Chapter 41

After becoming Ethan Richard Blackwood’s exclusive maid, Lilith Rosewood’s duties became more structured and streamlined, without any unnecessary tasks, making her job much easier these days.

From her perspective, the days seemed to be passing by really quickly.

Up until almost half a year ago, she was filled with thoughts of wanting to die.

However, recently, there haven’t been any particular negative causes or incidents that would bring about such thoughts.

Naturally, her life satisfaction increased, and significantly fewer situations caused her stress.

In particular, the most significant change over the past six months was Ethan’s personality.

His new demeanor was so drastically different that it constantly surprised the servants in the mansion just by simply not giving Lilith a hard time.

“…It was a satisfying meal.”

After finishing his meal with impeccable table manners, Ethan quietly dabbed his mouth with a napkin before leaving the table.

Compared to half a year ago, his improved table manners were so polished that one could doubt he was the same person. Even I was occasionally surprised.

There wasn’t even a trace of anything messy left on the napkin he used to wipe his mouth.

This meant Ethan didn’t make a mess around his mouth while eating.

It was to the extent that one would wonder if this was the same guy who used to grab meat with his hands and tear it apart with his teeth.

‘…His overall demeanor also feels strangely refined.’

In fact, the biggest reason I had scolded this brat “Ethan” was his unhygienic habits, which disgusted me every moment I saw them.

It used to be unbearable to see Ethan walking around with food stains all over his clothes and mouth from who knows when.

But now, instead of making a mess, he maintained an impeccable demeanor throughout meals, behaving quite properly.

His refined manners alone made his overall impression seem different.

I had known for a while that he started taking etiquette lessons from the head maid. Still, I never expected him to actually listen and learn diligently.

Being from the Blackwood bloodline and born to a genius mother, perhaps he learns quickly once he has the will to do so.

Genetics does seem quite powerful.

‘Though he’s still an insufferable brat at his core.’

Well, the only lessons Ethan has been diligently attending are Head Maid Melissa’s etiquette classes. He still doesn’t bother with any other subjects or required liberal arts.

It doesn’t seem like he intends to receive guidance in the Blackwood family’s swordsmanship that his father, Harold, should have taught him, either.

He doesn’t appear to be making any effort in exercise or other areas.

This brat has only improved in terms of etiquette and hygiene from his previous shortcomings.

Thanks to that, I no longer have to see his revolting sloppiness, which isn’t bad for me as his exclusive maid.

“You’ve finished your dinner, young master?”

“… I’ll go bathe first. Please tidy up my bedroom, maid.”

“Understood, Young Master Ethan.”

Ethan, who, until half a year ago, rarely displayed even basic courtesies, now exits the dining room with proper posture.

Even to an observer, seeing that arrogant brat’s slovenly appearance try to put on airs of etiquette was quite jarring and felt incredibly discordant.

Just as I was about to head upstairs to the second floor via the central staircase to tidy up Ethan’s bedroom per his request before he went to bed, his voice suddenly called out from behind me.

“…Maid.“

“Yes?“

“After you finish preparing my bed for the night, could you spare a moment to talk in my room?“

“…In your room, you say?“

“Yeah.”

So this brat is…

Just when I thought he had become more docile recently, he’s starting to reveal his true colors again.

I should have known someone like him couldn’t change so easily.

I couldn’t help but slightly furrow my brow momentarily at Ethan’s sudden summons to his room.

Noticing my expression, Ethan carefully supplemented his previous statement.

“I just want to ask you about one minor thing. Really, it will only take a bit.“

“…I see.“

“…Yeah.”

If it really was just a minor matter, there would be no need to call me to his room separately.

He could have casually asked me here and gotten a quick response.

Something was off about him: he requested my presence in his bedroom right before bedtime.

Not to mention, he chose his own private room, where we would be alone without any other eyes around.

The problem was…

‘Haaa, damn it…’

Even if I realized Ethan’s ulterior motives, I was not in a position to refuse his summons.

No matter what, I was still Ethan’s exclusive maid, even after a year had passed.

He may no longer constantly pester me several times a day like before and has gained some sense of propriety, no longer making a disgusting mess while eating.

But I absolutely refused to be subjugated under this vile brat’s control ever again.

“Understood, young master. Then I will wait for you in your bedchamber after finishing the linen preparation.“

“…Very well, maid.”

Over this past year, this brat hasn’t seemed to train in swordsmanship or mana control, so I likely still have the physical upper hand for now.

At the very least, if he tries any strange moves on me, I can resist with force for a brief moment.

‘If he tries to pull any stunts, I’ll escape first…and figure out the rest later.’

I won’t let my guard down and just take Ethan’s crap anymore.

Never again, absolutely not.

After dinner, as the world outside started to dim into the evening, I purposefully positioned myself away from the bed after making Ethan’s bedding as usual, quietly waiting for the master of the room to arrive.

I deliberately did not sit on a  chair either. I could not afford to let my guard down if I needed to escape.

Considering the potential visual obstruction from the darkness, I also set the mana lamps to maximum brightness.

Creak.

“……”

The door opened with friction in this tense atmosphere laden with unspoken implications.

