Home/How That Extra Maid Survives/ch45

Chapter 45

We headed straight to the square.

The square was packed with spectators, but thanks to Thalia's loyal customers reserving her a spot, I was able to take a prime seat disguised as Thalia's maid.

"Thalia, over here. It's about to start."

A noblewoman lifted her fan slightly to signal the location.

Her ornate hat looked familiar.

'That was Lady Cardela, I think?'

Vinet had shown me her portrait, emphasizing she was one of the nobles who was kind to commoners.

Thalia tapped the back of my hand.

"Make sure to remember Lady Cardela's face. Understood?"

It felt more like a warning than a compliment, so I racked my brain to grasp Thalia's intention.

"Lady Cardela, thank you for securing the spot."

I greeted her gracefully in a friendly tone.

"Hohoho! Think nothing of it between us. Do you see this hat? Thanks to you, my shoulders feel much lighter."

"A hat is merely something that enhances its wearer. Since it's found its rightful owner, I'm the one who's delighted."

Only warm compliments were exchanged—nothing unusual.

Dong— Dong—

The bell rang.

In the distance, I saw Keor being dragged up to the scaffold.

"I heard he got caught because he messed with the wrong commoner this time?"

The noblewoman on the other side of Cardela asked.

"Yes. Apparently, it was the maid personally brought by Princess Vinet."

"I heard she was a lady-in-waiting, not a maid. Is that wrong?"

"She was promoted from maid to lady-in-waiting. She must have impressed Princess Vinet that much."

As the one in question, I focused on their gossip.

"The princess does seem quite open-minded. But still, a child of such low birth."

Tap, tap. Cardela tapped her folded fan against her palm, displeased.

"Lady Ganetsha. It would be wise to watch your words—that's the young lady the princess brought."

"Oh my! I'm sorry."

"The princess must have had her reasons. Still, I do understand Lady Ganetsha's sentiments. The Rohambriga family also has Lady Ailet, after all. It's true that the levels don't match. If anything, the girl is pitiful. Being compared to Lady Ailet must be difficult…."

"That's right. She's different from Lady Ailet, who has learned noble decorum. I heard Princess Vinet came from a distant land. Perhaps by their standards, she thought this was good enough?"

"Detarsia and Leveridon are clearly different places, though…."

"She must not know better yet. Even with this incident, staying quiet caused misunderstandings, didn't it? The real culprit was someone else."

Cardela subtly hinted that Vinet had invited suspicion.

"She'll change once she adapts."

"We should help her along."

"That's a great idea!"

'Look at this…?'

Pretending to care for me, they were actually tearing down Vinet.

Who said Cardela was a kind noble?

'Right. It was Ailet.'

Still believing herself to be a kind and benevolent noble, Ailet must have seen Cardela as similarly virtuous.

'No wonder Thalia warned me.'

These people—even if I befriended them in society—would only make things harder for Vinet.

'I'll have to tell her when I get back.'

I almost got fooled by their act and blindsided.

'By the way, she's really repaying me well…?'

I'd only asked Thalia to come to the square with me and later to the Magic Tower, but she'd arranged this spot as a favor, knowing I'd be entering the social season soon.

Our eyes met.

Wink. Thalia winked and skillfully joined the conversation.

Her smooth talk soon shifted the subtle barbs against Vinet to trivial gossip about high society.

Thunk—

Keor's head fell.

---

The Magic Tower belonged to Leveridon.

Though they were separate from the imperial court's mages, they were still under Leveridon's jurisdiction.

Upon becoming a mage, one was automatically granted a noble title and provided with research support.

"So this is the tower of those esteemed gentlemen."

At my sarcastic tone, Thalia covered her mouth with her fan and let out a chuckle.

"How ironic, isn't it? Everything we use was created for the convenience of nobles."

Though she was a noble herself, Thalia seemed displeased and walked with a critical eye—perhaps because she'd once run a tavern.

"Baroness Thalia, and Lexi. We've confirmed your identities. You may enter."

"Still, we got in easily thanks to you, Lady Thalia."

To enter the Magic Tower, one had to be accompanied by a noble.

Even then, entry was permitted only so far; one couldn't just buy things freely.

"I'm only a baroness, so I can't go any higher."

"I'm not interested in the upper floors. The person I want to meet is a mage here."

"Mages are all aloof; they won't meet just anyone."

"It's fine. I have my ways."

"Your ways… I'm curious, but I won't ask. I'll look around here, so take your time."

"Yes, thank you, Lady Thalia."

I bowed my head and immediately checked the map on the wall.

'It said the furthest corner.'

I rolled my eyes, carefully observing the research rooms at the end, until I spotted a familiar name and headed straight for it.

