The Maid Cannot Forgive (2)
“Master...?”
A sudden cold snap swept through the once affectionate atmosphere around us. It was because a pair of eyes, dark and deep as the abyss, were glaring right at us.
“Why would you—”
Eily's words cut off abruptly. She clamped her mouth shut in agony, and silence stretched out.
“Eily?”
Her trembling form sent a wave of unease crashing over me. It felt like I'd been caught red-handed by a thief at the scene of the crime.
“Ah, I see. So you've ultimately forgiven Lady Elisha after all?”
She forced a smile as if it were no big deal, but it came out unnatural, strained—like it had been wrung out of her.
“I-It's... fine. That makes sense... I have no right to question Master's choice anyway... Urgh...”
Eily's voice cracked. A sob of sorrow leaked through. But as if she didn't want to show it, she gritted her teeth hard.
“Didn't you say you were staying in the dorms?”
“I'm sorry. I came out to stay by Master's side anyway... but I think I should head back now!!”
“Eily? Wait—”
With that, she bolted off somewhere in a hurry. I tried to chase after her, but I couldn't. By the time I stood up, Eily had already vanished around the corner of the hallway, as if she'd staked her life on hiding.
“Arnold, that was...”
Elisha clung to my arm with all her strength.
“Can't you stay like this just a little longer? I know it's selfish, but... I want to feel your warmth and truly believe I've been forgiven.”
Her cheeks flushed red. Shy yet brave, she pleaded for me to remain by her side.
“.......”
With no choice, I sat back down. I'll talk it out slowly with Eily later.
“Hehe.”
Elisha beamed and leaned her head on my shoulder again.
“Thank you. You're so kind, really. I should have looked at you properly much sooner...”
She whispered in my ear, luxuriating in my warmth at her leisure. But for me, a corner of my heart felt unsettled. Some nagging discomfort and an inexplicable foreboding gnawed at my instincts.
“Haa— Haa—!”
Wh... why am I doing this? Why am I just running away like an idiot? I should be going to Master instead. I need to protect him from that ungrateful harlot who's clinging to him without a shred of grace...!
But my heart feels so strange. I just want to run. It hurts. My chest aches. I had a vague feeling it was coming. I knew Master would forgive Lady Elisha. But seeing it with my own eyes... it feels like my heart is being torn apart.
“Urk...”
When I came to, I'd somehow ended up in the outdoor garden. I doubled over into the nearby bushes and dry-heaved like I was vomiting my guts out.
My stomach's burning... It's awful... I've never felt like this before...
I wiped my mouth, nothing having come up, and stared blankly into the void.
For some reason, imagining Master with Lady Elisha made my heart ache even more.
“.......”
Master... You've decided to forgive Lady Elisha after all. I'm just a maid, so I have no right to question your choice...
“Ahh—”
What should I do? Images of the two of them cozy together keep flooding my mind. And soon enough, it'll be reality, won't it? My Master... my Master, stolen by that ill-mannered woman. I feel like collapsing right here.
Am I just supposed to watch that happen?
“......”
No. I can't let that happen. He's my Master. I won't let anyone take him from me. Especially not her, who doesn't even know her place.
Never—
I had lunch with Elisha, and afterward, we took a short walk outside. Honestly, I wanted some space by now, but she'd been stuck to me like glue since earlier, making it tricky to shake her off.
“Hehe, Arnold~♪”
I had no obligation to accept everything about her. But seeing her humming happily, I couldn't bring myself to show any rejection.
“Master!”
Just as I was starting to feel a bit burdened, a familiar voice grabbed at my ankles.
“There you are!”
It was Eily. Her vibe had changed dramatically from the heartbroken girl who'd run off earlier—like a complete lie.
“Eily, you okay?”
The memory of her pained expression flashed back, so I asked if she was alright.
“Yes. Sorry for worrying you. I'll be fine now.”
She nodded with a bright smile. Her steps seemed much lighter as she approached us.
“H-Hey!”
With a cute little grunt of effort, she suddenly hugged my other arm.
“...?”
Eily's actions left me a bit confused. With Elisha already plastered to one side, Eily joining in doubled the bewilderment.
“Hehe... Now I'm okay.”
What the heck is going on...?
But before I could ponder it, Elisha's voice came through, laced with dissatisfaction.
“Hey, what do you think you're doing? Can't you see I'm having some quality time with Arnold right now?”
