Chapter 11: Not Bad at All—Living in a Manor Is Truly Nice～
[Vosini Daily Special Report]
A Shocking Train Tragedy!!!
At approximately 21:00 last night, a freight train departing from Vosini Port bound for Victoria was attacked by unidentified assailants. After an emergency inspection, three bodies were discovered lying across the first carriage, among them the renowned business magnate Klein Master and his two accompanying bodyguards.
Preliminary investigations revealed that all three victims had suffered fatal wounds inflicted by sharp weapons.
Furthermore, the Archbishop of the Central Church personally arrived at the scene and announced that a grand funeral would be held next Tuesday at the cathedral.
The Archbishop also called upon the citizens to pray and observe a moment of silence for him and his innocent attendants.
…
“Ah… they moved quite quickly.”
Eve held a parasol in one hand and a newspaper in the other, scanning the print while using the corner of her eye to watch the road. Her steps were steady and composed.
As she read each line, a faint smile lingered beneath the shadow of the parasol. She could not help but find the world somewhat ironic. Calling on citizens to mourn together?
Did they truly believe the Church could be so kind? Or were they overestimating the conscience of Vosini’s citizens? During his lifetime, Klein had long funded the Church’s [charitable endeavors]. Those who understood, understood.
They claimed it would be a grand ceremony, yet in the eyes of ordinary people, Klein’s death was inconsequential. In the eyes of his rivals, however, it must have seemed as though even God was lending a hand.
Well… what did any of that have to do with Eve?
The one who killed him was an assassin. She was now merely an ordinary maid. One matter was separate from another.
With that thought, Eve shrugged, neatly folded the newspaper, and tossed it into a passing trash bin.
Since it was daytime, the guard dogs at the gate had been taken back to rest for their night shift. In their place stood two daytime bodyguards in suits.
As she passed them, they both nodded in unison, their posture as upright as ever. Eve could not see the eyes hidden behind their sunglasses, and they could see only half of her pale, jade-like face beneath the parasol.
The uniform of the Hatherin Family was enough to identify her as one of their own. Security was strict; there was no need to worry about outsiders slipping in.
When Eve returned to Morninglight Manor and was about to pass the main residence, she spotted a familiar golden-haired figure.
It was the Head Maid.
She was carrying two stacked wooden crates with her bare hands, the top one pressed against her chin. She walked slowly, her steps slightly strained. At the same time, she noticed Eve.
Her face immediately lit up, and her voice was as gentle and pleasant as ever. “Eve! Good morning. It is wonderful to see you. Could you come and help me for a moment?”
Eve did not speak. She simply walked toward her. As she stepped into the shade beneath the eaves, she closed her parasol and tucked it under her arm.
“Oh! One box each would be enough, actually…” Sylvia hurriedly protested in concern, but it was already too late.
Eve had already taken all the crates. Her red eyes gazed calmly at the other woman as she tilted her head slightly, as if to ask, Where to? Lead the way.
“They are heavy. Should I take one back?”
“It is fine, Head Maid. Please lead the way,” Eve finally spoke. As she did, she lifted the two stacked crates pressed against her chest.
Seeing how effortlessly Eve carried them, Sylvia’s mouth formed a small “O” of surprise.
One truly could not judge by appearances. Who would have thought that someone so slender and delicate-looking possessed more strength than she did? No wonder she could scale a three-meter wall…
Maidservants were quite remarkable, were they not?
“Very well. If you cannot manage, be sure to tell me. Follow me,” Sylvia said with a gentle smile, then led the white-haired beauty—half a head shorter than herself—toward the backyard.
They walked side by side along the corridor. Out of consideration for the one doing the heavy lifting, Sylvia did not dare walk too quickly, afraid of disrupting Eve’s pace.
In truth… Eve would have preferred to run. This was hardly the time to admire the flowerbeds. She also had to avoid direct sunlight. How troublesome…
Another thought occurred to her. What exactly was inside these wooden crates? They made no sound at all, as though they were packed full without a single gap.
As if reading her mind, Sylvia patiently explained, “These are all gifts for the little ones. The weather is getting colder, so I paid for them myself. I prepared winter warming items for everyone.”
She tilted her head slightly and happened to meet Eve’s gaze. “Have you met them, Eve?”
Eve nodded. She knew who Sylvia meant by “little ones”—the other maidservants of Morninglight Manor. She was not particularly close to them.
“I have.”
“Mmm. They are all quite adorable, are they not?”
Sylvia was no different from a mother proudly speaking of her children. A strong aura of maternal warmth radiated from her, almost dazzling.
She raised her hand and brushed a fallen leaf from Eve’s hair. “Those children are not very old. They were all brought back from orphanages.”
“It was the Young Miss who gave them an opportunity—a job and a place to stay. On the surface, it is simply a means of earning a living, but in their eyes, Morninglight Manor may already be their second home.”
“So what about you, Eve? How do you see it?”
Eve paused at being called upon. For a moment, she failed to process the question. A familiar yet unfamiliar word had suddenly resurfaced in her mind, and she was not quite accustomed to it.
“Home…”
Sylvia did not urge her. She merely maintained her slow pace and waited patiently. Silence, too, could be a form of acceptance.
After a long while, Eve’s voice came out softer than usual. “It feels safe here. It is quiet, and the work is clearly defined.”
“Safe…” Sylvia repeated softly, though inwardly she pondered the lack of a more direct answer.
“Do you know, Eve? Sometimes a sense of safety is not given by others. It is something one must slowly find for oneself. Everyone in the manor—including me—welcomes you.”
“Perhaps you are not used to it yet, or perhaps you have not found that feeling… but that is all right. There is plenty of time. You can take it slowly and experience it at your own pace.”
As she finished speaking, Sylvia searched Eve’s face for some sign of warmth, hoping to glimpse the response she wished to see.
But Eve remained too calm. It was about herself, yet she seemed almost detached, as though she had not truly taken the words in.
In the end, she merely said softly, “Thank you, Head Maid.”
“You are welcome,” Sylvia replied without disappointment. “But could you perhaps change the way you address me?”
“…Thank you, Sister Viya.”
“Ah~ Every time I hear you call me that, my mood improves for no reason at all.”
A question mark slowly formed in Eve’s mind. What did that mean? Was it such a rare thing? Why react so dramatically? If calling her sister elicited this response, would calling her mother not be even more serious?
After passing the main residence, the two arrived at a door on the first floor of the dormitory building in the backyard. Sylvia unlocked it with a key.
“All right. Let us put these warm gifts into the storage room first. The little ones will surely be delighted when they see them.”
“Mm.” Eve responded and followed her inside.
The crates landed on the ground with a thud, yet even so, no dust was stirred. Even a storage room was clearly cleaned on a regular basis.
Eve brushed her hands together. Beneath her white gloves, her palms were faintly flushed red. Facing the Head Maid, she bent at the waist, inadvertently raising her notably ample posterior armor.
They were standing rather close. She turned her head aside and shifted her gaze away.
After the Head Maid finished checking and confirmed everything was in order, she straightened up. “Ah!”
“What is it? Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all. I suddenly remembered—there is something very important I have not yet conveyed to you, Eve.”
“……”