My Maid Is Cute Chapter 3 : A New Life (Patreon)

Fleeing from the manor and the land where she was born and raised, traveling quietly and discreetly was quite difficult, but the sense of liberation from gaining freedom was far greater. She sold decorative items she had taken from her family home, somehow securing places to sleep and food while continuing her journey inconspicuously. Then, she headed to the stagecoach station and boarded a coach. She had decided to head toward the royal capital. She predicted that in the capital or one of the large cities around it, she would surely find work quickly.

And just as predicted, upon arriving at the capital, she found work immediately.

"...I suppose this would make me a maid."

A single notice posted at the capital's employment agency. It stated they were recruiting staff to wash dishes and do laundry. The one recruiting was apparently the Cordwell Count household.

"...Hmm."

She nodded to herself. Since she hadn't debuted in high society yet, her face wasn't known. Though it was a count's household, her true identity wouldn't be discovered, and best of all, the wages were good, and furthermore, live-in positions were available, which was wonderful. She could use magic to some extent, and washing dishes and doing laundry were things she could manage herself.

"...I'll go with this one."

She asked the employment agency staff for the location of the Cordwell household and headed there immediately.

The Cordwell household hired her on the spot after just a simple interview. While she was happy to be hired, she was conversely bewildered by how easy it had been. She had been a bit worried that as a count's household, they would interview her more thoroughly and investigate her background. During the interview, when she casually told them she was fifteen years old from a nearby village and had come to the capital looking for work, the butler who conducted the interview didn't pursue it particularly deeply. And when he said they'd like her to start work immediately if possible, she promptly received her uniform and headed to the kitchen where she was shown.

"...Rebecca Lion. Please treat me well."

Carol, now Rebecca Lion. This was her new name. Since she couldn't give her real name, she had borrowed the name of Rebecca, a maid she had loved.

After starting work, she understood why she had been hired so quickly after just a simple interview.

In short, they were severely understaffed.

"Rebecca, wash those! When you're done, help over here!"

"Yes!"

Every day she rushed around, so busy there wasn't even time to rest her hands. There were mountains of work to do every day. Rebecca's job was supposed to be washing dishes and doing laundry, but once it became known that she could use simple magic, before she knew it the head maid was directing her to do cleaning as well, and sometimes even gardening.

Occasionally she would catch glimpses of Count Cordwell and his wife, but as a lower-ranked maid, she never had direct contact with them. First of all, the count and his wife seemed busy with something or other and hardly ever returned to the manor.

Every day she woke up early in the morning, worked without rest until night, returned late at night to the servants' quarters she had been given, and slept like the dead.

——Why does this place have so few working people?

That question was answered about two months after she started working.

"——Hey, today..."

"What, Jane's taking the day off? You're kidding!"

"Then who's going to go clean..."

One day, the other maids were restless from morning. Everyone had anxious faces and was fidgeting nervously. She tilted her head at their behavior, but was immediately called to wash dishes in the kitchen, so she forgot about the maids' strange behavior.

However, just before noon, the head maid suddenly approached her.

"Rebecca, I'm sorry, but today I need you to do a somewhat special job."

"Yes, what is it?"

The moment the head maid spoke to her, she felt the eyes of all the servants in that place. While she wondered at those stares, the head maid grimaced, let out a big sigh, and opened her mouth.

"I want you to clean the young lady's room."

"...Huh? The young lady?"

When she asked back in surprise, the head maid continued speaking rapidly.

"Usually the maid Jane does it, but...today she's feeling ill and resting. I'm sorry, but please."

"Um, but...are you sure I'm the right person?"

Shouldn't the count's daughter's room be cleaned by servants of a higher rank rather than someone like herself who did menial work? she thought, but—

"You're the only one left now. Well then, I'm counting on you."

After declaring this, the head maid quickly left.

"Oh dear, Rebecca, how unfortunate for you."

"Sorry, we're just too scared..."

The other maids and servants said one after another while awkwardly averting their eyes from Rebecca. Rebecca didn't understand what they meant and questioned the people around her.

"Um, is there something about cleaning the young lady's room?"

The maids all made surprised faces at once.

"What! Rebecca, you didn't know about the young lady?"

"Even though it's such a famous rumor?"

As Rebecca looked confused by those words, one maid who was nearby let out an "Ah."

"Oh right, Rebecca hasn't been here long, so it's understandable she doesn't know. She's usually doing menial work after all..."

The maid brought her mouth close to Rebecca's ear and whispered in a small voice.

"You see, the young lady of this house is cursed."

"Pardon?"

