The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 48

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 48

Kendrick stared blankly into the void for a moment.
In his mind, a child’s voice echoed with crystalline clarity.

“What lovely weather.”
“Perfect weather for a conversation. Don’t you think, Kendrick?”

I never thought anyone else would say such things besides that person.
“Kendrick?”
“Yes. I’m listening.”
At Julietta’s call, Kendrick swiftly cast off the reverie of the past.

The two of us exchanged trivial pleasantries for quite some time.
I had thought the distance between us, grown since we were ten, would be as vast and deep as an ocean, yet my worries proved unfounded—the awkwardness dissipated almost instantly.
As we chattered away with easy familiarity, I felt transported back to our cherished childhood days.
Amid the flowing conversation, Julietta posed a careful question.
“You know, Kendrick. Do you intend to remain in the Separate Residence indefinitely?”
“….”
“No, I’m not trying to force you into society. I’m simply curious.”
“I’ll leave eventually.”
“…Really? Truly?”
“Yes. Truly.”
In truth, my seclusion had been for Julietta’s sake, had it not?
Knowing that my presence would cause her pain, I had feigned confinement to keep myself hidden from view.
Now that I had reconciled with Julietta, there was no reason to continue my isolation.
However.
“Of course, I suspect I’ll need a bit more time.”
There were certain matters that would hinder me from abandoning my seclusion and revealing myself to society just yet.
For instance, Nova Morgan’s hidden backer.
‘Someone may have spent considerable effort targeting Julietta over the years.’
Who that person was, what their purpose might be.
To fully uncover those answers, it would be better to remain concealed and move in the shadows.
And there was one more thing.
‘…What would Miss Janet say if she discovered my true identity?’
Janet possessed an unusually keen intuition.
Sharp enough to pierce through recognition-resistance magic artifacts and recognize me regardless of my disguise.
Even today, had I not worn this mask, she might have seen through me at a glance.
What would Janet’s reaction be if she recognized me?
Would she be lightly surprised and move on, or would she distance herself, questioning whether I’d been deceiving her all this time?
‘If she’s the Janet I know, she’d show the former reaction.’
Yet why did I feel an inexplicable unease despite that?
“….”
A glance.
Noticing Kendrick’s sudden silence, Julietta grew dejected, wondering if she’d said something unnecessary.
“Don’t overthink it. Even if you stay cooped up in your room, I’ll visit you sometimes.”
“Huh?”
Ah, had I worried him?
Catching the concern in my expression, Kendrick smiled lightly and shrugged his shoulders.
“Yes. Come visit often.”
“Really? Can I come visit?”
“You just said you’d visit me yourself.”
“Well, that’s true, but….”
“You can visit anytime. Actually, no—if you don’t mind, I’ll come visit you instead.”
“You’ll come visit me?”
“Yes. I can manage to come and go from your Separate Residence.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if I just came to you?”
Kendrick shook his head at Julietta’s question.
‘I can visit Julietta’s Annex without anyone noticing.’
But the reverse would certainly draw people’s attention.
It would be better to keep my interactions with Julietta hidden, just in case.
“My Separate Residence isn’t clean enough to invite anyone to.”
“…True. Your Garden was such a mess. I should really tidy it up.”
At the sincere response to my excuse, Kendrick averted his eyes.
He naturally shifted the conversation elsewhere.
“By the way, you mentioned thinking about returning to the Academy?”
“How did you know that?”
“My Aide sometimes tells me what’s happening outside.”
“Ah. So you had an Aide?”
“I need someone to help with various things.”
“I suppose that makes sense.”
After all, someone would be needed to manage meals and such while coming and going from the dark Separate Residence.
Julietta, quickly understanding, returned to the original topic.
“Anyway, I’m thinking of re-enrolling at the Academy….”
“But?”
“Kendrick. Don’t you have any thoughts about the Academy?”
“Me?”
“Yes. My maid said that attending the Academy could broaden one’s horizons. So I was hoping you’d return to the Academy with me.”
Kendrick blinked at this unfamiliar revelation.
‘No wonder. I’d been puzzled why Julietta Ludwig suddenly decided to return to the Academy.’
It seemed that too was thanks to Janet’s efforts.
“That’s a nice way to put it.”
“Right? I think so too.”
Julietta Ludwig nodded in agreement, then spoke with a sly tone.
“So here’s the thing. If you ever think about enrolling later, tell me. Your senior will help you out diligently.”
…Senior.
At Julietta Ludwig’s words, Kendrick simply smiled without responding.
‘If we’re both first-years, wouldn’t that make her not a senior?’
Therefore, there was no possibility of him becoming Julietta Ludwig’s junior.
No matter what, he was destined to pass the special student examination.
#Chapter. The Entrance Examination

The banquet continued for two days.
Even from the room where Nova Morgan was confined, the bright lights of the Ballroom were visible.
“Why. Why on earth.”
A ghostly murmur echoed through the empty room.
After Julietta Ludwig’s visit, Nova Morgan’s condition deteriorated further.
She had believed a lifeline existed to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Yet she never imagined that rope would snap in such a manner.
What was she to do now?
How could she manage this?
If the bribery charge was confirmed and she went to Prison, and then later became entangled in the investigation of Lady Julietta Ludwig’s drug incident….
‘There would be no turning back.’
Everything would surely be taken from her.
It was then that she wrapped her trembling hands around her face.
Creak.
The firmly closed door opened silently.
Seeing the light seeping in, Nova Morgan startled and lifted her head, recognizing the intruder.
“You…!”
“Shh. Keep your voice down. It would be troublesome if anyone heard.”
Nova Morgan quickly covered her mouth and nodded.
Yet the surging sorrow could not be contained.
“You’ve finally come. I, I’ve been waiting. Why did you take so long!”
“….”
The visitor regarded Nova Morgan in silence.
Not a trace of emotion flickered in those cold eyes. Only then did Nova Morgan realize something was terribly wrong.
“Ah, no, surely not? You’re not abandoning me, are you?”
Nova Morgan sprang to her feet and grasped the visitor’s sleeve, falling to her knees.
“I-I will do better. You know that Julietta Ludwig is in my hands, don’t you? Yes? If only I remain, not just Julietta, but Kendrick too…!”
“It seems Julietta Ludwig has come and gone.”
“….”
“The conversation doesn’t appear to have gone well.”
The monotone voice sent chills down my spine.
The fingers gripping my garment trembled violently.
“Nova Morgan.”
“P-please….”
“If you wish to keep your family alive, you would do well to listen carefully to what I say from now on.”
Thud.
The hand that had been clutching the other’s garment fell limply to the ground.
Nova understood.
I had been abandoned by that person. And the fate of the abandoned was always predetermined.
“Ugh, uuugh!”
A wail mixed with sobs escaped through clenched teeth.

***

“Nova has finally confessed to her crimes, my lady.”
After Jeron’s birthday celebration had entirely concluded.
Nova, who had remained silent all this while, finally admitted to her guilt.
“Is that so? How unexpected. I thought she’d deny it longer.”
Janet shared the same sentiment.
‘I thought she’d deny it longer.’
She had seemed so desperately waiting for her backer’s help. For such a person to confess so readily.
‘Could contact have been made these past few days?’
If she had indeed made contact with her backer, the probability that she had been abandoned was high.
Otherwise, there was no explanation.
“And she also confessed to another crime.”
“Another crime?”
“The person who ordered her to poison the lady’s tea leaves. That was Nova herself.”
Yes. If she hadn’t been abandoned, there was no way she would willingly confess to such a serious crime before suspicion had even turned toward her.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————