Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Servant Cedric (3) - Role Reversal
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Claudia's mornings came late.
And the mornings of the servants who attended her began early.
While she lay there in a hazy, half-asleep daze, the maids of the estate would enter at the appointed time to wash her, style her hair, and adjust her attire.
With her drowsy face and half-closed eyes, Claudia resembled a masterpiece painted by an artist who had poured their soul into every stroke. Yet the faces of the maids attending her were stiff as boards.
In this state, she was like a bomb that could explode at the slightest provocation.
The moment a snag occurred—hair tangling during brushing or skin chafing while changing clothes—and her eyes snapped open...
That picturesque beauty would twist into a demonic scowl, and she would immediately "punish" the offending maid.
The most common punishment was a slap across the cheek. In worse cases, a fistful of hair might be yanked out, or the beating would continue until bruises formed.
They couldn't just leave her be or half-ass the morning routine, either. If a fully awakened Claudia inspected herself and disliked anything she saw, that too would warrant punishment.
In the end, all the maids could do was pour every ounce of focus into their tasks, avoiding even the tiniest mistake.
"Mmm..."
Claudia's consciousness truly stirred only when the preparations were nearly complete.
She stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror, then suddenly furrowed her brow.
Something felt off, like she'd forgotten something important.
She began retracing her memories along the stream of her thoughts.
'When did I fall asleep? My last memory is so fuzzy...'
「Liquor! Haha, I'm at a loss for words with such high praise from you, miss.」
「No need to be so shy! My reputation for keeping secrets is impeccable. I'll bury the fact that you devoured your meal so eagerly deep in my heart forever!」
「Well then, I'll take my leave! Please call if you need anything else!」
The newly hired servant. Cooking. Clear eyes. A cheerful tone.
Recalling everything from last night—and how she'd passed out from shock—Claudia unwittingly let her mouth fall open with a gasp.
"—Ah."
"Miss?"
"Ah, aaaaaah!?"
"Miss!? What's wrong? Lady Claudia!?"
The kitchen was a place where hierarchies ran deeper than one might expect.
It handled dangerous tools like fire and knives, and if something went wrong with the food, the entire staff shared the blame.
Especially when a newbie like Cedric suddenly commandeered the kitchen to cook for some high-and-mighty guest, bypassing the veterans and earning direct praise from the head chef. Naturally, those squeezed out would harbor resentment.
Except they didn't.
"Hey, Cedric! Potatoes peeled?"
"Yes, right here!"
"Onions—"
"All julienned!"
"Salad veggies—"
"Washed and prepped neatly!"
"Good, excellent!"
Most grievances melted away in the face of overwhelming results.
Especially when those results made one's own workload lighter.
Of course, if Cedric had strutted around boasting about his talents despite all this, some might have shot him dirty looks behind his back.
"Man, you're a natural. How do you do it so fast?"
"Aw, come on, how could it be just my talent? It's all thanks to your kind guidance, senior."
"Ahem, well, yeah. I do have a knack for teaching."
"Oh, and the water's already fetched, so feel free to take a break. Consider it my thanks."
"Huh? No need for that..."
"Doesn't a stroke of luck like this now and then make work more enjoyable?"
"Hmm, you know, you're right. Haha! I like you!"
Cedric's silver-tongued charm—honed beyond even that Canary fellow he'd modeled it after—dissolved any lingering perfectly.
With him around, their bodies felt lighter, and their seniority was respected. Why pick a fight?
But this kitchen harmony didn't last long.
"—Newbie!! Where are you!? Get out here now!?"
A sharp, piercing voice echoed from the mansion's center.
The kitchen staff's relaxed faces froze at the cry of the "miss," terror incarnate to all servants.
As they exchanged anxious glances...
"...Cedric. Come with me. Now."
Butler Chief Bestian.
The estate's number two man called out to Cedric in the kitchen, his face clouded with gloom.
"Yes, sir."
Without asking why, Cedric followed the butler straight to the center hall.
A dozen or so servants waited there, tense as bowstrings. Their eyes toward Cedric mixed pity with fear that the fallout might splash onto them next.
And at the center...
Claudia glared at him with venomous eyes.
"—So, you came."
Her voice stabbed like an ice pick, more beastly growl than human speech.
No, it went beyond mere resemblance.
