The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 84

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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 84

Similar situations repeated themselves several times after that.
Each time, Leon would rush to Kendrick and cry out the same words.
“Safe zone, Ken! Breathe!”
The voice of a boy who hadn’t even properly gone through puberty rang sharply in my ears.
I thought I would never forget that cry for a very long time.
‘Why, how could this be.’
Why did Leon’s voice overlap with Janet’s in my hearing?

***

“It’s alright, Vice-Commander. There’s no shame in being hurt.”
“….”
“I found out that several of the servants working at the Ludwig Townhouse have combat experience. It’s clear this is a lingering effect of war, so everyone probably just accepted it as such.”
“….”
“No, wait. Is merely accepting it really enough? We should be apologizing and grateful instead. Evidence that they went out and risked their lives fighting-.”
“Hobbs.”
“Yes, Vice-Commander.”
Kendrick, who had been silent until now, smiled faintly at Hobbs, who kept offering consolation.
And then.
“I’m already fine, so stop talking and get back to work.”
“Oh, yes sir. Seeing you in your usual bad mood means you’re really doing well!”
He’d have something to say even if he were dying tomorrow.
I understood why Hobbs was concerned about me.
It must have been worrying to see an episode happen in front of so many other people, including acquaintances I considered friends.
‘Usually it only happened in front of the Illinia members.’
Since the war’s end, I had been having these episodes frequently.
Fortunately, most of the Illinia members had combat experience, so they knew the basic ways to handle it.
In any case, I was truly fine.
It had already been two days since it happened, and I had no intention of dwelling on regret over something that was already done.
Showing an episode in front of others was unpleasant, but as Hobbs said, it wasn’t as if I had committed a crime.
Rather, what bothered me more was….
‘Janet.’
My memories during the episode weren’t complete, but there was one thing I remembered clearly even in the midst of it.

“Breathe! This is a safe zone! Mission complete! Mission complete!”

Those words were what he would cry out to calm himself whenever he had a seizure in front of Leon during the war.
I heard he had mimicked a medic from the 3rd Unit.
‘Could it be that Janet was also in the 3rd Unit?’
But I couldn’t be certain.
Even within Ilinia, there were several people who calmed themselves using similar methods.
Tsk.
Kendrick clicked his tongue and rifled through the documents on his desk.
“A food storage warehouse explosion?”
“Ah yes, the explosion from two days ago?”
Hobbs nodded in response.
“Yes. They said it was the food storage warehouse that exploded.”
“What caused the explosion?”
“The details are still under investigation, but it’s likely a dust explosion. They said flour and grain sacks were being moved on the day of the explosion.”
A dust explosion literally meant an explosion caused by powder.
When flour or grain sacks are moved, doesn’t a lot of dust get stirred up?
These materials were surprisingly flammable, and when fire touched them in a warehouse filled with powder, explosions like this would occur.
“Is there no possibility of arson?”
“Well, for now the probability of it being a simple accident seems high. Though we can’t completely rule out arson either.”
“Hmm. Just to be safe, investigate it further.”
The food storage warehouse seemed trivial, but it was actually a very important place.
After all, it was where food supplies were stored.
Emergency rations for times of famine and such were often kept there as well, so an entire food storage warehouse being destroyed meant months worth of provisions had vanished.
“It would have been catastrophic if this were wartime.”
“Ah, certainly. There’s nothing more terrifying than hunger.”
It was then that Hobbs nodded in agreement.
“Theo. You have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”

***

Thud.
A basket of fruit was placed atop the reception room table.
“Here, a get-well gift.”
Kendrick stared blankly between the fruit basket and my visitor in turn.
The guest’s identity was entirely unexpected.
“At least you look well enough, physically speaking.”
“I wasn’t actually injured, you see.”
At my smiling response, Julietta Ludwig’s brow furrowed sharply.
“Right. Seeing you’re still as irritating as ever, your mind seems intact too.”
“But, you came alone?”
“Yes. I came by myself.”
“Without Janet?”
A nod.
“Without Janet.”
It was unexpected.
I had assumed Julietta Ludwig accompanied me—Theo—solely because of Janet.
Yet here she was, visiting alone without her.
“I came alone because I wanted to ask you something.”
“Ask me something? Me?”
A nod.
Julietta Ludwig nodded again, small and deliberate. And then.
“Well, about you….”
Julietta Ludwig faltered mid-sentence.
She fidgeted with her fingertips anxiously, her tone unusually careful and hesitant.
“What you experienced—that’s war-related trauma, isn’t it? You participated in the war too?”
“Yes. I did participate. And I occasionally experience those symptoms as an aftereffect.”
Kendrick nodded and readily confirmed, then asked with apparent bewilderment.
“But how did you manage to recognize it as war-related trauma?”
“I just happened to notice.”
“You noticed?”
“Yes. Someone I know suffers from war-related trauma as well.”
At the mention of someone she knew, Kendrick hesitated. I had a sense of who she meant—someone suffering from war trauma.
“Does everyone with war-related trauma struggle like that?”
“I suppose not. The symptoms vary from person to person.”
“I see. I understand.”
Julietta Ludwig murmured absently.
In truth, she too knew. Asking such questions of someone who had suffered an episode merely two days prior wasn’t exactly commendable behavior.
But she couldn’t help herself.
The moment she witnessed Theo—always composed and infuriatingly at ease—gasping for breath and writhing on the floor.
Kendrick’s image had overlapped with his.
He too was confined to the Separate Residence due to lingering effects from the war, wasn’t he?
‘If he can’t even leave the house, his symptoms must be worse than Theo’s….’
Had Kendrick also suffered alone in that dark Separate Residence, tormented in such a way?
Julietta’s lips pressed into a firm line as she clenched her fists.
“I’m sorry. For asking something like that.”
“No, it’s fine. Feel free to ask me anything you’re curious about.”
At Theo’s words, Julietta paused to consider.
In truth, her questions were as numerous as mountains.
What had it been like on the Battlefield?
Was the Battlefield truly such a terrible place?
Had Kendrick perhaps been in the same unit as him?
If he had seen Kendrick there, how had Kendrick managed during those times?
Yet not a single question felt light enough to ask.
Julietta exhaled softly and shook her head. Pushing aside her countless questions, she allowed only one to remain.
“Is there anything that might help someone suffering from war-related trauma? Food, objects, or actions?”
“…Why?”
“Because of the person I mentioned earlier.”
Julietta’s hands, clasped tightly together, trembled slightly.
“That person’s symptoms are so severe they can barely leave the house. Whenever they speak with anyone, they have to wear a mask to converse.”
“You’re worried about that person?”
“Yes. Because they’re truly precious to me.”
Precious person.
As Kendrick turned the words over in his mind, Julietta’s eyes fluttered open and she regained her composure.
“Anyway. I’m glad you’re doing well. I came asking questions, but I also came to check on you while you’re recovering.”
“….”
“I won’t bother you any longer, so rest well and I’ll see you next time.”
It was just as Julietta rose abruptly from her seat.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“I have something I want to say to you too.”
“…To me?”
Julietta tilted her head in confusion and awkwardly settled back into her seat.
“What is it? Tell me.”
“First, I need you to make me a promise.”
“A promise?”
Julietta’s eyebrows flickered up and down.
Wait, this…I thought he was fine, but he’s still not well, is he?
“What kind of promise are you asking for?”
“The first one.”
It seemed there was more than just one, at that.
Despite my incredulous stare, she pressed on with unwavering resolve.
“Just don’t resent me after hearing this. Instead, you’re welcome to hit me a few times.”
Good heavens. She really hasn’t recovered 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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