My Maid is Cute Chapter 76 : Realization (Patreon)

*Realization*

While still holding Rebecca in his arms, Leeselago moved his fingers. The moment a snap reached her ears, the surrounding scenery had already changed.

"This is..."

It seemed to be a back alley in some city. There was no one around, but she could faintly hear the buzz of people's voices in the distance.

"It's the royal capital. I moved us to a random back alley. The noble's school should be around here, right?"

"Ah, yes..."

Just as Rebecca thought, Come to think of it, I came without preparing anything, let alone eating breakfast, her stomach growled, protesting its emptiness. Rebecca's face turned red, and Leeselago chuckled wryly.

"Let's get some food for now."

With that, still carrying Rebecca, Leeselago stepped out from the back alley onto the main street.

"Ohh..."

Seeing the cityscape, Rebecca couldn't help but voice her awe. It had been a long time since Rebecca set foot in the royal capital. The last time was when she left her family home to look for work, which was about eight years ago. Anyway, there were so many people, and the buildings were huge. Beautiful houses and shops were lined up in a chaotic bustle; feeling somewhat unsettled, Rebecca fidgeted and gripped Leeselago's clothes.

It was still early enough to be called morning, but the city was already bright, and the lively voices of people talking filled the air.

"What do you want to eat?"

Leeselago asked while looking around, and Rebecca tilted her head as if troubled.

"Anything... Since it's morning, let's keep it light."

The two of them looked around at the nearby shops and eventually bought a large amount of bread and drinks at a bakery. While they were at it, they asked the bakery clerk for the location of the Magic Academy. The kind clerk politely told them the location and even drew them a map.

Finding a place nearby that looked like a plaza, they stepped into it. They sat down side-by-side on a bench placed there. Leeselago took out the bread purchased from the paper bag and handed it to Rebecca. Come to think of it, I'm sorry for taking the day off without telling Carrie or the head maid, Rebecca thought as she stuffed her cheeks with the still-warm bread.

She had come here almost impulsively at Leeselago's invitation, but if she thought about it calmly, there was no way the academy would let outsiders like Rebecca and Leeselago in. Leeselago had said something about going secretly, but what did he intend to do?

Rebecca looked up to ask Leeselago, but...

"Huh?"

Leeselago, who had been vigorously eating a large amount of bread next to Rebecca, had disappeared before she knew it. She hurriedly looked around. Leeselago was closer than she thought. While eating bread, he was staring intently at something that looked like a bulletin board.

Rebecca swallowed her bread and approached Leeselago.

"Leesy, what's wrong...?"

As she called out, she followed the direction of Leeselago's gaze. There, an advertisement poster for an opera apparently being performed in a few days was posted.

"...You want to see it?"

"Eh!? N-No! You're wrong!! I was just a little curious!"

Leeselago denied it while waving his hands vigorously, but he was still sending glancing looks at the advertisement. Rebecca spoke with a wry smile.

"You want to see it, don't you? You really like these kinds of plays..."

"No, I said! I was just a little curious!! It's not like I like them or anything!!"

Leeselago said this flatly. Rebecca stood next to Leeselago and looked at the advertisement on the bulletin board. It seemed the play being performed was a comedy based on romance.

"This looks like a comedy. Do you like these kinds of plays, Leesy?"

"Eh? No... if I had to say, I watch serious dramas more often than comedies... ones that focus more on human relationships, leave a strong impression on the heart, and shake your emotions... Of course, comedies are interesting to watch too, but if you ask for my preference, it's a little different... 'The Sword of Elan' that I saw with you first was good. Even now, it remains in my heart the most. Human emotions were exploding, and above all, the protagonist's suffering and anger were conveyed to me watching, making me feel dizzy..."

For someone who said he didn't like it, he was talking about it quite a lot. Rebecca stared exasperatedly at Leeselago, who had completely turned into a theater geek. Perhaps realizing her gaze, Leeselago stopped mid-sentence and, as if to cover it up in a panic, stuffed the half-eaten bread into his mouth and swallowed it in one go. Then, pulling himself together, he raised his voice.

