The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 67

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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 67

‘Genia….’
Lishar carried an immense weight of guilt over Genia’s disappearance.
Her mother, devastated by the child’s vanishing, had fled to a distant sanatorium, while her father had devoted every moment to searching for Genia.
Yet despite their efforts, the child never returned.
Fifteen years passed in this manner, until he finally discovered Luna—a girl bearing an uncanny resemblance to Genia.
‘It must be Genia. It has to be.’
Even as I thought this, why did unease creep into the corners of my heart?
Whoooosh—
From somewhere, it felt as though the wind from that day was blowing once more.
#Chapter. 1 The Young Lady, Rosina

The Academy’s summer semester beginning meant that the Capital City’s social season was also commencing.
Nobles scattered throughout the Empire converged on the Capital City, drawn by this opportunity.
From wealthy nobles maintaining townhouses in the Capital City to those imposing upon acquaintances or renting accommodations.
The reason nobles were so obsessed with the social season was naturally to cultivate connections.
Good connections became money and prestige.
Money and prestige.
What noble—what person, truly—did not covet such things?
“But I despise the social season. Crowds of people are absolutely unbearable to me.”
I possessed wealth, and prestige as well… to a certain degree.
After all, I was a direct descendant of the Ludwig Family.
The minor complication was that infamy accompanied these advantages.
“Will you not be attending the social gatherings, Your Highness?”
At the title “Your Highness,” displeasure crossed Julietta’s face.
“I’ve told you—just call me Julietta.”
“That won’t do, Your Highness. We’re currently during work hours.”
Yet Janet remained unyielding on this particular matter.
Janet only addressed Julietta by her given name during Academy school hours, after work, or on days off.
During her service as a lady’s maid, using formal titles was the proper approach—such was Janet’s conviction.
Hmph. How rigid of her.
“I must attend several. Having been born with privilege, I have obligations to fulfill.”
Of course, those obligations were far more modest in scope compared to my siblings.
“I’m actually quite looking forward to it.”
“Looking forward to it?”
“Yes. The social season brings so many fascinating events.”
Yacht races, for instance, or exhibitions at the arts academy. I was interested in opera, theater, and horse racing as well.
The fashion of open-air carriages that emerged each season was equally intriguing.
As I rattled off the list of events, Julietta let out a small exclamation of admiration.
“You certainly know a lot about what events are happening.”
“Madam Betty explained it all to me before I came to the Capital.”
“Madam Betty? I’ve heard that name somewhere.”
“She’s the librarian and author at the Eastern Library. Haven’t you heard of the ‘Madam Betty’s Etiquette Series’?”
“Oh, ah! That person!”
How could I have forgotten?
In my childhood, my etiquette instructor had dragged me through those books until I was sick of them.
“But that person was working as a librarian at Ludwig?”
“Yes. The Steward recommended her, apparently.”
“…You have quite the network, don’t you?”
Madam Betty, the Steward.
Every name that came up seemed to belong to someone remarkable.
Well, regardless.
“So you’re interested in High Society events, then?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Julietta narrowed her eyes and stared intently at me.
I absolutely despised the social season.
Still, if Janet was interested, I was willing to go along with it to some degree.
The reason I hated the social season in the first place was because I didn’t want to deal with people whose true intentions were unknowable.
But if Janet was going with me…
‘If any problems arise, she’ll fight in my place.’
Of course, I wasn’t hoping for conflict—it simply meant I had that reassurance.
My ally, my friend.
I could finally understand the comfort that brought.
“I suppose there’s no helping it. I’ll have to get out and explore a bit this year.”
“Will you be alright?”
“I’ll be fine. You’ll be by my side, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
The two of us locked eyes and smiled simultaneously.
“Well then, now that it’s decided, I’ll need to prepare proper weapons in advance.”
“Weapons?”
“Yes. If we’re going to enter the battlefield of the social season, we need weapons befitting the occasion.”
At Julietta’s words, I blinked in surprise.
It reminded me of a letter that had arrived with a gift Theo had sent using Marquis Ortea’s name.
‘They pretend not to get along, but they’re actually quite compatible.’
Thinking of those two precious people, I let out a soft laugh.
“What is it? Why are you laughing?”
“Just because. I’m happy.”
There was a time when living as a drudge in the Graham household felt like nothing more than a distant dream.
Each day was now brimming with contentment—there was nothing left to wish for, nothing left to covet.

