Not the Villainess, but the Maid

Chapter 7: The Recital (Part 1)

Finally, the day had arrived.

The annual noble exchange recital, and Ruby’s ability awakening event.

Dressed in a black dress, Ruby sat beside me as she waited for her turn.

“Don’t be too nervous, my lady…!”

“…You seem more nervous than I am, Amber.”

I had prepared thoroughly in case of any accidents that might occur today.

Since Ruby’s magical ability was fire, I had hidden a bucket of water under the chair to quickly suppress any potential fire.

Most importantly, I had to ensure Ruby’s condition was optimal.

I handed her a candy I had kept in my pocket.

“My lady, this is for an energy boost.”

“Okay.”

In case her muscles tensed up during the performance, I planned to do everything I could to help her.

“I’ll massage your arms for you.”

“There’s no need for that…”

“Here, give me your hand…!”

Today, I had a reason to be proactive.

This event was a turning point in her life.

To prevent Ruby’s descent into villainy due to an accident, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down about anything.

“Amber, could you be a little gentler…”

“No, my lady. You lack exercise, so your muscles are especially stiff.”

Starting from the upper arms, I carefully massaged her palms and even the tips of her fingers.

This was something I had learned from Merilda, the head maid, so it would surely be effective.

As I kneaded her fingers, Ruby let out a slight groan as if she was holding back a sigh.

“…Ugh.”

“Oh no, did that hurt…?”

“…No. Keep going.”

I continued massaging her other arm for another five minutes before finishing.

“All done.”

“…Thank you.”

Wondering if Ruby’s condition had improved, I examined her face.

However, her face was even redder than before, and her breathing seemed more labored.

“Wait, why does your condition seem worse than earlier?”

“…”

“And why is your body so hot…?”

Although I asked in concern, Ruby avoided my gaze and didn’t respond.

At that moment, the emcee’s voice rang out from the stage.

“The next performer is Lady Dia of the Osteon family.”

Naturally, everyone’s attention shifted to the stage, where Dia, dressed in a pristine white gown, walked toward the piano.

Despite looking like a thirteen-year-old girl, the aura she exuded rivaled that of an adult.

‘She’s beautiful… She almost seems to shine.’

This must be the appeal of the protagonist.

I finally understood why the heroines in this game were so enamored with Dia.

Compliments for Dia began to rise from the audience.

“Is that Lady Dia? How stunning she is.”

“I’ve heard she’s also incredibly well-mannered.”

‘You’re really popular, Dia…’

Under the crowd’s warm admiration, Dia began her performance.

The melody that flowed was the same one Ruby had played in her room every day before we became close.

‘I see why Ruby changed her piece.’

Before switching, Ruby had been troubled because her piece overlapped with Dia’s.

Dia’s performance wasn’t just skillful—it was flawless.

Her rhythm and strength were so precise that it seemed almost mechanical, leaving everyone in awe.

As her performance reached its climax, I knew Ruby’s turn was coming up.

“You’re next, my lady. It’s time to start preparing…”

I glanced to my side and noticed her pale hand, resting on the seat, trembling slightly.

“My lady?”

It seemed like no sound was registering in Ruby’s mind.

‘…She’s too nervous.’

I leaned in close to her ear and softly blew air.

“Phew.”

“Eek!?”

Ruby flinched, her shoulders jolting as she turned to look at me.

“Amber, what are you doing all of a sudden…?”

“You’re not trembling anymore, are you?”

“Huh?”

Ruby, bewildered, checked her body and responded.

“That’s true…”

Being nervous was proof of how immersed she was in the situation.

Ruby must have been constantly thinking to herself.

Can I do well? What if I make a mistake?

That’s why breaking her focus with an unexpected action naturally distracted her from those thoughts.

As someone who froze up completely when nervous, I understood this better than anyone.

“It’d be a shame if you couldn’t show off all your hard work. Wouldn’t it be better to perform without regrets?”

Ruby, who had been tense, finally cracked a small smile.

“…Amber, sometimes you seem like an adult in disguise.”

For a moment, I froze, thinking she had seen through my true identity.

“Ahaha, what a funny joke…”

Sometimes, her sharp intuition was unnervingly accurate.

The emcee announced her turn.

“Next up is Lady Ruby of the Sarka family.”

