My Maid is Cute Chapter 61 : Welcome Home (Patreon)

*Welcome Home*

Christopher sat down on the sofa facing Rebecca. Reed stood quietly behind him. Even while Jeanne was preparing the tea, Christopher and Reed stared intently at Rebecca. Fidgeting under the intensity of their gazes, Rebecca accepted the cup Jeanne handed her and took a sip of tea.

The first one to speak was Christopher.

"First, I must ask. Rebecca, where have you been for these past four years?"

At that question, Rebecca froze.

—Oh no. How should I gloss over this? I should have thought about this.

Not knowing how to answer, her eyes darted around. In place of the struggling Rebecca, Rieserago spoke up.

"She was badly injured, so she was recuperating at my dwelling."

"Injured? Becca, you were hurt!?"

Wendy's face stiffened as she looked at Rebecca. Rebecca hurriedly opened her mouth.

"I-I'm already healed!"

At that answer, Wendy let out a relieved sigh. Meanwhile, Christopher frowned and questioned Rieserago.

"...Dwelling? Who are you in the first place? And what is your relationship with Rebecca...?"

"U-Um!"

Rebecca called out to Christopher in a panic.

"Lord Christopher, Milady, there is something I must tell you as well!"

Rebecca gulped, clenched her hands tight, and opened her mouth.

"I... the reason I suddenly disappeared four years ago... there was a reason..."

Unsure how to explain, Rebecca looked down, hesitating. As if to reassure her, Wendy spoke.

"I know. You were kidnapped by your siblings, weren't you?"

At those words, Rebecca's eyes widened, and she jerked her head up.

"Y-You knew?"

When she said this with a trembling voice, Wendy nodded.

"Yes."

Christopher also replied in a calm voice.

"We know that you are Carol Lionfall, the youngest child of the Lionfall family. That you ran away from home eight years ago, changed your name, and were working here... and also about your magic."

Rebecca's body went rigid. Trembling, she squeezed out her voice.

"S-Since when...?"

"...We learned about it around the time Wendy's curse was broken."

At Christopher's answer, Rebecca opened her mouth in astonishment.

"T-That long ago!?"

Leaning forward, Rebecca asked.

"W-Why!?"

Why did they know? Why did they keep quiet—?

Before she could voice her specific questions, Christopher answered.

"The first one to notice was Evan."

"Huh? Lord Evan...?"

In her mind, the smiling face of Evan, Christopher's friend and also the Prince, floated up. As Rebecca looked blank, Christopher continued with a wry smile.

"As I thought, you didn't know, Rebecca. That you were Evan's fiancée."

"...Huh?"

Rebecca's mouth hung open.

After a few seconds of silence,

"E-Eeeeeeeeeeh!? Fiancée!?"

Rebecca's scream echoed throughout the room.

Christopher nodded lightly and continued.

"To be precise, one of the candidates for fiancée, though."

Next to the stunned Rebecca, Wendy looked as though she had bitten into a sour bug.

"I-It's the first time I'm hearing this..."

Rebecca muttered, her face twitching. Her head was full of questions, and she felt like she was going to be confused.

Being a candidate for the Prince's fiancée—what on earth did that mean? When she lived in the Lionfall house, she didn't recall hearing any such talk from her family. To think there was a possibility of marrying the Prince—it was unbelievable. The difference in status was too vast. No, she was originally a noble, but the Lionfall family was a weak, low-ranking noble house. Marriage to a prince was surely too unbalanced in terms of lineage.

Her thoughts spun in circles. Seeing Rebecca like this, Christopher answered with a troubled look.

"He has rather low magic power for royalty... His parents were quite worried about that, so it seems they wanted his marriage partner to be a noblewoman with strong magic. So you, possessing high magic power, were brought up as a candidate. Of course, just one among many candidates."

"I-I see..."

Rebecca voiced her response dazedly. Christopher continued with a wry smile.

"Your parents seemed very keen on the engagement... At the time, to make the engagement happen, they apparently sent your personal history and portrait without being asked. So, Evan knew your face and remembered it vaguely. Well, it was quite some time after meeting you here that he actually recalled it, though."

Rebecca looked down and involuntarily held her head.

She never imagined she would be exposed from such a place.

"Ah, by the way, the engagement talk itself apparently fizzled out immediately because you went missing. Evan got married ages ago, too."

She couldn't stop her face from twitching at Christopher's words. Learning such a shocking fact now, she couldn't fully process the reality.

