My Maid is Cute Chapter 24 : The Curse (Patreon)

Wendy's tenth birthday finally arrived.

Rebecca visited Wendy's room early in the morning, breakfast in hand.

"Milady, excuse me."

She knocked and opened the door to find Wendy already awake, sitting on her bed. She turned a vacant gaze toward Rebecca.

"Good morning. I brought your breakfast."

Greeting her, Rebecca set the breakfast on the table. Wendy walked unsteadily toward the table.

"Once you've finished breakfast, I'll help you get ready today."

Wendy nodded silently, sat in the chair, and picked up her spoon.

"...What time are we going?"

Wendy mumbled while eating her breakfast.

"Let's see, it seems we'll be finishing up early in the morning. Once you've changed, I'll call for Lord Christopher."

At Rebecca's answer, Wendy grimaced.

She remained anxious, likely due to the upcoming Magic Measurement. She seemed to have no appetite, leaving a large amount of food on her plate as she quickly ended her meal.

Still looking depressed, she sat in front of the mirror.

"Becca. My hair, please... tie it with a ribbon."

Rebecca nodded immediately and began arranging Wendy's hair, comb in hand. All the while, she continued to offer words of encouragement.

"Milady, let's celebrate your birthday once the Magic Measurement is over. It will surely be fun. Lord Christopher seems to have prepared a present, and there's a very delicious-looking cake, too."

"...Mm."

Wendy gave a short reply, but her face remained stiff.

Wondering how best to encourage her, Rebecca finished arranging her hair and tied the lace ribbon. Then, she took out the clothes prepared for today. It was an elegant indigo dress, apparently prepared by Christopher.

"Milady, look. It's a very cute dress. I'm sure it will suit you."

"..."

Wendy glanced at it briefly, then looked away and spoke.

"Becca, get the robe too. The one with the hood that can hide my face is in the shelf."

"Eh..."

When Rebecca voiced her confusion, Wendy continued with a frown.

"...I don't want to show my face in public as much as possible. So, please."

At Wendy's words, Rebecca slumped her shoulders slightly and replied.

"...Understood."

She helped Wendy change in front of the mirror. When Wendy took off her negligee, Rebecca saw that the bruises on her body had spread again, leaving her greatly shaken. She almost looked away involuntarily. The bruises on her arms had reached her neck, and the ones on her legs had spread to her abdomen.

"...This dress... surely Lord Christopher chose it with great care... It truly suits you, Milady."

She said this while dressing her to hide her agitation, but Wendy didn't reply. Once dressed, Wendy finally threw on the robe. It's a shame the lovely dress is hidden by the robe, Rebecca thought as she crouched down to meet Wendy's gaze.

"...Milady."

"What?"

Looking straight into Wendy's eyes, Rebecca took out something she had prepared from her apron pocket.

"Please, take this."

"...What is this?"

Smiling at the frowning Wendy, Rebecca continued.

"It is a present."

"...Eh?"

"I imagine this is a very gloomy day for you, Milady, but... for me, it is a supremely happy day. After all, I can celebrate the fact that someone precious to me was born into this world."

"...P-Precious..."

Wendy's face turned a faint red. Finding that expression adorable, Rebecca smiled and held out the present.

"Happy 10th birthday, Milady."

It was a cute flower brooch. Wendy stared at it with a dazed expression and spoke.

"It's cute... it's sparkling..."

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah! Will you put it on me now?"

Since Wendy nodded vigorously, Rebecca immediately attached the brooch to the robe.

"It is handmade, so it is fragile. Please be careful with it."

"E-Eh... you made this, Becca?"

"Yes... Ah, do you not like it?"

Thinking she might not like wearing handmade accessories, Rebecca peered into Wendy's face. However, she was relieved when Wendy shook her head and looked happily at the brooch.

"I cannot be by your side... but please keep this with you in my place."

When Rebecca said that, Wendy nodded vigorously,

"Yeah!"

And finally smiled.

***

"Well then, let's depart."

Once preparations were complete, Rebecca and Wendy immediately boarded the carriage that Christopher had apparently prepared. Rebecca sat next to Wendy, followed shortly by Christopher, and finally Reed entered the carriage and sat facing them.

"Have a safe trip."

