The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 72

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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 72

“I’m sorry about earlier, Janet. I was so embarrassed about falling that I took it out on you unfairly.”
Luna, her eyes squeezed shut, extended a water flask she had been holding carefully in her arms.
“This is my apology. I hope you’ll accept it.”
“What is this?”
“It’s a refreshing chilled herbal tea. Actually, I brought it intending to share it with you, Janet…”
Luna tapped the ground lightly with her toes, murmuring dejectedly.
“But that incident happened, and I lost the chance to suggest we share it.”
Janet gazed silently at the flask Luna offered.
I could sense Luna’s anxiety about whether I might refuse.
There was nothing for it.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Janet was not the type to treat someone coldly when they offered an apology first.
If there was reason to fight, I fought; if there was reason to apologize, I apologized; if I could forgive, I forgave.
The commotion earlier had been somewhat disconcerting, but it was the sort of incident I could overlook if the other party took the initiative to apologize.
“It must be hot. Wet your throat a bit now.”
As if she had never been dejected, Luna spoke with a bright smile.
‘I’m not particularly keen on drinking something before a sparring match.’
However, it would be impolite to ignore a beverage offered as a gesture of apology.
Reluctantly, Janet took a light sip from the flask while Luna watched.

***

When the time came, Janet and Samuel took to the Training Arena.
Due to the earlier commotion, the number of spectators had swelled considerably. While matches were unfolding elsewhere, only the Training Arena where Janet and Samuel competed overflowed with onlookers.
Before the match began.
The two of them gathered at the center of the Training Arena according to protocol and exchanged a light handshake.
“How did our grandfather end up choosing someone like you? You’re not even cute, and you’re not gentle either.”
Samuel, still holding her hand, mocked her in a low voice. Janet met his gaze and whispered back coldly.
“It seems your grandfather has lost his mind.”
“What? What are you saying right now…!”
“Raising your voice won’t help, will it? Wouldn’t it be troublesome if word got out that your grandfather wants to marry an eighteen-year-old girl?”
“….”
At those words, Samuel had no choice but to clamp his mouth shut. Janet gave him a slight smile and then released his hand.
“Let’s do our best, Samuel.”
“I won’t let this slide. I’ll make you regret it.”
After exchanging their respective greetings, the two returned to their positions and gripped their wooden swords.
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
Thus, the match began in earnest.

***

Samuel was brimming with confidence.
He had witnessed the instructor occasionally calling Janet over to praise her, but he interpreted this as encouragement—”for a girl, she’s doing well.”
After all, there were only eight female students in the Swordsmanship Club across all three grades.
He had simply assumed the instructor was showing favoritism toward the few female members.
But then.
‘What is happening here?’
A wooden sword whooshed past his face.
Samuel swallowed hard as Janet’s blade narrowly missed him.
At first, the two had seemed evenly matched. He was surprised by how forceful the impact felt when their swords collided, but he thought that was the extent of it.
If they continued clashing swords a few more times, his opponent would be the first to tire.
He was certain of it—or so he thought.
“Ugh.”
Reality was the opposite.
Even as the match dragged on, Janet never once let out a ragged breath.
If anything, her eyes seemed to grow sharper with each passing moment.
It was Samuel who stumbled first, his strength waning.
“What is this? He was acting so tough, and yet…”
“That girl sure knows how to use her body well, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah. She’s got good strength too. Was there a first-year with that level of skill?”
The spectators’ voices reached Samuel’s ears.
Damn it!
He muttered a quiet curse and gripped his sword tightly with both hands. He had to win this match, no matter what.
For the sake of his own honor!
“Argh!”
Samuel, teeth clenched, charged forward toward Janet with wild, reckless sword swings.
“What is he doing?”
“…Good grief. I can barely watch this.”
The spectators clicked their tongues at the obviously flawed attacks on display.
If Janet dodged this assault and counterattacked, the match would be over just like that.
The onlookers watched Samuel’s shameful display with that expectation in mind.
But then.
“…!”
Janet struggled far more than expected to evade Samuel’s attacks. Moreover, rather than counterattacking, her body moved stiffly and rigidly, barely managing to dodge his next strike.
Among the murmuring spectators, Theo’s expression grew grave.
‘What’s going on? Why is she suddenly like this?’
Something was wrong.
It was as if her body wasn’t responding properly—jerky and awkward.
Janet barely managed to evade the continuing assault, her breathing heavy and labored.
Feeling his attacks finally connecting, Samuel’s confidence surged.
‘What? She was just pretending to be fine all this time?’
He breathed heavily, a bitter smile crossing his face as he raised his sword high once more.
“Argh! I won’t let you off easy!!”
With an ugly battle cry, Samuel charged at Janet again.
But this time, it was different.
As if her previous sluggishness had been a lie, Janet flowed like water once more, smoothly deflecting Samuel’s clumsy attacks.
“Wh-what?”
As Samuel lost his balance and stumbled, Janet seized the opportunity and brought her fist—still gripping the sword’s hilt—down hard against his back with all her strength.
With a cry of pain, Samuel crashed to the ground.
A moment later.
“Janet wins!”
The spectators erupted in cheers at the referee’s declaration.
Janet caught her breath amid the roaring applause, feeling a faint glow seeping from her left wrist, which she’d hidden beneath her sleeve just in case.
She gently clenched her left wrist, then released it—and the faint glow vanished, no longer visible.
In any case.
‘What was that earlier?’
During the match, my body had suddenly gone rigid. My limbs moved as if weighted down with lead.
The strange symptoms that persisted for a moment disappeared completely once the light frosted over my left wrist.
Unsettled by the inexplicable sensation, I rotated my wrists and ankles, then looked up.
Among the cheering spectators, I spotted Luna—her face drained of color.
She had been staring at me with an expression of shock, but the moment our eyes met, she trembled violently and averted her gaze.
‘Why is she reacting like that?’
My confusion was fleeting—the herbal tea Luna had handed me earlier came to mind.
Could it be?
Once I left the Training Arena, I immediately checked my belongings, but the water flask Luna had given me had vanished without a trace.

***

That evening.
I summoned Theo in secret.
“Theo. Could you investigate someone for me?”
“Of course. Who would you like me to look into?”
“Luna.”
“….”
At the mention of Luna’s name, Theo hesitated for a moment.
“May I ask your reason? Why you wish to investigate her?”
At Theo’s question, I wavered briefly before recounting what had happened during the match.
The water flask Luna had given me, the strange symptoms I felt during the duel, her peculiar expression, and the vanished flask.
As my story unfolded, Theo’s expression grew increasingly cold and rigid.
“That does seem suspicious.”
“Yes. I apologize if I’m being paranoid, but no matter how I think about it, it seems like Luna’s doing.”
Honestly, I couldn’t make sense of it.
Though we’d had a minor disagreement, it was truly only minor—nothing that warranted someone poisoning a drink and handing it over.
‘If Luna really did orchestrate this….’
Truthfully, I was worried about Lishar.
The reason I’d asked Theo to investigate Luna was because of Lishar. He clearly cared for Luna deeply, even meeting her parents separately.
‘Besides, Luna definitely called Lishar “older brother” just now.’
I had no intention of driving a wedge between them.
I simply wanted to know who Luna truly was—for Lishar’s sake.
“…Understood. I’ll investigate her.”
“Thank you.”
At my gratitude, Theo’s expression became strange. His lips moved as though he were wrestling with something.
“What is it? Do you have something to say?”
Noticing this, I asked carefully.
In truth, Theo was consumed by an enormous dilemma.
Whether to tell me about the Marquis of Byeon’s lost daughter.

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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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