Chapter 32

“First, it’s my experience.”

The first basis I argued with Harold was my experience as a maid.

“Experience?”

“As much as you have highly evaluated my abilities, my lord, I would gladly accept the position of young master’s exclusive maid. However, it has only been barely a year since I seriously began accumulating experience as a maid.“

“Having a lot of experience doesn’t necessarily prove that one is good at the job. You learned that from your senior maids who were sent to Silverwood, no?”

“But the young master has already had his nineteenth birthday some time ago; on the contrary, I have not even had my nineteenth birthday, which is the same age as the young master.“

“……“

“Don’t you think I am too young to be the exclusive maid assigned to young master Ethan? I am worried whether someone younger than the young master like me can properly nurture the young master’s mistakes with enough experience and maturity rather than a maid who can do better.”

In fact, Lilith’s birthday was also coming up in just a few days, so the expression saying she was younger was a bit of an exaggeration.

Of course, I didn’t mention that part since Harold probably wouldn’t remember the birthdays of each servant.

It would be much more advantageous for me to appear even a year younger to escape being Ethan’s exclusive maid.

“I am concerned about the mental anguish the young master will feel when an impudent maid younger than himself claims she will assist him as his exclusive maid.“

“Hmm…”

Well, what do you think?

Even if I don’t know the reason, Harold, if you have placed me in the exclusive maid position through forceful means, I can only respond with extremely reasonable logic.

Perhaps Harold has also recognized and overlooked this issue once – that having too young of a maid attend to one’s child is inappropriate for their emotional development.

Based on the official information released by the game company, Ethan’s official age during this period was undoubtedly 19 years old.

His mental age may be younger, but still.

It was a setting forcibly attached by the previous life’s game company to avoid Korean censorship, but it was an objectively clear fact that the age difference between Ethan and me was not large.

Harold also did not view his son as merely a 13-year-old child.

Even so, he didn’t seem to see him as a 19-year-old youth, but instead, viewing him as an age somewhere in between.

First of all, the fact that the only son of the Blackwood Duke had been asleep for 5 years due to a curse could have been a vulnerability in maintaining power in various ways.

Above all, unlike Ethan, Harold’s time must have steadily passed even during the 5 years his son was cursed and asleep.

No matter how young his outward appearance appeared, as a father, it would be difficult to simply accept that Ethan is 13.

So when I pushed forth this extremely reasonable logic, Harold had no choice but to nod.

“You speak as if looking upon my son as a robust nineteen-year-old.“

“…I have also heard that young master Ethan had fallen asleep under a curse, but that does not mean his birthday has not also passed. The fact remains that when the young master first came into this world and saw the light, I was still in my mother’s womb.“

“Hmm…I suppose so.”

…It seemed he had made a rather ominous expression just now.

Hoping it was just his mood, I waited for Harold’s response, and his mouth opened towards me again.

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“Yes, you’re right. It seems you were the only one who really understood my son.“

“Huh? What did you just say…?“

“Never mind that. So, is that the only reason why you shouldn’t become Ethan’s exclusive maid?”

…What?

First of all, did I get through to him properly?

Somehow, I could read his expression a little, so I kept relentlessly explaining to Harold why I was unfit to be an exclusive maid.

“… It’s embarrassing to say this, but I am a foolish woman who recklessly tried to fight Galgorium alone not too long ago. If I had died from such a dangerous act, I would have just ended up as a lowly maid that you couldn’t even remember. It was an utterly foolish act.“

“True. Thanks to your courage, even though a dangerous monster like Galgorium appeared in the commercial district, it was subdued without any noticeable casualties.“

“…And not long ago, I resorted to violence against my senior maids and caused an uproar. How can someone lacking social graces to the point of disrupting order among fellow maids guarantee that I won’t make mistakes with you, my lord?“

“Those maids who hindered the organization’s unity, stole valuables, and tried to frame others would probably never have been caught if not for you. My wife’s necklace might not have been found either.“

“…Perhaps you’ve momentarily forgotten, but I am a debt maid who was sold to pay off my father’s gambling debts. It’s certain that having a maid of such low status and with nothing to lose by your side will only negatively influence you, my lord.“

“Well. The fact that you became a debt maid to pay off your father’s gambling debts, which weren’t even your responsibility, rather makes me feel that you have a sense of responsibility.“

“……“

“So, do you still have anything else to say?”

…Shit, what do I do now?

No matter how hard I try to make excuses, he seems to be refuting them one by one.

Especially since Harold is the head of the household, I didn’t think I could easily win a verbal argument with him.

I didn’t expect him to thoroughly refute every excuse I had prepared.

‘Why is this guy suddenly so insistent about this? Originally, he wouldn’t have considered Lilith a candidate for Ethan’s exclusive maid.’

Now, I can’t think of more pretexts to refuse the exclusive maid position.

To be honest, aside from age, my arguments up until now were a bit of a stretch.

Well, since he’s the one who initially appointed me as the exclusive maid, he must have thought about it sufficiently based on what he knows about me.

I still can’t figure out why he’s so determined to make me Ethan’s exclusive maid.