Many servants bowed in greeting. Carrie was among them, and when her eyes met Rebecca's, she mouthed "Good luck." Rebecca smiled and gave a small nod.

"We're off."

The moment Christopher said that lightly, the carriage began to move slowly.

Wendy, who had been happily looking at her brooch until just moments ago, grimaced in fear the instant the carriage started moving. It seemed it was her first time riding a carriage; her whole body stiffened, she gripped Rebecca's hand tightly, and looked down.

"Wendy, don't be so nervous. It will be over soon."

"Milady, when we return, let's have a party with everyone! If we eat lots of delicious food and play games, I'm sure it will be fun!"

Even with Christopher and Rebecca's encouragement, Wendy remained silent, keeping her face down.

The church serving as the venue for the Magic Measurement was not far from the estate. The moment the carriage stopped, Wendy's shoulders jumped.

"Come on, let's go, Wendy."

Christopher held out his hand to Wendy. Wendy looked at Rebecca with a face that looked about to cry.

Without a word, Rebecca pointed to her own chest. Wendy looked startled and shifted her gaze to the brooch pinned to her chest. Then, she looked at Rebecca again and gave a small nod. Rebecca smiled and nodded back slightly.

As if steeling herself, Wendy let go of Rebecca's hand. Pulling her hood deep to hide her face, she took Christopher's hand.

"It's okay, Wendy. Let's do this."

Saying that, Christopher gently held her hand to guide her and stood up. The two slowly alighted from the carriage.

"Let us wait at the entrance."

At Reed's words, Rebecca nodded and stood up, following Reed out of the carriage.

The church entrance was deserted, with hardly anyone around, which relieved Rebecca. It seemed only church staff and related personnel were present. The few people there looked startled upon seeing Christopher and Wendy, then averted their eyes. Ignoring them, Christopher firmly held Wendy's hand and walked forward. Wendy kept glancing back at Rebecca as she entered the church with Christopher. Rebecca watched them go in silence.

"Are you worried about Lady Wendy?"

Suddenly addressed by Reed, Rebecca nodded.

"Of course... I am very worried."

When she answered restlessly, Reed smiled slightly, which was rare. Rebecca stared at him in surprise, and Reed looked toward the church with a slightly awkward expression.

"Apologies. ...It's just that it feels like I'm looking at myself from a few years ago..."

"...? A few years ago?"

"When I came here to accompany the Young Master for his Magic Measurement, I was waiting here restlessly just like you are now, Rebecca."

At those words, Rebecca widened her eyes and spoke.

"I can't really imagine that. A restless Mr. Reed, or a ten-year-old Lord Christopher."

"The Young Master was much cuter back then, though..."

Rebecca chuckled slightly at that remark but soon clouded her expression again, staring at the church doors.

"...I really am worried. I know it will be fine since Lord Christopher is with her, but..."

Reed quietly watched Rebecca's anxious expression, then spoke.

"——The Young Master is anxious too."

"What?"

"The Young Master... is also very anxious about accompanying Lady Wendy in place of their parents."

When Rebecca tilted her head, Reed continued.

"For the Magic Measurement, guardians are permitted to accompany the child, correct?"

"Eh, ah, yes..."

Rebecca nodded, confused. It was as Reed said. Her father had accompanied her for her Magic Measurement.

"Usually, parents accompany them. However, for Lady Wendy... her brother, Lord Christopher, is the only one."

"..."

"Count Cordwell will absolutely never come here as Lady Wendy's father. He has likely even forgotten that today is Lady Wendy's tenth birthday. ——That bastard... apologies, the Count, doesn't care about anything as long as he's fine. He's only interested in womanizing and money."

As Rebecca struggled to find a response, Reed continued.

"For Lord Christopher's tenth birthday and Magic Measurement, the Count accompanied him. The Count seemed annoyed the entire time, but... since Lord Christopher is the heir, he apparently cared about appearances. However... as you likely know, Rebecca... the Young Master's magic power was quite low. When the Count learned of this, he flew into a rage and struck the Young Master. He shouted loudly, 'You incompetent fool! Embarrassing your parent with such trash magic!'"

"..."

When Rebecca stared back at Reed in dumbfounded shock, Reed shrugged.

