I Want to Drink the Tea You Brewed
The head maid's single sentence sent everyone into a state of profound shock. I, too, couldn't help but feel more than a little flustered. Suddenly needing to select a personal maid for the Grand Duchess? Though she called it a "selection," for these women it was no different from a death sentence. Even the usually calm and graceful senior maid Lani wore a face twisted with fear—if that didn't say everything, nothing would.
Those who had taken on the role of the Grand Duchess's personal maid had either died or fled the estate. Of course, that excluded the ones who had infiltrated with the intent to assassinate her. Everyone here probably knew that fact, which was why they were so reluctant. After all, nobody wanted to suddenly turn into a corpse one day.
"W-who's going to be the personal maid?" A senior maid with blonde hair and freckles asked urgently.
"I haven't chosen yet. I plan to pick someone with plenty of experience and skill if possible."
"I-I can't do it! Just looking into the Grand Duchess's eyes makes me feel like I'll go insane with terror!" The blonde maid recoiled in extreme disgust. At her words, the other maids began nodding one by one, each turning to the head maid with their own pleas.
"Me too...! I'd rather clean the toilets. Anything but being her personal maid."
"The Grand Duchess's personal maid... how could anyone..."
"I would rather die than take that position...!"
Faced with the desperate entreaties, the head maid squeezed her eyes shut and drew in a deep breath.
"Get a hold of yourselves. This is an honor—to serve the only child of the Valaxar family. Refusing so vehemently is practically an insult to our master."
"B-but Head Maid, you know what happened to everyone who's taken that position!"
"......"
The head maid must have known it herself. Normally she would have scolded the blonde maid for her lack of decorum, but this time she offered no rebuttal to the girl's raised voice. After a long silence, she finally spoke in a subdued tone.
"Even so, we must choose someone. We cannot disobey the Grand Duke's orders."
"Th-that's..."
At the head maid's unwavering words, the blonde maid took a step back, then suddenly pointed a finger at me and shouted.
"Th-then make her do it! She's just a newcomer anyway—the most expendable person we have!"
"...Me?"
The blonde maid approached me with a smirk twisting her lips.
"Perfect timing! Do you have any idea how embarrassed we were because of your nonsense? Isn't it only right that you take responsibility for your actions?"
"Andy." Senior maid Lani grabbed the blonde maid's shoulder to stop her, but it only seemed to provoke her further.
"Let go! I've never liked her anyway. A mere newbie getting the same salary as us? Does that even make sense?"
"......"
"And I hear you're a commoner? Taking money that commoners shouldn't even be able to touch—then at the very least you should earn your keep, right? You take the personal maid position."
The blonde senior maid's voice was laced with threat. When I simply stared at her without replying, she flinched, then grabbed my collar with both hands.
"Why are you looking at me like that? A newbie daring to defy a senior—"
"Enough!!"
At the head maid's sharp rebuke, the blonde maid jumped in fright and stumbled backward.
"What kind of behavior is this, Andy! If you're a senior, act like one and show some dignity. How can you behave so disgracefully?"
"...I'm sorry."
Even as the blonde maid apologized, her eyes still burned with deep hostility when she looked at me. And she wasn't the only one. Several other maids seemed to agree with her, glaring at me with narrowed eyes. Their gazes seemed to say I should volunteer for the position myself.
"There's no point in discussing this any further. I will decide who becomes the Grand Duchess's personal maid, so keep that in mind. Now return to your duties."
The head maid let out a heavy sigh, her face clearly exhausted. At her command, the maids began returning to their posts with gloomy expressions. I was about to follow them when someone tapped my shoulder.
"Don't pay them any mind, Alice. Everyone's just on edge right now."
"...Senior Lani."
Senior Lani gave a faint smile, then leaned close to my ear and whispered.
"That Andy girl has been insanely jealous of you for a while. Honestly, you do your work much better than she does. It must have really bothered her that a newbie handles tasks faster than she can."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. So just let it go in one ear and out the other. As for the personal maid position... they probably won't assign it to a newcomer anyway, so don't worry."
