The Maid's Secret
The daughter of Count Anies, Ilia Anies, had been born into the world.
Count Anies House originated from a merchant family, primarily profiting through lavish goods and large-scale transactions of various minerals aimed at the nobility.
Thanks to this, Count Anies House had accumulated considerable wealth. However, since the previous count's time, a trend of restraint had taken root, and with high-quality minerals arriving from the north, profits gradually declined.
By the time of Ilia's father, spending had overtaken revenue, and the family had begun to deplete the fortune they had built.
Count Anies had made desperate efforts to turn things around, but in the midst of his overexertion, he met with an accident and passed away.
The next Count Anies was Ilia's uncle, yet the household's affairs grew even worse.
Ilia's uncle was not without ability, but he had managed only to keep the family's name alive at best.
Given the state of the house, Ilia, as a young girl, had no hope of any political marriage alliance. Determined to find her own path, she left home.
Through her late father's connections, she secured a position as an apprentice maid at the Ignis Ducal House.
For a girl who had grown up cherished as the only daughter of the count family, this life at the ducal house was quite harsh.
Yet the people at the Ignis Ducal House were all kind. The senior maid, two years older than Ilia, taught her with passionate diligence.
Ilia gradually became accustomed to life at the ducal house.
The Ignis Ducal House's daily routine revolved entirely around cleaning and maintaining the estate.
Since the duke was always busy, the house was often left empty. His wife and the heir son followed him around.
The eldest daughter, a genius but arrogant and often cruel to her younger sister, had moved out of the estate upon entering the academy.
Essentially, it was enough to serve only the young lady, the second daughter, Riel.
Riel was always quiet and gentle, making her an easy person to serve.
Of course, her exclusive maid, Phyllis, handled most of the duties, so Ilia rarely saw her.
Despite the large age difference, Phyllis showed competence in all aspects. Thanks to her close age to Riel and becoming her exclusive maid, she began to shine even more.
At some point, Ilia began to admire her.
One year after Ilia entered the Ignis Ducal House, she had become quite familiar with the estate.
But at the same time, an unsettling rumor began to spread.
It was that Phyllis was trying to control Riel from behind.
In reality, a few incidents had occurred where a young noble who knew nothing was manipulated into near-charm using the position of exclusive servant.
However, Ilia knew Phyllis would never do such a thing, and because she admired her, she refused to believe the rumor.
But at the same time, another rumor reached her ears.
"She's trying to forcibly separate the young lady and Lord Allen."
"Lord Allen is looking for a way to save the young lady from her hand."
Allen...?
Alan Ludwig.
He must have been the son of the knight captain selected as Riel's partner in the story.
Ilia had encountered him a few times and exchanged a few words, remembering him as a handsome young man she had taken a liking to.
That Alan...?
A flicker of doubt appeared in Ilia's heart.
One day, as she was cleaning the estate corridor as usual, someone spoke to her.
Ilia quickly straightened herself, showed proper manners, and looked at the person.
She realized that the person was the young man from the recent rumor.
Alan Ludwig's expression was extremely urgent.
"I have heard that Ilia and Phyllis are close."
Indeed, Ilia was a junior to Phyllis and thought she had become somewhat close by learning from her.
That's why she had trusted Phyllis and dismissed the rumor.
"Even right now, Riel might be suffering. If you know anything about Phyllis, I beg you to tell me!!"
But...
Why was this young boy, who looked so young, fighting so desperately to save Riel?
It felt as if the thought echoed in her head.
Ilia didn't know Phyllis that well, but seeing this young boy exert himself like that made her suspect the rumor might be true.
That the courteous front she had shown was all an act, and behind it she was harboring dark greed.
Ilia's doubt refused to stop.
And... what if Phyllis were to disappear.
Phyllis had become Riel's exclusive maid partly because of their close age...?
So...
So what if Phyllis vanished from this estate...
And with that doubt, dark greed began to grow inside Ilia.
"...Hot!"
Ilia woke up.
It was a dream about a long-forgotten old story. Truly, there were many things.
Even though she had almost forgotten it, the dream didn't care about that.
When she opened her eyes, she was inside a carriage.
Thinking about it, she had been sent on a delivery.
For some reason, the young lady had ordered her to deliver a letter.
The recipient was Eve Ignis, Riel's older sister stationed in the Olbria Territory.