"That is the kind of person the Count is. Because of that, the Young Master only has bad memories of the Magic Measurement, and he is just as nervous and anxious as Lady Wendy. He acts brave, but it seems he hardly slept last night."

"——Will they be alright?"

When Rebecca asked timidly, Reed smiled just a little.

"The Young Master isn't cute anymore... but he is stronger than anyone. I'm sure they will return soon."

At those words, Rebecca turned her gaze back to the church doors.

It was as Reed said. Christopher and Wendy emerged from the church doors a short while later.

Seeing Reed and Rebecca, Christopher spoke quietly.

"Let's go home."

He immediately boarded the carriage. Rebecca and Reed followed. Wendy wore her robe to hide her face, so her expression was unreadable.

As soon as the carriage departed, Wendy poked her face out of the robe.

"Milady, are you al—"

Before she could finish asking "alright," Wendy climbed onto Rebecca's lap and hugged her.

"Whoa, Milady?"

Rebecca voiced her surprise. Christopher smiled wryly at the sight. Paying no mind to that, Reed spoke up.

"——How did it go?"

To that question, Christopher replied immediately.

"...We aimed for a time with few people, so it finished quickly. As expected, there was almost no one there."

Christopher smiled in relief.

"Wendy's magic power was average. I'm relieved. It's much higher than mine."

Listening to Christopher's voice, Rebecca stroked Wendy's head.

"Milady, are you alright? Do you feel unwell?"

"——No."

She finally voiced a small reply near Rebecca's ear. Then, Wendy sighed slowly.

"——I'm tired."

At those words, Rebecca hugged Wendy's body tightly.

"...You did well. It must have been hard. It is all over now..."

"...Mm. ...Hey, Becca."

"Yes?"

"You know, you know... hold me tight like this all day today."

"Oh my, in that case, I suppose you don't need to eat cake? I'll just eat your share, Milady."

"That's not allowed!"

When Rebecca giggled, Wendy finally relaxed her body, looked up at Rebecca, and smiled.

***

That afternoon, Wendy's birthday party was held once again. Numerous dishes and cakes were lined up on the table in Wendy's room. Like last year, it was a small party, but Wendy seemed to have let go of her tension, smiling and enjoying herself by Rebecca's side. Watching her, Rebecca celebrated the birthday with relief.

***

Late at night when everyone had gone to sleep, Rebecca quietly left her room and set out. Walking silently down the hallway so as not to wake anyone, she arrived at the designated room and knocked lightly. Reed welcomed her immediately.

"Miss Rebecca, this way."

Entering the room, Rebecca widened her eyes in surprise. A scene she had never seen before unfolded. Stairs led down from the floor of the room.

"Um, this is...?"

"The entrance to the basement. Please do not worry. It is bright inside."

Half-doubting Reed's words, she descended the stairs. At the bottom was a brown door, which Reed opened without knocking.

"Ah..."

Just as Reed said, bright light awaited beyond the door.

"Hi, Rebecca. I've been waiting."

Christopher was waiting inside the room. He was sitting on a sofa in the center with a calm expression.

"——Wow."

Rebecca looked around the room and involuntarily let out a voice. The room was filled with more books and bookshelves than she had ever seen. Besides books, there were tools she didn't recognize scattered about.

"Um, where is this...?"

"My personal laboratory. I had it built secretly. I'd really prefer to research in my own room, but there are materials I don't want others to see... Are you surprised?"

Rebecca nodded while looking around at the books. Then she asked again.

"What research is it?"

"——Research on curses."

At that answer, Rebecca shifted her gaze to Christopher, who continued with a gentle smile.

"Come, sit here."

Doing as told, she sat quietly on the sofa. Reed immediately brought tea.

"Rebecca. How many years has it been since you came here?"

To the sudden question, Rebecca answered immediately, though confused.

"It will be two years soon..."

"——And it's been over a year since you became Wendy's exclusive maid."

When she nodded silently, Christopher folded his arms and continued.

"You've been wondering the whole time, haven't you? About Wendy's bruises."

At those words, she swallowed unconsciously. When she nodded slowly, Christopher gave a small laugh.

"I'm sorry for leaving Wendy in your care without telling you anything for so long..."

"——Um."

