I Absolutely Refuse
I’m not doing it, so please give up already.
'This child. I want her.'
It wasn’t simply because her work ethic was impressive. The tea had been deeply memorable, of course, but the rest of her performance had only been quite good. There were plenty of maids in the Valaxar Grand Duchy who were far more experienced than Alice. And yet the reason I had become utterly smitten with this girl named Alice was something else entirely.
The way her clear eyes had sparkled like stars while brewing the tea. The instinctive confidence she showed when offering the teacup. And even the audacity to expect a reaction from her interviewer in such a heavy, formal setting. They were the eyes of someone who truly loved what she did and carried unshakable pride and honor in it.
A maid’s duties were nothing special. No matter how talented one might be at cleaning and household chores, how much could it really amount to? To be blunt, if you trained any clumsy young lady harshly for two years, she would be able to handle the work just fine. But mindset was something that could never be changed so easily. It was not something that could be created no matter how desperately you tried to teach it.
The attitude of approaching even trivial tasks with passion and sincerity. In the end, that was what mattered most. And the beautiful eyes Alice had shown just now were more than enough to prove that passion and heart. None of the maids I had seen over the years had ever displayed such shining eyes.
After holding the position of head maid for twenty years, certain things became instinctive. This child would diligently seek out her own tasks without needing scolding or nagging, and she would devote herself faithfully to the Grand Duchy. In other words, it was fair to say that this girl had been born to work as a maid in the Valaxar Grand Duchy.
'I want to put her to work as soon as possible.'
Suppressing my writhing desire, I turned to the other applicants.
“Everyone except Miss Alice may leave now.”
At my words, the two other interviewees looked at Alice with envious faces and trudged out of the room. I felt a little sorry for them, but there was no need to continue the interviews. One truly excellent person was far better than a hundred half-hearted hires. Alice had left such a strong impression that I felt this interview had already achieved more than enough simply by securing her.
“You’re hired. Congratulations, Miss Alice.”
“Really?”
Unlike the other young ladies who had shown undignified displays of excessive joy at their acceptance, Alice only looked slightly surprised and offered no other reaction.
'Even her composure is charming.'
It might have been because I was completely blinded by affection, but I wanted to have this girl named Alice working under me that badly.
“Your salary will be fifty gold coins per month, as I mentioned. Lodging and meals will all be provided within the mansion.”
“.....”
The moment money was brought up, Alice’s purple eyes flashed. If it had been before, I might have found it distasteful, but now even that greed looked lovely.
“You may rest this week while familiarizing yourself with the mansion’s layout. You will begin working in earnest next week.”
“U-um… Y-yes… Understood for now…”
Bewilderment showed more clearly on her face than joy. Well, it was only natural that a commoner wouldn’t have expected to be employed by the Valaxar Grand Duchy. In my heart I wanted to have her start tomorrow, but as head maid I couldn’t show any sign of impatience.
'She’ll be following my orders from now on anyway. I suppose I can drop the formal speech.'
Setting aside all my personal desires, I offered her a relaxed smile and extended my hand for a handshake.
“Then I’ll be counting on you. I hope you’ll show us a demeanor befitting the Valaxar Grand Duchy.”
“Yes. I’ll be counting on you as w—”
The moment Alice tried to accept my handshake, her eyes suddenly widened and she froze on the spot.
“..?”
Just as I began to worry that something might be wrong because her eyes were shaking so violently, Alice parted her tightly pressed lips and spoke in a trembling voice.
“W-where did you say…? The Valaxar Grand Duchy…?”
Her incomprehensible reaction left me puzzled.
“Hm? That’s right. The Valaxar Grand Duchy. From now on, you have been granted the honor of serving the great hero, Grand Duke Arvian Valaxar.”
At my following words, Alice’s face fell into shock as if she had been struck by lightning. She slowly withdrew her hand from the handshake, gave an awkward smile, and took a step back.
“On second thought, maid work doesn’t really suit me. It would be better if you looked for another candidate.”
“...What?”
Her outrageous statement cracked the poker face I had always maintained so perfectly.
“W-well then, I’ll be going now. Thank you for the valuable experience.”
Alice tried to flee the room in a hurry, like a thief caught red-handed. I immediately grabbed her slender wrist with a firm grip.
“Hold it right there.”
Where do you think you’re going, child? You’ve already become a maid of Valaxar. And I have no intention of letting you go.
Approximately three hundred years after the birth of a new goddess on the continent, the chosen virgin saint of purity. The master of the crimson magic tower, known as the most powerful among existing towers, and a genius who reached the seventh circle at the mere age of twenty. A capable commander feared by enemy nations, and the crown prince who had never suffered a single defeat. A wandering knight who, after endless training, could wield sword energy at will and had stolen the hearts of countless ladies who claimed no rival could match him with a blade. And finally, one more. The demon of terror who would lead the world to ruin. The Demon King.
