My Maid is Cute Chapter 35 : Prayer (Patreon)

"Oh, Rebecca! Rebecca!! Thank goodness, welcome home!!"

As soon as they arrived at the Earl’s estate and entered the mansion, Carrie came rushing over.

"Carrie! I have returned. I apologize for taking time off work like this..."

"No, no! It’s fine. I’m just so glad you’re safe, Rebecca!!"

Carrie hugged Rebecca lightly, looking relieved. Next to them, Wendy glared at Carrie with a pout.

"Ah, Carrie..."

Noticing Carrie’s attire, Rebecca inadvertently raised her voice. Carrie was wearing a black dress. Realizing what Rebecca was looking at, Carrie pulled away and nodded slightly.

"It was difficult... very..."

At that moment, Christopher spoke up as he handed his coat to Reed.

"Rebecca, go and rest for a while."

"Eh, but..."

"It’s fine regarding work. You’ve been working hard all this time... you need to rest."

Rebecca hesitated slightly at his words but eventually nodded and bowed.

"Thank you very much..."

"I want to rest with Becca too!"

Wendy raised a loud voice and grabbed Rebecca's hand. However, Christopher stopped her.

"I have something to discuss with you, Wendy. So, let’s go to my room."

"Discuss?"

"Yeah. A very, very important talk."

At those words, Wendy reluctantly let go of Rebecca’s hand. Rebecca gave a wry smile and bowed again.

"Well then, excuse me."

Saying that, she headed toward her room with Carrie, who helped carry her luggage.

Christopher and Evan watched them go.

"Chris... she is..."

Evan started to say something. However, before he could continue, Christopher directed a sharp gaze at Evan and silently shook his head. He then placed his index finger against his lips.

"——Please, Evan."

At Christopher’s quiet voice, Evan made a complicated face but closed his mouth. Wendy watched this exchange with a puzzled expression.

***

As Rebecca climbed the stairs with Carrie, they continued their conversation in hushed tones.

"——So, the funeral is over?"

"Yeah... You know the situation with the Earl’s death... Honestly, it was too disgraceful... so it seems Lord Christopher didn't want to make a big deal out of it."

According to Carrie, the Earl’s funeral was held quietly, led by Christopher. A few nobles had attended, but it was apparently a small and lonely affair. Suddenly harboring a doubt, Rebecca asked Carrie.

"——What happened to the Countess?"

"She was here until yesterday, surprisingly. After talking with Lord Christopher about various things, she went somewhere."

"Eh, even though her husband passed away?"

"I guess she had no love left for him."

Carrie said this as if spitting out the words, and Rebecca frowned as well. To think she was a mother, yet didn't care about Wendy at all... Rebecca let out a heavy sigh. Carrie patted Rebecca on the shoulder as if to comfort her.

"Rebecca, are you okay?"

"Yes. It just feels like so many things happened so suddenly, I feel a little confused..."

"Well, it was all very sudden... It’s no wonder."

Suddenly, Carrie looked at the large box Rebecca was holding.

"Come to think of it, what’s in that box?"

"Ah... um... various things."

Not knowing how to explain the sword Irydia, she laughed vaguely to gloss over it. Carrie tilted her head, looking puzzled. At that moment, Rebecca finally remembered something crucial and involuntarily stopped in her tracks.

"...Ah."

"Hm? What’s wrong?"

Carrie also stopped and called out with a curious face.

"...This is bad."

She had completely forgotten. The significance of being able to use this sword. Until this very moment, it had completely slipped her mind. Her head started to hurt from her own stupidity. What should she do?

No one had said anything specifically to her about being able to use the sword. But they must definitely be suspicious. Belatedly, Rebecca broke out in a cold sweat. Christopher, Evan, True—none of them were prying, but what were they thinking?

"...What should I do?"

Rebecca turned back for a moment, intending to return to Christopher, but—

"...Ugh."

She felt that if she said anything unnecessary, she might just be digging her own grave, so she groaned instead. Worrying on the spot, struggling for an answer, she moved about flusteredly while clutching the box containing the sword.

Carrie watched Rebecca, who had suddenly started acting suspiciously, and spoke up.

"Rebecca? What’s wrong? Did something happen?"

"..."

Rebecca silently pressed one hand to her forehead. However...

"...It’s nothing."

In the end, she answered that and gripped the box with both hands again.

Since neither Christopher nor Evan had said anything, she decided to stop herself from saying anything unnecessary. It would surely be fine. It should be fine, probably. Telling herself this, she smiled weakly at Carrie.

"I’m sorry, Carrie. Let’s hurry to the room."

"? Okay."

Carrie nodded with a puzzled look. Inside her heart, Rebecca repeated It’s fine, it’s fine to herself like a mantra.

"Oh, right! I heard My Lady’s curse was broken! What happened? Tell me!!"

