The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 34

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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 34

A soft cough.
A quiet breath.
Those whose eyes met mine quickly averted their gaze.
Yet there remained those who continued to glare at me with unmistakable hostility.
They had likely gained confidence from Joanna’s attitude—she who stood as the highest authority in Jeron’s Annex.
‘How presumptuous.’
Janet had never taken pleasure in anger. She disliked flushing with emotion, disliked confronting others over negativity.
However.
When someone provoked conflict not once, but twice, the matter became different.
Had we not clashed over similar circumstances before?
Though her eyes had been fierce, I had thought her decent enough to apologize promptly.
It seemed I was mistaken.
Seeing arrows fly toward me again for similar reasons and under similar circumstances told me as much.
‘I cannot allow this disrespect to continue.’
I cared little for myself, but I could not bear to see the Young Lady disrespected.
Surely a proper lady’s maid should know to fight on behalf of her mistress when such occasions arose.
A soft smile graced Janet’s lips as she met Joanna’s gaze directly and spoke.
“Do you intend to blame others every time such a situation arises, Joanna?”
“What did you just say?”
“Did we not discuss something similar before? At that time, you already acknowledged the misunderstanding and apologized, as I recall.”
“This situation is different from that one, is it not?”
“How is it different?”
Joanna faltered momentarily at Janet’s confident question.
“As I see it, they are the same. This time too, I simply discovered the Young Master alone and escorted him to the Annex. What is different from last time?”
“That is….”
“Did the Young Master himself tell you that I had done something wrong?”
Again, Joanna found herself unable to speak.
She could not fabricate lies by invoking the Young Master she served.
“Do you truly believe the Young Master’s illness is my fault? How could I possibly be responsible?”
“Then why on earth…!”
Joanna cried out in frustration, her fists clenching tightly.
In truth, she had come to realize that her own claims were somewhat forced.
“Is everyone in this Annex of the same mind as you, Joanna? Is that why they regard me with such arrogant eyes?”
At Janet’s direct accusation, sharp intakes of breath echoed throughout the room.

Meanwhile, Julietta Ludwig’s eyes sparkled with delight.
‘Excellent. Well done, Janet!’
Not a trace of worry clouded her mind.
Janet was the type who could be foolishly kind in ordinary moments, yet turn remarkably cold-blooded when the situation demanded it.
Win this, Janet.
Claim victory, Janet.
As Julietta Ludwig silently cheered Janet on with fervent intensity,
a soft creak echoed through the air.
The firmly closed door to Jeron’s Room opened cautiously. And then—
“Haha. I heard quite the commotion outside, so I thought I’d come see what was happening.”
At the sudden appearance of this newcomer, all eyes turned toward him.
‘Who is this person…?’
The man who emerged from the doorway was a tall, handsome figure.
With his beige, slightly coarse hair, pale complexion, and downturned eyes, his expression appeared remarkably gentle.
Yet the golden irises glimpsed between his softly curved eyes held a sharp, penetrating gleam.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”
The First Prince, Oscar, flashed a broad grin as he surveyed the surroundings.
His gaze soon settled upon Joanna, Janet, and Julietta Ludwig.
At the appearance of his half-sister after so long, Oscar’s eyes widened with recognition.
“Well, well. It’s been ages, Julietta Ludwig!”
“…Yes. It has been a while, Oscar.”
“Haha. I’m glad Julietta Ludwig treats me so comfortably.”
Oscar responded with cheerful laughter to Julietta Ludwig’s curt reply.
Instead, Julietta Ludwig’s brow furrowed deeply.
From long ago, she had found Oscar’s presumptuous familiarity uncomfortable. No matter how coldly she treated him, he simply laughed and continued his affectionate behavior.
‘How irritating.’
Yet, upon reflection, she wondered why she had ever disliked Oscar in the first place.
There were plenty of people who pointed fingers at her, so it seemed strange to harbor resentment toward someone who had treated her kindly.
‘Perhaps…’
This too might have been Nova Morgan’s influence.
In her childhood, after Oscar had visited Julietta Ludwig,

“Why would the First Prince have any reason to be kind to the Young Lady? There must surely be some hidden agenda behind it.”

