I then ran out with fierce momentum, grabbing my broom and dustpan with me.
As I was carrying my broom and dustpan, chief maid Weber had a baffled look on her face as she followed me.
Why are you cleaning all of a sudden?”
“Shouldn’t a maid be doing her duty?” I replied quickly.
Holding the broom in my hand, I strengthened my grip and began to sweep, beginning from the corner of the garden.
Chief maid Weber who followed me closely at a slow pace, squinted her eyes and said.
“At times, I noticed you tend to focus on your work whenever you worry about something.”
The friendliness in her voice reached my ears, catching me off guard.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about but please don’t overdo it.”
“… … Chief maid.”
“Is that okay with you? You’re still young, Lize. Please don’t overwork yourself.”
Because I’m still young.
When I heard that, I bit my molars tightly.
I was well aware that chief maid Weber said those words with good intentions but her words stung as I remembered the yellow cat, the maids in the laundromat, and what the Duke said about me.
Yes, I’m still young.
I know that I only have a bit of time left until I become an adult.
However… ….
“… Someday, I won’t be so young,” I muttered.
“Huh? What is that supposed to mean?” asked chief maid Weber.
“So… … We have to be prepared for that.”
‘Um, what’s going on with her?’ thought chief maid Weber.
With a clear-eyed look, chief maid Weber gazed down at me.
Either way, I devoted myself once again to tending the garden.
Meanwhile.
‘Huh?’
Raising my head, I could see the Empress walking over in the distance.
Acting on reflex, I backed up swiftly and hurried back to chief maid Weber.
“Um, I’m going to the Crown Palace!”
What? Why all of a sudden?”
“Well, I’m off to see the Crown Prince! I’m even bringing snacks!”
As I came up with excuses and blurted them out on the spot, I found myself quickly running as the Empress drew closer with each second.
Well, by how I’m acting now… … ugh. It’s so obvious that I’m trying to avoid the Empress.
‘But for now, I just can’t bear to look the Empress in the face……it feels weird, like something’s off.’
As if swallowing a large piece of ice, the depths of my heart felt cold for not wanting to see the Empress.
I’ll become a maid who does her part perfectly.
So, ‘even when I’m no longer young,’ I will have earned the empress’s trust…. …
‘Then will I not have to feel this way anymore?’
After running for a while, I glanced back.
In the distance, I saw the Empress and chief maid Weber having a conversation.
Somehow, my heart was pounding, and I let out a deep sigh.
“Chief maid Weber.”
Chief maid Weber, who was staring off into the direction Charlize had disappeared into just a moment ago, was roused from her daze by the Empress’s voice calling her.