Rue, who listened to the head maid's requests with a soulless face, nodded at my question.
—Then pick me up at the market in half an hour.
—Where?
—I'll wait for you in front of the pub called "Piece of Land."
—Do I have to go on foot? Hmm, although we are indeed a couple who even sleep in the same bed, it's not like I want to burden my insensitive husband, who broke our wedding ring, with more favors.
Insensitive husband. It wasn't how I wanted to be called by a man tall enough to cast a shadow over my head. Of course, even if I had been dragged away as a slave after being burdened with his debts, his appearance wouldn't have been a problem. Jean, who was hanging on the wall of the second floor, cleaning the outer window glass, let out a sigh of admiration.
—You're married.
Did she think we were married? I threw an irritated look at Rue.
—I withdraw that request. Wait for me to return.
—Oh, so then, will I stay at the mansion like a well-trained dog, waiting for Miss Daisy to return?
—And Junior. That thing and I are not married. I'd rather die than marry him.
—How cold. If it were me, I'd take good care of you instead of dying. Of course, I'm talking about Miss Daisy. Remember that when you feel lonely.
I ignored Rue's smile and headed to the market. The wedding ring. It was a tactic Rue often used when he wanted to intimidate me. But today it had been a little different. The wedding ring technique had had a very beneficial effect on me today. That is, the fact that I could exercise violence more easily due to my newly erupted anger.
Ah, I'm angry.
Thanking Rue for awakening the latent anger within me, I went straight to the pub upon entering the market and pushed the door as soon as I arrived. It didn't move. Was it locked from the inside? But it hadn't been locked since I left the pub to the assassin butler. That meant the suspicious guy was the one who had locked it.
—Do you have an axe?
When I asked the people who had gathered in a circle to look, the butcher quickly stepped forward.
—Here! Use this.
—Thanks. Now, please move back. If something goes wrong, your head might fly off.
I gently pushed the butcher away and hit the door with the axe. Even when the wooden door broke, the cracked frame made it difficult to see the interior completely. After making a few more cracks in the door with the axe, I stuck my arm through the gap and opened the closed latch.
With a somber noise, sunlight filtered into the interior of the pub. The first thing that caught my eye were the members of the organization sitting in a row, kneeling towards the front wall. They were all trembling on the floor with their mouths gagged. I entered as the sawdust began to settle in the air.
At that moment…
—You're reckless!
A figure standing behind the door rushed towards me, breaking the silence. A sword cut through the air and descended on my head. It was a clumsy blow, without weight, edge, or clarity. It would have been better if they had used a gun instead. As I grabbed and stopped the blade between my index and middle fingers, the startled intruder, with a disheveled beard, spat out a curse.
—Well, aren't you a brave meddler? If so, it must be you who dared to touch our branch... bitch...
His body, unable to withstand the light kick I gave him, flew backward and crashed against the wall. I tore off the pieces of cloth covering the members' mouths. As soon as their mouths were free, the members exhaled in unison.
—Miss! It's from Berithlet!
—He accused us of betraying them and was interrogating us!
I kept looking at them.
—We didn't say a word, miss. But in exchange they beat us to the point that our faces swelled.
Among them, the butler, the calmest of the group, pointed to the bruised faces of the members as evidence of their loyalty.
—Good job.
While the adult man seemed to blush at my praise, the timid whispers of the merchants reached from behind.
—What is Berithlet?
—I don't know. I guess it's a gangster from another town. The gangsters in our neighborhood changed for the better a long time ago, that idiot. Tsk tsk.
—Miss, be careful!
A cry immediately stopped the chatter.
—Die!
The intruder, who approached me from behind like a rat, swung his sword at me. As I already expected it, I kicked the blade. The intruders' sword split in two with a faint noise. The intruder's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the remaining half of the sword, then he let out a loud snort before stepping back.
—Hey, woman. I don't know what your intentions are, but you've made a mistake. Berithlet doesn't tolerate those who interfere in our work just leaving…
—Quiet. —And then I slapped him on the cheek, leaving a clear hand mark on his white skin, and he slumped to the floor.
Unfortunately, it was almost time to board the train, so I didn't have time to ask about the intruder's personal circumstances. I had a sense of responsibility for my task. That is the true duty of a maid.
—Whaaat? Is that it?
—Tsk. Young people nowadays have no character, no guts.
