The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 61

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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 61

After Julietta Ludwig declared to Janet that they should pretend not to know each other at the Academy.
There were certain students who made a point of approaching Janet whenever their paths crossed.

“Janet! Oh, J-Julietta Ludwig…”
“Janet, would you like to—ah…”

They would wave cheerfully at Janet as if on cue, only to shrink back timidly the moment Julietta Ludwig appeared.
Yet even after Julietta Ludwig departed, they never left Janet with any real purpose or message.
They simply made conversation and went on their way.
‘But from the young lady’s perspective…’
It might have seemed as though I had gained friends after distancing myself from her.
And she would naturally assume those friends still feared her.
That’s why she believed Audrey’s words all the more—that I was being ostracized because of her.
‘The timing felt deliberately orchestrated, which struck me as odd.’
But to think it actually was orchestrated.
Janet’s eyes gleamed quietly with understanding.

***

“Julietta Ludwig, have you given any thought to my request?”
“No. I don’t know how many times I have to say it won’t happen.”
Julietta Ludwig answered Audrey’s whining with obvious exasperation.
She had no choice but to be blunt.

“Your maid, I mean. It seems she’s being ostracized because of you. I thought you’d be concerned, so I’m giving you a heads-up.”
“What if you became my friend instead? I hardly have any friends to begin with, so I don’t mind that others keep their distance.”
“If she knew you’d made a friend, wouldn’t your maid feel more comfortable distancing herself from you?”
“It’s pitiful to make her work as a maid even here at the Academy. Attending to one’s mistress isn’t a duty meant to be performed within Academy grounds, is it?”

