Chapter 13 : Chapter 13
Chapter 13. A Proper Serial
While Ella and Aier were still fiercely arguing about which “side” they belonged to, Eve interrupted them. There was something else she cared about more.
“So…” Eve’s gaze swept over the two of them. “What exactly are you doing here? If I am not mistaken, this should be working hours, correct?”
The playful noise abruptly stopped.
The smug look on Ella’s face visibly wilted. Her eyes darted around, while Aier raised a finger to her lips and let out a long “Shhh…” Her small face was practically covered with the word “secret.”
“Ahem, well…” Ella scratched her cheek. “Today’s work… today’s work… um… we finished it early! Yes, that is right, it is already done!”
“It is finished~” Aier echoed softly, nodding.
“And then we came out to inspect the garden!” Ella puffed out her chest. “That is right—inspection! And we discovered the Big-Breasted Monster! We are very responsible!”
Eve said nothing. She simply looked at them quietly.
Those crimson eyes contained neither suspicion nor approval. Yet that alone placed enormous pressure on the two small maids.
When it came to work, the two of them were clearly terrified.
“Alright, alright…”
Ella surrendered. She leaned closer to Eve and lowered her voice.
“To be honest, we were just slacking off… The dessert work in the kitchen today was too boring, so we sneaked out to play for a little while… just a little while.”
Aier leaned closer as well, clasping her hands together. Two large eyes looked at Eve pitifully.
“Please~ do not tell the Head Maid.”
Ella immediately clasped her hands too. “Please do not tell Head Maid Sylvia! If that is not enough… we could satisfy you a little?”
As she spoke, she pinched the hem of her skirt and lifted it slightly, revealing the upper part of her thigh wrapped in white pantyhose. The movement was so practiced that Eve raised an eyebrow.
This was clearly the behavior of a repeat offender.
Please do not do this kind of thing. Did they think she was such a frivolous person?
Seeing that Eve did not react, the mischievous little Ella added,
“If the Head Maid finds out we slipped out during working hours, she will definitely punish us by making us stand still as punishment!”
“It will be very tiring…” Aier added, her small face wrinkling into a miserable expression.
What made it even harder for Eve to maintain composure was that Aier—whom she had previously had a better impression of—also lifted her skirt slightly, revealing a faint glimpse of her pantyhose-covered thighs.
Was this influence from her sister, or had Eve simply misjudged her character from the beginning…?
Begging for mercy by revealing one’s thighs—was that really reasonable?
Looking at the two nearly identical faces now wearing expressions as bitter as if they had eaten a bitter melon, Eve remained silent.
Reporting them would not benefit her, and she had never intended to report them anyway. Who knew how things had suddenly developed to this point?
Seeing the thighs of little maids just from casually asking a question had certainly not been her intention.
Just as she was about to simply nod and show that she had no interest in meddling in their affairs—
“Oh? Standing punishment? That actually sounds like quite a good suggestion.”
A gentle female voice spoke from behind them, yet it instantly caused Ella and Aier to stiffen.
The twins froze simultaneously.
Their necks turned back little by little in a stiff, mechanical motion.
Sylvia was already standing behind them.
She held a new set of white porcelain teaware with golden trim in her arms, along with a leather notebook.
A warm smile rested on her face. Sunlight shone from the side, casting a tall shadow from her slender figure that completely enveloped the stiff twins.
“Eek!!!” ×2
Ella and Aier shot into the air like startled cats, desperately trying to escape the smiling shadow.
“H–Head Maid!”
“Lady Sylvia…”
Aier remained standing in place, her small hands clutching the edge of her apron tightly, while Ella instinctively hid behind Eve.
“The work in the kitchen was finished early? And you came to inspect the garden?” Sylvia spoke calmly, her smile growing increasingly gentle.
The pressure was overwhelming.
“You two are truly diligent. It seems the workload I previously arranged for you was far too light, since you still have the energy to conduct additional inspections.”
“N–No! That is not it! We know we were wrong!” Ella hurriedly ran forward and immediately bowed deeply.
“We really know we were wrong~” Aier followed with a deep bow as well, her light green hair falling forward.
Sylvia, however, did not show mercy. Her voice remained soft.
“Since you two are so diligent, then before dinner tonight, please wipe all the vases in the east corridor.”
“Remember—they must be spotless. I will personally inspect them.”
The twins immediately collapsed in despair. They did not dare argue and could only respond weakly.
“We understand… Head Maid…”
“Now return immediately to your original positions in the kitchen. If I discover you slacking off again, then I believe… the picture frames in the west corridor would also greatly benefit from your dedication.”
“Yes!” ×2
The two of them shot out of the pavilion like two pale green cannonballs, disappearing into the rose bushes in the blink of an eye.
Silence returned to the pavilion.
Only the breeze, the fragrance of flowers, and the gentle sound of flowing water from the fountain remained.
Sylvia finally stepped forward with the items in her arms. She placed the tea set and notebook lightly on the white artistic tea table and looked at Eve with a hint of helplessness.
“I hope Eve will not laugh at us. Those twins are the manor’s little sources of joy. They are a bit too lively and always require some special attention.”
She sat down in the rocking chair opposite Eve.
“However, their nature is not bad. Their work ability is actually quite good as well, especially when they cooperate with one another. They simply need occasional discipline.”
Eve nodded in understanding, though she did not express any particular stance.
Did they think she had not been nervous?
If those two little maids had not lowered their skirts in time—and if the angle had not conveniently blocked the view—then the Head Maid might have witnessed something rather indecent.
If that had happened… if she were mistaken for some kind of deviant threatening little maids, that would certainly have ruined everything.
“Well then, that little interruption is over.” Sylvia clapped her hands lightly. “Let us begin. As a personal maid—especially the personal maid who serves the Young Lady—there are many skills you must master, and the standards are very high.”
“Starting today, we will begin with the basics. Time is limited, and afterward you will learn further through practice. Eve, do you understand?”
As she spoke, she pushed the thick notebook toward Eve.
“These are my notes. I am passing them on to you now. They include the Young Lady’s daily habits, her commonly visited areas, and her daily schedule. You must memorize them.”
Eve took the notebook and casually flipped open a page. Neatly written handwriting filled it, and she skimmed through it quickly.
As a personal maid, she not only needed to respond to ordinary service duties but also needed to satisfy any needs of the Young Lady.
Because the role was an important one beside the Young Lady, the position itself would also carry greater status.
Correspondingly, the standards of etiquette she needed to maintain would be even higher.
“Wait a moment.” Eve raised her head and asked, “When you say ‘satisfy desires,’ what exactly does that refer to…?”