Chapter 64: Maid’s Work

A Single Dorm Room.

The student dormitories at Oselenka Magic Academy were divided into single and double rooms.

Single rooms were more expensive and were usually preferred by those who enjoyed peace and quiet or hailed from noble families of high status.

Ellaria’s room was such a single dorm.

The interior was fairly spacious, decorated mainly in warm tones. By the window stood a single bed covered with a soft velvet bedspread.

Next to it was a wooden desk neatly arranged with several heavy Magic Codex volumes and some exquisite feather quills.

There was a sofa.

In one corner against the wall stood a small dressing table inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and on the other side was a small fireplace alongside a set of comfortably looking armchairs.

The entire room was clean and tidy, with a faint elegant aroma lingering in the air—befitting her status and taste as a princess of the empire.

At that moment, Ellaria was lazily sunk into the sofa, holding an open book on magical theory in her hands. Her golden hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders.

She appeared to be reading, but her gaze was distant, her thoughts drifting somewhere far away.

“Knock knock—” A light knock on the door interrupted her daydreaming.

“Come in, the door isn’t locked.”

Ellaria didn’t lift her head as she replied calmly. She didn’t give it much thought, assuming it was one of the students who had come to apply for the temporary maid position she’d advertised earlier.

Her original maid had resigned due to family matters, so she had to find a replacement for the time being.

However, her demands for a maid were actually quite simple: running errands to buy the latest sweets from the capital, borrowing and returning books at the library, and occasionally tidying the dorm.

Nothing too strenuous.

Especially… the task of borrowing and returning books at the library was particularly important. The very thought of the library made Ellaria’s heart skip a beat.

Because… because Professor Sefina was often there. Whenever she thought of that petite yet commanding teacher, Ellaria felt her usual poised and aloof princess demeanor start to crack.

It wasn’t fear so much as the lingering embarrassment from the last “eye-patch misunderstanding” incident, which had left her unsure how to naturally face Sefina again.

Creak— The door was gently pushed open.

Kefi entered, looking a bit shy and reserved, her hands nervously twisted before her. She lowered her head slightly and introduced herself in a soft voice:

“…Your Highness, h-hello. I… I’m here to apply for the maid position. I’m Kefi.”

Upon hearing the voice, Ellaria immediately sat upright on the sofa. The brief moment of relaxation vanished, replaced by her usual restrained and somewhat distant princess composure.

She recognized Kefi—the quiet, unassuming brown-haired girl who usually went unnoticed in class but had surprisingly shown resilience and potential in the dueling arena.

Ellaria held a favorable impression of her.

“Hm.” Ellaria nodded slightly in response.

Seeing that the princess remained as cold as ever, Kefi’s nervousness only deepened. Her mind raced:

Does the princess dislike someone with my personality? Or am I too timid and unworthy?

Yet Ellaria paid no attention to Kefi’s inner turmoil and simply stated the maid duties succinctly:

“The main task as a maid is to help me borrow and return books at the library daily. Sometimes, you might need to go to the market street or even further to buy sweets or other things I require.”

“Also, roughly once a week, you’ll tidy the dorm. Can you handle these?”

She lifted her emerald eyes to look at Kefi.

Kefi blinked and carefully considered the tasks.

This… sounds quite easy?

Being the princess’s maid is actually this relaxed?

Moreover, Princess Ellaria offered a generous weekly wage, which was extremely appealing to Kefi, who needed some spending money.

“I can! No problem!” Kefi immediately nodded vigorously, afraid the chance might slip away.

Seeing this, Ellaria decisively said, “Good, you’re hired.”

“Eh? Really? Thank you, Your Highness!” Kefi was both surprised and delighted, her face breaking into a relieved smile.

It seemed that although the princess appeared cold on the outside, she was much easier to talk to than expected!

In her excitement, Kefi hesitated and quietly asked:

“Um… Your Highness, do I need to wear a maid uniform when working?”

Ellaria waved her hand carelessly, “Whatever you want. Wear it or not, I don’t mind.” She herself didn’t care much for such formalities.

“Alright, understood.” Kefi nodded.

Clearing her throat, Ellaria prepared to announce the first specific task:

“Then your first job will be to help clean—”

Before she could finish, a small yet undeniably commanding figure suddenly appeared at the doorway and, because the door was left open, walked straight in.

The visitor was—

Professor Sefina!

The moment Ellaria saw that familiar delicate face, she froze on the sofa as if struck by a freezing spell.

Her normally pale cheeks flushed vividly red, spreading all the way to her ears.

T-Teacher… how could she be here?!

Sefina had been hurrying along, asking passing students for directions and had only just confirmed that Kefi had entered this dorm room in the building.

Seeing Ellaria here, she immediately understood—

So the princess was the one recruiting a maid. She had just been overly worried and caused a misunderstanding.

“Professor Sefina?! What are you doing here?” Kefi also exclaimed in surprise.

Sefina took a light breath, the short run still taking its toll on her petite frame. Her face remained calm, but her tone was gentle as she explained:

“It’s nothing. It was my misunderstanding. I heard you were working as a maid for someone and worried you might encounter an unscrupulous employer, so I came to check on you.”

Only then did Kefi realize and feel a warm surge in her heart. She quickly replied, “Thank you for your concern, Professor! I didn’t explain clearly and caused you to worry.”

Sefina shook her head. “No worries. I was just overthinking.”

However, her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the golden-haired princess who had been silent since her arrival, deliberately avoiding eye contact as if trying to shrink into the corner of the sofa.

Seeing Ellaria’s obvious attempts to “avoid” her, Sefina’s feelings of guilt resurfaced.

She thought quietly to herself that perhaps now was an opportunity.

Instead of letting this awkwardness linger between them, she might as well take this chance to sincerely apologize and clear the air.

Taking a deep breath, her wine-red eyes fixed seriously on Ellaria as she took a small step forward.