My name is Dorothy!
I am an apprentice maid for the Leonhart family.
A year had already passed since I joined as an apprentice maid.
Though I was still prone to mistakes, I resolved to work hard today, just as every day, to become a proper, official maid.
However, I recently overheard that a newcomer, who had only just arrived, had surpassed me to become Lady Noir’s exclusive maid.
‘How dare a new maid, who just walked through the doors, leapfrog me to become an exclusive maid?’
‘I’m still an apprentice!’
‘I won’t forgive this!’
****
May 27th
The new maid, Blanc, seemed incredibly busy with her duties as an exclusive maid, never taking a moment’s rest and always working diligently.
‘Hmph! While her dedication is impressive, I still can’t forgive her for becoming an exclusive maid over me, her senior!’
‘And even if she tries to win me over with that pretty face, I won’t fall for it!’
“Hmph!”
Stealthily, I slipped into the maid’s lounge and retrieved a snack from the cupboard, one that had been distributed for the maids.
“Wow!”
Today’s snack was a sweet, wobbly pudding.
It made me incredibly happy.
I carefully cut a small portion from the pudding labeled with Blanc’s name and took a bite.
Even I considered it a truly wicked act, and a pang of guilt pricked at my heart, yet I rationalized that this was all the newcomer’s fault.
“Mmm~!”
‘It’s delicious!’
‘A truly devilish flavor!’
The sweet taste of the pudding spreading in my mouth brought an involuntary smile to my face, and though I instinctively reached for another spoonful, I ultimately stopped myself.
Even for me, taking another spoonful would be an excessively cruel act.
‘Hmph! If she doesn’t want her snacks stolen in the future, she’d better behave herself!’
****
May 30th
Early in the morning, Blanc was performing the morning cleaning all by herself.
‘She cleaned this vast mansion alone…?’
‘Really…?’
‘Ha!’
For a moment, I almost felt a surge of respect for Blanc’s diligent efforts!
‘But I mustn’t be fooled.’
‘This is merely Blanc’s ploy to monopolize all our work!’
‘A truly devilish scheme!’
I hastily called upon the other senior maids, and together, we managed to complete the mansion’s thorough cleaning alongside Blanc.
To play a trick on Blanc, I picked up two pieces of trash from the floor and dropped them onto the very spot Blanc had just cleaned.
‘Hmph! To litter on a floor that had just been cleaned!’
‘A truly devilish act!’
****
June 2nd
‘Hooeeh…’
‘I’m cleaning the yard, but the sun is especially scorching today…’
‘Ugh… I just want to rest in some cool shade…’
Just as I thought this, a large shadow suddenly appeared, providing a refreshing patch of shade.
‘What is this?’
‘Huh! Could it be the Shadow Fairy!?’
‘The fairies really do exist after all!’
“Thank you, Fairy!”
****
June 13th
In the kitchen, I secretly tasted a cookie Blanc had baked.
‘Huh! A truly devilish treat!’
It was so delicious that I ended up eating three of them!
‘Hmph! I have no choice but to admit it!’
I considered ruining the cookies by embedding raisins in them, but destroying these cookies would be a loss for all humanity! It would be a truly grand, devilish act!
[It’s not bad, I guess.]
‘Hmph! Still, if she made cookies like this, I suppose a word of praise is in order.’
I left a note on the cookie basket and hastily fled from the lounge.
And then I got caught by Ms. Asabella, who gave me a sharp rap on the head.
‘Hmph…’
****
June 17th
‘Ugh, I lost the romance novel I just bought yesterday…’
‘It was a new release I was really looking forward to…’
‘But lately, there’s been a rumor that if you leave a novel in the lounge, it sometimes disappears. Could it be a ghost…?!’
‘Kyaa, kyaaaah!’
****
June 18th
Upon returning to the lounge, I found my lost novel and some delicious-looking macarons on the desk!
‘Eh? What is this? Is it perhaps a thank-you for the book?’
