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CHAPTER25
All the feathers had vanished.
Naturally, nothing more was falling from the sky.
“When you think about it… there was no other way but to pluck them out by hand.”
And yet, the Duke had burned only the feathers. Not a single monster’s flesh was harmed.
It was a bit violent, sure—but perfect.
Feathers would grow back anyway.
“Shasha.”
“Y-yes!”
I blinked, eyes slightly teary with emotion as I stared at his back, then finally answered.
“My office is dirty. Follow me.”
“Understood!”
Honestly, I was ready to accept any scolding today.
He had used such a delicate, precise magic without hesitation.
And the way he turned, as if it was nothing—it was so dignified, so dependable.
I forgot I had been slumped in exhaustion earlier, and simply followed him.
Along the way, beast-type monsters we passed all bowed gratefully to me.
They added sheepish comments like, “Almost lost all our fur back there…”
***
On the way to the office, the Duke said nothing.
I liked that.
He could’ve teleported us there instantly, but instead he matched his steps to mine, walking slowly.
For some reason, it made my heart warm and soft.
I couldn’t help but grin.
“See? Do your work well, and even your employer looks amazing.”
Inside the office, nothing much changed.
He read reports. I cleaned.
“Shasha.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have nothing to say to me?”
…Wait. That was unexpected.
I had promised myself I would humbly accept any reprimand.
But instead of scolding me, he was asking what I had to say.
“Forgive me. I should’ve realized what was happening sooner. That was my fault.”
By the time I arrived at the mansion, the problem was already well underway.
Still, hadn’t I done a pretty good job fixing it?
Yet the Duke tilted his head slightly, his expression strange.
“That’s not it.”
“…What?”
It sounded oddly familiar.
Too familiar.
My eyes widened.
This felt exactly like—
A lover sulking and asking, ‘Don’t you have something to say to me?’
Except, we weren’t lovers.
We were master and servant.
Which made it even scarier.
“Uh… Thank you for helping, Your Grace?”
“Wrong.”
“S-sorry for delaying your afternoon work, Your Grace?”
“Not that either.”
“……”
He kept waving his hand, rejecting every answer.
If not apologies, not thanks, then what?!
What had I even done today?
I called the Squeakies, helped the monsters shed…
Ah. And I went out shopping for tea leaves and a nice teacup.
Wait.
“…My basket!”
That’s right! I had gone out specifically to buy those things.
It was the whole reason I left the mansion.
I grabbed my hair in frustration. The neat bun unraveled, strands falling messily.
I had bought such a lovely teacup! And it was the last set!
The Duke snapped his fingers casually.
“That’s it.”
“…Huh?”
I froze.
From under his desk, he pulled out my shopping basket and placed it on top.
Why… why is that here?!
I was relieved it wasn’t lost, but also confused that he had been keeping it.
Reading my face, the Duke frowned faintly.
“You shouldn’t leave it carelessly. Especially after going to such a dangerous place to buy it.”
“Dangerous… place?”
I tilted my head.
“Of course. You could’ve died out there. Humans are fragile.”
“……”
“They die so easily. Humans.”
His words slammed into me like a hammer.
My jaw literally dropped.
This was the real problem.
Who tells someone they might die just from going shopping?!
If that were true, then all the merchants and passersby I met earlier should already be dead.
I pressed my messy hair down, pretending to fix it while I steadied myself.
“Right now… the most important thing is teatime.”
Yes. That was the way.
If anything could pull some warmth out of the Duke again, it was teatime.
But first—I needed my basket.
I put on my best polite smile and crept forward.
Thankfully, he didn’t stop me.
As soon as I was close enough, I snatched the basket into my arms.
“…Then, I’ll excuse myself! I need to sort these purchases.”
He didn’t say much.
Though… his gaze lingered on my face, which was a little unnerving.
I quickly turned to leave—
“The snack was tasty, I see.”
“……!”
My hand flew to my lips.
I almost dropped the basket.
So that’s why he had been staring.
He’d noticed crumbs near my mouth.
I’d only eaten one cookie a monster gave me while cleaning…!
Why didn’t anyone tell me?!
Betrayal surged in my chest.
But more than that—
The Duke’s hand had brushed against my lips as he wiped it away.
Unlike when he plucked a feather from my hair, this touch felt different.
More embarrassing. More flustering.
My face turned crimson.
“E-excuse me!”
I bowed low, then rushed out of the office.
Just before the door closed, I thought I heard a faint chuckle.
***
Teacup and tea leaves—check.
Good thing I got close with Myron.
The thick guidebook he gave me was nearly useless, but thanks to it, I managed to buy everything.
Now the cups were safely stored in the kitchen.
“Almost time.”
Once the fountain was cleaned, teatime would finally begin.
The special teatime I had been preparing so hard for.
Satisfied, I scribbled the teatime plan onto the back of my report.
Then I stepped into the garden to check on morning duties.
“Head Maid! Emergency!”
A voice shouted desperately.
I squinted against the sun, shading my eyes.
In the distance, a horse’s head bobbed closer—sweating heavily.
‘Hmm, this feels familiar somehow…’
It was Kelpie.
He came running awkwardly, water dripping from his soaked boots.
“We already watered today!”
One of the garden staff dropped his watering can in shock.
Deja vu hit me hard.
Yes, I’d seen this before.
Back when Kelpie had urgently called me about the stable overflowing with feed.
I tucked my report under my arm and asked calmly.
“What is it, Kelpie?”
“You need to come right away, Head Maid!”
He was panting so hard his eyes rolled, but he kept running.
Maybe this time it really was urgent.
So I hurried after him.
When we arrived at the fountain—
“…Jameson. What are you doing?”
“Ah, H-Head Maid! You’re here already?”
Jameson turned around, startled.
He was hanging up… a rainbow-colored banner across the fountain.
The words were written in bold:
[(Con) …Congratulations on your Resurrection (Grats)]
Pink ribbons dangled from both ends.
