My Maid is Cute Chapter 49 : Flames (Patreon)

The sky began to take on an eerie reddish hue. It seemed the long night had come to an end. Dawn was breaking, and the world was beginning to wake up.

Hearing the footsteps of someone approaching, Rebecca looked up.

Almost simultaneously, the door opened.

"..."

From beyond the door, Samuel appeared. Seeing Rebecca's face, he laughed coldly.

"Come, Carol."

Samuel approached and grabbed her arm with strong force. He forced her to stand. Rebecca offered no resistance and complied.

Forcibly dragged by the arm, she was made to walk. Rebecca was finally able to leave the small room.

Samuel continued to walk, pulling Rebecca's arm without a word.

"—What are you going to do with me?"

When Rebecca asked, Samuel shrugged his shoulders and answered.

"You'll know soon enough. Since you've been doing as you pleased until now, I'll have you work for it."

"..."

Ignoring Rebecca's silence, Samuel continued speaking indifferently.

"There is someone who needs that unnecessarily strong magic of yours. Where we're going now, make sure you get treated well, Carol. As a human of the Lionfall family."

Hearing those words, Rebecca's shoulders twitched.

And then, a small voice leaked out.

"—No."

"Huh?"

Hearing that voice, Samuel frowned and turned his gaze toward Rebecca.

"What is it?"

"...No. I am not."

Ignoring the frowning Samuel, Rebecca continued.

"—I am,"

Even in this situation, what floated in her heart was the image of that precious girl.

Becca.

Those shining green eyes.

Those large eyes looking straight at her—

I want to see them one more time.

I want to hug that small body one more time.

—I want to see her one more time.

With a feeling like prayer, Rebecca closed her eyes for a moment. No one would help her. There was no salvation in the world. Miracles didn't exist.

But she knew there was one thing, just one thing that was certain.

—I want to go back to that warm place.

Her place was beside her Young Lady.

That alone was not a mistake. Absolutely.

No matter who denied it, that alone was certain.

Even if the world broke, even if everything disappeared, that would not change.

If she could be beside her Young Lady, that was happiness enough.

She needed nothing else.

Becca.

My Lady.

I'm sorry. I am truly sorry.

I am a foolish maid.

I am a worthless maid who left your side.

I will accept any punishment. But, please, please—

Please forgive me for being by your side.

Please allow me to see your smile.

If you smile for me, I can surely stand up.

Surely, I can become strong.

—Therefore.

"I am."

She spoke again. While still grasped by Samuel, she clenched her fist tight.

Giving up here is absolutely out of the question.

She couldn't let it end like this.

I want to go home.

I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home—!

I want to see my Young Lady.

It can't end like this.

So, I have to move.

—I want to go back, to where the Young Lady is.

She screamed like a prayer in her heart once more.

Prayer, surely, becomes power.

Becca.

Because I want you to call my name with that voice again.

My name.

Please call it one more time, My Lady.

—My name.

"I am."

Rebecca raised her face and stared straight at Samuel. Samuel frowned as if pressured by her gaze.

"I am not Carol. —I am Rebecca. Now, and forever more."

The moment she declared that, Rebecca moved her leg with great force. She kicked Samuel hard in the crotch.

Giving a voiceless scream, Samuel let go of Rebecca.

Rebecca quickly pulled away from Samuel and ran from the spot.

Running for dear life. Moving her legs desperately, looking for an exit. First, she had to escape from here.

Looking around frantically, she continued to run. Eventually, she found a staircase. It was a very long staircase.

"Carol!"

Just as she took a step to go down the stairs, she heard Blanca's voice from behind, and Rebecca looked back. At the same time, Blanca grabbed Rebecca's arm.

When Rebecca turned around, Blanca was standing there with raised eyebrows.

"Let go, Sister Blanca."

When Rebecca spoke calmly, Blanca glared back with intense eyes.

"Carol, what do you think you're doing!?"

"I am going home."

