THNWO 06

Chapter 6: Entry Number One – Target: Vaizen (3)

As I trembled, half-collapsed in my maid uniform, Lucy finally spat out her closing line.

“I won’t forgive you if you go any further!”

“…Pfft!”

I collapsed on the floor, bursting into laughter.

“Ahahaha—hahaha!”

The beautiful new maid who everyone thought had been crying suddenly flopped down and started laughing like a madwoman. The eyes of the onlookers around us slowly began to change.

The longer I laughed, the colder their stares became.

But laughter isn’t something that can be stopped easily. I figured I might as well laugh it out and started pounding the floor as I howled.

“Whew—almost died laughing—”

Only after I’d laughed until my stomach hurt could I finally wipe away the tears at the corners of my eyes and catch my breath.

Even now, just looking at Nalla and Lucy made me want to crack up again, but I’d laughed enough to bear it… for now.

And if I kept laughing any longer, they really might treat me like I was insane, so I had to rein it in.

Nalla had already backed away by at least two steps, eyeing me warily.

Geez, why does this woman look like a gangster even when she’s scared? I can’t focus—she’s too funny.

“I’m sorry. I guess… pfft—maybe I did mess up your makeup a bit.”

“Y-yeah! It’s your fault!”

“So how about forgiving your poor junior, kind senior?”

“Why should I—d-don’t come any closer!”

I merely approached her with a smile, but Nalla flinched and stepped back in fear.

I’m not actually crazy, okay? Why are you so scared? You’re making me look like the weirdo here.

When I glanced at Annie and Lucy as if asking, What is happening?, they, too, had taken a cautious step back.

Hey… Shouldn’t I be the one hurt by this?

I patted my skirt in silent sulkiness and picked up the tray. I could feel the other servants flinch all around me.

Even Stra, standing far away, didn’t look pleased.

Fine! I’m the crazy girl in this corner of the estate! So what! You got a problem!?

“Looks like the meal’s just about over. Are you two staying here all day, Annie, Lucy?”

I tilted my head as if saying You’d better comfort my broken heart, and Lucy responded first, nodding and walking toward me.

“Just clean up the dishes and follow the head maid’s instructions.”

“You three, clean up and come out when you’re done,” Stra added, catching on to the mood and responding appropriately.

Annie stood frozen, not even noticing the dollop of potato salad on her cheek.

“Let’s go, Annie-sunbae.”

“Huh? Oh, r-right, Queenie.”

After calling Annie, I walked over to the dish return station and placed my tray.

Before heading to Stra, I glanced behind me—the atmosphere was still sour.

“Odelia-nim.”

Just as I was wondering whether I should wave to lighten the mood, Lucy sidled up and called me.

How could a title like “Miss” sound so much like a warning?

Stra beckoned us from the far end of the hallway after we exited the dining room. Was it just me, or did she seem way too eager to get rid of me?

I let my eyes glisten with fake tears, but no one looked even remotely sympathetic.

Damn. So much for having a pretty face.

“You promised you’d behave, Lady Odelia.”

Stra sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose the moment we were out of the dining room.

“Sorry.”

“If you’d just acted like a pitiful maid and left quietly, it would’ve ended as a minor incident.”

“But it got so dramatic, I couldn’t help myself—wait, wasn’t it funny? Was it really just me?”

“To be honest, it was kinda scary,” Stra muttered.

“Same here,” Lucy added, and Annie nodded in agreement.

Scary? Me? Seriously?

I cupped my cheeks in disbelief, but the three of them paid me no mind.

Guys… you know you’re being way too harsh lately, right?

Stra pretended not to notice my resentful glare and just sighed. Clearly, she didn’t plan to keep arguing over something already done.

“If you’ve had your fun, head back to your room now. Lucy, Annie—prepare the young lady’s bath—”

“Huh? I don’t have to work?”

“…The marquess’s daughter does not work. Please go rest… thoroughly.”

Stra spoke with the gentlest tone, but her eyes were cold. Real cold. I think I just got cursed out with her eyes. Didn’t even know that was possible until now.

Unwilling to let the fun end, I clung to Stra’s arm and begged.

“Let me play just a little longer.”

“No.”

“Then somewhere no one else is.”

“…Still no.”

“I won’t cause trouble. I’m a great worker—”

“No means no—”

“Stra Just one hour, pleaaase?”