"More importantly! Let's go to the school quickly!"

"Ah, about that, how are we going to get inside the academy? You said something about 'secretly' earlier..."

At Rebecca's question, Leeselago grinned and picked up Rebecca's body again.

"Wah, Leesy?"

"Well, leave it to me. I have a good idea. Anyway, let's head towards the school."

Saying that, Leeselago started walking. In Leeselago's arms, Rebecca became anxious. She had a bad feeling. Leeselago's "good ideas" usually resulted in bad outcomes for Rebecca. This dragon would calmly do things like running wild on a whim or a sudden idea without thinking carefully.

—If he looks like he's about to do something outrageous, I'll stop him with all my might.

Unconcerned with Rebecca secretly making up her mind, Leeselago proceeded toward the academy in high spirits.

***

Walking around the city together while looking at the map, they searched for the academy. After walking for about 30 minutes, they finally arrived at their destination.

"According to the map, it's this building," Leeselago said, stopping.

"It's huge..."

A voice leaked from Rebecca's mouth. The Magic Academy, seen for the first time, was a much more massive building than Rebecca had imagined. It was a luxurious, dignified school that looked like a castle with a somewhat mystical atmosphere.

If she had continued living at the Lionfall house as she was, Rebecca would likely have enrolled in this academy too. Thinking about that, stepping into it in this form felt somewhat strange.

"So, what shall we do?"

Rebecca asked Leeselago while staring at the large, tightly closed gate that was presumably the entrance. naturally, the academy grounds seemed off-limits to unauthorized personnel. Since it was a school with many noble children, there was likely strict security as well. Rebecca turned her face to Leeselago as if at a loss. Leeselago voiced his confidence.

"Honestly, getting in is easy, you know? No matter how strict the security or if there's a barrier, I can enter easily. The current me is invincible."

"...So it's trespassing after all."

"It's fine if we don't get caught. If we don't get caught."

Saying that, Leeselago snapped his fingers. Immediately, the scenery around the two shifted. They were in a place like a garden, with greenery spreading around them. There was no sign of anyone nearby.

"Where is this...?"

When she asked while looking around, Leeselago answered while putting down the Rebecca he was carrying.

"Inside the academy. Maybe the schoolyard or something?"

"...We really can get in this easily."

Just as Rebecca muttered, half in admiration and half in exasperation at Leeselago's magic...

"Rebecca."

Leeselago called Rebecca's name. Replying "Yes," she turned her face to Leeselago. In that instant, the scene before her eyes distorted.

"Fueh!?"

She raised a voice in surprise. For a moment, her vision went white, and she collapsed on the spot.

She didn't know what had happened. As soon as her vision brightened, Rebecca raised her voice, "Hey, Leesy!!" However, what leaked from her mouth was,

"Nyago!!"

A strange sound. Shocked, she raised her hand to cover her mouth and was astonished again. Something pink was attached to that hand. No matter how she looked at it, it was a paw pad.

What is this!? She meant to say, but what leaked from her mouth was again,

"Nya!?"

A scream. She tried to stand up, but she naturally fell into a four-legged stance.

『Oh, this turned out quite cute.』

Before she knew it, a beautiful cat with pure white fur was sitting in front of her. Strangely enough, she could immediately understand the words of the cat, who was meowing "Nya, nya" with its mouth. What is this cat? Rebecca looked blankly, but realized immediately.

『Leesy!?』

When she called his name, a cry of "Funyao!?" flew out of her mouth as expected.

『Yup, it went well.』

Leeselago, transformed into a white cat, nodded with satisfaction. He was about a size larger than Rebecca and was swaying his tail. Looking closely, the surrounding scenery was different from before too. The trees and bushes were clearly bigger. No, that wasn't it. She had become smaller. Rebecca panicked and looked around at her own body. It was covered in short black fur, and she even had a tail growing from her bottom. No matter how she looked at it, it was a cat's tail.

