Chapter 68

# 68

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"Hey, you two!"

The maids, who hadn't even noticed Minerva's presence, raised their eyebrows and glanced at her when she suddenly called out to them.

"What is it?"

Minerva swallowed hard.

"Y-You need to be shown to your rooms, right? I-I'll show you."

Minerva didn't have the courage to stand up to them.

But she didn't want to leave these people, who seemed to be treating Nabiya rudely, here.

'Lady is strong, but she's still young.'

Young children need to be protected by adults.

'I'm an adult, after all.'

Minerva tried to look stronger by tensing her eyes.

But her eyes were drooping, and her body was stiff, clearly showing her nervousness.

The maids looked Minerva up and down and smirked.

"Is it you? Fine, then."

Nabiya watched them for a moment before speaking to Minerva.

"Margaret will be here soon, but it's okay if you don't have to do this, Minerva."

But Minerva shook her head with a determined look.

"I'll do it."

Her voice came out quite firm.

'Good. I can do this.'

Minerva stood up resolutely and took the lead.

"Follow me."

The maids exchanged glances and smirked again.

Nabiya watched the scene with a blank expression.

'Is it okay to just let her?'

To her, these maids seemed like the type who would bully weaker people.

It was fine if they tried to bully her.

After all, even considerable torment didn't affect her much.

"I'll go check."

But Minerva's determined gaze made it impossible to stop her.

Nabiya had to nod.

Yes, she's an adult, so it should be fine.

Click.

Minerva's steps were a bit stiff with tension, but she was radiating unprecedented courage.

All of this was due to Nabiya's influence.

Nabiya seemed to be good at finding people's weaknesses and using them to her advantage in negotiations.

Despite being only eight years old, she seemed more mature and sharp than Minerva.

However, the moment Nabiya asked for help, she looked infinitely small and weak.

Ironically, it was precisely at that moment that she looked the strongest.

Showing weakness.

Seeking help from others.

That, too, was a form of courage.

Infected by that courage, Minerva led the maids, who were so difficult to deal with, to their rooms.

"Here, this is it."

The maids opened the door to their room.

The place was already dark, and the black furniture inside made it even more unsettling.

"Can't we use white sheets? Why black?"

"Ah... They were all originally white sheets."

"Then... they turned black on their own?"

The maids were shocked.

They thought the black furniture and bedding were made by the lord's eccentric taste, but now they were told they turned black on their own?

"Most materials, except gold, turn black. But... other than that, they're fine..."

The maids shivered and felt a chill.

"Ugh, I really don't like it."

"…!"

Minerva's face hardened in surprise, and Sylene, who was particularly afraid of such things, tried to justify it.

"It's a bit scary, isn't it? What if it affects people?"

Minerva knew this place looked scary and ominous on the surface.

But to her, it was a precious place.

It was a home where she, who had been abandoned as a weirdo, could feel safe.

"Why are you saying that without checking the facts?"

Minerva was a bit angry.

Because of this, she could question them without stammering as much as usual.

"You're going to work here... If baseless rumors spread, can you take responsibility?"

The maids looked at Minerva coldly and expressionlessly.

Minerva felt a bit suffocated.

That expression and gaze were familiar but also frightening.

Then, Beni smiled.

"You're right. I'll be careful!"

The tension suddenly dissipated.

'...It seems they're not as unreasonable as I thought.'

Phew... That's a relief.

Minerva nodded with a relieved expression, feeling drained.

"Yes. Then... r-rest well."

She bowed her head and turned to leave.

Thud!

"…!"

Something caught her foot, causing her to stumble and fall backward.

Minerva landed hard on the floor.

"Ouch!"

Falling onto the stone floor left her body feeling like it was shattered.

Her glasses, which were hanging from her nose, fell off and rolled on the floor.

"Ha ha!"

The sound of laughter from above made Minerva stop groaning.

Crack!

The glasses next to her face were crushed under a foot.

"Oh, that was a mistake."

"Ha ha!"

The same foot then stepped on her disheveled hair.

"Oh, that was a mistake too."

"Ha ha ha!"

Minerva stared at the foot, unable to move.

"Stupid Minerva! It's okay to bully her. She can't say anything."

"Freak. Weirdo. Monster! Wow, she's really just lying there? ...How about this?"

"Ha ha! Hey, hit her more."

She couldn't breathe.

Cruel memories she had tried to suppress kept resurfacing.

"Why are you a teacher? You're so useless."

"Minerva... What did you say? Anyway, you know you have to keep your mouth shut. If we get in trouble, you will too. Please be careful."

"Ha, let's go in."

Minerva lay on the floor, trembling all over, until the maids slammed the door and went inside.

She hadn't changed at all from when she was a child.

'I just want to die like this.'

"Minerva."

She flinched.

A calm voice called her name.

Minerva lifted her head, her eyes trembling.

A small hand appeared in her blurry vision.

She saw a hand covered in bruises. Her gaze followed the arm up to the face.

Nabiya was kneeling, silently offering her hand.

Minerva couldn't bring herself to take it and instead pressed her forehead to the floor.

She had tried to help, but ended up revealing her pathetic side.

'I'm pathetic. Why am I like this? Stupid and useless. I just want to die like this...'

"Sniff... Sniff... Sniff..."

She bit her lip until it bled, trying to suppress her sobs.

If the maids heard her crying, they would surely torment her even more.

She had experienced this pattern many times.

Then, a calm voice whispered in her ear.

"Embarrassing, isn't it?"

Startle!

"You must want to die."

"..."

"I did too."

Minerva clamped her mouth shut.

This time, a scream-like sob almost escaped.

"Let's go back to the room."

The tone in which Nabiya spoke wasn't particularly affectionate.

She didn't try to comfort her.

Nabiya just waited calmly and patiently.

Minerva found comfort in this dryness.

It made her feel like this was just a minor incident, something that could happen in life.

She felt like she wasn't a freak or a weirdo, but just a normal person.

Minerva wiped her tears and, though she wobbled, stood up with surprising composure.

"Let's go."

Nod.

They walked together, holding hands.

Both limping, they took one step, then another.

Strangely, Minerva didn't feel pitiful.

Perhaps it was the warmth from the hand she held that seemed to say, "You did well."

When they returned to the room, Margaret was waiting inside.

"Minerva!"

Margaret was shocked to see Minerva, whose hair was disheveled, glasses gone, and even limping.

Nabiya said,

"Minerva fell."

Minerva was grateful that Nabiya only said she fell.

Margaret looked between the two, sensing something more, but silently helped Minerva sit in a chair.