Chapter 47
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Fate
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Hey, little miss.
Eek...?
Wendy opened her eyes at the sensation of her cheek being poked.
A long-bearded cat was peering down at her from beside the bed.
Master...
Time to get up. It's about that time.
Nyaang...
Wendy rubbed her eyes and sat up.
It was around three in the morning.
It was still pitch dark outside the window.
Yawn...
She stretched with a big yawn.
When she turned on the light, the room was brightly illuminated.
Not long ago, after her unprecedented promotion to exclusive maid, Wendy had been assigned her own room.
It was so spacious that it was hard to believe it was meant for a mere servant.
It was a luxury she could never have dreamed of in her previous life.
Then, work hard again today. I'm going to sleep right here.
Nya. Good night, Master...
....
...
Nyaaang.
Myohail let out a long yawn and lay down in the spot where Wendy had been sleeping.
He claimed it was nice and warm, perfect for sleeping.
Myohail curled up and fell into a deep sleep.
Wendy checked the time and began washing her face.
After drying off and looking in the mirror, she saw a frizzy-haired girl with sleepy eyes staring back.
Wendy diligently brushed her hair and tied it into neat pigtails.
That made her look a bit more presentable.
Wendy opened the wardrobe.
The wardrobe, as large as the room itself, contained only three outfits.
It had originally been just one, but it had increased slightly when she became an exclusive maid.
Wendy took off her nightclothes and changed into workout clothes.
By now, it was almost four o'clock.
Wendy hurriedly left the room and trotted down the empty hallway.
Soon, she stopped in front of a certain door.
An antique door engraved with the Ruelverta family's symbol, the black lion.
It was her master's room.
Whew...
She always felt tense at this moment.
Wendy smoothed her hair one last time and carefully knocked.
Knock knock.
Count, may I come in...?
Mmm.
When she opened the door, a man was standing by the window.
A sharp-featured man with obsidian-black hair.
Her master, Tristan Ruelverta.
G-good morning...
Yeah.
Tristan was already ready.
Dressed in workout clothes, just like her.
He used to jog around the estate grounds every morning, but due to his injury, he now only walked.
It was the result of Wendy's persistent persuasion.
The two left the mansion to exercise.
Wendy trotted right beside Tristan.
Count, how's your wound...?
It's fine.
You can't overdo it today either...
Yeah.
The doctor said you must rest until the injury heals...
Yeah.
You've lost so much weight suddenly, you look so gaunt...
Just then, Tristan, who had been walking ahead, stopped.
Wendy.
Y-yes?!
You're awfully worried today.
The usual Wendy might have apologized profusely and bowed her head.
But lately, an inexplicable courage welled up in her.
Th-that's my job...
...Is that so.
Tristan replied indifferently.
Then he resumed walking.
As Wendy followed his unchanging back, she realized something.
His stride had shortened.
Count.
Wendy thought.
Among the mansion's servants, Tristan was still an object of fear.
Arrogant and cold, with no noble friends around him, he was seen by most as the worst kind of aristocrat who abused his power with money.
Yes. Maybe that was true.
Wendy didn't know everything about Tristan either.
However, Wendy knew.
They spoke carelessly because they knew nothing about Tristan.
And they didn't know.
That Tristan could match his pace to someone who walked slowly.
That he could listen patiently to someone who spoke slowly.
That he could hold the hand of someone who couldn't climb stairs.
That he could trust someone.
And... that he could be someone else's trust.
Wendy quickly placed her hand on her chest.
She felt like it would ache unbearably otherwise.
Wendy felt her small heart beating fast.
As time spent with the Count increased, she felt like she understood him a little.
But the more she understood him, the more an inexplicable feeling gripped her.
Count... are you okay...?
Wendy cautiously looked at Tristan.
Perhaps because of the dawn twilight, his expression looked dark.
A face lost in thought, yet somehow sad.
Wendy hesitated.
Was it really okay to keep trying to understand him like this?
Was it okay for someone like her to try to understand him?
Wendy.
Y-yes?!
She thought her heart would stop.
When she looked up, Tristan was looking down at her.
Your feet stopped.
S-sorry...! I was lost in thought...
...Let's rest a bit.
H-huh?
I think we've walked quite a distance already.
When Wendy looked around, she realized they had indeed come far enough to see the mansion in the distance.
Th-then I'll find a good spot to rest right away.
No need.
Tristan sat down on the grass as is.
C-Count...! You can't sit there...!
I'm tired, so I'll rest like this.
Since Tristan was so insistent, Wendy had no choice.
Wendy hesitated and sat demurely beside him.
The estate grounds were vast and quiet.
Even if you combined all the fields in her village, they wouldn't match this place.
She could truly feel the immense wealth of the Ruelverta family.
Then, Tristan spoke.
Tell me about the Ruelverta family.
Huh...?
Wendy blinked in surprise at the sudden question.
No, she was even more shocked because he had never asked such a thing before.
Wendy cautiously opened her mouth.
W-well... I know it's the most famous family in the Meikahel Empire...
Why is it famous?
Uh? Uh... w-well... I heard they do business all over the empire... That's why everyone knows them...
I see.
Y-yes! I-I came from the countryside doing farm work, so... I don't know the details...
She couldn't bring herself to say it was infamous, so Wendy broke out in a cold sweat.
No matter what, she couldn't say that in front of the Ruelverta family head.
Even as Wendy desperately made excuses, Tristan gave her no room to escape.
Then let me rephrase the question.
Y-yes?
What do you think of the Ruelverta family?
W-what I think...?
I'm not an idiot. I already know the infamy the Ruelverta family carries. I just want your thoughts. So...
Tristan continued in a gentle voice.
Be honest.
Why was he suddenly asking this?
She had no way of knowing.
But his words had an irresistible pull, like magic.
As if enchanted, Wendy spoke.
I... at first, I thought it was a scary place. Everyone around me only said bad things about your family. That you ruin people with money and enjoy it... That you have ties to the underworld and eliminate anyone who opposes you...
Tristan, who had been listening silently to Wendy, spoke.
If what they say is true... what would you do?
Huh...?
The Ruelverta family is even scarier than you think.
Tristan was staring into the distance.
With an expression Wendy had never seen before.
You might even regret working for our family.
When she said she was entering service with the Ruelverta family, everyone around her tried to stop her.
Don't go to that cursed family.
The curse will spread to you too.
You'll regret it for sure.
Despite all that dissuasion, Wendy entered service with the Ruelverta family.
Part of it was hoping to hear news of her brother if she worked in the city.
But looking back, what moved Wendy was fate.
The moment she heard the name Ruelverta, she felt something she couldn't refuse.
Yes. She could only call it feeling fate.
Tristan's gaze slowly turned to Wendy.
Even so, will you stay by my side?
Without avoiding his gaze, Wendy slowly opened her mouth.
I'm sorry... Count. I don't serve the Ruelverta family...
Wendy realized her thoughts were not wrong.
I serve you, Count...
Her fate was here.
I will serve only you from now on.
At that moment, Wendy didn't know what expression she had.
But the sun was slowly rising in the distance, and Tristan, as if blinded, covered his face with one arm and said.
...Serving me is not easy.
That's okay...!
It will also be frightening.
I-it doesn't matter...
Sometimes you'll want to run away.
I-I'll try not to run... Probably...
...Is that so.
The arm covering Tristan's face slowly lowered.
In that moment, Wendy felt like she saw Tristan smile for the first time.
No, perhaps it was her imagination.
His face was back to its usual rigid expression, as if nothing had happened.
Then, are you prepared to see the darkness of the Ruelverta family from now on?
Wendy's answer was already decided.