Home/The villainess's personal maid is very good at her job/ch 127

Episode 127

"Barbara."

The one who greeted her warmly was Barbara.

"Are you feeling better, Janet? Are you coming back to the Academy now?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be attending regularly."

"I'm glad. I was worried you might have been seriously injured back then."

Barbara's 'back then' referred to the hunting party.

Though quite some time had passed, Janet had captured everyone's attention that day.

Many had witnessed her wielding the Sacred Sword to deal with the mysterious demonic beasts, restoring the dazed people, and then collapsing.

Afterward, rumors about Janet had spread throughout the Empire.

"By the way, Janet. So then you're—no, never mind. It's nothing."

Barbara, who had been about to ask cautiously, quickly shook her head and smiled awkwardly.

She'd felt the gazes pouring in from all directions.

The moment Janet returned to school, all the students had been glancing at her while pretending not to.

Janet had also noticed the looks but had been ignoring them.

Smiling at Barbara's consideration, Janet whispered quietly.

"I'll tell you later."

"……Okay!"

As Barbara nodded, moved, Julietta subtly stepped closer to Janet.

At Julietta's arm-linking, Janet laughed softly.

But Janet didn't notice the movement behind her.

That Kendrick, who had been standing behind her, had also quietly moved to her side.

"Anyway, Janet. How's your exam prep going?"

"Exam?"

"Yeah. The exam is in a week. You haven't been at school much—are you okay?"

Oh, that was unexpected.

Blinking, Janet looked at Julietta and Kendrick.

Seeing the twins blinking with the same clueless expression, Janet couldn't help but laugh again.

---

"Ugh, I hate exams!"

"Still, you have to do them. Since we're taking them anyway, it'll feel good to do well."

"I suppose, but……"

Sigh.

Julietta let out a small sigh.

She never thought she'd have to study for exams.

Of course, she'd prepared for the entrance exam, but that was it.

After entering the Academy, Julietta had completely avoided studying.

Her previous exam before taking a leave of absence had seen her competing for last place and second-to-last.

'Of course, I did that on purpose.'

Resting her chin on the desk with a grumpy face, Julietta rolled her eyes and glanced at the two in front of her.

Janet, with her hair tied up, immersed in studying, and Kendrick, also staring at a book with a fairly serious expression.

Sigh.

Letting out another small sigh, Julietta forced herself to focus on her open book.

Seeing the two studying so hard while she did nothing……

She didn't like feeling left out.

She might as well study.

But——

'Hm?'

It was strange.

The textbook content that should have felt difficult was sinking in easily.

Only then did Julietta realize.

Before, she'd hated the Academy and slept through classes with her head on the desk, but now she at least didn't sleep during class.

She didn't want to be seen sleeping every day while slowly getting closer to her classmates, including Janet.

Good heavens.

'Was it this easy all along?'

Tilting her head, Julietta moved her pen busily, and Kendrick and Janet exchanged satisfied smiles.

And at that moment——

"……"

"……"

The gazes of the two sitting side by side met in midair.

For a moment, they stared at each other silently.

"What? What are you two doing?"

"Hm? Nothing."

"Ahem."

It was only after Julietta, who had been diligently taking notes, frowned at the strange atmosphere and asked that the odd eye contact ended.

Janet pretended to be calm and returned her gaze to the book.

But strangely, the back of her neck felt hot.

'……Is the room warm?'

Summer was almost over, but she couldn't understand the sudden heat.

---

"Hey, Kendrick."

"What, sister?"

"Always 'sister, sister.'"

Clicking her tongue in exasperation, Julietta glared up at Kendrick.

"Can't you tone it down?"

"Tone what down?"

"What? What do you mean what?"

At Julietta's incredulous question, Kendrick shrugged.

"Your expression, that's what. At least control your expression in front of me."

"Why do I need to control my expression in front of you?"

"What?"

At his genuinely confused look, Julietta's brow twitched.

"You mean you still haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what? What are you even talking about?"

"……Fine, forget it. I don't even want to talk about it anymore. Ugh, you idiot!"

Shouting in frustration, Julietta shook her head vigorously and walked past Kendrick.

Left alone in the empty room, Kendrick watched her retreating back and let out a sigh that was half laughter.

His innocent, clueless expression vanished in an instant.

Lightly brushing his hair back, he narrowed his eyes and gazed out the window.

"How could I not know."

A low mutter escaped through his teeth.

Yes, how could he not know.

The source of this feeling.

He wasn't as clueless as Julietta thought.

Well, he'd realized it a bit late, though.

'Janet.'

Just silently repeating her name made his chest tingle and his neck feel warm.

All the men around her were rivals, and even women were rivals.

Tracing the root of this selfish desire to be the closest person to her, he naturally came to recognize the name of that feeling.

"A crush."

Even saying it aloud felt embarrassing.

Just a year ago, he'd never dreamed there would be a woman he'd fall in love with.

The sunset was painting the sky outside the window.

Looking at the unrealistically beautiful view, Janet's face came to mind again.

It was always like this whenever he saw something beautiful, delicious, or good.

He must be seriously smitten.

Since he had no intention of confessing his feelings to Janet anytime soon, he'd likely remain in this lovesick state for a while.

With a smile that was hard to tell whether it was happy or bittersweet, Kendrick stared at the sunset outside the window.

---

"Everyone, don't overdo it tonight—get some rest. Understood?"

"……Yes."

At the class advisor's urging, the students answered hesitantly.

Slowly scanning the students' faces, dark circles prominent, the advisor shook his head.

'There are clearly a few who'll pull all-nighters.'

The exam was tomorrow.

Overdoing it the night before wouldn't make much difference. It would be better to sleep well and take the exam in top condition.

But having taught for many years, he already knew the students wouldn't listen.

"Sigh. Dismissed."

The moment the words left his mouth, the students rushed out of the classroom.

To cram one more word into their heads for tomorrow's exam.

And so, the Academy emptied in an instant.

Tread, tread.

Muffled footsteps crossed the empty hallway.

A shadowy figure, glancing around, confirmed the classroom before them.

「Self-Study Lab」

The Self-Study Lab was a classroom opened for students' free research.

Normally, one had to sign the register and get a key from the supervising professor, but——

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

After a slightly unusual knock and a brief wait, the firmly shut door opened silently.

Through the narrow gap, the dark, unlit Self-Study Lab came into view.

Gulp.

Just as the student before the door swallowed dryly—

"Here. The promised item."

A gloved hand reached through the gap, holding out a small box.

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