My Maid is Cute Chapter 23 : Darkness (Patreon)

Darkness stretched endlessly before my eyes.

Where is this?

For some reason, this feels like a terrible place.

In the darkness, I heard the sound of weeping.

It was a voice filled with profound sadness.

Is someone crying?

I turned my gaze in that direction and opened my eyes wide.

A woman with silver-white hair was holding someone tightly, sobbing.

Her expression was dyed in despair.

Who on earth is she?

"Paule, Paule..."

With a desperate look on her face, tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Why... why did you do this... Paule!!"

Who is Paule?

"It will be alright, Paule..."

The silver-haired woman continued speaking, her eyes filled with a sudden, steely resolve.

"You are not alone. Big Sister is here with you, Paule."

Then, she turned those sharp eyes toward me.

"You killed him. You killed this child."

"I will never forgive you. I will absolutely drag you down to hell."

"You are the one person I will never forgive—"

***

"Milady..."

When Rebecca woke up and looked to her side, she found Wendy sleeping there, just as she had expected. She let out an involuntary, heavy sigh. Grimacing, Rebecca lightly shook Wendy.

"Milady, Milady, please wake up."

"Mmh... Becca... I'm still sleepy."

"If you are going to sleep, please sleep in your own room..."

Rebecca sighed again, exasperated.

Recently, it had become a complete habit for Wendy to sneak into Rebecca's room in the middle of the night. Before Rebecca even noticed, Wendy would slip into the bed. Then, she would sleep clinging to Rebecca.

No matter how sternly Rebecca scolded her, it was useless. Whatever she said, Wendy would pretend not to hear and inevitably find her way into Rebecca's bed.

This left even the usually carefree Rebecca bewildered and holding her head in distress. Fortunately, it seemed the Head Maid and the other servants hadn't found out yet, but it would be disastrous if they did. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, ever since Wendy started sleeping next to her, Rebecca had been having strange dreams more frequently.

Becca.

When she recalled Wendy's sweet voice from the dream, her body trembled. The sensation of those soft lips resurfaced, and she felt her heart flutter with a restless noise.

She hurriedly shook her head violently from side to side to banish the dream's imagery from her mind. To hide her blushing face, she placed her hands on her hips and arched her eyebrows as high as she could. Then, with a slightly stern face, she addressed Wendy.

"Milady! That is quite enough! If you are going to sleep, please sleep in your own bed! You must not come here just because you are lonely!"

When Rebecca said this, Wendy glanced at her briefly before burying her face in the sheets.

"But... I hate it."

"Excuse me?"

When Rebecca tilted her head, Wendy looked up. Her face looked as though she were about to burst into tears, causing Rebecca to falter.

"I hate having strange dreams... Dreams where a woman keeps staring at me... saying she'll never forgive me... that she'll drag me down to hell..."

Hearing Wendy's frightened voice, Rebecca felt flustered and placed a hand on Wendy's shoulder.

It seemed she had seen that scary dream again and was completely terrified. Wendy's heart was becoming unstable lately because of these frequent nightmares. That appeared to be the reason she kept crawling into Rebecca's bed.

Though confused, Rebecca slowly and gently wrapped her arms around Wendy's shoulders.

"Milady, it is a dream. It is just a dream..."

Even as she tried to convince her, Rebecca had realized by now that these were no ordinary dreams. She couldn't stop wondering why Wendy was seeing such things.

However, for now, calming the frightened Wendy was the top priority.

"Milady, there is no such scary person anywhere."

She slowly embraced Wendy, enveloping her. Stroking her head and back repeatedly, she continued to speak to her.

"I will protect you, Milady, without fail. So please, be at ease. You will be absolutely fine..."

Wendy wrapped her arms around Rebecca's back as well. Rebecca continued to hold her until Wendy finally calmed down.

***

Days passed while Wendy's mental state remained unstable. Finally, the Magic Academy entered its long vacation, and Christopher returned home.

"I'm home, Wendy."

"Brother."

Rebecca watched from nearby as the siblings, reunited after a long time, hugged each other. Reed was waiting near Christopher; when his eyes met Rebecca's, she bowed slightly. Reed nodded lightly to return the greeting.

