#### Episode 5: The Reckless One and the Timid One’s Cohabitation Life (2)
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“What’s the matter?”
I felt uneasy and grabbed my nerves while asking the maid, who had rushed to find me but looked somewhat troubled.
“It… It’s that I was helping the Young Lady with her bath, and… well, there are many large and small injuries on her body…”
“Ah…”
It made sense. Cecilia being here in our home was an unexpected situation, so her parents probably hadn’t planned ways to conceal her daughter’s wounds.
The maid relayed that Cecilia’s body, which had likely suffered due to her education until the day before, was covered in numerous wounds and bruises. The Young Lady had been very anxious about receiving assistance during her bath, but after finally calming her down and removing her clothes, the maid was so shocked by the sight that she decided to report to me once she’d let the Lady soak in the tub for a bit.
“Well, why did you come to report to me? Normally, wouldn’t you report to her parents?”
“That… That’s because the Young Lady’s fiancé is you, Master, and… well, it feels like the Lady really depends on you.”
“Depends… huh…”
The maid’s impression didn’t seem entirely accurate. Cecilia depending on me? Just earlier when we had a private conversation, I hurt her with harsh words, so that didn’t sound plausible at all.
Still, among the people in this manor, I’m the only one who has tried to engage her in conversation, so it’s natural that she behaves more closely with me. There’s no other reason.
“For now, don’t say anything to her parents. The Young Lady would most likely prefer her condition not be known by too many people, and even if it became public, it wouldn’t help. I’ll call in a cleric under the guise of a medical examination to treat her wounds and bruises. And you must absolutely keep this a secret.”
“Yes, yes sir!”
She’s such a good maid… now that I observe her more carefully.
Her face is pleasant, and from the fact that she came to report to me first, she seems to have decent instincts. Her countenance seems somewhat puppy-like, and I have a feeling Cecilia would trust her readily and follow her well.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
“W-What?! Oh, my name is Bell! I’ve only been at this manor for less than a year!”
If her tenure is less than a year, she’s a relatively new maid. I imagine it would be easier to manage her, being newer and perhaps a little clumsy compared to the long-serving staff.
Based on her personality, she seems bright and cheerful, and given what I’ve seen so far, she would make an excellent companion for the Young Lady.
“You’ll stop what you’re currently doing and become the Young Lady’s personal attendant moving forward. From now on, you’ll take responsibility for supporting Cecilia. Understand?”
“E-Excuse me?! But I’ve been here for less than a year, and I’m the lowest ranking maid…”
“You’re the first of the household staff to meet Cecilia, and you already know her secrets. There are more reasons, but I believe you’re more than capable of taking care of the Young Lady.”
“…”
Bell stared at me with sudden surprise.
Of course, entrusting someone so new with such responsibility might seem surprising.
In her eyes, it might feel like an extraordinary promotion.
But if this increases her respect and loyalty to Cecilia and me, that would be ideal.
“I… understand. Starting today, I will take on the role of Cecilia Young Lady’s personal maid during her stay at House Netorie.”
“Oh, good. If anyone asks, tell them I instructed you to do this. I’ll let the head butler and the head maid know. Get to work.”
“Yes… I’ll take my leave first.”
Bell bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle and disappeared briskly.
“Damn those bastards…”
As soon as Bell left, a curse slipped out.
I can’t fathom how they could make someone as small and delicate as her suffer in such excruciating ways.
Originally, I intended to deliberately ignore Cecilia to reduce her interest in me, but doing so would only increase her heartache.
Even though my parents seem to approve of her, Cecilia’s timid nature and the fact that they’re adults might make her slightly afraid.
“I’ll have to adjust my approach.”
Instead of being the bad guy, I’ll aim for the gruff type.
If I provide Cecilia with some emotional support while maintaining my gruff exterior, her feelings for me won’t increase significantly. This would also amplify her emotions toward the protagonist of her story.
She’d be drawn to a righteous knight who’s always cheerful rather than a reckless, gruff fiancé.
For now, I’ll need to practice the brooding bad boy style by looking in the mirror in my room.
—
“Hmm~ An interesting young Master, huh?”
