The next dawn.

 

“……”

 

After several days of early morning shifts, I found myself slowly getting up from the bed with droopy eyes.

The reluctantly acquired waking time was meaninglessly unnecessary from this dawn onwards, as there was no need to start early kitchen duty today.

Of course, there was no need to handle vegetables by chewing hundreds of cloves of garlic either.

Since Ariana and Alicia received punishment (violence under the name of discipline) from Harold, there have been some adjustments in our working hours for me and Catherine.

First of all, Head Maid Melissa sincerely apologized to me and Catherine as soon as all the work was done.

She apologized for the fact that I had been handling most of the kitchen duties alone for the past few days, and for not realizing the incident involving the necklace stolen by Ariana from Thanasia a year ago a little earlier.

 

“I’m sorry for not uncovering the injustice of this incident beforehand. Especially to Catherine Lane, who has been suffering for over a year.”

“Please do not apologize, Head Maid. Anyway, now that the truth has been properly revealed, I consider that fortunate enough.”

“I-I feel the same… Just having the false accusations cleared is satisfying enough for me…”

 

Although I couldn’t feel the need for her to apologize, as she couldn’t fully grasp everything that happened among the lower maids just because she was the Head Maid, she was still the highest-ranking person in the same profession as me.

So, I accepted her apology somewhat unexpectedly.

Catherine seemed happy just to have the false accusations lifted off her.

Even last night, when Catherine suddenly came to Isabel’s and my room and bent down to apologize profusely, I was almost startled.

 

“Oh, th-thank you so much for today’s work, Miss Lilith! I’ll be forever grateful! If you ever have any bothersome tasks in the future, please let me know! I’ll handle them all by myself…”

“…Alright, enough already. Just get up quickly. What’s with all this fuss suddenly? It’s lucky Isabel isn’t here right now, but imagine if she saw this. What would she think?”

“B-but… considering the wrongdoing I’ve done to Miss Lilith, I can’t help but feel endlessly sorry…”

“Enough, just get up already!”

 

To be honest, it felt a bit overly burdensome in terms of loyalty.

While her character seemed good, apart from that, she was inherently fragile and naive, which made someone like Catherine, who willingly crawls under my feet, rather unsettling.

 

‘With this kind of personality, it’s no wonder she was taken advantage of by Ariana and Alicia over the past year…’

 

It would have been nice if Catherine had a personality and distance similar to Isabel’s.

I mean, just the right amount of closeness between women, where they can share words comfortably.

Of course, it was already impossible since I lied to Catherine about being a noblewoman from somewhere.

Still, for the next seven years or so, I should be able to make sure Catherine, in her vulnerability, doesn’t suffer unjustly like last time.

…Really, no matter how I think about it, it feels like I’m becoming more of a nanny than a maid.

Still, becoming Catherine’s nanny seemed slightly better than becoming Ethan’s exclusive maid.

Of course, there was no guarantee that doing one would exempt me from the other.

 

While we’re on the topic, I should also talk about Ethan.

It goes without saying, but I did express my gratitude to Ethan for testifying yesterday.

Although he may look like a thirteen-year-old kid on the surface, the fact remains that I was saved from the abyss thanks to Ethan’s testimony.

Even if I harbored prejudice against Ethan in my past life, it would be shameless to receive help and then pretend not to know.

Ignoring him out of unfounded prejudice would only damage my self-esteem.

 

“I sincerely thank you for testifying on my behalf in this matter, Master Ethan.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah?”

“Yes. Thanks to your words, I was able to reverse the disciplinary action that was almost imposed on me.”

“So, can you come to the kitchen today too?”

“…I can’t really decide my whereabouts, Master, but I probably won’t be in the kitchen this morning even if you come.”

“Why?”

“Head Maid Melissa said she would take responsibility for this incident and mentioned that she would handle the kitchen duty alone this morning…”

“…Is that so?”

“Perhaps Head Maid Melissa is more skilled in cooking than I am, so if you wish, it’s fine for you to visit her.”

“No, forget it. I just won’t go then.”

 

…What’s with this uneasy response?

