My Maid is Cute Chapter 72 : I Want to Be by Your Side Forever (Patreon)

*I Want to Be by Your Side Forever*

Note: The viewpoint changes frequently.

***

"...To think you would propose such a thing."

In response to Nicholas's offer, Wendy spoke without changing her expression.

"It's unexpected. Truly."

Her green eyes shone coldly, staring straight at him as if measuring Nicholas's true intentions.

Under the intensity of that gaze, Nicholas almost looked away, but he managed to hold his ground. Feigning composure, he smiled back at Wendy.

—Count's Daughter Wendy Tea Caldwell is so beautiful that facing her head-on feels almost painful.

It was only after meeting Wendy that Nicholas learned that beauty exceeding a certain limit has the power to make the beholder wither.

Nicholas himself was quite attractive. He was aware that his features were well-ordered. Most women would become entranced and absent-minded when their eyes met his, and numerous marriage proposals had poured in from prestigious families seeking a partner for their daughters. He had turned them all down, however.

Furthermore, Nicholas's biological sister, Estelle, was a beauty who boasted enough allure to be called one of the country's "Three Great Beauties." She possessed dignified, refined good looks with sharp features. Since childhood, people had praised Estelle and Nicholas as a beautiful pair of siblings who looked very much alike.

But Wendy's beauty was different. If asked what was different, he would be hard-pressed to answer, but it was as if she existed in a different dimension. She was a woman who seemed untouchable. She possessed an overwhelming, flawless beauty that was far removed from humanity.

"Engagement, huh... I never thought you would be the one to ask. Did you hit your head somewhere?"

Wendy's words were blunt, devoid of even a speck of charm. Her gaze emitted a cold light; if he let his guard down, he felt as though those transparent eyes would pierce right through him.

She really is dazzlingly beautiful, as always, Nicholas muttered in his heart.

The students around them in the cafeteria were stealing glances at the conversing pair. If he hadn't cast a soundproofing spell, they would likely be eavesdropping. Everyone there seemed curious about what the two were discussing.

"I haven't hit my head. It's something I've been thinking about for quite some time."

When Nicholas replied, Wendy formed a disgruntled furrow between her brows. Nicholas smiled wryly at her open display of displeasure. Wendy's attitude was blatantly chilly and curt, but Nicholas didn't dislike that about her. In fact, he rather liked it. It was part of her individuality, after all. Though, he did wish her atmosphere would soften just a little.

Due to her beauty, Wendy had high name recognition as one of the country's Three Great Beauties, but her popularity was surprisingly low.

His sister Estelle, despite having recently gotten engaged, enjoyed immense popularity. Even now, many men secretly harbored feelings for her, and she was frequently approached whenever she attended parties. The third of the Three Great Beauties, Baron's Daughter Francesca Machett, was also reputed in high society for her innocence and loveliness, and was apparently adored by all sorts of people.

But Wendy was different. Wendy was reputed to be the most beautiful of the three, yet her popularity was overwhelmingly the lowest.

There were many reasons, but the primary cause was likely this personality of hers. She was always calm, reticent, a quiet woman who didn't show her emotions. It had been quite a while since he met Wendy, but Nicholas had never seen her smile.

Above all, Wendy disliked people and was terribly cold toward others. She hated socializing and apparently rarely attended parties. Because she had an approachable, difficult aura, she had almost no friends at the academy either, but she didn't seem to care about that in the slightest. She was truly a solitary figure.

Additionally, though Nicholas didn't know the details, she was called the "Cursed Lady" in her childhood and was apparently tormented by some misunderstood "curse." That "curse" supposedly no longer existed, but the rumors remained deeply rooted. Because of that, people who still believed there was a curse blatantly feared or avoided Wendy. Due to her beauty and cold personality, she seemed to have a few fanatical admirers, but she apparently had no fiancé, and there were zero rumors of romance.

Nicholas looked straight back into Wendy's eyes and, laughing cheerfully, added more words.

"You and I would work well together, I'm sure."

Wendy lowered her face slightly, moistened her throat with some tea, and then spoke again.

"For someone like you, who is the most popular with women in this academy and highly sought after, I think there are more suitable partners."

Nicholas tilted his head as if troubled.

"Hmm, but not compared to you, one of the country's Three Great Beauties... and said to be the most beautiful of the three, at that."

