Chapter 11: A Shift in Dynamics

The weekend arrived after the incident with Euru at the academy.

While some students went home or enjoyed the city’s entertainment, Sayo, uninterested in either, remained in her dorm room with Ahrin as usual.

Whirr

Ahrin, holding a hairdryer in one hand and a comb in the other, dried Sayo’s wet hair. Sayo wore her usual expressionless face, but it seemed softer to Ahrin.

This was usually how Sayo looked when she was being affectionate(?) towards her.

Once Sayo’s hair was dry and fluffy, Ahrin put down the hairdryer and began combing, finally voicing her curiosity.

“Miss, did something good happen at the academy today?”

“I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“Well… it seems like your expression has softened, so…”

“Is that so? I haven’t noticed.”

“That’s just how it feels to me. I’m finished combing, Miss.”

Sayo touched her face, tilting her head with a questioning “Hmm?” before sitting on the sofa. Ahrin followed, sitting beside her and leaning her head against Sayo. Sayo naturally put her arm around Ahrin, stroking her hair and face.

The soft feel of the girl and the pleasant scent of soap filled Sayo’s senses. Suddenly, she realized something was different, despite the familiar routine.

“Uh…!”

The moment she registered what ‘she’ was doing—holding, smelling, and stroking the cute maid—

Her hand froze.

“…”

“…”

Feeling the touch disappear, Ahrin turned her head quizzically.

A flushed face, trembling eyelids, and—

“M-Miss?”

An embarrassed expression, something Ahrin had never seen on her usually impassive mistress.

“I, I need to use the restroom…”

Ahrin stared blankly as Sayo pushed her away and hurried into the bathroom.

“Miss…”

Splash

Sayo splashed cold water on her face to cool down the burning sensation. Looking up at the mirror, water dripping down her cheeks, she spoke to her reflection.

“How could I have done such… embarrassing… things until now?”

Recalling how casually she had hugged, stroked, and touched Ahrin made her blush again. She splashed more cold water on her face.

‘It’s strange… how could I have done those things so nonchalantly before?’

“Sigh“

Sayo sighed, wiping her face with a towel. After drying off, she hung up the towel and looked in the mirror again. Her face had returned to its normal color.

‘I’m pretty.’

The thought came to her unbidden.

“Are you alright, Miss?” Ahrin asked with concern as Sayo came out of the bathroom.

“Yes… I just… washed my face because I was hot.” Sayo avoided Ahrin’s gaze as she answered.

Silence.

“Let’s go in, Ahrin.”

“Huh? I need to attend to you until you go to bed…”

“I’m tired today. I want to sleep early.”

“Oh. Yes. Then, good night, Miss.”

“Good night, Ahrin.”

As soon as Ahrin closed the door, Sayo, feeling mentally exhausted, turned off the lights and went to bed.

And then, morning came.

“Um… Miss.”

“Yes.”

Ahrin hesitated, gauging Sayo’s mood before speaking cautiously.

“Are you angry with me?”

“No.”

“Or… did something upset you last night?”

Sayo turned her head, met Ahrin’s eyes, and smiled—

“Nothing happened.”

But the smile was stiff and unsettling, almost frightening.

That’s what Ahrin felt the moment she saw ‘Miss’ after washing up and coming to attend to her. She immediately shook her head, scolding herself for thinking such things.

‘No. There’s no other noble like Miss…’

Talking to other servants at the academy had made Ahrin realize how well Sayo treated her.

Perhaps Miss really did think of her as a younger sister, like she’d hinted before.

Ahrin still didn’t understand how she, unskilled and prone to mistakes, had become Miss Sayoreinne’s lady’s maid. She was always grateful to both Miss and God for this incredible fortune.

‘But… why does Miss feel so different today?’

Sayo, usually a late riser whom Ahrin struggled to wake up, was already up, washed, and studying. Even though Ahrin had woken up much earlier than usual, considering Sayo had gone to bed early last night.

