Chapter 36 : Preparation
After the negotiation, Ailiya trailed Liliane through more grueling tasks—proofreading a fifty-page legal document on ancient forbidden magic and attending an online meeting with the Alchemical Society.
By the time they returned to the gilded carriage, Ailiya’s soul felt drained dry.
She collapsed onto the plush velvet cushions like a melted slime, too exhausted to move a finger.
Outside, the capital’s vibrant nightlife streaked by, but it failed to spark her interest.
The carriage rolled into a sprawling estate, stopping before a massive black iron gate adorned with winter wolf carvings.
A servant respectfully opened the door, and Liliane stepped out, poised as if she’d merely strolled through a garden, not endured a day of intense mental labor.
Ailiya, lifting heavy eyelids, gazed at the radiant figure in the moonlight.
It’s 11 p.m., and this woman… doesn’t she ever tire?
With a deep breath and her last ounce of strength, Ailiya dragged her numb legs out, standing shakily beside Liliane like a freshly minted robot.
Liliane glanced at Ailiya’s trembling legs, a faint smile curving her lips. “Ailiya, any tasks left?”
Ailiya shook her head mechanically, her voice hoarse. “…None.”
Thank goodness… today’s finally over without any major disasters…
Just as she thought she could clock out, Liliane waved her hand, and a dozen scorecards materialized, floating neatly like a deck of cards.
“Five minutes,” Liliane said lightly, handing them over as if assigning homework. “Calculate your average score and tell me. Your final task.”
In the morning, Ailiya would’ve wailed internally about this vampire’s heartlessness.
But after a day of relentless pressure, she was numb to it.
No point resisting—better finish fast and be done.
Expressionless, Ailiya pulled out her trusty pen, grabbed a scorecard’s blank back, and calculated under the estate’s magical lamplight.
The early scores were dismal, the “-10” glaring painfully.
But her workplace-honed resilience and adaptability had pulled later scores up.
Liliane stood regally, hands clasped, watching Ailiya with a playful smile.
In under three minutes, Ailiya scribbled the final result and held it up, her voice tinged with relief. “Eighty-one!”
Another day narrowly passing!
Liliane glanced at the paper and nodded. “Correct.”
She paused, then added, “But you didn’t pass.”
“Why?!” Ailiya’s fleeting hope was doused in ice water.
Liliane’s violet eyes, deep in the night, pinned her. “Do you remember what you did this morning?”
What I did?
Ailiya’s heart sank, her mind racing.
Did I mutter capitalist, demon, vampire, robot behind her back? Does she have mind-reading powers?!
Or… did she catch me sneaking a sip of her tea during the meeting? No, I covered that perfectly!
As Ailiya’s thoughts spiraled, Liliane’s cool voice cut through. “That schedule—did you really memorize it?”
Ailiya froze, her face draining of color, eyes darting nervously.
“O-Of course!” she stammered. “How else could I do it?”
Liliane said nothing, raising her right hand. Between her slender fingers was a sweat-crumpled scrap of paper.
Ailiya’s pupils shrank. She fumbled at her maid uniform’s inner pocket—empty.
When did she take it?!
“Loyalty is the cornerstone of the master-maid bond,” Liliane said, her voice calm but commanding. “Whatever tricks you use, you must confess them to your master.”
Ailiya was speechless, hanging her head in shame.
“Average score, minus ten,” Liliane declared. “Your final score: seventy-one.”
She handed back the paper. Ailiya saw the “81” had vanished, replaced by a cold, magically etched “71.”
“Failed.”
“…I’m sorry,” Ailiya mumbled, genuinely contrite.
Seeing her dejected, sincere remorse, Liliane’s tone softened. “Given your honest apology and no major errors today, I’ll let it slide.”
She smiled. “Keep the scorecard as a memento of your first day as a maid. Next time, pass.”
With the day’s work done, the tense master-servant dynamic eased.
“The driver will take you back to the academy,” Liliane said, turning to the carriage. “The capital’s been restless lately. A girl alone at night should stay safe.”
“Huh?” Ailiya’s head snapped up, her expression comically exaggerated with shock. “L-Lady Liliane… actually cares about someone?! Did the sun rise in the west?!”
Liliane sighed, her calm violet eyes fixed on Ailiya.
That gaze snuffed out Ailiya’s fleeting bravado. She lowered her head, muttering, “…Sorry again.”
The driver safely returned Ailiya to St. Freya’s dormitory.
As she entered, she spotted a familiar figure.
Aurora was grunting, lugging a half-human-sized crate toward her dorm.
“Hey, what’re you doing this late?” Ailiya called, grabbing the crate’s other end.
“Wah, Ailiya! You’re back!” Aurora’s eyes lit up. “Help me out!”
They hauled the crate into her room. Ailiya peeked inside—jars, bizarre magical tools, suspicious ropes, and talismans.
“What’s with all this weird stuff? Planning a dungeon raid?”
“The St. Ross and St. Freya joint ball is coming!” Aurora said, wiping sweat, her tone deadly serious. “I need to be ready for any surprises. No slacking on vigilance!”
Ailiya blinked. “When’s this ball?”
Aurora grinned mysteriously, raising a finger. “Tomorrow, we’ll get an urgent notice to gather in class. The teacher will announce the ball’s date.”
She turned to the moonlit window, her green eyes gleaming with anticipation and resolve. “Everything hinges on tomorrow.”