Seeing her clench both fists and give me an adorable little "fighting!" gesture, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"Thank you, Senior Lani."
"Sure. See you later, then."
Senior Lani smiled at me, but I caught the faint trace of fear hidden beneath it. She was probably scared too—after all, she could end up being chosen as the Grand Duchess's personal maid. I watched her retreating back, then clenched my fists tightly and made a firm resolution.
Knock knock—
I rapped on the elegant wooden door of the office, and soon a voice came from within.
[Come in.]
This was my third time entering the head maid's office. She sat at her desk with a rather poor complexion and looked at me with tired eyes.
"It's you, Alice. What brings you here?"
"I came because there's something I'd like to request."
The head maid tilted her head back, rubbed her eyes, and answered with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, but my mind is rather scattered right now. Could you come back later?"
"Head Maid."
She must be under immense mental strain. She knew better than anyone that while the title was "personal maid to the Grand Duchess," it was a position no one actually wanted. It must feel like sending one of her own girls to the gallows. I looked straight into her eyes and spoke in a serious voice.
"Please let me take the position of the Grand Duchess's personal maid."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"...What did you say?"
"Exactly what I said. I want to become the Grand Duchess's personal maid."
"Alice. If this is because of what the seniors said earlier, don't pay it any mind. You don't need to step forward like this."
At the concern in her voice, I shook my head.
"It's not because of that. This is a decision I made after careful thought."
"Alice. You must not understand what that position truly entails... Every girl who's served as the Grand Duchess's personal maid until now has—"
"I know, Head Maid. Even so, I want to do it."
She stared at me with a bewildered expression. To be honest, I was scared too. It was a position where I could die at any moment. Despite my words, the desire to avoid it was far stronger. But I didn't want to just stand by anymore. I wanted to repay even a little of the kindness shown by the head maid—who had defended me at the risk of her own life—and Senior Lani, who had stayed on my side until the end.
They felt more like family to me than my family from my previous life. I didn't want the head maid to suffer any more heartache. I didn't want Senior Lani to live in fear. But more than anything, what drove this decision was how much it irritated me to see everyone treat the Grand Duchess like some kind of plague.
What wrong had that small child ever done? If anyone was at fault, it was that worthless Grand Duke who had neglected her to this extent.
…My intelligence really is C, huh.
I'd told myself countless times not to meddle like this… yet I still couldn't forget those tearful eyes of hers. I suppose I really am a fool.
"I'm not being forced into this. I truly want to do it."
"...Alice."
Seeing the worry filling her eyes, I spoke to her in a playful tone.
"But if I become the Grand Duchess's personal maid, will my salary increase? I really need money."
Her eyes trembled violently at my words. Then, moments later, her face returned to normal and she let out a small chuckle.
"You're already receiving double the pay. What more could you possibly want?"
She pulled a sheet of paper from her desk and began writing something on it.
"Fine. I'll raise it a little."
Wait, seriously?
It had been half a joke, so I was genuinely surprised by her generous response. What she handed me was a document in the same format as the contract I'd signed when I first entered the mansion. However, the amount listed was different, and the position had changed from "maid" to "personal maid."
Without hesitation, I took out a pen from my pocket, wrote my name on the document, and handed it back to her.
"Thank you, Head Maid."
After glancing over the contract, she looked at me with solemn eyes.
"Alice. If there's anything you want or any help you need, tell me anything. I'll do my utmost to assist you."
"Oh… really? Then I won't hold back."
"Hehe… good."
Seeing her complexion brighten considerably put my mind at ease. I bowed to her and was about to leave with a much lighter heart when—
"Alice."
Her call stopped me in my tracks.
"Yes?"
Wondering if she had more to say, I turned to look at her. She gave me a warm smile.
"I want to drink the tea you brewed. Would you mind making me a cup?"
It was an unexpected request, but one I was always happy to fulfill. I answered her with a bright smile.
"Of course. I'll bring it right away."
"Thank you."
Don't worry too much, Head Maid. I may be a fool… but I'm definitely not someone who goes down easily.