My maid is cute Chapter 4 : The Caretaker (Patreon)

I ran to the Head Maid to report on my mistress's condition. The Head Maid immediately ordered a nearby servant to summon a doctor, told Rebecca she didn't need to clean today, and headed toward Milady's room. Relieved, Rebecca returned to her assigned station in the laundry room.

"Oh? Rebecca, are you done cleaning Milady's room already?"

When I entered the laundry room, Carrie, a fellow lower maid and my roommate, asked in surprise.

"No, Milady seems to be unwell... so I can't clean..."

When I answered, shaking my head slightly, Carrie smiled with relief.

"Good. I was worried."

Rebecca sat down next to Carrie, picked up some clothes, and asked,

"Um, about Milady's curse..."

"Ah, did you see it already? The cursed mark."

Nodding slightly at Carrie's words, I hesitated before asking,

"Is the cursed mark real?"

When I asked while washing the clothes, Carrie grimaced deeply.

"I don't know much about it either. But it's been a pretty famous rumor in the capital and surrounding towns for a long time. That she's a Count's daughter with a terrifying mark who curses people to death if they touch her."

Wendy Tia Caldwell.

It seems that the small blonde girl is the daughter of a distinguished Count's family with such an impressive name.

"She's had the mark since she was born, and because she's lived shut away in her room the whole time, I haven't seen her face either. Usually, the Head Maid and Jane take care of her, but..."

"Oh, come to think of it, I heard a maid named Jane was unwell..."

At that, Carrie made a bitter face and spoke.

"You know, I heard today that Jane might quit."

"Eh, really?"

"Apparently, she's locked herself in her room, crying and screaming that she hates taking care of Milady. Originally, you see, no one wants to be Milady's caretaker, and even if they do, no one lasts long... Jane did her best for six months, though... well, she lasted longer than most."

It seems everyone refuses to get close to the young lady, fearing the eerie red mark.

"Jane was originally a relative of the Head Maid. Her family was apparently struggling financially... so the Head Maid asked her, promising high wages, and she reluctantly became Milady's caretaker. But she hated it, constantly terrified of Milady's curse... and it seems she reached her limit. They say she was shouting that she doesn't care about the money anymore, just let her quit."

While slightly put off by that story, Rebecca asked again.

"But the Head Maid is fine, right?"

"The Head Maid has served this house for a long time. But I think even she dislikes taking care of Milady. Besides, she's busy with other duties, so it's practically difficult for her to care for Milady alone. Especially recently, servants have been quitting one after another out of fear of Milady's curse, and new people are hard to come by. I wonder what will happen now."

When I heard that story, I had a bad feeling.

A few days later, I heard rumors that Milady's illness was just a cold and she was recovering safely, and that the maid named Jane had officially quit.

And Rebecca's bad feeling came true spectacularly.

"Rebecca, come here for a moment."

The moment I was called by the Head Maid, my heart sank. Still, I couldn't refuse. I trudged after the Head Maid and entered a small room. I was told to sit on the sofa, so I obediently sat down.

When Rebecca sat on the sofa, the Head Maid, sitting directly opposite, immediately spoke.

"I'm sorry it's sudden, but I want you to take care of Milady."

Ah, just as I thought. I couldn't stop my face from stiffening.

"Take care of her... you say."

"It's nothing difficult. Just clean her room and bring her meals and necessities."

It seems they are pushing the troublesome job everyone hates onto me, the newcomer. I involuntarily looked down, and the Head Maid spoke hurriedly.

"You may have heard rumors about Milady, but being cursed to death or the mark being contagious is all nonsense. Milady's doctor and I have been taking care of her for a long time, and we haven't died, nor has the mark transferred to us."

The Head Maid continued speaking quickly, as if trying to gloss over something.

"There's a limit to how much I can do alone. We are especially short-handed recently... You are very polite for a commoner, and a hard worker... so I would really like to ask this of you."

"Um, but, I..."

I mumbled, trying to find a reason to refuse.

"If you accept, I'll pay you double your current wages. And I'll provide you with your own private room..."

Hearing that pleading voice, Rebecca finally gave in.

"......I understand."

When I said that in a small voice, the Head Maid looked genuinely relieved.

"Ah, thank you, really... I'll explain the job details right away."

I confirmed the job details with the Head Maid. Transporting meals and necessities, cleaning up afterward, cleaning the room, preparing the bath—the tasks themselves weren't that difficult. In fact, they were simple.

