The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - 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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Chapter 13

“Here it is, Miss. The manuscript you requested.”
Julietta’s face flushed with bewilderment as she accepted the notebook from Janet.
“You finished all of this? In just two days?”
“Pardon? Yes, I did finish it. You asked me to have it ready by today, so I prepared it… Is there perhaps something wrong with it?”
Wrong?
Very wrong indeed!
‘I was certain she would fail!’
Had the timeframe I set been too tight?
‘Two days… no, not even that. She had barely a day and a half.’
Yesterday, I deliberately kept sending her on errands so she couldn’t copy during her regular working hours.
So naturally, I’d assumed she would fail, and I’d already prepared a lecture for her about it…
‘What on earth is she?’
Julietta stared at Janet with eyes wide in astonishment.
But the moment passed quickly.
“Wait. You didn’t possibly…”
Julietta’s words trailed off as she pressed her lips firmly together.
“Yes, Miss?”
“…No. It’s nothing.”
Julietta answered coolly, pretending to skim through the notebook where Janet had copied the botanical encyclopedia.
But the words blurred before her eyes. Her gaze kept drifting toward Janet’s rough complexion.
The dark circles beneath her eyes that seemed oddly hollow, the skin rougher than usual, the pallor that was unusually pronounced.
‘Did she stay up all night?’
Both nights?
Julietta bit her lip hard.
‘Why does she persist so stubbornly? Why won’t she give up?’
It was strange.
By now, shouldn’t her true nature be showing?
…Just as it had with most of the people who had been by her side.

“Did you see that dress earlier? Where on earth does one buy something so gaudy?”
“If not for the Ludwig name, I would have thought she was an actress from some traveling theater troupe.”
“Just like her mother, you mean?”
“Oh my, hush! If the Grand Duke heard you say such things, we’d be in terrible trouble!”

Ahahaha!
That shrill laughter still echoed vividly in my ears.
They were laughing with faces entirely different from those they’d worn before me.
And they were not alone in this.

“Teaching Miss is truly exhausting. Miss simply lacks talent for academics.”
“It would be far better to bring a wooden plank and teach that instead.”
“I say this for Miss’s own good, but it would be wise to abandon your studies. Perhaps you should devote yourself more to your appearance.”

Countless tutors who had taught young Julietta Ludwig would abandon her lessons with such words.
Even when young Julietta Ludwig wept and apologized, they would leave with expressions of disgust.

“Julietta Ludwig.”
“It’s your fault. You took everything from me.”
“Wait, Julietta Ludwig. Just calm down for a moment—”
“Why?! Why do you get to have everything?! We were born together, so why were you blessed with everything while I received nothing?!”
“…No. That’s not it.”
“No? It’s you. You took it all! Because of you, my life became this way! Because of you… I’m this miserable!”
“…”
“I wish you would disappear. I wish you had never existed. I… truly despise you.”

Julietta Ludwig, just as I had been.
Everyone conceals their sordid true nature.
They pretend to hide it carefully, yet inevitably it bursts forth and claws at the other person.
‘But why, exactly?’
Endless contempt, endless humiliation, endless pointing out of shortcomings.
Mockery and shame inflicted before Sien, a mere maidservant.
Never acknowledging anything properly, only negating with “you were wrong.”
‘Shouldn’t this be terrible, painful, resentful?’
Shouldn’t anyone find someone to blame and pour their anger upon them?
The sudden confusion brought a wave of nausea.
My heart pounded violently, my limbs throbbed. A creeping neurotic anxiety clouded my mind.
This happened sometimes.
Moments when emotions would suddenly burst over trivial matters.
“Ugh.”
Julietta Ludwig clutched her dizzy head and let out a faint groan. Janet rushed over, scrutinizing her complexion.
“What’s wrong, Miss? Are you in pain somewhere?”
“…Get away. Move.”
A delicate arm irritably pushed Janet aside.
“Miss?”
“Take this and call it a day.”
Janet accepted the notebook with a bewildered expression.
Her gaze remained fixed on Julietta’s pallid, exhausted face.
“But Miss, you were supposed to——”
“I said that’s enough! I’m going to sleep now, so don’t wake me.”
Julietta, pressing her hand to her head, swayed unsteadily toward the bed.
Janet desperately wanted to rush forward and steady her, but she held back. She feared that any touch might worsen her condition.
And yet.
“Miss, I’ll remain just outside your door.”
“….”
“I won’t be a bother. I’ll stay quiet. I’ll wait quietly, and if you need me, I’ll return at once.”
“….”
“Then, please rest.”
With a whispered farewell, Janet quietly withdrew from the room.
Click.
Even the soft sound of the closing door carried a thoughtfulness within it.
Lying in bed, I squeezed my eyes shut. Sleep would not come, I was certain.
The chronic insomnia I had endured for so long had only worsened in recent days.
‘Perhaps I should visit Nova Morgan.’
Nova Morgan was one of the few people I could truly rely upon.
My former governess in childhood, she had imparted countless lessons to me.