Nova always spoke to Julietta Ludwig that way. So, she was told not to grow fond of Oscar.
Since Julietta Ludwig relied on Nova so deeply, she endeavored to follow her words thoroughly.
She feared that if she ignored Nova’s advice and grew close to Oscar, only to be discovered, Nova would come to hate her.
After all, Nova was the only person she could lean on.
It occurred to me that such feelings might have accumulated layer upon layer, leading to the conclusion that I disliked Oscar.
Perhaps that’s why Oscar is now….
“Did you come to see the youngest too?”
“Yeah.”
“Huh?”
“What? Why?”
“Just… it’s strange that you’re actually answering me.”
He laughed, his round eyes drooping lazily.
“Before, you acted like you couldn’t hear anything I said.”
At his pointed remark, Julietta Ludwig pressed her lips firmly shut.
“You’ve changed, Julietta Ludwig.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Despite her blunt response, she didn’t strongly object, and Oscar’s smile deepened.
“But why are you standing outside instead of coming in? Jeron just woke up—come see his face before you go.”
At Oscar’s words, Julietta Ludwig’s eyes narrowed.
“I’d like to go in too. But the youngest’s esteemed nanny didn’t grant me permission.”
She shrugged and glared at Joanna as she continued.
“But now I see you were let in. How unfair. How is one supposed to live like this?”
Before Julietta Ludwig could finish speaking, Oscar’s expression froze.
“What are you saying, Joanna?”
“Yes, Oscar.”
“Surely you’re not unaware that Julietta Ludwig is also a member of the Ludwig Family.”
If he had turned away both of them, that would be one thing, but to let one in and refuse the other?
This was clearly discrimination against Julietta Ludwig.
“Working for the Ludwig Family while disrespecting the Ludwig Family—surely that’s not your intention?”
…How terrifying.
A gentle voice could be this chilling.
Janet marveled quietly to herself.
Even she, who was entirely innocent, found herself swallowing hard.
So this was the intimidating presence of a promising heir.
“…I sincerely apologize, Oscar. I allowed my concerns to override my manners.”
At the sight of Joanna quickly bowing her head, Janet was at a loss for words.
Yet toward them, she acted as though she wouldn’t apologize even if it killed her.
“Nanny.”
“…!”
At the call from beside her, Joanna’s brow furrowed.
When I turned my head, it was that woman again.
Janet. Julietta Ludwig’s maid.
Janet bowed silently to Oscar, as if seeking his permission.
When Oscar nodded, her gaze shifted toward Joanna.
“It seems you’ve directed your apology in the wrong direction once more.”
No matter how I thought about it, Oscar was not the one who should receive an apology.
All he had done was point out what was wrong with the current situation.
Therefore, the person Joanna should apologize to was—
“Shouldn’t you apologize first to the Young Lady and myself?”
At Janet’s words, the atmosphere grew quiet.
And then.
“Haha! That’s right, that’s exactly right. The one who deserves an apology isn’t me, but Julietta and the maid!”
At Oscar’s cheerful agreement, Joanna clenched her teeth.
She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them before bowing deeply before Julietta Ludwig and Janet.
“I sincerely apologize. This too is my carelessness. I was so worried about the Young Master that I committed rudeness through needless suspicion. I offer my deepest apologies to both of you.”
“Joanna.”
“…Yes, maid.”
“I believed your apology from before was sincere. However, since your excuses are similar each time, I have grown suspicious.”
“This time and last time—all of it is sincere.”
Joanna answered with a trembling voice.
Janet looked down at her with cold eyes.
“I see. Then I shall believe you once more this time. However, if similar excuses emerge next time—”
“…”
“Then I will not be so easily deceived.”
At what sounded like a warning threat, Joanna bowed even more deeply.
“…I will keep that in mind.”

***

After the confrontation ended, Janet returned to my side, and I whispered softly to her.
“You did well, Janet.”
“Was I not overstepping my bounds?”
Now that I thought about it, I had stepped forward on her behalf, but I worried whether I had been too presumptuous when the Young Lady remained silent.
I had acted in her stead out of concern that she might be unfairly dragged into the mud, but if it came across as ignoring the Young Lady’s own opinion, that would be troublesome.
However.
“Not at all? It felt quite refreshing, actually.”
Fortunately, I could find no sign of displeasure on Julietta Ludwig’s face.
“It’s not so bad having someone step forward on my behalf.”
At her words, spoken with genuine warmth, I quietly felt relieved.

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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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