The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 64

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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 64

The Academy had been buzzing with excitement lately—all because of the upcoming Scholarly Festival.
The Scholarly Festival was one of the Academy’s most prestigious events.
The Swordsmanship Club, Magic Department, and Theology Department.
These three departments would showcase their semester’s progress through various demonstrations, while student-founded clubs would host their own events to promote themselves.
Since outsiders were permitted entry on that day—though strictly controlled—many nobles considered the Academy’s Scholarly Festival a proper social season event.
“May I sit beside you, Janet?”
Luna approached me after I’d finished my basic training and was resting.
“Of course.”
“Wonderful!”
Luna, beaming with joy, settled gracefully beside me.
“Janet, isn’t that your friend over there?”
In the direction Luna pointed, Theo was undergoing his basic training.
“I wish we’d been paired together. What a shame.”
The special students, who had trained separately until now, had begun participating in formal training last week.
Luna and I were in Group One.
Theo and Samuel were in Group Two.
Since Groups One and Two used different Training Grounds and had different training times, I rarely encountered Theo during lessons.
It was somewhat disappointing, but hardly a serious matter.
“It’s fine. Besides, it’s not like we’re playing—it’s class time anyway.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Luna laughed softly, glancing at me sideways with a mischievous smile.
“Actually, I was happy to be in the same group as you. I wanted to become closer friends with you.”
“…With me?”
“Yes. We have quite a lot in common, you and I.”
In common?
Without thinking, I studied Luna more carefully.
Her delicate, cute features, her hazelnut-colored short hair, her blue eyes.
‘She’s not saying we look alike, surely.’
Though we were both special students and among the few women in the Swordsmanship Club, so perhaps she meant that.
But I wanted to be sure.
“What exactly do we have in common?”
“Our family circumstances.”
“What?”
I blinked at her unexpected answer.
Luna drew her legs together and rested her chin on her knees, meeting my gaze.
“Just like you, I’m adopted.”
“…How did you know I was adopted?”
“Oh. I’m sorry. Was that something I shouldn’t have mentioned?”
Luna’s eyes widened in flustered surprise.
“Noble families spread rumors quickly, you know. I happened to overhear it by chance. But since it was similar to my situation, I felt a sense of kinship….”
Luna’s expression grew dejected as she pouted and lowered her head.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you. I really didn’t mean to.”
“No, it’s not that you hurt me. I was just a bit surprised.”
When I thought about it, it was entirely plausible.
After all, I was Julietta Ludwig’s only lady’s maid.
I could imagine how much my name must have circulated among the gossip mills.
It was simply the first time someone had spoken of it so openly to my face.
“Ugh. I’m really sorry, Luna.”
“No, really. Don’t worry about it.”
“…Thank you, Janet. You’re truly a good person.”
Luna, her eyebrows drooping with contrition, suddenly pulled me into an embrace.
“Let’s become close friends—we’re in the same situation, after all.”
Luna’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
The color of her pupils, reflected in the sunlight, was peculiar.
‘Hmm? Now that I think about it, this girl’s eye color….’
I knew two other people who possessed such an unusual eye color.

