My Maid is Cute Chapter 44 : Anxiety, Courage, and Happiness (Patreon)

After returning from Milbatha Island to the Caldwell mansion, daily life resumed.

"Hey, Beccaaaa, pleaaaase!"

As Rebecca was cleaning, Wendy hugged her from behind in a spoiling manner.

"No."

Rebecca lightly dodged her and continued moving the broom.

At that curt reply, Wendy puffed out her cheeks and continued.

"Come on! I want you to take a bath with me! Just for a little bit!"

"I refuse."

"Urgh... why? do you hate it that much!?"

"Because if we take a bath together, you'll probably do something weird, My Lady."

"I... I wouldn't do... such a thing!"

Wendy stumbled over her words slightly and looked away. Rebecca stopped cleaning and turned to face Wendy.

"Look me straight in the eye and say that again. 'I absolutely will not do anything weird.'"

"..."

Wendy fell silent.

It seemed she did intend to do something weird. Rebecca sighed in exasperation and resumed cleaning.

"I'm definitely refusing."

Wendy puffed out her cheeks again, looking sullen. Just then, her eyes stopped on Rebecca's neck, and she furrowed her brows.

"Oh... Becca, what is that?"

"Huh?"

"On your neck... are you wearing an accessory?"

"Ah..."

Smiling, Rebecca pulled it out from inside her clothes.

It was a pendant with a blue stone. The stone given to her by Rieserago. She had simply fashioned it into a pendant herself and decided to wear it. Since it stood out during work, she kept it hidden under her clothes.

"...It's a beautiful stone. It's rare for you to wear something like that, Becca..."

After staring intently at the pendant, Wendy suddenly looked up at Rebecca as if realizing something.

"Could it be... a present from someone!?"

"Eh?"

"From who!? Don't tell me it's from a man!?"

"N-No, it isn't!!"

Rebecca hurriedly shook her head.

"It is not a gift from a man!"

It was a gift, that was true, but not from a man. Or rather, not from a human. However, unable to explain that properly, Rebecca smiled wryly and continued.

"Um, I found a pretty stone, so... I made it myself."

"Hmmm..."

Wendy looked back and forth between the pendant and Rebecca suspiciously.

Rebecca stepped away from Wendy to smooth things over.

"M-My Lady, your tutor will be here soon. Please get ready! I have work to do in the kitchen!"

Wendy watched with a puzzled expression as Rebecca made a noisy, hasty escape.

***

About a month passed, and finally, the announcement was made that Christopher was getting engaged. The entire mansion grew noisy with the screams and laments of the maids and young female servants who had apparently harbored feelings for Christopher.

During the lunch break, Rebecca sat around the table with Sadie and Jeanne. As she chewed on her lunch bread, Sadie spoke to Rebecca.

"Master Christopher is getting engaged... I wonder what kind of person his partner is?"

"Who knows... I haven't met her, so I wouldn't know."

Accurately speaking, she had seen her face, but mentioning that seemed like it would cause a fuss, so Rebecca smiled vaguely.

Then, Jeanne spoke up.

"When will the ceremony be?"

"Hmm, I wonder... I don't really know, but a wedding requires a lot of preparation... surely it will be quite a while from now."

Rebecca answered while tilting her head.

Sadie was staring at Rebecca intently, as if devouring her with her eyes.

"...? Sadie, what is it?"

When Rebecca called out, bewildered by the gaze, Sadie hurriedly lowered her eyes and muttered softly.

"I... seem to have misunderstood."

"Misunderstood?"

When Rebecca asked back with a blank look, Sadie continued with an awkward expression.

"I... well... I thought that you were Master Christopher's lover, Rebecca."

"H-Huuh?"

Rebecca was startled by those words. Meanwhile, Jeanne stopped eating and looked at Sadie with a troubled expression.

"I mean, the person closest to Master Christopher is you, Rebecca, and Master Christopher seems to trust you a lot, so I thought maybe you were secretly dating!!"

"Oh, wow..."

Rebecca let out a strange voice involuntarily.

"So, I thought I had to support the two of you from the shadows! It’s a forbidden love across social classes, but I was sure that you could overcome it, Rebecca...!"

"Wait a second, Sadie..."

Stopping Sadie, who was getting excited all by herself, Rebecca’s lips twitched.

