The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 19

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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 19

「Salvation」

The tiny script on my wrist glimmered faintly.
‘Why is it reacting now, all of a sudden?’
Unlike the last time it had responded, no information from the original story surfaced alongside it.
Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wouldn’t have reacted without reason.
‘All I’ve done is check the tea leaves and think about placing a new order.’
…Could it be?
Janet, who had been tilting her head in confusion, suddenly spun around and fixed her gaze on the cabinet.

Moments later.
Janet left the Kitchen and hurried toward her destination with quick strides.
Her path led to the Northern Library, built for the servants.
‘Philosophy section, fifth row, third from the back.’
There it was.
Janet withdrew an old book titled “The Mark of Summoning” and flipped through its pages rapidly.
Rustle, snap.
Her fingers halted at a page that caught distinctly as she turned through them.
A small slip of paper was wedged between the pages like a bookmark.
Janet extracted the note and examined its contents.
‘Behind Julietta’s Separate Residence, the left path of the Northern Forest that adjoins it.’
After committing the location to memory, I pulled out a pen, filled in the date and time on the memo, and slipped it back into the book.
“Done.”
This was the method Kendrick had taught me for arranging meetings with Ilinia, who was hidden within Ludwig.

“Since it would be difficult to meet outside every time, whenever you need something, you can communicate with Ilinia who is concealed within Ludwig.”
“There’s an Ilinia hidden inside Ludwig?”
“Ilinia is everywhere, after all.”

To avoid arousing suspicion, I borrowed a book before returning to the Separate Residence.
Or rather, I was trying to return—
‘…A bottom?’
My steps halted in front of the pitch-black Separate Residence closest to Julietta’s.
A small rear end protruding through the bushes commanded an extraordinary presence.
‘This is Kendrick’s Separate Residence, the twin brother of the young lady, if I recall correctly.’
Oh, it’s wiggling.
I deliberated for a moment.
Should I pretend not to see that bottom, or should I acknowledge it?
Identifying the owner of the bottom was not difficult.
There was only one young child who could roam freely throughout the Ludwig estate, dressed in what was clearly expensive trousers.
Jeron Ludwig.
The Grand Duke’s youngest son, born late in life.
‘He’s seven years old this year, if I remember correctly.’
Information about him was also roughly documented in the 【Ludwig Reference Notebook】.
‘He was born to the Grand Duke and a widow, or so I heard.’
Like all the women who had borne the Grand Duke’s illegitimate children, she too had not known his true identity at first.
She had simply thought him a handsome, strong middle-aged man.
Thus, unaware of the truth, she gave her body and heart to the Grand Duke, who had soothed her loneliness, and Jeron was born from that union.
‘His biological mother is recuperating at the Rural Estate, or so I was told.’
She had been rather advanced in years to bear a child, so her health had deteriorated significantly after giving birth to Jeron.
Or perhaps she had been devastated to discover that the man she loved was already married.
‘A thoroughly worthless man, in every respect.’
That such a wretch could be the patriarch of this magnificent family was simply unbelievable.
In the meantime, the wiggling bottom gradually retreated backward.
Inch by inch.
The child’s body emerged from the bushes, crawling along the ground.
“Phew!”
The child jerked his upper body upright and exhaled softly.
His hazelnut-colored hair was thoroughly disheveled, with leaves clinging to it here and there.
Whether they had stuck from crawling through the bushes or were part of some disguise, I could not tell.
I was in the midst of my own serious contemplation.
“Uh, aaaah!”
The child, who had been gazing up at Kendrick’s Separate Residence while catching his breath, finally noticed my presence.
Startled, Jeron cried out and lost his balance, stumbling backward.
Just before the child’s body fell flat on his back, I threw myself forward and caught him upright.
“Are you all right?”
Blink, blink.
The child stared at me with wide eyes blinking rapidly.
His head moved slowly up and down as we held each other’s gaze in silence.
“I’m so relieved you’re all right.”
Janet’s face curved into a gentle smile, and the child’s small mouth fell open in surprise.
“…Who are you?”
“Pardon?”
“You… who… who are you….”
The child’s words trailed off as he ducked his head low. He seemed to be quite shy.
“I’m Janet Graham. I’m Princess Julietta Ludwig’s new lady’s maid.”
Oh.
The child’s eyes widened in astonishment as he gazed toward Julietta Ludwig’s Separate Residence, positioned right beside Kendrick’s.
“…!”
From the fear etched across his face, it seemed Jeron was well aware of the rumors surrounding Julietta Ludwig.
“The Princess isn’t nearly as frightening as the gossip suggests. She’s far kinder than one might expect, and she has surprisingly endearing qualities.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
The contemplative child was adorable.
His brow furrowed deeply as if trying to discern my sincerity, his head tilting slightly to one side.
Then he gave a small nod and began fidgeting with his fingers.
“…Mm.”
“You believe me?”
A nod.
“Thank you. I’m happy.”
Janet clenched her fists firmly.
Otherwise, she feared she might unconsciously reach out and stroke the child’s round head.
“So what brings you here? Didn’t your governess or anyone else come with you?”
At Janet’s question, the child’s body went rigid.
He floundered like a child caught in wrongdoing, his shoulders sagging.
“It’s… it’s a secret….”
“Ah, I see. A secret, then. I shouldn’t pry any further.”
“…Really? You won’t… won’t ask anymore?”
“No. It’s your secret, after all, young master.”
A child’s secret deserved to be kept.
“Still, from now on, please try to go about with an adult.”
Even though we’re within the Ludwig estate grounds, this place is quite expansive.
If he wasn’t careful, a child could easily become lost somewhere in the Ludwig residence.
“….”
Instead of answering, the child merely pouted slightly, his hands nervously fidgeting with his trousers, betraying his timidity.
“Um….”
“Yes, young master.”
“…Please keep today a secret….”
His words faltered as the child glanced up at Janet cautiously.
Janet nodded knowingly.
“Yes. I’ll keep our meeting with Jeron a secret.”
Only then did the child’s dark expression brighten somewhat.
Jeron stubbornly refused Janet’s offer to escort him back to the Separate Residence and left alone.
‘I’m worried about him.’
Unable to help herself, Janet quietly followed Jeron and confirmed he returned safely to his Separate Residence before heading back.
‘But still, why did he come all the way out here?’
I pondered the question, but nothing came to mind.
Whatever the reason, I found myself hoping we’d meet again.
The image of Jeron’s trembling backside kept flashing through my mind, and I couldn’t help but giggle.

