The Best Second Round? Maid? Me? Why?
"The best second round? Maid? Me? Why?"
There was no way I could say that out loud. Nope.
It's not that I'm a coward. Honestly, anyone in my position, with their neck gripped like this, couldn't respond any differently.
Of course, I could do it if I tried. I knew Veronica's true nature, after all.
Veronica was kind at heart. She'd missed out on so many chances because of that un-hero-like side of her, which used to frustrate me to no end, but honestly, that was part of her charm—I liked her even more for it.
Anyway. This was all definitely an act right now. There was no way Veronica's personality would let her actually kill a kid like me... Wait.
"Milady, you need to answer."
The moment our eyes met, a cold sweat trickled down my spine.
I'd asked if she had regressed too. That meant Veronica had regressed as well. Which meant the Veronica right now was fresh off getting stabbed in the back by Ellicia.
"Eep."
A dumb noise slipped out of me involuntarily.
Hold on, hold on, hold on. Was she seriously trying to kill me?!
It wasn't just my imagination—my breath really was getting cut off... she was actually putting strength into it?
"Eugh..."
"Hmph. As expected, you can't choose between them, right? You don't want to die, and becoming a lowly maid is disgusting... From your position, milady, this must feel like a bolt from the blue. Isn't it?"
"W-Wait—"
"Fine. I'll make it easier for you to choose. Listen well."
Suddenly, the two hands around my neck released. Veronica smirked and slowly stood up.
"In any case, you're no longer a noble, milady. Or rather... you're not anymore."
"Wh... what?"
"Exactly what I said. Right now, you're a commoner... hmm, or more like a criminal, so not much different from a slave."
I couldn't believe my ears.
What the hell was this? Ellicia, a criminal? A kid who couldn't even do a proper sit-up?
As I furrowed my brow in confusion, Veronica continued leisurely.
"Ellicia no longer has delicious cookies, cute dolls, or pretty clothes like the ones you're wearing now. No one will bow and greet her with respect, and she won't be able to go on carefree outings. She should count herself lucky if she doesn't get beaten to death in the streets."
"What does that...?"
"Hmph... You don't get it, do you? Well, of course you wouldn't."
Huh, well, that does sound like a fitting end for Ellicia.
Veronica wrapped it up with a sarcastic tone.
There were a lot of things that bugged me, but I decided to let them slide for now. First things first, I had to clear up this misunderstanding.
"Wait! Veronica!"
I had to tell her. That I was a being from another world, just possessing Ellicia's body. That I wasn't the one she needed to get revenge on.
It was a story no normal person would believe... but if Veronica used her Eye of Truth, it would prove it right away!
...That's what I thought, anyway.
"I know it's hard to believe, but I have something to say. The truth is, I'm not Ellicia—"
"What a show. The moment the oracle came down, she throws out her own daughter... Puhuhu. You sure have a great father, Ellicia."
"Just hear me out first. I'm not Ellicia—"
"Or maybe he's been waiting for this exact moment? If it were me, I'd want to kick out an incompetent, rotten kid like Ellicia too."
Wrong. This girl had no intention of listening to me.
If she wasn't going to hear me out, even the truth would be useless. The Eye of Truth wasn't a passive ability. Unless Veronica activated it herself, my words would just sound like desperate excuses.
And saying "Eye of Truth my words!" outright... yeah, that probably wouldn't end well.
What now? No matter how I racked my brain, no solution came to mind...!
"Puhuhu... Starting to feel it now?"
Veronica, who'd cut me off repeatedly, curled her lips in delight.
It wasn't the pure smile I knew. It was twisted, precarious, artificially forced.
"Ellicia has nothing left now. No family, no parents to help her... no money, no honor... Oh, wait. She does have one thing."
Veronica's hand reached out to me. She lifted my chin with her fingertips, forcing me to look up at her.
"This useless body of hers."
"U-Useless...?"
"Useless, obviously. Isn't it? Ellicia can't do anything on her own. Can she swing a sword? Use magic? She probably can't even do basic arithmetic right. She doesn't know how to cook, do laundry, or mop. Honestly, even being a maid is too good for a dimwit like Ellicia."
A seven-year-old who could do even one of those would be a prodigy, right...? All I could do at that age was pick my nose and ride a bike without training wheels.
Whatever. This wasn't something to say to an innocent child who knew nothing. From talking about death to mocking her parents—it was all too much.
I was flustered. Even if she hated Ellicia, even if she held a huge grudge...
This wasn't like Veronica at all.
"There. I've helped you enough to make your choice. Now answer."
Conversation over, apparently. Veronica leaned in close.
"Will you die now? Or... will you survive, even if it means becoming a maid?"
I was so wronged, I felt like crying for real.
...Why the hell is she doing this to me?!
Of course, Ellicia chose to become a maid.
No matter how arrogant and selfish she was, losing her pride was better than losing her life.
"...Ha."
After sending Ellicia away, I sat alone on the sofa and let out a faint laugh.
The first thing I felt was a sticky wave of self-loathing.
What was I doing, Veronica? Was this my grand revenge—mocking an ignorant little seven-year-old girl?
I laughed hollowly at the thought, but recalling Ellicia's reactions brought a strange sense of satisfaction.
The story of being exiled from her family overnight. That she was no longer Count Lawrence's lady, but lower than a commoner. That she'd be in the same boat as the maids she'd always looked down on.
The more I piled on the bewildering tales, the more she floundered, stammering helplessly. Every time I sneered, she couldn't muster a proper reply, just biting her lip. And finally, realizing her situation, tears welled up in those round eyes.