At those words, Wendy shrugged her shoulders and declared in a cold voice.

"Unlike you and your sister, I am not liked. Not that I'm interested, anyway."

"...Because you are a flower on a high peak. If you just attended a party and smiled a little, you'd become instantly popular."

"I don't need that."

Wendy retorted coldly and immediately lowered her face. Staring at her own reflection in the cup of tea, she muttered softly.

"...I don't care about other people. I... want to be liked by the person I like."

Nicholas stared silently at Wendy for a while.

Eventually, as if pulling himself together, he spoke to her.

"So, what do you think? About getting engaged."

At Nicholas's words, Wendy looked up. Nicholas tilted his head slightly, smiling as he continued.

"You know there are already rumors that you and I are close to an engagement, right? Neither my family nor your family would oppose it."

"...I suppose."

Wendy nodded reluctantly.

Nicholas wiped the smile from his face, adopted a serious expression, and whispered.

"...You know about my circumstances, don't you? Besides, this shouldn't be a bad deal for you either."

Wendy's hand, which had been moving to drink her tea again, stopped abruptly.

Then, turning her gaze back to Nicholas, she quietly set the cup down.

"I—"

It was just as Wendy slowly opened her mouth.

Suddenly, Nicholas felt someone's gaze. Turning his face toward it, he noticed a single maid standing nearby with a look that suggested she wanted to say something. She was holding a small envelope. If he recalled correctly, she was Wendy's personal maid. It seemed she wanted to speak to Wendy but was troubled by the soundproofing spell.

"Oh? I wonder what's wrong."

When Nicholas voiced his thought, Wendy looked at the maid as well. Noticing the maid holding an envelope, she made a startled face before speaking to Nicholas.

"Corin, dispel the magic."

"Eh? Ah, sure."

Confused by Wendy's demeanor, he lifted the soundproofing spell, and the maid immediately bowed and spoke.

"I apologize for interrupting your conversation. However, since Milady said that if a letter came, it was to be top priority over anything else—"

Before the maid could finish, Wendy snatched the letter from her hand. She stared at the envelope containing the letter with an intense gaze.

In the next instant, something unbelievable happened.

Wendy smiled.

Nicholas opened his eyes wide. Most likely, only Nicholas, who was closest to her, noticed it. It was a fleeting moment, but he definitely saw it. Wendy's lips relaxed, unravelling like a tightly knotted string, into a goofy grin.

Ignoring the shocked Nicholas, Wendy immediately returned her expression to her usual stoic face and spoke to him.

"Something has come up. I'm leaving now. ...We'll talk another time."

"Eh... ah... okay."

Nicholas nodded, dumbfounded. Paying no mind to him, Wendy walked briskly out of the cafeteria. The personal maid who delivered the letter also bowed and went somewhere else.

Left behind, Nicholas muttered blankly.

"...Wendy makes a face like that?"

Then, he tilted his head lightly.

"...Who on earth was that letter from?"

***

Wendy, having dashed out of the cafeteria, walked briskly down the hallway and headed to the dormitory. She entered her private room and immediately opened the letter.

The awaited letter was written in adorable, rounded handwriting.

To Milady,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. Thank you for your letter. I am sorry for the delay in replying. The other day, a tea party was held, and everyone at the mansion was running around busily. It was tough, but it seems to have been a very lively tea party. I started learning cooking in the kitchen the other day. I want to make something for you to eat someday, Milady—

In her private room, Wendy read the letter from her maid over and over again. She slowly traced the letters as if cherishing them.

Then, imagining the figure of the maid who must have written this with her small hands, she laughed softly.

"Mmh-hm, hehe."

She flopped onto the bed just like that, hugging the letter tight while kicking her legs in excitement. Then, she exhaled a long, slow breath and sat up. Her break time was nearly over, so she had to return to school.

"...I have to write a reply tonight."

Wendy muttered softly. Her mind was already full of thoughts on what to write in her reply.

She stood up from the bed and tidied her disheveled hair. Suddenly, remembering that she needed to write another letter besides the one to Rebecca, Wendy grimaced.

"Mn..."

She let out a small, involuntary groan. The recipient she had to write to was her brother, whom she hadn't really spoken to in months. Honestly, she didn't want to write it. But for the sake of her own future, she absolutely had to write a letter to Christopher.

