My Maid is Cute Chapter 55 : Under the Moonlit Night (Patreon)

*Under the Moonlit Night*

The next morning, Rebecca and Rieserago boarded the ship heading for Falishka together.

“Ooh... so this is a ship...”

Rieserago muttered, sounding a little bewildered.

“Riesie, is this your first time on a ship?”

“Yes. What about you?”

“I’ve ridden one once before.”

While conversing, they looked around. Despite it being early in the morning, the deck was bustling with many people.

“I wonder how long it will take to arrive?”

“Quite a while. It seems it will take several hours.”

“That long...”

Rebecca grimaced. In contrast, Rieserago turned her gaze toward the sea with a radiant expression.

“Well, let’s just relax and enjoy the voyage.”

Just as Rieserago said that, the ship began to move.

The scenery started to flow by slowly.

“Ooh, amazing, it really moved.”

“Well, it is a ship, after all...”

As Rieserago spoke with wonder, Rebecca smiled wryly.

For a while after departure, she stood on the deck gazing at the sea, but eventually getting bored, Rebecca called out to Rieserago.

“Riesie, I’m going to go look around inside the ship for a bit.”

“Alright. Will you be okay alone? Don’t get lost.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m not a child, so I won’t get lost.”

“You are a child, though.”

“No, I’m nooot!!”

Rebecca snapped back as if biting at her, then turned her face away abruptly and walked off.

***

“It’s huge...”

Rebecca muttered as she wandered around the ship’s interior. It was larger than the ship she had taken to Milbatha Island before, and there were more people too. There were many rooms inside the ship, including cabins apparently used by passengers, lounges, and storage rooms.

After exploring the ship for a while and getting tired, Rebecca headed to the passenger lounge and sat down on one of the sofas provided. She gazed blankly at the sky through the window.

“...I wonder how much longer.”

When she muttered quietly, an elderly man sitting on the sofa next to her spoke up.

“Little miss.”

“Yes?”

When Rebecca turned her face toward him, the man asked with a concerned expression.

“Are you lost, perhaps?”

Rebecca hurriedly shook her head.

“N-No! My sister is outside! I was looking around the ship and got tired, so I’m just resting here!”

“Is that so? Sorry about that. You were all alone, so I thought you might be lost...”

The man laughed in relief and asked again.

“Where are you heading, little miss?”

Being asked again.

“...To the Caldwell territory.”

At those words, the man opened his eyes wide.

“You’re aiming for quite a faraway place. Are you traveling?”

“Umm... I have a little business there.”

Rebecca gave a vague answer to gloss over it.

“There’s still quite a distance to go to get there. You have to cross a mountain too...”

At the man’s words, Rebecca tilted her head.

“Have you been to the Caldwell territory?”

“Yes. A little while ago. A friend of mine lives there, so I just went for a visit, but...”

The man narrowed his eyes as he continued.

“It’s a very nice place. It’s wealthy and bustling... and besides, there’s a celebrity there now.”

“A celebrity?”

Rebecca tilted her head, looking puzzled.

The man smiled broadly and added:

“Speaking of Count Caldwell’s younger sister, she’s one of the three great beauties of this country, you know.”

Rebecca involuntarily gasped.

“Of course, I’ve never met her, but according to rumors, she’s quite a beauty, so I’d love to see her face at least once... Huh? Little miss, what’s wrong? You look pale...”

“Eh? Ah, oh, no! It’s nothing! I’m going back to my sister! Thank you for the talk!”

Rebecca said hurriedly and stood up from the sofa. Then, she left the spot as if fleeing.

“Three great beauties? What’s that...?”

Having dashed out of the lounge, Rebecca muttered while leaning her hand against the ship’s wall.

She was greatly shaken by hearing about Wendy in such an unexpected place.

“...No, I’ve always thought she had a cute face, but... eeeh...?”

Muttering to herself in confusion, she walked unsteadily toward the deck where Rieserago was.

When she returned to where she had been, Rieserago wasn’t alone.

“Huh?”

Rieserago was talking to a young man and woman she didn’t recognize. Beside the couple, who appeared to be husband and wife, was a small girl.

Who are they? she wondered, but remembered immediately.

“...Ah.”

It was the girl who had fallen into the sea and whom Rieserago had saved yesterday.

Before Rebecca could approach, the couple bowed repeatedly and left with the girl.

“Riesie.”

As Rebecca approached and called out, Rieserago turned her face toward her.

“Hm, you’re back.”

“Yes. Those people just now...”

“Ah. Yesterday’s child and her parents.”

“So we were on the same ship.”

“Yeah. They thanked me over and over. Even though I told them not to worry about it.”

Smiling wryly, Rieserago held out a small piece of paper to Rebecca.

