Home/The villainess's personal maid is very good at her job/ch 88

Episode 88

Meanwhile, Janet and Kendrick—whom Julietta had been looking for—

"You're popular."

"Right?"

They were watching Julietta from a secluded spot.

Though she tried to act nonchalant, her fluster was obvious. Still, the corners of her mouth kept twitching, so the situation didn't seem too bad.

"How surprising. She used to be so uncomfortable around people."

"It's proof of how much Julietta has worked on herself."

Well, it might be more proof of Janet's efforts than Julietta's.

Kendrick thought that for a moment but didn't say it aloud.

Because Janet, watching Julietta, looked so proud.

"Speaking of which, I received a letter from Lord Liam not long ago."

"You two exchange letters?"

"Um, occasionally."

Given the considerable distance between the capital and the border, letters took quite a while to arrive.

As a result, even though Liam had left over a month ago, they'd only exchanged three letters.

The first letter Janet received, her reply, and now this latest one.

Watching Janet count the letters they'd exchanged, Kendrick let out a dry laugh.

'……The Guild Master hates paperwork and always makes me or Hobbs do his work for him.'

He'd even delegated all communication to nearby Illinia branches instead of sending messages himself.

And now he was writing letters—not just one, but two?

'He must be really invested.'

Then again, it made sense.

There was a chance that the daughter he'd searched so desperately for was Janet.

"What did he say in the letter?"

"Just various things about his daily life."

Daily life?

"And he asked how I was doing."

Asked how she was?

"He also asked if I liked the birthday gifts he sent. He said he picked each one out himself and hoped I liked them."

……He picked out all those gifts himself?

"And."

And?

He was getting curious about what shocking content might be next.

Smiling at Kendrick as he leaned in, Janet added with genuine delight.

"He wrote that he'd be coming back soon."

"……That's good."

"Yes. I wanted to thank him for the gifts anyway."

Everyone's gifts and sentiments were precious and special, but the Marchioness's gifts were particularly moving.

Just looking at them made her feel a little choked up.

Perhaps it was because of the notes attached to each gift.

「Happy birthday, Janet.」

「Thank you for being born.」

Thank you for being born.

She'd truly never heard that before. Even if she recovered her memories before age fifteen, she was certain no one had ever said that to her.

Just as she fidgeted with her teacup, feeling her nose sting again—

"Janet, Theo."

"Ah, Barbara."

Barbara approached with a shy smile.

"Thank you both for coming."

"Don't mention it. I should be thanking you for inviting me."

As the two girls exchanged pleasantries, Kendrick spoke up leisurely.

"The garden landscaping is lovely."

"Ah, yes. My mother loves flowers. She also enjoys decorating and arranging things."

At Barbara's answer, Janet's eyes widened.

"So she also prepared this awning?"

"Yes. Ah, the tea party idea was actually hers too."

"Walking around with teacups and mingling?"

As if proud of her mother's praise, Barbara nodded.

"Actually, my mother manages most of our family's businesses. Over half of them are under her name."

"Wow. That's really impressive?"

Though it was a world where women could freely work and start businesses, conservative laws still remained—like the head of the household deciding a daughter's marriage.

In that society, a successful businesswoman was remarkable.

"Yeah. I really respect my mother."

Barbara said proudly, then suddenly gasped.

"Ah, speaking of which, my mother said she'd really like to meet you, Janet."

"Me?"

"Yeah. She was apparently very impressed by 'Day Oat,' the product you sponsored."

At the mention of Day Oat, Janet's eyes sparkled.

After receiving the invitation, Janet had approached Barbara separately.

To ask if she could sponsor this class tea party with 'Day Oat.'

"This is the milk you made?"

"Yes. It's oat milk—people who can't tolerate dairy can drink it comfortably. It's also filling, so it's good for dieting."

"Good for dieting?"

"Yes. If it's okay, I'd like to sponsor this tea party so the class can try it. Would that be alright?"

"Hmm, I think it's possible. Could you send it on the morning of the event?"

As a result, some of the milk tea the students were drinking contained 'Day Oat' instead of regular milk.

"Mother said she'd like to talk with you—would that be okay?"

"Yeah. Of course."

If the conversation went well, it could be a great opportunity to gain a good business partner.

Successful business families like the Kinsels weren't common.

"Then I'll contact you later."

"Alright. I'll be waiting."

Bowing lightly, Barbara walked off toward the other students.

"That's great."

"Yeah. Really great—"

Just as Janet was about to answer Theo's whisper with a smile—

Startled. Janet stiffened.

That feeling.

It was that feeling.

"Janet?"

At Theo's call, Janet looked up at him blankly. Then slowly, she raised her left wrist.

「Salvation」

At the clearly glowing letters, Kendrick couldn't hide his agitation.

"……!"

He hadn't doubted Janet's words that her Blessed Phrase was 'Salvation.'

But seeing it with his own eyes felt strange. Hadn't this been one of the clues they'd been searching for all along?

Finding a child with the phrase 'Salvation.'

More importantly—

'Why is the Blessing reacting now?'

He didn't know exactly what power the 'Salvation' phrase possessed.

When they'd talked before, he'd only focused on the wording—he hadn't asked about its ability.

Meanwhile, new lines of the original work were flowing into Janet's mind.

"The mission you entrusted me with has been handled perfectly."

"You didn't leave any evidence?"

"Of course. Since the warehouse was completely destroyed, there's no way any evidence remains. Just in case, we left people inside too, so it'll be seen as an accident caused by their mistake."

"Good. I'm pleased."

"I have even better news."

"What is it?"

"Several Academy students were injured in this incident. Apparently, they were holding an Academy event in the garden that day. An entire class was gathered, so the number of casualties is significant."

"Oh dear. Kinsel will have a bit of a headache. They'll have to deal with damages from the accident too."

An Academy event.

A gathering of an entire class.

And the Kinsel family.

The hints from the original work were very clear.

'……It's today. Right now, this very moment.'

An explosion is about to happen somewhere here!

Gulp. Swallowing dryly, Janet frantically looked around.

---

"Where should I put this?"

"Put it inside. Spices shouldn't be exposed to sunlight."

Hoo.

The man, stretching his back, glanced at the piles stacked in front of the warehouse.

Flour sacks and sugar bags caught his eye. The newly delivered spices were also numerous.

Inside, dried meat and pickled vegetables were already lined up in rows.

As expected of a wealthy family's food storage.

"Hey, John! Shine the light over here—I can't see!"

"Alright. Wait a moment."

John lit the lantern he'd pulled from his bag and entered the warehouse.

'What's with all this dust……'

Having just moved flour, the air inside was hazy with powder.

Just as the dust entering his airway made him feel like sneezing—

"Hmm, why is it suddenly so……"

"What's wrong, John—whoa?"

The two burly men staggered inside the warehouse. As a sudden wave of drowsiness hit them, they collapsed with a thud.

A moment later—

"……."

A shadow loomed over them.

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