My maid is Cute Chapter 63 : Parting (Patreon)

*Parting*

—Shoot. I forgot about my own body.

In the kitchen late at night, Rebecca stared daggers at the cup inside the cupboard.

She had the milk and honey ready. However, because the cup was on a high shelf, Rebecca couldn't reach it. With an adult’s body, it would have been within easy reach, but with her current height, it was impossible.

Feeling bitter once again about the changes in her body, Rebecca looked around and found a large chair. She ran over to it and grabbed hold of it.

"Urgh... hngh..."

Groaning at the weight, she desperately dragged the chair in front of the cupboard. She clambered up onto the chair and stretched out her hand toward the shelf. Doing so, she finally managed to retrieve a single cup.

Holding the milk, honey, cup, and other tools, she left the kitchen only to find Wendy waiting in the corner of the hallway.

"Milady, you could have waited in your room, you know."

"...Because I want to be with Becca."

Saying that, Wendy took Rebecca's hand.

"Let's go to my room."

"Ah, yes."

And so, holding hands, the two of them began to walk down the dark corridor.

***

In Wendy's room, Rebecca warmed the milk. After pouring the milk into the cup, she scooped up some honey with a spoon and let it drip into the milk. The golden honey melted thickly into the pure white milk.

Wendy sat on the nearby sofa, staring intently at Rebecca making the hot milk. Being watched so fervently made Rebecca feel awkward, and she fidgeted as she handed over the finished drink.

"Here you go."

"...Thanks."

Wendy accepted the cup and immediately brought the milk to her lips. The next instant, Wendy's face lit up. She snapped her head up, turning toward Rebecca.

"...This is it."

At those words, Rebecca tilted her head in confusion.

"...? Yes?"

Wendy narrowed her eyes and took another sip. She swallowed it down with a gulp and spoke to Rebecca again.

"This, it was this... This is what hot milk tasted like! Becca's milk!"

"...Eh?"

"Thank goodness... I was starting to forget the taste. I'm truly happy to be able to drink it again..."

Wendy said this looking genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart and continued drinking. Watching her, Rebecca felt a prick of pain in her chest as she spoke.

"...From now on, I will make it for you anytime."

Wendy met Rebecca's gaze and nodded slightly. She stared at the milk and murmured softly.

"...It's strange."

"Yes?"

"...While you were gone, Becca, I had other servants make hot milk for me... but it had no taste at all. I even tried making it myself... but it still didn't taste like anything."

Wendy drank the milk bit by bit, then smiled sweetly at Rebecca again.

"I definitely like the milk you make the best."

"...Thank you very much."

Rebecca voiced her gratitude in a whisper.

Watching Wendy slowly drink the hot milk, Rebecca suddenly remembered something and spoke up.

"Come to think of it, Milady..."

"Hm?"

"What about school...? You enrolled, didn't you?"

Come to think of it, Wendy should have enrolled in the Magic Academy. The distance from this mansion to the Magic Academy was too great to commute. Therefore, like Christopher during his student days, she should have moved into the dormitory. So, why was she in this mansion? Wondering this rather late in the game, Rebecca asked, causing Wendy to frown.

"I'm currently on long-term break. I have to return to the dorms in another week."

"Ah... is that so..."

Rebecca thought it was lucky timing that she was able to return while Wendy was at the mansion. Meanwhile, Wendy finished drinking her milk.

"Thank you. Becca."

"Yes."

Taking the empty cup, Rebecca continued the conversation.

"Um, Milady. There is something I've been wanting to ask you for a while..."

"What?"

"...Did something happen between you and Lord Christopher?"

The moment she asked, Wendy made a peculiar expression. It was a face harboring complex emotions—looking sad, yet also angry.

"...? Milady...?"

When Rebecca called out to her, Wendy abruptly averted her gaze.

"Nothing. Nothing happened."

She answered curtly. And then, she shut her mouth tight.

"..."

Her lips were pursed firmly as if to say I will absolutely not talk about this.

Although confused, Rebecca gave up on questioning further due to Wendy's obstinate demeanor.

"...It's getting late, so shall we go to sleep soon?"

"Yeah."

