Had it not been for that expression, Lilian sighed and opened her mouth.

“I was saying I want to get revenge on Charles for what he did to Catherine.”

“Hmm, revenge, huh? Oh, by the way, where’s Catherine? Didn’t she come along?”

“Nope. I told her to rest.”

Would Catherine just rest without a fight? Yulia pondered this thought. Although this was the first time she’d had an earnest conversation with Catherine this round, she felt she had a good grasp of her character. That was likely because Catherine, despite having a blank expression, often wore her emotions on her sleeve.

Would the workaholic maid try to create tasks to keep herself busy even if she was told to rest? Just then, Yulia was struck by the thought. After all, Catherine was most lively when serving alongside Lilian.

As she contemplated this, Yulia suddenly had an idea.

“How about this?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Seeing Lilian with anticipation in her eyes, Yulia smiled and organized her thoughts before speaking slowly.

“Let’s cut ties.”

“…What?!”

Lilian looked at Yulia in surprise as she smiled brightly. Yet Yulia’s grin didn’t fade.

#

“Mmm.”

I couldn’t hear them well from so far away. Well, if I could hear what they were saying inside this carriage, I wouldn’t be working as a maid, would I? With that thought in mind, I leaned back against the luggage beside me, staring blankly outside. The clattering sound of the cart jostled in my ears.

The noble’s carriage was nice, but the luggage cart they brought along focused on sturdiness. After all, who would expect a person to ride in a luggage cart? It’s a fair assumption.

Yet, I did ride it. Not because I rejected normalcy as a maid, though. There was originally a carriage prepared for me, but Lilian told the guiding professor that I wouldn’t be coming, and they turned the carriage away. So yeah, it was supposed to be there, but it’s not.

Because of that, my waist and bottom were being tortured continuously. Every time the cart bounced, I fought against the urge to scream.

‘Cut ties… cut ties?’

What business do they have discussing a thing like that? Did they have a fight? But the atmosphere seemed a bit too cheerful for that. I leaned in, attempting to catch more of their conversation.

‘So, do we mean to say we should do that? What on earth does that mean?’

Ugh. I should give up. There was just too much distance to catch even a full sentence, let alone single words. Eventually, I shifted my position, hoping to get comfortable.

First. Climb on top of the luggage. But it seemed I’d bounce off every time it jolted, so I’ll pass.

Second. Move the bags to support my waist and bottom. It’d be comfortable, but it seems it’d leave a weird mark on the luggage bags, so I’ll pass.

Third. Try to find a comfortable position, say lying down. It felt somewhat okay, but lying among the heaps of luggage twisted my body into a strange position.

If I got caught, it’d be a bit embarrassing, no. Honestly, it felt incredibly embarrassing. With that thought, I stared blankly out the window. I was in a deep daze. Just then, someone approached from the side. As I hastily tried to sit upright, the person who’d gotten closer spoke in disbelief.

“What on earth are you doing here?”