The Grand Duke's Maid Writes a Consultation Log Today - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Maid of the Grand Ducal House Writes a Counseling Log Today, Episode 013
“……My emotions.”
Elysia recalled the emotions she felt while looking at Sheila.
That emptiness that should never be seen on a child’s face.
Her hands, hovering over the keyboard, merely twitched several times, unable to type easily.
After staring at the screen for a long time, Elysia began to type letter by letter.
『The moment I saw Lady Sheila’s expression, I could not help but be shocked. Even if she is a lady, she is still a young child, yet the little child’s face was empty, as if she had given up on everything.
Like someone on the verge of letting go of life.
I still do not know for what reason she is suffering, or why she communicates only through writing instead of speaking.
However, it is clear that the Lady has gone through a terribly difficult ordeal.
I do not know if I dare to try and learn the reason why.』
Elysia lifted her hands from the keyboard and let out a sigh.
The reason she was cautious about daring to know why was not simply because Sheila was young.
As she thought of the more fundamental reason, Elysia pressed her brow at a memory she did not want to recall.
It was then.
『Counseling Log No. 001 is being registered!』
“Registered?”
Elysia snapped out of it and stared at the screen.
『Friend who needs a story: Sheila May Demint』
『Friend’s status: Selective Mutism, Paranoid Personality Disorder (partially applicable), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder』
“What…… What does this mean?”
Selective? Disorder?
Does that mean Sheila has a disorder?
Unable to hide her confusion, Elysia leaned closer to inspect the screen.
Then, the words displayed on the screen began to change slowly.
Shifting her gaze to examine the changing words, Elysia sank weakly against the chair.
Elysia stared at the words appearing on the laptop screen, her mind going blank.
Although she couldn’t fully comprehend what it meant, she could make a rough guess by following the listed words and descriptions.
Princess Sheila might not simply be refusing to speak, but rather, she might have stopped speaking due to some incident.
Elysia leaned back weakly in her chair, staring blankly at the screen for a long time.
The final sentence was what particularly caught her eye.
『Presumed common causes: Violence, abuse, parental upbringing methods, difficulty forming relationships with peers』
Unable to look any longer, Elysia slammed the laptop shut.
It was hard to believe what she had just seen, even though she had clearly verified it with her own eyes.
‘I’ve heard it too.’
Elysia recalled Sheila, who had written that on paper to show her.
The moment that expression, from which no emotion could be read, flashed through her mind once more.
She fled from her seat and headed toward the bed.
After checking on the sleeping Joshua, she lay down beside him, and he huddled into her arms as if sensing her presence in his sleep.
“Sister…….”
Silently patting Joshua, Elysia pulled him into a tight embrace, worried he might slip away.
‘That kid can’t hear.’
‘Can’t he speak either?’
‘Pretending to be normal, just raising his voice.’
‘Because his sister…….’
At the memories creeping up like smoke, Elysia squeezed her eyes shut.
It’s fine.
Ignoring the memories, she murmured while desperately focusing on the warmth she held in her arms.
That it was fine, over and over, continuously.

* * *
-Thud.
“Get out of the way. It’s annoying the hell out of me.”
As expected, the bullying from the maids, who had a bad first impression of her, continued all day long.
Even if she was assigned exclusively to Sheila, Elysia was still a newcomer.
A maid who entered by pure luck without family or money had suddenly been given the exclusive charge of the Lady.
To them, her first impression wasn’t just bad; she was undoubtedly a thorn in their side.
Even when gathering laundry or cleaning, Elysia tried her best to stay out of sight.
But the more she did, the more they openly picked on her.
It had been a day, then two, then three, and by the time nearly a week had passed.
It no longer stopped at bumping shoulders.
They would strike her back with objects as they walked past, or even trip her with a broom.
“Isn’t this a bit too much?”
“What can you do.”
The other maids also knew the situation was getting worse, but not a single one stepped forward.
Because there was nothing to gain by stepping in.
Though minor scratches increased on Elysia’s body, they were at a level that wasn’t revealed by her clothing.
Should she consider this a relief?
Elysia tried even harder not to react at all.
What they wanted was precisely her reaction, and above all, Joshua and Sheila were frequently together.
‘It seems the Lady has taken a liking to your younger brother.’
‘The Lady has?’
When she heard Hilmaiten’s words, Elysia was puzzled but didn’t completely deny it.
Every time she brought meals, Joshua was in Sheila’s room.
It was just baffling that rather than doing something together, they were always far apart.
Whether Joshua was asleep or chattering away, Sheila would just stare intently.
It was close to a favorable attitude, as if she were observing him.
At first, she tried to take him out of the room, but Sheila flatly refused.
[Leave him alone.]
[Bring his share to the room too.]
Joshua seemed happy to have a friend his age, but Sheila’s intentions remained unknown.
“Elysia, the Lady’s dinner is ready, so take it up.”
“Yes, Chef!”
Elysia quickly wrapped up what she was doing and headed to the kitchen.
It was when she was moving the food on a cart to the second floor.
-Rattle!
“Ah!”
Because the other person suddenly struck her shoulder while passing by, the cart rattled momentarily.
The food wasn’t heavily disrupted, except for one thing.
The soup overflowed and doused the back of Elysia’s hand, which was holding the handle.
Seeing her startled by the burning sensation, the culprit, who hadn’t left the spot, looked back.
“Oh dear, my bad. But you’re making quite a fuss over nothing.”
Giggling as she walked away, Elysia glared at her retreating back.
Her name was Branda, right.
She was the ringleader among the group spearheading the harassment.
Branda, locking arms with a maid her age, moved further away while laughing about whatever was so amusing.
Elysia quickly wiped the soup from the back of her hand, the cart, and even the tray using her clothes.
Since the time to serve the food was pressing, making it look presentable was the best she could do.
Moving the soup to the lower shelf and rearranging the main course to the upper shelf was the only measure she could take right now.
‘She will surely notice.’
With an anxious heart, Elysia knocked on Sheila’s door.
When the door opened, she smiled and greeted her just like a few hours ago.
“Lady, I’ve brought dinner.”
Sheila tilted her head and threw the door wide open.
As she stepped inside, Joshua closed the book he was reading on the bed.
“Sister!”
“Joshua. Your food is here too.”
Acting as usual, Elysia placed the food in order on the table arranged by the window.
Sitting down with excited hearts, Joshua and Sheila faced each other and inspected the dishes coming up.
While pouring drinking water into a cup, Joshua sniffed the air and tilted his head.
“Sister, did you eat soup?”
“Huh?”
Startled for a moment, Elysia asked back.
“You smell like soup. You ate it without me, didn’t you!”
“Oh, no way. It’s just because I came from the kitchen.”
“But there’s no soup today…….”
Joshua pouted when he didn’t see any soup among the served food.
Elysia feigned ignorance and offered a smile.
Sheila’s gaze, which had been quietly observing the two, shifted.
Having completed the setup perfectly, Elysia stepped back and spoke.
“I’ll go to the kitchen and ask them to give me the soup. I must have forgotten and left it behind. I’m sorry, Lady.”
As Sheila merely stared without a word, Elysia tactfully slipped out of the room.
Fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t been caught since she kept the bowl on the lower shelf.
Is there no choice but to go back to the kitchen and ask for more?
Just then, the door opened slightly and Sheila stepped out.
“Lady?”
Sheila, who had been staring tenaciously, suddenly grabbed her hand.
It was the hand scalded when she was bumped into earlier.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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