"Haaah..."

Heaving a heavy sigh, Wendy muttered again.

"I want to see Becca..."

***

***

On a rare day off, Rebecca was spending time alone in Wendy's library.

No, to be correct, she wasn't alone.

"I'm lonely... I'm terribly lonely..."

To Rebecca, who was muttering and repeating "lonely, lonely," a fed-up voice replied.

『Ahh, I get it. I get it, so stop repeating it over and over.』

Leeselago was reflected in the small mirror Rebecca held in her hand. He was looking at Rebecca with an exasperated expression.

This portable mirror, engraved with strange patterns, was a communication magic mirror apparently made by Leeselago. Using this, she could talk to Leeselago anytime.

Using this mirror, Rebecca had summoned Leeselago. Even though they hadn't met in a long time, out of loneliness from not being able to see Wendy, Rebecca was whining and grumbling to him. Leeselago held his head in his hands with a look of utter annoyance.

『Good grief... You called me out of the blue after so long, so I panicked thinking something happened... only for you to call me for a reason like "being lonely"...』

"But... but... I haven't been able to talk to Milady for weeks except through letters... I want to talk to her directly... I'm lonely..."

Leeselago made a face that said this was incredibly bothersome. She knew it was pointless to tell Leeselago this, but she couldn't stop. With a face on the verge of tears, Rebecca spoke to the mirror.

"I'm sorry... But I didn't think it would be this painful..."

『Give me a break... I'm busy too, you know.』

At the word "busy," Rebecca furrowed her brows and tilted her head.

"Come to think of it, Leesy, where are you right now?"

『Me? I'm in the theater district. A play is about to start soon.』

Leeselago's voice sounded unusually bouncy.

『Ever since I saw "The Sword of Elan," I’ve been completely hooked... After parting with you, I came to a town full of theaters. Now, I'm staying in this area as long as my money allows, watching various plays every day. "The Sword of Elan" was good, but the other plays are good too!』

"..."

『Recently, I've made some acquaintances who also love theater... I've been invited to join the actors' fan club. I'm not that interested in the actors themselves, but apparently, you can get the latest information on various theatrical performances, so I'm quite tempted... What do you think?』

"...No, even if you ask me what I think..."

Now it was Rebecca's turn to sound exasperated.

She knew that the stage play of "The Sword of Elan" they saw during their journey had deeply impressed Leeselago, but she never imagined he would become this obsessed.

"You liked it enough to become a regular, huh..."

『I don't like it! I'm just interested in human creations and I'm a little hooked, that's all.』

"..."

If that isn't called liking it, then what is it? Rebecca thought to retort but stayed silent.

Instead, she lowered her face and whined again.

"Haaaaah... Must be nice, living such a fulfilling life... I want to see Milady too. At least I want to see her face..."

Seeing Rebecca sink into gloom from loneliness again, Leeselago shut his mouth for a moment. Then,

『If you're that lonely, why don't you just go to that school or whatever?』

He proposed.

"Huh?"

Rebecca looked up, her mouth hanging open. Leeselago shrugged his shoulders and continued.

『I said, you should just go to the school. You'd be satisfied if you saw her face, right?』

"...No, there's no way I can do such a..."

The Magic Academy was quite far away, and Rebecca had work, so there was no way she could do that. Rebecca tried to argue back, but Leeselago continued nonchalantly.

『It's possible immediately if I'm there. We just travel in an instant and come right back, right?』

"Eh."

Rebecca voiced her confusion.

"But... your magical power..."

『Did I not tell you? Recently, my magic has finally recovered. Obviously not to the level of my prime, but right now, I have enough magic to blow this country away with just a little heave-ho.』

"What is that? That's scary..."

When Rebecca muttered quietly, Leeselago chuckled, looking amused.

『Well, that was a joke... but taking you and moving instantly to a faraway place is simple. What will you do? I can't do it right this second, but if you're okay with a time when I'm free, I'll lend you a hand.』

"Um, well... but... hmm..."

At Leeselago's sudden invitation, Rebecca crossed her arms and pondered, perplexed. Honestly, it was a very attractive offer. But she had work, and Wendy would be busy with school studies.

However, if she could just see Wendy's face, even a little, from a distance...

"Hmm..."

Just as Rebecca groaned,

Suddenly, there was a knock knock-knock on the library door.

