I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince - Chapter 139 [An Unexpected Outing (3)]

Grainstone Village.

We arrived at our destination after two hours of riding north from the Blackwood Estate. I turned my head to Ethan, who was sitting behind me, and said:

 

“We’ve… ugh, arrived… Young Master Ethan…”

“…Yeah.”

 

Ethan met my gaze for a moment, then blushed strangely and turned his head away.

Considering what had happened on horseback on the way here, his reaction was quite understandable.

Throughout the journey from the Blackwood Estate to here, Ethan’s hands had repeatedly brushed against or squeezed my chest, making the atmosphere awkward more than once or twice, even while we were galloping.

Well, it was unavoidable since I was controlling the horse, and Ethan was clinging to me from behind. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

Firstly, riding a horse requires moving your waist in sync with the horse’s movements, and Ethan didn’t seem to be as accustomed to this sensation as I was.

In that process, it was inevitable that his whole body would bounce, and his hands would slide above my waist.

To begin with, Lilith’s chest tended to shake a bit excessively during intense movements, so in the process, my chest would often come into contact with Ethan’s hands holding my waist.

Moreover, I felt a strange aching sensation around my chest area, probably because it had been shaking quite a bit throughout the ride.

 

‘Maybe I should wrap these with a binder or something.’

 

I didn’t feel this way when I learned horseback riding from Dittmeyer last year because I changed into proper riding attire before mounting the horse.

It seemed like a mistake to have rushed to leave while still in my maid outfit.

I didn’t know it would hurt this much.

 

‘…Maybe I should ask Ethan to hold my chest with his hands when we return to Blackwood Estate.’

 

He’s already touched me several times unintentionally during the journey here.

If he’s going to touch and make the atmosphere awkward anyway, wouldn’t it be better to tell Ethan to hold onto my chest from the start?

My chest wouldn’t bounce up and down because of the riding, so it would hurt relatively less than now, and Ethan would be able to stabilize his body much better than holding onto my waist…

 

‘No, no, no. What kind of crazy thoughts am I having right now?’

 

I shook my head, quickly shaking off the insane thoughts that had momentarily crossed my mind.

No matter how much it hurts from the shaking, how could I possibly suggest to Ethan that he hold onto me the entire time we’re on horseback?

For some reason, lately, I felt like my senses were becoming loose when it came to Ethan. I need to pull myself together.

Even if Ethan had touched my chest more than a dozen times, asking him to touch me first was a whole different matter.

I wouldn’t be crazy enough to make such a suggestion first. If I did that, Ethan would really think I was some kind of man-crazed, sexually frustrated person.

As I was hugging my aching chest and pondering unnecessarily after dismounting, Ethan carefully approached me, looking at my expression strangely.

 

“…Um, Lilith?”

“Yes, Young Master Ethan.”

“…Are you mad, by any chance?”

“Pardon?”

“I thought you might be angry because I kept touching your chest during the ride…”

 

He’s still being considerate about this.

As I said when we departed, I had no reason to be angry at Ethan for this level of contact.

From the moment I suggested that we ride the horse together, I should have been prepared for my chest to be touched during the ride. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

Of course, I hadn’t anticipated being touched this frequently.

…I didn’t think I had ridden the horse that roughly, though.

 

“No, as I said when we left the Blackwood Mansion, it’s not a problem at all, Young Master Ethan.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. And it’s not like you touched me on purpose, right? It was an unavoidable accident that occurred while riding.”

“Th-That’s… true…”

“Of course, Young Master Ethan, if by any chance you’d had taken advantage of my defenseless state to satisfy your lustful desires, I would naturally have despised you.”

“Wh-What…?!”

“I don’t like cowardly people who sexually harass and satisfy their desires as if they’ve found a weakness when a woman can’t move or resist. Of course, Young Master Ethan, I know you aren’t that kind of person, so I naturally believe your words that your hands touched me unavoidably and that it was an accident.”

“……”

“So, young master, where is the blacksmith that you’ve mentioned in Grainstone Village? I remember you visited with Master Harold last year, but this is my first time here…”

“Ah, yes… Follow me this way…”

“……?”

 

Looking strangely dejected, Ethan walked ahead of me and led the way to the blacksmith in Grainstone Village.

