My Maid is Cute Chapter 32 : A Scene of Sorrow (Patreon)

―――It’s cold.

When Rebecca regained consciousness, the first thing she felt was a chill, as if she were standing in freezing rain.

"……Ugh."

Her head throbbed violently, forcing a groan from her lips. As she pressed a hand to her forehead, the memories of her situation came flooding back, and her eyes snapped open.

"Where is this……?"

Before her lay pitch-black darkness. She slowly sat up and looked around. It was a desolate, empty space that seemed to stretch on forever without end.

"My Lady……?"

Just as she looked around searching for Wendy—

『Paule.』

She heard a voice she didn't recognize. It was a beautiful, clear voice.

Something appeared before her eyes. It was faint, floating softly like a phantom.

"Eh……"

She gasped at the sudden apparition. It felt completely devoid of reality, shimmering like a heat haze.

There, a single petite girl sat with her knees pulled to her chest. She was a beautiful girl with sparkling silver hair.

『Paule!』

Someone was approaching the girl. It was another beautiful girl with the same silver hair. The girl called Paule lifted her face.

"Ah……"

Rebecca involuntarily let out a sound. The two girls had identical faces. However, Paule’s expression was wrapped in a deep sorrow, as if she were about to burst into tears at any moment.

『……Big Sister Heidi.』

When Paule called out softly, the girl named Heidi smiled brightly.

The two girls began to speak, seemingly unaware of Rebecca’s presence.

『Why are you sitting in a place like this? Paule.』

『……No reason.』

Heidi slowly sat down next to Paule, snuggling close.

『Why do you have such a sad look on your face?』

『……』

『Tell me, Paule.』

Urged by Heidi, Paule let her words spill out in broken fragments.

『……You’re getting engaged, aren’t you?』

Heidi looked slightly surprised at those words, then nodded.

『Yes…… though the wedding is still a long way off.』

『……To the village chief’s son?』

『Yes……』

Heidi laughed cheerfully and continued.

『He is a very good person. You know that too, don’t you, Paule?』

Paule gave a small nod. Then, her eyes wavering with hesitation, she pinched the fabric of Heidi's clothes next to her and gave a little tug.

『I like things…… just the way they are.』

『Paule?』

『I don’t want you to get married. I want to be with you forever, Big Sister. Forever and ever, even when we’re grandmothers—I want the two of us to be together.』

Tears began to slowly stream from her eyes.

『I don't like it, Big Sister…… You were supposed to be my Big Sister. If you aren't by my side, I’ll be so lonely, I’ll cry……』

Heidi wrapped her arms around the sobbing Paule, holding her tight.

『Don’t cry…… Even if I get married, I’m still your big sister. And you are my precious, one and only little sister.』

She stroked Paule's back over and over, reassuring her.

『Hey, Paule. You know, don’t you? We’ve been together since before we were born. Even if we are apart, we will always be connected. Even if the world changes, that is the one thing that will never change. Okay?』

『……Big Sister.』

Paule wrapped her arms around Heidi’s back and hugged her tightly in return. Rubbing her back, Heidi whispered into Paule’s ear.

『So, please…… smile, Paule. I love your smiling face more than anything else.』

『Big Sister……』

『Paule, please.』

At those words, Paule pulled away from Heidi and finally offered a smile.

『……I’m sorry. For crying. I know I’m supposed to be happy for you.』

She took a deep breath. And then,

『Congratulations on your engagement, Big Sister.』

She spun words of blessing.

Heidi cupped Paule’s cheeks with both hands. She laughed a little and answered happily.

『Thank you, Paule.』

In that instant, the scene before Rebecca wavered and blurred.

"Ah……"

The moment Rebecca voiced her surprise, the scene shifted.

『Hey, Paule, are you really going to work?』

An anxious voice echoed.

『Yes. The village chief introduced me to the position, after all.』

Holding a large bag, Paule smiled.

『I should go too, Paule. Leaving you to go work alone outside the village is just—』

Seeing the worried look on Heidi’s face, Paule shook her head.

『Oh, stop it, Big Sister. We already settled this talk. Mother isn't feeling well, and you just got engaged. You should stay here and be by Mother's side.』

『……But.』

To the anxious Heidi, Paule spoke encouragingly.

『Once I earn some money, I’ll come right back. Once I get to the Count’s estate, I’ll write letters. So, don’t worry.』

『……But, I’m worried about you being alone. I really think I should go—』

『Big Sister.』

Paule lightly squeezed Heidi’s hand.

『We are connected, even if we’re apart. Right?』

『……Paule.』

『So, it’ll be fine!』

She let go of Heidi, who still looked uneasy. Adjusting her grip on her luggage, she waved her hand vigorously.

『I’m off!』

Once again, her vision wavered, and the scene shifted.

What entered Rebecca’s eyes next was a silver-haired girl with a pale, sickly complexion. She couldn't tell if it was Heidi or Paule. She was walking unsteadily, all alone. Her figure was unbelievably emaciated.

The people around her averted their eyes, as if they had seen something repulsive.