***

“For the time being, the third-year seniors will oversee the mock swordsmanship matches for the Academic Festival.”
“The seniors, sir?”
“Yes. They’re veterans who’ve experienced the Academic Festival twice more than you, so there’s no need to worry.”
No student harbored any objection to Swordsmanship Club instructor Daemond’s words.
The two individuals he had designated as instructors were the top and second-ranked students of third-year swordsmanship.
Lishar and Henry.
The two whose names were called stepped forward before the first-years.
“Which senior will oversee our instruction?”
“If we’re going to have instruction, I’d prefer Lishar, sir.”
“I prefer Henry, sir.”
The first-years, unable to contain their excitement, whispered among themselves. Lishar swept his indifferent gaze across them.
“Lishar. Should I take Group One?”
“No.”
“Alright then. I’ll do as I please… What?”
Henry, who had expected the natural response of “Do as you please,” paused in confusion.
“I’ll take Group One.”
“Ah, yes. Understood. Let’s do that.”
When did he start expressing opinions like this?
Henry glanced at Lishar with a puzzled expression. It was the first time in three years that Lishar had taken such a firm stance.
The two of them took their positions in front of their respective groups.
The students of Group 1 trembled with excitement as Lishar approached, gazing up at him with reverence.
Instruction from a senior who held the top rank for three consecutive years—a genius of swordsmanship, no less!
But moments later.
“…L-Like this?”
“Again.”
“Then like this….”
“Again.”
The students of Group 1, trapped in an endless swamp of “again,” felt tears welling up inside.
What good was exceptional swordsmanship if one lacked the ability to teach?
It was a moment of harsh realization that mastery of a skill and the talent to instruct were entirely separate things.
Of course, Janet harbored the same sentiment.
‘He has no gift for teaching.’
Perhaps this was how the heavens maintained their balance.
Janet wiped the sweat trickling down her forehead with the back of her hand as she repeated the horizontal slash, still unable to grasp the technique.
And just as she was about to reset her stance.
“Phew. This is really exhausting. Don’t you think so, Janet?”
Luna, who had been swinging her blade alongside her, whined as she spoke. Janet glanced at the sword in her grip and lowered her guard.
“Yeah. It’s harder than I expected.”
“Ugh. I wish he’d at least tell us which parts are wrong.”
Janet found herself in complete agreement with that sentiment.

“Your right hand.”
“Your left foot.”
“Your elbow angle is off.”

Lishar’s critiques typically followed this pattern: he would point out the problem area but never explain which approach was correct.
When I floundered without finding the answer, he would simply stare at me with an expression that seemed to ask, “How can you not know that?”
Was this the torment a genius felt when observing a criminal?
The moment we were given a brief rest, everyone lurched toward the shade like zombies, desperate for relief.
Janet and Luna claimed a spot beneath one of the trees and sat down together.
“Phew.”
The moment I settled into the shade, I felt the sweat begin to cool on my skin.
“Ugh, it’s so hot.”
“Tell me about it.”
Summer outdoor training was far more grueling than I’d anticipated. At least the Academy had a Shower Facility, so I wouldn’t have to wander around reeking of sweat.
I was just relieved by that thought when—
“Water.”
“Huh?”
A water bottle appeared before my eyes so suddenly that Janet flinched in surprise.
“Lishar?”
The one holding the bottle was none other than Lishar himself.
“Excessive sweating can lead to dehydration.”
He explained it like a walking dictionary, then shook the bottle as if urging me to take it.
“Thank you.”
Janet accepted the bottle awkwardly, and Lishar gave a small nod.
Then he subtly positioned himself near Luna and Janet.
“What?”
“Did Lishar just bring water to the special student?”
“Now that you mention it, that special student is supposedly a ward of House Ortea.”
The murmuring spread even to Group 2, who were still training.
Theo, who had been wielding his sword with perfect form, faltered and turned to look back.
His eyebrows twitched involuntarily at the sight of Janet and Lishar sitting together beneath the tree’s shade.
‘Why are they acting so friendly with each other?’
No matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn’t understand Lishar’s behavior.
In the six-plus years he’d known him, Lishar barely responded properly to anyone—infuriating enough to make one’s blood boil.
So why was he approaching Janet with such apparent familiarity?
“Keep moving. Don’t stop.”
“…Yes.”
At Henry’s instruction, Kendrick answered halfheartedly and resumed his movements.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on Janet and her companions.
‘What are they talking about?’
Janet and the girl sitting beside her—Luna, was it?—Luna was chattering away, and Janet responded with an awkward laugh.
Kendrick caught the discomfort written across her face and let out a soft chuckle.
The entire exchange followed the same pattern: Luna spoke, and Janet reacted.
But before long, something peculiar caught his eye.
‘What the hell is this guy doing?’
Lishar, who had quietly positioned himself beside Janet and Luna, began to show unmistakable signs of agitation.
Soon, his gaze turned entirely toward the two of them.
More precisely, toward the woman called Luna.

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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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