I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince-Chapter 483: Breakthrough (1)

About two hours had passed since I spent that deep, lingering time with Ethan, from late evening into the early hours.

As I confirmed that he was sound asleep beside me, lying nude, I slowly rose, picking up my clothes from the floor as quietly as possible.

‘After all that effort he put in, he probably won’t wake up until tomorrow afternoon.’

Since I was in charge of waking Ethan, there was no risk of another maid coming to disturb him. And, considering that Isabel and Katarina were aware of our clandestine meetings, they wouldn’t go out of their way to interfere with our time together.

‘...Should I still go through with it?’

To be honest, if I were to reconsider, now would be my last chance.

By morning, I could return to my routine maid duties, tear up the letter I carried tucked into my dress, and remain in Blackwood Mansion. I’d likely be happy enough until Ethan’s graduation from the academy next year...

‘...No, that won’t work.’

I couldn't shake the sickening feeling that would come from seeing Ethan whisper sweet nothings to another woman as his official partner.

It wasn’t that I had ever cared about men having harems or any such thing, but somehow, I didn’t want to see Ethan doing it. Perhaps it was because of that “unicorn-like” nature I seemed to have carried over from my past life. Regardless, I couldn’t spend a lifetime in bitterness for the sake of a mere year of happiness.

Even if Ethan truly loved only me and saw his official wife as little more than a figurehead...for the sake of an heir, he would have to produce at least one child.

I could never accept the feeling of having “what’s mine” taken by “someone else.” But with my status, there was no way to stop it, so I would, at the very least, avoid witnessing it.

Thinking this, I placed the prepared letter on Ethan’s desk, donned my maid uniform, and made my way back to my room.

‘First, I’ll change clothes and gather my things.’

I had intentionally packed only the essentials to avoid being encumbered: four daggers, including the recently acquired “Silent Dagger,” a chest of gold coins, a few spare outfits, and some dried food.

Once I was out of Blackwood’s estate, I could procure the rest along the way. If necessary, I had the skills to hunt and cook wild monsters for sustenance.

Changing from my maid uniform into a dark outfit that allowed greater mobility, especially the trousers, I silently exited the waiting room.

With the Silent Dagger’s stealth effect, I likely wouldn’t be detected. If there was anyone whose instincts could penetrate my stealth, it would be a Sword Master like Harold. But surely, even he would be asleep by now.

No matter how masterful, I doubted he could sense my presence while sound asleep, so I cautiously made my way down the stairs.

“......”

I passed the third floor, moving through the mansion’s left corridor where the waiting rooms for the maids were located.

Knowing where Isabel and Katarina’s quarters were, I approached their room quietly, slipping two letters under the door. By morning, they’d read them, or maybe later in the day. Either way, by then, I’d be far from Blackwood Mansion.

With that thought, I proceeded down the stairs toward the first-floor lobby. But as soon as I set foot on the staircase...

“...?”

I felt an ominous chill brush the back of my neck, causing my body to freeze.

‘...What is that?’

An intense, inexplicable tension filled the air, and a strange sense warned me that descending further wasn’t wise. But turning back now wasn’t an option either. I’d come too far to stop now.

After all, I’d spent the entire night with Ethan as a way of saying goodbye, doing things we’d never done before. There was no going back to the way things were. If Ethan were to use tonight as an excuse to start expecting such encounters daily at the academy...honestly, I wouldn’t have a reason to refuse him.

Just as I convinced myself that even if a guard or butler happened to be patrolling, the Silent Dagger’s stealth would be sufficient, I took a few more steps.

“...Who would be coming downstairs at this hour?”

“...?!”

My mind went blank as a familiar voice—a Sword Master’s voice—rang in my ears.

‘Damn it, why is he on the first floor...?!’

Shouldn’t he be asleep by now?

Does being a Sword Master shorten your sleep? Or did he just happen to be awake tonight?

‘No, calm down. I haven’t been caught yet...’

I took a step back, thinking I’d take the exit on the other side of the mansion rather than the front entrance. But as soon as I began to retreat, Harold’s voice called out from the lobby again.

“Come down. Unless you’d prefer I come up to meet you?”

“......”

Damn, it was over.

Any more stalling, and he’d surely come up here to confront me and demand answers. Reluctantly, I stepped forward, making my way down to the first-floor lobby, where Harold sat at a small round table, watching me descend.

“Having trouble sleeping? What are you doing at this hour...hm?”

“......”

“The maid coming downstairs was you? But you’re not in your uniform...and with that bag...”

