My Maid is Cute Chapter 58 : Rumors (Patreon)

*Rumors*

The darkness of the sky gradually faded, and the morning sun rose. Bathing her whole body in the crisp morning light, Rebecca gazed at the scenery from the window.

On the bed, Rieserago stirred with a rustle and called out to her.

"―You already up?"

"Yeah."

As Rebecca answered, she turned her gaze to Rieserago's face.

"―Are you okay?"

"Mm."

Rieserago nodded lightly at Rebecca's inquiry. She swept back her long hair and closed her eyes. A moment later, she opened them and nodded once more.

"I'm fine now."

Saying that, she smiled at Rebecca.

Relieved, Rebecca forced a smile in return and slowly stood up.

"Well then, shall we get ready and go for breakfast?"

***

The two packed their bags and left the inn. They went straight into a small nearby restaurant and ordered breakfast.

"Next up is the carriage," Rieserago said as she shoveled vast amounts of food into her mouth, one dish after another.

Her appetite was the same as always, with no trace of the instability she had shown the previous night. Secretly relieved by this, Rebecca began to eat her own meal.

"Yes. ...Just a little further."

They were getting steadily closer to the Caldwell domain. All that remained was two more carriage rides. If they made good time, they might even arrive this evening.

Having finished everything on the table, Rieserago let out a small breath and stood up.

"Alright, let's go."

They headed to the stop for the shared carriages. They purchased tickets and checked the time. It seemed there was still about an hour before the carriage departed.

"Shall we wait somewhere?"

"Let's wait over there, then."

Rebecca pointed to a bench for passengers set up near the stop. Rieserago nodded, so the two of them headed over to the bench and sat down together.

Since there was nothing to do while waiting for the carriage, Rebecca took Finley's Adventure out of her bag. Just as she was about to turn the page, intending to kill time reading until departure, Rieserago spoke up.

"Is that the book you bought yesterday?"

"Eh? Yes, it is."

Rebecca replied, turning the cover toward Rieserago.

"It's actually quite interesting."

"Hmm..."

Rieserago looked at the cover and tilted her head slightly.

"...That's an unusual name."

"Huh?"

Rieserago's gaze was fixed on the author's name printed on the cover: Renatoa Cel Ward.

"That word feels a bit unnatural for a person's name."

"...? What do you mean?"

When Rebecca frowned, Rieserago replied with a look as if recalling something.

"'Renatoa' is a very ancient word. If I recall correctly, it meant something like 'eternal' or 'never-ending.' Using that word as a name is a bit strange..."

"Huh..."

Murmuring in surprise, Rebecca looked at the cover again. Rieserago gave a slight, wry smile and spoke again.

"I'm going to go buy some drinks. Do you want something?"

"Ah, yes please."

When Rebecca replied, Rieserago nodded and stood up. Then, taking the coin purse, she headed toward a nearby shop.

Rebecca watched her go quietly, then let out a small sigh. She glanced at a nearby clock. It wasn't long until the carriage departed. She might actually be able to see Wendy today. Just thinking about it made her heart feel light. As she tried to suppress her eager heart and opened her book once more, it happened.

"...Hm?"

Her gaze stopped across the road, a short distance away. Two people were standing there. A young man and woman stood arm in arm, talking happily. Rebecca narrowed her eyes and stared intently at the pair. The man was tall, a youth with gentle, drooping eyes. The woman was petite, her long, fluffy red hair standing out. Her sparkling brown eyes were adorable.

She didn't know the man, but the woman was someone Rebecca knew very well.

"...Sadie?"

She muttered softly. Her hair had grown longer than it was four years ago, and she looked more mature, but that woman was unmistakably the junior maid of the Caldwell household, Sadie Vince.

Rebecca involuntarily stood up and opened her mouth to call out.

"Sa—"

However, as if to block her, a carriage stopped in front of Sadie and the man.

The carriage door opened immediately, and Sadie stepped forward to board.

"...Ah."

At the moment she was about to board, Sadie suddenly turned her gaze in Rebecca's direction. Their eyes met. As Rebecca hesitated, wondering what to do, Sadie tilted her head in puzzlement, then looked away and entered the carriage.

"..."

Rebecca's entire body turned to stone, and she stood rooted to the spot. Paying no mind to the frozen Rebecca, the carriage carrying Sadie and the man rattled away. Rebecca watched the carriage leave in silence.

