Chapter 42

A week later, after that incident…

…when I thought I had averted the crisis by indirectly rejecting Ethan’s advances towards me and returned to my normal daily routine.

Bored of being cooped up in my room doing nothing but knitting every day, I decided to go for a walk since the weather was nice, as a change of pace.

…However, this so-called “walk” was merely strolling around the front yard of the mansion and its surroundings.

If I weren’t a debt maid at Lilith’s, I could have climbed up the mountain behind the mansion, and if that were possible, I would have actually done so.

However, my status as a debt maid, with five to six years to go, was still a significant restriction and weakness for me.

Even so, after experiencing this status for about a year, my mindset has become a bit more relaxed compared to before.

‘And if this were the original game, Ethan’s disciplining of me would have started long ago, but right now, there’s no sign of that happening.’

I was convinced the story had diverged significantly from the original game due to the choking incident.

To be honest, if someone didn’t change after nearly being killed by their exclusive maid, they wouldn’t be human.

Anyway, the biggest reason I had hurried and tried to become stronger was to build up my resistance before Ethan could overpower me.

Since Ethan wasn’t doing anything unnecessary to me at the moment, I didn’t need to draw attention to myself and get lectured by the head maid.

Of course, that didn’t mean I had completely abandoned my desire to level up.

‘I’ll level up when I get the chance. If not, it doesn’t matter; I can do it after leaving the Blackwood mansion.’

One year and about a month into the seven-year term. If Lilith Rosewood endures for the remaining five years and 11 months, she will become a free woman.

Of course, after that much time passes, Lilith will be around 25 or 26 years old, which cannot be considered extremely young.

After all, this world is set in a medieval fantasy background, and it was common for women to marry at a young age back then.

Unless they were noble ladies or enrolled in elite educational institutions like academies, it was customary for ordinary commoner women to get married and start a household in their late teens or early 20s.

…But well, that has nothing to do with me.

‘I never intended to have an everlasting relationship with a man anyway.’

On the contrary, in terms of becoming an adventurer or opening a shop, as long as one had talent, the age of 25 was not much of an entry barrier.

In fact, there were some cases of female adventurers who remained active for quite a long time without having children.

Since I didn’t have the ambitious goal of passing on my genes to the future in this world, I naturally had no reason to feel anxious.

I just had to endure the remaining time, then take up the job of an adventurer or something else to make a fresh start.

Preferably, I would like a job as an adventurer where I could freely use magic.

‘How about the concept of a secret mage operating while concealing my face with a hood? Since most would assume I’m a noble if I can use magic, there likely wouldn’t be many men recklessly going after me just for my chest…’

As I was making these plans for my future while strolling halfway around the mansion’s yard,

I suddenly heard the sound of something long and rod-like cutting through the wind.

‘…Huh?’

My curiosity was piqued by an unfamiliar sound different from natural wind, unconsciously drawing my attention in that direction.

Since it didn’t seem too far from the walking path, I quietly headed toward the source of the sound.

Whiiiiish! Whiiiiish!

“Ethan, faster! Do you think you can succeed the Blackwood sword with just that much?!”

“Aaargh…!”

Whiiish! Whiiish! Whiiish!

…Oh, it was just the Blackwood father and son.

Ethan was diligently swinging a sword in an open area behind the Blackwood mansion’s backyard. @@novelbin@@

…and Harold was observing and instructing Ethan’s swordsmanship practice.

It was an unfamiliar sight that my mind could hardly process at first, but it wasn’t that strange on second thought, either.

‘So the rumors about him recently receiving sword lessons from Harold were true.’

I had heard rumors of ‘the young master changing again’ a few days ago, so I thought he was just putting on some polite act again.

Little did I know he was actually learning swordsmanship from Harold this time.

To be honest, it looked somewhat comical to see that rounded physique swinging a sword.

But remembering the Ethan boss battle from the game, it didn’t seem so laughable.

‘He was quite a formidable boss in the Lilith Route.’

No matter how undertrained he was, he was still a noble.

He was the young master of the Blackwood family, which specialized in body enhancement magic, no less.

While his corpulent, pig-like physique swinging dual blades in a clumsy manner was somewhat comical to imagine, putting that aside, his difficulty level was around that of an early-game boss.

That’s even considering Lilith’s support from the rear as a slave-branded character during the boss battle.

In fact, Harold standing beside him looked even more out of place than Ethan swinging his sword.

Unlike his usual doting father persona, he sternly instructed Ethan’s swordplay with a strict expression – a completely different impression from the Harold I knew.

‘Even if he dotes on his son, I guess he’s serious when it comes to the sword, befitting a Sword Master.’

While usually indulging Ethan’s unreasonable demands, he seemed uncompromising when it came to sword training.

His character wasn’t particularly gentle, to begin with, so this stern side felt more true to his nature, appearances aside.

The problem was that other issues might soon arise if he treated Ethan this way.

I don’t know when exactly Ethan stopped learning swordsmanship from Harold in the game, but assuming it was around Thanasia’s death, it was probably three to four years.

Add the five-year forced hiatus due to the curse, plus the one year after awakening spent idling.

That’s about ten years – even excluding the cursed sleep period, he went almost five years without touching a sword.