Wendy nodded obediently. Immediately after, her stiff expression crumbled, and she peered into Rebecca's face, laughing happily.

"Becca, let's sleep together."

Feeling a sense of nostalgia at the proposal, Rebecca smiled wryly.

"...I must decline."

"Ehh—"

Wendy let out a voice of dissatisfaction, and Rebecca continued as if to soothe her.

"I will rest in my own room."

"Just a little bit is fine, isn't it?"

"Milady, you have grown up now, so..."

"Becca is the one who got smaller."

"...Anyway, please go to sleep quickly. It really is late. I will go put the cup away."

Wendy pursed her lips in a pout. Rebecca squeezed Wendy's hand tightly.

"Let's talk a lot again tomorrow."

"...Okay."

Wendy nodded reluctantly and got into bed.

"Well then, goodnight, Milady."

"...Becca."

"Yes?"

Wendy poked her face out from the bed and spoke with an anxious expression.

"You won't ever disappear again, absolutely, right?"

"...Yes, of course."

"Forever, and ever... you have to stay by my side. You can't not be there."

Saying that, Wendy seemed as if she had reverted to a young girl. Rebecca smiled and whispered back.

"...Yes, Milady. This time, I will stay by your side. Because this is where I belong... I'll be with you forever and ever."

Seemingly relieved by those words, Wendy smiled back.

"...Really, right? Absolutely?"

"Yes."

"...If you try to leave me next time, at that moment..."

"At that moment?"

Suddenly, the look in Wendy's eyes changed. With a sharp, piercing glint in her eyes, she brought her lips close to Rebecca's ear and whispered.

"—At that moment, I might just eat you up."

At those words, Rebecca's shoulders twitched with a start. Seeing Rebecca's reaction, Wendy pulled her body back. Giggling, she murmured,

"I'm joking."

Her gaze had returned to its original calm and gentle look.

"...Is, is that so."

"Goodnight, Becca."

Rebecca hurriedly bowed her head.

"Goodnight, Milady."

Then, she briskly left Wendy's room.

***

"...That surprised me."

Holding the cup and the jar of milk, walking down the dark corridor, Rebecca muttered under her breath. Recalling Wendy's demeanor just now, she let out a small sigh.

Wendy talking to Rebecca felt like a young girl, which was heartwarming. Yet, at the very end, her gaze suddenly shifted into something sharp, and that mature expression overwhelmed her.

Come to think of it, even when she was little, she sometimes had a face like a wild beast.

Even though she had grown, that part hadn't changed much, she muttered in her heart. She stepped into the kitchen again to clean up.

"—You're late."

"Eeek!"

Suddenly addressed in the darkness, she let out a small scream. When she turned around, Rieserago was standing there.

"R-Reesy!? Please don't startle me..."

"My bad."

Rieserago shrugged. After glancing at her, Rebecca placed the cup and milk on the table.

"What's wrong? At this time of night..."

"I went to your room and you weren't there, so I was looking for you."

"Did you need something?"

While watching Rebecca quickly proceed with the cleanup, Rieserago made a slightly hesitant expression before opening her mouth.

"—I'm leaving here tomorrow."

"...!"

Rebecca paused her hands for a split second at Rieserago's words. Then, she quietly turned to face Rieserago.

"...Where are you going?"

Rieserago smiled faintly.

"Who knows... I could go back to where I was, or go to Nina's mountain... or maybe it would be good to continue traveling leisurely like this..."

"...I see."

Rebecca murmured softly, looking down. Rieserago reached out and gently patted Rebecca's head.

"Don't make such a gloomy face. It's not like we can never meet again for the rest of our lives."

"..."

Even so, Rebecca didn't raise her head, looking depressed. Rieserago smiled wryly and continued.

"Is parting with me that lonely for you?"

"...Of course it is."

Rebecca raised her head. She looked straight into Rieserago's ocean-like eyes.

"You saved me... and supported me all this time. You understand me... and you are my precious friend. So... I'm lonely. Very much so."

At those words, Rieserago looked taken aback. Immediately after looking dumbfounded, she scratched her cheek bashfully.

"Ah—... is that... so..."

Rebecca gripped Rieserago's clothes tightly.

