Not the Villainess, but the Maid

Chapter 34: This Isn't a Pajama Party. It's a Training Camp. (3)

Coral fidgeted slightly, glancing around nervously before asking Ruby in a quiet voice.

“...Ruby, have you ever had romantic feelings for someone of the same gender?”

“...”

After her question, a long silence followed.

I had almost forgotten, but this world was, after all, the setting of a yuri visual novel.

It wasn’t all that strange for heroines here to naturally perceive other women as romantic interests.

However, that logic applied only to the heroines who were designed as potential romantic routes in the game.

Ruby Sarka, in the original story, was neither a heroine nor did she have any affection stats to begin with.

Without a doubt, she was 100% far from such tendencies.

Though she had shown a faint interest in yuri novels, it was purely as a form of entertainment consumption.

Just as I had played the original game mindlessly to kill time.

By the time I, too, found myself holding my breath in anticipation of Ruby’s response, she finally spoke.

“...I’ll take the penalty.”

Without hesitation, Ruby grabbed one of the cookies I had baked and shoved it into her mouth.

‘Huh…?’

I could only stare at her in bewilderment.

She could have just said no, so why choose the penalty?

‘Does this mean that Ruby…?’

As I stared in confusion at Ruby munching on the cookie, Coral’s expression caught my attention.

Coral was watching Ruby with an oddly flushed face, as if finding her exceedingly fascinating.

In that moment, a thought struck my mind like lightning.

‘Could it be… Coral is interested in Ruby?’

The earlier question must have been a kind of signal from Coral to Ruby.

Now that I thought about it, when the three of us had been discussing books, Coral couldn’t keep her gaze steady or stop fidgeting.

She must have deliberately asked Ruby that question to gauge her feelings.

Caught up in the shocking realization I had pieced together in my head, I barely noticed Coral turning to me.

“It’s your turn now, Amber.”

“Ah… Okay!”

If Coral truly harbored romantic feelings for Ruby, it was a significant matter for me.

As her maid, understanding Ruby’s personal relationships was an essential part of my role.

To clarify the situation, I decided to ask Coral the same question.

“...What about you, Coral?”

“...Huh?”

“Have you ever considered another girl as a romantic interest?”

At my question, Coral’s face turned bright red.

“...!”

Her hands fidgeted even more restlessly.

“I… um… that is…”

Unable to meet my eyes, she finally mumbled in a timid voice.

“...I have.”

Oh my goodness.

I instinctively clasped my hands over my mouth.

Everything pointed in a single direction.

Their blatant reactions, plain as day.

And now, Ruby’s oddly intense gaze directed at Coral.

It looked almost like she was glaring at her, but what could this mean?

‘Could it be that the two of them… feel that way about each other?’

My intuition as a yuri visual novel gamer told me this.

Coral and Ruby were secretly in love with one another.

How had I not realized this before?

‘So that’s how it was. That’s what’s been happening…’

I alternated glances between them, giving them a warm, approving smile.

Ruby tilted her head at me.

“Why are you smiling like that, Amber?”

“It’s nothing, my lady. Hehe.”

Though I was a little surprised to learn Ruby liked women, I had no intention of interfering with the path these two were on.

A love that blossomed between a noblewoman and a commoner, who happened to share the same hobby, after meeting at the academy.

Both held feelings for one another but were hindered by the barriers of social status and same-gender romance.

Still, if the day ever came when one of them broke through those walls… then…

As I indulged in my vivid imaginings, Coral, who had been observing me closely, whispered to Ruby.

“I think there’s something a bit off about Amber right now, Ruby.”

“...Yeah. I think so too.”

Ruby finished whispering with Coral and then looked at me, speaking.

“Amber, let’s wrap up the game here and get some sleep.”

“You’re ending it already? I could keep playing a bit longer.”

“If we stay up too late, we’ll just be tired tomorrow. Let’s clean up together.”

I wanted to encourage their feelings for each other a bit more actively, but having confirmed as much as I had was already a great achievement.

