Home/How That Extra Maid Survives/ch48

Chapter 48

'Now, how should I approach him?'

I slowly followed Jarten, who was replacing the food, considering my options.

If a stranger suddenly spoke to him, it would only make him more wary.

Roll. I scanned the surroundings.

Was there any situation that could be of help?

"No! Why is that my fault!?"

A loud voice echoed from one corner of the hall.

Jarten set the empty plates on the trolley and watched the commotion.

As one of the internal servants, he looked troubled by the problem.

On the trolley opposite Jarten were plenty of puddings that needed to be replaced.

"May I take these?"

"Yes, go ahead."

He told me it was fine, but even as he picked up the full pudding plates, his gaze remained fixed on one spot.

"Everyone should calm down. If this gets to the butler's ears, only you'll suffer."

When I muttered, Jarten showed interest.

"It's true, isn't it? Negligence and all that. No one told them to fight."

What I'd learned through conversations with many in the ducal household was that, whether in my original world or this one, they were different yet unmistakably similar.

"It'll be even stricter for outsiders. Right? I can tell you're from Lapia."

With his slightly dark skin, Jarten nodded.

"You're right, my lady."

"Ahaha, you don't have to be so formal. Haven't you heard of Tito?"

"Tito…?"

I deliberately mentioned Tito, who was also from Lapia.

'To get close, it's faster to find a common connection.'

"Yes, I heard you guys meet up regularly."

I'd heard there were gatherings where people from the same region shared information and built friendships.

'Why isn't there a gathering for people from other worlds?'

It was a little sad to think I was the only one who'd come to this world and had to adapt.

"Ah… are you the commoner who became a lady-in-waiting?"

"Yes, that's me. I'm Lexi. Please speak comfortably."

Apparently, because I'd achieved a position close to a dream for servants, my name was quite famous among them.

"Hmm. If that's the case…. I heard from Tito. He praised you endlessly, saying he understood why you became a lady-in-waiting."

Jarten stroked his mustache and relayed what he'd heard.

"Tito knows a thing or two. I am pretty great."

I set aside all pretense of humility and continued the conversation with self-praise.

"It's because your master is incompetent!"

Whether we were chatting amiably or not, the shouting between them grew fiercer.

"This is going to cause real trouble."

In their anger, they even mentioned their masters.

If the situation escalated, it wouldn't just be a fight between the two—it could turn into a pride battle between their employers.

'That would be hard on Lady Boreita.'

Thinking of the kind lady, I was about to step in when one of them drew the sword at his waist.

"How dare you disrespect Engcloman!"

"You're the one who thinks the Seitron family is a pushover!"

"Wait! Are swords allowed here?"

They were checking belongings at the entrance!

Even if they were on standby, allowing swords seemed too dangerous.

I didn't have time to voice my complaint.

Jarten set down his plates and hurried over to stop the fight.

I followed behind him.

"This is not the place for such behavior."

Jarten stepped between the knights, trying to mediate, but they were hostile.

"Move aside!"

"How dare a mere servant interfere!"

They were fighting, yet they were perfectly in sync.

"This is the Count Reno's residence. Please…."

"Hmph! What does the Count Reno's name matter!"

"Thanks to his wife, he rose briefly—what's the big deal?"

Engcloman and Seitron were both counties, so their titles were similar, but the Count Reno family far surpassed them in business size, private troops, and other factors.

'And yet, they're just retainers themselves.'

Their arrogant, haughty behavior was ridiculous.

At the insulting remarks, the faces of the Count Reno's servants flushed red.

The reddest and most visibly trembling was Jarten.

"Count Reno is a man of excellent character. Please watch your… words! Ugh!"

The Seitron knight shoved Jarten's shoulder.

Then he kicked Jarten, who had fallen to the ground, and pressed his foot down on his shoulder.

"Aaagh!"

It wasn't a bare foot but an armed knight's boot.

Despite the pain, the Seitron knight just sneered.

It happened in an instant.

'Ah, you crazy bastards.'

Who do they think they are?

My anger rose to my head, then cooled, and I became calm.

"Stop it."

I spoke firmly and pushed the Seitron knight away.

Caught off guard, he staggered slightly, and in that moment, I helped Jarten up.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm… fine. But…."

Jarten, still using formal language, looked at the Seitron knight, whose face was reddening behind me, and tried to step forward to protect me.

I grabbed his arm firmly and pulled him back.

"And who might you be?"

He asked if I was someone above him.

"I'm Lexi."

"Lexi? Your surname… Ah! That woman!"

Commoners have no surname.

"Ha! You're just a commoner yourself, siding with another."

He sneered, returning to a lower register.

Engcloman also curled his lips.

After all that fighting, they were ganging up on a lower-status target—how pathetic.

Let them taste the same medicine.

"If the Count Reno household hears about this disturbance, it won't be good for Seitron or Engcloman either. How about ending it here?"

"Whether we end it or not is none of your concern, you impertinent fool."

"They say you're a lady-in-waiting, but you haven't learned proper etiquette, have you?"

Ah, how foolish.

"Etiquette? That can't be."

I elegantly covered my lips, tilting my head as if I truly didn't know.

