Chapter 62

“…I know.”

I could not get the words out of my mouth. Although I tried to move my tongue, it would not roll easily.

“Why is that…?”

“Hey, that’s not funny.”

As Meg shook her head, irritated, I left the seat feeling a little down. Not because of her drunkenness but for a more fundamental reason.

‘I am still anxious.’

It had been over a month since I had been away from Cassius. Considering his enormous intelligence, it was a green light that he had not yet found me. I still often get surprised if he might be hiding in the dark.

‘…At this rate, I am bound because of myself.’

What is the point with my body being away when my mind was still tied up…?

“Hey, get out of the way.”

A thin voice came from the darkness.

It was not until I stepped out of the middle of the hallway that I knew it was coming from somewhere else.

“I, I have to go now. Please, stay away…”

“Where are you going? You can hang out with us a little longer.”

I frowned.

Although dating between servants was not banned in the house of the leader of the merchant community, anyone can see that this was going in a messy direction.

‘…Let’s be patient.’

I bit my lip.

No matter how much I wanted to go out, it would be good not to do anything that stood out in the shelter I found. To do a job well enough to win the favor of those around me, I also did not cause commotion or disturbances. If I kept that one thing, I would be able to continue my escape life for as long as I want.

“You have a really pretty blonde. Can I touch it?”

“…I, I don’t like that.”

Even though I tried to avoid the scene, I failed. It was because I saw two men threatening a woman in a room with the door open.

The maid with blonde hair and purple eyes was very pretty.

‘…Ophelia?’

To the point that I mistook her for my younger sister.

However, when I looked closely, I could see that she looked somewhat different from Ophelia. While Ophelia had a bright and clear impression without wrinkles, this maid was very depressed and skinny.

Nevertheless, it was enough to remind me of Ophelia.

‘…I wonder if she is doing well.’

Perhaps, it was because I was drunk, but when I thought of Ophelia, my mood grew even more depressing. I have disappeared, but I wonder if her marriage went well. Of course, David was a good person, so it would be okay, though maybe she was still being bullied…

However, Ophelia was far away, and the maid in front of me was close.

Like Ophelia, the moment I saw the maid, who had not been able to properly rebel once with only tears dripping down her face, something snapped in my head.

“She said she didn’t like it.”

The three looked towards me at the same time.

Then, I strode into the room and grabbed the maid’s hand. She must have been very surprised, although the maid obediently followed my intention. No, seeing her holding my hand tighter, my help seemed very welcome.

“You both have very bad brains, don’t you? If you can’t understand simple words like this.”

“Don’t meddle in other people’s affairs and go the way you were going.”

The bigger guy looked down at me and threatened.

Hearing that, I glanced at him up and down. I did not know who he was because I was not the usual servant. Still, looking at the servant’s clothes he wore, it did not seem like he had a very high rank. In short, it meant that he was not someone I should be careful about.

“Isn’t this friend someone else, too? Why don’t you let her go then?”

“It’s not someone else.”

The big man grinned.

“We’re close. Aren’t we, Lucy?”

“….”

The maid named Lucy bit her lips with a pale face. She must have been very terrified, seeing that she could not even flinch.

Suddenly, the big guy with a bulky frame slowly approached us.

“Ah, thinking about it, this is fine. There were two of us, but there was only one woman, so it was difficult. However, one came to us on your own feet, right?”

“….”

I was at a loss for words.

It was not just because of their trashy words and actions. It was because I had a strong sense of déjà vu. The other day, when a nobleman was flirting with Ophelia, it was resolved immediately as soon as Cassius stepped in. Did he not even cut off his finger…?

But then, I was the heir to the Count, and now I am just an ordinary commoner’s maid with no background… So, as soon as I stepped out, I became a target of sexual harassment.

‘…It is amazing.’

However, I did not feel helpless at all to be subjected to this.

“Then, you should be all right. Although you’re a little fat to my friend’s taste… It’s not bad for a girl.”

I lowered my head slightly. Naturally, my gaze went to his waist. Maybe, he took that fact as consent, though the big guy stretched out his hand toward Lucy.

…And, at that very moment.

I kicked him in the crotch.

“Arrrgggghhh…!”

Immediately, a scream erupted, and the big man’s body sank to the floor. The next moment, the friend of the big guy, a dwarf skinny guy who was half a head smaller than me, seemed as timid as he looked. It was because he did not fight back. Instead, he flinched and stepped back.

Cursing came out of the big guy’s mouth.

“Ugh… You crazy b*tch!”

I turned around without blinking an eye. Of course, I was holding Lucy’s hand tightly. As we strode quickly through the hallway without saying anything. The direction was, obviously, the maid’s quarters. Finally, when the dormitory was almost in front of us, a voice that seemed to be crawling was heard.

“…I, I’m very grateful.”

“You’ve nothing to be thankful for.”

I replied bitterly.

Even though I didn’t mean to tell her, to be honest, I was going to just pass her by… If Lucy had not resembled Ophelia, my cowardice would have engulfed me today.

…And, I would never have forgiven myself for the rest of my life.

Lucy shook her head. I thought that she was just only going to say thank you again. However, unexpected words flowed from her mouth.

“That, that… The one who’s making a scene…”

“Yes?”

“That…you kicked—”

“Ah.”

Understanding who she was talking about, I nodded my head and continued, “He was so small that I couldn’t feel anything, although he was just bluffing like that.”

Lucy’s eyes widened.

“…Can I say that?”

“Is there anything you can’t say?”

I shrugged as I added, “They said everything they shouldn’t say to you.”

“That, that… There’s a reason I stayed still… I think you should know.”

Saying her next words, Lucy bowed her head.

“…He’s the butler’s cousin, that guy.”

Oh…

I had a hunch.

…That I have fallen into a very crappy situation.

* * *

Why were the sad hunches never wrong?

From the very next day, I was changed to the position that everyone hated the most.

…It was garbage disposal. Normally, it was done by servants who carried the huge amount of garbage from the mansion, but I was unusually involved.

“This is nonsense!”

Meg, who was fussing over the hangover, was indignant. She was not in such a good condition that she hit her head on the table several times. Still, she was furious as if she was me.

“What is this about being the butler’s cousin, are you the butler? Besides, how many times did the maids try to kick him out because of his bad habits!”

It seemed that it was purely thanks to the chief of the maid that I was not kicked out or deprived of my false identity.

I sighed and shook my head.

“It’s bearable, though.”

The only reason I work in this mansion has not changed at all. On the contrary, there was a better side. It was because cleaning up the trash would show your face less than cleaning around the house. I liked the fact that my face was almost invisible when I wore a mask and a headband.

Meg snorted and changed her words.

“By the way, have you heard that the Leader’s friend is coming?”

“No?”

“He’s a nobleman in the capital city, and he’s a big shot! A real aristocrat, isn’t it amazing? Oh, Marina said you worked in the capital, so you must have seen them a lot. Maybe you’ve seen aristocrats before?”

Contrary to Meg’s exhilarating voice, I felt my blood freeze.

“What’s the matter? Are you worried that your work will get tough? Come on, the Leader’s not the one to make it harder for us!”

Meg had never seen a high noble before. In addition, there are more high nobles in the Capital. In other words, any of the counts, marquis, or dukes can come.

So…

It could not be Cassius Brudenell.

…There was no way it could be him. Nevertheless, I have never been wrong about my ominous premonitions?

Thinking that, I slowly opened my mouth.

I had to know for sure.

“…Do you know who it is?”