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The next morning came.
In the past, my first thoughts as I woke up would be, ‘I have to go to work,’ ‘I haven’t even gone to work yet but I already want to leave,’ ‘Hell subway,’ and ‘Salary when?’
But nowadays, my first thoughts would be, ‘It’s time to bring Adrian his medicine,’ ‘Which ones can I live without, my arms or my legs?’ and ‘Let’s survive today and maybe not die.’
Considering how roughly aristocrats lived in the era of this game, it was natural to bring him medicine like that—but it became another story if her life was always threatened.
Adrian was terrifying. Even if he didn’t act scary, his backstory and role in this game frightened me. And even if he wouldn’t kill me directly, just feeling the threat to my life would eventually shorten my lifespan.
Though Adrian was, in many ways, of no help to my life at all in this game, I was jealous of the other servants who think that it’s nice bringing the medicine to him.
It’s already so difficult to raise Adrian’s favorability, and even aiming for being his lover would just be like going around in circles rather than solving the problem.
Adrian has had a weak body ever since he was young—he still couldn’t regain his power of the devil back then—so, let alone doing his work as the only successor of the family, he had yet to enter high society.
I’ve already caught his eye. Since I started my life here as a servant, if I can’t be even the tail of a dragon, I’ll be the head of a snake. I’m just trying to think about it that way.
But I’m really not underestimating my opponent. All I want is to survive, I don’t even dream of success or anything like it! This is all really unfair. I couldn’t help but feel so taken aback by this.
“You’ve been bringing medicine for the Young Master these days, so it’s like you can’t see anything else, huh?”
“You do know it’s isn’t true that you’re talented enough to be the Young Master’s attendant, hm?”
“I can’t believe you’re being so arrogant when you’re not even qualified.”
Similar to a bullying scene in a teen drama, I was dragged to the backyard as soon as I went to the kitchen for my other task, and here I was forced to listen to harsh but not really harsh words.
There were about ten people surrounding me, plus their leaders. I pretended to widen my eyes as I turned to look around at them.
There were three main leaders—Serena, Louise, and Delores. Their names were written in pixels beside them.
“You’re not worthy!”
“How dare you seduce the Young Master!”
“You need to know your place!”
“If you think you have any weight in the County, you should just go ahead and quit and leave this place! You don’t have any shame, you’re just sticking like a pesky tick!”
Just for doing my work as the young master’s attendant who brings his medicine, they’re telling me to leave the mansion. Please, I want that for myself.
They gathered the day before and became united as one to fight together. I dunno with you, but I don’t want this either! My body’s all twisted up because of the frustration I’m feeling. I’m the one who wants more than anyone here to get out of this place!
“We’ve heard all these, but you’re still keeping your mouth shut?”
“Get out of my way.”
Finally, one of the leaders stepped forward. Delores… She has golden blond hair that seems a bit faded. She’s definitely one of Adrian’s sacrificial victims.
Not just her. Everyone here would eventually be Adrian’s victims one day.
I suddenly became sad. Everyone’s so full of vigor right now, but unfortunately…
“Do you know what people are whispering about behind you?”
“How can I know when they’re all whispering behind me?”
Suddenly, Delores’ lips became distorted as if she didn’t know what to answer.
“If you want to serve the Young Master’s medicine so badly, just tell me. Yesterday, I broke all the plates and bowls and dropped the medicine on the floor. Since I made such a mistake, maybe he’ll let you do it. You’re qualified enough, right? I don’t really have any skills either. You all have seen how many times I’ve been scolded by Leticia just from washing dishes.”
“W-What?”
I expressed my wishes sincerely, but Delores’ face just turned red, perhaps thinking that I was making fun of her. As giggles broke out around us, she yelled.
“What did you just say! Are you mocking me?”
“I’m not. You know I grew up in a temple when I was young, right? I prayed so hard that I’ve been imbued with the holy spirit. That’s why, sometimes, I see people’s futures.”
I said this while recalling Hilda’s character backstory. She had been abandoned by her parents and was left on the streets, until a priest had found her. So, before becoming a maid of the Pfalzgraf family, she had lived in a temple for some time.
As I mentioned this, everyone flinched, whether or not they knew this backstory.
“God has spoken to me. In the year 473—so that’s this year—the mansion shall be besieged by demons.”
“What do you mean, demons?”
“Right. You still can’t understand, but this is not the time for us to fight amongst ourselves. You don’t know it, but we all have one enemy. If you don’t want to die, never go around alone. Yes, especially you.”
I pointed at Delores, who was standing right in front of me. Who else?
“And you, and you… Even you. No—you, too. You should be careful as well.”
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting right now? Just who do you think you’re fooling here?”
“Remember what I’ve said. Even if it’s not a demon, maybe a pot could still fall over your head, right?”
Pointing towards the pot that was barely hanging on at the railing in a third-floor balcony, Serena quickly moved away from the wall she had been leaning against.
The eyes that previously disregarded and looked down on me now suddenly regarded me as though I was a shaman. They didn’t want to believe my words, but they couldn’t just ignore me either.
“Then, I need to go and bring the Young Master’s medicine soon, so if you excuse me…”
“……”
“If you guys are late, too, you’ll be scolded by Leticia.”
As I turned around after saying this, they all looked at me in disbelief. Their murmurs followed.
“What the, this girl. Besieged?”
“What a cowardly excuse just to keep bringing the Young Master’s medicine.”
“But wasn’t Hilda originally a timid kid?”
At a time when I was being called several times a day by a promising serial killer, such a thing like bullying didn’t even faze me.
Right there waiting for me was someone who’d make me want to cry even more…