Not the Villainess, but the Maid

Chapter 32: This Isn't a Pajama Party. It's a Training Camp.

The library basked in the afternoon sunlight.

Ruby Sarka, the head of the Free Activity Club, stood in front of the members with a serious expression.

“We lack teamwork.”

“Huh?”

When I responded with a puzzled face, Ruby turned around and explained her thoughts.

“It’s good that the name of our club, the Free Activity Club, reflects its freedom, but I feel like something is missing.”

Indeed, it was fair to say our club lacked a sense of purpose.

I had been feeling the need for some group activities lately.

“Then, my lady, do you have a specific activity in mind?”

“…”

Ruby, resting her chin in her hand and deep in thought, looked at us and declared.

“Let’s have a club retreat today.”

The moment she finished speaking, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Ruby.

‘A retreat? All of a sudden?’

She ignored our bewildered gazes and continued speaking resolutely.

“When you think about it, today has all the perfect conditions. Tomorrow is the weekend, so even if we stay up late, it won’t be a problem.”

Normally, something like this would be announced at least a week in advance.

Most of us are nobles, so we likely have schedules planned out.

Ruby spoke to us.

“It’s not mandatory. I’d like those who can participate to sign up.”

It was a given that I would participate in the retreat.

While observing others, Amethyst spoke with a troubled expression.

“Sorry, Ruby. I really want to join, but I have a royal meeting this weekend.”

“It’s fine. What about you, Diana?”

When Ruby asked her, Diana gave an awkward smile and apologized.

“I also have a dinner appointment with my adoptive parents this weekend. I’m sorry.”

“Both of you seem busy this weekend. Got it.”

Ruby’s gaze naturally shifted to Clara’s group after finishing her questions.

“What about you guys? Will you join?”

Most of them looked excited.

Just from their expressions, I could tell how eager they were to participate.

“Of course…”

One of them began to say, but Clara softly whispered something from behind.

“…Momo, be mindful.”

The girl called Momo flinched momentarily, then continued in a tearful tone.

“Of course, this week is impossible… sniff…”

“I see. What a shame…”

Surprisingly, many members were unable to join.

Ruby returned to her seat and summarized her thoughts.

“So, who’s left? Me, Amber, and Coral?”

“Yes, just the three of us.”

Coral’s eyes sparkled as she smiled, looking thrilled.

“Turns out it’s the book discussion group members. Let’s dive into discussions until dawn, like old times.”

‘I don’t think this is just a normal book discussion.’

Ruby nodded enthusiastically at her words.

“Only three of us is a bit disappointing, but it might be fun in its own way. Coral, bring whatever you’ll need for the night and come to the library by evening.”

“Yes, I’ll do that, Lady Ruby.”

With that, Coral closed her book.

‘Huh?’

My gaze naturally drifted to Coral’s book, where I noticed something pink sticking out between the pages.

“Coral, what’s that you’re using as a bookmark?”

It was a strikingly pink and unusual bookmark.

“This? Lady Ruby gave it to me the other day.”

“She gave it to you…?”

A memory suddenly flashed through my mind, reminding me of something I had forgotten.

“…Could it be the Amber Rental Coupon or whatever it’s called?”

“Yeah. I’ve been keeping it safe so I wouldn’t lose it. Hehe…”

“I… see…”

Coral hugging the bookmark with such care gave me a faintly eerie feeling.

The club activities ended, and I returned to the room with Ruby.

But my hands were still busy.

‘If we’re going to chat all night, we’ll need snacks, right?’

I was kneading the dough, working hard to give it the right consistency.

I was following the cookie recipe I learned from Diana, but I was struggling quite a bit.

Apparently, I was supposed to use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour, and it was challenging to adjust to a new method after years of habit.

As I watched the freshly baked cookies come out of the oven, Ruby sneaked up behind me and asked.

“They smell great, Amber. Are these dark ones chocolate cookies?”

“Those are just burnt.”

“Oh.”

Realizing her mistake, Ruby quickly apologized to me.

“…Sorry.”

“It’s fine. Could you taste one for me instead? I’ve eaten so many that they all taste the same now.”

I selected the best-looking cookie from the batch and handed it to her.

Ruby picked it up with a serious expression, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly.

“How is it?”

Given recent incidents, Ruby seemed cautious about giving her opinion.

“…I should be honest, right, Amber?”

“Yes. I’m ready to hear it.”

After a brief moment of deliberation, Ruby spoke.

“It has no taste.”