At a glance, the old door and the half-rotted, tilted nameplate bore the name 'Yan' scrawled carelessly.

Knock, knock.

I knocked.

'He should be inside…?'

The glowing lamp beside the door indicated someone was there.

Knock, knock, knock.

I knocked again, but there was no response.

I pressed my ear to the door, but heard nothing.

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock!

I knocked roughly.

'They said three strikes was the limit, right?'

Without hesitation, I opened the door.

The lamp was there because many unfortunate accidents happened when mages worked alone and got hurt or died.

So if there was no answer after three calls, opening the door was permitted.

"Sir Yan? Are you there?"

I called out as carefully as I could, in case he hadn't heard due to concentration.

'It's quite clean here?'

The old equipment gave off a musty impression, but the room was surprisingly tidy.

Careful not to touch anything, I passed through the empty laboratory and pulled aside the curtain that served as a door.

"…Sir Yan?"

Someone was curled up on the sofa, sleeping.

Moving closer, I saw a man groaning and sweating.

Blue hair and pale skin. I couldn't see his eye color, but he was more than handsome—definitely matching the original description.

"…niya…!"

"Sir Yan! Wake up."

I couldn't understand his mumbling, but his face was growing paler, so I put down my belongings and shook him awake.

"Wake up! Oh, honestly!"

A light shake wasn't enough to rouse him, so I shoved him hard.

I pushed him just as he shifted his body, and the timing went wrong.

"Kyaa!"

I slipped and fell onto his upper body, face-planting.

"Ugh! …What… who are you!"

Painfully woken, Yan grabbed the nape of my neck—where my head was buried in his chest—and lifted me up.

'I'm not a dog!'

Already annoyed by my bruised face, I was about to swat his hand away, but I clenched my fist and placed it demurely at my side.

I was the one in need right now.

"A customer… ouch, that hurts. I'm a customer! I came in because you didn't answer."

Yan roughly tossed me aside and stood up without a word of thanks, running his hand through his hair.

As I tried to get up, something dripped down my face.

"Ah."

It was a nosebleed.

"Tch. Disgusting."

Seeing the red drops on the floor, Yan clicked his tongue and frowned.

At that moment, all thoughts of harmony, alliance, and kindness vanished from my mind.

I strode toward Yan. He flinched at my momentum.

Seizing the moment, I grabbed his sleeve and yanked it to my nose.

"What… what do you think you're doing!?"

He shrieked, but I let it go in one ear and glared up at him.

"Can't you see I'm wiping my nosebleed? I kindly woke you from your nightmare, and you couldn't even be bothered to offer a handkerchief, so I'm just making do. What's the problem?"

"…What…?"

At my boldness, Yan stammered wordlessly like a goldfish.

Whack— I pushed his sleeve away harshly, and he staggered back a step.

Seeing his blood-stained sleeve, his face began to flush red with anger.

"You need Count Reno's staff, don't you?"

I quickly struck first.

"How do you know about that!"

How? I read the original, of course.

Yan was the mage who would later develop a potion that could easily break the brainwashing—Marquis Selfios's ambitious project.

'Unfortunately, only Yan knows the method.'

But it was revealed that Yan had obtained Count Reno's staff, which allowed him to develop the potion.

When Marr Elr and Heald learned of this, they tried to reward him appropriately, but he refused.

'I thought he'd be reasonable….'

Unlike my assumption that someone who helped the world would be a decent person, his character was quite rotten.

'Then I have no reason to bow to him.'

I'd intended to obtain what he needed and cooperate, but this changed things.

"Well, I have my sources."

I wiped the bloodstains off my face, reflected in the glass.

Yan's puzzled face was visible, but I had no intention of kindly explaining.

If I changed my mind later, there'd be no way to explain anyway.

"Anyway, judging by your reaction, you do need it?"

Oops. Yan bit his lip, realizing his mistake.

'How clumsy.'

He can't even match half of Rahan.

'…….'

The face of a certain older brother that suddenly came to mind was unsettling, so I brushed it away.

"If you accept my proposal, I can get you the staff you want. What do you think?"

"There's no way that's possible."

It wasn't 'Why me?' but 'It's realistically impossible'—his refusal revealed his lingering desire.

"I think it's possible."

"Ha! An ignorant young lady who knows nothing of the world."

Oh, thank you.

Being in the Magic Tower, he must have assumed I was from a noble family.

'If he sees me as being of similar status, negotiations will be easier.'

I'd even boasted to Rahan—I'm pretty good at this.

"That world-ignorant young lady you speak of knows about you. Do you really think I'm some naive girl who just blurted out random things?"

Turning to face him, I wore a meaningful smile and reeled him in.

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