***

The next day, as the sun began to set.
Janet made her way to the appointed location.
Behind Julietta Ludwig’s Separate Residence, the left path of the Northern Forest that bordered it.
‘Is this the place?’
As I walked along the path, I spotted a black handkerchief tied to a tree.
Sensing it was some kind of marker, I stood quietly and waited. Soon, I heard footsteps and a greeting.
“Have you been waiting long?”
I turned around and was slightly startled to see the approaching figure.
‘A servant?’
The person wore a comfortable gray shirt and black trousers—the uniform of a Ludwig Family servant.
‘Ah, so he was hiding as a servant.’
I was about to greet them when—
“….”
My lips parted slightly as my expression grew serious.
Hmm?
As I tilted my head, searching my thoughts, the other person grew flustered instead.
What could I possibly be thinking?
“…Theo?”
At the name that escaped my lips, the man—Kendrick—felt his heart skip.
‘How did she see through it?’
He was currently disguised using a magical artifact.
Of course, he had been disguised when meeting Janet before, but this time he had altered his appearance completely differently.
Brown hair and brown eyes.
A gentle impression.
The disguise artifact he used was something only Kendrick possessed in this entire Empire.
It changed not only hair color and eye color, but also the unique aura that defined each individual.
With recognition-blocking magic layered on top of that in multiple layers, people would forget Kendrick’s face the moment they turned away from him.
It made one wonder, ‘What does that person actually look like?’
Only those he permitted could distinguish his features.

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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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