“No taste?”

“I can’t taste anything sweet or salty… at all.”

She was literally saying it was flavorless.

‘Should I have added more butter and sugar? Or maybe eggs?’

I set the bowl down on the table again and spoke to Ruby.

“Thank you for your honest feedback.”

The reason my cookies ended up tasting like nothing wasn’t really anyone’s fault, but rather, a shared responsibility.

In trying to be considerate of each other, we had ended up losing our honesty.

So, the fact that Ruby had expressed her thoughts honestly today was already a significant step forward for us.

Ruby glanced around the kitchen, then turned and said.

“Don’t overdo it and stay up too late. You still need to pack soon, remember?”

“Yes, my lady.”

I stood there quietly, gazing at the remaining cookies.

At least I had moved past the stage of making inedible cookies, so maybe this was progress.

Feeling a small sense of accomplishment, I popped one cookie into my mouth.

-Crunch.

“…?”

My teeth wouldn’t go through it.

It was so hard, it was hard to believe it was supposed to be a cookie.

Apparently, I had overbaked it.

‘Did the lady eat this rock-hard thing like it was nothing…?’

I realized we needed to be a little more honest with each other.

Several lanterns were set up in the dim library.

It reminded me of the study where Ruby had once taught me to read, and nostalgia welled up inside me.

Coral and I had arrived at the library earlier, laid out blankets, and were waiting for Lady Ruby to arrive.

Coral, dressed in yellow pajamas, lay next to me on the blankets and spoke.

“Ruby’s running a little late. Do you think something might have happened to her?”

“That’s unlikely. She’s probably just taking care of something.”

I felt a pang of worry, imagining her walking through the academy alone at night, but I decided it was better not to dwell on anxious thoughts.

“By the way, Amber, your pajamas are so cute. The pink color matches your hair perfectly.”

Coral seemed quite interested in my pajamas, gently touching the sleeve.

As she leaned closer, I caught a subtle, distinct scent, like the fragrance of paper.

“Really? It’s just what I always wear to sleep.”

“The fabric is amazing too. This must be expensive. Isn’t it?”

“Huh? Really?”

Listening to her, it seemed the fabric of my pajamas was a luxurious material usually reserved for noble clothing.

“I didn’t know. I’ve always just worn whatever the lady bought for me…”

“It shows how much Ruby cares about you. Hehe.”

Coral gave me a sly look, her eyes slightly narrowed.

“….”

Feeling awkward, I scratched my cheek.

Just then, I heard the sound of someone entering from the direction of the door.

-Rustle.

It seemed Ruby had finally arrived.

“Coral, stay here. I’ll go greet her.”

I quickly got up and moved toward the door to welcome her.

“My lady, you’re here—”

I stopped mid-sentence, my words caught in my throat.

Standing before me was Lady Ruby, dressed in a black animal onesie shaped like a rabbit.

Let me emphasize: it was an animal onesie.

And it was adorable.

Ruby nonchalantly pulled back the hood of the bunny onesie and spoke to me.

“I was late because I was looking for this outfit. Did you wait long?”

“No, not at all. But… that outfit…”

“Hmm?”

She seemed completely oblivious to how unusual her choice of attire was.

“…It’s nothing. Come inside, my lady.”

Last weekend, she had mentioned going out alone to shop for clothes, and apparently, this was what she had purchased.

Even after four years together, there were still so many things I couldn’t understand about her.

When Ruby and I entered, Coral greeted her warmly.

“Wow, your pajamas are so cute, Lady Ruby!”

Surprisingly, Coral accepted Ruby’s attire without batting an eye.

Maybe I was the strange one.

Coral, who had been admiring Ruby’s outfit, asked a question.

“What animal is it? A rabbit?”

“No, it’s a sasquatch.”

“…Pardon? A sasquatch?”

“It’s a costume modeled after the monster Sasquatch. It once appeared in a small village and ate all the villagers in a single night.”

“Ah, I see…”

No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like a rabbit, but Coral and I decided not to say anything.

Before we knew it, the three of us had naturally gathered around a lantern in the center.

Looking around curiously, Coral started a new topic.

“Speaking of monsters, I can’t help but think of scary stories. How about we take turns sharing them?”

Intrigued, I responded.

“That sounds fun. What do you think, my lady?”

“I’m in.”

Ruby nodded in agreement, and Coral, looking determined, wrapped her hands around the lantern and began her story.

“This is a tale passed down within the academy…”

The night of our retreat was just beginning to deepen.