She recalled the time long ago when other maids suspected her relationship with Christopher and harassed her, as well as the theft incident. Feeling a headache coming on, Rebecca held her head and spoke.

"...That's not it. I respect Master Christopher, but I have absolutely no romantic feelings for him."

"Ehh, even though he's so cool!?"

Sadie raised her voice and leaned toward Rebecca, but this time Jeanne intervened as if scolding her.

"Hey, Sadie."

"Ah, sorry..."

Sadie hurriedly bowed her head slightly.

Rebecca tilted her head in distress, then slowly spoke.

"...Um, how should I put it... I think Master Christopher is... very wonderful and a good person, but... I've never looked at him in that way, I suppose."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah."

At Rebecca's clear nod, Sadie looked disappointed for some reason.

"Then, it really was just my misunderstanding..."

Jeanne spoke to the dejected Sadie.

"I told you so. It's just your delusions, Sadie. You let your imagination run wild too much."

"Ughhh, but, but, I thought it would be so wonderful if the two of them were lovers"

"So I said, stop with those delusions already."

When Jeanne lightly flicked Sadie's forehead with her finger, Sadie held her forehead with a tearful face.

Smiling involuntarily at that face, Rebecca spoke to Sadie.

"Speaking of lovers... Sadie, how about you? Is your relationship going well?"

Rebecca had heard from Sadie herself before that she had a boyfriend. He was apparently a student attending a school far away, so they rarely met. Currently, they seemed to be nurturing their relationship by exchanging letters.

At Rebecca’s question, Sadie’s face lit up, and she nodded vigorously.

"Yes! We're finally going to be able to meet soon! His long break is finally starting, and it seems he can come here to visit."

"That is wonderful news."

"Ehehe, I'm agonizing over where the two of us should go, I'm looking forward to it so much already—"

Rebecca smiled at Sadie, who spoke with cheeks dyed red with happiness.

Suddenly, glancing beside Sadie, she saw Jeanne staring blankly at Sadie. When Jeanne noticed Rebecca’s gaze, she hurriedly looked away from Sadie. Then, casting her eyes down with a somewhat lonely expression, she resumed her meal.

***

Three days later, Rebecca was called to Wendy's room late at night. As it was a regular occurrence, she prepared milk and honey and walked briskly to Wendy's room.

And there, upon hearing what she had to say, Rebecca opened her eyes wide.

"Eh... a party, you say?"

"Yeah."

Sitting on the sofa, Wendy gave a short reply.

According to Wendy, Christopher had proposed throwing a grand party at the mansion for Wendy's next birthday.

"...He asked how about inviting various people and having a dance party."

"That is..."

Rebecca hesitated, forced a smile, and replied to Wendy.

"That is a lovely idea."

"..."

Wendy turned a face toward Rebecca that looked as if she were witnessing the end of the world.

"You really hate it?"

"Isn't it obvious..."

Wendy held her head in her hands on the sofa.

"Being surrounded by so many people, and a dance on top of that!!"

"...Hmm."

Rebecca placed the milk on the table with a slightly troubled look, then took Wendy's hand.

"Shall I speak to Master Christopher? If it is truly impossible for you, My Lady, surely—"

"...No."

Wendy lifted her head and spoke in a whisper.

"...I have to go out eventually. I know that. Brother is doing this for my sake."

Rebecca smiled wryly. It was just as Wendy said.

Due to the curse in her childhood, Wendy had continued to live a secluded life despite being the daughter of an Earl. Fundamentally, Wendy was not good at interacting with people. However, from now on, she would have to interact with many different people as a noble. The time had come when she had to step into the glamorous social world.

It was an obligation, absolute and unavoidable. Christopher had likely proposed holding a party at their own residence to help Wendy get used to high society even a little.

"...Will you really be alright?"

When Rebecca asked while stroking Wendy's hand, Wendy looked up at Rebecca's face with pleading eyes.

"...If you give me a lap pillow, Becca, I might... be able to do my best."

At those words, Rebecca chuckled and nodded. She headed to the bed and sat down.

"Here, go ahead."

When she patted her knees lightly, Wendy ran over happily.

"Nfu-fu."

Laughing softly, she climbed onto the bed, lay down, and placed her head on Rebecca's lap.

Then, she closed her eyes happily.

"Is something like this really enough?"

"It is."