‘So, the one who took the book wasn’t a ghost, but the Fairy?’
****
June 21st
Ms. Asabella was laughing as she praised Blanc.
‘She always just nags me…’
‘Ugh…’
****
June 23rd…
‘My head feels dizzy…’
‘I miss my mom…’
****
June 24th
My colleagues expressed their concern upon seeing my condition, but I told them I was fine, not wanting to trouble them.
‘Ah, my head hurts again…’
‘I can barely walk…’
****
June 25th
I opened my eyes in bed.
A cold, damp towel lay on my forehead.
‘Had someone helped me?’
As I pondered, I recalled seeing beautiful silver hair just before losing consciousness.
–Knock, knock.
With the sound of a knock, Ms. Asabella opened the door and entered the room.
“What on earth were you thinking, you foolish girl!”
I had never seen Ms. Asabella so furious before.
It was truly terrifying.
****
July 1st
To avoid falling behind Blanc, I worked harder than usual, but I ended up breaking a plate.
“Ow!”
As I hastily picked up the shards, I slightly cut my fingertip, and seeing this, Ms. Asabella sharply scolded me.
‘I… I wanted to do better too.’
‘I want to be good at everything, like Blanc…’
‘I wanted to make Ms. Asabella smile, just like Blanc does…’
“Hey, you cursed brat! How many times do I have to tell you to be careful!”
“Ugh… ugh… ughh!”
While Ms. Asabella went to fetch the first-aid kit, I fled to my room and hid myself under the covers.
‘Ugh…’
‘Why am I always like this?’
‘Everything I do is full of mistakes, and I only cause people worry.’
‘I’m good at nothing, always causing trouble, a complete nuisance.’
‘I want to be like Blanc.’
‘I want to be good at everything, like Blanc.’
“Dorothy! Open the door!”
“Rosie! Please open the door!”
From outside, I heard the voices of Ms. Asabella and Anjel.
Their concern for someone as useless as me only made my heart ache more.
‘Dorothy, don’t cry and grow up with confidence, okay?’
‘I mustn’t cry.’
‘I mustn’t cry.’
‘I mustn’t…..’
“Lady Dorothy!”
“Huweh!”
I had buried my face in the pillow, trying my best to hold back my tears, when Blanc suddenly rushed in and embraced me tightly.
“Eh? But I… I locked the door, didn’t I?”
“Picking locks is a basic maid skill.
More importantly, are you alright?”
‘Huh? That’s a basic skill?’
‘This is the first I’ve heard of it!?’
“Lady Dorothy, are you truly alright?”
“U-um… I’m fine, so please let go…”
“That’s a lie.
Your voice is trembling.”
I struggled, trying to somehow break free from Blanc, yet she still wouldn’t release me from her embrace.
Though her warmth, so different from my blanket’s, made my heart feel like it was melting, I couldn’t possibly be such a bother to Blanc…
“It’s alright.
No one will say anything if you cry.”
“Ah…”
Blanc gently stroked my hair, whispering softly.
‘How did she know that…?’
When I looked up at Blanc’s face with surprised eyes, it wasn’t her usual cool, expressionless facade, but held a faint, gentle smile.
Seeing Blanc’s kind smile, I felt as if the lock I had firmly placed on my heart had shattered.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Blanc… Ugh… Uwaaaah…!”
In the end, I clung to Blanc, shedding tears endlessly, and only after two hours did I finally manage to stop crying.
****
July 3rd
I woke up earlier than usual.
I quickly finished getting ready for work and began cleaning the mansion.
The area I was cleaning now was Blanc’s assigned section.
I wasn’t helping Blanc; rather, I was intentionally taking her work away.
It was a truly devilish thought.
‘Hmph, it’s certainly not because I’m grateful…’
‘…Thank you.’
****
My name is Anjel.
Though it was an honor far beyond my station, I was recognized for my abilities by the Head Maid, Ms. Asabella, and was able to become an official maid.