Once the carriage disappeared from sight, Rebecca unsteadily sat back down on the bench. Seeing her former junior after so long had shaken her greatly.

No, more than that.

She had definitely made eye contact with Sadie. But Sadie hadn't recognized Rebecca at all. Those eyes were the eyes of someone looking at a complete stranger.

"Rebecca, what's wrong?"

Before she knew it, Rieserago had returned, arms full of items. She sat down next to Rebecca, looking at her dazed companion with curiosity.

Rebecca explained what had just happened in bits and pieces.

"You met someone from your past?"

"Yes... well, met isn't the right word. I just saw her face from a distance."

Rebecca drank the tea Rieserago had bought and looked down.

"She didn't seem to notice me..."

"Well, that's to be expected."

Since Rieserago said it so matter-of-factly, Rebecca raised her head.

"Excuse me?"

"Your appearance is completely different now compared to the past. She wouldn't think you'd turned into a child, so recognizing you would be impossible."

"..."

Rebecca fell silent and stared at her own small hands.

Rieserago was right. It was no wonder Sadie didn't recognize her in this young form.

She understood it in her head. But, shocked more than she expected, Rebecca let out a deep sigh and held her head in her hands. With an awkward expression, Rieserago held out some sweets she seemed to have purchased.

"Here, I'll give you this. So cheer up."

"..."

Rebecca accepted it silently.

Finally, the time for the carriage's departure arrived. Rebecca and Rieserago boarded the reserved shared carriage. There were a few other passengers besides them, but it wasn't particularly crowded. Rebecca shifted in her seat next to Rieserago, settling in.

The carriage departed immediately. As it rattled along, the scenery flowed by. Munching on the sweets Rieserago had given her, Rebecca hardly spoke as she was swayed by the carriage.

They arrived at their next destination, a town called Rildant, in about two hours. They had to change carriages here. Finally, once they passed this town, they would be in the Caldwell domain.

They had plenty of time until the next carriage departed. It was a little early for lunch, but they entered a café near the carriage stop to eat. Because of the early hour, the only other customers besides Rebecca's group were a pair of middle-aged women. The women were chatting lively while drinking their beverages.

Rebecca and Rieserago were guided to a table by a server and ordered a simple meal and drinks. After the server left, Rieserago spoke.

"Just a few more hours and we'll arrive."

"Yes. It's been long... truly..."

"Where are you going once we reach Caldwell?"

"For now, I intend to go to the mansion where I used to work. Come to think of it, what will you—"

Just as she was about to ask 'What will you do?', one of the middle-aged women at the nearby table spoke to them.

"Oh my, are you two going to the Caldwell domain?"

Apparently, they had overheard Rebecca and Rieserago's conversation. Rebecca nodded slightly, bewildered by the sudden address.

"Y-Yes."

The pair of women smiled warmly and continued.

"That's nice. A trip?"

In place of the silent Rieserago, Rebecca gave a vague smile and nodded.

"Umm, yes, something like that..."

"The weather looks like it might get a bit rough, so you should be careful."

The woman said this while looking outside. Rebecca followed her gaze. It wasn't raining yet, but as the woman said, it was a bit overcast.

"Looks like rain..."

Rieserago also looked outside, frowned, and muttered. Just then, the server brought their food. Rieserago immediately shifted her attention to the meal and began eating heartily. Rebecca started her meal with a wry smile.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged women, seemingly having lost interest in Rebecca and Rieserago, resumed their chatting.

"Speaking of Caldwell... did you hear? That rumor."

"Oh, yes, yes. I heard."

"It was quite a surprise, wasn't it?"

The women continued their conversation in somewhat loud voices.

Rebecca glanced outside again. I wonder if I should get an umbrella if it rains, she thought as she took a sip of her drink.

At that moment, the woman's words jumped into her ears.

"I heard the daughter of the Caldwell family is getting engaged."

Hearing those words, Rebecca sprayed her drink with full force. Rieserago, sitting directly opposite her, took the spray head-on.

Ignoring Rebecca, who was coughing and choking, the women continued their conversation.

"The partner is the son of the Lambert Marquess family, isn't it?"

"Right, right! It hasn't been officially announced yet, but it's basically a done deal—"

With a sullen expression, Rieserago took out a handkerchief and wiped her juice-soaked face.

Forgetting even to apologize to her, Rebecca sat frozen like a block of ice, an expression of utter shock on her face.