My Maid is Cute Chapter 81 : At the Café (Patreon)

*At the Café*

All of the day’s work was finished, and Rebecca was staring blankly into space on the bed in her private room. Tomorrow, at long last, Wendy would return to the dormitory. She had known this was coming, yet she couldn't bear how lonely and sad she felt. It felt as though a gaping hole had opened in her chest. Clutched in her hand was a carefully woven bracelet.

She stole a glance out the window. Beyond the translucent night sky, stars were twinkling. Surely, the weather would be fine tomorrow.

At that moment, the call bell rang out. Rebecca gasped, hurriedly stuffed the bracelet into her pocket, and slid off the bed. Grabbing the milk she had prepared in advance, she left her room.

Arriving at Wendy’s room, she knocked, and Wendy’s voice answered immediately.

"Yes, come in."

Rebecca slowly opened the door.

"Excuse me..."

Wendy was sitting on the sofa, waiting for Rebecca.

"Milady... did you want milk?"

Wendy smiled and shook her head.

"No. I called you because I wanted to talk to you tonight, Becca."

"Oh... is that so?"

"But you went to the trouble of preparing milk. If you wouldn't mind, could you make some hot milk? Let's drink together tonight."

Rebecca nodded vigorously.

"Yes!"

She immediately set about preparing the hot milk right in front of Wendy. Wendy watched with a fond smile as Rebecca bustled about.

"Here, it's ready!"

"Thank you."

She handed the finished cup of hot milk to Wendy. At Wendy's urging, Rebecca prepared a cup for herself as well. She got another cup ready, poured the milk, and drizzled honey into it. The golden honey melted into the liquid with a thick, syrupy swirl.

"Becca, sit over here."

"Yes, thank you very much."

Holding the finished hot milk, she sat down next to Wendy. Since it was still hot, she blew on it repeatedly—fuu, fuu—to cool it down. Wendy watched Rebecca doing this with a smile.

Noticing her gaze, Rebecca called out to Wendy.

"...What is it?"

"Ah, sorry. You were just so cute, Becca, I got lost staring at you."

At those words, Rebecca’s face turned red. Trying to hide her face, she retorted.

"I am not... cute."

"You are cute. Holding the cup with those small hands, looking so earnest... truly cute."

Being told she was "cute" repeatedly by Wendy made Rebecca’s heart feel like it was going to explode.

She hurriedly drank some hot milk to cover her embarrassment and spoke.

"What time do you depart tomorrow?"

At that question, Wendy made a melancholy face.

"...I have plans to meet a friend tomorrow evening. So, I plan to leave before noon."

"Ah, I see..."

By friend, did she mean Nicholas?

Rebecca’s face darkened instantly.

Seeing this, Wendy brought her face closer.

"...!?"

Feeling that beautiful face suddenly draw near, Rebecca felt her heart race. When she instinctively tried to pull back, Wendy grabbed both her hands as if to stop her.

"...Are you lonely?"

At that question, Rebecca nodded while trembling.

"Yes... I am lonely."

Wendy smiled slightly, then immediately took Rebecca’s hand, moved it slowly, and pressed her lips against it.

"Ah... uh."

A voice leaked from Rebecca’s mouth at the sensation. The spot where those lips touched felt hot, as if set on fire.

"Hey, Becca."

"Y-Yes..."

"You’ve always been sweet since we were little, but you taste sweet now, too."

"Huh...?"

Rebecca furrowed her brows. In the next instant, Wendy licked across Rebecca’s hand with a wet slide of her tongue.

"Hyaaaaaaaah!?"

Paying no mind to Rebecca, who let out an involuntary shriek, Wendy then took a finger into her mouth with a nip.

"M-M-Milady...!?"

While staring at the flustered Rebecca, Wendy bit gently down on the finger and continued to lick it. Rebecca stared back into those eyes and raised her voice.

"Um, Milady... please stop... this is, somehow..."

