THIEM 35

Chapter 35

The moment I noticed the fear filling Genie’s eyes, I slowly lowered the hand I had been raising.

She was clutching one of her wrists, her body instinctively taking a defensive posture.

Come to think of it…

I narrowed my eyes and examined her.

Ding!

[A clue has been detected through the Player’s <Observation (B-)> ability.]

The system really was useful at times.

There was a scar on Genie’s left cheek. A thin red line, as if she had been scratched by fingernails.

And now that I looked closely, she was wearing unusually concealing clothes. The weather was warm enough that there was no need to wear extra layers underneath.

…What is this?

It was hard to believe the injury was the result of a simple accident. If it were, she wouldn’t have reacted so defensively.

But if the number of injuries on her body had suddenly increased…

Abuse…

There was a high chance she was being bullied.

I pressed my lips together.

Is it because of me? Because she stood up for me that day? Are the maids bullying her because of it?

“You…”

But before I could continue, Genie cut me off.

“You tripped!”

“What?”

“You tripped and fell. You’re not familiar with this place, so you rushed around and fell down the stairs! Hoho, I’m so clumsy, aren’t I?”

As if anyone would believe that…

[Warning!]

[The story’s flow is deviating from acceptable parameters.]

Damn it. How considerate.

I clenched my teeth.

The system window was warning me not to ask any further.

I guess I don’t have a choice.

I eventually turned away.

“You should be more careful. Getting hurt because you’re clumsy like that.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Genie letting out a sigh of relief.

But I had no intention of letting this end here.

If this trouble started because of me, then it was my responsibility to clean it up.

Anyone who dares lay a hand on Evelyn Rosenthal’s maid will pay the price…

I ground my teeth inwardly.

Watching my expression carefully, Genie quickly finished organizing the vanity table and left the room.

The endless chatter she usually had was completely gone.

The next day.

“Phew…”

I finally raised my head and wiped the cold sweat from my forehead.

I was startled when I noticed my sleeve had turned black from dust, but still.

How did people even live in a place like this?

Conditions in the tent village had improved significantly, but there was still a long way to go before things were truly better.

Progress hadn’t even surpassed seventy percent yet.

All we had done was secure a distribution network, and even that still required a lot of work.

Which made it all the more strange that rumors had spread so quickly.

Money-spread rumors really are something else.

If the information had spread naturally, this would never have happened.

While grumbling about the hood that constantly obstructed my vision, I continued wrapping bandages around a patient.

I was volunteering as a medic.

A corner of my vision displayed my daily quota.

[Quest: Medical Volunteer Work]
[Daily Goal: 10/10 (People)]
[Today’s Bonus Reward: Blue Hair Ribbon That Never Comes Untied (Durability: 5)]

Finally finished.

This was a daily quest that appeared after I started visiting the tent village regularly.

Besides medical volunteering, there were other quests such as soup distribution, firewood delivery, supply inspections, and more.

Good thing I had followed volunteer medical activities in the past to build my résumé.

Otherwise, I would have missed out on these daily quests entirely.

Once I finished wrapping the bandage and tied it securely, it stayed firmly in place.

“There. All done.”

“Oh my, thank you… The line at the other tent was so long I couldn’t get there…”

The people I usually helped were those with limited mobility.

Of course, not serious patients—just those with minor injuries like scrapes.

Critical patients belonged with real doctors, not an amateur like me.

“Grandma, this won’t heal immediately, so don’t let it get wet. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Really? Oh my, you’re such a kind young lady… Here, this is a ribbon I made. Please take it. I won’t feel right otherwise…”

The old woman hurriedly pressed something into my hand.

It was a beautifully braided blue ribbon.

The bonus reward from the quest was obviously this item.

I casually stuffed it into my pocket and stood up.

Then—

“May I ask your name?”

“My… name?”

I looked around awkwardly before finally answering.

“I-I’m Eve…”

It was the same alias I had used in the capital.

Since I was already known as a maid of the ducal household, constantly changing my name would have been suspicious.

“Eve? Good heavens, you’re that young lady?”