"Ha, haha..."
It was surreal seeing that villainess show such weakness. At the same time, it was exhilarating and fun to see her like that.
Ellicia's fate had changed. Because of me, the arrogant great witch Ellicia Lawrence could no longer exist.
She wouldn't learn magic, obviously. If I wanted, I could control even her basic education and common sense. I could lock her in this mansion forever, or turn her into a lowly whore. Make her a dumb bitch who fawns at my side, performing tricks for life. A normal life was off the table now.
The fact that I could dictate that villainess's life as I pleased was deeply satisfying. It felt like being a god—lowly, but omnipotent.
What to try first? What humiliating ordeal to put Ellicia through?
"Hnn... At this rate."
I'm no different from Ellicia. No, maybe I'm even worse...
I laughed weakly and tapped the table twice. A maid waiting in the hall entered and bowed.
"Yes, miss. You called?"
"Yeah. I want to change my personal maid."
"Your personal maid... You mean Ellicia?"
Quick on the uptake. Physically older than me, but whatever.
I nodded curtly, and the maid looked troubled.
"She hasn't learned anything yet. She might cause more trouble than help..."
"It's fine. That's exactly what I want."
"Hmm. If that's your wish... Understood."
From her perspective, it was a good deal. Personal maids got a slight pay bump, but avoided dangerous dungeon runs or demon subjugations.
"We'll give her minimal training and deploy her starting tomorrow. Continue additional training in her spare time?"
"Yeah, please... Oh, right."
I was about to nod when something occurred to me.
"From now on, have dinner in the study. And send Ellicia to the study at dinnertime too."
"Every day?"
"Yeah. Including today."
Ellicia was only seven. Not yet the great witch who terrorized the world—just a blank canvas. The perfect time to paint on it, whether memory, heart, or body.
"Yes. Consider it done."
That was the end of the conversation. Once the maid turned away, I erased Ellicia from my mind.
A toy I'd encountered across countless regressions. Nothing more than an object for amusement—never more, never less.
That was Ellicia's value to me.
That's why she reacted so weirdly earlier.
"Come on, quick! Don't be shy—try it on. Your ladyship the 'Count's daughter'?"
"Eep..."
The smallest size maid uniform available. The maid girl from before dangled it in front of me, flapping it around. After hearing Veronica, her reaction made sense now.
Like a fallen villainess yelling 'Do you know who I am?!'
"You—"
"Hey now. 'You'? It's 'senior,' right? You whose blood hasn't even dried yet, milady."
She giggled and patted my head.
I wanted to flip her over right then!
But remembering how she'd lifted me with one hand... I humbly backed down. This humiliation—I'd never forget it...
"Well, if 'senior' still feels weird, you can call me Hillia-unnie—"
"Senior."
"Uh... yeah. You're adapting faster than I thought."
Senior, whatever. It wasn't a hard title. I just didn't want to call this annoying girl that.
"...Sigh."
What was going to happen to me now?
What about my original story knowledge? My plan to slack off and heal? Did I really have to live in a real maid outfit like this?
"Ahaha! It suits you, milady!"
"Ugh..."
With Hillia's help, I somehow got the maid uniform on, but the mirror reflection was weird.
The base material was good, so it suited me... but still...
"It's... too big?"
"Too big?"
"...Yes?"
It was the smallest size, but the skirt hem dragged on the floor. It eased my skirt phobia a bit, but I'd trip over it anytime. And it was heavy too!
"Tough it out till the end of the week. I ordered new ones, but it'll take time."
"Nuuu..."
Then came Hillia's long-winded lecture.
From how she became a maid here, to her specialty being dusting but actually better at tea, which senior maid was the strictest, even trivial boyfriend stories...
I nodded along to most of it, lost in thought.
"...So then? Sebi-unnie with that oppa—"
Good that vengeful Veronica hadn't chopped me up, but the situation was still bad.
I had to prove my usefulness somehow. Veronica didn't know, but I had all the original knowledge? Meaning I was her one true confidante, the one who could solidly help her take down the Demon King.
But in this state, I couldn't help at all...
"...Hey, are you listening? Little miss is asking what sin you committed to get on the goddess's bad side. Heard an oracle came down and you got excommunicated—aren't you sad—"
"Hm!"
A lightbulb flashed over my head! Two of them this time!
"Wh-Why the sudden...?"
"That's it!"
"...Huh?"
Hillia dumbly reacted to my fist-pumping resolve.
Right—I didn't need to step up front and help directly!
Even if Ellicia had innate talent, the pilot was a mediocre nobody like me. I couldn't fight or anything. Stepping out would be inefficient and deadly.
From the start, my role was the secret supporter from the shadows. A maid always by her side was perfect for covert aiding. Veronica hated me now, but unlike previous Ellicia, I could prove it over time.
The headache villain Ellicia Lawrence was gone. In her place, a helper with protagonist-level knowledge? The perfect second round!
"Ehehe, hehehehe..."
As a three-year fan, heartbroken by the unsatisfying end—getting to fix it myself? My situation was a bit pitiful, but any fan would be thrilled.
"What's up? Wanna pee again? Want senior to take you? I'll hold your hand."
"Eep, what?!"
"Huh?"
"...Yes!"
First, build favor step by step. I knew what Ellicia liked inside out—next time we met, I'd slowly win her over.
"So, you going or not? I don't have to take you?"
I glared sharply at the oblivious girl.
"...Yes, please."
...Guess small body means small bladder too.