"Ah, um..."

Rebecca pondered how to explain it to Carrie. Being optimistic and laid-back by nature, Rebecca had already stopped thinking about the sword.

Later, Rebecca would greatly regret stopping her thoughts at this moment. However, the Rebecca of this time had no way of knowing that.

***

That night, the doorbell in Rebecca’s room rang. Hearing that sound for the first time in a while, Rebecca chuckled and stood up from her bed. Just as expected.

Holding the bottle of milk she had prepared in advance, she stepped out of her room.

"Excuse me."

Knocking and entering the room, she found Wendy sitting on the bed, waiting for her.

"Becca, I was waiting."

"Yes, sorry to keep you waiting."

Rebecca smiled gently and showed the milk bottle to Wendy.

"I’ll get it ready for you, hot milk."

However, Wendy shook her head.

"Not today."

"Eh? Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

Wendy reached both hands out in front of her.

"Becca, come here."

"Yes?"

"Just come here, hurry."

Tilting her head, she approached Wendy. As Rebecca got close, Wendy hugged her with great force.

"My Lady...?"

Burying her face in Rebecca’s chest, Wendy closed her eyes. Rebecca gently embraced that small body.

"...I heard Father passed away."

Hearing the small voice, Rebecca answered briefly.

"Yes."

It seemed Christopher had spoken properly to Wendy during the day.

Even though they had barely interacted, there was still a sense of loss. Wendy’s expression was somewhat downcast. Rebecca gently stroked Wendy’s back without saying anything.

Eventually, Wendy pulled away and took Rebecca’s hands. Then, she placed them against her own cheeks.

"It’s strange... It feels weird that Father isn't here."

"...Yes."

"...Becca won't disappear, right?"

At that anxious voice, Rebecca nodded vigorously.

"Of course."

"Really?"

"Yes. I’m not going anywhere."

At that answer, the gloomy Wendy let out a sigh of relief. Then, reaching out to Rebecca, she squeezed both her hands tightly.

"U-Um, you see, Becca."

"Yes?"

"Well then... I, um, with me... sp... spe..."

"Hm?"

"Sp... spe... um... sp...?"

Wendy tried to say something but tilted her head. It seemed the words wouldn't come out.

"My Lady, what is it?"

"You see, there are words I want to say... Difficult words I’ve wanted to say for a long time... Sp... spe..."

"Spe?"

"Umm... Sp... spend...?"

Rebecca looked blank, but eventually smiled and spoke to Wendy.

"Ah, could it be you want to say you want to be together from now on?"

"Ye... Yeeaah? ...?"

Wendy looked a bit unconvinced but eventually nodded.

"Something like that!"

She said, smiling back at Rebecca. Rebecca nodded slightly and spoke.

"Yes, My Lady. We will be together forever. As long as you wish it, My Lady, I will not leave."

Wendy’s face lit up instantly. Then, she leaned forward.

"My Lady...?"

Ignoring the bewildered Rebecca, Wendy gently kissed her on the forehead.

"Eh."

Rebecca instinctively touched her forehead. She could feel her face turning red. The spot where the lips touched felt hot.

"Mhh-hm."

Wendy brought both hands to her mouth and laughed shyly.

"My Lady..."

Rebecca opened her mouth but couldn't say anything, only giving a wry smile. Wendy hugged her again.

"Becca, I love you! I’ll be with you forever!"

"...Yes."

Rebecca gently embraced the small body once more.

Only the moon floating in the sky watched over them.

***

Meanwhile, at Tatiana’s house.

Tatiana and True were lying in bed, exchanging words.

"Aww, I still really wanted that sword~."

"...You’re still talking about that?"

"I wanted to research it..."

"Impossible... That sword chose Rebecca as its owner, after all."

True made a sulky face and hugged Tatiana.

"Comfort me instead, Big Sister."

"I’m tired and sleepy, so no."

"Geez! Just a little bit~."

Tatiana turned her back to True in refusal. However, True lightly kissed Tatiana’s shoulder, looking amused.

"Persistent."

"Ehehe."

Suddenly, True remembered something and spoke to Tatiana.

"Come to think of it, Wendy asked me something amazing."

"——Ah, come to think of it, you two were getting strangely along."

"Ufufu, we became friends."

Tatiana secretly felt miffed so True wouldn't notice.

"...And? What did she ask?"

"Ufufu."

True laughed happily and continued.

"She asked if you and I were married!!"

"..."

"I guess we looked that way to the child~."

"..."

Tatiana was silent, but her ears were dyed bright red. True chuckled and hugged Tatiana from behind.

"——And?"

"Yes?"

"And, what did you answer?"

At Tatiana’s question, True smiled brightly and spun her words loudly.

"Of course, I answered this! ...'She is the partner I want to spend my whole life with'!!"