Ugh.

I immediately started packing up my medical supplies.

I already knew what was coming next.

“My daughter talks about how grateful she is all the time. Wait right there. Let me get something for you—”

“No, Grandma! Please don’t! I’m busy! I have to go!”

Ignoring her attempts to stop me, I hurried out.

The reason everyone in the tent village knew me was simple.

I never should’ve handled the first relief distribution myself!

Because I personally supervised every step—from transporting supplies to distributing them among the residents—everyone remembered me.

And then imagine that same person showing up every day to check on people.

It was the perfect recipe for misunderstandings.

If they ever learned I was only doing it because of quest rewards, I’d probably be beaten to death.

“Ah, the quest.”

I stopped in the middle of my walk home.

There was still something left to do.

Let’s see…

I had nearly reached the entrance of the tent village when I opened the quest window.

Then—

“L-Louis! Watch out!”

[Emergency Quest Triggered!]
[Quest: Save the Child]
[Reward: ???]

Someone came running while shouting.

A quest!

My eyes lit up instantly.

I didn’t even notice that the reward was hidden.

The moment I turned my head, I saw a child chasing after a ball that had rolled into the road.

A carriage was charging straight toward him.

The coachman appeared to be asleep.

There wasn’t even time to think.

My body reacted on instinct.

I was the closest person.

Too late—!

I grabbed the child and curled around him protectively.

Damn it. Just protect my head!

I can’t die here!

I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself for the impact.

But strangely…

Everything became quiet.

“Louis!”

A woman, presumably the boy’s mother, rushed over and pulled him into her arms.

“For heaven’s sake, Louis! Are you crazy?! What were you thinking?!”

“M-Mom!”

Her hands were gentle, even if her words were not.

“Oh my goodness… Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Tears filled her eyes as she stroked her son’s head repeatedly and thanked me.

Looking around, it seemed the carriage had managed to stop before tragedy struck.

Embarrassed, I stepped away from the child.

“I-I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

The coachman hurriedly jumped down from the carriage.

He repeatedly bowed to both me and the child.

“I’ve been holding the reins for too long! I should’ve taken a break in the middle… This is all my fault! I’m so sorry!”

I glared at him.

Then why put yourself in a position where you’d fall asleep while driving?

If apologizing solved everything, why would punishments or laws even exist?

More importantly, who owns this carriage? What kind of person works their coachman to this point?

I sharply turned my head toward the carriage door that had just opened.

And the person who emerged was—

…Rakiel?!

I nearly screamed.

My eyes widened as I stared at him.

He stepped down looking startled, then became even more bewildered when he noticed me.

His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself.

Apparently he knew what should come first.

Walking over to the child’s mother, he bent down slightly, unconcerned by the dirt that stained his clothes, lowering himself to her eye level.

“Are either of you hurt?”

The mother and child looked stunned.

A nobleman was clearly speaking to them.

“It is my fault. My negligence frightened your child. I apologize.”

They clearly hadn’t expected him to apologize personally.

When the woman struggled to respond, Rakiel turned to the child with a gentle expression.

“I’m sorry for frightening you. The anxiety I caused is entirely my responsibility. If anything feels wrong, tell me immediately. I will take responsibility for whatever is needed.”

Then he straightened and called to the man standing behind him.

Not an aide.

Hagen.

“Provide them with whatever they need.”

“Yes, understood.”

Hagen answered crisply.

It was obvious how proud he was of his lord.

Watching the scene, I found myself impressed.

He’s… a much better person than I expected.

You could tell simply by the way he treated a refugee mother and child.

And suddenly I could imagine the future of the Empire under his rule as Emperor.

While Hagen spoke briefly with the woman, Rakiel turned toward the coachman.

He walked over and said a few words to the man, who still looked completely shaken, before patting him on the shoulder twice.

It almost looked as though Rakiel himself was apologizing.

Then he began walking toward me.

Wait.

Toward me?

I hurriedly checked the hood covering my face.

“Are you hurt anywhere? I’m sorry. That was dangerous.”

He spoke with genuine concern in his eyes.