The merchants, who had been watching with expectation, began to disperse one by one. The members of the organization, gradually regaining control, cautiously examined the intruder's condition once more, looking somewhat embarrassed.
—Miss, in reality we can only trust you!
—I will do my best to be diligent! Please, continue guiding us well. As for the elder gentleman, we will take him as a father figure, and you, miss, as a mother figure.
Who asked you to do that? The pub's clock struck 09:30 in the morning. Time was tight considering I had to go to the Weatherwoods Mansion and then to Midwinterre Station.
—I have to go. Tie him up well.
—Very well! Shall I deliver him to the gentleman?
—Yes.
I turned to leave the pub, considering taking the route using the rooftops instead of the streets. Although the market was uncomfortably small, in front of the pub door was a large, shiny carriage.
—Where are you going in such a hurry?
Through the slit of the half-open carriage door, a handsome man could be seen. He was the owner of the carriage. The companion who awakened my violent tendencies, Rue. Despite the chaotic state of the overturned pub, Rue didn't even ask what had happened. He simply held out his hand to me. There was sawdust on the tips of his long, smooth fingers. I watched his white hand in the distance with a strange sensation and let out a small cough.
—You said you wouldn't come.
He always did the same. He spoke sarcastically, despite knowing I would give in. Did he find it amusing that I rejected him?
—Oh, Mr. Rue, do you need any workers?
Instead of answering, Rue looked at the coachman with a questioning look. Without even a hint of surprise, as if the assassin butler had been waiting, he replied.
—It's not necessarily essential, but I often think it would be good to have a trained employee who is expert in household tasks. The servants at the Eachus Mansion excel at various killings, but often lack delicacy, causing tasks to have to be done twice.
Well, that turned out perfectly. It was an opportune moment. I entered the pub and pulled out the intruder who was lying on the floor.
—There is no one more delicate than a maid. Take him and use him as a maid from today on.
The assassin butler first examined the suspicious man with a look that seemed to say, "This bandit?". Then, with a look that questioned my sanity, he examined me, as if asking, "Have you gone crazy?".
—There are many spare maid uniforms at Weatherwoods. I'll lend you the largest size so you can fix it. By the way, he's a member of the Berithlet guild. He was bothering our… no, the righteous members of the pub's organization.
The assassin butler's once disinterested gaze sharpened abruptly.
—Towards the honest bar staff? I understand. I will make sure he receives proper training as a servant.
And so, the intruder who would become the Eachus Mansion's first maid was tied tightly like a piece of luggage and placed next to the assassin butler. As we climbed into the carriage, the horse's head turned towards Midwinterre Station. While enjoying the luxury of the plush seat and looking out, I suddenly felt a sting on one of my cheeks. Rue was looking at me.
Why? Ah, right.
—Thanks for picking me up.
Rue didn't even listen to the squeezed words of gratitude.
—A maid uniform… did you always have that kind of taste? It is far above my expectations.
What are you saying?
—Or maybe, could it be that I unwittingly helped Miss Daisy awaken her hidden perversion? Hmm. I feel a bit responsible.
I wondered what he was talking about, but it ended up being my way of dealing with the intruder and turning him into a maid. It was ridiculous.
—Mr. Rue, sometimes you…
Rue looked at me in silence.
—Even refuting you makes me feel tired.
He laughed dryly once and replied, touching his ear.
—It's lucky it's only sometimes. You do it to me every day.
—Don't exaggerate.
—I wish I were exaggerating. Sometimes I feel strange when I find myself looking at you unconsciously, Miss Daisy.
His words made my mood even more complex. Wasn't that a confession? Being aware of the other person unconsciously? Feeling unfamiliar with oneself because of one's actions? By any chance…
—Mr. Rue, do you like me?
Rue stared into my eyes. Oh, that was a really strange look. His expression was full of very complex emotions. It was a face that didn't know where to start or how to interpret. At the same time, his gaze was deep in what seemed like anguish and contemplation. That expression was difficult to define with words.
I couldn't do anything. I had no choice but to give him a serious warning.
—Don't fall in love with me, Mr. Rue, you'll only end up suffering.
Rue's eyes widened even more. His golden eyes flashed with an expression of clear amusement and wonder. Finally, he spoke with a voice that seemed to indicate he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
—Miss Daisy is the first person to say such nonsense in front of me.