TDRDH:04

CHAPTER:04

“My Lady, put this on!”

I hurriedly slipped off my cardigan and held it out to Cecilia.

Cecilia stared blankly down at my shabby cardigan.

“……Why are you giving this to me?”

“Let’s say the person crying in the backyard today was me, not you, My Lady.”

After answering, I thrust the cardigan into Cecilia’s hands.

“Look! My skirt is purple, too. If you wear my clothes, no one will ever suspect that you were the one crying.”

Whew, no wonder I felt like wearing a purple skirt today.

What a stroke of luck.

Meanwhile, Cecilia’s expression became exceedingly bizarre.

*What? Why? What?*

Did she have a better solution?

I shamelessly looked back at Cecilia.

“I have blonde hair and green eyes, too. In my clothes, it’ll be hard to tell us apart from a distance.”

“But you don’t even work at the annex.”

“They’ll just assume I was sent on an errand. If anyone asks, I’ll say I was running an errand to the annex.”

“But you weren’t even crying……”

“Oh, I can just start crying now!”

I rubbed my eyes as hard as I could.

Then, I desperately tried to summon the saddest thoughts I could.

*Sad thoughts, sad thoughts…….*

My mom’s medical bills.

The transit fares to get to and from the clinic.

Even our living expenses while she receives treatment.

*Sigh, it’s just so bleak.*

A stinging sensation hit the tip of my nose, and a tear squeezed out.

I quickly looked back at Cecilia.

“How’s this? Surely they’ll believe it now, right?”

“Stop. You don’t have to go that far……”

Cecilia now looked visibly flustered.

But I pushed forward relentlessly.

“No, please, wear it!”

*If someone else catches on that she was crying, she’ll probably assume I spread the rumor!*

“Even if it’s not for that reason, it’s quite chilly today. The sun will set soon, too…… It would be terrible if you caught a cold.”

“…….”

At those words, a complex emotion flickered in her blue-green eyes.

Fidgeting with the hem of the cardigan, Cecilia suddenly asked.

“Why are you going so far for me?”

*Because I don’t want to get on the female lead’s bad side…….*

But since I couldn’t say something so blatant, I beat around the bush.

“It’s not like you need a grand reason to help someone.”

“…….”

Cecilia froze momentarily.

“Of course, you are a noble lady, and I am just a commoner.”

Shrugging lightly, I quickly draped the cardigan over her shoulders.

“If you shed tears like this, your heart must be going through a very difficult time.”

“That’s……”

“I think even you need a time when you can cry in peace, My Lady.”

*Hmm, was that a decent enough answer to get on the female lead’s good side?*

I stealthily observed Cecilia’s face.

Her expression was…… illegible.

I couldn’t tell at all if she was pleased or upset……

*It’s probably best to slip away now.*

“Then, may I excuse myself? I should probably head off to start cleaning soon.”

I added cautiously.

Cecilia suddenly stared straight at me.

“Are you a maid of the Transie Baronry?”

*Why on earth is she asking that now?*

Suppressing my confusion, I bowed politely.

“Yes, that is correct, My Lady.”

“I see. You may go.”

With a nod, Cecilia spun around and walked away, disappearing past the backyard.

Left alone, I let out a silent sigh of relief.

*Whew, I thought I was going to die of tension.*

*Still, considering I ran into the female lead of this world, getting away with just this was a huge win.*

*But wait, isn’t this a bit strange?*

I furrowed my brow slightly.

*I thought I heard the Lucert family went to the hot springs together. Why is Cecilia the only one left behind?*

* * *

The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon.

I was heading home with a beaming smile, cradling a heavy basket protectively in my arms.

Ah, you want to know what this basket is?

The kitchen staff shared some leftover ingredients with me today.

*All in all, it was a pretty decent day.*

*Of course, my heart nearly dropped out of my chest when I ran into the original female lead!*

*But I think I managed to escape safely without getting on her bad side.*

*I must make absolutely sure we never cross paths again.*

Steeling my resolve, I energetically swung open the front door.

“Mom, I’m ho—”

At that exact moment, the basket slipped from my arms.

“Cough, cough-cough!!”

Bent double, my mom was coughing violently.

The harsh, hacking sound scraping her throat sounded incredibly ominous.

“Mom!!”

Shocked out of my wits, I rushed over to her.

“Cough! ……Haah, you’re home, sweetie?”

Pale-faced, Mom forced a smile.

But it was short-lived.

“How was your day…… *cough*!”

Another fit of violent coughing erupted.

Hurriedly supporting her, I asked, on the verge of tears,

“Why—why is this happening? Since when has your cough been this bad?!”

“It’s nothing, *cough*, just a cold.”

Having finally composed herself, Mom looked at me with a flushed face.

Then, she flashed me a grin as if nothing were wrong.

“Don’t worry, it’s really nothing.”

……There was no way a simple cold would make her struggle this much.

Biting my lower lip, my gaze suddenly drifted to the cup sitting on the table.

Those dried leaves inside the cup……

*They’re herbs for suppressing coughs.*

*Had she just been foraging and brewing these herbs as a temporary fix this whole time? Without saying a single word to me about being sick?*

“Mom, have you seen a doctor?”

“A doctor? Do you have any idea how much a consultation costs?”

Mom answered dismissively.

Frustrated, my voice rose.

“Does the cost even matter right now? If you’re sick, you need to see a doctor first……!”

“Alright, alright, that’s enough. I’ll get better after some rest. Anyway, what’s that? What’s in the basket?”

Waving her hand dismissively, Mom quickly changed the subject.

“…….”

Instead of answering, I glared at her, pouting.

Mom gave me a playful smile.

“So, aren’t you going to tell your mom what it is?”

“……I got some potatoes and meat today. They said they had leftovers.”

In the end, I grumbled my reply.

Mom spoke to me warmly once again.

“Really? Then how about stewed meat and potatoes for dinner? Mom will make it for you.”

“No, I’ll cook today. You’re sick, you shouldn’t……”

“Look at you. I’m not so old that I’d make my daughter cook after she’s been working all day.”

Mom teased me playfully.

For a brief moment, a lump formed in my throat.

She had been struggling so much with her cough just moments ago.

Seeing her try so hard to act fine just to keep me from worrying, her deep affection truly hit home……

*I will cure her, no matter what.*

I clenched my fists with determination.

But it was short-lived.

*……But how am I going to afford the doctor’s fees?*

*My maid’s salary won’t even come close.*

I forced down the sigh rising in my throat.

* * *

The next day.

A bolt from the blue struck me as soon as I arrived at work.

“Milena, was it?”

Madame Tilda, who was staring at me with a peculiar look, suddenly spoke.

“Starting today, you are to report to the guest annex.”

“Pardon? Why the guest annex……?”

“Lady Lucert requested that you be assigned as her personal maid.”

What?!