"Yes."

Hastily standing up, she whispered to Leeselago in the mirror.

"I'm sorry! Someone came..."

『Right. Later.』

Leeselago nodded lightly and immediately disappeared.

Rebecca rushed to the entrance of the library and opened the door. Standing there was Christopher.

"Hi, Rebecca."

Christopher raised his hand lightly in greeting, and Rebecca hurriedly bowed.

"Lord Christopher, good afternoon."

It was rare for Christopher to visit here. As Rebecca wondered about it while lifting her head, Christopher smiled gently and continued.

"I have something to talk about. May I come in?"

"Ah... yes."

When Rebecca hurriedly moved aside, Christopher slipped into the library.

As she closed the door, Rebecca stared at Christopher. For him to come here was truly rare. What on earth was the matter?

Meanwhile, Christopher gazed intently around the entire library before speaking.

"...Rebecca, are you alone?"

"Y-Yes."

"Weren't you talking to someone just now?"

Startled, Rebecca glanced fleetingly at the small mirror she had placed on the table. Turning her face immediately back to Christopher, she smiled to cover it up.

"Umm, I was talking to myself. I'm sorry for being noisy..."

"...I see."

Christopher made a face like he wasn't convinced, but he didn't say anything further. Grateful for that, Rebecca secretly exhaled in relief.

Christopher sat down on the sofa in the library and asked Rebecca again.

"Are you managing this place right now?"

Rebecca nodded hurriedly at his words.

"Y-Yes. Since Milady entrusted it to me..."

"That must be tough. There are so many books."

"Um, yes. But I was told I could borrow and read any book here... so it is very fun."

When Rebecca said that shyly, Christopher smiled as if relieved. Immediately after, he stared at Rebecca with a slightly brooding expression.

"Um, Lord Christopher. Is something wrong?"

Not understanding the meaning of his gaze, Rebecca tilted her head in confusion.

Christopher opened his mouth with a serious face.

"Rebecca."

"Yes?"

"Rebecca, are you happy right now?"

"Huh?"

At the unexpected question, Rebecca rounded her eyes. Ignoring the bewildered Rebecca, Christopher continued.

"You've been working here for a long time... but have you ever thought about wanting to work outside, not here? Or perhaps wanting to go to school? Is there anything you want to do besides being a maid? Have you ever thought about living a different way?"

"Eh, wha...?"

"Also, marriage, for instance—"

"Marriage!?"

Rebecca shouted unintentionally. Christopher looked as if her voice brought him back to his senses, and he smiled immediately.

"...Sorry. Asking weird questions."

"Ah, no..."

"But, you see, I've never heard you talk about those things."

"...Marriage would surely be difficult with this body."

When Rebecca smiled wryly, Christopher made a troubled expression.

"That might be true, but... do you have anyone you like?"

"I do not."

Rebecca declared flatly and looked back at Christopher. She continued speaking while thinking.

"...Um, I... want to stay in this mansion forever. I want to work here. That is exactly why, even after time passed, I came back... Um, how should I put it..."

Thinking of Wendy, Rebecca spoke softly.

"...I want to stay by Milady's side forever and ever. Because Milady is my number one."

At Rebecca's words, Christopher, who had been making a difficult face, slowly relaxed his expression.

"...I see. Thank you."

He placed his hand on Rebecca's head and stroked it gently.

"...Um, Lord Christopher? What is the matter? Suddenly..."

"No—"

Christopher looked away for a moment and hesitated, but soon he smiled, took an envelope from his pocket, and held it out to Rebecca.

"Here, a letter from Wendy to you. It seems it arrived today. I received it from the head maid, so I came to deliver it."

"Oh, thank you very much!"

Rebecca's face lit up. Watching Rebecca happily receive the letter with a warm smile, Christopher continued.

"...Actually, I received a letter from Wendy too."

"Eh!?"

"It's been a long time. receiving a direct letter from my sister... What was written was bureaucratic—business communications or requests for the future, just stuff like that, though."

"Really!?"

"Yeah."

Listening to Christopher, Rebecca felt a sensation as if her chest were trembling. Perhaps, just a little, step by step, Wendy was also trying to move forward.

"Thank goodness..."

When Rebecca smiled with relief, Christopher nodded slightly and stroked Rebecca's head again.