"Do you realize what you are doing—"

"Yes, I know. Sister. —The one who doesn't understand anything is you."

At Rebecca's words, Blanca made a bewildered expression. Staring at such a Blanca, Rebecca continued.

"—Sister. Stop it already. You actually understand, don't you? Even if you sell me—it won't lead to your happiness."

At those words, Blanca gasped.

Rebecca hurled words at her mercilessly.

"You said I always get the best parts... that I'm lucky. Let me tell you. That's wrong. It's not like that. I'm not lucky... unlike you, Sister Blanca, I just take action myself!!"

"...Uh,"

"Why are you always just waiting? Why don't you say anything yourself? Why don't you act? You've been like that since long ago... just waiting silently until someone helps you... Nothing will change like that!! Even during your marriage, even when you were told sarcastic things, surely you just waited silently for help the whole time, didn't you? ...Did you do anything yourself? Did you resist? —You should have screamed for help!!"

"What are you...!"

"Even now, it's the same! Why do you just wait to be picked up without doing anything? Do you intend to stay like this forever, not moving a single step? If you want to return to the person you love, you should leave here yourself!!"

The next instant, Blanca lunged at her with tremendous force. Rebecca couldn't react to the overly swift movement. Before she knew it, Blanca had pushed Rebecca down. With a terrifying expression, she began to strangle Rebecca.

"...What do you know...!"

Face dyed bright red with anger, Blanca glared at Rebecca with tearful eyes and shouted.

"Carol, what do you, what do you know... don't screw with me... you good-for-nothing...!!"

Blanca's hands pressed on her throat. It was painful. She couldn't inhale or exhale.

"...Ugh...!"

She resisted desperately, grabbing Blanca's wrists, but Blanca tightened her grip even more.

—This is bad, this... she's going to kill me...!

Rebecca resisted desperately, continuing to struggle.

At that moment, Coco's voice came from nearby.

"Lady Blanca!"

Immediately after that voice was heard, Blanca's hands left her neck. Her throat was released, and air entered her lungs.

"What! Let go!!"

Blanca was shouting something, but ignoring that, Rebecca coughed violently. While desperately trying to regulate her breathing, she lifted her face. There was Coco, desperately restraining Blanca.

"Lady Blanca, please calm down!!"

"Let go, you lowly servant—"

Blanca screamed, glaring at Rebecca again.

Rebecca stared back while holding her throat. And just as she tried desperately to stand up...

Coco looked behind Rebecca and opened her eyes wide.

"Juli—"

Before Coco could say anything, there was a thud, a strange sound, and simultaneously an impact ran through her. An intense pain, unlike anything she had felt before, assaulted her.

The moment she realized she had been hit from behind, her vision swayed violently and spun. She could faintly see Juliet's terrifying face filled with rage. She was holding something in her hand, but it wasn't clear.

It seemed Juliet had hit her with some hard, blunt object. Just like that, Juliet's leg moved swiftly. She kicked Rebecca hard in the chest. Her body shook from the impact. Her vision flickered.

"Lady Juliet!!"

Simultaneously with Coco's scream-like voice, Rebecca's body fell toward the stairs. She tumbled down with great momentum.

"What are you doing!?"

Samuel's loud voice could be heard.

Falling down the stairs, Rebecca slammed violently onto the floor. At the same time, she hit her head hard. She closed her eyes reflexively.

It hurt. It was so painful it was hard to breathe. Her vision was pitch black. She wanted to open her eyes, but they wouldn't open. She tried to get up, but her body wouldn't move. The sensation in her limbs vanished. Her consciousness grew hazy. Her whole body hurt so much it was unbearable.

At that moment, she heard chaotic footsteps.

"Idiots!! What have you done!?"

"But, Brother, she was!"

"I-I'm sorry, Brother..."

She could hear the voices of her brother and sisters in the distance.

She sensed everyone approaching her.

"Hey, this is bad... she's bleeding a lot."

"W-We should call a doctor..."

"Stop it!! If this gets out, we're finished, everything!!"

