IPTD 04

Chapter 04

“Are you alright?!”
Betty came running toward me, her eyes wide, having practically thrown down the tray with breakfast.
‘So embarrassing…’
Of all moments, why did she have to see me like this…?
“What were you doing here? Why weren’t you inside? Did you collapse? Are you dizzy? Is it anemia acting up again?”
But Betty, completely unaware of my humiliation, was hopping around as if I had actually fallen over.
I awkwardly tried to explain.
“Uh… I was… going to chop some firewood…”
“You? With those tiny, delicate, white, soft hands of yours? Arms more fragile than a hand-axe handle!”
“…?”
Is that… a compliment?
“This is absurd! Firewood? You look like you’ve never lifted anything heavier than a teaspoon in your life!”
“….”
Nope. Definitely not a compliment…
I realized for the first time that Betty could talk this fast.
She was usually so quiet, just making sure meals were prepared…
“Haah… anyway… get up.”
I just blinked, and Betty practically yanked me to my feet like pulling a radish from the ground.
Despite her chubby cheeks and petite frame, her triceps felt surprisingly firm under her skin.
‘Oh… really strong.’
I glanced down at my own arms.
As Betty had said, my arms looked as thin as a hand-axe handle.
“….”
Somehow, I felt a deep sense of defeat…
“Th-thank you…”
I managed a faint smile.

Knock, knock.
“Milady. It’s Betty.”
“Oh, yes.”
Soon, the cabin door opened again, and Betty appeared holding a tray.
“I’ve prepared breakfast again.”
“Thank you…”
Earlier, during the little firewood incident, rolling on the wet floor had messed up my freshly changed clothes and hair.
Betty, in a slightly exasperated tone that suggested she had seen it all in her life, scolded me lightly, then quickly heated water and scrubbed me clean.
As an adult, this was the first time I had been so thoroughly “washed” by someone else. Combined with the firewood incident earlier, today had already become the second moment of humiliation…
Yet Betty, as if nothing had happened, returned to her usual quiet maid self.
‘…Alright, just enjoy it.’
Who could resist someone enjoying themselves?
Plus, soaking in warm water and rubbing on fragrant oils was pure luxury.
Thinking “good things are good,” I felt a lot calmer.

And breakfast was served again.
“Food!”
Lifting the silver cover on the tray, a delicious-looking salad greeted me.
Alongside it were small cherry tomatoes, oatmeal, a bit of grilled duck, and a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg.
A perfectly balanced meal of carbs, protein, and fats.
In my past life, part of the reason I died after a night of drinking was probably because of a terrible diet, so I appreciated not having to worry here.
‘Looks delicious.’
As I blinked and reached for my fork, I noticed Betty flinch slightly.
Looking closer, her brown hair and shoulders were dusted with snow.
Feeling a little guilty, I stood and brushed the snow off her shoulders.
“Thanks for bringing this all the way back in the snow. Wasn’t it hard?”
“Oh, no! Not at all. It’s my duty.”
“But the roads must be slippery in this weather…”
“I’m really fine.”
Thinking back to her firm triceps and well-defined forearms, this seemed like nothing to her.
Still, I couldn’t just dismiss it entirely.
“Betty is really kind.”
Just as a graduate student must follow the advisor’s orders without complaint, I figured a maid serving a noble might feel similarly obliged. It made me feel a little sympathetic.
I decided to leave the small madeleine from dessert for her.

As I sat back down and lifted my fork, Betty, cheeks flushed, hesitated in front of the table.
“…Is something wrong?”
She seemed like she wanted to say something, so I looked at her curiously.
“M-Milady!”
“Yes?”
“Well… about the library you asked about the other day.”
“Oh.”
Being alone was nice, but also boring. A few days ago, I asked Betty if she could bring me some reading materials, and she told me there was a library in the main house.
However, it had been neglected for so long that it needed cleaning…
“Has it been cleaned?”
“Well… actually, there’s no one available at the castle right now. Everyone’s really busy, including me…”
“I see.”
I picked up a tomato with my fork and bit into it, juice bursting refreshingly in my mouth.
“Then I guess I’ll clean it myself.”
“…What?”
“You? Clean it yourself? With that fragile body? Good heavens! Even holding a duster would make your arms fall off!”
“….”
What does she take me for?
“O-Of course, you were the one who made this small cabin look wonderful in just a week. I was really amazed…”
“You were spying on me?”
“Oh, n-no! I just… as your maid, I have to be your hands and feet… anyway, be careful with the axe…!”
Feeling that something was wrong, Betty stopped talking mid-rant.
I hid my embarrassment and protested.
“The axe was just heavy, that’s all.”
“I can lift it with one hand, though.”
“….”
Damn… lost to real-life muscles.
If I keep doing garden work, maybe someday my twig-like arms will grow stronger, even if not as strong as Betty’s.
After all, I managed to make this cabin look decent in a week with my own hands.
Cleaning the library might be manageable too—different from chopping firewood.

Just as I was about to press her again, Betty beat me to it.
“Could you… not go to the main house?”
“Why?”
“Well… even if you ask… um, I don’t know how to say this…”
Betty struggled to choose her words carefully so as not to hurt me.
“You can speak honestly. Why…”
“Don’t ask why! I’m only saying this for your sake. I think it’s better if you don’t go to the main house.”
She looked clearly troubled.
I nodded in understanding and asked,
“I see… then can I chop firewood?”
“….”
Betty’s expression, which had been cautious moments ago, suddenly turned fierce.
Her cute face and small frame reminded me of a Maltese dog, but her attitude was pure Cerberus.
I wiped the sweat from my brow and asked again,
“That’s not allowed either?”
“Of course not! What kind of Grand Duchess…”
“But there’s really nothing else fun to do…”
“…No! Even if you look at me with those rabbit-like eyes! I, I…”
“?”
Rabbit…? Me…?
I didn’t want to imagine what she was seeing, but…
If I couldn’t chop firewood, the day would surely be boring.
Cleaning and reading in the library would have been perfect.
Why is she so against me going to the main house?
Is it because of that tall, big, and well-endowed man she said I shouldn’t be noticed by?
“It’s because of the Grand Duke, isn’t it? You’re worried I might be seen by him and then get in trouble?”
“….”
“Then I won’t go.”
Right. I shouldn’t put Betty in a difficult position because of me.
I can find other ways to amuse myself.
I was about to casually change plans and think, “Maybe I’ll go climb that hill behind the cabin…” when she spoke again.
“N-No, that’s not it!”