『Leesy!! What is this!?』

『Transformation magic. If we walk around secretly in the form of cats, we won't stand out, right?』

At Leeselago's words, Rebecca was dumbfounded. Surely, this wasn't what he meant by a "good idea."

At Leeselago's overly eccentric action, Rebecca froze for a while unable to even utter a word, but gradually anger welled up. She never thought she would be turned into a cat without permission. Anger also welled up at herself for not being able to stop him even though she should have been able to predict that he would absolutely do something outrageous. Rebecca yelled at Leeselago.

『Leesy!!』

Her cat body let out a sharp "Hiss!!" on its own. Leeselago stepped back as if frightened by Rebecca's threatening voice.

『You, doing something like this on your own again!!』

『W-What. I mean, it's definitely easier to move around like this than in human form, right?』

『I'm angry that you decided on your own and turned me into this form without any explanation!! Why couldn't you at least explain it beforehand!?』

『No, because if I told you, you'd object, surely.』

『Obviously!!! Change me back right n—』

Just as she was meowing and arguing with Leeselago, she felt the presence of people approaching. Rebecca and Leeselago gasped and turned their faces in that direction.

『Someone's coming.』

『A-Anyway, let's hide!』

Leeselago and Rebecca quickly hid in the shadow of the bushes. Immediately after, many boys and girls who seemed to be students passed by.

『...Seems like they're going into that big building over there.』

『Probably the school building? I suppose.』

After the students passed, Rebecca gently poked her face out from the bushes.

『Alright, Rebecca, let's go!』

『Ah, wait a minute—』

Because Leeselago started running quickly, Rebecca hurriedly chased after him.

Sneaking and hiding, Rebecca and Leeselago approached the building that looked like the schoolhouse. While feeling strange about her hairy body, Rebecca muttered.

『First a toddler, now a cat...』

Lamenting the current situation, she searched for the entrance to the school building with Leeselago. The door the students seemed to have entered was tightly closed, but when Leeselago swayed his tail, it opened easily.

『Come on, we're going in.』

Leeselago said happily and slipped inside through the door. Rebecca followed him with a sigh.

Entering the school building, Rebecca involuntarily let out a voice.

『Wow...』

It was a luxurious and beautiful school building. The ceiling was high, and the wide corridor felt like it continued forever.

『Huge... spacious...』

Walking on the slippery corridor, Rebecca muttered.

『This is the first time I've seen a human schoolhouse...』

Leeselago also looked around the school building with interest.

『Is this really a school?』

『Eh? Why?』

『It's different from what I imagined... I thought it would be, you know, a place full of human children and noisy. It's just like a noble's mansion.』

『Ah, true. But I think it's just quiet because classes are in session right now.』

She couldn't hear voices, but she sensed the presence of people from the many rooms nearby that seemed to be classrooms. No doubt classes were being held there.

Rebecca and Leeselago continued to walk around inside the school building for a while. Gradually getting used to her cat form, she explored the school while moving stealthily. People passed through the corridor several times, but each time she hid her body in the shadows. It was frustrating, but as Leeselago said, the cat form was easy to move in, and they were not discovered by the people in the school.

『Rebecca, I smell food from that room over there!』

Leeselago indicated a large hall-like room across the corridor.

『Maybe it's a student restaurant or something?』

『They even have something like that! Hey, why don't we eat something too. I'm hungry.』

『Ah, it is indeed around lunch time...』

Saying that, Rebecca realized something and continued.

『No, that's not it! I carelessly started touring the school, but that's not why we're here! I came to see Milady's face!!』

『Ah, that's right.』

Leeselago nodded leisurely and tilted his head.