Considering Ethan’s current physical age, it’s almost like starting swordsmanship from scratch.

So, he must be starting with basic swinging exercises first.

Trying to learn advanced techniques without proper foundational training could lead to a risk of injury.

However, this training method doesn’t seem sustainable for long, in my opinion.

Just like when starting an exercise routine, in reality, you’ll have to gradually increase the physical load to maintain it for an extended period.

Putting someone who has barely held a sword through spartan training is bound to burn them out quickly.

*Thud*

“Hah…hah…ugh…”

“Get up, Ethan. We’re not even halfway done yet.”

“Haaaa…haaaa..haaaaa…”

“…If you don’t pick up your sword right now, we’ll start today’s training from the beginning.”

*Gaaaah!*

Spurred by Harold’s strict declaration, Ethan picks up the dropped sword and rises from the ground again.

As much as Harold is doing this as the Sword Master, I can’t help but wonder if he’s going too far with his own son.

“No dallying, start again, quickly.”

“Urp…ggggaaahh…!”

Pressured by Harold’s adamant attitude, Ethan forcibly grips the sword again and resumes swinging.

To be fair, if this was his usual self, he would have quit and collapsed long ago. I suppose his etiquette training has instilled some willpower in him.

…Even so, if Harold keeps up this harsh regimen, Ethan will likely burn out again in a matter of days.

I could advise Harold to go a bit easier on the training menu instead of pushing Ethan to his absolute limits, gradually challenging him at a more reasonable pace, even if it’s for his son’s sake.

But my status is hardly one that can offer advice to Harold.

Though I’m Ethan’s exclusive maid now, I was merely a commoner girl from the lower maid ranks just a year ago.

The likelihood of Harold seriously heeding my counsel is pretty much zero.

And to be honest, it might even be better for me if Ethan gives up on swordsmanship.

‘At least I won’t have to worry about being overpowered by him.’

I won’t interfere, but I have no intention of cheering him on, either.

So I turned around and retraced my steps, making sure I didn’t catch their attention.

Whether that brat succeeds the Blackwood swordsmanship or not, it’s their business.

After finishing my short stroll in the mansion’s courtyard with mixed feelings, I was heading back to my room upstairs when a voice called out my name from behind.

“Miss Lilith Rosewood.”

Turning towards the now familiar voice, I saw the butler standing there as expected, his emotionally deficient gaze deliberately meeting my eyes, seeming to avoid looking at my chest area.

“……”

“……”

Ah, right, his name.

Shit, what was it again? I vaguely remember it being around five syllables *1.

Feeling pressured by his gaze waiting for my response, I blurted out the five-syllable name *1 that popped into my head.

“…Mr. Siegfried, the butler?”

“It’s Dittmeyer Collin Evercroft.”

“My apologies.”

Even though I just said what came to mind, I didn’t expect to get all the syllables wrong.

Well, at least the vibe was similar, so it’s some improvement.

Despite me making such a rude blunder right in front of him, Butler Dittmeyer didn’t bat an eye and continued speaking.

In the hand he extended towards me was what looked like a letter envelope.

“It’s a letter from the Blackwood territory’s guard, Miss Lilith Rosewood.”

“I understand.”

Now that I think about it, around half a year after Ethan started his etiquette lessons, letters addressed to him have been pouring in frequently.

Most were regarding the still vacant potential fiancée position for the Blackwood family heir.

Some nobles were already blindly trying to make their young daughters Ethan’s fiancée based on the Blackwood name alone.

However, after news spread of Ethan receiving etiquette training, even more nobles brazenly expressed that desire.

Since Harold stubbornly insists it’s not time yet, they’re trying to persuade Ethan directly via letters.

‘It might actually be easier for me if that brat just gets engaged to some random noblewoman.’

That way, there’s a slightly lower chance he’ll make advances towards me.

Of course, that assumes Ethan actually minds his fiancée and her family’s watchful eyes.

But why would the Blackwood territory guards suddenly send a letter to Ethan out of nowhere instead of another noble family?

“I will ensure this letter is definitely delivered to Young Master Ethan.”

Well, whatever happens within the Blackwood territory is none of my business.

With that thought, I received the letter from Butler Sieg…Dittmeyer.

But as I was heading upstairs, the butler called out to me again from behind.

“One moment, please, Miss Lilith Rosewood.”

“Yes?”

“This letter did not come addressed to Young Master Ethan Richard Blackwood. Please confirm the recipient properly.”

“…Huh?”

Puzzled, I double-checked the names of the recipient and sender written on the envelope.

Only then did I understand the meaning behind the butler’s words to confirm the recipient.

[To: Miss Lilith Rosewood | From: Sir Blacksong]

…What is this?

Why is this guy sending me a letter?

T/N

Unfortunately, the joke was lost in translation, and I couldn’t think of a similar case. In Korean, Siegfried is spelled with five characters/syllables (지크프리트 / ji keu peu ri teu), and so is Dittmeyer (디트마이어 / di teu ma i o ).

Hello! Axiomatic here.

For those asking about chapter time release, I usually release the chapter at around 12:00 am (GMT+8), but not consistently. I’m publishing the next chapter along with this as a bonus for being late on schedule. The chapter on Friday will still be posted then.

Thanks for reading, see you in the next one!