Chapter 12 - 12

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The next day.

The sky didn't look good.

"It looks like rain, Countess."

"Hmm, I guess so. No, doesn't it just look like clouds?"

The maids glanced at each other and cautiously gave their opinions.

"I think so too, but I'm worried it might rain."

Surprisingly, they had become much more talkative than when I first opened my eyes in this world.

Thinking about when it started, it was probably when the maids, surprised by my camping declaration, brought the portable carriage.

'Actually, I didn't expect them to bring it.'

Thinking back to that time was surprising.

I didn't know, but it's about my reputation among the maids.

Anyway, it seemed my evaluation changed starting from the day after I ended that tyrants' gathering.

The fact that I not only didn't scold the maid who gave me the hangover remedy but also gave her a gift seemed to have made an impression.

'I don't know if they were impressed that I was generous despite them interrupting me, or if they were interested in the gift.'

Anyway, wouldn't I be happy that they came to help me in my solo struggle?

Moreover, even at night, the maids took turns taking care of me.

Even though I told them to go back several times, they insisted it was their role, so I let them be.

At first, even if I just looked at them without speaking, they trembled like a rabbit in front of a snake.

Now, though they still gauge my mood, they've reached the level of chattering.

Thanks to that, I memorized the names of the maids who brought the carriage.

"Hmm, my grandmother said it doesn't rain on days like this. Don't worry, Countess!"

The maid who said this was named Susan. She was also the maid who gave me the hangover remedy.

She seems to know how to make simple medicine, so I've been keeping an eye on her.

And unfortunately... sorry to Susan's grandmother, but her words turned out to be exactly wrong.

Shooo-!

Whoosh--.

Rain is pouring like crazy outside the window.

But I couldn't keep my eyes on the window for long. The ceiling was shaking.

'Oh, I hope the carriage doesn't collapse...'

It was all good until I chatted with the maids and had tea.

Unexpectedly, my maids are also interested in fashion, so the various stories about the current capital's trends were really fun. When the time came, everyone except the assigned one went back.

Today again, I could feel the knights and servants of the Lemut family looking at me like I was a crazy bitch.

'I'm sorry. I'm in an unfair position too. I won't cause any more trouble than this.'

Thinking that, I shamelessly stared back.

The amazing thing was that after a few days, the eyes of the Lemut servants and knights, once filled with 100% venom and hostility, began to show something else.

If I had to interpret it, it was curiosity, like, 'What on earth does that crazy woman want?'

Anyway, I went to bed after facing their hostile glances again today, but...

Startled awake by a loud noise, I found this.

"C-Countess, what do we do?"

Outside the window, a severe storm was raging.

If it was just rain or just wind, it would have been better.

I was lost in thought.

'This is my mistake.'

When I saw it was cloudy, I should have prepared just in case.

I was too careless.

"Countess...! This looks bad. I contacted Lumi and Carole at the residence. They've gone to get mages, so please wait a little longer! I'm so sorry..."

The maid, more flustered than me, was Susan on duty today.

Saying it was her fault, she was almost in tears, bowing her head and pleading.

Hmm, it's fine. And the final decision is mine, so it's my fault too.

"Susan, can you hear me? I'm fine."

"C-Countess, I'm sorry, even if I am punished..."

"And don't apologize for things that aren't your responsibility. That habit isn't good."

Watching Susan plead, I remembered my own tearful days at work.

Back then, I took the blame for my boss's mistakes that weren't mine, and shouldered all the blame.

Even though all decisions were made by the boss.

"There are many bad people in the world. If a good person like you catches their eye, you'll end up taking the blame for things that aren't your fault, so hold your head high."

Susan stopped teary-eyed and looked at me blankly. I smiled.

"That means keep practicing for when you meet bad guys like me."

It's not good to be accustomed to apologizing.

But Susan being accustomed to apologizing is because of Charlize, so...

"Countess..."

Susan's face, which had been looking at me in surprise, quickly became cloudy again.

"Countess, you're trembling."

"Ah."

It is cold.

For some reason, it was warm at night, but according to Susan, the temperature control device seems to be broken.

Unfortunately, Charlize's clothes are mostly thin, and since it was warm, blankets and quilts are also thin.

To make matters worse, water was starting to leak from the ceiling.

'Oh, this is the most pathetic I've felt since coming here.'

I smiled, shivering, as if it was fine.

Well, it's not the first time in my life, and experiencing it once here won't hurt.

Ignoring Susan's plea to please put on more blankets, I threw them back at her, telling her to cover herself.

Tsk, she's starting to shiver too. You have to take care of yourself first.

'With this, will my fiance maybe find me and feel pity?'

That's when it happened.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock was heard, unlikely at this hour.

Susan and I looked at each other, and when I nodded, Susan opened the door.

Maybe it's a knight from Lemut? If possible, I'd like a knight sent by my fiance...

Even if it's a mage sent by Altsbeit to get me, that's fine.

"Ah..."

I met the eyes of the person outside.

Huh? My eyes widened.

Because...

"A-a-are you okay?"

The person in front of me was Aria. My fiance's younger sister.

She was holding an umbrella in her slender hands, visible at a glance.

In this rain? Why on earth is she here?

Seeing her trembling as soon as she saw me, I worried.

She's not going to faint again, is she? Fainting in the rain would be a bigger problem.

Moreover, this time my fiance might really try to kill me...

"Come in for now."

"P-Pardon?!"

"It's raining."

I don't know why she's here. I can't leave such a weak person out in the rain.

I don't want to be killed by my fiance.

At my firm voice, Aria seemed to hesitate, then closed her eyes tightly and came inside.

But unfortunately, the carriage had no temperature control at all.

The interior was spacious enough for Aria plus everyone, but as expected, her slender shoulders started to shiver.

If Aria collapses here, it'll be even more troublesome!

I quickly took the blanket Susan was trying to give me and covered Aria.

She looked at me with wide eyes. Is it because of her pure white color? She looked exactly like a white snow rabbit.

She was cute, but my life depends on her health.

Ignoring Aria's puzzled hands, I even wrapped the blanket tightly around her.

"What brings you all the way here?"

"Th-that..."

"Just speak casually. Think of it as me apologizing for making you faint."

It seemed she wanted to ask why I was using honorifics, but I got tired of answering one by one as I was getting cold.

"You seem to have a fit even when someone just speaks to you, so it's okay if you don't answer if it's hard."

I crossed my legs and arms to try and reduce the chill.

In the meantime, Susan kept pushing her blanket towards me, so I snatched it and wrapped it around her, threatening that if she took it off, I'd transfer her.

"Just wear it."

"Countess...!"

"I probably already have a cold, so it's fine. I have money. Worry about yourself."

"B-but..."

"Hey, if you have more money than me, then give me that blanket."

This tone was the unintended result of adapting to Charlize's way of speaking, but when I tried to speak more kindly, the maids got more scared.

So it's become this way over the past few days.

Even if not, since I have Charlize's memories, her tone often comes out naturally.

To use an analogy, it feels like Charlize's memories and I are lying together in a bed called body.

"Pfft..."

As I was squabbling with Susan, a small laugh cut in between us.

Turning my head, Aria was secretly putting her hands together and stifling a laugh.

Then our eyes met, and she was startled and trembled.

...No, if she's that scared, why on earth did she come here? And why did she laugh if she's going to be surprised?

"S-s-sorry. You two looked so close."

"Why would you apologize for laughing? Is that something to be sorry about?"

"Pardon?"

Aria stared at me blankly. For some reason, her expression was subtly strange.