***

It was my day off.
Julietta Ludwig led me toward the Dressing Room. She had deliberately scheduled this appointment on my day off so that I would accompany her not as a maid, but as a friend.
She had even reserved a spot in advance at Le Blanc, a dress shop famous throughout the Capital City.
‘Le Blanc’.
She had chosen it precisely because they accepted no more than two appointments per day.
And yet.
“Why are you here, sister?”
“My dear Julietta, what kind of question is that? Obviously I made a reservation, so here I am.”
Rosina Ludwig, the First Daughter of the Ludwig Family, answered with a gentle smile.
Her hair was cut short and even above her shoulders.
Despite the warm weather, she wore gloves pulled snugly over her hands.
Her gait, her posture, her every subtle movement.
She was the very embodiment of living elegance itself.
“What do you mean? I thought they only took two appointments a day.”
“Then it seems you and I are those two appointments. Don’t make a fuss over such trifles, Julietta.”
At the refined rebuke, Julietta Ludwig let out a small groan.
Rosina Ludwig and Julietta Ludwig had always been at odds. Though they were the only two daughters of the Ludwig Family, their personalities were far too different.
One earned the epithet “the Villainess,” while the other was known as “the Flower of High Society”—that said it all.
Once their greeting—which resembled a quarrel—came to an end, I offered my respects.
“It is an honor to meet you, Rosina Ludwig. I am Janet Graham, maid to the Lady Julietta Ludwig.”
“So you are the one serving as Julietta’s maid?”
“Yes. Though I am but humble, I do my utmost.”
At my modesty, Rosina Ludwig’s expression grew warm.
“So a decent girl has come to stand beside Julietta.”
“You are too kind.”
“Janet.”
“Yes, Rosina.”
“Excessive humility becomes a poison in time. We are of the Ludwig Family, and our maid need not be so overly modest.”
“I am grateful for your guidance. I shall remember it well.”
“Good.”
Julietta Ludwig watched the graceful exchange unfold, then shook her head stubbornly.
“Sister, I’m telling you now—today Janet isn’t here as my maid. She’s here as my friend.”
“My lady. Even so, speaking to Rosina in such a manner is….”
“My lady? We agreed to call each other by our names today.”
Rosina Ludwig’s eyes widened as she looked back and forth between me and Julietta Ludwig.
“A friend?”
“Yes. A friend. So today, don’t treat Janet like a maid. My friend is essentially a guest to my sister, isn’t she? Isn’t that right?”
“I suppose. There are those who maintain friendships with their maids, or so I’ve heard.”
Surprisingly, Rosina accepted the relationship between Janet and me without resistance.
“But it is curious.”
“What is?”
“That someone as decent as that girl would decide to be your friend.”
At the sight of Rosina’s soft laughter, I let out a brief sigh.
‘Honestly, I can’t stand her.’
If asked to name the most disliked sibling pair in the Ludwig family, I could confidently choose Rosina without hesitation.
Of course, Rosina would choose me as well.
“Here are the new designs we’ve just released. Please review them at your leisure and let me know if you need anything.”
The attendant handed each of the three women a pamphlet.
True to the reputation of this renowned dressing room, the number of new designs was truly impressive.
“What do you think? Is there a design you like?”
Pffft.
As I flipped through the pamphlet, I glanced sideways at Janet and asked.
“Well, honestly, I don’t know much about social gowns. They all look so beautiful to me.”
“Then, shall I choose for you?”
Surely my taste was superior to that of someone who had never participated in the social season.
Besides, it seemed like it would be fun to choose a dress for my friend.
‘Should I suggest matching colors?’
There had once been a trend in High Society where friends or sisters would match their dress colors.
Naturally, I had never been able to follow that trend. I had no friends, and my relationship with my sister was….
‘We’d be lucky if we didn’t try to tear each other apart, let alone match dress colors.’
Though the trend of matching dress colors had already passed, what did trends matter anyway?
If I wanted to do it, I would.
Noticing the sparkle in my eyes, Janet nodded with a smile.
“Yes. I’m counting on you.”
Just as I was about to respond with ‘That’s right, trust me,’ Rosina spoke.
“Julietta. Not all good intentions yield good results. Sometimes, well-meaning overreach becomes worse than doing nothing at all.”

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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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