My Maid is Cute Chapter 26 : Tickling (Patreon)

Ever since hearing the history of Wendy’s "curse" from Christopher, Rebecca found herself lost in thought more and more often.

"Becca, Becca!"

"Yes?"

Hearing her name, she turned her gaze to find Wendy looking up at her with an angry expression.

"You were spacing out again! What were you thinking about?"

"Oh, ...um, it’s nothing, really."

Rebecca forced a smile as she answered, but Wendy, seemingly unconvinced, puffed out her cheeks.

"Liar! Lately, you’ve been worried about something all the time!"

At those words, Rebecca involuntarily looked away.

"——No? I’m not worried about anything at all."

Then, in a flustered attempt to gloss over it, Rebecca added,

"I, um, I’m going to go clean the hallway."

With that, she exited Wendy's room. Wendy watched her leave, her brows furrowed.

***

"Rebecca, is something wrong lately?"

"Huh?"

That night, while washing dishes in the kitchen, Rebecca blinked blankly when Carrie spoke to her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you seem to be spacing out a lot more. Did something happen?"

Hearing that, Rebecca felt awkward and averted her gaze.

"——I'm sorry. I just seem to be a little tired. It’s really nothing."

Carrie peered into Rebecca’s face with a slightly troubled look, but eventually said,

"...If you have any troubles, I’m always here to help."

With that, she walked away. Rebecca let out a sigh of relief and continued washing the plates.

Carrie apparently didn't know about the incident in the past or the details of Wendy’s "curse." She seemed worried about Rebecca, but because Christopher had sworn her to secrecy, Rebecca couldn't tell her anything.

Apologizing to Carrie quietly in her heart, she finished her kitchen work.

***

A few days later, on a rare day off, Rebecca had come to the city. It was a large town, situated a short distance from the Cordwell estate. Her goal was singular: to visit the old library located there.

After hearing about Wendy’s "curse," she decided to investigate it herself and had come all the way here by carriage. There was a library in the town where she usually shopped, but it was small and had few materials.

"Hmph..."

Walking around the large library, she read through every book and document regarding curses she could find. However, none of the materials contained any description of a curse that caused bruises.

"I guess it won't be that easy..."

Since Christopher, who had been investigating and researching the curse for years, hadn't found anything, she had anticipated she wouldn't figure it out easily. Sighing, Rebecca gave up on searching for materials and headed for the library exit.

"——At the very least, maybe I should buy a souvenir. What would be good..."

Just as she muttered this, stepped out of the library, and began to walk while thinking—it happened.

A small carriage passed right by Rebecca. Perhaps because it had rained yesterday, there happened to be a puddle right there. The moment the carriage wheels ran over the puddle, water splashed up, soaking the skirt Rebecca was wearing.

"Ah!"

At the same time she cried out in surprise, the small carriage came to a sudden halt.

"——I am strictly sorry!"

The person who stepped out of the carriage was a petite woman. She was a lovely woman, like a fairy, with long reddish-blonde hair and light blue eyes. She was wearing large glasses. She approached Rebecca in a panic.

"I am truly, terribly sorry. To have wetted your clothes—"

As the woman bowed her head apologetically, Rebecca smiled and shook her head.

"Please, don't worry about it. It’s only a little wet..."

Just as Rebecca said that, the woman with glasses crouched down on the spot. She placed her hand against Rebecca’s skirt.

"——Um?"

Ignoring the bewildered Rebecca, the woman closed her eyes. In the next instant, Rebecca felt a mysterious magical power and her eyes widened. Before she realized it, her skirt was completely dry.

The woman let out a sigh of relief, looked up at Rebecca, and smiled.

"I think this should be fine now... but if it bothers you, please have it cleaned."

"Eh? Ah, it’s fine! Really."

Rebecca shook her head frantically. Then, she stole a glance at the woman’s face.

—This person is probably extremely skilled at magic.

For some reason, she felt that was true.

The woman, still looking apologetic, bowed her head again, then took a small piece of paper and a pen from her pocket and scribbled something down smoothly.

"I really am sorry. If you notice any stains later, please contact this address. I will handle it properly—"

Saying so, the woman pressed the small piece of paper onto her.

"Well then, I shall be going."

Bowing once more, the woman quickly boarded the carriage and departed.

Turning her gaze to the paper the woman had given her, Rebecca read the words written there aloud.

"Let's see... 'Magic Research Institute, Apprentice Researcher, True Bell'..."

Contact information was listed below the name.

"...She was kind of a beautiful person, huh."

Muttering that, Rebecca turned her feet back toward the district where the shops were lined up.

After a while, she completely forgot about the woman.