Wendy answered Rebecca’s question with a laugh. She kept her eyes closed on Rebecca's lap with a peaceful expression for a while. Eventually, she slowly opened her eyes and reached out toward Rebecca.

"Hey, Becca."

"Yes?"

"Remember this. The truth is, I don't need cake or presents for my birthday."

Wendy stroked Rebecca's cheek and continued.

"Just having you say 'Congratulations' to me... that's all I need. To me, that is the greatest happiness."

Hearing that, Rebecca looked surprised, then smiled shyly.

"That is... an honor."

Wendy smiled back and slowly sat up. Then, she climbed onto Rebecca's lap, straddling her.

"My Lady?"

Wendy hugged Rebecca just like that. She closed her eyes and buried her face in Rebecca's chest.

"Haa... this is calming..."

As Wendy murmured this, seemingly feeling pure bliss, Rebecca made a troubled face but immediately hugged her back.

"Goodness, you really are a helpless lady."

Despite her words, she gently stroked Wendy's head. Feeling that touch, Wendy laughed within Rebecca's embrace.

"Nfu, nfu-fu."

Then, she lifted her head and took a lock of Rebecca's hair in her hand.

"My Lady?"

"Beautiful hair... it smells so nice... it's my favorite scent, the scent of honey."

Ignoring Rebecca's voice, Wendy murmured this and kissed Rebecca's hair.

"M-My Lady."

When Rebecca called out, Wendy looked up at her, keeping her lips touching the hair. Seeing those eyes, Rebecca's heart pounded loudly. Those lovely round eyes had transformed, harboring a beast-like glint.

"...Give me a little more."

"Huh?"

The moment Rebecca furrowed her brows at Wendy's words, Wendy brought her face closer to Rebecca.

Then, Wendy kissed Rebecca on the cheek.

"Hya... w-wait, My Lady! That tickles!"

Rebecca hurriedly said, trying to push Wendy back.

"That's enough now."

Wendy looked at Rebecca sullenly.

"It's not enough."

"H-Huh? What do you mean not enough..."

"It's not enough at all. I want more."

Simultaneously with those words, Rebecca was suddenly pushed backward. Before she knew it, she had been pushed down onto the bed by Wendy.

"M-My Lady—"

Rebecca voiced her confusion. Wendy, looking entranced, opened her mouth.

"What a... nice view..."

Rebecca's lips twitched.

"Um, uh, My Lady..."

"Becca, let me eat a little more."

"Heh...?"

Disregarding Rebecca's voice, Wendy brought her face close to Rebecca's ear this time. And then, she licked the ear with a wet slurp.

"Hiaaa!?"

This time Rebecca let out a distinct scream and sat up in a panic, shaking off Wendy's arms. She retreated vigorously, putting distance between herself and Wendy.

"W-What are you doing!?"

"I told you, I just ate a little."

"...! My Lady!! I am truly angry now!"

With her face dyed bright red, Rebecca got off the bed and headed for the door as if fleeing.

"I'm leaving!!"

Just as she tried to open the door to leave the room, Wendy's hand reached out from behind and grabbed Rebecca's hand.

"Wait."

Stopping Rebecca with a small voice, Wendy hugged Rebecca from behind.

"...I'm sorry. For doing something weird."

Because Wendy apologized honestly, which was rare, Rebecca opened her eyes wide and looked back.

Wendy pressed her forehead against Rebecca's back and continued.

"...I was just anxious. Touching you gives me a little bit of courage..."

At that voice, Rebecca looked up at the ceiling briefly. Then, she let out a long sigh and spoke to Wendy.

"...If you do something like this again, I will really, truly be angry. I will stop bringing hot milk, too."

"...Okay."

She was fully aware that she was soft on Wendy. Even so, Rebecca separated her body from Wendy, sat down on the spot, and crouched. Then, taking both of Wendy's hands, she looked straight into those green eyes and smiled.

"My Lady."

"..."

"On your birthday, I will definitely make time. Let's celebrate secretly. Just the two of us."

At those words, Wendy's face lit up instantly.

"Really?"

"Yes. It's a secret, just between the two of us, okay?"

When Rebecca whispered that, Wendy nodded vigorously.

"...I'm so happy. It's a promise, Becca. Absolutely!"

"Yes."

Rebecca smiled at Wendy's innocent demeanor.

Wendy, looking happy again, laughed aloud.

"Nfu, nfu."