Not the Villainess, but the Maid

Chapter 4: A Morning That Starts with Music

Merilda mended my maid uniform.

She only adjusted the torn hem from where the wild dog had shredded it.

Thanks to her, I felt liberated from the cumbersome length and noticed how much more comfortable it was now.

“Is it really okay to wear it like this?”

Thinking about all the effort I had put into adjusting to the long skirt felt pointless now.

“Of course, dressing neatly is important, but the priority is making sure Amber, you, can work efficiently. And it’s better than spilling tea on the young lady again, like last time.”

“···.”

Merilda wasn’t wrong, so I could only offer an awkward smile.

The daily life of an exclusive maid was endlessly busy.

After waking up at the crack of dawn and getting ready, the first task was to wake up Lady Ruby.

For someone like me, who was already not a morning person, waking up early was a struggle.

The sound of chirping birds woke me, and as I rubbed my eyes, I checked the time.

‘···What time is it now?’

The moment I saw where the hands of the clock pointed, I threw off the blanket and bolted upright.

‘I’m late···!’

I should have gotten up 30 minutes ago, but now I barely had 10 minutes left to prepare.

Moving at top speed, I quickly got ready and dashed toward Ruby’s bedroom.

‘Thankfully, I made it just in time···.’

I knocked and was about to carefully open the door when I heard the sound of a piano from inside.

‘Is she already awake?’

When I opened the door, I saw Ruby seated at the piano placed along the side of her room, playing a piece.

Even as I entered, her gaze remained fixed on the sheet music, as if she didn’t notice me.

‘···Should I wait?’

It somehow felt wrong to interrupt, so I decided to wait until she finished playing.

Her pale hands moving over the keys with an emotionless gaze naturally drew my attention.

Now that I think about it, I recall that Ruby’s musical talent in the game was notably high.

While it couldn’t compare to the protagonist’s skills, her ability far exceeded that of the other main characters.

When Ruby finished her piece, she noticed me and met my eyes.

“···.”

She didn’t say anything, so I greeted her as per the manual.

“My lady, breakfast has been prepared in the dining room.”

“···Yes.”

Ruby only gave a short response before resuming her playing, now a different piece from before.

“···Please come down whenever you’re ready.”

Feeling awkward standing there, I decided it was best to leave and quietly closed the door behind me.

Heading to the dining room, I saw Merilda tidying up the glasses.

When she noticed me, she asked with mild curiosity.

“Did you greet the young lady, Amber?”

“I suggested she have breakfast, but she seemed too engrossed in her music, so I left.”

“The piano, right? Lately, the young lady has been devoting herself to playing all day. She’s preparing to represent the Sarka family at a recital next month.”

“Pardon? Represent the family? But the young lady is only thirteen years old···.”

“Hmm? Is that strange?”

Upon reflection, it wasn’t surprising.

I recalled that in this game, noble daughters from prominent families began learning music as a basic refinement as soon as they could speak.

“By the way, is the young lady always so quiet?”

During my time at the mansion, the morning greeting we just exchanged was the extent of our conversations.

“She’s very shy around people. Even with me, who has been her exclusive maid for years, we only talk when absolutely necessary.”

“···Could it be that she dislikes me?”

“I don’t think so. After all, it was the young lady herself who chose you. She likely just needs more time to warm up.”

I had been worried about what kind of treatment I’d receive from Ruby, but now I felt slightly neglected from the lack of interaction.

“Besides, you’re close in age to the young lady, unlike me. I’m sure you two could become good friends.”

‘···Friends.’

In the game, the closest thing Ruby had to friends were the villainous extras who followed her around.

They were noblewomen from mediocre families who stuck to Ruby, hoping to leech off her influence.

Though it was supposed to be the young lady’s meal time, I couldn’t shake Merilda’s earlier words from my mind.

‘She said we could become friends···.’

I had no idea how to befriend such a reserved noble lady, but I resolved to at least try.

I returned to Ruby’s room, knocked, and entered again.

“Excuse me, my lady.”

Ruby was still engrossed in her piano playing, seemingly unaware of my presence.

I waited quietly in the corner until she finished, and only then did Ruby turn to look at me.

“···What is it?”

When Ruby suddenly spoke to me, I was briefly startled, but I quickly composed myself.

“I was wondering if I could stay here and listen to your performance, if it’s not too much trouble.”

After a moment of silence, Ruby gave a slight nod.

“···Do as you wish.”

“Thank you.”

With Ruby’s permission, I awkwardly stood near the piano, unsure of what to do.

As she was about to resume playing, she looked at me.

“···Are you going to keep standing there?”

It seemed like she was indicating I should sit beside her, as she shifted slightly on the long bench.

Feeling like I had no choice, I hesitantly sat down beside her.

“···Excuse me.”

“···.”

Ruby only resumed playing once I was seated.

Sitting so close that only a finger’s width separated us, I caught the faint scent of expensive perfume and fragrant soap from her.

Through her long hair, I caught glimpses of her captivating red eyes.

Her small, delicate fingers moved nimbly over the keys, producing a melodic sound.

I noticed her neatly trimmed nails, a stark contrast to the sharp, black-painted nails of the seventeen-year-old Ruby in the game.

Back then, her nails reflected a bold and dark personality, but now she seemed entirely different.

The piece she played exuded an elegant and classical feel.

The densely packed notes on the sheet music hinted at its difficulty, especially for a child.

“···Hah.”

Ruby let out a small breath as she finished the first piece.

“That was amazing, my lady.”

The moment I exclaimed in admiration as if I had been waiting for her to finish, Ruby seemed briefly surprised before speaking to me.

