Chapter 16
Episode 16
What did I just hear?
I looked at Rihart without responding. Thinking I might have misheard, I waited for him to repeat......
"I asked if I may undress you."
I had heard correctly.
"Have you gone mad wanting a slap?"
"I don't have that kind of hobby, but if you like it, miss maid, I'll take it."
"I don't get pleasure from hitting people......"
"What a shame."
......Didn't you just say you didn't have that hobby?
Rihart, who had been grinning, suddenly hardened his expression.
Seeing his unexpectedly serious face, I relaxed the fist I'd clenched in preparation for any mishap, ready to slap his cheek.
"Just a peek at your shoulder is fine."
"Why......?"
"Show me, and I'll explain."
"......"
"If you don't want to, feel free to refuse. I have no intention of forcing you."
Just showing a bit of shoulder—should be fine, right?
Since possessing this body, I'd worn fully covered clothes, but back in my old life, I'd worn outfits with deep shoulder cuts too.
Of course, it was a purchase mistake.
I'd bought it impulsively because the front looked pretty without checking properly, only realizing later the shoulders were completely exposed.
I considered returning it but ended up wearing it because the return shipping was too expensive......
Wait, why am I even thinking about this?
Sage mode hit me briefly, but realizing Rihart was watching snapped me back.
"I'll show you. Just loosen the strap in the back."
I turned around.
"Loosen the strap."
"......"
"Not loosening it?"
"......Why aren't you refusing?"
He'd asked if he could undress me earlier. Back then, I really thought my ears were broken.
"Because I'm confident I can kill you if you try anything funny."
"For survival's sake, I shouldn't even think about it. Then, miss maid, excuse me for a moment."
I bit my lip unnecessarily at the sensation of Rihart's long fingers untying the strap on my back.
I felt tense for no reason.
His touch tickled as he undid the strap, making me shrink involuntarily. From behind, Rihart chuckled softly and whispered it was okay.
Finally, the strap came loose, and cool air touched my shoulder.
I fiddled with my hunched shoulder and turned to Rihart.
"Is that enough?"
Rihart stared fixedly at my shoulder.
It should have been embarrassing, but seeing his rigid expression chased away such feelings.
"......What's wrong?"
Rihart blinked slowly, then looked away from my shoulder and shook his head.
He refastened my clothes and tied the strap.
"Did you know? Devil Worshippers brand themselves."
"......So what."
"As a pledge to become the devil's wings, they sear a brand near the wing bones with a hot iron."
Devil Worshippers. Why bring them up?
What does that have to do with me?
I recalled what I knew about the Devil Worshippers.
Strangely, info from a novel I'd read long ago came to mind instantly.
Beings who particularly targeted Transcendents, bringing disasters to the empire.
I remembered crises befalling the story repeatedly because of them.
"To be honest, I thought you might be a Devil Worshipper, miss maid."
"Me? An upstanding person like me?"
"......Upstanding. Well, let's say so."
That answer felt a bit ambiguous.
"But no brand—honestly, that was unexpected."
"......Unexpected. If there had been a brand, I wouldn't have shown you in the first place."
"Yes, so I just judged you're not."
He answered briskly, but that didn't restore my sense of absurdity.
......Devil Worshipper.
"You suspected me because of that scent coming from me?"
"Yes. I thought the Devil Worshippers might have changed tactics this time."
His crescent-moon curved blue eyes were truly beautiful.
"Did you dislike it?"
"If I'd liked it, I'd really be a Devil Worshipper."
"A valid point, miss maid."
I was about to grumble at him but shut my mouth.
I'd initially avoided talking to him, yet now we were casually conversing back and forth.
This sudden realization made me reassess Rihart. Scary guy.
Back when reading the novel, I'd scoffed at descriptions of him masterfully seducing maids one after another.
The mad gong praised with such flowery, alluring expressions—it was a bit funny......
But in reality, Rihart had drawn me—who'd wanted nothing to do with him—into natural conversation.
'Scary, so scary.'
Still, it should be fine.
Meal duty ends today.
Today is the last time seeing Rihart. No more dealings after this.
I'm parting with Rihart now, so no more life-threatening worries.
I unconsciously hummed cheerfully and pulled over a nearby tray of potatoes.
"......I wondered why you brought potatoes, but what are you doing now, miss maid?"
"Can't you tell? Peeling them."
That's why peel them here? His gaze said roughly that.
The final price for hearing Marie's plan from Rihart was not staying by the Guard, but remaining by his side until meal duty ended.
Since duty was almost over anyway, I agreed.
Thus, I ended up peeling potatoes by Rihart's side.
"In case you're bored, I prepared a knife for you too. Here."
"......Aren't you using me?"
"Ah, you caught me."
"......"
I'd prepared a blunt knife unsuitable as a weapon.
Of course, Rihart knew harming me here gained him nothing.
The affectionately acting Rihart simply smiled amusedly and took the knife and potatoes I offered.
And so we peeled potatoes.
Thinking I was probably the only one making this obsessive mad gong peel potatoes filled me with a bit of pride.
'Once the potatoes are done, I should go to the butler.'
To make the Guard confess Marie's crimes, I hadn't revealed his own guilt, but now that hers was proven, no reason to keep his secret.
Marie, who'd drugged Rihart's food, was gone, and the Guard who'd assaulted him for unknown reasons was replaced.
The next maid would benefit greatly from me. Though she wouldn't know it.
As Rihart and I peeled potatoes side by side.
"Rosie! Rosie!"
Emily's urgent voice calling my name from outside.
"Go see, miss maid."
"I was going to anyway."
I set down the potatoes and left the room without greeting Rihart, thinking I'd return soon.
"Rosie, listen carefully......"
Emily grabbed both my shoulders urgently. Her trembling fingers gripped tightly, as if afraid to let go.
Hey, it hurts.
"What's wrong, Emily?"
"B-Big trouble!"
"What trouble."
"This isn't the time to calmly ask what!"
Then what should I ask?
Maybe because I didn't know the situation. It didn't feel urgent to me.
"Don't freak out when you hear."
"What, did they say I'm to be the monster's exclusive maid?"
That would be truly awful.
"No. Worse than that."
Emily took a deep breath and finally spoke.
"What happened is......"
Her throat bobbed.
"The Marquis wants you to attend his bedroom!"
My train of thought halted instantly.
Oh my god, what is this?
"What kind of attending?"
Amid the sudden news, I forgot we'd left the door open while talking.
From behind, Rihart—who'd been peeling potatoes—loosely lifted his head to look at me.
The potato in his hand was miserably crushed.
"Bedroom attending......"
