Translator: Nox

Chapter 30

Episode 30

A chill ran down my spine at the voice I shouldn't have heard.

To describe the intensity of the goosebumps, it was as eerie as encountering a zombie crawling out of a grave on a midsummer night.

"What brings you here, Heir Herthas?"

"I'm on my way to the banquet Marquis Evantes invited me to..."

Yurta's gaze fixed on me.

His pleasantly curving lips were so ominous that I subtly averted my eyes.

"By the way, did that maid just say she's quitting?"

Butler, please shut up.

I shot the butler an intense glare, but unfortunately, he didn't notice me.

"Yes, that's right. Do you know Rosie by any chance?"

"Of course."

......They were clearly talking about me, but an atmosphere formed where I, the person in question, couldn't interject.

"She's the maid who attends the Marquis's bedroom."

At those words, the butler coughed awkwardly in surprise.

Yurta persistently fixed his gaze on me before smiling faintly.

"Then I'll be off."

With that, Yurta left, and I could only clutch the back of my neck in dismay while watching his retreating figure.

Even after Yurta disappeared, the butler kept clearing his throat repeatedly before finally turning to me, seemingly calmed.

"So, Rosie, what were you trying to say?"

Ah, my neck...

I reflexively grabbed the back of my neck.

"Rosie, are you in pain somewhere?"

"My neck hurts..."

"Goodness, and you're still so young..."

The butler clicked his tongue sympathetically, but I felt so wronged I wanted to cry.

The culprit who had utterly ruined everything was oblivious to it all...

"Um, Butler, I was trying to say that I think I need to keep working here for the time being..."

Tears nearly welled up as I spoke.

But contrary to my feelings, the butler looked delighted.

"Is that true?"

"Please take care of me from now on too, Butler..."

"Yes, Rosie. Let's keep doing well together."

* * *

After finishing my talk with the butler, I headed straight to my room.

Thinking of Yurta, who must know I'm quitting immediately, filled me with despair.

I felt extremely uneasy worrying about his future actions when Emily was waiting for me in front of my door.

She lit up upon seeing me.

"Rosie, let's go to the kitchen together!"

"The kitchen?"

"There's a ton of work right now, so they requested backup staff. We decided to go."

Ugh, I hate it.

Seeing my horrified expression, Emily suggested sneaking some dessert from the Head Chef after we finished.

Her tone was overly confident, as if it were already promised.

A sudden question arose.

Why was Emily so good to me—no, to Rosie—like this?

Right after possession, I must have acted differently from Rosie.

Yet Emily, who had witnessed it all, remained completely nonchalant.

I was heading down the stairs to the Central Hall, thinking she must have been close to Rosie, when—

"N-No! P-Please spare me!"

A desperate plea echoed.

Emily and I stopped talking and naturally turned toward the source—the Central Hall.

There...

"I really didn't know! I'm innocent! Who would have guessed the monster would escape suddenly!"

"Stop making a fuss and come along!"

"Hic... I really had nothing to do with it! The Restraints were properly on him..."

The maid being dragged by the knights in the center was a face I knew well.

Rihart's meal attendant this time.

"...Ella?"

I whispered her name in the tiniest voice.

It was so small even Emily next to me couldn't hear, but Ella turned her head as if she had.

Her tear-filled eyes locked onto me.

"Rosie!"

She called my name desperately, as if begging for help, but I had no way to save her.

I'm just a mere maid...

"Let's go, Rosie."

Emily turned her head away as if avoiding Ella's gaze and grabbed my arm to pull me.

"Rosie, don't go!"

"......"

Emily firmly turned my body away from the harsh voice.

"If you get involved for no reason, only you'll be in danger."

She warned lowly and urgently in my ear.

At that moment—

"I heard the monster was looking for a pink-haired maid!"

At those words, my footsteps halted abruptly.

"...Isn't that you, Rosie?"

Someone cautiously raised the question.

"Are you crazy? What are you saying right now?"

"It's true, Emily. There's no one else with pink hair here but Rosie."

As soon as those words fell, the air grew subtly heavy.

Gazes gathered on me one by one, all too naturally.

"W-What nonsense. Our Rosie has red hair!"

Whoooosh—

As if on cue, a chilly wind swept through.

"Ahem. Let's go, Rosie."

Emily grabbed my hand and pulled. I lifted my stiff, rooted feet.

As we tried to move—

"What is all this commotion?"

A low, refined voice cut across the Central Hall.

The culprit behind this situation appeared at the center of the uproar.

Arjen Evantes.

"Ma-Marquis!"

Knights, servants—everyone bowed their heads without exception.

Regardless of knight or servant, all around bowed in unison. Like a long-ingrained reflex, there wasn't a hint of hesitation in their movements.

Followed by Arjen's leisurely gesture, commanding everything without unnecessary words.

At the signal, a nearby knight hurried over and reported the situation breathlessly.

"The monster was looking for that pink-haired maid, Marquis."

Arjen's gaze landed on me.

In that instant, I had a gut feeling.

All the time I'd endured serving Rihart's meals might have been meaningless, and this could be the end for me here.

As anxiety closed in on my heart, I bit my lip. Arjen was a merciless madman.

"Isn't it red hair?"

"...Pardon?"

Everyone around wore baffled expressions.

How did he hear Emily's absurd claim?

Tilting his head, he looked down at me with a languid smile.

"It looks red to me."

His low, sunken voice added meaningfully.

"Right?"

"Y-Yes! That's right! It's red hair!"

At those words, the surrounding knights chimed in unison as if on cue.

Not one dared meet his eyes, their faces plainly etched with unconcealed fear.

Thus, the people of Evantes Mansion collectively became colorblind.

"Then what should we do with this maid?"

Ella gazed up at Arjen with a bloodless, ashen face.

Her trembling lips quivered repeatedly, as if silently pleading 'please, please.'

"Get rid of her. She's noisy."

"Understood."

At that curt response, I had to swallow something in my mouth.

If I'd relaxed even a little, words I absolutely shouldn't say would have burst out.

You bastard.

I despised those who treated human lives like ants.

"Why that look?"

Arjen, noticing my glare, asked me.

"...It's nothing."

But Arjen didn't seem convinced.

"Does this situation displease you?"

With a person being dragged away like that, could anyone say it pleased them?

Yet I, merely watching all this, wasn't even sure if I had the right to condemn him.

"It's the Marquis's will, so how could I presume to comment."

Only then did Arjen smile beautifully, seemingly satisfied.

......As expected, there are no normal people here.

This is definitely not a place to work long-term.