Home/How That Extra Maid Survives/ch35

Chapter 35

After achieving my initial goal, Rahan's private lessons continued.

To be honest, they weren't as thorough as Lady Boreita's lessons.

There was a clear difference between someone actively active in high society and someone who only occasionally appeared.

However, having a practical partner to face was a huge advantage.

After the lesson ended, I realized it was already late at night.

Since it was quite late, my pace naturally quickened.

'Vinet is going to scold me.'

Asking how I could be running around like that when I wasn't even fully recovered.

The moment I arrived, a full helping of worry automatically played in my head.

Thanks to that, I sneaked into my own room, opening the door quietly.

"Bibi…?"

She'd warned me she'd be waiting in my room if I was too late, but Vinet wasn't there.

The gap between the doors connected to Vinet's room was tightly shut, making it hard to tell if her light was on.

Creak—

I went out to the terrace and leaned over the railing, looking down at the pond directly in front.

Because the surroundings were dark, the lights from inside the mansion reflected clearly on the water.

When I turned on my own light, a yellow glow also spread across the pond.

Confirming the light beside it was also on, I immediately knocked on Vinet's door.

'She's not digging another tunnel, is she?'

She had a history of becoming dejected and staying up until dawn, alone in her room, with the light on.

"I know you're not sleeping, Bibi."

Creak. The timidly opened door reflected Vinet's state of mind.

'What's the problem this time?'

Lately, Vinet had been adapting quite well to the mansion, and she was keeping up with Lady Boreita's lessons.

I thought she'd gained some confidence.

"How do you always know?"

Vinet asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Hohoho. I have my ways."

It's nothing special, but if she knew, she'd probably cover herself with a blanket and hide pitifully.

Vinet glared at me, then yawned and grumbled.

"Why are you so late? I got tired of waiting."

She muttered that she'd prepared everything, but she couldn't fool my eyes.

'If you're going to act, do it properly.'

Her clumsy yawn was so absurd.

When she tried to subtly close the door, I wedged my right foot in to keep it open.

"Wh… why?"

"Did something happen while I was gone?"

"Nothing happened."

That's ridiculous.

The girl who couldn't sleep worrying about me was acting like this—it was obvious she didn't want to worry me.

Rahan was also someone to watch carefully, but no less than him, Vinet was a future villainess in need of care.

"Nothing, huh?"

"I told you, nothing really happened!"

"Really? Then… ugh…!"

I stopped mid-sentence and clutched my head, feigning a headache.

"Why… why! What's wrong? See, I told you to rest!"

Vinet, completely fooled by my flawless acting, swung the stubbornly closed door wide open.

I caught Vinet's flustered hand.

"What's this?"

A gauze pad was covering the back of her hand, layered over a wound.

Only then realizing she'd been caught, Vinet hesitated and hid her hand behind her back.

"It's just… I swung my arm and scraped it on something sharp…."

Vinet was a terrible liar.

"What's the physician for?"

There was no need for a prescription.

A low-grade potion would make that kind of wound disappear instantly.

"Who did this?"

It clearly wasn't Vinet's fault—someone else must have caused the wound.

She'd probably hidden it from Meden to protect the culprit.

'Because if Meden knew, it would immediately reach Rahan's ears.'

As I expected, Vinet flinched, then let out a deep sigh.

"Sera… her hand slipped while pouring tea…."

"Again?"

Sera was one of the four maids assigned to Vinet.

She was new to being a direct maid and often froze up, making mistakes.

In the first week at the Rohambriga residence, she'd forgotten to bring Vinet's handkerchief, which led to me giving mine to Rahan instead.

I didn't know it then, but apparently it's a basic etiquette for direct maids, and such mistakes are rare.

I already knew of at least four incidents.

"Yes. If she makes too many mistakes, she'll be demoted. So don't tell anyone—keep it a secret."

Since Sera had worked hard to get this opportunity, Vinet, who had a fear of nobles, sympathized with her.

"How were you planning to hide your hand?"

"I'll wear gloves, so it'll be fine, right?"

"Sir Rahan will notice everything."

He's observant—he'd notice the slightly increased thickness.

Even if not, he'd pick up on Vinet's reaction alone.

"That would be a problem…."

If she asked Rahan, he might overlook Sera's mistakes, but if she kept repeating them, others would start to complain.

Having been a maid herself, Vinet knew well how much gossip would circulate if she only took one side.

Of course, she could use her authority to suppress it, but that wouldn't be good for Sera either.

'If she had the skills to match, it'd be different.'

"Ugh. I can't live without worrying about you. Really."

I went into Vinet's room and picked up the plainest teacup I could find.

"This must be the cheapest, right?"

"Probably…?"

Crash—

Without hesitation, I dropped it on the floor.

Among the series of bell pulls, I tugged the blue one.

The waiting escort knight came running immediately.

"You called."

I quickly removed the gauze covering Vinet's hand.

"I'm sorry. I dropped a teacup. Some shrapnel flew up and scratched Lady Vinet's hand. Could I get some potion?"

Vinet was a terrible actress, so I took the lead.

When I casually delivered the lie, the escort knight handed over his potion without suspicion.

"Here."

Thanks to my good reputation, even a wound on the precious young lady didn't draw any harsh reprimands—he genuinely believed it was an accident.

After carefully closing the door, I shook the sloshing potion.

"You… you…!"

At Vinet, who couldn't even finish her sentence, speechless, I opened the potion and sprinkled it on the wound.

The wound vanished instantly, revealing clear skin beneath.

"See? Solved, right?"

"Yeah…."

She seemed dumbfounded, as if she hadn't expected it to be resolved so easily.

After cleaning up the broken teacup, I patted Vinet's shoulder and cheered her up.

"Now, get a good night's sleep."

And so, the day ended.