The three of us cleaned up the cookie crumbs and cups, turning off all the lights in the library except for one.

Standing and staring at the large bottom blanket laid out on the library floor, I spoke up.

“Now that I think about it, we haven’t decided on where we’ll sleep yet.”

“Sleeping spots...?”

I noticed Coral and Ruby sneaking glances at each other.

Ah, I see. They were both probably too aware of the situation.

This was a golden opportunity to sleep next to the person they liked, but they were too shy to say anything.

In moments like this, I needed to take the lead.

“I’ll sleep on the far left. Is that okay?”

At that, both of them looked at me with startled expressions.

“Uh… uh?”

“...”

They were likely flustered but pleased by how naturally I set up their spots next to each other.

Smiling, I glanced at Ruby’s face, but she shook her head firmly and said,

“That won’t do. Amber, you take the middle.”

“Huh?”

I was trying to help you, my lady. I’d gone out of my way to give you this chance...

Coral, standing beside her, also chimed in.

“I think it’d be better if Amber slept in the middle.”

Honestly, they were both such bashful people.

Were they saying they wanted to take things slow and get to know each other first?

A bit disappointed, I sighed and agreed.

“...Alright. I’ll take the middle.”

The three of us lay under a large blanket that was big enough to cover us all.

Maybe it was because the night was so deep, or perhaps because the blanket was overly cozy.

As soon as I lay down, I felt sleep quickly wash over me.

After some time, I heard soft sounds of pillows shifting from either side.

Gentle, steady breathing reached my ears.

It seemed they had both fallen asleep while facing me.

‘You fools. You wanted to sleep facing each other, didn’t you?’

Otherwise, why would they both be facing inward?

‘Let’s cheer them on. Both of them.’

With hopes that one day they would be honest with each other, I closed my eyes with a fluttering heart.

Behind the academy building, a group of noblewomen in black uniforms crouched on the ground with serious expressions, surrounding something.

“Meow—”

Clara, the leader of the group, pointed to a chubby white cat and said,

“There’s no doubt about it. This is the cat Ruby owns.”

“Why is it here…?”

At their question, Clara scrutinized the cat with a calculating gaze and then gave a sly smile.

“It doesn’t matter why this cat is here. What matters is that this is an opportunity for us.”

This cat was a perfect tool for their plans.

“We’ll use this animal as leverage to separate Ruby from that vulgar commoner. Just wait and see.”

Clara intended to remain anonymous, hiding their identities, and use the pretense of returning the pet as a means to make unreasonable demands of Amber.

‘What kind of demands should we make? Maybe forcing her to kneel naked in front of the entire student body? Or shaving her head completely bald? Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine…!’

As long as Amber’s social standing within the academy was utterly destroyed, Clara’s plan would be considered a success.

Amber, unable to show her face at the academy any longer, would naturally drop out and return to her hometown, leaving Ruby’s side for Clara to claim entirely.

While Clara chuckled and fanned herself, delighted by her scheme, the other girls squealed.

“Aw…! How can you be so cute? Look at your chubby little body.”

The owner of the high-pitched voice was Momo, a noble girl with a timid personality who was often pushed around by Clara.

“Hey, Momo!”

Startled by Clara calling her name, Momo stammered in reply.

“Y-Yes…!? Lady Clara!”

“Have you forgotten why we’re kidnapping this cat? Get serious!”

“S-Sorry, Lady Clara…! It’s just so cute that I…”

“Good grief. What’s so cute about that little furball…”

“Meow—”

Milk, the cat, meowed and rubbed its face against Clara’s leg, and her previously stern expression softened in an instant.

‘...It might be a little cute…’

Momentarily captivated by Milk’s charm, Clara slapped her cheeks to snap herself out of it.

‘What am I thinking…! I need to stay focused!’

If Clara was to succeed in this mission with her unreliable team, she needed to keep her wits about her.

“Momo! Stop playing with the cat!”

“Gasp, yes…!”

It seemed they still had a long way to go before their plan could succeed.

----(Interlude)