Not the Villainess, but the Maid

Chapter 5: The Protagonist Visits

After the day I listened to Ruby’s performance from the side, it naturally became a routine for me to sit next to her and watch her play the piano.

I didn’t think I had much musical knowledge, but strangely, Ruby always asked for my opinion after completing a piece.

It became a daily habit for me to accompany her morning performances, and her cat, Milk, also made occasional appearances, claiming the top of the piano as its domain.

Then one day, while Ruby was playing, she gestured toward the sheet music and spoke to me.

“Amber. Could you hand me the symphony score?”

“Yes, just a moment.”

I quickly grabbed a stack of sheet music but fumbled as I couldn’t find the one she mentioned.

The words on the sheets were written in the game’s original language, leaving me unable to decipher anything.

Watching my struggle, Ruby cautiously asked, “…Could it be that reading is difficult for you?”

There was no point in lying at this point, so I admitted it.

“Yes. I’m sorry…”

Being illiterate at thirteen—although it was because I had been reincarnated—made me think Ruby would scold or be exasperated with me.

But her reaction was unexpected.

“…No, it’s me who should apologize. I wasn’t considerate enough.”

From her words, it seemed like it wasn’t unusual for commoners my age to struggle with reading.

“I’ll work hard to learn to read,” I said.

Ruby tilted her head slightly in curiosity and asked, “How? Do you have someone who can teach you?”

“…No, I don’t…”

Ruby seemed to think for a moment before suggesting, “Then let’s do this. Come to the library after you finish all your maid duties.”

“The library?”

“I’ll help you learn how to read.”

I hesitated and replied with an uneasy expression, “…But then I’d be taking up your time, my lady.”

“I don’t mind. Besides, I’d prefer to have a maid who can at least read.”

In other words, I didn’t have a choice.

“If you insist, my lady…”

It felt odd that an employer would teach a servant, but this was the first command Ruby had ever given me.

Since I had been frustrated by my illiteracy, I decided to follow her lead.

Several days passed after I started learning to read with her in the library.

“Yawn…”

I had only managed about three hours of sleep the night before, having struggled to complete the homework Ruby had assigned me.

Ruby was an excellent teacher.

Though her expressions were often stiff and intimidating, she meticulously corrected every mistake.

The issue lay in the overwhelming—bordering on murderous—amount of material.

Ruby, being naturally intelligent, taught me using the exact method she had learned, which meant I had to sacrifice sleep to keep up.

‘Who’d have thought I’d be studying even after being reincarnated…’

I had thought being reincarnated as a maid meant I’d be free of pens and paper, but that was a big misconception.

That morning, after oversleeping a bit, I hurriedly prepared and rushed to the living room.

-Ding-dong.

The bell connected to the mansion’s front door rang out.

It was the bell that announced a visitor, and usually, I was the one who answered it.

‘Who could it be so early in the morning?’

It was the weekend, so there was no reason for the postman to visit, and I hadn’t heard about any expected guests.

Puzzled, I made my way to the mansion’s gate.

Beyond the tall iron bars of the gate, I saw a woman’s silhouette.

Though her face was obscured, her height suggested she was around Ruby’s and my age.

Standing on the other side of the gate, I greeted her.

“I’m Amber, a maid of this residence. What brings you here?”

A clear and gentle voice replied, “I’m here to see Ruby Sarka. Is now a bad time?”

‘She’s here to see Ruby?’

I asked the unfamiliar girl who claimed to have come for Ruby, “Pardon me, but may I ask for your name?”

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Dia Osteon of the Osteon Family.”

“Ah, Dia Osteon…! Did you say Dia Osteon?!”

Startled, I exclaimed, and she responded with a puzzled tone.

“…Is there a problem?”

Dia Osteon.

She was the protagonist of the game [Chronicles of Magical Lily] into which I had been reincarnated.

‘Dia is here at Ruby’s mansion…?’

I had known from the game’s lore that Dia and Ruby were acquainted in their childhood, but seeing her in person was surreal.

“I-I’ll open the gate for you.”

Not wanting to keep such a distinguished guest waiting, I decided to let her in.

“Excuse me—”

She stepped forward as the grand gate opened slightly.

‘It’s really her. The Dia I know.’

She looked a little younger, but her appearance was almost identical to her character in the game.

Her golden curls, tinged with a soft shimmer, paired perfectly with her slightly bluish eyes, creating a charm that anyone would find endearing.

I found myself staring at her in awe before snapping out of it and hurrying into action.