"Milady has been living alone for a long time, so she does everything herself. In fact, she dislikes us interfering... so please don't do anything more than what I just explained."

"Yes."

While replying briefly, I secretly thought it was sad. That a girl with the high status of a Count's daughter dislikes others helping her and does things herself.

What kind of life has she led until now?

"Well then, starting today, I'm counting on you."

When she said that and I nodded, the Head Maid quickly went off to her own station.

I sighed deeply and stood up too. To think it would come to this. But since I accepted, it can't be helped. Thinking that, I headed to the kitchen.

I called out to the cook working in the kitchen.

"Um, I'm here for Milady's meal."

One of the cooks turned around in surprise at those words. Then, looking at Rebecca with pity for just a moment, he quickly averted his eyes. He handed Rebecca the tray with food that had been sitting in the corner of the kitchen, as if pushing it onto her.

"Here, take this."

"Thank you."

I bowed lightly and turned my back. Then I quickly left the place. The moment I stepped out of the kitchen, I heard voices.

"Seems that girl is the next sacrifice."

"Poor thing. How many days will she last?"

At the word "sacrifice," I almost turned around, but in the end, I kept walking.

On the way, I met maids and servants I knew, but all of them seemed to already know that Rebecca had become the young lady's caretaker, casting pitying glances at her.

"......"

Fed up with those stares, I continued walking and finally arrived at the young lady's room.

I knocked loudly on the door.

"It is time for your meal."

I placed the tray on the small table set up next to the door and walked away briskly. According to the Head Maid's explanation, if I do this, Milady will open the door and bring the tray into the room herself after Rebecca leaves. After eating, she will place the empty dishes back on the table next to the door.

A few minutes later, when I returned to Milady's room, the empty dishes were placed on the table just as the Head Maid had explained. I carried the dishes to the kitchen and put them away. There was no time to rest. Next, I had to clean the room.

Holding the cleaning tools, I took a deep breath in front of the door. Then, I knocked loudly.

"Excuse me. I have come to clean."

I called out. I wondered what to do if there was no reply again, but,

".........Come in."

A small voice answered. Relieved, I slowly opened the door.

"Excuse me."

Saying that, I stepped into the room. When I entered before, I was so surprised by Milady's collapsed figure that I hadn't looked properly, but it was a spacious and magnificent room. However, the air felt somewhat damp, dark, and lonely.

Looking around the room, I was momentarily surprised not to see Milady, but I found her immediately. She was sitting in the corner of the room, her whole body wrapped in a sheet, with her back turned to me.

"......I will clean now."

"......"

There was no reply. But well, since she doesn't seem to be refusing, I picked up the broom to finish quickly.

Using simple magic, I efficiently cleaned up. It was spacious, but it looked like I'd finish soon. Amidst that, I felt a gaze and was perplexed. It seemed Milady was glancing at me with interest.

I inadvertently moved my gaze to the corner of the room. Our eyes met perfectly.

"——Ah."

Beautiful eyes like emeralds. Milady hurriedly looked away again and faced the wall.

"......Um, is there anything troubling you?"

Since our eyes met, I asked. At Rebecca's voice, Milady's body trembled with a jolt.

"If there is anything you need, I will bring it for you."

Silence continued for a while, and eventually, Milady slowly turned toward me.

"......Um."

I heard a small voice. It was a cute voice. When I heard it before, it was hoarse. Was her throat hurting back then?

"......Are you, um..."

"Yes."

When I replied briefly, her shoulders jolted again. While her eyes swam as if hesitating, she continued speaking.

"......Are you the person who saved me when I was sick a few days ago?"

At those words, I said "Ah," and shrugged.

"I just found you collapsed, lowered your fever, and called for help."

When I said that, Milady nodded a few times.

"......It was Becca, right?"

"No. It is Rebecca. I am Rebecca Lion."

I introduced myself again and bowed deeply. Staring at Rebecca, Milady asked fidgety.

"Will you be taking care of me from today?"

"Yes."

When I nodded and answered, Milady looked like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing and spun around to turn her back to me. Then, she said curtly.

"......Finish quickly."

"Understood."

I bowed again. And as ordered, I quickly finished cleaning.

"Excuse me."

I said my farewell and left the room.

Just before I left, I felt like Milady looked back at me.