maid's night (r19) | completed

Chapter 25

Translated by bristi

Edited by Yui

***

Evely got a few days off. It wasn't that long, but it was enough to have a break. She spent two days coming to the village where she lived before, so she thought it would be just the right time to take care of where her mother was buried and hurry back. When leaving the mansion, the head maid gave her money separately, telling her to have a safe trip. It was a larger sum of money than she thought and Evely refused several times, but she sneaked money into her luggage. She seemed to be not interested in anyone at all, so one side of her heart ached for nothing.

"So you can go visit your mother."

Then Evely, who thought of her master, smiled vaguely.

"Unexpectedly, he has a kind side."

He had always been a cool-headed man, a bit far-fetched to call him generous. It might not be appropriate to say that he was unfriendly, even with his image as the ruthless and cruel man who had slashed numerous enemies on the battlefield.

"...my house has disappeared too."

Evely first visited her home.However, there was no sign of her house, and instead there was a store selling miscellaneous items. She thought it'd already be sold, but seeing this with her own eyes was another feeling. Evely, who was standing in front of the store, turned forlornly. She was going to stay in an inn for the night and visit her mother tomorrow. The sixteen years she spent here passed by like a flashlight. Memories seemed to press on one side of her heart. It was when she was looking around where her house would be, her heart wavered, making her want to cry.

"Evely, is that you?"

Evely's head whipped around on hearing someone call her.

"Uh... Madam. Julia?"Evely's eyes grew wide.

No matter how much time passed, she still looked familiar. She was a friend of her mother's who Evely knew since her childhood. Whenever she baked cookies or bread, she always handed them out, and if her mother was very sick, she took care of Evely.

"Madam!" Evely ran forward, swallowing back her tears. Julia grabbed Evely's hand. Her hand's warmth was so comforting.

* * *

It had already been a few days since Evely went on vacation. As usual, it was quiet in the house. He was the master. Just because a bird chirped on a peaceful morning doesn't mean it was a silent day. So the absence of a single maid would not change anything. Alec picked up the letter on the desk. It was sent by Rose, who left for recuperation. The letter was written in elegant handwriting. She thought the writing, which was as fluid as water, was just like Rose. Suddenly he remembered the first time he saw her. The hand that reached out to him in the middle of the market.

"Rose and Dior, my name is Rose Dior."

He remembered her clumsy disguise. He was writing back with a grin on his face, when he heard a knock outside the door.

"Master, I've brought tea."

A silver tray was placed on the left side of the desk. On top of it were chewy light green grapes and neatly cut peaches. Peaches as white as a woman's skin and as red as a girl's cheeks. Next to it were tea and simple cookies. And white, slender fingers clenched the tray.

"Thanks to your vacation, I had a good time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." the fingers stuck out something neatly wrapped.

"And this is?..." He raised his eyebrow.

Evely faltered and began unpacking. What was in it was a bookmark. Underneath several layers of thin leather were colorful feathers bound together, and small patterns were drawn on them.