『Maybe she's in a classroom around there?』

『Can't you search with your magic?』

『Ehh...? Even for me, that's difficult—』

It was just as Leeselago was about to continue. The door of the room right next to them opened with a clack. Before the startled Rebecca and Leeselago could move, several girls appeared from the room. Their eyes met Rebecca's perfectly.

"Oh, look, there's a cat!"

"Eh? You're right!"

This is bad, she thought and tried to run, but she was surrounded by the girls in the blink of an eye.

"A white cat and a black cat. So cute!"

"The black cat is still small. Are they parent and child?"

"Why are they inside the school? Are they lost?"

Saying this, the girls reached out their arms trying to touch Rebecca and Leeselago.

『Run, Rebecca!』

Leeselago meowed, and the frozen Rebecca hurriedly moved her legs. Slipping through the girls' hands, she started running together with Leeselago.

"Ah, they ran away!"

One of the girls shouted, but she didn't look back. Just like that, chasing behind Leeselago, she ran through the school building. It seemed classes had ended, as students were coming out into the corridors. Seeing the running figures of Rebecca and Leeselago, they looked surprised.

"Ah, a cat!"

"Eh? Why is there a cat in the school!?"

Running frantically through the buzzing students. Because Leeselago turned a corner, Rebecca hurriedly followed, but...

『H-Huh!?』

When she turned the corner, Leeselago's figure had disappeared.

『N-No way!?』

She looked around, but he was nowhere.

『Leesy!? Leesy!!』

Just as Rebecca was screaming "Meeeoow!!"...

"Teacher, over here!"

"A cat's voice this way—"

"How did a cat get in here?"

Hearing voices that sounded like students and teachers approaching, Rebecca panicked. Hurriedly moving her legs again, she quickly left the spot.

She continued running desperately through the school building, searching for Leeselago. However, the white cat figure was nowhere to be found. While hiding in the shadows, Rebecca continued to search stealthily, and before she knew it, she had returned near the cafeteria.

『Leesy... where are yooooou...?』

Unable to suppress the fear and loneliness of being left alone, Rebecca called for Leeselago, on the verge of tears.

—What if I don't find him like this...

Just as Rebecca was wrapped in impatience and anxiety, searching for Leeselago's figure from the shadows so as not to be found by students...

A single person appeared from the cafeteria. Rebecca opened her eyes wide.

『Milady!』

"Nyooooon!" A strange cry leaked out unintentionally. She hurriedly closed her mouth and gently poked her face out. Fortunately, the surrounding students didn't seem to notice Rebecca's presence. Relieved by that, she secretly gazed at Wendy's figure.

Wendy, seen for the first time in a while, was beautiful as always. Her long blonde hair was tied in one with a black ribbon, and naturally, she was wearing the academy uniform. That appearance was so fresh, and lovely, and appeared to sparkle and shine. Captivated by that figure, Rebecca muttered in the shadows.

『It's Milady... It's really, truly Milady... Beautiful... so beautiful... dazzling...』

Being able to see Wendy's figure after such a long time, Rebecca's heart filled with euphoria. In fact, she was so happy that a few tears even came out.

Wendy walked somewhere with a small bag in hand. Rebecca hurriedly chased after that figure stealthily.

***

Where Wendy directed her steps was a place that looked like the academy garden. Is she going to eat outside? Rebecca wondered, secretly chasing after Wendy while hiding in the shadows.

『Where is Milady going...?』

The academy garden was as vast as the school building, with beautiful flowers and garden trees that were likely carefully tended. There were even fountains and sculptures; it was hard to believe it was inside a school.

Abruptly, Wendy stopped walking. Rebecca also quickly hid inside the bushes and watched Wendy. Wendy called out to the front.

"Corin."

At that voice, Rebecca started and turned her gaze there too. There, a young man with black hair and kind eyes was sitting on a bench. He was smiling at Wendy and waving his hand flutteringly.

That person Wendy called "Corin" must be the rumored son of Marquis Lambert, Nicholas Lambert.