“I’ll inform Lady Ruby, so please wait here for a moment.”

“Wait, Maid!”

Dia suddenly called out, stopping me in my tracks.

“Yes?”

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. May I ask for your name?”

Dia, as per her character, was polite to everyone.

She scpent her Childhood as a Commoner but Was Later Adopted Into a Noble Family and Treated Everyone with Politeness.

“I’m Amber. I recently became Lady Ruby’s exclusive maid.”

At my answer, Dia tilted her head in curiosity.

“Ruby has an exclusive maid…?”

“…Is that strange?”

“No, it’s just a bit unexpected. I look forward to working with you, Amber.”

When she smiled, I couldn’t help but feel my lips twitch into a grin.

As expected of the protagonist of a yuri visual novel game, her smile alone was enough to captivate anyone.

“I look forward to working with you too, Miss Dia.”

“…Someone came to see me?”

Ruby’s expression stiffened at my words.

“That’s… Miss Dia Osteon…”

When I told her Dia had come, Ruby looked a bit unsettled.

“…What nonsense has she come here to spout this time…”

Unlike Dia, who was smiling brightly outside, Ruby’s expression was far from welcoming.

Dia and Ruby sat facing each other across a table.

As I poured tea into their cups, Dia slightly bowed her head and said, “Thank you, Amber.”

Ruby looked a little surprised at Dia’s words.

“…You’re already on a first-name basis?”

“Huh?”

Sensing that Ruby might be misunderstanding, I quickly shook my head and denied it.

“No, we just exchanged brief introductions outside.”

“…I see.”

Ruby’s expression softened for a moment, as if she felt relieved.

Dia was the first to break the silence between them.

“How have you been, Ruby?”

“…Not well. Ever since I heard someone would be competing against me in the recital.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

At first glance, it might seem like an ordinary conversation, but from my position as an observer, the subtle tension between them was nerve-wracking.

Even though they were still young, the air was thick with the kind of aristocratic rivalry that only nobles could exude.

“Ruby, by the way, how is your health? Are you feeling unwell in any way?”

“…I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. And how is Milk doing?”

Without Ruby needing to respond, Milk emerged from under the table and nuzzled against Dia’s leg, meowing softly.

“As you can see.”

Milk seemed to be very fond of Dia.

‘Damn cat, you act like you hate it when I hold you, but…’

“This tea is really delicious!”

Dia had already drunk about half of her tea, but Lady Ruby hadn’t even touched her cup.

Ruby continued to answer Dia’s questions indifferently, but eventually, she interrupted her and spoke firmly.

“Dia.”

“Yes?”

“…What is the reason for your visit today?”

It was sharp and to the point.

Though Ruby’s face was as expressionless as usual, there was an unmistakable wariness in her demeanor.

“That’s a shame. I was hoping to spend a bit more leisurely time with you.”

“…I didn’t think you came here just to have tea with me.”

“…Well, that’s part of it, but yes.”

Admitting there was a purpose to her visit, Dia drained the rest of her tea and confidently declared, “Ruby, I’ll get straight to the point. If you’re planning to participate in the recital, please withdraw.”

Her statement startled me so much I almost dropped the teapot I was holding.

‘Withdraw from the recital…?’

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect such words to come from Dia’s mouth.

Ruby’s expression hardened as she asked Dia, “…And why should I do that?”

“Because I don’t want to compete against you. I want us to stay as we are.”

Dia’s expression remained calm and gentle.

“…Do you seriously think I would withdraw from the recital over something like that?”

“As I thought, that’s how you’d respond, Ruby.”

Though Dia seemed to quickly accept Ruby’s answer, it turned out I was mistaken.

“Then I’ll withdraw from the recital.”

“…”

Ruby’s expression grew colder than before.

Something was off.

The Dia Osteon I knew would never back down from her goals.

She was the protagonist of this game.

For her to say she’d withdraw from the recital simply because she didn’t want to compete with Ruby felt wrong.

Dia continued to speak with her same gentle expression.

“I don’t mind not winning. I’ll let you take this recital.”

The atmosphere between them seemed like it could explode at any moment.

Neither spoke, yet the tension was suffocating, colder than any horror movie.

‘…She doesn’t mind not winning?’

Dia acted as though she already knew she would win.

Standing slightly behind them and watching their exchange, I set down the teapot on the table and interrupted.

“…Miss Dia, I think you might be misunderstanding something.”

“…Pardon?”

She seemed a bit taken aback by my sudden comment.