Around her prowled five grotesque wolves, forged from blood, bone, and flesh, teeth bared as they awaited her command.
Bestian's expression darkened further.
Worried a corpse might need disposing of, he glanced at Cedric—and sighed.
In a situation where groveling might not even save him, Cedric just stood there blinking dumbly.
Sure enough, Claudia's eyes narrowed sharper.
"Hey."
"Yes, miss."
"Got nothing to say to me?"
All held their breath, waiting for his reply.
In the silence thick enough to hear a pin drop—or someone swallowing—Cedric spoke.
"Good morning, miss! It's a beautiful day—how about a stroll?"
'That's not it!!'
Every servant there thought the exact same thing.
-Grrrrrr!
Four of the five blood fiends growled louder, displeased.
But sensing something off, they turned to the fifth.
In human terms: 'Why aren't you growling?'
-Whine...
Yet the last one ignored its fellows' stares, showing no intent to lunge at Cedric.
As if cowed. Claudia's eyes twitched.
These blood fiends, born from the Redbell rite, each rivaled a rank-3 warrior—unique to their house.
Barring fatal wounds, they could return to her body to heal, making them bolder than any natural beast.
For such a fiend to balk despite sensing her displeasure meant it deemed the man before them a threat capable of instant annihilation.
And if—just if—that lowly servant truly was such a monster, able to crush all five...
And the other servants witnessed it all live...
Thinking, 'Eh, the miss isn't all that tough'...
Of course, the odds were slim.
Physical threats via fiends merely bolstered her authority; her true power stemmed from Redbell blood.
But the mere possibility of losing face galled her.
As Claudia pondered, a flash of inspiration struck.
She smirked wickedly and addressed Cedric.
"You really have no clue what you did wrong, huh?"
"Wrong, miss? If I've erred, please tell me."
"Ha! Making your mistress spell it out? You're unfit to serve here. Get out!!"
Claudia's mind raced.
For whatever reason, this guy infiltrated as a servant.
Someone strong enough to intimidate her fiends wouldn't stoop so low without purpose.
He'd hate expulsion before achieving it, so surely he'd beg her—
"Understood."
"Huh?"
A dumbfounded noise escaped her lips.
Ignoring her, Cedric's shoulders slumped, his face openly crestfallen as he continued.
"If that's your will, miss, I can't argue. It was an honor serving you, however briefly."
With that farewell to her, he began bowing and bidding goodbye to the other servants one by one.
Claudia's pupils shook wildly.
"W-Wait! That's it? You're fine getting fired!?"
"My contract doesn't bar the mistress from dismissing me at will. Sigh, I'll be more careful next time. Ah, Butler Chief, what about my pay in this case?"
"Er, well..."
Bestian, equally baffled, kept stealing glances at Claudia's face, at a loss.
Normally he'd reprimand Cedric for insolence and uphold her authority, but both their reactions were so far from "normal" he didn't know how to proceed.
Meanwhile, Claudia stewed in other thoughts.
'If this punk just quits and walks away... what about my revenge?'
To be toyed with by a mere servant and let him stroll out unscathed? Unacceptable as a noble lady—or as Claudia herself.
Physical harm? His strength unnerved even her fiends.
Contacting the main Redbell house for backup? Sure, but what justification?
—My servant mocked me, but I can't punish him, so send knights.
Father would question her sanity. Her rival siblings would howl with laughter.
She couldn't let Cedric slip away.
'Right, as long as he's employed, he's my servant. Plenty of ways to torment him.'
Sorting her thoughts, Claudia cleared her throat.
"Well, if you're that sorry to go, I could rescind the dismissal."
Cedric's downcast eyes lifted toward her.
"No, it's fine."
"Fine? You're okay with it?"
"Knowing I could get abruptly fired anytime would kill my focus. Reporting with that mindset burdens my colleagues too, so stepping down is best."
"......"
Claudia's cheeks quivered with rage.
Whoosh!
She hid her mouth behind her widely fanned-out fan and spoke again.
"Relax. No more sudden firings like this."
Only then did Cedric's eyes brighten.
His gaze, tinged with what seemed like, gave Claudia an odd sense of fulfillment.
Yes, this was right.
A proper servant should be overjoyed at the master's slightest mercy!
"Miss."
"Hmph, save the thanks."
"No, not that. Could you note it in the contract?"
"......"