It sounds like he came to the kitchen not because he was hungry but because he had some ulterior motive.

It was such an uneasy reaction that my positive feelings towards Ethan evaporated in an instant.

Snap out of it, Lilith. Even though he helped this time, the fact remains that Ethan is the guy who bullied Lilith at Luminor Academy.

At any moment, from anywhere, it wouldn’t be surprising if the route to Lilith being bullied by Ethan started again if someone accidentally flicked the wrong switch.

As long as this appearance of Lilith’s character remains unchanged, there’s still a chance Ethan’s weird interest could surface at any time.

Even if dirt gets in my eyes, I won’t accept an ending with Ethan as the bully.

Anyway, the long day that began with a dawn scuffle finally came to an end.

It was now my current situation to wake up again at four in the morning, barely six hours after lying down to sleep.

It was quite an early hour, with most of the servants in the mansion already asleep.

Despite feeling unusually exhausted today due to the many events, I managed to muster the energy to get out of bed since I was already awake.

 

“Lilith… Is it time for work already…?”

“No, Isabel. You can sleep longer. It’s still four in the morning.”

“Hmm…? What about you, Lilith…?”

“I have somewhere I need to go for a moment.”

“Now you also start work at six… but you’re still going out…?”

 

…Well, work hours did change to starting at six.

Although it might seem like I’m doing something more important than that.

 

“Yeah. If the bed upstairs is uncomfortable, come down and sleep in my place.”

“Ugh… okay…”

 

Quietly descending the stairs and checking on Isabel, who was buried under the blanket, I quickly changed into my maid uniform and stepped out of the bedroom.

Instead of heading straight to the kitchen like yesterday, I walked towards the back door of the mansion where the Blackwood family carriage would be stored.

I went towards the prisoner transport carriage where Ariana and Alicia, whose punishment for the theft had been decided overnight, would be riding together.

As expected, I couldn’t resist the urge to eavesdrop.

Finding Ariana and Alicia in the backyard of the mansion wasn’t particularly difficult.

The prisoner transport carriage, with its iron bars exposed outward, was unmistakably conspicuous in appearance.

While it was rare for anyone to be inside under normal circumstances, today, there were two people inside, seemingly getting along well.

Before the guests at the mansion woke up, a stableman was securing the horses to the carriage as if preparing to depart with the prisoners.

Seeing it as a good opportunity, I approached and casually greeted them.

 

“Hello. You’ve been working hard since dawn.”

“Are you a maid, miss? What’s the matter?”

“I was just curious. Are you going to transport the prisoners now?”

“Hmm, this isn’t something I should just tell anyone…”

“It’s okay. I know who’s riding in the back. They used to be my superiors.”

“Is that so…”

 

The stableman avoided eye contact, seeming uneasy after hearing my words.

They probably expected me to make some problematic requests, like asking for the release of the two.

Of course, I had no such intention at all. If anything, I just wished for these two years to vanish before my eyes right now.

But isn’t it too regrettable to just let them go like this?

All the things Ariana did to me, all the things she planned…

At least, for the last time, I should express all my grievances clearly.

 

“If it’s alright with you, could you please depart just three minutes later?”

“…Three minutes?”

“I know my superiors are being taken away for their crimes, but still, as a colleague, I want to give them a proper farewell. I won’t make any difficult requests like asking for their release, sir.”

“Hmm…”

“Could you please consider it…?”

 

Folding my hands together and putting on the most earnest expression I could muster, I made my plea, and the stableman, showing a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, nodded immediately, granting my request.

 

“…We’ll depart in two minutes from now. If you have anything to say, please make it quick.”

“Thank you, sir!”

 

At times like these, I’m grateful for Lilith’s appearance.

After thanking the stableman, I approached the back of the carriage and peered through the iron bars, revealing my face.

I quietly greeted the two inside, waiting for punishment in the miserable state within the carriage.

 

“Did you sleep well last night, seniors?”

“…Huh?”

“…L-Lilith?”

 

Two figures, draped in almost indistinguishable thin rags, their hands shackled to the carriage, looked back at me with a mix of surprise and recognition.

