My Maid is Cute Chapter 7 : Warmth and Smiles (Patreon)

Starting the next day, bringing milk at night was added to my duties of cleaning and transporting meals. Every night, the bell would chime, and at that signal, Rebecca would head to Wendy's room.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Becca, you're late."

Wendy was always waiting on the bed. Correcting her to "I'm Rebecca" had become tedious, so I didn't bother anymore. With a wry smile, I warmed the milk and added plenty of honey.

"Here you go."

"Mm."

When I offered the warm milk with honey, Wendy gave a small reply and accepted it. She was still taciturn, but compared to the beginning, her expression had softened considerably. I watched Wendy from up close as she sipped the milk little by little.

"Is it delicious?"

When Rebecca asked, Wendy said nothing but gave a small nod. That gesture was so adorable that Rebecca couldn't help but smile. Seeing Rebecca like that, Wendy started to say something,

"......"

But in the end, she looked away without saying anything. Rebecca just continued to watch Wendy with a smile.

Before I knew it, three months had passed since Rebecca became Wendy's caretaker.

***

"Hey, Rebecca, are you okay?"

"Yes?"

Meeting Carrie for the first time in a while, she asked me that.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, as I said before, I'm fine."

When I answered with a smile, Carrie looked genuinely relieved.

"Good. I was worried because I haven't seen you at all lately."

I smiled wryly at those words. Recently, taking care of Wendy had become my main job, and my work in the kitchen and laundry room had decreased.

"I apologize for making you worry. I really am fine."

"Yeah. It's amazing, really. To think you'd last this long working in Milady's room..."

"I've gotten used to it."

As I shrugged and said that, someone called out from behind.

"Rebecca."

Replying "Yes" and turning around, I saw the Head Maid approaching.

"Could you give this to Milady? It's a letter from Master Christopher."

Saying that, she held out an envelope to Rebecca.

"Understood."

When Rebecca nodded and took it, the Head Maid quickly went off somewhere.

"A letter from Master Christopher, huh. I wonder if he's doing well."

"Oh, Carrie, you've met the young master?"

"Yeah. He's super cool. And kind and serious... unlike the Count."

She spat out the last words, so I looked at Carrie's face in surprise.

"What does that——"

Just then, a loud voice came from the kitchen.

"Carrie, give me a hand over here!"

Called by the voice, Carrie said,

"Ah, coming! See you, Rebecca."

Saying that hurriedly, she ran off.

"......"

I wonder what she meant just now. It kind of bothers me.

Feeling a vague unease, I headed to Wendy's room.

"Milady, a letter for you."

Saying that, I held out the letter, and Wendy made a startled face and quickly accepted it. She opened the letter nervously and read it. Her face wasn't its usual expressionless mask; it had clearly softened.

Thinking they must really be close, I felt warmed by the sight, and Rebecca couldn't help but chuckle. Wendy, seemingly sharp enough to notice, looked at me.

"......What is it?"

"Ah, nothing."

I hurriedly turned my back and headed to the bathroom to prepare the bath. Feeling Wendy's intense gaze on my back, I secretly smiled wryly.

***

A few days later.

"Is it really okay for me to borrow this?"

"Mm."

Wendy really lent Rebecca the novel she owned. The first volume of the currently popular adventure novel I bought the other day was very interesting, just as rumored. What Wendy was lending me was the sequel. Happy to be able to read the continuation, Rebecca thanked Wendy with a beaming face.

"Thank you very much, Milady!"

"——Mm."

Seeing Rebecca's smile, Wendy looked away as if embarrassed.

Over the next few days, after finishing work, I read the adventure novel Wendy lent me.

"It was interesting!"

"Y-You read it already?"

Wendy looked surprised when Rebecca returned the book.

"Yes! Just as you said, Milady, it was very interesting!"

"I-Is that so?"

"Especially the scene where the protagonist confronts his nemesis, my heart was racing."

At Rebecca's words, Wendy nodded vigorously.

"I-I know. I really didn't know what would happen there, and my heart was pounding too."

"Also, the newly introduced witch! Her personality is funny, isn't it?"

"Yes! She's cheerful and seems like an idiot, but she's funny!"

"I'm looking forward to the rest. I definitely want to read the third volume."