Moreover, today’s Miss reminded Ahrin of the first time she met her, when she had thought Sayo seemed a bit irritable. No, she was much more so now—

“Tea.”

“Y-yes?!”

Lost in thought, Ahrin missed Sayo’s sudden request.

Sayo turned slightly, her beautiful face adorned with a smile as she looked at Ahrin quietly. But—

“Uh…”

It was a chilling gaze, accompanied by a forced, stiff smile unlike anything Ahrin had ever seen.

The unsettling fear made Ahrin break out in a cold sweat, her body shrinking back. A small whimper escaped her lips.

Snap

“Sigh Tea. I asked you to bring me tea.”

“I-I’m sorry—…”

“As my lady’s maid, I expect you to have more composure. Don’t stutter or drawl your words. And—”

Hiding her mouth behind her fan, so only her eyes were visible, Sayo’s smile vanished completely. Her gaze was cold and domineering.

“You should focus on my words and not ask questions, right?”

Did a mouse before a cat feel like this? Ahrin trembled, unable to speak.

“Are you not going to an.swer?”

“…I apologize.” Ahrin barely managed a response, her voice trembling.

“Sigh You’re such a—btch… fck…!”

Sayo’s voice cut off mid-sentence, as if something was blocking her throat. She clutched her neck, opening her mouth, but no sound came out.

After a moment, she gave up, her face contorting in a frown before quickly smoothing back into a smile.

“…Hmph, just bring me the tea.”

“…Yes, Miss.”

Ahrin’s trembling hands poured tea from the teapot she had prepared earlier into a cup.

“Hmm…”

Feeling Sayo’s disapproving gaze, Ahrin gripped her right wrist with her left hand, trying to control the trembling. It wasn’t very effective, as both hands were shaking.

She carefully presented the cup of tea.

Sip

Sayo took a sip, the picture of a refined noble lady.

“Sigh“

Was something else wrong? Sayo sighed again.

How many times had she sighed already? Ahrin’s back was drenched in cold sweat. She couldn’t lift her head. Her shoulders slumped, her body shrinking further with each sigh. Each exhale seemed to steal her breath. Tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn’t cry. She had to endure. She bit her lip hard.

Sayo seemed to want to say something, her mouth opening and closing, before shaking her head, scoffing, and finally speaking.

“The tea isn’t very good. You should practice making tea by yourself or learn from someone else to improve your skills.”

“Yes, Miss. I’ll do my best,” Ahrin replied slowly and clearly, taking a deep breath to steady her tearful voice.

After that, Sayo ignored Ahrin, focusing on her tea, her book, and practicing mana orb manifestation.

Ahrin stood silently behind her.

She watched her mistress, so different from usual.

The impassive yet warm and kind mistress, always speaking gently.
The smiling yet cold, irritable mistress with her sharp words.

Were they the same person? If so, which one was the real Miss?

Or was she simply angry at Ahrin’s incompetence and constant mistakes?

Ahrin could only do simple makeup. She knew nothing about clothes or accessories. She couldn’t brew tea properly. She was a terrible cook, only able to make simple snacks. She was stupid and ignorant.

She lacked manners and grace. She was useless.

Perhaps Miss was tired of having such a worthless girl as her lady’s maid, which was why she was being cold.

Ahrin had only relied on her kind mistress, who always told her, “It’s okay,” and “You’ll get better.”

She clutched her skirt tightly, fighting back tears.

Ahrin’s blurred vision focused on Sayo’s back.

‘I’ll work really hard. I’ll try my best. And when I improve… please go back to how you were before.’

After a difficult day, Ahrin buried her face in her pillow and wept silently.

“Huh?!”

Having cried herself to sleep after tossing and turning, Ahrin woke up late.

‘I’m… truly hopeless.’

Fighting back fresh tears, she hurriedly washed up and headed towards Sayo’s room.

She took a deep breath, knocked, and entered.

“Good morning, Miss.”

“Oh… uh… G-good morning, Ahrin?”

“…”

Ahrin saw her mistress, blushing and flustered.