***

Time passed slowly. Rebecca continued to worry about Wendy, feeling a lingering haze in her heart.

Lately, because she was constantly thinking about the curse even while working, she was making many mistakes.

"——I am very sorry."

"Be careful from now on."

Today, she had dropped a plate in the kitchen and broke it. It was a small mercy that it was a plate used by the servants, not one used by the Count's family, so she got off with just a scolding from the Head Maid.

"...Ah, jeez. What am I doing?"

Shoulders slumped in dejection, she carried lunch to Wendy’s room. She couldn't go on like this. She had to focus on her work and make sure not to mess up anymore.

"...Excuse me, Milady."

When she knocked and entered Wendy’s room, Wendy was sitting on the sofa, facing a typewriter. She had a somewhat difficult expression on her face.

"Milady, is something the matter?"

When Rebecca asked this while placing lunch on the table, Wendy looked up with a start and hurriedly took her hands off the typewriter.

"No, it's nothing!"

Then, turning her gaze toward Rebecca, this time it was Wendy who tilted her head with a puzzled look.

"Becca, you don't seem very energetic...?"

"Eh."

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Asked that, she hurriedly shook her head.

"N-No! I just, well, I made a mistake at work... I’m just a little tired, that's all!"

When she laughed to gloss over it, Wendy looked down as if thinking for a moment. Then, she stood up slowly and approached Rebecca.

"Milady? Is something wrong?"

"Mhm-hm."

Wendy laughed softly, stood in front of Rebecca, and spread her arms wide.

"——Becca, come here."

At those words, Rebecca’s mouth fell open in surprise.

"...Pardon?"

"I'll give you a squeeze and pat your head. If I do that, you'll feel all better, right? So, come here."

As Wendy said this with a smile, Rebecca blushed.

"N-No! Um, I’m fine!! I couldn't possibly make you do such a thing, Milady...!"

"Becca."

Hearing her name called in that sweet voice, she felt her body tremble.

"Hurry up and crouch down."

Wendy said it like a command, looking straight at her with those green eyes.

—Ah, those eyes again. I can’t go against these eyes. Strong, ferocious, yet somehow gentle—a gaze like a beast's that I can't look away from...

"Becca, come on, come here."

Called again, Rebecca finally succumbed. She slowly lowered her hips, bringing her eyes level with Wendy's.

Wendy smiled with satisfaction and slowly wrapped her arms around Rebecca's back. She was enveloped in the child's warm body heat. A scent like flowers wafted from her hair, and Rebecca's heart raced.

Wendy’s small hand slowly and gently stroked Rebecca’s head, and her body trembled again. Gradually, the tension drained from her stiff body. Unconsciously, she let out a deep breath and closed her eyes.

At that moment, hearing a giggling sound, Rebecca opened her eyes. Wendy was laughing, sounding very amused.

"——What is it? Milady."

"Becca, you really love being patted on the head by me, don't you?"

"..."

Unable to answer, she silently let her eyes wander. Wendy whispered mischievously into Rebecca’s ear.

"Hey, maybe you really should wear a collar after all?"

"...Excuse me?"

"I mean, getting so happy just from head pats—you're cute just like a dog, Becca."

Wendy’s words made her feel slightly miffed. Rebecca pulled away from Wendy, looked her straight in the eye, and opened her mouth.

"If you are going to tease me that much, Milady, then I have an idea of my own."

"Eh?"

Rebecca reached out for Wendy and began to tickle her.

"——Heh, ah, wait, hyaaaa! Ahahaha, stop, Becca!"

"Oh my, surrendering already?"

"Fuhyaaa, ah, ahahaha!! I give up! I give uuuup!"

Wendy laughed loudly, and Rebecca involuntarily burst into laughter as well.

As the two were playing around,

"...Am I interrupting?"

Christopher, who had entered unnoticed, spoke with a wry smile.

Rebecca hurriedly stopped her hands, stood up, and bowed.

"L-Lord Christopher! Please forgive me!"

"No, it's good to see the two of you having so much fun."

Just as Christopher said that...

"——Ngh."

Wendy suddenly cried out and grimaced. Noticing this, Christopher frowned.

"Wendy, what's wrong?"

"U-Ugh, well, right now, my chest hurts a little..."

At those words, Rebecca was thrown into a panic and hurriedly called out to Wendy.

"A-Are you alright? Did I tickle you too much?"

"No, that's not it. Lately, sometimes my chest gets tight..."

When Wendy answered, Christopher put on a serious face and spoke.

"Just in case, let's have a doctor look at you."

"I'm fine, Brother..."

"No, it's better to have a proper examination. Rebecca, call the doctor."

"Y-Yes!"

Rebecca replied immediately and rushed out of Wendy’s room.