The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 59

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

Chapter 59

Berdin.
I swallowed a sigh at the persistently troublesome family name.
‘I never expected to pass.’
I thought all I could do was clench my fists and tremble.
It seemed my mind was more useful than I’d given it credit for.
“The special students should head to Training Ground No. 3 over there and wait.”
Following the professor’s instructions, the four of us who had been introduced gathered together and moved as one.
“Phew. That was nerve-wracking.”
A soft exhale escaped Luna’s lips.
Samuel sidled up to her with calculated casualness.
“I’m Samuel, Luna. Let’s get along well as fellow special students.”
“Huh? Oh! Nice to meet you, Samuel! By the way, the other special students—”
“No need.”
Samuel stopped Luna as she turned to look at me and Theo.
“Not all Academy students are on equal footing! Why would you want to associate with inferior ones?!”
Samuel raised his voice deliberately for me to hear, flashing a sickly smile in my direction.
However.
“Do you happen to know what’s for lunch, Theo?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll make a point to find out beforehand from now on.”
At the sight of the two of us showing him no interest whatsoever, Samuel’s teeth ground together.
How dare they ignore me?!
In truth, Theo and I were aware of Samuel’s gaze but chose to ignore it.
As Samuel himself had said, there was no need to associate with inferior ones.
‘Sigh. This is already shaping up to be troublesome.’
I found myself second-guessing why I’d joined the Swordsmanship Club, but each time my gaze caught Lishar, I hesitated.
‘That’s right. This is all to repay a debt.’
I refused to regret my choice simply because of someone like Samuel.

Meanwhile, Kendrick noticed that I paused occasionally during conversation.
And each time, he realized my gaze was fixed on Lishar.
…Tsk.
Like me, Kendrick’s eyes had taken in Lishar, and he clicked his tongue softly.

***

“How are you finding life at the Academy?”
“It seems fine so far. How about you, Julietta?”
“Me? Well….”
I trailed off with a sigh, shaking my head.
“School is just so tedious. It doesn’t suit me at all. I’m only grateful we’re in the same class.”
“That’s true. I’m really glad about that too.”
“…Of course, I can’t say I’m pleased that *he’s* in our class as well.”
I was referring to Theo.
When our eyes met, Theo waved at me with a bright smile.
“Why? Theo is a good person.”
“I don’t know. It’s more of an instinctive aversion, I suppose?”
What bothered me most was his obvious affection toward Janet.
‘Does this boy have no sense of awareness?’
It seemed Janet was completely oblivious to what feelings he harbored toward her.
“Janet.”
“Yes, my lady… Julietta.”
“You must choose your male companions carefully. Understood? There’s no need to rush into engagements or marriages.”
In truth, I harbored a rather ambitious dream.
‘Kendrick’s condition has been improving steadily.’
Perhaps I could bring the two of them together—a small, secret wish of mine.
If that were to happen, wouldn’t the people I care for remain by my side for a long time?
Of course, it was merely a solitary hope that neither of them knew about.
‘Janet is far too precious… far too precious for this.’
…Wait. Now that I think about it, isn’t Janet too good for Kendrick?
To pair her with a recluse who had shut himself away for three years seemed a waste of her worth.
Perhaps Theo would be the better choice.
Both receive patronage from the Marquis, and they seem to get along well.
But if the two of them were to marry and move to the Marquis’s Territory….
‘…That would be far too lonely.’
I indulged in flights of fancy, alternating between joy and disappointment.
“Sigh. This is all the Academy’s fault. The Academy ruins people like this.”
“Pardon? What did you say, Julietta?”
“…I didn’t say anything, Janet.”
I shook my head and buried my face in my arms on the desk.
“Are you feeling unwell—”
“No, I’m fine. Just sleepy.”
“Yes. Rest a bit then. I’ll wake you when class starts.”
“You don’t have to wake me.”
“Yes. I’ll definitely wake you.”
Janet answered with a bright smile, her concerned eyes fixed on me as I lay slumped over the desk.
Is she struggling that much?
A week had already passed since the Academy’s summer semester began.
Over the past week, I realized that the students feared and avoided Julietta Ludwig far more than I’d anticipated.
Now I understood why she despised the Academy so much.
Given such an environment, it made perfect sense.
Everyone feared her, refused to speak with her, and retreated whenever she approached.
Strictly speaking, this was ostracism.
The problem was that the students weren’t excluding Julietta Ludwig—they were isolating themselves from her.
Their aversion to her was so palpable that even those close to her, like myself, felt the sting of avoidance.
As for me, it hardly bothered me.
University was always about fending for oneself, wasn’t it?
Of course, this Academy was a hybrid of university and secondary school.
In my past life, I’d always preferred walking alone during my university days.
It was simply more convenient that way.
But Julietta Ludwig was different, wasn’t she?
I knew her heart was more delicate than she let on, and her mind harbored considerable instability. I worried constantly.
What if her hard-won improvement suddenly deteriorated?
I desperately hoped that wouldn’t happen.

***

“Hi, Janet.”
“Janet. Would you like to have lunch with us today?”
Three female students blocked my path in the Corridor.
Their faces were familiar—they were classmates.
“Have lunch together?”
“Yes. We’d like to get closer to you.”
“We’re curious about you too.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Giggle.
Their innocent laughter was delightful. After a moment’s consideration, I nodded.
“Sure, I’d like that. But would it be alright if my friend joined us too?”
“A friend? Oh, do you mean Theo?”
“Bring him along. We’ve been curious about Theo too!”
“No, not Theo. I was thinking of bringing Julietta Ludwig.”
The moment the words left my mouth, bewilderment washed over all three faces.
“Um, that might be difficult.”
“Julietta Ludwig is… well…”
“Janet, we know you’re her attendant, but this is the Academy. You don’t need to serve her here too.”
“Exactly. Why does she even have servants here in the first place?”
“To be honest, we only approached you because you seemed a bit pitiful. You looked like you were struggling even at the Academy.”
“Sigh. It must be exhausting to serve someone so difficult, isn’t it?”
The words tumbled out relentlessly.
Janet blinked as the torrent of speech continued without pause.
They all spoke as though they were concerned for Janet, but in truth, their words were laced with malice directed at Julietta Ludwig.
“In any case, a wicked nature doesn’t change—”
“Stop.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t I make it clear earlier? I said I’d bring my friend along too.”
The three of them drew in sharp breaths at Janet’s words.
“Wait, you’re saying you and Julietta Ludwig are… friends?”
“Yes. Friends. Very close friends, actually.”
“Ha! That’s impossible! Do you really think she’d consider you a friend?”
“Yes. I think she would.”
It was admittedly a rather presumptuous thing to say.
While there were cases of maids and mistresses becoming friends, Janet and Julietta Ludwig had never explicitly agreed to be friends.
In that sense, one could say Janet’s confidence was entirely unfounded.
But Janet was certain.
Just as Julietta Ludwig was a friend and family to her, she believed Julietta Ludwig felt the same way.

Yes, she had been so certain of it.
“Don’t be so presumptuous, Janet. How could you possibly be my friend?”
Moments later.
At the cold words that fell from Julietta Ludwig’s lips, Janet froze completely.

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