My Maid is Cute Chapter 77 : In the Darkness (Patreon)

*In the Darkness*

When did this emotion begin to sprout?

She didn't really know herself.

What was the trigger?

Why was this feeling born?

She didn't understand herself.

At first, it was just a job. To serve the lonely Wendy. To support her. That was all.

At some point, that changed into yearning, into deep affection. It should have been purely goodwill. For Rebecca, Wendy became the most precious existence in this world, someone she wanted to protect. That hasn't changed even now.

Her soft blonde hair, her eyes shining like jewels, her sweet voice like sugar candy, and her warmth when embraced.

She wanted to protect everything about her existence.

She wished to stay by her side.

She intended to watch over her with a heart like a parent, like a sister.

—Why did those feelings transform into an emotion like this?

She wanted to deny it. But her heart was already rejecting that denial.

Because, just seeing Wendy being close with someone other than herself made Rebecca's chest tighten terribly, leaving her unable to breathe. It felt as though her heart was being scorched; it hurt so much she thought she might die.

It was an emotion she harbored for the first time in her life. And at the same time she realized that emotion, something burst inside her head. The feelings she had hidden deep in her heart overflowed. Surely, she could no longer stop them.

Just thinking about Wendy made her heart waver. Sweet feelings, hot desire, raced through her entire body like an electric current.

Just picturing that smile made the world shine.

What sprouted deep in her heart was undoubtedly "love."

And it wasn't reverence for a master, nor yearning, nor familial affection. It was definitely different, another emotion entirely.

Rebecca loved the existence known as Wendy as a woman.

***

How much time had passed? It seemed the lunch break had ended before she knew it. Wendy and Nicholas stood up from the bench and left for somewhere else.

Rebecca remained frozen, face down on the ground in the shadow of the bushes. Without the will to chase after Wendy, she was sunk in silent contemplation when...

『Rebecca.』

Suddenly her name was called, and she lifted her face unsteadily. Before she knew it, Leeselago in the form of a white cat was standing before her.

『Thank goodness. I found you... I was searching for you.』

Leeselago wore an expression of heartfelt relief. Rebecca stared back at Leeselago blankly.

『Leesy...』

『I'm sorry. I was late getting here...』

『No...』

Rebecca continued to speak while staring vacantly at Leeselago.

『...How did you know I was here?』

Leeselago tilted his head slightly as he answered.

『I almost got caught by humans. After managing to escape them, I tracked the trace of your magical power.』

『I see... sorry, for getting separated.』

When Rebecca said this, hanging her head, Leeselago made a puzzled face.

『...Rebecca, what's wrong? Did something happen?』

Perhaps finding Rebecca's behavior suspicious, Leeselago asked with concern. Rebecca shook her head slowly and finally managed to speak.

『...No. It's nothing. Nothing at all...』

Her voice trembling, she continued.

『Leesy... let's go home.』

『Huh?』

Leeselago raised a surprised voice.

『Go home... but you—』

『It's fine now, let's go home.』

As Rebecca continued to insist, Leeselago seemed to sense that something had happened and closed his mouth.

He stared at Rebecca silently for a while, and eventually gave a small nod.

『Understood. Let's go home.』

『...Sorry, Leesy. Even though you brought me all the way here.』

『Don't worry about it.』

Leeselago swayed his tail gently.

『Well then, we're returning.』

With that, he touched Rebecca's body with his tail.

In the next instant, there was a snap sound.

Startled, she looked up to find herself in a back alley somewhere.

『Rebecca.』

Her name was called by Leeselago, and she turned her face toward him. The white cat's face distorted wildly. Next, her vision was dyed pure white.

"—Ah."

When she came to, Leeselago had returned to his original human form and was standing right in front of Rebecca. Rebecca patted her own face to check the sensation. It seemed her form had also returned to normal.

"I'm back..."

"Yeah."

Leeselago stared intently at Rebecca.

"Is your body feeling okay?"

"No, nothing in particular..."

"I see."

Leeselago nodded with satisfaction and picked Rebecca up.

"...Let's eat something before going back."

It seemed he was being considerate of the despondent Rebecca. She appreciated the sentiment, but right now, she wasn't in the mood at all. Rebecca shook her head weakly.

"I'm sorry... right now I just can't..."

"I see."

Leeselago nodded lightly, then slowly walked out from the back alley to the main street. He walked leisurely through the town. He must have been wondering about Rebecca's state. However, Leeselago remained silent and asked nothing. Grateful for that, Rebecca buried her face in Leeselago's clothes, lost in thought.

"Rebecca, we've arrived."

She looked up at Leeselago's voice. Before she knew it, they were standing in front of the Caldwell mansion.

"...Thank you, Leesy."

Thanking him, Rebecca let go of Leeselago's clothes and got down from his arms.

"Are you really okay?"

Leeselago crouched down there and asked, peering into Rebecca's face. Rebecca looked down but replied.

"...Yeah. I'm okay. ...Sorry. And really, thank you."

When she apologized again, Leeselago replied with a troubled face.

"Don't worry about it. It was fun for me to see you after a while too."

"...Are you leaving already?"

