The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 62

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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 62

“What is this? Who, who are you?!”
The voice that had been playing cut off abruptly at Audrey’s irritable cry.
Instead, someone stepped out from the direction the voice had been coming from.
“You are….”
“Janet?”
Janet appeared with an expressionless face, a round orb held in her hand.
“Audrey Hailson.”
“How did you even get here….”
“I’ve heard that the Hailson Family has been struggling lately. A trade venture your family invested in went awry, and your household has declined considerably.”
“…!”
Audrey flinched and stepped backward, struck directly at her weak point.
Janet was right.
The Hailson Family was currently facing the worst financial crisis in recent times. For someone as proud as Audrey, admitting the family’s predicament was difficult.
She still pretended to be wealthy among her friends, keeping it quiet, but she was anxious about when the truth might be discovered.
Her desire to become Julietta’s attendant was also meant to help alleviate the family’s financial crisis.
‘If I’m an attendant to the princess, I can at least preserve my honor.’
As a member of the Theology Department like the princess, Audrey had been able to approach Julietta easily.
But things hadn’t gone smoothly.
She had succeeded in staying close to Julietta, but opening her heart proved more difficult than expected.
Above all, Julietta’s resolve not to take on any more attendants was so firm that Audrey had resorted to the last resort: blackmail.
But then.
“Do you know that among the other ventures your father invested in, many are related to Ludwig?”
“Well, that is….”
Of course she knew.
It would be harder to find a noble business that Ludwig’s influence didn’t touch than to find one that did.
“And yet you dare blackmail a direct heir of Ludwig. I’m not sure whether to call it bold or foolish.”
There was no emotion in her monotone voice. Unlike Audrey, who instinctively looked down, Julietta stared directly at Janet.
She remembered the incident with Joanna from before.
Whenever she had a conflict with her, Janet would display this quiet fury and engage in the fight.
And she always won.
Even without seeing the outcome of today’s situation, the victor could be predicted.
“Hand over that recording artifact, Audrey.”
Janet would undoubtedly be the victor this time as well.