It tickled, and she couldn't suppress her ragged breathing. Her blood was boiling, and she felt a sensation like something rushing through her entire body. Seeing Rebecca in such a state, Wendy finally released the finger from her lips and spoke.

"I have to taste you while I can... since I won't be able to see you for a while..."

"E-Even so, doing this is..."

Just as Rebecca tried to retort, Wendy flashed a bewitching smile.

"Do you want to do it too, Becca?"

Unable to understand the meaning of those words, Rebecca looked blank.

"What?"

Wendy happily held out her own hand to Rebecca.

"You can do whatever you like with my hand."

At Wendy’s words, Rebecca’s eyes went wide as she turned her gaze to that white hand. She was at a loss for words for a moment, then shook her head weakly.

"U-Um... I... that sort of thing is..."

She backed away while voicing her refusal quietly, but Wendy brought her hand even closer.

"Come on, Becca. I want you to do it."

Her body shivered at that voice. Rebecca gulped, looking back and forth between Wendy’s face and her hand repeatedly.

"Becca... come on..."

Wendy brought her finger close to Rebecca’s lips. With trembling lips, Rebecca finally took that long, white finger into her mouth.

"Nhn... ah."

Wendy let out a small sound. Hearing that, and seeing Wendy’s face, Rebecca felt a surge of excitement causing her chest to heave. She sucked lightly on the finger, then, imitating Wendy, moved her tongue slowly to lick it. Wendy’s face gradually dyed crimson.

—Ah, somehow, this is amazing...

Seeing Wendy’s ecstatic expression, Rebecca felt a sensation like electricity crackling through her entire body.

I want to look at this beautiful face of hers forever. Suddenly, such a desire welled up within her. Wishing this moment could last forever, she bit sweetly down on the long finger.

At that moment, Wendy called Rebecca’s name like a gasp.

"Becca..."

At that voice, Rebecca snapped back to reality.

—This is bad, I got carried away.

She hurriedly released her lips from Wendy’s finger.

"L-Let's end this now!"

"Y-Yeah..."

Wendy nodded too, fidgeting as she pulled her hand back.

Rebecca’s face was bright red, and Wendy, unusually, looked embarrassed as well. An awkward silence flowed between the two of them.

As if to break the silence, Rebecca hurriedly spoke up.

"O-Oh, that's right! I had something I wanted to give you, Milady!"

At those words, Wendy tilted her head slightly.

"Oh? What is it?"

Rebecca nervously pulled the created bracelet from her pocket.

"Um, this..."

When she held out the bracelet, Wendy accepted it with a puzzled look.

"This... is an accessory?"

"It-It's a bracelet... Um, Lady Lisette taught me how to make it... I wanted to give it to you as a gift..."

Her voice grew quieter toward the end. Thinking about it now, she had made it for Wendy without asking and was essentially forcing it on her. Perhaps she wouldn't be happy with it.

However, as soon as Wendy heard Rebecca’s words, her face lit up.

"Handmade by Becca? Really?"

"Ah... yes."

When Rebecca nodded, Wendy smiled and put the bracelet on her wrist.

"Thank you, Becca! I'll cherish it! I'm going to wear it all the time from now on."

Because Wendy seemed genuinely happy, Rebecca felt relieved and nodded.

"I am just glad that you are pleased with it..."

Wendy, who had been staring at the bracelet with sparkling eyes, suddenly looked up. Then, reaching out, she stroked Rebecca’s hair and spoke.

"...Graduation is almost here... Once that happens, I'll come back to this mansion."

Then, Wendy embraced Rebecca as if to envelop her.

"So, don't go anywhere. Wait for me here, okay, Becca?"

In Wendy’s arms, Rebecca lowered her eyes as if pondering something in silence, clenched her fists tightly, and gave a small nod.

***

The next day, dressed in outdoor clothes, Wendy stood before the gates of the Caldwell estate. Rebecca stood in line with Christopher, Lisette, and the other servants, watching her.

"Milady, it is about time..."

Jeanne, who would be accompanying Wendy to the academy, called out.