“When I told them I was traveling with my sister, they gave me this.”

“Eh?”

Peering at the paper, in big letters in the center, it read:

Sword of Elan

“Apparently, it’s a ticket for a play? Being performed in the next town we’re going to. They insisted I take it, saying they didn’t know if it would suffice as thanks.”

“Heh...”

As Rebecca stared intently at the ticket, Rieserago suddenly looked up. Gazing into the distance, she smiled and opened her mouth.

“—Look, we’re almost there.”

“Eh?”

When Rebecca looked in the direction of Rieserago’s gaze, land was faintly visible.

“It’s true...”

Little by little, they were getting closer to the Caldwell house.

Realizing this, Rebecca took a deep breath.

***

Having disembarked at Falishka, Rebecca was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and looked around timidly. In any case, there were many people. She thought it was a lively, bright, and energetic city. Many shops lined the streets, and there were large buildings too.

“It-It’s kinda amazing...”

Rebecca walked clinging to Rieserago, gripping the hem of her clothes tightly.

“Rebecca, don’t pull so hard. It’ll stretch.”

“B-But, I might get lost...”

“You’re saying the exact opposite of what you said earlier...”

Ignoring Rieserago’s exasperated voice, Rebecca looked around at the many shops.

“Ah—, want something to eat?”

At Rieserago’s words, Rebecca nodded, albeit with some hesitation.

“What would be good? How about those meat skewers over there?”

Rieserago pointed to a large shop nearby. It seemed to be a meat specialty shop, and a savory smell wafted from it. When Rebecca nodded, Rieserago immediately headed toward the shop.

“Here.”

Rieserago purchased a skewer with large chunks of meat and held it out. Taking it, Rebecca bit into it.

“It’s delicious...”

She didn’t know what kind of meat it was, but it was very tasty. Rieserago nodded while eating as well.

“Yeah, it’s good.”

Engrossed, the two continued eating together.

“Riesie, we have to take a carriage again next, right?”

When she asked after finishing the meat, Rieserago nodded.

“Yeah. Moreover, this time we have to cross a mountain. The next leg seems like it will take quite a long time too.”

“A shared carriage again...”

When Rebecca muttered, Rieserago thought for a moment before opening her mouth.

“...I see. A mountain... in that case, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a carriage...”

She continued muttering something to herself. Rebecca frowned and called out.

“Um... Riesie?”

Rieserago nodded as if she had decided something and turned her gaze toward Rebecca.

“Rebecca, let’s get a room here for today.”

“Eh? B-But the carriage...”

“It will be evening soon. It’s better to avoid entering the mountains at night.”

When Rebecca made a dissatisfied face, Rieserago laughed.

“Let’s depart tomorrow morning. I have a bit of an idea. So, let’s leave it for today. Okay?”

She was curious about the words "have an idea," but Rebecca nodded reluctantly.

Asking people walking nearby in the town, they were able to find a cheap inn immediately. Rebecca and Rieserago placed their luggage in a room at the inn and sat on the bed.

“I’m going to rest a little...”

Saying that, Rebecca lay down on the bed. This body really did get tired easily. She had been dissatisfied with Rieserago’s words, but resting for today might be the right answer. While Rebecca stared blankly at the ceiling of the inn, Rieserago spoke up.

“After we rest, shall we go see this?”

“Eh?”

Rieserago took something out of her bag. It was the theater ticket from earlier.

“Look, it’s a ticket for tonight.”

“Hmm...”

Somehow, she didn’t feel like it. She was tired, and she hadn’t come here for sightseeing.

But, it wasn’t like she had plans to do anything at night, and thinking it would be a waste to let the ticket go unused, Rebecca nodded reluctantly.

After resting their bodies for a while, Rebecca and Rieserago left the room. When they asked the inn staff about the play, they immediately told them the location of the theater.

“You’re lucky to be able to see that play, customers.”

The staff member said somewhat enviously.

“That play has been running for a long time, but it’s so popular that it’s hard to buy tickets.”

“Heh...”

It’s that popular, Rebecca thought as she looked at the ticket she was holding.

“Enjoy yourselves, young ladies.”

Waving at the staff member’s words, the two stepped out of the inn.

Rebecca took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. A large round moon could be seen floating in the night sky. Holding hands with Rieserago, she walked under the moonlit night.

When they arrived at the theater, many people were already lined up with tickets in hand, just like Rebecca.

“It really is a popular play...”

Most of the people there were waiting excitedly for the theater doors to open any moment.

Suddenly, turning her gaze to the theater wall, she saw a brightly colored paper posted there.

< That popular work adapted for the stage! Starring Hal Stanton - “Sword of Elan” >

It was a poster depicting a person who seemed to be the starring actor holding a sword, with large letters.

