Home/The villainess's personal maid is very good at her job/ch 57

Episode 57

"Look over there. The Marchioness of Ortega has arrived."

"Could he be here to see his son, Lord Richard?"

"But why would he come to the special admissions entrance ceremony just to see Lord Richard?"

At the Marchioness's boisterous appearance, all eyes turned to him. Even those who were about to leave the auditorium paused to watch.

As the guardian of the border between the North and the Magical Kingdom, he was rarely seen in the capital.

But soon, another surprising figure appeared.

"Janet!"

"Lady Julietta?"

"I just couldn't stop thinking about it, so I came. How dare my handmaiden be left standing all alone—that's just not right."

Behind her, as she fidgeted with her golden hair that fell below her shoulders, two young maids followed, each carrying a large bouquet.

"Sandy and Mary came too."

"Yes. We asked to come along because we wanted to congratulate you too."

"Congratulations on your admission, handmaiden."

Beaming, the two handed over the enormous bouquets.

"It's a bouquet I specially ordered…… Huh? Why are you already holding one?"

As Julietta said, Janet already had a large bouquet in her arms.

"Hehe. You're a step too late, my Lady! I already gave Janet her bouquet."

"You are……"

Julietta trailed off with a peculiar expression. Reading her meaning quickly, Janet whispered quietly.

"He's the Marchioness of Ortega."

"What? The Marchioness?"

As expected. She hadn't known who he was.

"But why would the Marchioness give Janet a bouquet?"

"Of course I would! I'm Janet's one and only patron!"

At the Marchioness's proud declaration, the surroundings buzzed.

The gazes of those who had been pretending not to look turned to Janet all at once.

Lady Julietta's handmaiden, and someone sponsored by the Marchioness.

"Son. Keep an eye on her and get close."

"Daughter! You have to make a good impression on her!"

Urgent whispers of parents already coaching their children could be heard from all directions.

---

Inside the rattling carriage.

Janet looked around at the carriage's occupants and squeezed her eyes shut before opening them.

The Marchioness of Ortega and Julietta.

And Theo, too.

'What on earth is this combination?'

The four were currently heading to the Ortega family's townhouse in the capital.

"Why are we going there? We could just go to Ludwig's townhouse."

"I'm sorry, my Lady. The Marchioness insisted on showing me his house."

"……Tch. I don't like it. But who is that man?"

Glance.

Julietta glanced at Theo and asked.

Given his tall stature and striking appearance, she would have remembered him if they'd met in high society.

Of course, Julietta rarely attended social events.

Anyway—

"He doesn't seem to be a noble. Or maybe he's the Marchioness's secret child—"

"That's absolutely not the case. Please don't say such frightening things, my Lady."

"Hmph. So what? My father has four illegitimate children."

When she put it that way, there was nothing to say.

"So who is he really? Do you know him?"

"He's someone who's also sponsored by the Marchioness, along with me."

"……Are you close with him?"

Close?

At that moment, Theo, who had been staring out the window, flinched slightly.

Janet didn't notice, but the Marchioness saw it clearly.

As the Marchioness chuckled, Theo shot him a brief glare.

But the next moment—

"Yes. We're close."

The moment Janet's answer came, the tension in his eyes melted away.

Even as the Marchioness's laughter grew louder beside him, his gaze didn't sharpen.

In the meantime, the carriage arrived at the Ortega townhouse.

Though not as grand as Ludwig's, the Ortega townhouse was still one of the finest in the capital.

"Come in, come in."

Just as they stepped inside at the Marchioness's invitation—

"……."

Richard, dressed for going out, came face to face with Janet's party.

"Oh, Richard. Were you heading out?"

At the Marchioness's question, Richard remained silent.

Whether he answered or not, the Marchioness continued.

"Ah, what a shame. I was planning to have dinner together to celebrate Janet and Ken-, Theo's admission."

"……Dinner?"

"Yes. If you don't have plans, I'd like you to join us, but if you have an appointment—"

"I don't."

"Hm? You don't? You certainly looked like you were about to leave."

"You must have been mistaken."

"Mistaken," when the person himself was right there.

But Richard was serious and firm.

"Then I'll see you at dinner."

Nod.

Leaving a brief nod, Richard turned and went back the way he came.

"Janet."

"Yes, my Lady."

"The Ortega family seems full of strange people. Are you sure about having them as your patrons?"

At Julietta's sincere whisper, Janet could only offer an ambiguous smile.

---

"Is there anything you don't eat?"

"No, nothing."

At the Marchioness's question, Theo added lightly.

"Miss Janet likes meat."

"Oh, you like meat? What kind?"

"She likes all kinds."

"……I wasn't asking you, you brat."

Arms firmly crossed, Julietta glared at Theo with displeased eyes.

'He's getting on my nerves.'

There was something vaguely familiar about him, and it was irritating.

But no matter how she thought about it, no one came to mind.

'His face is unfamiliar. And his voice is one I've never heard before.'

Was it just her imagination?

Under Julietta's flat-fish stare, Kendrick's heart raced.

Since the day of Geron's birthday ball, Kendrick had pressured Owen to add voice modification to his perception-resistance artifact.

To completely conceal both his face and his voice.

Of course, the face resistance didn't seem to work on Miss Janet.

'Fortunately, the voice function seemed to work.'

But aside from Janet, Julietta was his only twin.

If anyone could recognize him, it would be her—born on the same day, at the same time, from the same mother……

"Tch. Never mind. Hey, you there. Don't get any ideas about our Janet. Understood?"

Oh dear. He'd worried for nothing.

Meanwhile, while the twin siblings bickered, Richard's gaze remained fixed solely on Janet.

"Um, do you have something to say to me……?"

"I heard Father has officially become your patron."

"Yes. The Marchioness graciously offered to be my patron."

"Yeah. I see."

Richard nodded curtly.

'He doesn't seem upset……'

She'd worried he might dislike his father arbitrarily deciding to sponsor someone.

But that didn't seem to be the case.

Still, with his perpetually blank and cold expression, it was hard to read Richard's thoughts.

Before long, the table was laden with food.

The main dishes were the meat dishes Janet had said she liked.

"Eat plenty, Janet. And you too, my Lady, please eat your fill!"

"I'll enjoy the meal."

Bowing her head, Janet looked over the food on the table.

Everything looked delicious.

Knowing it was prepared for her made it even more so.

"Please eat well, my Lady."

"You too. And you're the star today—don't worry about me."

Even at a celebration prepared for her, Janet didn't forget her professional duty—Julietta said this with a prim tone.

"After all, once we're at the Academy, you're not a handmaiden."

Ahem.

Clearing her throat lightly, Julietta stabbed at the food with her fork and added.

"There, we'll have to be f-friends. So you should get used to it too."

Pretending not to care while gauging her reaction, Janet smiled and nodded.

"Yes. At the Academy, we'll be friends completely."

At Janet's answer, Julietta put the forked food into her mouth.

The corners of her mouth kept rising as she chewed.

Smiling softly, Janet was about to start eating as well—

Clink.

Two plates slid in front of her at once.

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