She looked seriously annoyed, like her precious break time had been interrupted, complaining endlessly.
“You've gotten awfully bold, haven't you? Think getting our generous Master's permission makes you all high and mighty?”
But Eily didn't back down—no, she countered Elisha's words and hugged my arm even tighter, asserting her presence.
“Urgh!”
In response, Elisha sharpened her gaze and glared at Eily. My arm, already going numb, now felt crushed under the pressure.
“.....”
“........”
Eily and Elisha stared daggers at each other. Their eyes burned with resentment and contempt, as if they were mortal enemies who couldn't coexist under the same sky.
“Ugh...”
“Urgh...”
Their glares clashed so fiercely it felt like sparks were flying. The atmosphere turned downright murderous.
Why are these two competing so hard over me...?
“Master!”
“Arnold!”
Suddenly, they both looked at me at almost the same time. Their eyes pleaded desperately, like stray kittens on the street begging to be chosen.
“Who do you think you are?!”
“Who are you calling who? It's me, you maid?!”
It felt just like when parents bicker and then turn to their kid, demanding they pick a side. I couldn't choose easily, and even if forced, it'd just give me a headache.
“I—”
Still, I had to decide eventually. Both sides tensed up, swallowing hard with determined expressions.
“I'd appreciate it if you both let go a little...”
But what I chose was neither.
“.......”
“..........”
How much time had passed? After Arnold left, the chilly spot held only two women in heavy silence.
“What do you think you're doing?”
Elisha broke the quiet first. She was seriously pissed that Eily's intrusion had ruined her time alone with Arnold.
“What am I doing? That's what I want to ask you.”
But Eily didn't yield. Instead, her eyes darkened as she glared at her 'rival.' The innocent, playful vibe she'd had around her master was gone—like a mask. The look she gave Elisha was chillingly fanatical.
“It's ridiculous, really. You've spent all this time acting like you hated the world, and now that you've changed your mind, you want to pretend nothing happened?”
Eily unleashed venomous words at Elisha in a hostile tone. Her gaze brimmed with an indescribable loathing.
“Do you really think you have the right to do that?”
“......”
The more Eily spoke, the more Elisha's face twisted, her confidence wilting. She knew she'd turned her back on Arnold all this time.
“That was... just a momentary lapse in judgment...!”
But unlike the first sharp jab from Eily, Elisha still had some self-assurance left. Probably thanks to his forgiveness.
“Momentary? Was five years just a 'moment' for you? Are you an elf or something? You badmouthed him relentlessly for over five years, and now 'a momentary lapse'? Does that even make sense?!”
“Uh...?!”
Still, Elisha was at a clear disadvantage, undeniable. Wanting to be with him now, after ignoring him for so long, put her on the back foot in every way.
“It was undeniably my fault...! But I regret it, I'm reflecting on it, so from now on, I'll clear up the misunderstandings and face him properly.”
Yet even to that, Eily let out a hollow laugh, as if it was absurd.
“Fault? Regret? From now on? Pfft... It's so infuriating I don't even want to waste my breath.”
“So why... why did you despise Master from the start?!”
“He kept giving you chances, approaching you over and over, but you threw away every single one and treated him like dirt—that was your choice!!”
Her voice rose higher and higher. For a maid speaking to a noble, it was outrageously aggressive.
“That was...”
But nothing she said was wrong. Elisha's confidence chipped away under Eily's sharp accusations.
“So leave. As his maid, and as a woman, I'm telling you: You don't deserve to be with Master!”
Eily's decisive blow made Elisha hang her head.
“Fine, maybe I don't deserve to be with Arnold.”
Was she finally accepting it?
“But he told me earlier! He said he'd forgive me—”
No. Instead, she declared boldly with a mix of emotions—relieved, solemn, dignified.
“He gave me this last chance, maybe.”
“So this time, I will not let it slip away. I'll make it up to him properly, without ever disappointing him again!”
“Even if it means offering this body and soul entirely.”
She pointed at Eily with her index finger. Not as maid versus noble, but woman to woman, staking her pride.
“I won't give up. Not until he tells me himself that he hates me. I'll atone by his side until then.”
But Eily sighed, looking exasperated.
“You're so persistent. I will never hand over my Master to you.”
“And I'll make it up to him properly as his rightful fiancée. I won't lose to you.”
With those words, they parted while exchanging murderous glares. At least their relationship... showed no signs of improving.