"It's been a while for you too, Rebecca. Have you been well?"

"Yes."

Christopher greeted Rebecca with his usual refreshing smile. Rebecca smiled gently and bowed her head.

"How was school?"

"Good. There is an interesting junior student... very talented, though a bit eccentric—"

Wendy and Christopher sat on the sofa and began talking happily. Rebecca and Reed started preparing tea and snacks together.

When she placed the tea on the table, Christopher adopted a slightly serious expression and faced Wendy directly.

"——Wendy. There is something we need to discuss."

Wendy straightened her posture and looked back at Christopher.

"——Yes, Brother."

Christopher smiled slightly and continued.

"You really have grown, Wendy. I'm sorry for leaving you alone for so long."

"I wasn't lonely. I have Becca."

Right? Wendy seemed to say as she glanced toward Rebecca, and Rebecca smiled back. Christopher let his smile fade and spoke again.

"Wendy. In three days, you will turn ten."

"——Yes."

"You understand what that means, right? You must undergo the Magic Measurement... You must go outside."

Wendy trembled as if frightened, but she did not look away from Christopher.

"...Where is the measurement?"

"In this region, the town church serves as the venue. On your birthday, we will go there."

Wendy clenched her fists tight, staring at Christopher as she asked again.

"Will... will you go too, Brother?"

"Of course. Family members are allowed to accompany you."

Wendy glanced at Rebecca, then spoke again.

"T-Then, what about Becca?"

"No, that is—"

Rebecca tried to interject, but Christopher shook his head before she could.

"That's not allowed."

"Why?"

"Only family is permitted to be present for the Magic Measurement. Usually, the parents—"

Christopher shut his mouth abruptly as if realizing something, but quickly replaced it with a bright smile.

"Anyway, Rebecca cannot go into the venue. However, she can come with us as far as the entrance. Inside the venue, I will be with you the whole time. So, I want you to do your best this time, Wendy."

"..."

Wendy glanced at Rebecca again, looking troubled. Rebecca smiled reassuringly and gave a small nod. Wendy took a deep breath, turned her gaze back to Christopher, and nodded firmly.

"Yes, Brother."

Christopher smiled in relief, and Rebecca secretly let out a breath she had been holding. Next to Rebecca, Reed also looked silently relieved.

***

"I'm sorry about that, Rebecca."

As soon as Rebecca left Wendy's room, Christopher called out to her.

"Sir?"

When Rebecca tilted her head, Christopher continued with an awkward expression.

"No, I mean for deciding you would come to the venue without asking..."

"Oh, no. That is fine. Not at all. Um, more importantly, Lord Christopher."

"Yes?"

"There is something I wish to consult with you about..."

At Rebecca's words, Christopher's face stiffened instantly.

"Don't tell me you're being harassed again?"

"Eh? Ah, no! That's not it, truly!"

Rebecca hurriedly shook her head. Christopher looked relieved.

"That's good. I thought some trouble might have occurred while I was unaware..."

"Ah, um, it isn't about me, you see..."

Rebecca continued in a hushed, secretive voice.

"Um, it seems Milady has been having scary dreams constantly of late... and I am very worried..."

In that instant, the color drained from Christopher's face. He exchanged a look with Reed, who was standing behind him, and they nodded to each other.

"Um...?"

As Rebecca stood confused by this reaction, Christopher turned his face away from her and spoke.

"——I know about that from Wendy's letters. A dream where a terrifying woman appears, right?"

"Ah, you knew."

Come to think of it, Rebecca realized, Wendy and Christopher write to each other frequently, so it’s natural he would know. She smiled wryly at her own lack of foresight.

Christopher kept his eyes cast down, looking as though he were wrestling with something. Eventually, he slowly raised his head. He looked at Rebecca with eyes full of strong resolve.

"Rebecca."

"Yes?"

"After Wendy's Magic Measurement, let's talk. Can you come to the room next to the supply closet that night?"

"Eh?"

Rebecca looked back at Christopher with a blank expression.

"Um, it is about Milady, correct?"

"Yeah."

Christopher gave a curt reply and nodded.

"Understood. I will be there without fail."

When Rebecca answered, Christopher said,

"I'm counting on you."

With that, he walked away, followed by Reed.