The work was incredibly demanding, as one would expect from a ducal family, but I endured it because there were so many lovely children around.
Hehe, merely imagining the forbidden relationships among these children is enough to sustain me for three meals a day.
Oh!
Speaking of which, a lovely newcomer named Blanc joined us recently.
Despite her youth, she is incredibly capable and diligent, making her a truly adorable junior.
It’s no wonder she was appointed as an exclusive maid on her very first day.
Perhaps she’s even more capable than Ms. Asabella?
Anyway, Lady Noir and her exclusive maid, Miss Blanc…
Black and white…
Lady and maid…
This is truly a forbidden…!
Oh my, oh my! How utterly sublime!
It feels as though another joy has been added to my work!
****
June 11th
Lately, Rosie hasn’t been able to focus on her work, instead just glaring intently at wherever Miss Blanc happens to be.
Oh my, oh my, could Miss Blanc truly be on her mind so much?
It was a truly sublime sight.
****
June 18th
“Hmm, where could it have disappeared to?”
This is troublesome.
My sublime book, filled with forbidden love, has vanished.
Although I couldn’t bring overly explicit books to work, and thus brought the lightest one possible, it would still be quite awkward if someone were to read it.
Moreover, it’s a book I was cherishing, so I truly wish to find it quickly.
****
June 19th
My lost book has returned to the lounge.
Hmm… I searched so diligently yesterday, could I have overlooked this spot?
Nevertheless, it’s a great relief to have the book back.
“Oh my, Lady Noir.”
“Ah… hello, Anjel…”
Lady Noir, whom I encountered in the corridor, seemed quite unwell.
Her eyes were brimming with tears, and there were traces of blood on her nose.
Her face was flushed crimson; could she be feeling unwell?
“Lady, you seem unwell.”
“Ah, no! Blanc! I’m fine!”
Miss Blanc, who was nearby, approached Lady Noir with a worried expression, but the Lady’s face only flushed even redder.
I hope she recovers quickly.
By the way, it might be inappropriate to say this in such a situation, but… that sight is truly sublime…
****
June 21st
“Oh my, Ms. Asabella and Miss Blanc.”
That’s quite an unusual pairing.
It seems even the usually strict Ms. Asabella has taken a liking to Miss Blanc.
Ms. Asabella, who is typically quick to anger, even smiles when she’s beside Miss Blanc.
It is a truly sublime sight.
****
June 24th
“Rosie! Rosie!”
“Anjel, quickly, the doctor…!”
Rosie has collapsed!
We should have taken better care of her…!
Leaving Rosie with Miss Blanc for now, I hastily ran to call for the doctor!
****
June 25th
“What on earth were you thinking, you foolish girl!”
A loud scolding echoed from Rosie’s room.
Ms. Asabella, her face contorted with anger, lectured Rosie, and Rosie eventually burst into tears.
“Oh, what should we do!?”
As I lingered by the door, unsure of what to do, Miss Blanc entered the room and mediated between the two.
“Thank you, Miss Blanc.”
****
July 1st
Rosie, having been scolded by Ms. Asabella once again, was hidden under her blanket, quietly sobbing.
“Uwaaaah!”
Miss Blanc cautiously approached and stroked Rosie’s head, causing Rosie to cling to her and unleash all the tears she had been holding back.
“Hah, I worried for nothing.”
“Hehehe…”
It was such a heartwarming scene that even the maids secretly observing couldn’t help but shed a few tears.
****
July 4th
Lately, Rosie seems to be looking at Miss Blanc more often.
However, whereas before her gaze towards Miss Blanc was rather unpleasant, Rosie’s current gaze towards Miss Blanc is quite different from usual, isn’t it?
This is truly a good side dish… no, a good sight to behold.
To witness such camaraderie developing among colleagues, how utterly sublime!
Thanks to this, I felt incredibly energized today.
