Actually, I was the Real One

ot just you; she does hate you!’

Lira swallowed her thoughts. 

Cosette was probably the only one in this mansion who thought it was just her. 

Cosette: “I’m so nervous because it seems like she’s plotting something to kick me out.
I mean, she’s always trying to blame me for something… Should I say that it’s that kind of feeling?”

She started anxiously chewing on her nails. 

Cosette: “Lila! If you think Keira seems to be up to something, can you give me a heads up?”

Lira: “Y-yes?”

Cosette: “Don’t get me wrong.
I don’t mean to deceive Keira! It’s just… I just want to know in advance if you see any signs that she’s trying to harm me or if she’s trying to do something without Great-aunt’s knowledge.
Even that much… Can’t you?”

Sponsored Content

Lira: “Uh, uh…”

Cosette knitted her eyebrows, looking sad. 

As she came closer, Lira smelled good soap again.
Cosette’s face was delicate and beautiful enough to attract women.

Lira’s face turned red again.

Cosette: “If I don’t get kicked out of here, I’d be able to designate you as my exclusive maid…”

She sounded remorseful that she couldn’t do it. 

The strange tone stimulated Lira’s imagination – working comfortably as her exclusive maid, or a future where Cosette introduces her to a good marriage partner in return for serving her for a long time. 

Lira would be lying if she said she wasn’t greedy.

She gulped.

Lira: “Alright, but I’ll only let you know in advance if it seems like Miss Keira is plotting something bad.
Promise me you won’t deceive her or act as a spy.”

Cosette: “Of course!”

Cosette smiled brightly.

Advertisements

It wasn’t that Cosette was deceiving Lira or her superior; she was just asking for a warning if Lira saw any signs of scheming, right?

It was something Lira could do without her conscience eating her up.
She could do it without thinking she was doing something wrong.

Cosette: “I’m really lucky to have you.
I’ve been living as a commoner all my life… It’s hard to adapt to a noble family.”

Lira: “I, um, cheer up.”

Lira clumsily consoled her.
She didn’t know how to react. 

Cosette: “I will never forget the person who helped me in difficult times, you know? If you help me, I’ll never forget you for the rest of my life.”

Cosette’s whisper permeated into Lira’s restless ears.
That alone eased her anxiety.

She believed in the illusion that she would be provided with a comfortable future if she helped Cosette.

Sponsored Content

Cosette: “Thank you, Lira.”

The maids of the Grand Duchy often complained that Lady Keira was too scary.
Although it has improved a little these days, the image Keira built up over the past decade didn’t disappear at once.

Every time Rose heard people speaking about Her Ladyship, she’d jump up and down to protect her.

Rose: “She may be strict and demanding, but she’s a no-nonsense woman and not stubborn, too! Isn’t that a hundred times better?”

So, it was the first time in Rose’s life as Keira’s maid that Keira had ever done this.

Rose looked flustered as she tried to stop Keira once more.

Rose: “Um, milady.
This is Lady Johanna’s mansion anyway.
Wouldn’t it be better to tell her in advance?”

Keira: “Isn’t this my Great-aunt’s classroom? Is there any reason why I can’t use the things here? It’s just a glass of wine.”

Rose: “But…”

To sum up Keira’s argument, it was this: ‘I want to drink some wine after a long time.
But, since my Great-aunt is conservative and is a stickler for rules, I don’t want to let her know because she doesn’t want to drink at night.
Go to Gordon and ask for the key to the basement.
Alcohol is probably stored there.
If you explain the situation well to Gordon, he won’t tell Johanna what you drank.’

‘A-are you alright?’

Keira wasn’t the type to drink and make mistakes.
However, doing something secretly at Johanna’s mansion made Rose uneasy.

Besides, because of Cosette’s existence, wasn’t the atmosphere intolerable?

Rose thought it would be better to get rid of the problem from the beginning.

However, Keira didn’t listen to her words. 

It was the first time it happened.

Keira: “Are you not confident enough to convince Gordon? I’ll do it then.”

Rose: “I-it’s not that! I’ll go.
You don’t have to go in person…”

Keira: “No, that’s fine.
Come to think of it, it would be more effective if I said it myself.”

Keira said so and got up from her seat.