Ilia wondered why she had to deliver it herself instead of just handing it over, but the young lady simply shook her head without saying a word.
...Well, the Olbria Territory wasn't that far, so it didn't matter.
Just in case, she secretly opened the letter and checked its contents, but it was nothing more than a simple letter of concern.
Anyway, Eve Ignis...
To be honest, Ilia had never met her before.
By the time Ilia joined the ducal house, Eve had already left for the academy, and since then, she had never returned to the estate.
According to rumors, she was an arrogant and cruel older sister who bullied her younger sibling.
But would it be right to deliver a letter from such a sister?
She thought that, but since she was ordered to deliver it, she had no choice but to.
The Olbria Territory they arrived at after the carriage ride was quite bustling.
Many combat ranks such as knights and mages were visible.
According to hearsay, the Second Princess was leading the troops and stationed there.
Eve Ignis, who was affiliated with the Magic Division, was also stationed here.
Ilia went straight to the supply depot where Eve was staying, showed her identification badge proving her business and status, and passed through.
There, she met Eve's exclusive maid, whom she had seen a few times before.
When she delivered her business, the maid's eyes turned toward the letter in Ilia's hand.
Of course, Ilia had already confirmed the letter was fine.
But as if it were routine work, she slightly tore open the letter and checked its contents.
...When had it started? Sneaking and checking the contents of letters delivered among the people at the ducal house.
She knew it was something she absolutely should not do, but for some reason, the servants at the ducal house continued to do it.
...What exactly they were searching for, even they didn't understand.
Why... what exactly were we...
She had thought about it, but for some reason, the doubt was instantly erased from her mind as if smashed.
After confirming the letter, Ilia received it sealed back in its original form.
When she entered the room, Eve's exclusive maid followed behind her.
In the room, just like Riel, a beautiful woman with red hair sat on the sofa.
'That must be the eldest daughter of the ducal house, Eve Ignis.'
She looked very similar to Riel.
But with a more mature appearance, her blazing red hair and eyes contrasted with an expression as cold as ice.
...Truly, was she arrogant as the rumors said?
"Who is that person?"
"The exclusive maid sent by Miss Riel."
Ilia's answer to Eve's question made Eve's red eyes lock directly onto her.
"You..."
Looking at Ilia as if scanning her, Eve's eyes filled Ilia with tension, and she shrank and lowered her head deeply.
"I-I'm Ilia!!"
"Ah, you may raise your head."
Upon hearing that, Ilia raised her head and looked at Eve.
Her expression was still cold.
"So, what business do you have coming all the way here?"
"R-Riel sent this letter."
When Ilia took out the letter, Eve's exclusive maid received it and handed it to Eve.
Eve took the letter, seemingly reading it for a moment.
'Eh?'
For just a moment, Eve's expression seemed to soften.
But it quickly disappeared, and a cold expression returned, so Ilia thought she had imagined it.
"Thank you for your hard work. Would you like to have a cup of tea before going back?"
At those words, Eve's exclusive maid moved as if to prepare something, but Eve raised her hand to stop her.
"Chloe, stay still. I want to pour the tea myself for the first time in a long time."
With that, she dismissed her exclusive maid and left the place for a moment.
A short while later, she entered carrying a tray with three teacups and a teapot.
"As expected, you've shown your skill. Chloe, sit down and drink too."
When the exclusive maid Chloe, staring blankly at the tray, sat down, Ilia quickly sat beside her.
Eve, sitting opposite, poured tea into the teacups.
The tea carried a good aroma.
"It's tea given to me by Her Highness Aine. It's high-class tea from the north, and the aroma is very pleasant."
Ilia's answer, whether due to tension or not, didn't enter her mind at all.
"So, your name is Ilia, right?"
"Y-Yes!!"
She took a sip of the tea, but the tension was so strong that she didn't even taste it.
"Actually, I wanted to meet you very much."
"M-Me...?"
Ilia's tension was at the breaking point.
A deep smile was on Eve's face.
At that moment
With a thud, Ilia involuntarily turned her head to the side.
...Eve's exclusive maid, Chloe, was lying face down on the table.
"You know, our cute Riel has really suffered a lot at your hands."
Eve's ice-cold smile and her voice.
At the same time, Ilia felt her consciousness gradually fading.