Ethan’s slightly more humanized appearance after bathing came into view.@@novelbin@@

“You’re here.“

“……Yeah.“

The moment he entered, Ethan’s gaze unconsciously flicked to my chest for an instant before quickly averting his eyes.

After constantly encountering such gazes from men over the past year, I had become quicker at noticing these things.

It didn’t particularly bother me more just because it was Ethan. As a man myself, I had no reason to take offense at such glances.

“It’s… bright in here.“

“Shall I dim the lights?“

“…No, leave it as the maid prefers.“

“Then I shall keep it this way.”

I didn’t want to risk turning off the lights only for that brat to try something in the darkness.

Although the other servants may say things like “The young master is starting to change“ or “He’s different from before,” I’m not falling for it.

I’ve witnessed over ten times how Ethan treated Lilith in the game.

More than that, I’ve seen firsthand the brat’s deplorable behavior until now. Am I supposed to blindly trust the good face he’s shown for a few months?

I absolutely won’t be deceived by the occasional good behavior a person with a ruined personality shows.

I must remain constantly vigilant and suspicious, at least until I escape from the Blackwood family.

“…You could have sat down to wait.“

“No, this stance is comfortable for me.“

“…Want to sit down now, at least?“

“I’m used to and comfortable in this stance.“

“…I see. I won’t force you to sit, then, but come closer over here.”

Ethan calls me over as he sits at a table in the corner of the room.

While still not letting my guard down, I approached the table where he sat.

“…Maid.“

“Yes, young master.“

“Does the maid…happen to have a preference for any particular men?“

“…Pardon?”

What the hell kind of nonsense is this suddenly?

Given that I was a man in my previous life, how could I have preferences for other men?

Of course, even though my current body is Lilith’s, it’s only natural that my identity from my previous life hasn’t disappeared.

I shook my head and gave Ethan a firm, negative answer.

“No. I have no such preferences whatsoever.“

“R-Really?“

“Yes.”

And I never will have any going forward, either.

For some reason, Ethan’s voice brightened a bit after my response before he followed up with another question.

“Th-Then…“

“……“

“Do you at least have a preferred type or style when it comes to men?“

“…………Pardon?“

“J-Just asking. It doesn’t mean anything special.”

No, it certainly seems to have some particular meaning.

Ethan’s mind has matured a bit over this past year, so it makes sense that he’s starting to develop romantic interests.

And realistically, with Lilith as his exclusive dedicated maid, it’s unlikely for Ethan to develop feelings for any other woman.

Essentially, this question is indirectly expressing that he has an interest in me.

‘I had a feeling a day like this would come eventually, but actually experiencing it is just fucking annoying.’

As I mentioned earlier, not only do I not have romantic feelings towards men, but if the subject is Ethan specifically, I have no interest in associating with him at all, regardless of gender.

However, if I give a halfhearted excuse here, it will likely only give this brat false hope.

I want to firmly reject him in a way that will make him lose any interest in me if possible.

‘How should I put this delicately?’

Part of me wanted to bluntly tell this brat, “Anyone but you would be fine,“ right to his face.

But doing something so brash may cause this recently well-behaved brat to revert.

More importantly, he hasn’t even directly stated that he likes me, so being preemptively harsh would make me seem overly defensive.

As I pondered how to refuse him without coming across as a bitter person, one indirect way to convey “anyone but you“ came to mind.

“…I don’t have any particular preferred type when it comes to men.“

“R-Really? None at all? Not even, like, someone good-looking or-or from nobility would be nice…?“

“No, such superficial factors don’t really change my view of people.“

“I-I see…!“

“…However, there is certainly a type I dislike.“

“…Huh?”

Ethan seemed noticeably flustered, likely not expecting me to continue further.

As he warily watched me, I firmly expounded on the “type I dislike.“

“First of all, I really dislike unhygienic people who try to feed others food covered in their own saliva and bite marks.“

“…Huh?“

“Apart from that, I also really dislike arrogant, self-important, lazy bums who are short yet abnormally fat.“

“…M-Maid?“

“Of course, the type of person I detest the most is sexual harassers who sneak up and grope your butt while you’re working or flick disgusting things at you before laughing in your face. The worst of all men in the world.“

“I…I see…“

“Does this help clarify things for you, Young Master Ethan?“

“……”

Seemingly shocked that I had so brazenly listed characteristics describing himself, Ethan could only nod quietly with his head hung low.

Even for such a shameless brat, having “I dislike people like you“ stated so directly to his face must have been hard to stomach.

But he should get the point by now – that I will never develop any positive feelings towards him, no matter what.

The conversation seemed to have reached its conclusion, so I addressed the silently hanging head of Ethan.

“Young Master.“

“Y-Yes!“

“It’s getting late. May I take my leave to my quarters now?“

“Yeah…Th-Thank you for humoring my question, maid…“

“Have a good night’s rest, Young Master Ethan.“

“…You too, maid.”

With a creaking sound, the door to Ethan Richard Blackwood’s room quietly closed.

That brat shouldn’t pester me with any romantic notions anymore.

Whether he becomes gloomy from his disappointed expectations has nothing to do with me.

Author’s Note:

Ethan!

Lilith doesn’t like chubby guys!

T/N

Hello! Axiomatic here.

Illustrations for this novel can now be found in the #novel-illustrations channel on the GalaxyTL Discord.

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