---

Each day passed by quite busily.

After meeting Dany and Rudy early in the morning, I fulfilled my duties as a lady-in-waiting by Vinet's side.

In between, I had Lady Boreita's lessons, and in the evenings, I learned etiquette from Rahan, slowly taking one document at a time from his pile.

I used spare moments to absorb basic knowledge of this world and build friendships with the servants.

I carefully recorded what I needed to do and faithfully carried it out.

It was certainly tiring, but equally rewarding.

However, one newspaper that arrived in the morning irritated me.

"Ha! What? All seven claimed by the same killer?"

Keor had confessed to all his crimes, mentioning seven victims.

The Keor who had so vividly boasted about his deeds had only admitted to three.

Keor was a madman who, furious at the remaining four bodies he hadn't created, had tried to kidnap Vinet and offer her as a sacrifice.

'Did Marquis Selfios make a move?'

It was clearly the work of Marquis Selfios, the strongest supporter of Second Prince Damian.

Crinkle— I crumpled the newspaper mercilessly.

Letting this slide made me feel wronged and angry.

'After all the suffering I went through!'

I couldn't stand by and watch the ones who had provoked Keor get buried like this.

Apparently, I was still too inexperienced to fully hide my feelings.

The lesson proceeded as usual.

Rahan, holding my waist and drawing closer, looked worried.

"You don't look well today."

As his hand slowly began to leave my waist, I quickly caught it and placed it back.

He was slightly startled, but unlike before, he didn't visibly pull away.

Thanks to daily lessons, he seemed a bit more accustomed to touch.

"It's fine. I probably just didn't sleep well."

I too had grown used to matching his steps without deliberately lowering my gaze.

Seeing Ailet's stunned silence at my rapid improvement was always thrilling.

"We'll end with this one piece today."

Despite his concern, Rahan informed me as he moved his feet.

He raised his arm without a word.

I slipped into the space between, turned lightly, and faced him again.

"Excellent."

He praised the natural movement.

"It's because I have such an excellent teacher."

When I praised him back, Rahan smiled and matched his steps to mine.

"Ah, by the way, the visit to the imperial prison has been approved. Would you like to go?"

"Really? Of course!"

I'd been wondering how to get back at them, but the opportunity came sooner than I thought.

At Rahan's welcome news, my mind raced quickly.

"Hahah!"

Seeing my excited face, Rahan let out an amused laugh.

His delightful smile didn't last long.

"Just so you know, it might be quite brutal to witness."

That was exactly what I wanted.

It would have hurt my stomach to see Keor, who had caused me so much harm, sleeping peacefully.

"It's fine. You said you'd come with me, didn't you, Sir Rahan?"

I hid my dark intentions.

"Understood. Next week, a guest is coming, so that's not possible… How about the day after tomorrow?"

The annex was being prepared for a guest who would stay for a while, and cleaning was in full swing.

'Who's coming?'

When I asked, Rahan just smiled faintly and didn't reveal the identity.

But from what other servants were saying, the furniture was dark and large, so it was probably a young male noble.

I'd find out when the time came.

Setting aside my curiosity for now, I answered.

"I'll be ready."

'First, I need to contact Rikael.'

Step by step, I organized my plans.

'And what else do I need to prepare? Ah, right.'

Since it's the imperial capital, I should dress formally, right?

If I went looking shabby, I'd get criticized for being low-class.

'What should I wear?'

Thalia had sent me quite a few dresses under the guise of support.

Thanks to her exceptional skill, even without me saying anything, Vinet showed interest, saying they suited me well.

Not only that, even Rebecca and Lady Boreita—who I thought wouldn't be interested—noticed the delicate craftsmanship in the simple dresses and asked where I'd bought them.

Of course, Ailet was an exception.

Whether to assert her pride or it just wasn't her taste, she'd only toss out annoying remarks like "Now it's somewhat appropriate."

---

"Wow—"

So this is what they mean by flaunting wealth.

The entire imperial palace glittered in gold.

I could see the palace from the ducal residence, but seeing it up close was overwhelmingly imposing.

I let out an involuntary gasp, then quickly covered my mouth.

"Everyone does that at first. No need to worry."

My reaction felt increasingly unrefined, so I tried to hold back, but Rahan didn't seem to mind, understanding me with a generous heart.

"Hmm, won't I look like a country bumpkin?"

Instead of taking the carriage all the way to the prison, there were sections where we stopped, walked, and then transferred.

So there would definitely be many eyes on us, so I'd dressed neatly, even taking Rebecca's advice.

I didn't want to be mocked for looking rustic.

If it only hurt my image, I wouldn't care, but eventually the arrows of criticism would fly at Vinet.

'If she has such a low-class lady-in-waiting….'

Birds of a feather flock together….

I knew all the things they'd say.

'Either way, only our Vinet gets insulted.'

I used to feel sorry for being a commoner, but seeing this, being a noble isn't all good either.

"Anyway, these things only happen within these walls. Considering your lesson progress, you'll pass for a noble lady from a branch family."

"So I give off the approximate level of a lady-in-waiting's education?"

"The important thing is that you've already reached that level in such a short time."

"Right? I thought so too. My achievement level is indeed exceptional."

Rahan, who had initially misinterpreted my words, blinked at my following answer, then lowered his head.

His shoulders shaking was a bonus.

"I think your overflowing confidence is your greatest strength. Standing tall without being intimidated prevents you from being looked down on."

"But wouldn't it all be over if they found out my status?"

"That's true, but in essence, you just don't have to reveal it precisely."

That part's a piece of cake.

The problem is what comes after.

"What if later they find out I'm a commoner and get angry, saying I deceived them?"

"In that case, use the Crown Prince's name."

As if it were no big deal, Rahan lightly suggested a solution.

Back   Next