Each of them possessed transcendent power. Yet all of them now lay helplessly fallen, gazing at a single figure.
A woman with emotionless blue eyes scanned them one by one. Her snow-white hair evoked images of pure snow, and the absence of one arm—nowhere to be seen—filled everyone with horror.
『How… is this possible…』
The crown prince stared at the woman with eyes drenched in terror.
『Cough… You are…』
The saint beloved by the world spat a mouthful of blood and resentfully called the woman’s name.
『Adriel Valaxar…!』
The scene from the novel played vividly in my head like someone had pressed play on a video.
“That’s right, the Valaxar Grand Duchy. From now on, you have been granted the honor of serving the great Grand Duke, Arvian Valaxar.”
The middle-aged woman radiated an aura of nobility with every breath. Her bombshell statement left me completely speechless, like a thunderstruck nightingale.
Valaxar. It was familiar. The Valaxar Grand Duchy. I knew that name far too well. There was no way I could ever forget it.
The woman who had suddenly appeared, mercilessly beating down the Demon King, the protagonist, and everyone else. The monster who had made the strongest beings in the world kneel before her despite missing an arm. The character who had turned the novel I loved into a complete mess and the villain who had caused me to transmigrate here.
The Northern Grand Duchess, Adriel. That was her family name—Valaxar.
'This doesn’t make any sense.'
I transmigrated, and of all places, I came to interview at the Valaxar family where the Northern Grand Duchess lived? This could only be the author’s twisted prank.
'That damn author is trying to screw me over until the very end…!'
Anger surged all the way to the top of my head, but I clenched my fists tightly and forced down the boiling rage inside. Just watch. I’m not going to dance to your tune. If I just refuse, that’s the end of it. No matter how crazy I am about money, I know my life is the most precious thing. Even if they offered me a fortune, I had no intention of living under that monstrous woman.
Among the few mentions of the Northern Grand Duchess in the story, one stood out: after killing her own father and becoming the king of the North, she would first cut off the arms of anyone who displeased her. Since the previous Grand Duke Arvian Valaxar was still managing this place, it must be before she committed that atrocity. Still, being anywhere near her was obviously a terrible idea.
'I’m out.'
It was a shame about the salary, but simply confirming that this was the world from the novel I knew was already a gain. I could take my time thinking about how to live from now on. That was why I had tried to run out as fast as possible, but…
“Don’t say such ridiculous things. You are already the proud maid of the Valaxar Grand Duchy.”
What’s there to be proud of about being a maid? The interviewer, who had been looking at me with a cold, frozen expression until now, was now holding onto me with eyes burning with obsession.
“N-no… I’m really not interested.”
“Can you find a better position than this? Trust me. You were born to be a maid.”
Born to be a maid? What the hell is that supposed to mean? I’m a man, for starters.
“We will provide meals every day that are comparable to what nobles eat. Still not interested?”
“Yes. Even then, I can’t.”
“Normally apprentice maids share a room with one other person, but I’ll specially assign you a single room.”
“…Even if you say that, I can’t.”
Why is she trying so hard to keep me here? All I did was fold the blanket the way I learned in the military, and I just prepared potatoes using cooking methods I taught myself while living alone. Is that really something worth obsessing over like this?
“Why are you suddenly withdrawing? Is it too much pressure?”
“No. I’ve simply lost interest.”
“Don’t say that. The tea you brewed was the most delicious I’ve ever had in my life. You simply must become a maid.”
At the woman’s words, the walls around my heart momentarily crumbled. Being praised for a drink I had made was the highest compliment I could receive and one of the reasons I lived.
'…No. Snap out of it.'
I shook my head vigorously, trying to shake off the sweet praise echoing in my mind. No matter how tempting her words were, I had absolutely no intention of working here.
Perhaps my firm attitude had finally gotten through. The woman let out a short sigh and released my wrist, which she had been gripping so tightly.
“…Haa. It can’t be helped. Alright. Then let’s do this.”
She still hasn’t given up? Slightly annoyed by her unyielding stubbornness, I glared at her sharply.
“No matter what you say, I have absolutely no intention of—.”
“Double. I’ll give you double the salary—two hundred gold coins per month. So please accept.”
“Hase……”
Silence. After the woman’s words, a heavy quiet enveloped the two of us. One second. Two seconds. After about a full minute of silence had passed, I cautiously looked up into the woman’s eyes and spoke.
“…Can I start next week?”