Julietta Ludwig knew full well that the students at the Academy were deliberately avoiding Janet. And she understood better than anyone that she herself was the reason.
After all, everyone had feared and shunned her since her days attending the Academy before.
For someone like Julietta Ludwig—already prone to anxiety, fearful of others, and quick to dislike them—such a situation felt like a heavy burden.
Taking a leave of absence had been largely because of this.
Whenever I saw children gathered in small groups, it felt as though they were talking about me, and I couldn’t bear it.
My limbs would go numb, my heart would race, my breathing would quicken.
As my sensitivity reached its peak, I’d snap at the smallest things.
That, too, likely contributed greatly to the rumors of Julietta Ludwig being a villainess.
Eventually, I decided to take a leave from the Academy and never return.
‘I never thought I’d face the same situation again. And not for me, but for Janet.’
Perhaps because my condition had improved considerably, the way my classmates avoided me no longer bothered me.
Most of all, because Janet was by my side.
Though I dislike it, Theo is there too.
So it didn’t matter if anyone avoided me. Occasionally, the sensations from my past would surge up and cause me stress, but compared to before, this was tremendous progress.
But.
‘What sin has Janet committed?’
She had struggled through the entrance exam and come all the way to the Academy, yet it felt as though I were holding her back.
I was afraid and sorry that Janet might experience the same feelings I had endured before.
I was vaguely worried that perhaps I should distance myself for Janet’s sake.
It was at that very moment that Audrey approached and brought up exactly that point.
In truth, I had agreed to become friends with Audrey purely for Janet’s sake.
If I suggested keeping distance and walked alone, that kind fool would surely worry about me.
But then.
“I’m your one and only friend, aren’t I? How could you refuse my request? It’s not even difficult—I just want to work as your maidservant!”
At Audrey’s words, Julietta Ludwig let out a sigh.
“Audrey.”
“Yes, Julietta.”
“No matter what happens, I have no intention of hiring more maidservants. My only maidservant is Janet.”
I had no idea how many times I’d had this same argument.
“If you keep making such requests, you don’t have to walk with me anymore.”
It seemed Janet had finally made some friends of her own, so.
My original purpose had been accomplished.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
It was as I turned my back with an indifferent farewell.
Tap.
Audrey’s hand firmly grasped my wrist. I narrowed my eyes at the pain and turned to look back at her.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re really going to leave like this? You’re just going to abandon me?”
“Abandon? I’m simply saying that you keep making unreasonable demands—”
At that moment.
Audrey pulled something from her pocket and pressed it firmly. And then.
“I’m so sorry, Julietta! I promise I’ll never crawl around again from now on.”
She suddenly launched into an absurd performance.
And Audrey’s antics didn’t end there.
“What are you—”
“Aaaah! Eek! P-please don’t hit me. I’m sorry. Please don’t hit me!”
Crack—, slap!
The sight of her striking her own cheek with her own hand was positively chilling.
While a stunned Julietta stood speechless, Audrey pressed the object in her hand once more.
Beep.
A small sound, and silence fell over the room.
“What… what did you just do?”
“What do you think? I created evidence.”
“Evidence? Of what?”
“That you’ve been tormenting me behind my back.”
Ouch.
Audrey rubbed her swollen red cheek with a dejected expression.
“That was cruel, Julietta. Hitting me like that.”
“You’re completely insane, aren’t you?”
“If you’d just listened to me when I asked nicely, none of this would’ve happened. All I wanted was a single position as your maid. You won’t do that much for your one and only friend?”
Audrey’s voice rose indignantly as she breathed heavily.
“Why did I choose to be your friend? If I’ve been sticking by your side, you should be willing to pay the price for that.”
“So that was your real purpose in approaching me?”
“Of course. Why would I attach myself to someone like you without wanting anything in return? Besides a prestigious family and a pretty face, you’re completely useless.”
Audrey smiled wickedly, waving the recording device in her hand.
“I’ll spread the word that you hit me, tormented me, and blackmailed me. Then your Academy life and your reputation in High Society will both be ruined.”
At Audrey’s words, Julietta’s expression turned cold. But only for a moment.
“Ha. Audrey. You’re under a misapprehension.”
With a scornful laugh, Julietta swatted Audrey’s hand away.
She rubbed her reddened wrist a couple of times, her eyes gleaming as she smiled crookedly.
“I never had a reputation to begin with, you see? Everyone already trembles at the sight of me. What difference would your words make?”
“…”
Audrey faltered at this unexpected response. She hadn’t anticipated that her blackmail would fail.
‘I can’t back down here.’
Her opponent was from the Ludwig Family. She understood how serious it was to attempt blackmail against a great noble house.
So this blackmail had to succeed. The moment it failed, she’d have to fear retaliation.
Steeling herself, a brilliant idea occurred to Audrey.
“Aren’t you worried about Janet?”
“…What?”
Just as expected. Seeing the agitation in Julietta’s eyes, Audrey’s lips curved upward in a smile.
“When a mistress faces ridicule, her maid suffers the same fate—it’s only natural. After all, a mistress’s reputation in High Society is inseparable from her maid’s.”
A pitiful groan escaped Audrey’s lips.
Audrey shook her head in mock sympathy.
“Poor Janet. How unfortunate that you’ve stumbled upon someone who will ruin your life.”
“….”
Julietta Ludwig said nothing, her lips pressed into a thin line as she bit down hard.
“So you see, if you don’t want baseless rumors to harm your maid as well, you’d do best to follow my instructions. I’m hardly asking for anything unreasonable, am I, Miss Ludwig?”
Audrey spoke with affected sweetness, her smile radiating absolute confidence in her victory.
But then it happened.

-Ahhhhh! No! Please stop hitting me. I was wrong. Please stop!
-Crack-, slap!
A recorded voice suddenly filled the air.
Audrey, startled, quickly checked whether she had accidentally activated her own magical device, but the sound wasn’t coming from hers.
Moreover, the voice continued without pause.
-You, what did you just do?
-What do you think? I created evidence.
-What? Evidence?
-Yes. Evidence that you’ve been tormenting me behind my back.
At the sound of her own voice dripping with mockery, Audrey’s face drained of all color.

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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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