“All people are the same, Miss. They desire only your wealth, your family name, your circumstances. So do not trust kindness, and do not reveal your true heart.”
“If you wish not to be despised, then simply do not appear weak. Make them kneel before you first. Ensure they dare not look down upon you.”
“My poor, dear Miss. Everything I say is for your sake. You have only me in this world. Is that not so?”

How to navigate this world, how to avoid contempt, how to escape pain.
Nova Morgan had taught me all of it. And whenever I suffered, she would unfailingly appear to offer words of solace.
Though I had battled insomnia for years, on the nights I spent with Nova Morgan, I could sleep deeply and peacefully.

“It seems that because I am someone you can truly depend on, Miss, you are able to sleep so soundly.”

She was right.
But.
‘Lately, she hasn’t come to see me….’
Ever since she was promoted to head maidservant a year ago, her visits had stopped entirely.
I’d tried visiting her a few times, but seeing her troubled expression as she claimed to be busy, I’d refrained from calling on her.
‘…Still, it wasn’t so bad before.’
For the past week or so, I’d been so preoccupied with Janet that I’d forgotten I hadn’t seen Nova Morgan at all.
But now, left alone, loneliness and longing crashed over me in waves.
In that moment.
Thud, creak.
A faint sound came from beyond the door.
The sound of someone leaning against the door and sitting down.
Soon after.
“My goodness, why are you sitting here like a beggar? Were you perhaps cast out-.”
“Hush. The Young Miss is sleeping. Lower your voice.”
Sien’s loud voice was followed by Janet’s hushed one.
“…Pardon? The Young Miss is napping? That doesn’t seem right.”
“If you have business, tell me.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll speak to the Young Miss separately later.”
With a curt reply, the sound of someone retreating echoed away.
It was the footsteps of one person, not two. That meant the other was still leaning against the door outside.
I blinked slowly, my gaze fixed on the firmly closed door.
Sleep did not come.
My stomach fluttered.
Yet the unease that had been rippling through my fingertips had vanished.
‘It feels like I’m dreaming while awake.’
The saving grace was that it wasn’t a nightmare.

***

That night, Janet quietly made her way to Julietta’s chamber.
She hesitated at the door, then made only the softest sound before slipping inside without knocking.
Entering the master’s room without permission was ordinarily unthinkable, but today was an exception—Julietta’s condition had looked decidedly poor.
Entering without leave during such circumstances was one of a maidservant’s privileges.
‘Thank goodness she doesn’t appear to be ill.’
Janet, having assessed Julietta’s complexion, released a breath of relief and withdrew from the chamber.
Creak, click.
After the door closed with care, her closed eyelids opened slowly, then shut once more.
“…Foolish girl.”
A pleased murmur echoed softly through the quiet room.

#Chapter. How to Open One’s Heart

The next day.
Janet found herself somewhat taken aback.
“Good morning, Miss.”
Her customary greeting upon arriving for the day was met with a response entirely unlike her usual manner.
“Well, good morning.”
Good heavens.
She had thought everything was fine, but apparently it wasn’t.
Hearing such a positive greeting for the first time since she’d begun her service, Janet felt concern before she could feel joy.

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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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