When Rebecca asked in a small voice,

"...Is it better if I stay here?"

Leeselago asked with a worried face. Rebecca shook her head in a panic.

"S-Sorry. No."

She gripped her own clothes tightly with both hands. Then, smiling weakly, she continued.

"...I'll just think by myself for a while. Don't worry about it, Leesy."

When she said that, Leeselago looked like he wanted to say something. However,

"—I see."

In the end, those were the only words that came out.

"Well then..."

"Yeah."

Leeselago tried to stand up but stopped as if reconsidering. Then, abruptly reaching out, he hugged Rebecca's body.

Rebecca opened her eyes wide in surprise. Leeselago whispered softly in her ear.

"...If anything happens, call me anytime."

Rebecca hesitated for a moment, but she hugged Leeselago back slightly and nodded.

"Okay."

Hearing Rebecca's answer, Leeselago let go, looking satisfied. Then, staring straight at Rebecca, he slowly stood up.

"See ya."

"See you later, Leesy."

When Rebecca said her farewell, Leeselago nodded. Then, snapping his fingers, his figure vanished like smoke.

***

"I'm back."

It was Carrie who welcomed Rebecca back to the Caldwell mansion.

"Ah, welcome back, Rebecca."

"Carrie... I'm sorry for suddenly taking the day off today."

"It's fine. You went to the doctor, right? Are you okay?"

"Yes."

Rebecca nodded, but Carrie peered into Rebecca's face with a clouded expression.

"Rebecca, are you really okay? You look pale."

"...I'm fine, really."

Just as Rebecca answered...

"Ah, Rebecca, welcome back."

Christopher and Lisette approached, saying so.

"Lord Christopher, I am truly sorry about today."

"No, it's fine. Where is Mr. Leeselago?"

"Um, he already went home."

When Rebecca replied, Lisette put a hand to her cheek, saying, "Oh my."

"I wanted to greet him too..."

"S-Somehow, he seems busy with work..."

When Rebecca glossed it over vaguely, Lisette nodded, looking disappointed.

"I see... doctors have it tough."

At that moment, Christopher suddenly crouched down there. Looking at Rebecca's face, he spoke.

"Rebecca, you look somewhat pale... are you okay?"

"Ah, y-yes. I'm just a little tired, that's all..."

"I see... well then, rest for the rest of the day—"

"N-No!"

Rebecca shook her head in a panic and continued.

"I-I'm fine! Really!!"

Then, looking away from Christopher,

"I'm returning to work! I'll go to the kitchen!"

Saying that firmly, she ran away from the spot as if escaping.

Carrie watched her leave with a tilted head, and Christopher and Lisette exchanged puzzled looks.

***

Perhaps she had too much to think about. Maybe brooding over so many things was bad for her. The next day, Rebecca fell ill with a fever and was bedridden.

"Ugh..."

In bed, Rebecca groaned. Her consciousness was hazy from the heat.

Christopher called a doctor immediately. The doctor examined Rebecca and diagnosed it as a cold. He prescribed medicine and left the room right away.

With Carrie's help, she managed to swallow the prescribed medicine. As Rebecca collapsed back onto the bed, Carrie placed a bag filled with cold ice on her forehead.

"Are you okay, Rebecca?"

"...I'm sorry... for resting so much..."

"You don't need to worry about that. Rest well."

On the verge of tears at Carrie's gentle voice, Rebecca nodded in bed.

"...Thank you very much."

"Do you need anything? Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine... Carrie, please return to your work..."

"Eh, but—"

"I feel bad causing any more trouble... If I sleep, I'll get better... If anything happens, I'll call someone..."

Although looking worried, Carrie nodded at Rebecca's words and stood up.

"Then I'll go... but are you really okay?"

"Yes..."

"If it gets painful, definitely call me. Also, drink water. I'll bring some food in a little while, so eat a little, okay? Also—"

Suffering from the fever, she could only understand about half of Carrie's words, but she managed a weak nod. Carrie looked worried at Rebecca's state but left the room and returned to work.

Alone in the room, Rebecca stared blankly. Suddenly, she muttered in a small voice.

"Milady..."

She desperately wanted to see Wendy. She wanted to see her face directly and talk to her. But at the same time, she thought she was afraid to face her.

Becca.

Wendy's voice echoed in her head. Even though she wanted to see her so badly, just thinking about Wendy made her chest tighten as if her heart were being squeezed. Was it because she had realized her own feelings? Her heart hurt, and it was hard to breathe. It wouldn't stop anymore.

Because she understood that these feelings would absolutely never come true.

Becca, I love you!

She believed Wendy cared for her. Without a doubt, she believed Rebecca was a precious existence to Wendy. That was certain. That was why she waited for her during the four years Rebecca was missing.

But that was surely because Rebecca had been by Wendy's side since childhood. Wendy's feelings were pure goodwill and affection for her maid. Not a romantic emotion.

"But, I..."

Rebecca continued to speak vacantly in a small voice.

"I... love Milady... even romantically... so..."

Perhaps due to the cold, her thoughts were disordered and tangled. Her head was confused and dizzy. Various thoughts flooded her brain. It was painful, bitter, and heartbreaking.

