Chapter 25 : Later
The morning sun crept through the window, and Ailiya awoke to the crisp chirping of birds.
She didn’t rise immediately, lingering in bed, savoring the serene melody of the dawn.
It had been ages since she felt such unburdened ease.
Getting up, she walked to the window and pushed it open. A fresh breeze, laced with the scent of grass and dew, rushed in.
Closing her eyes, Ailiya took a deep breath, feeling the gloom and tension of recent days dissipate with her exhale.
Back in her room, she gathered yesterday’s wrinkled casual clothes and headed to the servant dorm’s small but pristine communal laundry room.
Humming a tuneless ditty, she washed each piece, wrung them out, and placed them in a basket to carry back, hanging them on her tiny balcony.
She picked up a delicate lace-trimmed undergarment, glanced around shyly to ensure no one was watching, and quickly hung it up.
With that done, Ailiya spent some time restoring her chaotic room.
Books were neatly reshelved, her blanket folded squarely, the floor scrubbed spotless.
Hands on hips, she nodded, pleased with her rejuvenated little haven.
Last night, Clarissa and her group’s vicious, scheming words had been broadcast live across the noble dorms via Ailiya’s magical microphone.
The uproar was seismic.
Rumor had it that several noble parents rushed to the academy overnight, and the board of trustees was in an uproar, turning St. Freya into chaos.
But Ailiya felt detached from it all.
No matter how they’re punished, it won’t fall on a lowly maid like me, right?
Though… I might get fined or confined for disturbing academy order.
While still suspended pending the academy’s verdict, Ailiya saw it as a blessing—more time to practice magic.
Yesterday, she’d spent the entire day refining her Flame Arrow spell, using the method Prince Leon and Lady Liliane had inadvertently “demonstrated.”
Fueled by last night’s raw anger, she’d unleashed a truly powerful Flame Arrow.
Recalling how she’d knocked out Clarissa with a single punch, Ailiya grinned smugly.
“I’m pretty awesome!”
Muttering to herself, she mimicked last night’s pose, throwing a few dashing right jabs at the air.
Just then—
“Ailiya! I’m coming in!”
The dorm door burst open.
Ailiya’s perfectly aimed, spirited punch connected solidly with the hard door.
“Ow!”
A piercing yelp escaped her as she clutched her instantly swollen hand, rolling on the carpet in pain.
Aurora peeked from behind the door, looking innocent: “Uh… I didn’t mean to…”
Aurora was there to relay a message from the vice principal.
“Melissa wants you in her office now.”
Ailiya, pocketing the villa-priced compass and the invaluable microphone, headed to the vice principal’s office.
She knocked on the ebony door.
“Vice Principal, it’s Ailiya.”
“Come in.”
Ailiya entered.
Melissa sat behind her grand desk, legs elegantly crossed, a teasing smile on her face: “Nice work last night, Ailiya. This morning, the news club rushed to tell me they’ve got enough for three front-page headlines.”
Blushing, Ailiya gently placed the compass and microphone on the desk.
“Thank you so much for your support, Vice Principal.”
The microphone was something she’d begged for, clinging to Melissa’s leg and pleading dramatically.
“No big deal,” Melissa chuckled. “When someone’s kneeling, dragging my leg, and nearly wiping snot on my new robe, it’s hard to say no.”
Ailiya laughed awkwardly, quickly changing the subject: “Um… any word on Clarissa and the others’ punishment?”
“Not yet,” Melissa said, her smile fading. “Too many noble families are involved—barons to viscounts, some with significant regional influence. The academy needs time to handle it.”
She paused, adding: “And those rumors about you? Their impact lingers. Be careful. Once rumors start, they’re hard to kill.”
“Congratulations, Ailiya. From being Lady Liliane’s maid to the ‘Justice Fist Punishing Wicked Nobles’ saga, you’re once again the target of every noble girl’s ire.”
Ailiya couldn’t muster a smile.
“Will their families come after me?” she asked nervously.
“Very likely,” Melissa said bluntly. “Some are only daughters, sent here to be polished at the nation’s top academy, only to be ruined by a country maid. Who could swallow that?”
I’ll need to watch for ambushes on the road, Ailiya thought.
And the entrance exam’s tomorrow…
Why, after solving one problem, do I feel like I have more to do?!
Seeing Ailiya’s frantic expression, Melissa said: “No need to worry about attacks for now, though.”
Ailiya froze, confused. “Why not?”
“She told me not to tell anyone,” Melissa’s tone softened, “but I think you deserve to know.”
She pulled a file from her drawer and slid it to Ailiya.
“Those noble families’ retaliations? Liliane’s taken care of them all for you.”
Ailiya stared, stunned, flipping through the file.
It detailed how Liliane von Winter, as the Winter family heir, had spent last night into early morning pressuring, negotiating, and even trading favors with the families planning to retaliate against Ailiya, quietly neutralizing every threat against her maid.
To protect a lowly maid, Liliane had gone all out.
Ailiya’s mind went blank. She never imagined the cold figure who’d turned away had done so much behind her back.
“That girl,” Melissa said, watching Ailiya’s shock, “seems cold, but she’s got a warm side.”
Ailiya was silent for a long moment before muttering: “…Just a sharp tongue.”
“Indeed,” Melissa agreed, “just a sharp tongue.”
Ailiya left the office feeling lighter.
Lost in thought about whether to head to the training grounds or review books, she accidentally bumped into someone’s shoulder.
“Oh, sorry!” she apologized, looking up.
There was Liliane’s familiar, ever-stoic face.
Liliane glanced at her, not mocking her clumsiness as usual, but simply said in her cool voice: “Focus on tomorrow’s exam.”
Then she walked past.
…Her tongue’s not that sharp sometimes, Ailiya thought, watching Liliane’s proud, upright back.