She furrowed her brow, not understanding, but the maid continued in a small voice.

"Since birth, the young lady has been under a curse. On her limbs, you see, she has marks. Red, terribly eerie marks."

"...Marks?"

"You've never seen the young lady before, right? Because of the curse, she's been shut away in her room living there the whole time. Those cursed marks, if a person touches them...they'll be cursed to death."

Her eyes widened at the ominous word "death," and another maid looked flustered.

"Wait! It's true she has marks, but being killed if you touch them is just a rumor!"

"Really? But I heard that a maid who worked here before accidentally touched them a little bit and got sick afterward."

"No, you're not killed, the marks transfer to you, right?"

Rebecca didn't know how to react to the various unclear stories and tilted her head.

"Anyway, Rebecca. I'm sorry, but please go clean."

"Just like Jane always does, if you avoid getting close to the young lady and finish cleaning as quickly as possible, it'll be fine."

"The young lady apparently doesn't say anything while you're cleaning, so it'll be okay."

After being told this by the maids, she was handed a broom and bucket as if they were being forced upon her. And then—

"Well then, please! We're wishing you good luck!"

Her back was pushed and she was driven from the room.

She sighed, thinking that she had been conveniently forced to take on the job everyone disliked. She had no choice but to start climbing the stairs to head to the count's daughter's room.

As she walked, she thought. What was this curse about? Did such marks really exist? Perhaps the reason this household had so unusually few servants was because of rumors of this curse—the thought came to her and her head began to ache.

Eventually she arrived in front of a large door. She took several deep breaths and knocked on the door.

"——Um, I've come to clean."

She called out and waited for a response, but nothing came back. She knocked on the door once more.

"I've come to clean."

She said it louder than before, but still there was no response.

What should I do? she thought. It would be far too rude to enter without permission when there was no reply. Perhaps the young lady didn't want an unfamiliar person entering. Should she go back and confirm with the head maid what to do?——

At that moment, she thought she heard a faint voice from beyond the door.

"Young lady?"

She couldn't make out what was being said. Rebecca hesitated but placed her hand on the door handle. She pushed it slightly while hesitating, and the door opened without difficulty.

"Um, young lady?"

Calling out, she peered through the gap in the door. Then she saw a girl collapsed on the floor of the vast room and her eyes widened. She hastily opened the door wide and rushed inside.

"Uh, um, are you all right!?"

She lifted the girl up. She immediately understood that this girl was probably the count's daughter. Though unadorned, she was wearing an obviously expensive and elegant one-piece dress. She had thin blonde hair that was abnormally long, and was a small girl who was unbelievably emaciated. Her complexion was poor and her body was hot. She was breathing with difficulty, occasionally letting out groans as if her throat were being strangled.

"U-um, young lady! Young lady!"

She called out many times, but there was no response. Panicking, wanting to somehow ease the suffering of the girl before her, she touched her forehead. She had hardly ever used healing magic, but she had confidence she could do it since she had learned from her tutor back home. She closed her eyes, gathered magical power in her hand, and concentrated. Slowly, she lowered the body's temperature.

Yes, it worked. Relieved, she opened her eyes. Just as she thought, the girl before her seemed a bit more comfortable, and her breathing had become calmer. Her complexion was still poor, so she should probably have a doctor examine her.

Thinking this while gently stroking her forehead, the girl opened her eyes dimly. They were emerald-like eyes that were unbelievably clear. Those eyes slowly turned toward Rebecca.

"——Who?"

At the hoarse voice, Rebecca smiled just a little and answered.

"Young lady, are you all right? I'll call a doctor right away."

"——You, who?"

Asked the same question again, she answered with a wry smile.

"I'm a maid, Rebecca Lion."

"——Becca?"

"No, Rebecca. In any case, let's get you to bed. I'll carry you."

When she lifted the girl up, she was surprised at how light she was. As she lifted her, the girl's limbs became visible, and she was startled to see the red marks there just as the rumors said. They really were strange marks with mysterious patterns. But she didn't have time to worry about such things now. In any case, she had to get her to bed—her body must be in distress. Slowly, while still holding the girl, she stood up and then laid her on the large bed in the room.

"Young lady, you're all right now. Please rest well."

When she said this and smiled reassuringly, the girl opened her mouth blankly as if dazed. Rebecca covered her body with a blanket and opened her mouth again.

"You mustn't let your body get cold. Well then, please wait just a moment."

She turned around briskly and left the room quickly.

"——Ah,"

The girl was saying something behind her, but Rebecca didn't notice and headed toward the head maid.