The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 31

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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 31

During my stroll through the Garden, I encountered several servants.
They all greeted Julietta Ludwig and Janet with faint smiles.
“The Young Lady would make everyone so happy if you acknowledged them.”
“What would they be happy about just because I acknowledge them?”
“Well, trust me and try it once.”
Julietta Ludwig’s lips twitched as she replied lightly, “You work hard.”
Contrary to my expectation that they would show no reaction, the servants who received the acknowledgment blushed with joy.
“Y-yes! We’ll work even harder!”
“Thank you, Young Lady!”
This strangeness made Julietta Ludwig furrow her brow.
“Janet.”
“Yes, Young Lady?”
“Whenever I’m with you, the strangest things happen.”
Yet even as Julietta Ludwig said this, the corners of her mouth kept twitching upward.
“Since we’re already out, shall we visit the Library?”
The Library.
I couldn’t even remember when I last visited the Library.
After a moment’s consideration, Julietta Ludwig nodded.
“Why not.”
Perhaps it was the fine weather.
Perhaps it was because the Garden, which I’d properly explored for the first time in ages, pleased me more than expected.
Today, my mood felt unusually generous.
“So which Library are we going to?”
“Hmm, well, which would you prefer?”
“Come to think of it, you can’t enter the Western Library.”
The Western Library was accessible only to direct descendants of the Ludwig family.
“Let’s go to the Eastern one.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
We were heading toward the Library, chatting pleasantly.
Just as we were about to pass in front of Kendrick’s Separate Residence.
We encountered a sight all too familiar.
In front of the dimly lit Separate Residence.
A small bottom protruding from between the bushes.
“…Not again?”
As Julietta Ludwig muttered in exasperation, the twitching bottom froze.
It stilled.
From those small feet, I sensed profound agitation.
“Young Master Jeron?”
At Janet’s cautious call, my body flinched and retreated a step backward.
“…Oh.”
The child, with leaves clinging thickly to his hair, blinked his large eyes and looked up at the two of us.
“Little one, did you come out alone again today?”
“…Mmph.”
The child neither confirmed nor denied, feigning ignorance instead.
Yet both of us understood that silence was an unspoken affirmation.
What could be done about it?
In that moment.
A white envelope peeked out from Jeron’s trouser pocket.
That was….
“Young Master.”
“Mm.”
“Did you come again because of that? Because of that letter?”
It seemed to be the correct answer.
His already large eyes grew even wider.
“It’s strange. That little one seems to ignore only my words. Is this just my imagination, Janet?”
“That couldn’t be. Young Master must simply be shy.”
At Janet’s whisper, Julietta Ludwig shrugged her shoulders.
“It doesn’t seem that way to anyone looking.”
Pretending not to hear the last remark, Janet lowered herself to meet Jeron’s gaze.
“Young Master. If you tell me what that letter is, I’ll help you.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Truly. I never break my promises.”
With those words, Janet deliberately extended her pinky finger.
The child, who had been looking up at Janet like a small rabbit, quietly linked his pinky with hers.
At the soft sensation of the small finger, Janet smiled faintly.
“This is… an, an invitation….”
An invitation?
“What kind of invitation?”
“…a, a birthday….”
“Ah. Is it Young Master Jeron’s birthday?”
At Janet’s question, the child nodded, his cheeks flushing pink.
But the next moment.
“Ah. So the little one’s birthday is coming up soon?”
“…!”
At Julietta Ludwig’s sudden interjection, the child jumped to his feet.
Flustered and bewildered, the child immediately scurried away and hid himself completely behind Janet.
“Janet. No matter how I look at it, that one seems to be avoiding me quite deliberately.”
“It appears Young Miss makes him shy, perhaps.”
“That’s strange. I’m usually quite good with faces.”
Julietta Ludwig tossed her head with a coy remark. Certainly, she had a pleasant face—no, a face that commanded admiration.
With a snort, Julietta Ludwig approached Jeron with sharp, deliberate steps.
The child who had been hiding behind Janet trembled, looking up at her.
A sly smile played at Julietta Ludwig’s lips as she tilted her head slightly.
“Look at me properly, little one. I’m not nearly as frightening as all that.”
The child’s breath caught at the brilliant golden gleam of her eyes.
And then.
“Uh, uh!”
With a sound like a whimper, the child buried their face against Janet’s back.
Only Janet, caught in the middle, wore an awkward smile.