“I’ll be back.”

Ruby walked gracefully onto the stage.

Even just hearing her name and family announced, people began murmuring.

“Is it that girl? The young lady of the Sarka family…?”

“How shameless. Why would she even want to show her face here?”

“Shh, someone might hear you.”

In this game, the Sarka family’s reputation was far from good.

As a family that hadn’t amassed its wealth through honorable means, they were feared and envied by nobles.

While there weren’t many families that were openly friendly to them, the Sarka family’s immense power made them difficult to ignore.

“…”

Seated at the piano, Ruby rested her hands on the keys, quietly concentrating.

Originally, she was supposed to play the same piece as Dia, but the one she prepared this time was her own composition.

In the silence, Ruby pressed the first key.

Then, as if she’d never been nervous, she began playing with fluid precision.

As a unique introduction unfolded, more distinct than any music I’d heard before, the nobles began murmuring.

“I’ve never heard this piece before.”

“Is it an original composition?”

Ruby’s piece had become much more refined than when I first heard it.

With unrestricted rhythm and a relatively free-flowing melody, her music gradually captivated the audience.

Her mastery of syncopation was so natural that it didn’t feel awkward at all, and her performance showcased her distinct color.

If Dia’s performance was a polished, well-cut gemstone, Ruby’s was like an unknown raw gem that instinctively drew attention.

Pouring her emotions into the music, Ruby gave such an immersive performance that it felt like she was playing several instruments alone.

‘She worked so hard…’

With the recital so close, she had suddenly decided to change her piece, leaving her with far less practice time than others.

On top of that, as she mentioned, original compositions were an uncertain factor with no guaranteed scores.

However, none of that seemed to matter as the audience appeared entirely engrossed in her performance.

When the piece ended, applause slowly erupted from the audience.

Ruby quietly returned to her seat next to me.

“…You did well. That was a fantastic performance, my lady!”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

She spoke with a visibly lighter expression.

When all performances concluded, the judges, who seemed to be deep in discussion, exchanged meaningful glances.

It seemed like they were about to announce the winner.

‘I need to stay alert. Things are dangerous from here.’

In the original game’s timeline, Ruby was defeated by Dia at this point, and the resulting despair awakened her fire magic.

While awaiting the results, I tightly gripped the handle of the water bucket hidden beneath the chair.

I kept a close watch on Ruby, prepared to deal with any fire that might break out, when she suddenly spoke to me.

“Thank you, Amber.”

“Pardon?”

“If I’d chosen the same piece as Dia, I probably wouldn’t have been able to focus on my performance.”

She was referring to how my compliment about her piece had influenced her decision to change it.

“…I didn’t do much. All I did was listen by your side.”

“No, that was enough.”

The judges, having finished their discussion, handed something to the emcee, who took the stage and spoke loudly.

“And now, I will announce the winner. The winner of this year’s noble exchange recital is…”

The recital hall fell silent as if time had stopped.

I gripped the water bucket beneath my chair tightly, focusing all my attention.

Then, the results were announced.

“The winner is Lady Ruby of the Sarka family.”

‘…What?’

It was an unexpected name.

Everyone in the audience, including myself, and even Ruby, looked surprised.

“Among this year’s performers, Lady Ruby showcased a piece that truly reflected her unique style.”

She had earned high marks for her original composition, which held its own against established pieces, and for her emotionally resonant performance.

I released my grip on the bucket and looked at her, speaking.

“My lady, you won…!”

“…”

Ruby, still in disbelief, murmured.

“I can’t believe it…”

No one raised any objections to her victory.

The award ceremony passed peacefully, and Ruby and I attended a small celebratory party afterward.

Nobles, who had been inspired by Ruby’s unique performance, began to gradually lower their guard and approach her.

“I thoroughly enjoyed your performance. It was deeply moving.”

“It was the best recital I’ve heard this year.”

“…Thank you.”

While Ruby was surrounded by nobles and earnestly engaging in conversation, someone called her name.

“Congratulations, Ruby.”

It was a familiar voice, and as I turned to look, Dia, dressed in a pristine white gown, appeared through the crowd.

“…Dia?”

As the two young ladies from prominent families faced each other, the attention of the surrounding nobles naturally shifted to them.