Appealing to emotions.
"Well, of course. As a bastard, I'm not qualified."
I deliberately lowered my gaze diagonally, looking dejected.
"Miss, that's not what I meant—"
"Actually, the Captain said so. That I'm doing a great job. That I can pass if I keep going like this."
"That's right."
Leagrin quickly agreed.
I smiled sadly.
"So, for a moment, I think I was mistaken that I could become a Lordbell."
"Mistaken? Not at all."
"It's okay, Butler. I've never belonged anywhere to begin with."
Tears. I reddened my eyes to shed tears.
Soon, a single tear dropped.
"Ah, Miss?!"
Leagrin's eyes widened.
"Ah."
I quickly rubbed my eyes with my sleeve and muttered in a trembling voice.
"Still, I think I had a little hope. That maybe through this exam, I could become a Lordbell too."
I then smiled foolishly and trailed off at the end.
"But that's impossible, isn't it."
"......"
Leagrin stared blankly at me, then sighed deeply and murmured.
"......I'll talk to the Lord."
Yes!
I cheered inwardly but wore a faint smile outwardly.
"Thank you, Butler."
Leagrin's expression as he looked at me seemed more complex than ever.
Sorry, Leagrin.
To get straight to the conclusion.
"The Lord has granted permission for you to attend the banquet."
I succeeded. However.
"There is a condition."
With an unexpected variable attached.
I was speechless at Leagrin's following words.
After receiving the doctor's opinion that it was okay to attend the banquet, I began preparing for it in earnest.
The next day in the afternoon.
Knock knock.
"Hello, Miss."
With the knock, the door opened and a group of maids flooded in.
Literally a group of maids...
"I'm Rose, here to help with the Miss's banquet today."
"I'm Mary."
"I'm Shina."
"I'm Lan."
"I'm Lina."
"I'm Seria."
"I'm Cherry."
"Please take care of us."
Their attitude was polite to the point of being overly formal.
I, who had been stiffened by the larger number of maids than at the last supper, soon regained my senses and replied.
"I look forward to working with you too."
Rose, who seemed to be the leader of the maids, immediately got to the point.
"We don't have much time until evening, so let's start right away."
Swallowing nervously, I nodded.
What was coming had come.
The preparation that started around lunchtime ended around sunset.
"Please take a look."
With those words, a maid brought a full-length mirror in front of me.
Opening my eyes without much expectation, I was soon startled by my reflection in the mirror.
'Is that me?'
In the mirror was a sparkling girl.
My already wavy black hair had thick curls, making it look much fuller, and the deep purple dress gave a sense of unity with the hair, dyeing the atmosphere mysteriously.
From the dark purple velvet shoes to the not-too-excessive accessories. Everything was perfect.
'There's a reason why it took longer than the supper.'
But even though it took longer, it was less difficult than that time.
It was because the maids took care of me while decorating me.
The difference between then and now is...
'My position, I guess.'
Now, I wasn't a neglected bastard, but the direct line of the Lordbell who had passed the qualification exam and would soon be recognized as a direct descendant.
Suddenly, my mouth tasted bitter.
The more different the attitude towards me was, the more I realized how miserable I had been in the past.
But...
"Thank you."
I turned to the maids and smiled brightly.
"Are you pleased?"
"Yes, I'm very pleased. Thank you for your hard work."
"No, we're honored to be able to serve Miss Lucia. Which reminds me..."
Rose, glancing around, carefully added.
"Well, I believe the Miss's maid position is vacant, is that correct?"
At the question, I paused for a moment and nodded casually.
"That's right."
I tilted my head with an innocent expression.
"Why?"
As if it was the answer she wanted, Rose's face lit up instantly.
Rose quickly stated her business.
"Then, may I apply for the Miss's next maid position?"
"......My maid position?"
I paused for a moment because this was unexpected.
"Yes, actually, I've wanted to serve the Miss for a long time, but I haven't had the opportunity. I heard that the Miss's maid position is vacant. I'd like to apply for that position."
"......"
"So, could the Miss please tell the head maid that you want to choose me as your maid? I'm really confident that I can serve the Miss well."
"......Ah."
Listening to the sugar-coated words, I smiled coldly.
'I didn't want to make any more enemies.'
So, I was planning to be moderately kind and keep a moderate distance from the servants.
But now, I wondered if I really needed to do that.
I stared straight at Rose.
In Rose's eyes, there was an undisguised expectation.
I could see the conviction that I would choose her.
Of course. In Rose's eyes, I would look like a delicious prey.
She must have thought that I was just a child who had been mistreated, and that I would fall for her quickly if she was just a little kind.
I stared at Rose quietly, then smiled brightly and asked.
"You've wanted to be my maid for a long time?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then why were you quiet?"
"......Pardon?"
"When they were choosing my personal maid, why didn't you apply like Marin? If you had applied then, you could have become my personal maid."
"Th, that's because at that time..."
"Because I was a worthless bastard. Right?"
"......!"
At the sharply piercing words, Rose's eyes widened.
Haa.
I let out a long sigh.
And I took off the hair accessory that Rose had personally decorated and said.
"It seems that the me from back then and the me now are different people to Rose."
"Th, that's not true!"
Rose shouted urgently.
After glancing at the maids who were whispering and watching from afar, she tried to smile and said.
"It's just that I didn't know the Miss well back then."
"Do you know me well now?"
"Now..."
"You know, Rose."
I took the hair accessory in my hand and approached Rose.
The closer I got, the more Rose's expression froze.
Taking one step away, I smiled brightly and said.
"Rose said she didn't know the old me well, but I know Rose."
"......!"
"You used to secretly throw trash at me. You used to get angry when I turned around and asked what I was looking at."
"H, how did you..."
"How do I remember?"
I laughed mockingly.
And I swept my gaze over the maids who were watching from afar.
"It's not just Rose. I remember everything. I just don't bother to acknowledge it."
"......B, but at that time, that was the atmosphere..."
"There were people who weren't like that."
"......So, are you going to hold us accountable now?"
The polite attitude had disappeared somewhere, and Rose retorted aggressively.
She seemed afraid that I would hold her accountable for this.
What a big misunderstanding.
"No, Rose isn't special enough for me to do that."
"......Th, then why did you bring it up...!"
"Just curious. Why Rose's attitude changed."
"That's..."
Rose couldn't bring herself to speak.
Yes, she couldn't. How could she say with her own mouth that my position had changed and she was trying to cling to me now.
'Hoo.'
I held back the rising sigh.
I was too angry. I didn't intend to go this far...
'I don't know why, but I felt resentful.'
In fact, I still didn't feel completely relieved, but I decided to stop here.
There was no point in causing trouble with the maids.
'Since they feel guilty, they won't be able to complain anywhere.'
I handed the accessory to Rose, smiled brightly at everyone, and turned around without hesitation.
And I immediately opened the door.
But...
"Ah."
A man was looking at me with a surprised face.
Judging by his posture, he seemed to be about to knock.
I quietly looked up at him.
Navy blue hair and blue eyes. A man with a gentle impression.
'Armor with the imperial crest engraved on it.'
I could tell who he was at a glance.
'Imperial Knights.'
At that moment, I almost sighed.
'This is the one.'
The variable Leagrin spoke of.
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