“The recital doesn’t matter. Competing with you is Lady Ruby’s goal.”

I must have lost my mind after spending weeks at Ruby’s side.

Normally, I would never have dared to do something like this.

“If you truly respect Lady Ruby, please face her fairly at the recital.”

After my statement, the room fell silent.

I didn’t want Ruby’s efforts to be in vain.

Even if the result ended up hurting her, I thought it would be better than her passion fading away without even a chance to shine.

It was a strange feeling.

I originally intended to somehow prevent Ruby from participating in the recital and stop the accident caused by her ability awakening.

But before I knew it, I found myself cheering for her more than anyone else.

After hearing my words, Dia spoke with a sorrowful expression.

“…Amber is right. I don’t have the right to dictate Ruby’s feelings.”

Then she turned to look at Ruby and asked,

“…In that case, Ruby, let me ask you. Can you promise that, no matter the result of the recital, you won’t be hurt?”

Ruby firmly shook her head in response to Dia’s question.

“…Impossible. If I lose to you, I’ll surely feel frustrated and sad.”

“…I thought so.”

Dia seemed determined not to change her stance.

“In that case, I suppose I’ll still have to withdraw from this recital…”

“But,”

Ruby interrupted her.

“Even so, I want to compete with you, Dia.”

“…”

The once dark light in Ruby’s eyes now burned with a desire to win against the person in front of her.

Dia Osteon, the only woman Ruby had ever set as her goal.

Ruby’s crimson eyes shimmered, drawing a clear picture of her opponent as though she refused to let go of the opportunity to face her.

Dia tried to persuade her once more.

“…If you lose, it’s going to hurt terribly.”

“Yes, I know.”

“…You might even grow to hate music.”

“…That could very well happen.”

Dia, wearing a deeply sorrowful expression, asked Ruby one final question.

“…Even if it means you’ll never be able to touch the piano keys again?”

Her ominous question left the room deathly silent.

However, Ruby answered with the same expression she had from the beginning.

“…Even so, I want to compete with you, Dia.”

While I nervously waited to hear what Dia would say, she finally opened her mouth after a brief pause.

“…I’m sorry. I didn’t think this through.”

After pondering for a considerable amount of time, Dia nodded slightly, now looking somewhat relieved.

“You have an amazing maid, Ruby.”

“…”

Ruby said nothing, merely staring at Dia.

Dia carefully rose from her seat and spoke.

“I’ll participate in the recital as planned. I’ll take my leave for today…”

Ruby nodded.

“…Amber. See her off.”

“Yes…”

As Dia walked toward the gate, she turned back to bid farewell to Ruby.

“Then, I’ll see you on the day of the recital.”

“…Alright.”

As she left, the tense atmosphere between the two seemed to lighten slightly.

Once we exited the mansion, I immediately bowed my head to Dia in apology.

“I apologize, Miss Dia. I overstepped my bounds with my earlier remarks…”

Recalling how I had spoken so boldly to her earlier, I quickly bowed my head.

She was, after all, a young lady from a noble family.

I had felt indignant at the thought of Ruby’s efforts being dismissed and ended up acting out of anger.

Dia waved her hands as if to brush it off.

“No…! Amber, there’s no need for you to apologize.”

She held my hands tightly and said,

“Rather, I’m glad Ruby has someone as dependable as you by her side.”

She seemed to mean it sincerely.

“And just now, Amber… how should I say it, you were radiant.”

“…Radiant?”

“Th-thank you…”

It was the first time anyone had ever described me that way.

Perhaps it was her way of complimenting me.

As she lowered her head slightly, Dia muttered softly,

“…It made me a little jealous of Ruby.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. Thank you for today, Amber.”

Standing at the gate where we first met, I now saw her off.

“Are you heading back now, Miss Dia?”

“Yes. And there’s no need to address me so formally. I was just a commoner like you not too long ago.”

“Alright, I understand…”

Dia’s eyes, as she left the mansion, seemed entangled with a mix of emotions.

“Please continue to take care of Ruby, Amber.”

She appeared to have a far more intricate relationship with Ruby than I had imagined.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said something like she was willing to give up the recital.

As I watched her leave, I quietly reflected.

“…If Ruby participates in the recital, then surely…”

She might face the same misfortune as in the game, losing to Dia and encountering a tragic event.

Perhaps I had already set foot on an irreversible path.

But watching Ruby immerse herself in her music, I felt this was the right thing to do.

I wanted to trust in myself, and in Ruby, despite everything.

That’s how I ended up feeling.