The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 32

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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 32

I stood motionless for a moment, my shoulders trembling, then stamped my foot against the ground before spinning around to face her.
‘Hmm?’
The moment our eyes met, Julietta flinched slightly before marching toward me with a huff.
“M-Miss Julietta?”
For a brief moment, I worried she had come to scold me again.
“So you really don’t mind not receiving a reply, little one?”
The child looked up at Julietta with tear-filled eyes.
Julietta exhaled deeply, doing her best to soften her expression.
Though she couldn’t quite smooth away the sharp angle of her brow.
“That coward won’t send you a reply. Or rather, won’t. Does that still not bother you?”
“…Yes.”
A nod.
As the child nodded, the tears that had been gathering spilled down all at once.
Shock and bewilderment washed across Julietta’s face.
“Why on earth are you crying so much?”
She pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the child’s face.
Though bewildered, the child leaned into her touch.
“If you wish to send it, then send it. Here. Your invitation.”
As Julietta held out the invitation she had taken, she noticed it was crumpled and quickly smoothed it out with her hands.
“It’s gotten a bit wrinkled. I’m sorry.”
“….”
A shake of the head.
The child shook her head. It meant it was fine. And yet.
“What? You don’t like it?”
Unable to immediately grasp the meaning, Julietta turned to Janet in confusion.
Janet, who had been watching the two of them warmly, shook her head as well and answered.
“It means it’s fine.”
“Ah, is that so? Then I’m relieved.”
After this brief commotion passed.
The three of us spent time deliberating on where best to place the letter.
The mailbox in front of the Separate Residence had been rusted for ages.
And summoning someone to collect the letter was….
“We’d be turned away at the door if we called the wrong person.”
For this reason, it was rejected.
In the end, there was only one method.
“What if we slip it through that gap and leave it to chance?”
At Janet’s suggestion, Jeron snorted and nodded.
“This isn’t some secret missive.”
Despite her hollow laugh, Julietta remained by my side until the very end.
As Janet lifted Jeron high into the air, the child pushed the letter through the gap in the Fence with trembling hands.
Thud. The letter fell onto the grass—or rather, the weeds below.
Peering through the gap in the Fence, I caught a glimpse of the white letter nestled among the overgrown vegetation.
“I do hope Kendrick will read it. Don’t you agree?”
“Mm-hmm!”
At the child’s vigorous nod, Janet smiled brightly.
“That coward, and here he is extending an invitation,” Julietta muttered, though a faint smile played across her lips as well.
“Then, shall I escort you back to the Separate Residence?”
“…Mm.”
Worry clouded the child’s expression as he answered.
He seemed anxious about being scolded for sneaking away again.
“Would you like to come along, Miss Julietta?”
“No, I won’t. That nanny woman absolutely grates on my nerves.”
Julietta turned her head away haughtily, waving her hand dismissively.
“I’m heading back to the Separate Residence first. Now hurry along.”
“Yes, Miss Julietta. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”
“Good. Rush back like lightning.”
At Julietta’s words, Janet laughed and promised she would.

However, as it turned out, Janet did not return quickly.
“Bleeegh!”
“Young Master! Young Master Jeron!”
The moment we arrived at Jeron’s Annex, the ashen-faced Jeron emptied his stomach right then and there.

***

Julietta was greatly alarmed when Janet returned covered in vomit.
“That’s enough reporting—go wash yourself at once. Ugh.”
“Yes. Excuse me, then.”
After cleaning herself thoroughly and changing into fresh clothes, Janet returned to Julietta’s side.
“What happened? How did you end up in such a dreadful state all of a sudden?”
“The moment we arrived at Jeron’s Annex, the young master complained of stomach pain.”
“What? That little brat?”
“Yes.”
Jeron, pale and clutching his stomach, had expelled everything he’d eaten.
His startled nanny, Joanna, had bombarded Janet with accusations about what she’d fed the child, causing quite a commotion at Jeron’s Annex.
‘I suppose it does look suspicious.’
The moment the missing child returned, he’d retched violently and then rolled about moaning of belly pain.
In any case, Janet had refrained from reporting to Julietta the interrogation she’d endured from Jeron’s nanny.
If Julietta learned of it, the fragile harmony they’d managed to build between the half-siblings would surely shatter once more.
“He looked rather frail earlier. Where does it hurt?”
Though her tone was gruff, concern was evident in Julietta’s eyes.
Janet too was worried about Jeron.

