Chapter 20 : Chapter 20
Chapter 20. Just Stubborn—Absolutely Stubborn!
“Ah… Eve… could you press a little harder…?”
The voice that easily invited wild imagination came from none other than the adorable Aier. With her little green-haired head tilted upward, she eagerly leaned into the large hand that continued to stroke her.
It was just a head pat. Do not think too much about it.
Of course, Aier had not snuck out to slack off this time. She had been on her way to find the Head Maid when she happened to run into Eve. Her eyes immediately lit up, and like a kitten spotting catnip, she happily trotted over.
Eve, seeing the little thing approach her, instinctively began petting her head as if she were stroking a cat.
She had even worried that Aier might not like it, but it seemed she had been overly concerned.
Looking out over the rose bushes ahead while casually patting the small girl beside her with one hand—what a pleasant moment.
Hmm?
Why had her hand suddenly lost contact?
Oh… there it was again.
Was it just her imagination?
Why did the texture of the hair feel different?
Eve raised an eyebrow. Even through her glove she could clearly feel the difference in texture.
Turning her head to look—
Not only was the hair different.
So was the person.
Aier was nowhere to be seen. She had likely run off long ago.
Standing there now, arms crossed and frowning coldly, was Vivian.
“How long do you intend to keep touching?”
“Until the Young Lady objects,” Eve replied calmly, withdrawing her hand and placing it behind her back.
But Vivian had little interest in arguing about the head pat itself. She had something else in mind.
“You have quite the nerve. I have not even settled the matter from this morning yet, and here you are acting like nothing happened, playing around with the other servants?”
Eve did not panic. She answered each point in turn.
“Replying to the Young Lady. First, it was you who said not to touch you. Second, she and I merely encountered each other by chance.”
Although she was telling the truth, Vivian was not satisfied.
What she wanted to see was unconditional apology—not an attempt to clarify responsibility.
“Smooth talker,” Vivian stepped forward slightly, closing the distance as if to exert pressure. “So you think you are always proper, always correct?”
Eve lowered her eyes, avoiding direct confrontation, yet she did not retreat.
“Never. Any request from the Young Lady falls within my duties.”
“Duties? Then why are you here?”
“At this time, it should be the Young Lady’s piano lesson. Naturally, I could not interrupt without being called. But if you require me, I will always come immediately.”
“You…!”
Vivian stopped halfway through her sentence.
She suddenly remembered that she herself had once declared to everyone that no one was to disturb her during study hours unless she called for them.
Furthermore, Eve had followed her words exactly. The moment Vivian objected, she had stopped touching her.
So… should she be pleased?
Or angry?
Wait.
Who was Vivian?
She was the Young Lady of the Hessein Family.
That meant whatever she said was law.
After a moment of stubborn thought, she declared unreasonably, “I do not care! You are still at fault. I will deal with you later!”
“If the Young Lady says so, then so it is.”
Eve looked calmly at the red-haired girl before her, who had turned away in silent irritation. She wondered if Vivian spent the entire day as though she had swallowed explosives.
It certainly matched her stereotype of nobles.
Then another thought crossed her mind.
At this time of day, Vivian should not be here at all.
Eve decided to attempt a more direct conversation.
“Young Lady.”
Vivian did not respond.
Eve spoke again softly.
“Young—”
“Stop bothering me!” Vivian snapped, turning back to glare at her fiercely. Her face was filled with displeasure and exhaustion.
She turned her head forward again.
After a long moment of silence filled only with the sound of the breeze brushing past her ears, she suddenly muttered:
“Go on.”
It was obvious.
She had something weighing on her mind.
But since Eve did not know exactly what it was, she chose not to ask directly.
“The Young Lady appears somewhat tired. Would you like to return to your room and rest?”
“That is none of your concern.”
“As your personal maid, I have the responsibility to care about your condition.”
Vivian clicked her tongue in annoyance and turned around abruptly, facing Eve directly.
Yet instead of speaking sharply as usual, she only stared coldly, trying to reclaim her composure through her gaze alone.
Again.
The same empty concern.
She had heard it countless times.
Her eyes held a suppressed emotion—something deeper than anger.
“Stop pretending to care. If something is none of your business, do not ask.”
“You are correct,” Eve replied calmly. “But taking care of you is my work, regardless of whether my intentions appear sincere.”
“Anyone can say pretty words,” Vivian turned her face aside again, looking toward the rose bushes.
Her thoughts drifted back to the pressure that clung to her like vines, tightening around her until she could barely breathe.
Eve’s voice pulled her back from her thoughts.
“The Young Lady is troubled, and I happen to be present. Listening also falls within the scope of my duties. You do not have to bear everything alone.”
“What right do you have?!” Vivian suddenly snapped, her voice sharp. “You are just a maid—someone who is only here because of an assigned job. What do my problems have to do with you?!”
The air fell silent.
Vivian did not realize that the corners of her eyes had already begun to glisten.
People rarely reacted so sharply unless something had struck a painful point.
She needed someone to confide in.
Yet her stubborn pride refused to allow it.
Although it had never been impossible to communicate with her, no brave soul had ever attempted it until now.
Seeing this, Eve briefly felt as though her goodwill had been treated like worthless trash.
But she had promised the Head Maid that she would not disappoint her.
And Eve never broke her promises.
Besides, it was not as though she had never comforted a child before.
Even the most stubborn mouth had its leverage point.
It might be troublesome, but Eve had never feared trouble.
Then Eve did something that surprised Vivian.
She slowly crouched down, lowering herself to a height beneath Vivian’s line of sight.
Lifting her gaze, she looked at Vivian calmly.
“You do not have to treat me as someone to confide in,” Eve said quietly. “You may simply consider me a presence that will not repeat what it hears.”
“After you finish speaking, everything can remain the same. You can continue as you are, and I will continue doing only what falls within my duties.”
Vivian froze.
There was no flattery in those words.
No empty promises she had heard a thousand times before.
Eve had not even attempted to close the distance between them.
She had simply drawn a line.
Saying that she was here, that she could listen—and once it was done, everything would remain unchanged.
That ruthless honesty loosened the knot in Vivian’s stubborn heart.
Because it meant this would only be a safe outlet.
There would be no annoying sympathy or pity.
The wind blew softly.
The fragrance of roses filled the air.
Vivian pressed her lips together, her fingers clutching the hem of her expensive dress.
For a long time she remained silent.
Just as Eve thought Vivian would lash out again—
Vivian finally spoke in a quiet, exhausted murmur.
“…All of them only want a Miss Hessein.”