Chapter 3
“Hah.”
My family.
The Count of Ellsia, where I poured everything I had.
There’s no way the family has completely disappeared, right? That it went bankrupt or something over the past 300 years…!
“Ah, forget it.”
Why should I care? There shouldn’t be anyone left that I know there anyway.
Ceres sprawled out on the ground, staring blankly at the cloudless, clear sky.
She felt strangely empty and a bit melancholic.
It was like being thoroughly toyed with by an unknown entity and then getting hit hard in the back of the head.
‘If Enoch were here now, he would’ve run away immediately.’
Although he was usually a bit slow and mild-mannered, his sense of perception was sharp.
Perhaps that’s why, whenever she was in such a state, he would escape faster than anyone else. He knew very well how exhausting things could get when caught in such a moment.
“Hey, wash this too.”
It was at that moment.
“And this as well.”
“You can do at least this much, right?”
Voices conversing faintly in the distance reached her ears.
Curious, Ceres lifted her upper body and saw several people gathered on one side, chatting.
Among them was a familiar face.
‘Jay?’
It was Jay, the maid who had been taking care of her.
The others surrounding her also seemed to be maids working in this place.
‘What are they doing?’
Ceres decided to observe the situation for a while.
“These clothes are cherished by Madam, so be careful when washing them.”
“Show your gratitude and wash them diligently.”
“If you have any conscience at all, you should do that. You do know that you Baron Drow’s servants are surviving only thanks to her, right?”
“Madam” huh…
Ceres had a rough idea of what was happening.
Unless her mother, who had passed away in an accident a few years ago, had miraculously returned, there was only one person in this place who could be addressed as “Madam.”
‘Her name was Agne, I think?’
That’s the name of the woman who is her aunt.
Those three maids were probably brought in by Agne.
As she suspected, Ceres Drow was a noble young lady.
More precisely, she was a “proxy head of the family.”
Because Ceres, who was young, had been deeply shocked by the death of her parents, her ennoblement to a baron had been delayed again and again.
Agne had apparently wept bitterly, asking how anyone could place such a burden on a mere child.
“But what’s with her clothes? Why are they so discolored…? How long has she been wearing them? Did she even wash them?”
“They’re worn out. No amount of washing can fix that.”
“Seriously, if it weren’t for our Madam, this family would’ve starved to death long ago.”
“Exactly. They should’ve had a better master.”
They’re right. In any endeavor, having the right superior makes all the difference…
‘Wait a second.’
While nodding in agreement with the maids’ words, Ceres suddenly realized something and froze.
If Jay’s master is supposed to be her…
‘…Did they just insult me?’
Ceres’ lips slowly curled up as she stared at the three maids.
‘Ugh! Lady Grace, please don’t smile like that!’
She thought she heard her disciple’s terrified voice, but it must have been her imagination.
***
“What are you doing? Hurry up and get going.”
“We’re really busy. Move it.”
“Make sure to wash these thoroughly. I’ll say it again—these are clothes our Madam cherishes.”
“…Got it.”
Jay, who had been hanging her head, eventually took the laundry the three maids handed her.
It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. There was nothing new about it.
‘At least they’re not hitting me today.’
Usually, they would pretend it was a mistake and drop something sharp on her foot or deliberately throw heavy items at her. Pushing her shoulder as they passed by was practically a daily routine.
But just because she was used to it didn’t mean it was okay.
Sighing unconsciously, weary of her harsh reality, she noticed the three maids’ eyes narrowing sharply.
“Wow, look at her. Did you just sigh?”
“How outrageous. It’s not like we’re asking you to do something unreasonable. We just asked for help because we’re busy, but now you’re giving us attitude.”
“Ah…”
“Ugh, you’re so slow! We said we’re busy! Stop dawdling and…”
Splash!
“Kyaaah!”
“Ah… Ahh!”
“Wh-What’s this?!”
Instead of refuting, Jay, who was biting her lip as she recalled everything that had happened, suddenly raised her head at the sound of a scream.
Her mouth slowly dropped open. All three maids were soaked from head to toe.
What… What just happened?
“Hmm, is there not enough water?”