At True’s words, Tatiana shifted slightly and voiced a sound.

"...Hmmm."

True lightly kissed those bright red ears. Immediately tilting her head, she continued.

"It was a bit of a difficult phrase, so Wendy didn't seem to understand... But when I explained the meaning, Wendy’s face lit up so much~. I wonder why?"

"..."

Tatiana recalled the image of Wendy clinging sweetly to Rebecca. She opened her mouth to say something to True. However...

"Who knows..."

In the end, Tatiana only muttered that.

And, accepting the soft sensation of True’s lips on her back, she slowly closed her eyes.

***

A few days later, Rebecca was summoned by Christopher, the new head of the Caldwell family.

Entering Christopher’s room while trembling inwardly, she was welcomed by Christopher with a gentle face.

"Hi, Rebecca. I have something to talk to you about today."

"Y-Yes... What is it?"

Thinking she might be told something about using the sword Irydia, Rebecca looked at Christopher fearfully, but he laughed cheerfully to reassure her.

"I want to thank you."

"Eh?"

"I am truly grateful for you saving Wendy. I want to give you a reward. Is there anything you want? Ask for anything."

"Umm..."

"I will do anything you wish."

Rebecca was confused and thought about it on the spot.

"Hmm..."

Honestly, there was nothing she wanted right now. But Christopher surely made the offer out of kindness. Thinking it would be rude to refuse, she racked her brain and then spoke up.

"Ah, in that case..."

***

The next day, Rebecca visited a small village with Christopher and Reed.

"I’m sorry for having you bring me all the way here..."

"No, it’s fine. I thought I had to come here once myself."

Christopher’s face stiffened slightly. Rebecca adjusted her grip on the large bouquet she had prepared.

What Rebecca had asked Christopher for was to visit the village where the sisters, Heidi and Paule, had lived. She wanted to offer a prayer once again for the two who had died in despair.

Incidentally, Wendy was staying at the mansion.

Young Wendy recognized that the curse was broken, but she didn't know the details yet. Since her father’s actions were involved, Christopher planned to explain it to her properly once she was a little older. Wendy had insisted on going with Rebecca until the end, but they managed to shake her off to come here.

Following Christopher and Reed, she walked through the village toward their destination. The villagers looked at Rebecca’s group with curiosity, but no one called out to them. Passing through the village and walking further in, a large lake eventually came into view.

"...Is this the place?"

"Yeah."

Christopher answered Rebecca’s question briefly. This must be the lake where Paule had thrown herself in. It was quiet, but desolate with no sign of people.

"...I should have come sooner. My head was so full with Wendy... I didn't even think of coming here. I’m the worst."

Christopher spoke in a somber voice, and Reed placed a hand on his shoulder as if to comfort him.

"...I am sorry. No matter how much I apologize, it is unforgivable... but please, be at peace."

Christopher knelt on the spot and offered a prayer. Rebecca also placed the bouquet by the lake and prayed for Heidi and Paule.

"...Young Master, it is about time."

After praying for a while, Reed spoke up. Christopher nodded lightly and stood up.

"...Let’s go, Rebecca."

"Yes."

Rebecca nodded and stood up too. Following Christopher and Reed, she turned her back to the lake.

It was then.

Faintly, a voice came from behind. It was the laughter of two girls.

"Eh..."

Reacting to the voice, Rebecca turned around. Then, her eyes opened wide.

She saw the backs of two silver-haired girls. Like illusions, they were floating softly on the lake. The two girls were holding hands firmly.

"...Ah."

She inadvertently let out a voice and rubbed her eyes hard. She looked at the lake again, but the figures of the two girls had already vanished.

"..."

Was that just an illusion?

"Ms. Rebecca, what is the matter?"

Reed called out to Rebecca, who had suddenly stopped. Christopher was also looking at her with a curious face. Rebecca hurriedly turned to the two of them and spoke.

"Ah, um..."

She tried to tell them what she just saw, but...

"..."

She closed her mouth and looked at the lake again. The lake reflecting the sky was shining gently. Staring at it, Rebecca slowly spoke.

"...No, it is nothing."

Lowering her face as if to pray once more, she closed her eyes. Then, lifting her head, she started running toward Christopher and Reed.

I thought I would come here again.

Surely, next time, together with Wendy.

***

*[Part 1 - End]*

Thank you for reading this far. Thank you for your views, bookmarks, ratings, likes, and comments. For now, I have ended it at a good stopping point. To those who predicted it would be ending soon, I am truly sorry. The story so far constitutes Part 1. I originally planned a three-part structure. There are still various foreshadowing elements left unrecovered. And, as some of you may have noticed, the scene in the prologue is an event a little further in the future. For the coming "X-Day," I will continue writing little by little. And I will do my best to reach the conclusion. Updates will be irregular, but please wait patiently.