“···It’s the piece for next month’s recital. It’s still far from perfect.”

‘Far from perfect?’

To my ears, it was so flawless that it sounded like a recording being played, but Ruby didn’t seem to think so.

“Your performance was incredible, my lady.”

At that, Ruby looked down at the keys and asked me.

“···Then, how did I look while playing?”

“Pardon?”

Perplexed by her ambiguous question, I asked her back, and Ruby clarified.

“My expression, my movements, those things. How did they seem to you?”

“Ah···.”

I thought back to how she looked while playing.

She was immensely beautiful and elegant, but somehow···

“···Perhaps, a bit stiff?”

“···.”

I made a mistake.

What I had meant to keep in my thoughts had carelessly slipped out of my mouth.

Ruby’s face froze at my response, and she remained silent.

“I’m sorry···! I didn’t mean to upset you, my lady···.”

“You’re right.”

“···Pardon?”

“···I thought it was boring too, the piece I just played.”

Ruby said this as she pushed the sheet music aside.

Then, she placed her fingers back on the piano keys.

‘What is she doing? Why is she putting the sheet music away?’

I wondered if she was planning to play the same piece from memory, but a completely different melody flowed from the piano this time.

Unlike the previous piece, which had a polished and refined feel, this one danced with a freer rhythm, unconstrained by strict structure.

Though the rhythm shifted unpredictably, the balance remained intact, creating a captivating harmony.

Even someone like me, who knew little about music, could tell that anyone listening would find it delightful.

‘This piece feels entirely different from the one before. What is it?’

As I was lost in thought, I glanced at Ruby, focused intently on her performance.

Bathed in sunlight, she was utterly mesmerizing as she played.

The red of her eyes, which always seemed somber, now sparkled, making her look like the young girl she truly was.

‘···She’s beautiful.’

More than anything, she looked so much livelier now.

Rather than playing like a pale doll mechanically moving its fingers, she was clearly enjoying the act of performing.

“···What do you think?”

“···You’re beautiful.”

I had been so absorbed in watching her that I didn’t even realize the performance had ended and reflexively answered her.

“···What? What did you say?”

Ruby seemed slightly startled by my response.

“You were beautiful. Both you and the performance.”

“···That’s a first for me. Thanks.”

I was surprised to hear her softly express gratitude.

So, she does know how to say thank you.

“···Personally, I liked this piece much better than the first one you played. Why not use this one for the recital?”

When I said that, Ruby shook her head, her expression lacking confidence.

“···This is an original composition. To get a guaranteed score, it’s better to go with a well-known piece.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame.”

“A shame?”

“The piece you composed is so good that I wish others could hear it too.”

I meant it sincerely.

The piece was excellent, and there was no reason to hide it just because it was her own creation.

After pondering over my words seriously, Ruby nodded at me.

“···Alright. I’ll perform this piece at the recital.”

“What? Really?”

I hadn’t expected her to actually accept my suggestion.

“I’ve been debating it for weeks. If you think it’s good enough to say that, I’ll give it a try.”

I felt a bit worried, wondering if I had inadvertently set Ruby up for failure at the recital.

“···Also, I heard that Dia will be performing the same piece I originally planned to use. Maybe this is a better choice after all.”

At her words, I froze in place.

“···Wait a moment, my lady.”

I widened my eyes as I asked.

“Who did you say would be performing?”

I felt like I had heard an impossible name.

Ruby looked at me curiously and replied.

“Dia. Lady Dia Osteon.”

Dia Osteon.

She was none other than the protagonist of this game.

‘So, does that mean Ruby and Dia will face off at this recital···?’

In the yuri visual novel game [Chronicles of Magical Lily], Ruby and Dia had a unique backstory as childhood acquaintances.

Occasionally, daughters from prominent families would interact, forming relationships akin to rivals.

Up until the recital, they maintained a reasonably good relationship, but after the recital at age 13, things took a sharp turn for the worse.

This was because the recital next month was, in fact, Ruby Sarka’s ability-awakening event.

‘Ruby loses to Dia at the recital and awakens her fire magic in a fit of despair, doesn’t she…’

In this world, women naturally awakened their magical abilities upon reaching adolescence.

The stronger the magical power, the greater the backlash during awakening.

At the recital, Ruby suffered a crushing defeat to Dia.

Overwhelmed with loss, she awakened her fire magic during the awards ceremony, inadvertently setting the venue ablaze and leaving a large burn scar on her face.

The traumatic memory twisted her personality, causing her to hold a grudge against Dia, the protagonist, from then on.

Ruby turned to me and spoke with unprecedented seriousness.

“This time, I’ll beat Dia at the recital no matter what. Surpassing her is my goal.”

But none of her words registered in my mind.

‘···Ruby, you cannot attend that recital.’

For her sake, I absolutely had to stop her from participating in it.

Ruby finished her practice and stood up first.

“···I’ll head to the dining room now. Thanks for listening.”

“Yes, you worked hard.”

She tilted her head slightly at me and asked.

“Your name··· was Amber, right?”

“Yes, my name is Amber.”

“···Got it.”

She casually turned her back to me and added one more comment.

“Amber, your skirt is caught up.”

“···Pardon?”

At her words, I turned to look at the back of my skirt, and indeed, it was caught on the apron strings, exposing my underwear slightly.

This couldn’t have happened with a longer skirt, but now that the hem only reached above my knees, such mishaps were possible.

“···!”

Flustered, I hastily fixed my skirt, my face burning red as I followed Ruby.

‘Could she have noticed from the start···?’

I wanted to disappear from embarrassment.