A familiar voice sounded at that moment.
The three maids, unable to process what had just happened, turned their heads sharply.
Only then did they confirm the figure standing behind them, and their eyes widened with fierce hostility.
“Lady Ceres!”
Ceres stood there, holding an empty bucket, deeply lost in thought.
The three maids, after realizing who had caused their current state, rushed toward her with indignant faces.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
“Did you just throw water at us? How dare you!”
“Oh my goodness! What is…!”
The three maids were utterly baffled. They couldn’t believe it was Ceres, of all people, who had splashed water on them.
Has she gone mad after coming back from the dead?
The girl who couldn’t even lift her head properly in response to their blatant disregard and insults… Now she was acting out like this?
“Why? Didn’t you ask me to do the laundry?”
“What?”
“I thought I should wash the clothes you’re wearing too. You have to soak them with water first, right? I’ve never done laundry before, so I wasn’t sure.”
“What are you talking about…!”
“You mean you’re going to do the laundry right here?”
“Yes.”
…What? Did she just nod?
“Is there a problem?”
There are so many problems!
Seeing the three maids at a loss for words, their mouths opening and closing like fish, Ceres tilted her head as if genuinely puzzled by their reaction.
Then, she walked over to the laundry tub and picked up a bar of soap.
“You said you were busy, didn’t you? It’s faster to wash with them still on.”
“…What?”
“It’s a sunny day today, so it’ll dry quickly.”
“T-That’s absurd!”
“How can we wash our clothes while wearing them…!”
“Don’t joke around!”
“What? A joke?”
Flinch!
Ceres’ lips curved into a smile.
“Since when did we become so close that I would joke with you? I didn’t know.”
“……!”
The three maids swallowed nervously.
What kind of expression is that…
Has she really lost her mind? Is she seriously going to do the laundry right here?
Her cold, humorless gaze sent chills down their spines, making it clear that she wasn’t joking.
“What’s wrong? You don’t want to?”
“O-Of course not!”
“Is that so?”
Still acting like she didn’t understand why, Ceres tilted her head and took a step closer to them.
“Then, take them off.”
“…What?”
“Take off your clothes.”
Step.
Flinch!
The maids took a step back, instinctively retreating. Even they couldn’t understand why they were acting like this.
‘Why did we step back?’
Were they actually scared just because Ceres took a step closer?
This was the same girl they had always looked down on as a pushover!
“If you don’t want to wash them while wearing them, then you have to take them off.”
“Th-That…!”
Step.
Flinch!
The three maids had no choice but to acknowledge it. They were frightened of Ceres.
They couldn’t understand it in their heads, but their bodies were responding on their own.
‘Her eyes…’
They weren’t the eyes of someone who had been timid and submissive all along. These eyes were nothing like the ones they had considered to be easy to control.
Just looking into those indifferent, emotionless eyes sent shivers down their spines.
“You asked me to do the laundry, right? Then…”
Step.
“Take them off.”
“Th-That…!”
“N-No! We’ll do it ourselves!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, the three maids scrambled back from Ceres. They had the distinct feeling that if she got her hands on them, they really would end up being washed like laundry.
“Why? Didn’t you say you were busy?”
“No! We’re not busy at all!”
“That’s right! Not busy at all!”
“Hmm, not busy?”
“Yes!”
The three maids nodded frantically, as if their lives depended on it.
“Then you weren’t busy but tried to shove your work onto someone else?”
“T-That’s…”
“We thought we were busy, but after reconsidering, we’re really not busy at all.”
“Yes! We were mistaken!”
The three maids, babbling excuses they didn’t even understand, continued to speak incoherently.
“Is that so?”
Ceres looked at them for a moment, then clicked her tongue as if she found it a shame.
She then placed the soap firmly in the hand of the maid standing closest and took the laundry Jay was holding, shoving it into the hands of the three maids.
“Well, then. Good luck.”
Leaving a final reminder to wash everything thoroughly, she turned around and casually walked away, as if nothing had happened.
“L-Lady Ceres, please wait!”
After a moment of hesitation, Jay quickly followed after her.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The two of them left behind an eerie silence that lingered in the air for a long time.
—
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