"I will definitely buy it too!"

Wendy said in a loud voice, and Rebecca smiled. Wendy, as if realizing what she did, looked down. To that Wendy, Rebecca spoke.

"......Please tell me again."

"Eh?"

Wendy looked blank. Rebecca slowly crouched down, met Wendy's eyes directly, and spoke.

"Your book recommendations, Milady. Would you introduce some to me again?"

At those words, Wendy's mouth hung open. Then, letting her eyes swim in confusion, she answered in a small voice.

"I-I guess it can't be helped. If it's just a little... it's fine."

"Yes."

Rebecca laughed. After fidgeting for a moment, Wendy dashed into the bathroom as if running away.

***

"Ah, Rebecca!"

One day, just after the afternoon started, the Head Maid called out to me.

"Yes, what is it?"

When I answered indifferently, the Head Maid spoke with a slightly troubled face.

"You're done cleaning Milady's room, right? Can I ask you to help in the kitchen now?"

"Understood."

When I answered, the Head Maid hurried off somewhere.

"Is it busy today..."

Muttering that, I headed to the kitchen. I felt like the servants were somewhat rushing around. When I showed up in the kitchen, I was immediately asked to wash dishes. I washed the tableware that was brought in one after another. I soon understood why the Head Maid and servants were busy.

"Could it be that the Count or the Countess has returned?"

Since the many plates and dishes I was ordered to wash were clearly high-quality items, I asked a nearby cook, who nodded with a wry smile.

"Yeah, unusually, the Master is back."

No wonder the servants are busy. Rebecca nodded inwardly and continued washing dishes.

The master of this mansion, Count Caldwell, rarely comes home. Therefore, Rebecca doesn't know what kind of person the Count is, even though he's her employer. She only knows that he's apparently always busy with work and doesn't return to the mansion. As for the Countess, I've only seen her once and didn't know where she lived.

Come to think of it, I realized Wendy never talks about the Count and Countess either, when a nearby servant called out to me.

"Rebecca, can you carry this to the supply room?"

Handed a large box, I hurriedly wiped my wet hands and accepted it.

"Understood!"

Holding the box, I hurried to the supply room. After placing the box in a suitable spot, I was walking down the hallway to return to the kitchen when it happened.

I heard someone's laughter. It was a high-pitched, excited laugh of a woman I didn't know.

I turned toward the voice and my eyes widened. From across the hallway, I saw someone walking. It was the Count and a woman I didn't know. I hurriedly moved to the edge of the hallway and bowed deeply. The Count and the woman continued walking down the hallway without paying any attention to Rebecca and went off somewhere.

"......"

I raised my head and stared at their retreating figures. The Count and the woman seemed very intimate. The woman was clinging tightly to the Count, her arm linked with his. The Count had a vulgar smile on his face.

"Oh, that's probably his new mistress."

When I returned to the kitchen and told Carrie, whom I happened to meet, that the Count was walking with a woman I didn't know, she said it so casually that Rebecca was surprised.

"Mistress...?"

"You didn't know? The Count is a huge womanizer. The Countess almost never comes back here, right? Taking advantage of that, he sometimes brings a mistress like today. What is he thinking?"

"T-That's amazing."

When I said that with a slightly stiff face, Carrie brought her lips close to Rebecca's ear and whispered.

"Even his current marriage is his third, you know."

"Third!?"

"You're too loud! He divorced his first wife because they couldn't have children. His second wife gave birth to Master Christopher, but she got angry at the Count's womanizing and they divorced. The third—his current wife—gave birth to Lady Wendy soon after they married, but... apparently, they get along very badly now, and it wouldn't be strange if they divorced anytime. The reason the current Countess doesn't return here is apparently because she doesn't want to see the faces of the Count and Milady..."

"D-Doesn't want to see their faces..."

Even though she's her mother? I almost said that but hurriedly swallowed the words.

"Rebecca, be careful of the Count too. That womanizing habit of his will probably never be cured."

Carrie shrugged as she said that, and Rebecca, not knowing how to reply, nodded vaguely.

***

Chime, the bell rang, and Rebecca hurriedly stood up. I immediately put milk and honey on a tray and headed to Wendy's room.