No matter how much Rebecca thought of Wendy, no matter how much she wished, this love would not come true. No, it wouldn't even begin.

Although they had some special bond, Wendy was a noble lady, and Rebecca was just a maid. Moreover, they were both women. There was no future there.

Wendy would eventually marry and leave Rebecca. Rebecca's precious girl would become someone else's. That fact was so painful and sad that she felt like screaming.

No, knowing Wendy, she might want to keep Rebecca by her side even after marriage. Being able to stay by her side would of course make her very happy. But if that happened, Rebecca would just continue to watch the scene of Wendy being happy with someone else from the closest distance. Just imagining such a scene made her feel as if her heart were breaking. Surely, she absolutely couldn't endure it.

Besides, Wendy might have already connected her heart with Nicholas. After all, they looked so close.

Everything before her went dark. She couldn't find hope or anything else. A black stain slowly spread in her heart.

"Ugh..."

Large tears overflowed from Rebecca's eyes.

***

Around that time, in a classroom at the Magic Academy.

After the morning classes ended, Wendy stood up and walked straight to Nicholas.

"Corin, what about lunch today?"

Thinking the weather was nice and eating outside like yesterday would be good, Wendy asked, but Nicholas tilted his head apologetically.

"Sorry, today I can't..."

Wendy furrowed her brows at Nicholas's demeanor.

"What's wrong?"

"Well... I got a message this morning. Actually, it seems my sister has fallen ill again..."

At Nicholas's words, Wendy nodded in understanding.

"Ah... are you going to visit her?"

"Yeah. I'll use the lunch break to go there quickly."

"Understood. Take care."

Wendy waved her hand lightly and left the classroom.

It was her first solitary lunch in a while. Walking flatly down the corridor toward the student cafeteria, the voices of surrounding students reached Wendy's ears.

"Yesterday, apparently a parent and child cat snuck into the academy."

"Cats? Where did they get in?"

"Who knows... Apparently, the parent cat got into the staff room and principal's office and ran wild, causing quite a commotion."

"Heh, so what happened?"

"Before anyone knew it, both of them disappeared. Didn't they escape?"

Hearing the word "cat," Wendy's face naturally stiffened. Wendy wasn't bad with animals, but she certainly didn't like them. I don't want to get involved, she thought as she walked on.

***

Lately, Nicholas's sister, Estelle Lambert, had been falling ill increasingly often.

Nicholas submitted a request for leave to the school and headed to the Lambert house using "Teleportation" magic. Upon arrival, he visited Estelle's room immediately.

As soon as he knocked on the room door,

"Yes."

Estelle's soft voice returned. Nicholas opened the door immediately and stepped into the room.

"Long time no see, Sister Estelle."

When Nicholas showed his face, Estelle sat up from the bed and smiled like a flower.

"Oh my, Nicholas."

Nicholas walked straight to the bed and sat on the chair right next to it.

"You came for me... I'm happy."

"Yeah. Is your body okay?"

"Yes. I'm just a little tired because I've been busy lately. I'm sorry to worry you..."

Saying that, Estelle reached out and gently touched Nicholas's cheek.

"Aren't you the one who's gotten a little thin?"

"...Maybe. It's true I haven't had much appetite lately..."

"That's no good. You have to eat properly."

"Yes, yes."

At Nicholas's half-hearted reply, Estelle made a slightly angry face. Then she lightly pinched Nicholas's cheek.

"Geez, I'm worried about you, Nicholas."

Estelle lowered her arm and slowly looked down.

"If anything happened to you, surely, I wouldn't be able to live..."

"You're exaggerating, Sister."

Nicholas smiled wryly and stood up.

"Sorry, I should head back soon."

"Oh my, isn't it still fine?"

"No, I just came to see your face... and if I'm too late, the school will worry."

Estelle grabbed the clothes of Nicholas, who was trying to leave.

"Hey, Nicholas... tell me just one thing. Are you really in a special relationship with the Caldwell daughter?"

At those words, Nicholas's face clouded. Then, looking away from Estelle, he spoke.

"I don't really want to talk about that."

"But... as your sister, I want to know. You've always been amiable, but almost indifferent to others since long ago... To think someone like you found a lover..."

"..."

"It's a matter concerning your future, right? Look, if... if, um, you're worried about Mother—"

"Sorry, but..."

Interrupting Estelle's words, Nicholas spoke up.

"Sorry, but I don't want to talk about it."

Saying that firmly, Nicholas gently removed Estelle's hand from his clothes.

"See you later, Sister."

Saying that, he left the room as if fleeing.

***

Nicholas, having returned to school, headed alone to the library. He knew he would be reprimanded if found out later, but he just couldn't bring himself to return to class.

Being during class hours, there was no one in the library. Conveniently, the librarian seemed to be away from their seat as well, and the library was silent.

Nicholas sat on an installed chair, rested his elbows on the table, and gazed at the scenery outside. Then, he slowly closed his eyes. Darkness spread before him.

In his head, old memories revived.

He felt like he could hear a voice. That abominable voice—

Nicholas, cute child.

You will stay by my side, won't you?

You will stay by my side forever and ever, won't you? My cute Nicholas...