"...Are you really going?"

"Yeah."

Because Rieserago nodded clearly, Rebecca looked as if she were about to cry, looked down again, and finally let go of her hand.

Watching Rebecca like that, Rieserago crouched down on the spot.

"Rebecca."

"...Yes?"

"Look up."

Told so, Rebecca slowly raised her face. Rieserago looked back at Rebecca with a mysterious expression.

Remaining silent, Rebecca and Rieserago stared straight at each other.

"...Reesy?"

When Rebecca called out, Rieserago snapped out of it, then laughed slightly. Then, she spoke again.

"There is something I want to give you."

"...? Something to give me?"

Rieserago rummaged in her pocket and took something out.

"Here, I'll give you this."

"...?"

What Rieserago took out was a small, round, indigo-colored object.

"...What is this? A mirror?"

It was a portable mirror that could be folded in two. A strange pattern was drawn on the surface.

"My magic is finally starting to return. I imbued my magic into this mirror. If you call out to this, you can contact me directly. Anytime, anywhere."

"Eh... really?"

At Rebecca's words, Rieserago grinned and nodded. Then, this time she took out a small hand mirror from somewhere. It was the mirror that had reflected Rebecca's figure for the first time in that other dimension a few days ago.

"I connected it with this mirror. So, whenever you have business, just call out."

"When I have business..."

When Rebecca muttered softly, Rieserago gently patted Rebecca's head again.

"You don't need to have business. Call me when you want to talk to me, or when you want to see me."

"...Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Always, anytime."

Rieserago nodded firmly, and Rebecca's face brightened just a little. Holding the indigo compact mirror as if hugging it, she smiled at Rieserago.

"Thank you, Reesy."

"Yeah."

Rieserago smiled back.

***

The next day, after eating breakfast, Rieserago informed Christopher that she would be departing from the mansion immediately.

"You could stay a little longer..."

Christopher said, but Rieserago shook her head as if to interrupt him.

"No, I only came here to escort Rebecca. It is about time I take my leave."

Saying that, she stood up with barely a greeting.

"Well then, excuse me."

"Is that so..."

Christopher didn't try to stop her any further. Rebecca watched the two exchanging words with a detached air silently from nearby.

A few minutes later, in front of the gate of the Caldwell mansion.

"Reesy, thank you for everything."

"Yeah."

Rebecca and Rieserago were exchanging their final words. A little distance away, Christopher, Lisette, and Wendy stood watching over the two.

"...Truly, thank you. Reesy."

"Yeah."

"Ah... I will definitely pay you back the money used during the journey once I save up my salary."

"I told you not to worry about that..."

Rieserago smiled wryly. Staring at her, Rebecca tugged on the hem of her clothes.

"Hey, crouch down."

"Hm?"

Rieserago lowered her hips on the spot with a puzzled look. Rebecca threw her arms around her.

"...Mmh."

Wendy, standing silently at a distance, let out a small voice. Unaware of this, Rebecca spoke into Rieserago's ear.

"Don't forget. I love you from the bottom of my heart. You are my precious friend, Rieserago."

"...Yeah. I feel the same, Rebecca."

Rieserago also hugged Rebecca's small body. Then, she spoke in a low voice so that no one but Rebecca could hear.

"—You remember what I told you before, right? ...Don't forget, Rebecca. About your body."

At those words, Rebecca pressed her lips together tightly.

Slowly pulling her body away from Rieserago, she nodded silently.

Rieserago stared at Rebecca silently for a while.

And then,

"Farewell, my small friend."

Saying that, she stood up slowly and took a step forward.

Just like that, she left like the wind.

***

*Notes*

Rieserago and Rebecca are like mirrors to each other. They have many things in common. Not being blessed with family, having strong magic from birth, changing their names, and so on... Their appearances and personalities are completely different, but their inner selves are very similar. Rieserago is aware of this, and Rebecca instinctively realizes it too. That is why they somehow opened their hearts to each other and became like-minded friends.

With the parting from Rieserago, the final story of Rebecca and Wendy finally begins. By the way, this doesn't mean Rieserago's role is over; she is planned to reappear.

Updates are irregular, but I hope you continue to support the series.