#Chapter. Jeron

Tossing and turning.
His small frame writhed upon the bed for some time.
His large eyes were swollen from the scolding he’d received from his nanny, Joanna.

“How can you wander off like that! When you’re not even well!”
“…I’m… I’m sorry…”
“Is there nowhere else that hurts? Is it truly only your stomach? Your head—is your head alright?”
“Mmm… I’m… I’m sorry. Sniff.”

Though I hadn’t told Joanna, my stomach still churned relentlessly.
I’d even consumed warm soup to soothe my unsettled insides, yet the nausea only intensified.
I couldn’t speak properly because I was afraid of worrying her with my expression.
Ugh.
As bile rose in my throat, I clamped my mouth shut and rushed toward the bathroom.
After emptying my stomach, my head spun dizzily.
‘Why am I so weak?’
According to my nanny, I’d been sickly since birth. That’s why she worried about me so much.
My speech stumbled.
My body was frail.
Tears welled up again over my swollen eyes.
I wiped them hastily with my sleeve, but they only fell faster.
Suddenly, what happened earlier that day came to mind.

“Why are you crying so much?”

Even as a child, I’d heard the rumors about my half-sister—the one with sharp, upturned eyes.

“She’s a frightening person. It’s best not to go near her.”

Joanna had said the same thing.
So I trembled with fear, yet her hand wiping away my tears, though clumsy, wasn’t cold.
Perhaps because she had the same golden eyes as me, my fear gradually melted away.
‘Janet is kind, after all.’
Thinking of the maid who understood my every word, a smile leaked out.
But it was short-lived.
My stomach lurched violently again.
Blegh!
As I retched, the door suddenly burst open.
“Good heavens! Young Master Jeron!”
Joanna, her face drained of color, rushed in frantically.
“What do I do! Look how pale you’ve become! Oh, my dear Young Master Jeron. I’ll fetch the Doctor at once. Just hold on a little longer, please, Young Master Jeron!”
Her loud cry made my head throb. Watching her panic so dramatically, I suddenly grew frightened.
‘Have I contracted a fatal illness?’
I didn’t want to die.
I wanted to be strong like my brother Kendrick. Not so fragile like this, but sturdy and robust….
Like a brave, confident hero who could face anything with courage.
After thinking that far, I collapsed.

***

Inside the reading room located in a secluded corner of the Northern Library.
“The Fourth Prince has taken ill?”
“He complained of abdominal pain and then collapsed from exhaustion.”
At Theo’s words, Janet’s expression grew grave.
It had been nearly five days since the two of us began studying together.
Studying with Theo proved far more beneficial than I had anticipated.
Perhaps it was the sensation of being observed, but my concentration seemed to sharpen considerably.

“Theo, do you happen to know the answer to this problem?”
“That would be…”

Whenever I encountered a difficult problem, Theo would explain it with remarkable clarity.
As the Vice-Commander of the Information Guild, Theo seemed like someone who knew everything.
I never imagined such knowledge would extend to academics.
In any case.
During our breaks, he would often share various pieces of recent information he had gathered, and today’s topic happened to concern Jeron.
‘Has his condition not improved since then?’
I recalled the last time I had seen Jeron.
He certainly did appear unwell.
“Could it be that he suffers from some chronic ailment?”
“That is not the case. Rather, I understand he has been frail since birth.”
It was a relief that it was not a serious illness.
The image of Jeron’s pallid face as he smiled flickered before my eyes.

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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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