Next to Rebecca, Wendy was frowning for some reason, looking angry. Rieserago seemed uninterested in the conversation, sipping her tea in silence.

After a while, trembling, Rebecca spoke in a small voice.

"Why didn't you say anything? Neither Lord Evan nor you, Lord Christopher..."

At Rebecca's question, Christopher pursed his lips as if stuck for words. He glanced at Wendy, then immediately opened his mouth.

"—I asked Evan. I asked him to pretend he didn't know. And I decided to pretend not to know either."

Rebecca blinked and looked back at Christopher. Christopher stared straight at Rebecca and added words.

"...I wanted you to stay here, Rebecca. Regardless of the Lionfall family or magic power, I wanted you to be by Wendy's side. That's why..."

Rebecca pressed her lips together tightly. Not knowing Christopher's feelings, she felt ashamed of herself for working so carelessly in this mansion.

Slowly, Rebecca bowed her head.

"Thank you very much. Lord Christopher."

Christopher smiled looking a little troubled, and gave a small nod.

"Yeah."

Amidst this, Wendy interjected as if cutting in.

"—So? What happened four years ago?"

Rebecca's eyes darted around again.

"U-Umm..."

Glancing at Rebecca's panicked state, Rieserago opened her mouth.

"Four years ago, I was the one who saved her."

At those words, Wendy furrowed her brows and turned her face toward Rieserago.

"You did?"

"Yeah."

For some reason, Rieserago nodded arrogantly. Hoping that the confident woman would explain things well, Rebecca glanced at her. However,

"She and I have been friends for a long time, and... four years ago, she asked me for help. When I rushed over, I found her siblings using violence against her, so, um... I used a little magic to save her."

Rebecca was dumbfounded by Rieserago's explanation. Flustered, she pulled on Rieserago's clothes and whispered.

"R-Riesie! What is that explanation!!"

When she asked in a whisper, Rieserago furrowed her brows and retorted.

"Ah? What? I glossed over it properly, didn't I?"

She involuntarily held her head.

"The setting is sloppy!! Why are you speaking so confidently!? If you're going to fudge the truth, do it better!"

"How was I supposed to say it? I can't exactly tell the truth, can I?"

"That's true, but! Your excuse is fluffy and way too vague!"

Whispering back and forth, she glanced at Christopher and Wendy. There was no way they could be convinced by that explanation. As expected, both Christopher and Wendy directed gazes at Rieserago as if looking at a suspicious person.

"Becca's friend...? Really...?"

At Wendy's words, Rebecca forced a smile and nodded.

"Y-Yes. That's right... This person has been my good friend for a long time... and um, well... four years ago, by chance, she saw me near my family home, and um, saved me? Or rather..."

Her own words were becoming vague. Rebecca smiled at Wendy to gloss it over.

—I just have to push through with this. I have to fudge it somehow. It's not a lie, right?

Looking even more puzzled at Rebecca's words, Christopher spoke again.

"But why didn't you contact us at all for these four years?"

It was Rieserago who answered that question.

"Four years ago, when I saved her, she was covered in wounds and had hit her head hard. Since I was a doctor, I immediately took her back to my dwelling and treated her, but... due to the blow to her head, she didn't wake up for a long time."

Hearing that, Wendy directed an intense gaze at Rebecca again. To reassure her, Rebecca smiled.

"I'm healed now. Nothing is wrong with me anywhere."

Wendy let out a sigh of relief. Rieserago nodded slightly and continued.

"However, she had hit her head so hard that she was in quite a dangerous condition. I used a lot of magic and medicine to treat her body. I used a new, high-level healing magic that only I can use... and as a side effect, her body shrank like this."

Christopher stared at Rebecca in bewilderment.

"Such a technique exists...? I've never heard of it..."

"U-Um... It seems it's a very difficult and rare magic!!"

When Rebecca hurriedly interjected, Rieserago nodded as if to back her up.

"It's a unique magic I was researching. Well, the injuries themselves have healed, so you don't need to worry. Her body... should grow over time as well."

At those words, Rebecca looked at Rieserago for a moment as if wanting to say something. However, in the end, she returned her gaze without saying anything.

"After that, she woke up, but due to the blow to her head, she had amnesia. A few days ago, she finally regained her memories... and since she wished to return here, I brought her. That is all."

