Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Dogfight (3)
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After finally escaping the nearly two-hour hell of the head maid's lecture...
I somehow managed to grab hold of my numb legs and stand, stepping out of the etiquette classroom door alongside the other maids.
One head maid remained inside to tidy up, while the other four maids had already moved out ahead.
The moment the etiquette classroom door clicked shut, Aeria's sharp voice cut through the air.
"Katarina."
"Hic, hiiik…!"
The moment the head maid's watchful gaze lifted, Aeria whipped a piercing glare toward Katarina.
She was surely about to say something about how Katarina hadn't sided with her during the disciplinary action earlier—but had taken my side instead.
Aeria wouldn't just let that slide.
"What the hell are you thinking? I went out of my way to bail you out, and you side with that bitch Lilith?"
"Eup……."
"Can't believe you still haven't learned after a whole year. Not beaten enough yet? Huh?"
"H-Hup…!"
Aeria raised her palm threateningly into the air toward Katarina.
I instinctively shoved myself between them, carving out space as Katarina trembled like she was on the verge of tears.
"Cut it out."
"…Oh?"
"Just try laying a hand on Katarina one more time. Disciplinary action or not, I'll fucking kill you."
"You got the strength for that? You're just a low maid yourself. How're you gonna handle the fallout if you kill me?"
"Fuck if I know. But I can make damn sure you never have to worry about fallout ever again."
Of course, actually killing her would bump this already nightmare-difficulty Lilith playthrough straight into hell mode, so it was impossible.
These kinds of fights were all about momentum—the one who flinched first lost. She'd already taken one hit earlier, so she wouldn't assume she'd walk away unscathed this time.
When you've got nothing else, you bite down hard with your mouth—that's how you win a battle of wills.
"Let's go, Aeria."
"……."
"No point messing with a psycho like her. Those eyes… she looks dangerous no matter how you slice it."
"Fair enough. No need to keep swinging fists in this dogfight."
"We've got witnesses anyway. We can just sit back and watch Lilith and Katarina get disciplined later."
…What? Witnesses?
Witnesses to vouch for the diligent work of girls who hadn't done jack shit for three straight days?
Alicia's unexpected remark caught me off guard, and I couldn't hide my fluster.
Sensing it, Aeria flashed a sly smile.
"That reaction tells me you don't have anyone to testify on your behalf, huh?"
"……."
"Told you, should've picked your fights more carefully. Can't just swing whenever you're pissed."
"…Whatever. I know you're full of shit."
"Bluff or not, we'll find out tonight. Whether we have witnesses saying we worked our asses off—or if yours claim you slacked every day."
…Shit.
Her vibe screamed she had something solid.
Made sense—she'd worked here a year longer than me, so she had way more connections in the mansion than Lilith ever did.
Lilith might turn heads with her looks, but her actual network was nothing compared to Aeria's.
The only people popping into my head as "connections" were Isabel and Katarina.
"Can't wait to see your faces tonight."
"…Fuck."
"And Katarina? Time to make you pay properly for mouthing off to me."
"……."
"Let's go, Alicia."
"Yeah."
They shot one last sinister glare at me and Katarina before heading up the stairs first.
Left behind at the bottom with Katarina, I racked my brain for a way out of this mess.
"L-Lilith…."
"……."
"Y-You… have some, right…? W-Witnesses you can bring…? R-Right…?"
"…Yeah, sure."
"R-Right…? L-Lilith's a n-noble lady, so… G-Good…."
Sorry to Katarina, who still thought I was some noble lady.
Truth was, I had jack shit.
No evidence to back my claims. Not even a single reliable witness.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Time flew by until after dinner.
The etiquette classroom, already lively that morning, was now packed compared to before.
Not just the four low maids facing discipline and the head maid—all sorts of mansion staff had gathered to watch the proceedings. Easily around fifty people by my count.
Hell, even family head Harold and Ethan were there, meaning it wasn't an exaggeration to say over half the Blackwood household had shown up for this "disciplinary committee."
No outside guests, though—family business only.
'Why the hell are so many people here just for disciplining some low maids…?'
For a second, I wondered if enjoying someone else's downfall was some universal human trait that transcended dimensions.
Turns out most had been personally summoned by the head maid to observe.
"I originally planned to handle this quietly under my authority, but given the severity, I requested observers."
"……."
"The prior discipline has been overturned, and with so many witnesses present, there will be no further reversals. Understood?"
"“““……Yes.””””
No escape in any sense—we murmured our responses quietly.
The disciplinary committee to decide our punishments kicked off immediately.