“......”

“Sit down. I believe we need to have a talk.”

He had already pieced together what I was attempting, based on my attire and the bag slung over my shoulder.

Realizing that it would be nearly impossible to evade him, I sat quietly across from him, waiting cautiously.

“From the footsteps, I suspected it was one of the debt-bound maids trying to escape. I hadn’t expected it to be you.”

“...I...apologize.”

“There’s no need to be so fearful. If it had indeed been one of the debt maids attempting to escape, I’d have imposed punishment. But didn’t you repay your debt a few years ago? An employee dissatisfied with their work environment has every right to leave.”

“......”

“However, I would appreciate it if you’d give me a chance to convince you to stay. If you allow ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ me that much, I’ll overlook the fact that you intended to leave secretly. How about it?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Given that Harold was essentially presenting me with only one choice, I had no option but to agree.

“...Hmmm.”

“......”

“I’ll ask this as a preliminary question...”

“Yes...?”

“Do you perhaps find my son, Ethan, unworthy?”

“...No, that’s not it at all.”

It wasn’t what I thought anyway, but even if it were, the only safe answer here was “no.”

If there was one thing I knew better than anyone, it was that insulting Ethan in front of Harold was akin to attempting suicide.

“Then, is it because you’re unable to harbor romantic feelings for him?”

“No, that isn’t it either.”

“Then perhaps you found the physical relationship unpleasant?”

“...No, that isn’t the case either.”

As if he were playing twenty questions, Harold sat across from me, probing one reason after another.

Though his expression hardly changed, I could sense a hint of frustration in his demeanor as he waited for my answer, keeping me on edge.

“Then I truly don’t understand. What made you suddenly decide to leave?”

“......”

“If your reason is one I can understand, then I won’t stop you. However, if it’s one I cannot accept...then you will return upstairs with that bag.”

If I failed here and was forced to return upstairs, I knew I’d never have another chance to leave Blackwood Mansion.

Feeling as if I were gambling with my life, I decided to reveal my reason for leaving.

“...I don’t want to lose him.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I don’t want to see Young Master Ethan...taken away by another woman.”

“That’s difficult to understand. Could you explain a bit further?”

“As you are already aware, my lord, I am merely a commoner posing as nobility. My title as the young lady of Rosewood Barony is something you and the princess graciously fabricated. I know this better than anyone.”

“...Yes, I am aware.”

“And as the only son and heir of the Blackwood family, Young Master Ethan is bound to have an official partner of matching status. While I don’t believe that would diminish his affection for me, my jealousy would prevent me from bearing witness to such a relationship.”

“An official partner...you suspect someone in particular, don’t you?”

“...Yes.”

“......”

Harold fell silent, stroking his chin in thought. He likely was considering Queen Rainy, Ethan’s betrothed. There was no chance of breaking off an engagement to a neighboring queen just to take someone like me as his partner. Politically and financially, she far outmatched me, and that was clear to anyone.

‘...But I doubt this will be enough to persuade him.’

If anyone loved Ethan more than anyone else in the world, it was Harold, who would bind me to Ethan’s side, disregarding my wishes.

With him catching me right before my escape, I felt my chances slipping away.

“Hmmm, I see.”

“......”

“If that’s truly the case, then I suppose there’s no helping it. If you feel this way, it must mean Ethan has failed to earn your trust.”

“...Pardon?”

“I never thought my son would stray from you toward another woman. Perhaps it’s wise to keep some distance, as you suggest. I, too, felt the absence of my wife, Tanacia, more deeply during our times apart.”

...Wait.

This atmosphere didn’t feel as hostile as I’d expected.

“Ethan, being a young man, may have been momentarily distracted, causing you to feel this way.”

“......”

“If that’s your reason for leaving, I won’t stop you.”

“...Are you certain, my lord?”

“It’s no longer ‘my lord.’ Address me as ‘Duke Blackwood.’”

Recognizing this as my final opportunity, I stood up and bowed to Harold, accepting what was essentially his permission to depart.

“Thank you for everything, Duke Blackwood.”

“Take care on the road, and watch out for monsters or bandits. With your skills, I doubt it’ll be an issue.”

“Thank you for the concern, even at the end.”

“Farewell, then.”

With an unexpected farewell from an unexpected figure, I walked out the gates of Blackwood Mansion and into the night.

Eeeeek.

“...I trust we’ll meet again soon, Miss Rosewood.”

As Lilith made her way out of the mansion, Duke Blackwood murmured quietly to himself, alone in the lobby.

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