Wendy nodded lightly at the voice, then approached Rebecca. She crouched down, looking straight at her.

"See you later, Becca. I'll write you letters."

"Yes... I will write too."

Wendy nodded slightly, then reached out and hugged Rebecca. Rebecca hugged her back just as tightly.

"...I love you, Becca."

Wendy whispered into her ear. Rebecca couldn't speak due to the loneliness welling up inside her, but she nodded firmly in response.

Looking reluctant to part, Wendy pulled away from Rebecca.

"Well then, Wendy. Take care of yourself. If anything happens, let us know immediately."

To Christopher’s words, Wendy gave no verbal reply, returning only a slight bow.

Then, waving her hand slightly, Wendy returned to the Royal Capital.

***

***

That evening.

In a small café in the Royal Capital, Nicholas Lambert was reading alone. There were no other customers at the surrounding tables. In front of Nicholas sat a small cup. Without changing his expression, Nicholas continued to turn the pages of his book quietly. On the cover of the book, the title and author were written:

The Lying Girl's Sealed Memories — by Renatoa Celward

Just as Nicholas glanced at the clock, a woman entered the café. Seeing the woman’s figure, Nicholas smiled lightly and waved his hand.

"Greetings, Colin."

Wendy Tia Caldwell approached Nicholas and spoke in a chilly voice.

"Hey there, Wendy... You're right on time. Did you enjoy your break?"

Wendy sat down opposite Nicholas and replied.

"...I suppose."

Feeling that her voice sounded subtly brighter than usual, Nicholas narrowed his eyes. It seemed she had a fulfilling break.

Waiting until Wendy had ordered tea from the approaching waiter, Nicholas showed the book he was reading to her.

"I read this."

"...Ah. How was it?"

"It was interesting. The twist at the end was good. I was completely fooled. The worldview I believed in up until then was turned upside down..."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I wanted you to read it."

Wendy stared at the cover of the book and nodded slightly. Noticing an unfamiliar accessory on Wendy’s arm, Nicholas spoke up.

"Wendy, what's that?"

"Eh?"

"On your arm... a bracelet? That's rare, for you to wear something like that..."

If anything, it was a plain bracelet lacking the glamour one would expect Wendy to wear. At Nicholas’s words, Wendy grimaced and covered the bracelet with her other hand to hide it from Nicholas’s view.

"...Don't look at it."

"Eh? Why?"

"I just don't like it. I feel like if it's seen, something will diminish."

"What does that mean...?"

Nicholas smiled wryly at Wendy’s words. Wendy stroked the bracelet and shrugged her shoulders.

"It's precious... very, very precious."

Nicholas watched Wendy in silence for a while.

Eventually, the waiter brought the tea and placed it in front of Wendy. Wendy quietly sipped the tea. Then, returning the cup to the table, she glanced at Nicholas and spoke.

"As for you, did you spend the entire break at your family home?"

"No, I didn't go back home."

At those words, Wendy raised one eyebrow.

"Eh? Then where were you?"

"I took a room at an inn near here and spent the whole time reading books. I just... didn't want to go back to my parents' house."

"That's rare. For you not to spend time with your older sister..."

At Wendy’s words, Nicholas made a grim face.

"Yeah... I didn't want to see my sister's face. ...Lately, she's been annoying about various things."

"Annoying?"

"Every time we meet, she asks me... about the future... and, well, about you."

Wendy’s hand twitched. Fixing a cold gaze on Nicholas, she spoke.

"You haven't told her, have you?"

Nicholas clasped his hands on the table and gave a small nod.

"No, I haven't told her..."

Wendy hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

"...Hey, Colin... perhaps, in the future, a time will come when you must speak. When that happens, you—"

Interrupting Wendy’s words, Nicholas shook his head.

"No, Wendy. I have no intention of telling my sister about my circumstances. I simply can't tell her..."

Then, he took a breath, closed his eyes, and layered his words.

"That I am incapable of falling in love."

Starting next time, the Wendy and Colin past arc begins.