Concluding her haphazard story, Rieserago popped a baked sweet prepared by Jeanne into her mouth with a nonchalant face. Meanwhile, Christopher and Wendy,

"..."

"..."

Stared at Rebecca silently with confused faces. They didn't look convinced in the slightest. Feeling their gazes painfully, Rebecca hurriedly opened her mouth.

"U-Um! So... I-I have a request!! For Lord Christopher and Milady!"

"Hm?"

To Christopher, who tilted his head, Rebecca said,

"Please, won't you hire me one more time!!"

Saying that, she bowed her head.

"I apologize for hiding my identity for a long time. And I apologize for disappearing and being unable to return. But... um... I love it here!! I know it's a brazen request. But... please, let me work here once more!!"

Her voice came out a little loud. Feeling embarrassed about that, she waited for a reply.

Silence dominated the space. A moment later, she felt warmth on her hand. Wendy's hand was holding Rebecca's, wrapping around it. When she gently looked up, Wendy was smiling.

"...Of course, Rebecca. We welcome you from the bottom of our hearts."

At that voice, she turned her gaze to the front. Christopher, too, wore a gentle smile. Standing behind him, Reed nodded slightly, and Jeanne's face broke into a happy smile.

"I-Is it alright?"

"Yeah. ...Thank you for coming back here, Rebecca."

At Christopher's words, Rebecca stroked her chest in relief. Fighting back tears of joy, she bowed her head again.

"Thank you very much. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Seeing Rebecca like that, Christopher crossed his arms thoughtfully and spoke.

"But, with that appearance, doing the same work as before might be difficult... Not as a maid... Let's see, first as a helper, doing what Rebecca can do—"

"No."

As if interrupting Christopher's words, Wendy spoke.

"She will be my exclusive maid. Right?"

Wendy squeezed Rebecca's hand tightly while directing a sharp gaze at Christopher. As if overwhelmed by that gaze, Christopher closed his mouth and exhaled a large breath.

"...Understood. Do as you like, Wendy."

"Yes. I will do so."

At Wendy's somewhat cold voice, Rebecca tilted her head.

What was it? Christopher and Wendy's behavior was strange. The two Rebecca knew were siblings with a very strong bond who got along well. But the two of them now were somewhat distant, and their conversation was curt. Especially Wendy's gaze toward Christopher was cold and thorny.

What happened? Had something happened between these two—?

Just as she was thinking that, Rieserago spoke up.

"Is everything settled? Then, I'm going back."

At those words, Rebecca hurriedly spoke.

"R-Riesie! You're going home!?"

"Yeah."

To Rieserago, who nodded lightly, this time Christopher called out.

"It's late at night, so if you'd like, won't you stay here?"

At those words, Rieserago made a slightly troubled face.

"We also want to thank you for saving Rebecca. Please, do stay the night."

Strongly urged like that, Rieserago was bewildered, but eventually nodded as if giving up.

"I'll be in your care."

"Please make yourself at home. —Reed, prepare a meal."

Ordered so, Reed bowed his head slightly. Raising his face immediately, he addressed Rebecca.

"—Before that... there is someone I definitely want Rebecca-san to meet."

Because Reed suddenly said that, Rebecca looked blank and tilted her head.

"Eh?"

Reed beckoned. Rebecca let go of Wendy's hand and approached Reed.

"What is it?"

To the puzzled Rebecca, Reed smiled just a little, which was rare.

"They should be waiting outside, so."

"Eh?"

Reed opened the room's door. Pointed outside, she peeked her head out, and there,

"Rebecca!!"

Carrie was standing.

"Ah, Carrie-san!!"

She involuntarily shouted. Her hairstyle had changed, but it was unmistakably her colleague Carrie. Looking closely, not only Carrie but also the Head Maid and other familiar servants were gathered there.

Starting with Carrie, everyone there looked at Rebecca in surprise.

"R-Rebecca, right? Is it definitely you?"

At Carrie's words, she hurriedly nodded.

"Y-Yes!! Despite this appearance, I am the genuine Rebecca Lion! I have returned!!"

When Rebecca said that, Carrie teared up and hugged her with force.

"Rebecca, Rebecca, thank goodness~! We were worried about you!!"

"Carrie-san..."

Surrounding servants also spoke to Rebecca one after another with bright faces, despite their surprise.

While surrounded by them, Rebecca also hugged Carrie back, her eyes moistening slightly.

Gazing at Rebecca, Wendy murmured softly.

"...Truly, welcome home, Becca."