Chapter 27: One Morning

Several maids were gathered on the roadside. Was there something interesting? A cute stray cat or something? I quickened my pace, trying not to get involved.

“Sorry, sorry. I accidentally spilled some water.”

“Oh my. If you could see, you could have avoided it. What a shame.” 

“You’re so mischievous, big sister. Avoid it? Are you talking about that child tripping on a stone while walking alone, or about the water being spilled on that child?” 

“Both, what else.”

She can’t see. The maids were surrounding her, so I couldn’t see well, but I had a rough idea of who was at the center. They probably thought that since she can’t see, she wouldn’t be able to retaliate even if they bullied her.

So, what should I do? I stopped and thought for a moment, but I couldn’t just pretend I didn’t see. Whether she’s a classmate, an enemy, or whatever, she’s the one who made my life begin. And… I still want to think of her as a friend.

“You should stop.” 

It was a pity that I had to choose my words so carefully. The maids’ gazes, upon hearing my voice, turned toward me.

“…What’s with this b*tch?” 

“U-um. Big sister. She’s a maid from the Jurden family.” 

“Ah. The maid who wears a sword and combat boots?”

The maid who seemed to be the leader, standing in the center, took a step toward me. She was very tall and voluptuous for a girl. Unlike a maid, she wore heavy makeup and a maid’s uniform that revealed a lot of skin. She looked excessively dressed up, even for a parlor maid receiving guests. It felt like a mistress cosplaying as a maid. Just like a French maid.

She’s probably the type who has her young master wrapped around her little finger. There are sometimes girls who are hell-bent on making an onee-shota story. It’s the easiest chance for social advancement, isn’t it?

“Hey. Aren’t you going to get lost?” 

“We’re both just servants, so isn’t it a bit pathetic to judge who’s better and who’s worse?” 

“Wow. You’re pretty funny. Then what are you? Why do you care what we do?” 

“Of course, I’m a servant who serves the young lady of Jurden. And my young lady isn’t the type to just stand by and watch when the weak are being bullied. I’m simply following her will.” 

“…You.” 

“And you seem to have forgotten your own status from riding your master every night.” 

“Wh-what?! How dare you!”

I grabbed her swinging arm. Too slow. If you want to hit me, bring at least a prince’s slap.

“Who do you think you’re grabbing!!” 

The provocation was successful. I thought she’d run away if I just scared her a little, but she seemed to have some guts. She immediately reached out with her other arm. Not to swing, but straight for my hair.

I wanted to resolve this without violence, if possible. I put a little strength into the maid’s wrist that I was holding. It would probably leave a bruise.

“The strong scent of gardenia.” 

The French maid’s hand stopped in front of my eyes. I also stopped just before putting more strength into it. It was because Eileen, who had been sitting down, stood up and said that.

“You’re using very expensive perfume.” 

“Huh?” 

“The sound of your clothes rustling is faint. A short skirt, perhaps. In contrast, your hair is very long. High heels, a long stride. A lively and confident personality. Probably 21 years old?”

Eileen, who had thrown out a few words, immediately went to one of the maids in the dazed group. That maid was holding a cane, probably taken from Eileen.

When Eileen, who was clearly blind, approached her head-on, she was startled and stepped back. Only then did Eileen stop and say, “Give me the cane.”

The surprised maid, pressured by a strange force, unknowingly returned the cane. Eileen, having received it, turned her body again. Directly toward the French maid.

“You can’t even see, h-how…?” 

“Is that important?” 

“Ugh!” 

“And, um. I think it’s a happy thing to be on good terms with your master. But shouldn’t a maid be a little neater? There’s a smell of night-blooming flowers among the gardenia scent. Hmm. This morning, perhaps. Probably before your master woke up—” 

“Sh-shut up! Be quiet!”

The French maid covered her mouth and deep cleavage with her hands. But why was she covering that?

“Alright, well. Unlike someone, I’m the type to stop when asked to stop.” 

“So annoying… what the hell…!”

The French maid looked around frantically. Her face, which had been red, turned tomato-red, and she screamed. 

“Let’s go,” she said. The maids who had been gathered disappeared in an instant.