Rebecca hesitated slightly but spoke up.

"It is true that I am curious... but, um, there is no need to force yourself to speak..."

"No, I thought it was about time I told you. About the 'curse' you've likely been wondering about."

Christopher lowered his eyes slightly. Watching him, Rebecca asked.

"Then, um... what is Milady's 'curse'?"

Christopher looked back at Rebecca and spoke slowly.

"I don't know."

"...Huh?"

She opened her mouth blankly at that answer. Christopher exhaled deeply and shook his head as he continued.

"I don't know. Truly. I don't understand the true nature of the curse at all. That's why I'm doing research here. I want to save my sister—"

"U-Um, what do you mean you don't know..."

When Rebecca raised her voice in confusion, Christopher grimaced, drank some tea to calm himself, and spoke again.

"——Right. Anyway, let me start from the beginning. Where should I start..."

***

I'll say this first, but this isn't a pleasant story. It's a past event that is the shame and stain of the Cordwell family, something I absolutely don't want to talk about outside.

...

Ah, sorry. I hesitated a bit. Where should I begin...

Rebecca, you already know what kind of person the head of this house, Count Cordwell, is, right?

Working here, you'd hear about it whether you wanted to or not, wouldn't you?

Yeah. Frankly speaking, he is scum.

He is hideous, vulgar, lecherous, thinks only of money and women, has high pride, pointlessly strong vanity—the lowest, worst kind of human being.

He's loved womanizing since way back. Because he has a good face, women flock to him even if he stays silent. His current marriage is his third. Ah, you knew that?

He causes scandals with women over and over again and never learns.

That idiot Evan is a womanizer too... but at least he cherishes women and would never intentionally hurt others. He's an idiot, though.

Apologies, I digressed.

Anyway, Count Cordwell is vulgar, self-centered scum.

If he were just loose with women, that would be one thing... but he is a tyrannical, cowardly, terrible human being who destroys the happiness of others for his own ends.

***

It all started a few years ago. I was a child who knew nothing, and Count Cordwell had just entered his third marriage. Yes, to Wendy's mother.

Around that time, several new maids were hired. Among them was an exceptionally beautiful maid.

She had a rare appearance. Her face was beautiful, but what really drew the eye was her rare silver-white hair. It was straight, sparkling, and shone white like the moon.

Her name was Paule. Paule Annette.

She was originally from a small village a little distance from this estate. A village with a large lake. She lived there peacefully. A family of four: her parents and her twin sister. Her father ran a small business in the village. Paule's twin sister was engaged to the son of the village chief.

One day, Paule's mother apparently contracted a somewhat troublesome illness. To earn money for medicine, Paule began working at this estate as a lower-class maid. It was the village chief who introduced Paule to the job at this estate. At the time, one of the servants working here was an old acquaintance of the village chief, and she found this job through that connection.

Paule, who started working as a maid at the estate, was a very pure and kind woman.

She worked hard at her maid duties. She said she would work hard and absolutely cure her mother's illness.

She was a gentle, peace-loving, cheerful person.

And the one who set his eyes on her was none other than Count Cordwell.

That man, taking a liking to Paule's rare silver-white hair and beautiful face, forcibly approached her.

He demanded she become his mistress.

As I said earlier, the Count had just entered his third marriage around that time. You're probably too appalled for words, right?

It really gives me a headache. To think I'm blood-related to something like that. Ah, geez, it really makes me nauseous...

I digressed again. I'm sorry.

The modest and steadfast Paule flatly refused the Count's vulgar invitation.

She was pure and gentle, but she was a strong-willed woman.

The Count was enraged that Paule refused him. Astoundingly, he had assumed there was no way she would refuse. He apparently thought Paule would easily accept his vile proposal. However, the result was that he was flatly rejected.

Furious that a lowly maid had turned him down, the Count exacted the lowest kind of revenge.

He pulled strings behind the scenes and used many of the estate's servants to harass Paule.

Rather than harassment, it was more like bullying.

...

Sorry. I don't really want to talk about the details of that bullying, so I'll omit them.

Anyway, hurt in both body and mind by the tremendous bullying, Paule could no longer endure it and decided to quit being a maid, returning to her village.