***

As Julietta Ludwig had predicted, Janet emerged victorious.
Having seized Audrey’s magical artifact, Janet crushed it beneath her foot right before them, making a show of her triumph.
With just a single stomp, the palm-sized artifact crumbled into dust.
Audrey’s case was handed over to the disciplinary instructor for processing.
Two weeks of suspension and a month of community service within the Academy.
There were harsher punishments available, but Julietta Ludwig had chosen not to pursue them.
And so the tumultuous day came to an end, and we found ourselves in the carriage heading home.
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence hung between Janet and me, now that we were alone.
As we both stared out the window, it was Julietta Ludwig who found the courage to speak first.
“…How did you even get there?”
My conversation with Audrey had taken place in a secluded spot behind the Grand Hall.
Audrey had summoned me there, claiming she had something to discuss.
Now that I thought about it, she must have deliberately chosen that desolate location to carry out her plan to blackmail me.
‘…Did I make a mistake handing her over to the disciplinary instructor?’
A fleeting regret crossed my mind—perhaps I should have let the Ludwig Family show her what true consequences looked like, rather than resolving it within the Academy’s purview—but I quickly pushed the thought aside.
But how on earth did Janet manage to find that place?
And with such perfect timing, no less.
My question was answered by Janet’s matter-of-fact reply.
“I followed you, of course.”
“You… followed me? You actually followed me?”
“Yes. I followed you.”
At her composed response, I blinked in disbelief.
How could she speak so casually about trailing someone?
Noticing my expression, Janet glanced at me hesitantly before continuing.
“I was worried about you, my lady.”
“Worried about me? Why?”
“A few days ago, I happened to overhear Audrey and her friend talking. They said they deliberately approached you to drive a wedge between us.”
So Janet had learned days ago that Audrey had approached me with malicious intent?
“Then why didn’t you tell me right away instead of following me?”
The fastest way to resolve this matter would have been for her to inform me of the truth immediately.
So why hadn’t she done that?
This time, the answer didn’t come quickly. Janet hesitated, her gaze drifting back out the carriage window.
“Well, that’s because….”
After a moment of uncertainty, her voice dropped to an almost inaudible murmur.
“If I had run to tell you and you had sided with Audrey instead of me, what then?”
“…What?”
I opened my mouth to object, but the words caught in my throat.
Now that I thought about it, her concern was justified. After all, I had been the one who coldly distanced myself from Janet after falling for Audrey’s manipulation.
But.
“Janet.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“The truth is, I still haven’t changed my mind about keeping our distance.”
At those words, Janet’s expression shifted to one of shock.
“You… you’re serious?”
“Yes. If I’m by your side, everyone will avoid you. In that much, at least, Audrey was right.”
At Julietta’s words, Janet held her breath. Then, she spoke with measured calm.
“My lady. I don’t need many friends.”
“….”
“The reason I studied so hard to come to the Academy was because I wanted to enjoy Academy life with you.”
“But, Janet.”
“No. There’s no ‘but’ here, my lady. My feelings won’t change.”
At Janet’s resolute words, Julietta felt a slight tightness in her chest.
“Even if I command it as your mistress?”
“Within the Academy, such hierarchies don’t matter, do they?”
“They do after school. You’re someone who must obey my orders.”
“Yes. Then I’ll obey your orders after school. But within the Academy, I’ll do as I please.”
“You really….”
As Julietta spoke, she paused slightly.
It was because Janet, turning to face her, had tears glistening in her eyes.
“I truly don’t need other friends. So please, don’t keep pushing me away with unwanted consideration, my lady.”
The tears didn’t fall, but her voice trembled with emotion.
Until now, Julietta had never seen Janet so visibly shaken.
Wasn’t it always Julietta’s role to be emotionally turbulent, to shed the tears?
And yet.
“D-don’t cry. Janet. I… I was wrong… ugh.”
As Julietta hastily offered an apology, tears streamed down her own face.
Somehow, since meeting Janet, her anger had diminished, but her tears had only increased.
“I… I was just trying to help you….”
“If you’re going to do something for me, please do something else instead.”
“…What?”
To ask for something different in the midst of all this.
Julietta flinched at the cold clarity that made her tears recede.
“Become my friend. Please allow me to say proudly that I’m your friend.”
Word by word.
At Janet’s careful plea, Julietta pressed her lips together.
Tears fell steadily, obscuring her vision. She felt ashamed, but then thought—what did it matter?
“Fine. Have it your way.”
Among friends, one could show their tears.
“Really? You mean it?”
“Yes. You might regret it later, though.”
“I won’t regret it. Honestly, these past few days have been so lonely.”
“Lonely? You’ve been with Theo every day.”
“But I feel reassured only when you’re with me too, my lady.”
“Good grief. Where do you come up with these things?”
Their voices, tinged with tears, exchanged words in gentle chatter.
The carriage passed through the streets and arrived at the grand Ludwig’s Townhouse.
The tearful conversation continued until the two of them headed to their room together.
“But there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you forgive Audrey?”
Though she had been turned over to the disciplinary teacher for punishment, this was essentially an act of forgiveness.
The matter could have been escalated far beyond that if she had wished.
“Well, that’s…”
“…?”
“I thought of you.”
“You thought of me?”
“Yes. You became my maid because of Graham’s circumstances, didn’t you? When I heard that she wanted to become a maid for the same reason, I thought of you, and my heart softened.”
…Oh, that’s certainly touching.
Janet hesitated for a moment at Julietta’s words, which seemed to be based on a significant misunderstanding.
‘Well, I suppose it’s natural for her to misunderstand since I never explained the details.’
Janet, deliberating whether to let the misunderstanding stand or clarify, carefully broached the subject.
“Actually, my lady. The reason I became your maid was—”

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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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