Home/The villainess's personal maid is very good at her job/ch 50

Episode 50

The special admissions exam consisted of six subjects in total.

History.

Theology.

Business Administration.

Integrated Arts and Physical Education.

Swordsmanship Theory.

Magic Theory.

One hour per subject, with 20-minute breaks in between.

"Now, we will begin the exam. Please take your seats."

A tall professor announced the start of the exam in a gruff tone.

Dong, dong.

The grand bell rang out across the Academy.

---

'It feels just like the college entrance exam.'

After the first period ended, the examinees' reactions were mixed.

"I failed. I failed! I'm going to fail again this time."

"Didn't this exam feel a bit easier? If only it continues like this, I'd have no complaints."

The laments and cheerful voices echoing from all around felt just like an exam hall.

'I wonder if Theo did well.'

They were in different classrooms for the exam. She felt both regret and relief at the same time.

Even if one of them did poorly, they wouldn't affect each other.

Though if one of them were to fail, it would more likely be her than Theo.

After taking the fourth subject, lunchtime arrived.

Inside the Academy's student cafeteria.

"How did the exam go—no, I won't ask."

"Haha. You're not going to ask?"

"No. There are still two subjects left."

At her reverent muttering, Theo laughed.

"Let's eat first. To fight a war, you must fill your stomach."

"That's true."

Fortunately, the Academy cafeteria's food suited her taste.

She'd been worried that her palate had become picky after working as the Lady's handmaiden.

'Back then, I really ate anything.'

Since her orphanage days, Janet had never been picky. If she could chew it, she chewed it. If she could swallow it, she swallowed it.

Thinking back to those days, fussing over whether food suited her taste now felt incredibly luxurious.

The same went for being here to take the Academy exam.

"What's wrong? Does the food not suit you?"

At the question that perfectly matched her wandering thoughts, Janet smiled and shook her head.

"No. I was just thinking about something."

Just as they finished their meal—

Someone approached as they were about to rise.

"What? Why are you here?"

A voice laced with anger was familiar.

Oh dear. Recognizing the other person immediately, Janet frowned.

She never expected to meet that man here.

The man approaching in a huff was the grandson of Count Verdin. The same man who had been left tied up at Geron's birthday ball.

Only—

"……Your name?"

She still didn't know his name.

At Janet's question, the man's expression twisted.

"It's Samuel! Samuel Verdin!"

"Oh my. I didn't need to hear it three times."

"What? This is really……!"

At Janet's words, Samuel clenched his fist. He flexed it ostentatiously, as if subtly threatening her.

Of course, it didn't affect Janet at all.

'He's always like that.'

Like someone who only knows how to threaten with force.

Janet's cold eyes looked up at Samuel. But the next moment—

"I'm not sure what's going on here."

Theo quietly stepped between them.

"……Ugh, wh-who are you."

At Theo's appearance, a head taller than him, Samuel flinched.

He was the textbook definition of a bully who only targeted the weak.

"Do you have business with my companion?"

"Y-your companion?"

"Yes. My companion."

"Hah. But who are you to talk to me so in-informally?!"

Instead of answering, Theo leisurely curled his lips.

His slanted gaze bore down on Samuel.

Trembling and glaring, Samuel slowly lowered his eyes.

Just then—

"Hey, there! Causing a ruckus here is forbidden!"

A man with a lively voice walked over, hands clasped behind his head.

"I love watching a good fight, but today's a bit inconvenient. So, let's all break it up."

With orange hair and green eyes, he had a mischievous look overall.

Grin. As he flashed a bright smile, gasps erupted from all around.

"Good heavens! Isn't that Shane?"

"The magic prodigy?"

"To think I'd get to see Shane today……!"

Judging by the awestruck voices, this Shane seemed to be quite a celebrity.

Janet tugged Theo's sleeve and whispered.

"Do you know who he is?"

"Roughly. He's Shane, a third-year student and a commoner. He entered as a special admittee and is the top student of his year, showing exceptional talent in magic."

"That's quite a lot of detail."

"Occupational hazard."

As they exchanged quiet whispers, another figure appeared behind Shane.

"Eek! It's Lord Richard!"

"Shane and Lord Richard together."

"Huff. They really have an extraordinary presence."

The man called Richard was a striking handsome man as tall as Theo.

With jet-black hair and blue eyes.

A cold, indifferent expression. He had a peculiar quality that drew people's attention.

"What's all this noise?"

"Ah, Richard. It's nothing—just a small scuffle between examinees."

"A small scuffle?"

Richard murmured flatly and looked toward the commotion. Then—

"……Hm?"

A hint of emotion flickered in his otherwise indifferent eyes.

It was a look as if he'd recognized someone. Janet tilted her head.

'Have I seen him before?'

But it was a face she'd never seen before.

If she'd ever seen such a face, she would definitely remember.

Just as she was about to ask Theo if he knew anything about that person——

"Tsk."

At Theo's click of the tongue, Janet blinked.

Looking closely, Theo was staring at Richard with an annoyed expression.

'What? Do they know each other?'

---

"……"

"……"

"……"

An awkward silence hung in the air.

Among them, Janet felt the most awkward.

What is this situation?

After the minor disturbance at lunchtime and after all the exams had ended—

As Janet walked side by side with Theo toward the carriage depot, Richard appeared before them.

Yes. He really appeared.

As if he'd been waiting for the two of them.

Behind him, he simply stared at them without saying a word.

And Theo was the same.

Watching the two stand facing each other in a silent standoff——

How should she put it……

'It's quite a picture.'

Perhaps because they were both strikingly handsome, it felt like watching a scene from a film.

Others seemed to think the same, sneaking glances at them and passing by with flushed cheeks.

But they couldn't just stay like this forever.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, Miss Janet."

"……."

Swoosh. The moment Janet carefully spoke, both men turned their gazes to her.

"If you're going to talk, how about moving somewhere else? Standing in the middle of the path like this is a bit awkward."

At her careful suggestion, the two looked at each other again.

Tch.

Tsk.

A negative exchange went back and forth.

Then—

"Father is in the capital."

"The Marchioness?"

"Yes."

Eavesdropping quietly, Janet's eyes went wide.

Father—meaning the Marchioness?

That means——

"Excuse me. May I ask which house you're from?"

"Ortea."

Ah, so that was it.

Ortea was the Marchioness's house that had written Janet's recommendation letter. Richard seemed to be the Marchioness's son.

Instantly, Janet's gaze toward Richard changed.

The Marchioness of Ortea was practically her benefactor. Thanks to her recommendation letter, she'd been able to become a handmaiden.

"I'm late in saying this, but I'm always grateful to the Marchioness."

At Janet's sparkling words, Richard's eyebrow twitched slightly.

"I see."

"Yes. Please tell her that I'll definitely repay the favor someday."

"Favor, nothing. There's no need to repay it."

Richard paused briefly, then added coldly.

"It means the old lady does it because she wants to—so don't feel burdened."

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