“—What do humans find interesting about doing things like this?”

Rieserago whispered in a small voice, looking at the poster with eyes that said she couldn’t understand. Just as Rebecca smiled wryly, unable to answer, the theater doors opened.

It seemed the time for the show to start had come.

“Riesie, please be quiet in the theater. Loud noises are not allowed.”

“I know at least that much. You’re the one who better not sleep.”

“I won’t sleep!”

Exchanging words in hushed voices, the two sat in the theater seats.

It was a larger theater than she had expected. Sitting in the fluffy seats, she looked around. In front was a wide stage, and the surroundings were overflowing with people wearing happy expressions.

Although she told Rieserago she wouldn’t sleep, Rebecca worried that she might fall asleep halfway through since she wasn’t keen on watching a play in the first place. At that moment, the surroundings began to darken.

“What? Why is it getting dark!?”

“Shhh! Quiet! It’s probably the signal that it’s starting.”

After scolding the flustered Rieserago, Rebecca turned her gaze to the stage in front.

***

To state the conclusion first, Rebecca’s worry that she might sleep during the performance was needless anxiety.

“...Whoa.”

While watching the play, Rebecca groaned involuntarily.

It was incredibly interesting.

The lively acting of the performers, the direction, the music—it was overflowing with charm so much that it didn’t feel like reality, and it was fun.

What was most wonderful was the story.

It was a play depicting the battle of a boy whose family was killed by monsters. Taking a sword in hand, he confronts his nemesis along with many companions. The betrayal of comrades, sad deaths, and plenty of friendship and love were depicted in exquisite balance.

Wrapped in the thunderous applause of the audience, the curtain fell on the stage.

After the performance ended, Rebecca let out a breath fwhew and turned her gaze to Rieserago.

“Riesie, it’s over.”

Rieserago was frozen with a serious expression Rebecca had never seen before.

“Um, Riesie?”

Thinking her state was strange, Rebecca waved her hand in front of Rieserago’s face. Then, as if returning to herself, Rieserago turned her gaze to Rebecca. She opened her mouth with a grim face.

“...What was that?”

“Eh?”

For a moment, Rebecca was surprised, thinking Rieserago was angry, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Somewhat excitedly, Rieserago piled on words.

“What is this. What on earth was that. Like, it was incredibly, that...”

“Huh?”

“Like, well, it was that.”

“...It was interesting?”

“Yes, that’s it! It was interesting! I was moved!!”

Apparently, she was so moved that her emotions and vocabulary had gotten lost. Rieserago clenched her fist tightly, and after that, she leaned her back against the seat as if dazed.

“...Amazing. I became absorbed in it...”

“It’s true.”

“Humans can create something this amazing...”

Giggling at those words, Rebecca took Rieserago’s hand.

“Come on, let’s go, Riesie. It’s already late at night. We have to go back to the inn and sleep quickly.”

Rieserago stood up unsteadily.

“...It was worth coming all this way. Since I was able to see something so wonderful.”

“Yes, it was amazing.”

“If there is an opportunity, I want to see it again...”

Perhaps she enjoyed it that much, but even while walking back to the inn, Rieserago kept talking about the play the whole time.

***

◆◆◆

***

At the same time.

A young girl stood by the window, gazing at the moon.

It was a beautiful night. It was wrapped in a silence so deep one could almost hear the voices of the stars. As if darkness had melted into it, a dark world spread out before her.

A breeze blew softly, swaying the girl's blonde hair. She slowly closed her eyes.

At that moment, knock knock, there was a knock on the room's door. The girl opened her eyes. She turned her gaze to the sky again but gave no answer to the knock.

However, the door opened quietly.

“...Were you still awake?”

From beyond the door, a young man spoke. The girl didn’t turn around, let alone reply.

The young man continued speaking, sounding concerned for the girl.

“...You should go to sleep soon. Close the window so you don’t catch a chill—”

“You’re annoying.”

The girl finally turned her gaze to the young man. However, that gaze was sharp as a blade.

“Don’t mind me. Leave me alone.”

She declared in a voice as cold as ice.

“...”

The young man let out a heavy sigh and moved the door.

Just before the door closed,

“Good night, Wendy.”

He called out, but as expected, the girl did not reply.

After the door was closed, the girl turned her gaze to the night sky again.

And then, moving her red lips, she called someone's name.

However, that small voice reached no one’s ears and was swallowed into the depths of the deep night.

From the girl’s green eyes, a small droplet fell.

***

Thank you for reading, bookmarking, rating, liking, and commenting. It has been one year since this work began serialization. Which means, it is Rebecca’s birthday. One year has passed, and instead of growing up, the protagonist has become a toddler, but I hope you will continue to support us.