 

“I’m trash… Trash that takes advantage of Lilith’s weakness and only satisfies my own desires…”

 

Following Ethan, who was muttering incomprehensible words to himself timidly, Zeraon and I entered the village.

…I don’t know why Ethan’s emotions are fluctuating a lot today.

The atmosphere of Grainstone Village, which I entered with Ethan, was subtle.

I don’t know why, but the village lacked vitality, giving off a somewhat gloomy feeling.

First of all, despite it being midday, there didn’t seem to be many people walking around outside, and the few people visible had an unmistakable look of fatigue on their faces.

They even had dark circles under their eyes, like Ethan when his sleeping place changes.

 

‘I wonder if Ethan’s sudden gloominess upon arriving at the village is related to this?’

 

It wasn’t just the people; even the livestock didn’t seem lively. Even the village dogs looked somehow exhausted.

 

“Neigh…”

“…Zeraon?”

 

For some reason, Zeraon, who I was leading, suddenly slowed down shortly after entering this village.

Seeing that it affects outsiders like Ethan and Zeraon, there might be some problems with the village.

In this depressing atmosphere that felt like entering a town of graduate students, Ethan’s steps continued forward, entering the village.

Sensing something suspicious, I quietly called Ethan’s name from behind.

 

“Young Master Ethan.”

“I just wanted Lilith to see me as a man… To do such a trashy thing…”

“Young Master Ethan!”

“Ah, y-yes?! L-Lilith?!”

“I have something to say. Could you lend me your ear for a moment?”

“S-Something to say?! R-Right now?!”

“…? Yes.”

 

Was my having something to say such a surprising reaction?

For a moment, I was puzzled by Ethan’s sudden fear of my words, for some reason.

Thinking that I couldn’t just ignore this strange atmosphere in the village, I quietly conveyed my observations to him.

 

“I-I’m sorry, Lilith…! Earlier, when we were on the horse…”

“This village. Doesn’t something seem strange, Young Master Ethan?”

“……Huh?”

“Pardon?”

 

What was that? I think Ethan just said something that caught my attention. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

 

“Ah, th-the village? You’re saying the village is strange?”

“Young Master Ethan, could you please explain what you meant by that apology…”

“…Yes, it is indeed strange. For some reason, all the villagers seem to lack vitality. It’s not just the people, but the animals, too.”

“……Yes, that’s right.”

 

As Ethan’s exclusive maid, I couldn’t interrupt his words twice when he was deliberately changing the subject.

Forgetting the question that had popped into my mind, I continued the quiet conversation with Ethan.

 

“Was it like this when you visited with Master Harold last year?”

“…No. It wasn’t like this then. It was more lively, and the people were more energetic.”

“Then, this atmosphere…”

“Now that you mention it, Lilith, it does seem a bit strange. I don’t know the cause, but…”

 

Well, usually, people in small villages that don’t belong to any territory tend to have brighter personalities and are more affectionate.

Unlike in cities, where you can get everything you need without knowing who lives next door, in small villages like this, you need to know everyone to get the resources you need.

In that sense, the current atmosphere of this Grainstone Village was too alien, no matter how you looked at it.

With lingering questions, we moved towards the blacksmith, supposedly run by a half-dwarf.

 

“Let’s go to the blacksmith first, Lilith. The reason we came here today is to have your dagger made.”

“Understood.”

“Even if there’s some problem in the village, we’ll investigate after we’ve had your dagger made at the blacksmith first.”

“Yes, Young Master Ethan.”

 

Well, to be honest, I didn’t really care about the atmosphere of the village as long as I could get my dagger made.

Why couldn’t the residents and animals of this village shake off the strange fatigue from their faces?

Also, why were Ethan and Zeraon, who weren’t from the village, affected by it?

Above all, why was I fine and didn’t lose energy like Ethan and Zeraon? The village was very questionable as these anomalies existed. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

Honestly, I prioritize my personal growth and equipment upgrades, and solving such mysterious problems was the Hero’s job, to begin with.

It wasn’t something for a mere maid like me to be concerned about or involved in.

 

…That was my mindset until just a moment ago.

I thought so until right before I heard at the half-dwarf’s blacksmith shop, which I visited with Ethan, that they couldn’t forge my dagger.