Chapter 1: The Confession (Part 1)
“Ah!”
A yelp escaped the pig-tailed, violet-haired maid, her forearm shooting up to shield her eyes from the blinding lantern light.
Where…?
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. As her vision cleared, her gaze fell on the scene before her: four chairs and a small square table with a tray of four teacups on top, three empty and one holding cold tea.
Cold tea? Where am I… Ah, the crimson-haired noblewoman’s manor.
Her memories were a blur of pain and darkness—then nothing. The next thing she knew, she was here. Safe.
I was rescued.
A relieved sigh escaped her with a smile, head lowering.
But… where is he—
Her eyes fell on a hunched-over, white-suited young man, sitting with his back against the side of the king-sized bed.
“Who is… he?”
She looked at the young man, unrecognizable without his white armor with blue flower art, or the manor’s spare pajamas.
The door opened, drawing her gaze away. Mother Maid entered, holding a small cloche on a tray—breakfast for when he wakes up.
She paused before a breathtaking sight that split her stoicism in two.
“My dearest! Y-You are finally awake!”
Swiftly placing the cloche on the bedside drawer, her arms wrapped around her daughter.
She released the maid from her grasp and took both of her daughter’s hands.
“Come now, your aunt, sister, and nephew await you in the drawing room. They would be most relieved to see you.”
The maid dipped her head and got off the bed.
“Before I leave…” the maid turned, gesturing at the hunched-over young man. “Who is he, mother, sleeping so casually?”
Mother Maid glanced at him and chuckled behind her palm.
“He is unrecognizable in that… attire of his.”
He…?
The maid’s eyes slowly widened. She looked from her mother’s knowing smile back to the sleeping man—the slope of his shoulders, the familiar shape of his head.
“H-Him?!”
Her gaze snapped back to Mother Maid, her cheeks flushing a deep red.
“B-But why is he wearing…?”
Mother Maid stifled a laugh, seeing her in such a state for the first time.
“There is no need for concern. His friend shall explain all. Come, your aunt’s time is short.”
The maid nodded, following Mother Maid toward the door.
Before the door closed, the maid offered a soft, private smile to the sleeping Oswald.
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