Nicholas was a young man with fearless features and a graceful atmosphere. His kind gaze and gentle smile were beautiful. He closely resembled Estelle, whom she met at the Caldwell residence before. However, besides that, Rebecca felt there was something strange, and tilted her head.

Wendy approached Nicholas briskly without hesitation and sat down next to him.

Then, Wendy took out something that looked like a lunch box from her bag and began to eat lunch. Nicholas was also speaking to Wendy with a cup containing a drink in his hand. Their voices didn't reach the place where Rebecca was hiding. Therefore, she didn't know the content of their conversation. She was curious about what they were talking about, but since it seemed she couldn't get any closer, Rebecca reluctantly watched over the two from the shadow of the bushes.

When Wendy said something, Nicholas answered while nodding. They seemed to get along very well.

『Ah...』

Suddenly, Rebecca realized. The true nature of the strange feeling she had when she saw Nicholas.

『I see. That person resembles Lord Christopher...』

Of course, their facial features didn't look alike at all. But his kind smile and calm atmosphere resembled Christopher overall. Somehow understanding the reason why Wendy became close with him, Rebecca felt complicated.

Wendy and Nicholas continued their gentle conversation while having lunch together. Wendy was expressionless, but Nicholas seemed to be having fun. The figure of the two lined up was as beautiful as a painting.

『They look like they're having fun... That's nice... I want to talk to Milady too...』

Muttering aloud, she continued to watch over Wendy.

Just being able to see Wendy looking healthy was enough. She was very happy to be able to directly verify the sight of her getting along with the rumored Nicholas.

That should have been it.

Without a doubt, that should have been it.

Rebecca furrowed her brows.

Why? Watching the two of them, an indescribable feeling gradually welled up. An incomprehensible emotion was buzzing and about to start running. What is this?

—Don't realize it.

Suddenly, she felt a very unpleasant sensation, and Rebecca took a step back. Something like a hot flame was erupting violently inside her chest. What is this? She didn't understand herself. Feeling an unidentified terror, her legs shook.

Scary, scary, scary. It was unbearably scary.

—You mustn't realize it.

Someone was screaming in the depths of her heart. She wanted to cover her ears, but she couldn't. Her entire body began to tremble slightly.

—No. Absolutely not. Because...

—If I realize it, I...

—Surely, won't be able to turn back anymore.

At that moment, Nicholas said something to Wendy. Then, he reached out his hand to Wendy's hair.

『Ah...』

Probably he removed a piece of lint or something caught in her hair. Nicholas touched Wendy's shining blonde hair as if caressing it. Wendy accepted it without showing any particular resistance.

『Ah... No, I hate it... Stop!』

Rebecca screamed unintentionally.

Stop, stop.

Don't touch Milady.

Please, I beg you, stop.

You can't touch Milady.

Because that person is my precious one.

Please, don't touch...

My most precious person in the world——!

Screaming and crying in her heart, Rebecca buried her face in the ground.

As if to suppress the flame-like emotion hidden in the depths of her heart from leaking out.

No, that's wrong. It wasn't hidden. She had hidden it unconsciously.

She had hidden it so that no one, not even Rebecca herself, would understand. Because realizing it was more terrifying than anything. She must have known the true nature of that emotion from before. She knew, and pretended not to know.

Because she unconsciously understood that harboring such feelings for her own master was unforgivable.

Ah, but.

Now, she realized.

『Ah...』

This feeling that would never come true.

『Why...』

Why did it turn out like this?

Why can't she stop these emotions from overflowing so much?

It's hard to breathe. Her chest hurts unbearably. Blood circulates through her whole body, and she feels a sensation like her heart is burning. Her own heart can no longer be controlled.

『Milady...』

She voiced it softly.

The true nature of the emotion like a dark flame spreading endlessly in the depths of her heart was jealousy.

Rebecca realized the feelings of love within herself, right now.