“Your eyesight is really good. My name is Lian. May I ask, Lady, who you are?”
“I’m Tilly. I’ve already been working at XÄ«long Pavilion for three years. I know exactly who’s new here!”
Faced with Lian’s outstretched hand, the maid named Tilly, though a little puzzled, still took it. “Your way of greeting is really formal.”
“Ah. Actually, it’s because…” Lian withdrew her hand with an awkward smile. “I’m actually new here. Today is my first day as a maid.”
“Eh? You’re a newcomer?” Tilly was a little surprised.
“Y-yes. Is there any kind of work here that needs special talents or skills, Senior?”
“Wow… This is the first time an older-looking sister has called me ‘Senior’!” Hearing Lian’s form of address, Tilly’s eyes sparkled like two little stars.
She glanced ahead at Laite, the housekeeper, who was still giving the group instructions on welcoming guests, then turned to Lian and said:
“Not at all. We’re not a circus or a court orchestra or anything like that. Just like Housekeeper Laite is saying now—what we need to do in a bit is, after the Order of Precedence, simply follow the important guests and obey their orders and instructions. Have you had etiquette training?”
“No.”
Lian hadn’t learned any—because she never needed to. She was the Hero; even before the Emperor and the Pope, a slight bow was enough.
Besides, she was never the type to enjoy complicated formalities.
That was also why, at the end of the great war, she turned down all the noble titles and official positions that were offered to her.
“Hmm, that might be a bit of a problem. Most guests who get to stay at XÄ«long Pavilion are nobles or royalty. Most of them really care about manners, you know.”
Tilly thought for a moment, then clapped her hands lightly.
“But that’s fine! Because we’re greeting the guests in order. When we line up later, you just stand with me. If you run into one of those guests who look like they’re really hard to please, Senior will take them for you! Ah, but if the next person you get is still difficult… then there’s nothing I can do…”
Seeing Tilly like this, memories suddenly welled up in Lian’s heart. When she was first summoned to this world, there had also been an enthusiastic girl who was the first to greet her, warmly helping her adapt to this strange and wonderful world, and to a life she’d never imagined.
“Thank you, Senior Tilly. I’ll be fine. Don’t be fooled by appearances, my learning ability is actually really strong! As long as I observe the details of how you seniors work, I can handle even the guests you mentioned.”
Lian showed Tilly a confident smile.
…
……
…………
“Young Master, it’s her, it has to be her! The evil woman who flipped you over her shoulder in the tavern! You think just changing your hairstyle and clothes means we wouldn’t recognize you?”
“Shh! You idiot, keep your voice down! The place is full of important nobles and officials. Do you want to embarrass the Young Master across the whole continent?”
“Could you two idiots be any louder…?”
Like hell she could handle this!
Lian’s previously confident smile froze. As the greeting work continued smoothly, guests from all over the land arrived one after another.
But as luck would have it, when it was her turn, the people who appeared in front of her were actually old acquaintances.
Weren’t these the guys she’d beaten up when she got drunk in the tavern—a Noble and his henchmen or something…
Wasn’t his name something like Wal…stroom? Were they really high-ranking enough to be invited to stay at XÄ«long Pavilion?
“Ah, ah~ Have I met you gentlemen somewhere before? I don’t remember at all~”
Tilly and Housekeeper Laite, standing to the side, shot her sharp glances, making Lian break into a cold sweat.
Even though her tone was so fake it made her sick, surely in this situation it was better to just deny it, right?
She absolutely had to stay at the manor and couldn’t be kicked out over something like this.
Besides, who would ever suspect that a pitifully innocent new maid could be the same fierce woman who flipped a Noble Young Master over her shoulder?
Uh oh, she was starting to feel nauseous. Disgusted by her own imagination, Lian instinctively held her stomach and lowered her head.
But in the eyes of the arrogant attendants, it looked like she was struggling to keep from laughing.
“This damned shrew, she’s actually laughing? Listen up, our Young Master was going easy on you that day! If he really showed his true skills, you would’ve—”
“Shut up!”
The attendant’s arrogance was cut off by their master.
Behind them, as always covered in gold from head to toe, Young Master Bert’s face was turning beet red as he fought to hold back his shame and anger while greeting Housekeeper Laite.
“I am Bert, heir of the central Walstroom family. I apologize for any trouble I may bring to your estate, and beg your indulgence.”
“Not at all. Young Master Bert and the Walstroom family are the Lady’s distinguished guests. It is our honor at XÄ«long Pavilion to receive you as our guests once again.”
While exchanging pleasantries, Young Master Bert took the opportunity to shoot Lian a dark glare, his eyes saying: “Just wait, I’ll get you for this.”
Lian was about to lose it. She complained inwardly: Why do I always end up hitting the people I shouldn’t? Now, instead of helping Meliya, I’ve only made things more difficult for her…
“Lian, please escort Young Master Bert to his room. You should already know the way.”
“…Yes.”
For now, all she could do was finish her work first. As long as it was for Meliya, so what if she had to suffer a little at his hands?
Besides, she didn’t believe that this guy and his useless gang could really do anything to her.
She was, after all, a maid of Meliya’s manor now.
If he dared disregard even that and try anything underhanded, it would mean he had no respect for Meliya or the dignity of the Duchess at all.
If it came to that, she’d gladly give him another suplex—and this time, it wouldn’t be as “gentle” as when she was drunk.
If nothing else, she’d make sure this arrogant brat couldn’t get out of bed for at least half a month.
While she was thinking about how much force she should use for the next suplex, Tilly, who was supposed to go after her, stepped forward.
Just as she had promised at the beginning, she blocked Lian’s way and said:
“Lian’s only here for her first day. Even if she remembers, it’s not guaranteed she won’t make a mistake finding the room. It wouldn’t be good to slight an honored guest like Young Master Bert. Why don’t I lead the way?”
Tilly looked toward Laite, then flashed a sweet smile at Bert.
Laite had never been very reassured about letting the newly-arrived, possibly even having a grudge with them, Lian handle such an important guest.
Seeing someone volunteer to take her place, he readily agreed.
There was no way Bert could accept this.
His face swelled as if he wanted to object, but seeing the next carriage of guests already arriving behind them, he could only follow Tilly with a dark face.
Lian breathed a sigh of relief.
Though Bert left wearing a “this isn’t over” expression, from the way he’d acted during his exchange with the Housekeeper, it was clear he was doing his best to leave a good impression on the Duchess’s household.
Judging by that, he probably wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for Tilly.
Still, Lian couldn’t help but worry. She was about to ask Housekeeper Laite if she could go instead, when Tilly turned around, winked at her, and flashed a V sign.
Seeing this, Lian could only return the same gesture.
“…You really did lay hands on Young Master Bert in the tavern? Well, never mind, there’s no time to go over the whole story now. But just in case, let me confirm— you haven’t done anything similar to the other visiting distinguished guests, have you?”
Faced with Housekeeper Laite’s grave question, Lian shook her head like a rattle drum.
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