***

In the end, the three of them settled into a line with Janet in the middle.
Julietta Ludwig – Janet – Jeron, in that order.
“I don’t understand what we’re doing. Sitting in a row on the street, no less in front of that brute’s house.”
“Miss. If you find this uncomfortable, you may return to the Separate Residence—”
“Janet, you’re my maid. Not that little one’s.”
“Of course, Miss. But I’m concerned about leaving the young master alone.”
“….”
“I’ll simply hear what happened and then escort him to Jeron’s Separate Residence.”
Julietta Ludwig narrowed her eyes, glaring at Janet.
She always spoke such reasonable words. It was impossible to argue with her.
In the past, she would have overcome reason with sheer stubbornness.
“…Fine. I’m curious too, so I’ll stay. So, little one, that’s a birthday party invitation, isn’t it?”
“…Mm-hmm….”
The child, less frightened than before, nodded timidly.
Though still hiding behind Janet, nonetheless.
“You wish to give Kendrick a birthday party invitation?”
Nod, nod.
The child nodded vigorously and continued shyly.
“Be, because he’s a he, hero….”
“Ah. You like Kendrick because he’s a hero?”
Nod, nod, nod.
Jeron’s nodding grew even more animated.
“Me too… I, I want to be a hero….”
“You want to become a hero like Kendrick?”
“…!”
Nod, nod, nod, nod!
The child’s nod had grown almost cheerful now.
Born with a timid nature and prone to fear, the child struggled to speak properly.
Because of this, people rarely understood what he was trying to say.
Even the nursemaid who had raised him since infancy could not grasp his meaning.
But Janet understood him clearly, no matter how brief his words were.
For the first time in his life, the child felt a sense of relief wash over him.
“Hero… so cool… strong….”
The excited child was stammering out his words when—
“Hey there, runt.”
Julietta Ludwig shot to her feet, her voice sharp and cutting.
Unnamed fury blazed in her golden eyes. Then—
“What’s so great about being a hero? A hero is someone who stands at the front and fights with their life on the line. If you’re lucky enough to survive that kind of battle, then you become a hero! But what good is surviving? You become a coward and lock yourself away at home. What does that coward even want to become…!”
Julietta Ludwig, who had been speaking in agitation, suddenly faltered and fell silent.
It was because Janet and Jeron were staring up at her with bewildered eyes.
Why are you looking at me like that.
Like I’m some strange person.
My stomach churned uneasily.
“…Damn it!”
She cursed lightly, rolled across the floor with a thud, and snatched the letter from Jeron’s hand.
“Giving him this won’t help. How’s someone holed up in a room supposed to come to your birthday?”
“…Ugh!”
“Please, Miss Julietta. Just calm down for a moment….”
“What? Did I say something wrong?!”
Julietta Ludwig turned away with a sharp cry, breathing heavily.
“I’m leaving first. Either take that runt to the Separate Residence or don’t.”
“Miss Julietta!”
“…M-my… letter….”
Jeron murmured dejectedly, clutching at Janet’s sleeve and dropping his head.
Tears began to well up in the child’s large eyes.
Oh, this is terrible.
He must have gathered all his courage to come here.
He must have made this invitation with such hopeful anticipation.
“Don’t cry, Jeron. All right?”
“Sniff….”
“I’ll ask for the invitation back. So don’t worry.”
But the child continued to shed tears like drops of rain.
‘What am I to do.’
I was concerned about the crying Jeron, but I was equally troubled by Julietta Ludwig’s anger as she left.
Worry and disappointment mingled together, leaving my mind in turmoil.
Whatever Jeron had said that touched upon Julietta Ludwig’s sore spot regarding Kendrick, it was not right to unleash such fury upon a child—my reason screamed this truth.
A sigh escaped me.
Because I held affection for Julietta Ludwig, my heart ached all the more.
It was then that Janet watched Julietta Ludwig’s retreating figure with sorrowful eyes as she grew distant.
She stopped abruptly.
The figure that had been walking away with long strides froze in place.

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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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