I was thinking of just leaving too, but the headdress that one maid had been stepping on caught my eye. I picked it up, dusted it off, and went to Eileen.

“…Would you mind moving this?” 

The tip of a blade was thrust right in front of my nose. I could have avoided it, and I could have swatted it away. I just didn’t.

“This is a school. I wish you wouldn’t point such a gruesome thing at me.” 

“Why did you help me?”

 You didn’t have to.

Eileen said, glaring at me with her closed eyes. I knew she could sense her surroundings somehow, but it was still strange that she met my gaze without sight.

“I think your tone was a little more casual in the past.” 

“…Are you trying to say it’s because of old times?” 

“Maybe.”

Eileen’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Then, as if she really didn’t like it, she slowly returned the blade to its cane.

“You talk to someone who tried to kill you so easily. Have you ever been told you’re strange in the head?” 

“That’s not something to hear from a child who steals other people’s snacks.” 

“…What?”

Eileen took a step closer. I didn’t stop her. I didn’t stop the small hand that approached either. The hand touched my face. It must have felt like fumbling in pitch darkness.

Despite being heavily enhanced by the drugs, Eileen’s palm had deep calluses.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know. I really don’t know who you are.” 

The hand fell away. It felt like half of my chest was being torn away.

“…Alright.” 

“This is the first time I’ve been so sad that my eyes are broken.”

I gritted my teeth. When I came to my senses, I realized my clenched fist was so tight that the back of my hand hurt. Eileen’s headdress was on the verge of being ruined.

“People change.” 

I forced the words out.

Eileen, whether she heard or not, dusted off her skirt. Even though she couldn’t see, she was very good at dusting off the dirt. I thought about helping her, but the dirty stuff was already gone. The wet parts would dry soon. I couldn’t help her dry it. Magic wouldn’t work on her.

Eileen held out her hand to me again. Was she asking for the headdress? I handed it to her.

“I think you’ve changed too much.” 

“I guess so… What?”

Eileen tidied up the headdress and put it on her head. Even though she couldn’t see, it was perfectly neat. Though the mud stains couldn’t be helped.

“I’m not the kind of person who would ignore someone desperately pleading to be believed.” 

“Th-then…” “I’ll be watching you from now on. Miss Cornelia.”

Eileen showed a bright smile. I have never once regretted taking 141 out of that facility. And at this moment, I felt like I was being rewarded for never regretting it.

“Then, I’ll see you again next time.” 

“U-uh.”

Eileen tapped the road ahead with her cane and slowly walked away. Only the faint scent of ink from her swaying hair remained in that old place.

The faint scent of pine. A scent that, despite being burned and having gone through so much hardship, still stubbornly exuded the fragrance of pine flowers.

I thought it suited Eileen, who had grown up beautifully despite losing her eyes.

So even if she were to draw her sword’s tip across the world as if it were a canvas, it would by no means smudge.

“I’m back.” 

I spoke quietly and entered the room, as the lights were off. I also brought in the tray with the food quietly.

“I was waiting for you to come…” 

“Ah.”

It seemed she was awake. She was wrapped in a blanket on the bed, protecting herself with several barriers. Maybe she had a nightmare. She wasn’t crying or anything.

Lately, it feels like she’s been coddling me in this way, but she’s still a difficult young lady.

“Have you been waiting long? I’m sorry. I’ll prepare breakfast right away.” 

“What’s on the menu?” 

“Scrambled eggs and bacon. And mushroom soup.” 

“Hmm. Prepare some coffee too.” 

“Yes, ma’am.”

Since there’s no need to make it quickly like last time, let’s make it slowly.

As I was placing the dishes on the table one by one, Therese broke the barrier she had set up with her own hand and emerged from the blanket like a caterpillar from its cocoon.

She trudged over in her pajamas and sat down in the dining chair.

I finished setting the food and went behind Therese, properly putting on the top of her pajamas, which had half-slipped off.

Therese pouted and buttoned it up. She might have unbuttoned it in her sleep. She seemed to find it stuffy.

“Cornelia. Did something good happen while I was sleeping?” 

“The weather was nice.” 

“Really?”

From behind Therese, I immediately went to the curtain and opened it wide.

It was indeed a nice day.