"Excuse me."

I knocked on the door and opened it, finding Wendy waiting on the bed as usual. Seeing her face, Rebecca tilted her head. She had her usual expressionless face, but I felt she looked somewhat gloomy.

I quickly warmed the milk and poured it into a cup. I added honey and offered the cup to Wendy.

"Milady, here you go."

Wendy accepted it silently. She slowly brought the cup to her lips,

"......"

But in the end, she lowered the cup before touching her lips to it. She looked down and sighed heavily.

"......Milady? What is the matter?"

When Rebecca spoke, Wendy slowly opened her mouth.

"......Today, ......Father came, didn't he?"

At those words, I was a little surprised but immediately nodded.

"Yes... You knew?"

"When Father is here, somehow, ......the air in this mansion feels different from usual."

Wendy said, breaking up her words, and sighed heavily again.

"Milady...? Are you alright?"

At her state, Rebecca called out. Wendy was silent for a while, but suddenly looked up at Rebecca.

"......Becca."

"Yes."

"Sit here."

"Yes?"

When I tilted my head, Wendy lightly patted the bed she was on to indicate the spot.

"Here. Sit, here."

For a moment, I was blank, but Rebecca moved immediately.

"Then, excuse me."

Saying that just in case, I sat in the indicated spot. Wendy crawled toward me on all fours, fidgeting as she looked at Rebecca.

"Be-Becca."

"Yes?"

"U-Um, you see, um..."

"What is it?"

Tilting my head, I waited for Wendy's words. Wendy looked hesitant and fearful, but finally opened her mouth.

"......To,"

"To?"

"——To-Touch, can I?"

Rebecca didn't understand the meaning of Wendy's words and furrowed her brows.

"Touch? Touch what?"

"——Be-Becca. Can I, touch you?"

My mouth hung open. Wendy, seeing Rebecca's reaction, looked like she was about to cry. confused by the meaning of Wendy's words, Rebecca answered for the time being.

"Um, I don't really understand, but sure, ......go ahead."

When Rebecca said that and moved her body closer to Wendy, Wendy flinched and backed away slightly.

"G-Go ahead, you say... is it okay?"

"Eh? What is?"

"Y-You might get cursed, you know. The mark might transfer."

At those words, Rebecca exclaimed in surprise.

"Eh, it transfers? The Head Maid said that was nonsense."

"I-It doesn't transfer, but..."

"Then there is no problem, isn't there? Besides, when you caught a cold at first, I held you and patted your head once. It's a bit late for that."

"T-That's true, but..."

"Come on, go ahead."

I moved closer to Wendy again. Wendy was trembling fearfully, but after taking a deep breath, she finally reached out her hand.

Wendy's hand touched Rebecca's cheek. It was a small, childlike hand. I couldn't help but smile, but Wendy stroked Rebecca's cheek with serious eyes.

"It's warm..."

"Is it?"

"It's soft..."

Laughing, Rebecca took Wendy's hand in her own.

"......!"

Wendy stopped breathing for a moment as if surprised.

"This is warmer, isn't it?"

Saying that, I smiled. Then, as if slowly sharing warmth, I gently wrapped both of Wendy's hands in mine.

"......It's true."

Wendy nodded repeatedly with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

"......Becca."

"Yes."

Hearing my name, I replied.

"......Becca, ......Becca, Becca."

"Yes."

"......Call me."

"Milady?"

"Not that, ......call my name."

"......Yes, Lady Wendy."

When Rebecca called her name, Wendy smiled like a flower blooming. My heart pounded at that smile. It was an overly beautiful, innocent smile. Wendy continued speaking while still smiling.

"Stay here forever tonight."

"Here?"

"Until I fall asleep, I want you to hold my hand like this. Please."

"Yes, certainly."

At Rebecca's answer, Wendy nodded with satisfaction and lay down on the bed.

"——Becca."

"Yes."

"You know, I feel like I'm going to have a very good dream tonight."

"Oh, why is that?"

"Fufufu."

Wendy didn't answer Rebecca's question but chuckled softly. Laughing, she closed her eyes. And slowly, she journeyed into the world of dreams. Rebecca continued to quietly watch over her while holding Wendy's hand.