However, the Count was pulling strings behind the scenes once again. perhaps fearing that his rejection by Paule and the bullying at the Count's estate would spread outside. Anticipating this, he spread vicious rumors about Paule throughout the village.

That she had thrown herself at the Count and been rejected, that she was a loose, shameless, and lewd girl.

What awaited Paule upon her return to the village were the cold stares of the villagers.

The village chief, hearing the bad rumors from the Count, believed them entirely. Feeling he had been shamed after going to the trouble of introducing her to the job, he was furious. He wouldn't listen to Paule's side of the story at all, and the engagement between Paule's sister and the chief's son was immediately broken off.

Hated by the village chief, Paule and her family were ostracized in the blink of an eye.

Ignored and discriminated against by the whole village, Paule's family was driven further and further into a corner. Her father's business failed, and their livelihood collapsed to the point where they struggled to eat. Furthermore, to make matters worse, around that time, her mother's illness progressed rapidly. They needed a massive amount of money for treatment. Paule, her sister, and her father desperately sought help from various people, but the people who believed the bad rumors wouldn't help them.

Driven to the absolute limit, Paule took unexpected action. To save her mother, she returned here again. She must have been grasping at straws. She begged the Count for help, clinging to him. She said she would become his mistress or anything else, just lend her the money. Save her mother.

The Count laughed through his nose at Paule's wish and spurned her.

"How brazen of you, after all this time. I want nothing to do with a loose country girl. I have no interest, and no reason to help. Don't come here again, you slut," he said.

And just like that, the Count forcibly threw out Paule, who was sobbing and bowing her head repeatedly.

When a despondent Paule returned to the village, what awaited her was her father's death. Her father, who had been desperately trying to gather money to save her mother, died from overwork. Immediately after, her mother, whose body was already weak from illness, perhaps shocked by her husband's death, followed him to the grave.

Having lost both parents and fallen into the depths of despair, Paule, after finishing her parents' funeral, threw herself into the village lake.

The one who found her was Paule's twin sister.

Her name was Heidi. Heidi Annette.

Like Paule, she was a beautiful woman with silver-white hair.

Finding her sister's corpse, Heidi screamed and cried while hugging Paule's cold body. Apparently, she called her sister's name over and over again.

Having lost everything, Heidi directed her rage at Count Cordwell, the root cause of her family's destruction. Mad with anger, Heidi ran out of the village and stormed into this estate.

Unluckily, the Count, his wife, and I were near the estate gates, about to visit a friend's estate. And the Countess was pregnant at the time.

I still can't forget what happened then.

Suddenly, a woman with a terrifying expression stormed into the estate, and I was truly shocked. She was dirty, tattered, and emaciated. The guards tried to stop her, but it was useless. Resisting with tremendous strength, she came right in front of the Count. And she screamed at him.

"You killed her, that child, my sister! You destroyed my family, my future!! I will never forgive you. You are the one person I will never forgive!! I will absolutely drag you down to hell!"

Ignoring the guards and servants trying to restrain her, she continued to scream. The Count, the Countess, and I were so shaken by her appearance that we couldn't move from the spot.

Then, catching sight of the Countess's swollen belly, she pointed at it and screamed.

"I will curse your family! I will carve a curse into that body!! This time, I will destroy your family!! A curse that your loved one will suffer from for their entire life... I will!!"

Blood was flowing from her eyes.

"This is a curse. Mourn and suffer for a lifetime."

Then, she chanted some kind of spell, collapsed on the spot, and died.

Many guards and servants present witnessed that scene. The whole estate was in an uproar. Even the Count went pale. He was trembling all over, covered in cold sweat.

After that, this incident was buried in darkness. The Count used every means available to silence the servants and desperately covered up the incident.

But because of this commotion, I found out. What kind of person my father was, and what he had done.

Heidi, who died harboring rage and hatred toward the Count, cursed his family instead of the Count himself to make him suffer. All to lead the Cordwell family, which had destroyed her own family, to ruin.

No one really understood what she did or what "carving a curse into the body" meant. We thought perhaps it was just a threat.

However, a few weeks after the incident, the Countess gave birth to a child. The moment they saw that child, many people were shocked. I, too, was shocked when I saw that body.

Carved into the limbs of the baby girl born were eerie bruises I had never seen before.