After becoming Ethan Richard Blackwood’s exclusive maid, Lilith Rosewood’s duties beca more structured and streamlined, without any unnecessary tasks, making her job much easier these days.
From her perspective, the days seed 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 deanor was so drastically different that it constantly surprised the servants in the mansion just by simply not giving Lilith a hard ti.
“…It was a satisfying al.”
After finishing his al 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 sa person. Even I was occasionally surprised.
There wasn’t even a trace of anything ssy left on the napkin he used to wipe his mouth.
This ant Ethan didn’t make a ss around his mouth while eating.
It was to the extent that one would wonder if this was the sa guy who used to grab at with his hands and tear it apart with his teeth.
‘…His overall deanor also feels strangely refined.’
In fact, the biggest reason I had scolded this brat “Ethan” was his unhygienic habits, which disgusted every mont 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 ss, he maintained an impeccable deanor throughout als, 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 lissa’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 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 .
“…Maid.“
“Yes?“
“After you finish preparing my bed for the night, could you spare a mont to talk in my room?“
“…In your room, you say?“
“Yeah.”
So this brat is…
Just when I thought he had beco more docile recently, he’s starting to reveal his true colors again.
I should have known soone like him couldn’t change so easily.
I couldn’t help but slightly furrow my brow montarily at Ethan’s sudden summons to his room.
Noticing my expression, Ethan carefully supplented his previous statent.
“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 to his room separately.
He could have casually asked here and gotten a quick response.
Sothing was off about him: he requested my presence in his bedroom right before bedti.
Not to ntion, 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 several tis a day like before and has gained so sense of propriety, no longer making a disgusting ss 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 seed 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 , I can resist with force for a brief mont.
‘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 ca into view.
“You’re here.“
“……Yeah.“
The mont he entered, Ethan’s gaze unconsciously flicked to my chest for an instant before quickly averting his eyes.
After constantly encountering such gazes from n over the past year, I had beco quicker at noticing these things.
It didn’t particularly bother 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 sothing 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 tis how Ethan treated Lilith in the ga.
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 .“
“…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 co closer over here.”
Ethan calls 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 n?“
“…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 n?
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 so 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 cos to n?“
“…………Pardon?“
“J-Just asking. It doesn’t an anything special.”
No, it certainly seems to have so particular aning.
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 .
‘I had a feeling a day like this would co eventually, but actually experiencing it is just fucking annoying.’
As I ntioned earlier, not only do I not have romantic feelings towards n, 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 if possible.
‘How should I put this delicately?’
Part of wanted to bluntly tell this brat, “Anyone but you would be fine,“ right to his face.
But doing sothing so brash may cause this recently well-behaved brat to revert.
More importantly, he hasn’t even directly stated that he likes , so being preemptively harsh would make 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“ ca to mind.
“…I don’t have any particular preferred type when it cos to n.“
“R-Really? None at all? Not even, like, soone 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 seed noticeably flustered, likely not expecting to continue further.
As he warily watched , 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 n 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 shaless 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 seed 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 with any romantic notions anymore.
Whether he becos gloomy from his disappointed expectations has nothing to do with .
Author’s Note:
Ethan!
Lilith doesn’t like chubby guys!
T/N
Hello! Axiomatic here.
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That’s all for now, thanks for reading, and see you in the next one!
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