"First, an explanation of this morning's violence incident around 6 a.m. for the observers…."
The head maid who convened the committee recounted the morning's events to the entire room.
A brief overview of the brawl between me and Katarina versus Aeria and Alicia.
How my claims clashed with Aeria's on what sparked it.
Katarina backing me, Alicia backing Aeria—and this committee meant to sort truth from lies.
Once her crisp summary wrapped up, she called my name next.
"Lilith Rosewood."
"Yes."
"I told you to bring any witnesses or evidence regarding the incident."
"…Yes."
"Do you have any? To prove your diligent work."
"……Yes."
I hadn't wanted to resort to this.
But to survive, you grab any straw. Swallowing my guilt, I named the witness who could vouch for my work.
"I summon fellow maid Isabel Grace, who shares my sleeping quarters."
"Isabel Grace, are you present?"
"Yes, Head Maid."
Isabel stepped forward without hesitation at Melissa's call.
Despite being a first-year low maid like me, her confident poise carried real backbone.
"Lilith Rosewood has called you as a witness. Will you testify?"
"Yes, Head Maid."
"Speak."
"I testify that Lilith Rosewood—my colleague who started at the Blackwood mansion the same time as me and shares my room—worked diligently in the kitchen without fail for all three days since starting."
"Any details to support that?"
"We share a bunk bed to make efficient use of the cramped space. As you know, Head Maid, they're noisy and shake hard when the other person moves."
"Continue."
"I've woken from the bed shaking every morning since three days ago when she started kitchen duty, and confirmed her leaving for work at 4 a.m."
"That's all for your testimony, Isabel Grace?"
"Yes, Head Maid."
She delivered it flawlessly, hitting every key point.
Something about her reliable profile made my chest swell.
No wonder they called her 'Smart Isabel' in the game.
Too bad she had no combat skills, so she wasn't playable—but she still played a solid role in the Lilith episodes.
A title like that meant the devs had put real thought into her.
Even while playing Lilith's route, I'd often thought it'd be great if I could romance Isabel instead.
Her presence in Luminor Academy left a damn good impression—not every character with screentime is competent, but she was.
Seeing her step up to save me now? I was seriously grateful.
…I'd literally decided that dawn not to burden her—and here I was, less than a day later, owing her big.
"One question for you, Isabel Grace."
"Yes, Head Maid."
"Did you see Lilith Rosewood enter the first-floor kitchen after she left the room at 4 a.m.?"
"No…."
"So you don't know where she went after leaving the room."
I'd seen that question coming.
Made sense for a truth-finding committee to probe for certainties.
I figured Isabel would concede that point with a bowed head—but surprisingly, she stood firm to the end, insisting on my innocence.
"Lilith wouldn't ditch her duties and wander off! She always volunteered for the dirty jobs when working with me, and even after collapsing from illness recently, she jumped right back in…."
"I'm not claiming she skipped work. Just confirming the possibility."
"…Sorry, Head Maid."
"Still, your trust in Lilith Rosewood came through clearly. I'll reference this testimony in the proceedings. You're dismissed."
"Understood, Head Maid."
She finished, lifted her head, and returned to her spot.
Before stepping back, our eyes met—I winked at her.
Without her, my possessed-Lilith nightmare would've been even worse.
Her passionate testimony had at least partially cleared my slacking suspicions.
A low maid leaving at 4 a.m. but wandering the mansion instead of heading to her post? Sketchy as hell.
She couldn't confirm me entering the kitchen, but this alone was a huge help.
Both Aeria and I had just pitched our sides to the head maid—any testimony at all tipped the scales.
No smoking gun proving I fully skipped kitchen duty? Then no matter what witnesses Aeria brought, Melissa couldn't slap me with heavy discipline.
"From Isabel Grace's testimony, it seems credible that Lilith Rosewood at least showed up for early shifts."
"Yes."
"Aeria Lawrence."
"Yes."
"Do you have witnesses or evidence to prove Lilith Rosewood's negligence—or to refute Isabel Grace?"
Please, no. Let her morning talk have been bullshit.
But unlike my desperate wish, Aeria looked every bit as confident.
She faced the head maid with utter certainty.
"Yes, Head Maid."
"Call them."
"I summon the chefs responsible for the Blackwood family's breakfast."
With her words, the mansion's chefs stepped forward one by one.
Not one or two—but five of them, ready to testify for Aeria.
The room buzzed as five witnesses appeared. Aeria quietly turned her gaze my way, flashing a rotten smirk.
The instant I read her eyes, my whole body screamed that something had gone horribly wrong.
…Now I knew why that damn bitch had been so cocky from the start.