Bell, who’d been returning to the bathroom after receiving Rab’s orders, entered with a different expression entirely.
Unlike her trembling demeanor in front of Rab, she now wore a mischievous look, and her previously rabbit-like aura had been replaced with a sharp, snake-like gaze.
“This mission to infiltrate is getting more interesting…”
In the past few years, the Netorie family had rapidly risen in prominence after striking several large mines, essentially becoming nouveau riche.
Given this, it was highly likely that other families would start trying to undermine them, so they decided to infiltrate to gather intelligence.
Things got even more interesting when they discovered the Netorie family had ties to the Duke and Duchess.
“Hmm… when he said I could easily support the Young Lady, could he possibly have figured out my true identity?”
The ultimate ruler of the back alleys and the leader of the Black Blade Guild, Belie.
She’d decided to join the household to gather information while on holiday but had quickly realized the situation was much more entertaining than expected.
“Nah, if he knew, he definitely wouldn’t have hired an assassin like me. Besides, silencing a Count’s son would be no trouble at all…”
This was the reason Belie willingly accepted Rab’s orders.
“Oh~ Spending time with such a cute Young Lady! The way she smells so nice… I’ll have to sneak a sniff while she’s asleep one day…”
Because she was an obsessive lover of beautiful girls.
—
“Young Lady! I’m here~”
Bellie entered the bathroom with a bright smile and cheerful greetings.
“Ah! You… you’ve arrived?”
Startled by Bell’s sudden appearance, Cecilia quickly submerged her hands, which had been playing with soap bubbles, into the water, before pretending everything was fine. But Bellie, who had already noticed this, only found Cecilia all the cuter for it.
“Sorry~ I came looking for the essential oil that would suit the Young Lady, but I couldn’t decide on one since they all seemed appropriate…”
“Is… is that so? Anything would be fine for me…”
“Nonsense! How could I just pick anything for the Young Lady? I’ll have to be extra careful and choose the one that will make you stand out most prominently!”
Then, Bellie leaned close to the Young Lady’s ear and whispered.
“And… isn’t it true that if you smell good, Young Master Rab would definitely like it, too?”
“R-Really?!”
At Bellie’s words, Cecilia’s eyes lit up, and she turned her head sharply before realizing she’d become overly excited. Blushing, she submerged her face in the bath.
“Gah…”
‘She’s adorable~♡’
Everything about her seemed irresistibly cute to Bellie.
‘Her whole body covered in wounds. It’s not so severe that it would require surgery or cause festering, but it looks like this has been going on for quite a while…’
She had vaguely heard that Cecilia had been subjected to educational methods bordering on abuse in the Boichi Family, but she hadn’t anticipated just how bad it was.
Having grown up with an abusive father who drank and a mother who had left the home, Bellie deeply empathized with Cecilia’s pain.
‘Though, that bastard father met his end at my hands before I disappeared into the back alleys.’
Because of her past, Bellie also anonymously ran various charities to help children, and she sincerely wanted this adorable Young Lady to be happy.
‘It seems like the Young Lady does have feelings for the Master, too… If I can connect the two of them, it would look quite lovely.’
Rab, who was always criticized for being reckless, appeared very different when he was around Cecilia.
All his usual antics gone, he behaved with the utmost caution and delicacy around her like a tame cat, clearly showing his affection for the Young Lady, didn’t he?
‘They say love changes people… this must be exactly that.’
If the Lady and Master Rab grew closer, not only would more information be available, but it would also be a treat to the eyes.
Two birds with one stone.
“Young Lady, actually, Young Master Rab appointed me as your personal maid.”
“What, really?”
“Yes. While you’re staying here, I’ll be your dedicated attendant, so please feel free to tell me anything you need!”
Cecilia’s face showed relief at having someone familiar, even if she didn’t know Bellie that well, rather than some unknown person.
‘Since the Master said he’ll call a cleric to heal your wounds tomorrow, you don’t have to worry. I should inform my subordinates to gather information to expose the schemes of the Duke and Duchess…’
While Bellie smiled and appeased Cecilia, in her mind, the Duke and Duchess were already doomed, though no one else would ever know.
—