The bruised marks on their arms and legs reminded me of Harold’s violent behavior in the etiquette classroom yesterday.

Really, it seems both of them got a proper beating as if they were being punished like misbehaving dogs.

Considering they tried to steal Thanasia’s necklace and shamelessly pinned the blame on someone else, it’s almost a natural consequence.

Initially, I intended to offer a smile and perhaps some comfort to the two seniors leaving in such a pitiful state, but seeing them like this made me feel sorry to the point where I, the supposed victim, felt guilty.

 

“You… you came to save us?”

“Huh?”

“Y-You thought this punishment was too harsh, too, right, Lilith? That’s it, isn’t it?”

“I-I promise I won’t delay tasks for you anymore, so… so please just say something nice about us to Master Harold just this once! Please!”

 

What are these idiots even saying?

Although yesterday’s events earned me a bit of trust from Harold, it doesn’t mean he’s going to listen to me.

Besides, even if he could, he never had any intention of rescuing them from the start. What, just because they’re pretty?

 

“Stealing a necklace doesn’t warrant a trip to Silverwood! It’s buried in snow up to your calves all year round, not to mention the dangerous monsters…!”

“I-I didn’t do anything this serious in the first place! She’s the one who stole the necklace, so why am I getting the same punishment?!”

 

What? They were going to Silverwood…?

I thought, at best, they’d be sold off as debt slaves in some decent city. Harold must have been really furious.

If they were going to Silverwood… practically speaking, it was like they were exiting the story now.

Two maids committed a crime and are being dragged off to the northern territories.

Even without seeing it with my own eyes, I could easily imagine what they would be used for there.

 

“What? You callin’ me a thief? When did you ever follow me willingly, you… you slut!”

“If you hadn’t thought the necklace you stole belonged to the master’s former wife, you wouldn’t have done this crazy shit, you bitch!”

“You fucking bastard!”

“Aaaargh!”

 

Before they were sent off, they suddenly started fighting, grabbing each other’s hair, with just a glimpse at each other’s faces.

They were destined to ruin each other without me intervening.

Well, it’s only been three days, but we’ve shared some moments together.

So, before they set off on their journey, I gave them some advice, not that they asked for it.

 

“From now on, you two shouldn’t fight. If you want to survive in the Silverwood Territory, you’ll need to rely on each other somehow.”

“What…?”

“Just a moment… Weren’t you here to rescue us?”

“Rescue you? I’m not sure what you mean, but all I can offer you two is some advice.”

“Advice?”

 

The two of them, with faces tense with anticipation, awaited my next words.

Smiling at them, I imparted my knowledge.

 

“The Silverwood Territory is already cold throughout the year, and the northern border, in particular, is so harsh that even ordinary people can’t enter.”

“I-I know that.”

“What’s that got to do with anything…?”

“That’s why they say there are no sheltered valleys or shelters near the northern border. In the first place, no lady would venture so far as to sell their services. It’s quite a pity, considering the many soldiers who work so hard out there in the remote areas.”

“…Shelters? C-Could it be…?”

“T-That’s not…? Surely not…?”

“It’s truly heartwarming to see such esteemed seniors willingly journeying to the northern border of the Silverwood Territory. You both would be a great comfort to the soldiers who always endure hardships in such harsh places!”

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

Upon hearing my words, the two individuals dumbfoundedly opened their mouths, their faces turning a pale blue. As I enjoyed observing their expressions, I heard the voice of the coachman calling me from the front of the carriage.

 

“Miss! Are you done with your farewells?!”

“Yes, you can depart now!”

“Alright!”

“Drive safely!”

 

With the sound of the reins tapping against the horse’s back, the escort carriage carrying the two individuals began its departure.

Just before the carriage departed, the two individuals inside the convict escort carriage called out my name and pleaded for something, but I didn’t pay much attention.

After all, we were unlikely to see each other again, and even if we did, they would probably be mentally unstable by then.

As the carriage carrying the two sinners faded into the horizon, I simply waved without any lingering attachment.

Sacrificing two hours of sleep for this was truly worth it, considering how refreshing it felt.