“……”

With nothing more to say, I fell silent and watched Harold’s reaction.

This time, Harold read my expression first and asked me a question.

“You still look like you think you’re unsuited for the role.“

“… I’m sorry.“

“Then let me ask you this instead. If you don’t take Ethan’s exclusive maid position, who do you think should take that role instead?”

“…!!”

Did I get through to him?

The thought briefly crossed my mind that my repeated pleas may have gotten through to Harold.

I racked my brain as much as possible to find a way out of being the exclusive maid.

For Ethan’s exclusive maid position, someone other than me…

Instantly, the faces of Isabel and Catherine, who are closest to me, came to mind.

But, of course, I had no intention of suggesting their names.

I didn’t want to place Isabel, who has been kind to Lilith since her training maid days, in a position where she could become Ethan’s slave.

A delicate girl like Catherine would probably be swayed much quicker than Lilith the moment she became Ethan’s exclusive maid.

The problem is, aside from those two, I hardly know any of the senior maids. And I can’t suggest Melissa, the head maid, either…

At any rate, to emphasize that I’m not suited for the role, I needed to make him think of someone as far removed from me as possible.

“First of all, I think there needs to be a reasonable age gap that would allow Lord Ethan to trust and follow them.“

“…Are you saying anyone would do as long as they are older?“

“That’s not what I mean. However, an appropriate age gap would help Lord Ethan trust and rely on them while allowing them to assist him properly. A maid too close in age couldn’t properly discipline Lord Ethan, could she?“

“…Go on.“

“In my opinion, an exclusive maid isn’t simply someone who listens to and agrees with everything the lord says. They need to be able to caution him when he does something wrong and firmly scold him when he acts unbecomingly for a noble. But can a young maid like Isabel, me, or senior Catherine do that properly? That is something I cannot guarantee.“

“…….”

“That’s why I would like to reiterate that a maid with a bit more experience and maturity than me is needed for Ethan’s exclusive maid position. …A maid who can show unwavering loyalty to Lord Ethan, but also discipline him at times, someone who can play a motherly role, for example…”

“…A motherly role…is what you said?“

Oh.

Shit.

I’m fucked, I’m fucked, I’m fucked, I’m fucked, I’m fucked.

“You just said someone who can play a ‘motherly role‘ is needed, didn’t you?”

Shit. He heard it, alright.

What do I do? What do I do about this?

You stupid girl, you should have stopped at an appropriate point. Are you out of your mind?

Have you lost your sense of fear? Mentioning Ethan’s mother in front of Harold? Thanasia, the highest risk trigger?

And what was that? A ‘motherly role’?

You should have thought before speaking. Do you have a brain or not?

Saying that a maid who can play Ethan’s mother’s role is needed is practically the same as saying that someone needs to replace Thanasia’s role.

After blurting out such nonsense in front of Harold, I might as well accept that leaving this room unscathed is impossible.

There’s no way Harold would let a lowly maid who dared suggest replacing his wife, whom he hasn’t forgotten even after almost ten years since her death, leave safely.

It’s no longer just a matter of whether I take the exclusive maid role.

It’s now a matter of whether my lifeline gets cut short here.

I felt like I could recall the scene of Ariana getting punched in the gut by Harold and sent flying in the etiquette training room in the basement.

A sense of crisis crept up that the same thing could happen to me in just a few minutes.

“Mas…Master… I’m… I’m sorry…”

I tried to apologize to somehow stay alive, but I was so tense that my mouth could hardly get the next words out.

In the end, before I could finish speaking, Harold opened his mouth first and called my name.

“…Lilith Rosewood.“

“Yes, yes, yes, yes…“

“I have the same thought as you, you know.“

“………..Huh?“

“That’s why I appointed you as Ethan’s exclusive maid. Do you understand?“

“……”

What is he suddenly blabbering about again?

There’s no way Harold would just overlook my insult to Thanasia of all people.

Why is he suddenly bringing up Ethan’s exclusive maid again?

However, mentioning my slip of the tongue to Harold would be no different than sticking my neck on the chopping block.

It was fortunate for me that he didn’t bring it up and just moved on.

“Lilith Rosewood.“

“……Yes.“

“I’ve listened to everything you said, but I can’t really think of anyone other than you who would be suitable as Ethan’s exclusive maid.“

“…I see.“

“The appointment will remain. From tomorrow, you will be Ethan’s exclusive maid, understand?“

“Y-Yes, I understand.“

“You may go now.“

“I, I will go.”

My mind was already in turmoil from the thought that I had made a fatal slip of the tongue.

In this situation, I couldn’t possibly refuse the exclusive maid position, so I hurriedly left Harold’s study.

“Haa…haa… I survived…”

I don’t know why, but it was fortunate that he didn’t mention my slip of the tongue and let it go.

…Honestly, I really thought I was done for.

Author’s Note:

Finally, this novel can live up to its title.

T/N

Let’s go!!! The real story begins now.

Also, I picked up a new novel! Chapters for Genius Wizard Conceals His Origins will be out starting next week (May 6) following a T-Th-Sat schedule. Feel free to check it out!

That’s all for now, thanks for reading, and see you in the next one!