"Then what do we do!? At this rate—"

The three were making a fuss around the fallen Rebecca.

Rebecca was finally able to open her eyes slowly. Something came hazily into her field of vision.

It was the figure of Coco, looking at her while trembling.

Shedding tears, she was muttering something softly.

"I-I'm sorry... I'm sor... ry..."

While hazily wondering what she was apologizing for, Rebecca desperately moved her only movable lips. She spoke to Coco in a small voice.

"...N... eck."

"Eh?"

Coco, who seemingly couldn't hear the voice well, brought her ear close to Rebecca's mouth in a fluster.

"...Neck... take it off..."

When she finally got the voice out, Coco's eyes wavered in confusion. After seeming to hesitate for a moment, she nodded immediately. She brought her small hands close to Rebecca's neck.

Click, the small sound of the collar coming off reached Rebecca's ears.

"Hey, what are you doing!?"

At the same time Samuel's voice echoed, Rebecca's lips moved too.

"...Rie... sie."

The next instant, she felt a strong shock.

Reflexively, Rebecca closed her eyes.

What on earth had happened? She didn't understand anything.

There was a very loud noise. Samuel and Juliet's screams. Blanca's crying voice. And sounds like things breaking or shattering.

Rebecca had no energy to react to the surrounding sounds and remained with her eyes closed, in a daze. She continued to think with her muddied mind.

Ah, I'm tired. I'm sleepy.

I can't move anymore.

No. I have to go back.

My Young Lady is waiting—

—Hey.

She heard a familiar voice. Reacting to that voice, Rebecca opened her eyes thinly again.

Are you okay? Can you hear my voice?

She should have heard Rieserago's voice, but the white dragon was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, what entered her vision was fiercely burning flames.

—Huh?

—Why is it burning?

Can't even speak anymore...? You hit your head too, and the bleeding... is quite severe...

She could hear Rieserago's worried voice.

Where on earth was she? She could hear the voice, but she couldn't see anything.

—Hey, can you hear me? You're going to die if this continues.

Trying to retort to those words, Rebecca opened her lips slightly, but she couldn't produce a voice.

It is just as I said, isn't it? Small child of man.

She heard the voice right nearby. It was a gentle voice, as if reasoning with a child.

The world where humans live doesn't suit you. You understand by now, don't you? This world is ugly. It is filled with base, shameful, and greedy hearts. It is overflowing with the foolishness of trying to dominate the weak.

No.

That's not right, Riesie.

Rebecca answered Rieserago in her heart.

—I know.

I know it.

Just as you say, the world might be ugly.

But gentle light definitely exists.

Absolutely, it will not be lost.

Eternally, it will never disappear.

Therefore, I—

—Even so, do you wish to live in this world? Rebecca.

At Rieserago's words, Rebecca screamed in her heart.

I want to live.

Beside my Young Lady.

Wendy's smile floated up in her heart again.

—My Lady.

—Lady Wendy.

She wanted to call her name one more time, but her voice still wouldn't come out.

Rebecca's consciousness slowly sank just like that. And then, it became quiet.

***

—My Lady.

Beautiful jewel-like green eyes opened.

Feeling as if she had heard Rebecca's voice, Wendy Tia Caldwell looked around.

There was no one.

She thought she had definitely heard the voice, but her beloved maid was nowhere to be seen.

"...Becca?"

Wendy's voice, filled with loneliness, echoed.

However, that voice was heard by no one and was swallowed into the darkness.

***

Thank you for reading, bookmarking, rating, liking, and commenting.

This concludes Part 2. It became a bit dark in atmosphere. I apologize if anyone felt uncomfortable. Also, the foreshadowing I intended to resolve wasn't resolved at all, and more foreshadowing appeared. I was supposed to depict more flirting between the protagonist and the Young Lady... they seem to have gotten closer, but also not...

From the next part, it will be the final chapter. Updates will be a little later, but I will do my best until the completion, so please continue to support me.