"What?"

"I was personally taught by His Grace the Duke of Rohambriga, you know? He told me I was excellent."

Rahan had said to me.

"If."

"Even so, if there are fools who act stupidly, tell them I taught you that."

'I never thought I'd use it.'

I smiled brightly, wearing a gentle expression.

"…What…?"

Their expressions shifted from flustered to shocked to disbelief, as if telling me not to lie—it was fascinating.

"Where did you learn to tell such lies!"

I knew they'd say that.

Dealing with this type was a piece of cake.

"I'm not ly…."

"Indeed, she's not."

Just as I was getting started, Haulo emerged from the crowd, his face full of curiosity, and interjected.

"Sir Haulo, ha! See, this foolish woman was lying…."

"What are you talking about? I said Lady Lexi is telling the truth. His Grace personally taught her, as she is the lady-in-waiting attending Lady Vinet."

Haulo's plain, straightforward voice calmly confirmed it was the truth.

"I opposed it, but Lady Vinet cherishes Lady Lexi so much. Ah, this isn't the time. Lexi, Sir Rebecca is looking for you."

"Sir Rebecca?"

"Worried about you attending your first social party, she stopped by briefly."

"What a worrywart."

It seemed Haulo was using me as an excuse to see Rebecca.

'Anyway….'

At the mention of the Rohambriga siblings' favor, the two turned pale. Mentioning Rebecca made them lose all color.

'So this is that thing—the mindset of kids who fear the neighborhood hyung more than the scary adult.'

I looked around with those useless thoughts.

"May I go?"

"Y… you may."

"Ahem…!"

The two retreated like dogs with their tails between their legs.

Having already lost face, they seemed to realize that continuing the fight would only be more disgraceful, and they subtly distanced themselves from each other.

"Ah, wait a moment. Jarten, come with me. You need treatment. I happen to have some good medicine."

"I'm fine…."

"May I borrow Jarten for a moment?"

I asked another servant of the Count Reno household. He nodded.

"Please."

Since Jarten seemed well-liked, the servant's eyes were filled with worry.

"Don't worry."

The three of us left the hall.

---

Once we were outside, Haulo looked down at me.

"Where do you need to go?"

"Excuse me?"

"You said you were going to treat that servant."

"That's true, but… what about Rebecca?"

"That was a lie."

"…Excuse me?"

His answer, without a hint of hesitation, left me with a stupid reply.

"It's not entirely a lie, either."

"What do you…."

"Three people have been pestering me for days. Asking me to take care of you. So it's not entirely a lie."

Three people.

'It must be Rahan, Bibi, and Rebecca.'

I was grateful.

That Haulo used the word 'pestered' meant they were worried about me… it was… something.

'Moved? Touched?'

An unexpected emotion swept over me and settled in my chest.

"Thank you."

There must have been many elaborate words, but stripping away all the formalities, that was all I could say.

"They'll all be happy to hear that."

"Yes, I should tell them. Thank you too, Haulo."

"I only did as I was asked."

"Still, doing something just because you're asked isn't always easy."

Haulo was silent for a moment, then offered one assessment.

"Rebecca will like that."

"Only Haulo, though?"

I teased with a giggle, and Haulo was speechless.

But his ears turning slightly red suggested he wasn't entirely displeased.

After he left, only Jarten and I remained.

"Jarten, is there a quiet place nearby? Let's treat you there. If it's too painful…."

"This way."

---

"Hmm…?"

"What's wrong, Rebecca?"

"Nothing. I just suddenly felt good."

"Ahaha! What's that?"

At Rebecca's sudden remark, Vinet burst out laughing.

"You finally smiled!"

"…Was it that obvious?"

Vinet had been tense, and during the dance, she'd stepped on Adren's foot.

Thanks to that, her stiff face hadn't brightened at all.

Though Adren comforted her saying no one noticed, her guilt didn't easily fade.

'Why am I like this?'

She was frustrated with herself for still not doing her part properly.

"For those meeting you for the first time, no one would even notice."

Even a casual glance showed many men entranced by Vinet's pretty face.

"That's a relief. Phew…."

The dazzling decorations were blinding, and the enchanting music melted her ears.

But all of it felt like a suffocating burden the moment the nobles approached.

"I'd feel better if Lexi were here."

Lexi would stand proudly even in this oppressive space.

She'd probably just put on a show of serving the nobles.

Her friend had more courage than anyone she'd ever known.

"Indeed. It would have been more fun. What a pity."

Rebecca nodded in agreement.

Then she took Vinet's empty plate.

"Strawberry Mont Blanc, right?"

Though Vinet pretended not to care, Lexi had specifically said she couldn't resist strawberries and to make sure she got one.

"I could go myself…."

"Sir Adren and His Grace created this opportunity for you, my lady. If you go over there, you might not be able to come back."

Vinet and Rebecca were chatting on the terrace.

After the stormy session earlier, Vinet was exhausted, so Rahan had kept Rebecca by her side to give her time.

"Then… I'll leave it to you."

"Yes! I'll be right back."

The door was slightly ajar.

'Rebecca, really….'

She reached out to close the door.

At that moment, someone grabbed Vinet's wrist.

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