Chapter 42: Chapter 41 - Duchess Trap
I stood quietly behind the sofa with the Head Maid.
The current situation had me on guard and ready to serve as a maid. Five high-ranking nobles were in front of me, joking around like old friends who getting to know each other jokes, before getting into an important conversation.
I used to be like this too, joking around before discussing my work problems, which were full of the words "revision" and "rewriting" on my novel.
Ugh, remembering that dark past life is so bad.
It wouldn’t be funny if a sweet girl like me had already experienced some... severe depression from an early age.
So I tried to stay calm and smile, even though it was forced.
"You’re still survive. Good job, Liliana," whispered the Head Maid standing beside me.
"I’m surprised too..." I replied in a low tone and glanced at her.
The Head Maid, known as the perfect maid and a role model for everyone working at Duke Adelheid Von Blutfeld’s residence, had a dark side that I ’accidentally’ knew about. She didn’t hesitate to flee at crucial situations, such as abandoning me in the library and returning with reinforcements.
I feel grateful for that...
But, my rapidly eroding mental pressure didn’t want to accept the Head Maid’s actions as tactical retreat; it was just torture dressed up with sweet favors.
"I hope, you can survive longer without my help in the future," continued the Head Maid’s whisper, making my head explode with a bad feeling.
Turning my head to glance at her, I put on a pleading and compassionate expression.
"It’s no use; the decision is already in the hands of Duchess Adelheid Von Blutfeld."
"So just accept it..."
The words spoken by the Head Maid, make me aware to this bad feeling.
Something big was happening behind the scenes, and I didn’t know about it. The Duchess’s enigmatic movements were indeed apparent after the honorable duel with Master Reina concluded.
I don’t know the exact details, but I’m sure it has something to do with Master Reina and Master Amagi.
"I’m really unlucky, huh?" I muttered under my breath and paid attention to the conversation in front of me.
The Duchess sat beside Master Reina, who still get scolding by her.
"Reina, you should know that going against your mother will result in... quite a few bruises," said the Duchess to defuse the heated situation that was currently brewing between Master Reina and her.
"Your cheek will be fine in a few days; no need to be grumpy. Look at Liliana, who looks calm with her newly healed head wound. Did she often get grumpy while working as a apprentice maid?" the Duchess continued, using me as an example.
Various kinds of objections could slip out of my mouth.
However, it was stopped by a sweet pinch from the Head Maid’s hand on my back.
All I could do at this point was smile and stay calm, under the pressure of the Head Maid who controlling the current situation.
"I did that so that I could carry out my duties well, Duchess Adelheid Von Blutfeld," I replied formally and respectfully.
The Head Maid’s weakening pinch on my back was a sign that I had answered correctly.
"Liliana can control herself well, so you should do the same. Liliana’s injuries are much worse than a bruise on her cheek. She even fainted when get hit, right?"
The question was directed at Master Reina, who was still staring at her father with an grumpy expression.
From my perspective as a apprentice maid, this is a soft parental education technique. A far different from the modern world technique, which tends to be persuasive without providing direct examples of cause and effect.
By using me as an example, it taught Master Reina the importance of remaining calm in all situations. Grasping the situation with a cool head and taking careful steps to move like a high-ranking noble.
I, who don’t know anything, get involved in other things without my knowledge; it really sucks.
"Let’s forget about that unimportant matter and move on to something else."
Eh? So my fainting and head injury aren’t that important in Duchess eyes?
"We move on to another matter, let’s see... how about the basic training in magic and swordsmanship that must be mastered before entering the Royal Belfast Academy, Reina?"
"You and Amagi must work hard to complete your basic training..."
"Oh, sorry, I misspoke, I meant the three of you... You come too, Liliana."
The moment the Duchess said that, I immediately glared at the Head Maid to ask for a logical explanation for this.
My glance released the Head Maid’s grip, and her head looked away, reluctant to meet my gaze that required further explanation about this.
The response of refusing to look at me directly made it clear that there was the Head Maid’s interference in this matter.
"Don’t you like this idea, Liliana?" the Duchess asked in a gentle tone.
I immediately shifted my sharp gaze to a softer one to answer the Duchess’s question.
"I don’t know to answer it, my Duchess," I answered in an innocent tone like a little girl who doesn’t know anything.
"Fufu~ You will receive basic sword training from a Duchess who has never lost a tournament and magic training from a cold-hearted witch who once said love is a futile feeling... but that witch, suddenly trying to make a third baby with her feeling of love to her husband."
The words that sounded like a little mockery were uttered by a Duchess with a cynical gaze directed at Marchioness Shinano Vii Lichtberg.
A normal person would immediately know that the Duchess was teasing a grown woman in front of her; Marchioness Shinano Vii Lichtberg looked down with a pink blush on her face like a woman who had just experienced love.
I tilted my head and put on a confused expression, pretending not to understand the Duchess’s way out of this problem.
"Sorry, Duchess..."
"I don’t understand..."
With these gentle answers, I tried to reach the exit door that appeared before me. I crawled slowly and opened the door, like an innocent girl who didn’t understand the complicated conversation.
And get out from this matters.
"Don’t you want to accompany Reina to practice, Liliana?" asked the Duchess, forcibly blocking my exit door with hard kick.
BAAAMMM!!
In my mind, which had found a way out, it suddenly collapsed after the Duchess blew that way out with a trap question.
"Eh?" I still pretended not to understand, but my instincts told me this charade would end in vain.
"Don’t you want to accompany Reina and Amagi to practice?" the Duchess asked once again, blocking my exit into a dead end.
This is totally cheating!
Why did the Duchess use a trump card that I couldn’t refuse?!!
This is completely unfair and cheating!
"To accompany Master Reina and... Master Amagi to practice?" I said in a tone that was both clueless and forced to accept this unilateral decision.
"Yes, to accompany them in the training they will undergo," replied the Duchess with a bright smile on her face after winning over the little girl.
"Is that okay for a mere apprentice maid like me?" I continued hesitantly, though it would be futile since the Duchess’s decision was final.
"That’s also part of the Exclusive Maid training that you will undergo."
Ah, never mind...
I know that I will not be able to win against the Duchess, who has all kinds of ways to trap me.
"Liliana will also get an additional salary of one gold coin for each training session."
"So, make sure to come, okay~."
A wide smile suddenly filled my face.
Somehow, it was a normal reaction for a little girl named Liliana.
One piece of gold...
For every sessions...
Liliana is so easy to be seduced by piece of gold, huh?
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