『That family’s daughter…… I heard she seduced the Count and forced herself on him.』

『How brazen…… what a harlot……』

『I heard the village chief is furious too.』

『Of course he is. Why would she do such a thing at the job the chief introduced her to……』

Whispers could be heard. The girl walked on expressionlessly, as if she couldn't hear the voices around her. Suddenly, something flew toward the girl. Before she knew it, her clothes were stained with mud.

『Get out! Get out of the village, now!!』

『You ingrate! You slut!!』

As if fleeing from those voices, the girl broke into a trot. She practically dove into a building that looked like her home.

『Heidi……』

Inside the house, a woman, also emaciated, lay on a bed, reaching out to the girl.

Heidi ran to the bed, looking as though she were about to burst into tears, and grasped the woman's hand.

『Mother……』

『Did the village chief…… listen to what you had to say……?』

At that question, Heidi grimaced and shook her head side to side.

『It’s no use…… It didn't work. ……He wouldn't listen to a word I said…… He wants us to leave the village already…… He’s breaking off the engagement too……』

At those words, the woman in the bed looked stunned.

『No, that can't be……』

『Mother…… I’m sorry…… The medicine is……』

At that moment, the sound of the door opening was heard. When Heidi turned around, Paule was standing there, her face drained of all color.

『――Paule.』

When Heidi called her name, Paule collapsed onto the floor as if crumbling, and began to sob uncontrollably.

『I’m sorry, Mother, Father…… sob, Big Sister Heidi…… sob…… It-It’s my fault…… I’m really, truly sorry……』

Then, the scene wavered again.

『Paule, Paule……』

Heidi was screaming, weeping.

『Why did you do this…… Paule!!』

In her arms lay a soaking wet Paule. Her face held no expression anymore. Heidi wept and screamed, clutching Paule’s lifeless body tight.

『It’s going to be okay, Paule……』

Then, crying, she lifted her face as if looking up at the heavens and whispered softly.

『You won't be lonely. Big Sister is coming with you, Paule.』

『Paule.』

『Paule.』

『My one and only little sister―――My other half―――』

"――This, is……"

Was this a scene from the past? The conclusion was so tragic that Rebecca covered her mouth with her hand. If she didn't, she felt she would start crying herself.

"Why……"

Just as she stepped back, wondering why she was seeing these visions of the past—

『I’ll kill them――』

Suddenly, she heard a terrifying voice filled with murderous intent.

『I won’t forgive them. I won’t forgive them I won’t forgive them I won’t forgive them――』

Startled, she turned around. She strained her eyes in the darkness, searching for the owner of the voice.

"――Ah,"

She saw something.

『I’ll drag them down to hell――― I will absolutely, absolutely never forgive them!!』

The silver-haired girl was there. Spitting words of hatred, she was looming over something. Seeing Wendy beneath the silver-haired girl, Rebecca screamed.

"Lady Wendy!!"

Wendy's entire body was covered in reddish-black bruises.

"No……! Lady Wendy! Stop!!"

Seeing that figure, in her agitation, Rebecca ran toward them while shouting incoherent things. At that moment, the silver-haired girl—Heidi—looked at her.

Bright red blood was flowing from her eyes.

『――It is useless. This girl’s life is no longer long.』

Ignoring those words, Rebecca ran desperately toward the two of them.

However, as if blocked by something, she couldn't get close no matter how hard she tried.

"Stop it, please stop!! My Lady!"

She shouted loudly, but Wendy’s eyes remained firmly shut.

『It has been so long……』

Paule smiled while blood streamed from her eyes, and stroked Wendy’s neck with her pure white hand.

『Finally, finally…… the curse will be completed……! I have been waiting for this moment…… Ah!』

Slowly, she placed her hands around that slender neck.

『Paule! Paule! I’m coming there soon―――― This time, I absolutely will not let you be alone!』

Realizing she was starting to apply force, Rebecca screamed again.

"My Lady!"

◆◆◆

Meanwhile, Christopher’s face had gone completely pale.

"Wendy, my sister is――!! What should I do!!"

He yelled at Tatiana, but Tatiana gripped her wand again with a composed face.

"We will perform the purification somehow. After that, I’ll have True cut it with the sword again――"

She waved her wand at the black shadow enveloping Wendy. The shadow flickered for an instant, but nothing changed.

"Big Sister……! This is too difficult! Its power is just too strong……"

True shouted in panic, and Lauren also spoke, his face twisted in distress.

"Sister Tatiana, the kid is right…… Your magic power isn't enough, probably――"

"Even so, do you think I can just give up!!"

Tatiana shouted indignantly. Then Evan spoke up, flustered and trembling.

"What happened to Rebecca……?"

There was no one who could answer that question.

Tatiana grimaced in pain and raised her wand again.

"I don't know…… If she touches the core of the curse, what will happen―――― Anyway, we must manage to continue the purification……!!"

When Tatiana waved her wand, the shadow shook violently for a moment again. In the next instant, the black shadow moved toward Tatiana as if to attack. It flew with invisible speed.

"Big Sister!!"

By the time True screamed, Tatiana’s body had already been slammed hard against the wall.

"Big Sister……! Big Sister!!"

True’s agitated screams echoed through the room.

At that moment, the sword lying near True made a clack sound and moved slightly, but no one noticed it.