“……”

Stra finally gave in, holding her head like she was about to explode.

With a deep breath, she suppressed what was clearly rising fury.

“Then go to the stables. It’s hard work, but really, there’s no one there. Lucy, Annie, you go too.”

Stra emphasized “really” and shot Lucy and Annie a sharp look that clearly said, Don’t think you’re innocent in this either. You’re responsible, too!

Both girls looked like they were about to cry. My poor, loyal maids. I’d have to make sure they got bonuses later.

“When you’re done, head straight back to your room. Can you promise me that?”

“Yup!”

I gave her a quick salute and detached from her arm. Any more pushing and poor Stra might faint from high blood pressure.

She left to assign duties to the rest of the servants.

“Shall we get going, then?”

“Yup! Are there horses in the stable? I’m so excited.”

“Milady… maybe don’t talk. Please…”

Following behind Annie and Lucy, who looked oddly droopy, we reached a broad clearing.

After exiting through the mansion’s back door and walking for about ten minutes, the trees gave way to a wide, open path. There wasn’t a soul in sight, and the silence was strangely refreshing.

In the middle of the grassy field stood a stable with two large horses. Only two? I expected more from a noble house.

“This stable is for the master’s prized steeds,” said Lucy.

“Those two are the prized horses?”

“Yes. The smaller one is the foal of the bigger one, which belonged to the previous marquess.”

“…I see.”

Hearing about my father made my body freeze. Even in a place I came to escape, thoughts of Vaizen lingered. Feeling foolish, I quickly rolled up my sleeves.

“So, what do we do?”

“Clean the stable and tend to the horses. Milady can sit and rest over there.”

“No way. I’m helping, too.”

Annie and Lucy immediately shook their heads.

“It’s not work fit for a lady.”

“Besides, that mare is vicious!”

“It’s fine. I just don’t want to sit and stew in my thoughts. Moving helps. Come on, let’s clean the stable. Annie, can you tie the horses outside for a bit?”

I walked into the stable, ignoring their protests.

Thankfully, maybe because of Odelia’s “beloved by all” setting, the supposedly vicious mare stayed calm around me.

While Annie fumbled with the horse, I led it out and tied it to a post, then grabbed a rake and began clearing out the manure-stained hay.

“Milady, where did you learn to do this?” Annie asked.

For a moment, I recalled my past. I’d done many part-time jobs to survive. One of them was working at a zoo—cleaning pens for large herbivores. Compared to that, this was nothing.

I shrugged, sniffing at the pungent scent of manure.

“I didn’t. Just doing what needs to be done.”

I cleared out the rest of the waste and laid down a fresh bed of straw—clean and soft enough that I could’ve napped on it.

Honestly, kind of a waste to give to horses. Maybe they sensed that thought, because the big one neighed loudly outside.

“Inside’s done. How’s it going out there?”

“Just need to clean up the tools.”

“Then I’ll brush their coats while I wait.”

I picked up a horse brush and held it up, and Annie whined.

“Can’t we take a short break? We just finished cleaning…”

She dropped onto the grass, clearly exhausted. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon.

Stra did say to return by sunset. Time to wrap it up.

“Let’s put the horses back and head out. The sun’s setting.”

Annie brightened and practically skipped as she brought the horses back in. Even when the foal resisted, she just smiled. Must’ve been a rough day.

Once the horses were secured, we sat on the ground to rest.

“It’s all thanks to you, milady. We’d never have finished this much without you.”

“You two helped, too. Great job.”

“But seriously, where did you learn all this?”

Their admiring eyes reminded me of a voice from the past:

‘Sis, how’d you learn to do this?’

‘You’re amazing, noona!’

Voices of my little siblings, crushed under a violent father and an indifferent mother. The pain from burns and cuts disappeared in the face of those voices.

And now, Lucy and Annie looked at me just like them. I smiled softly and lay back on the grass.

“I’m a superhero. There’s nothing I can’t do.”

They gave me confused looks. Oh right—this world probably doesn’t have superheroes.

As the word “siblings” crossed my mind, so did Vaizen’s face.

I sorted the words swirling on my tongue.

Odelia. Vaizen. Siblings.

The idea felt oddly fitting, even familiar. Maybe, just maybe, if I could create the right setting, they could become a real family.

If Vaizen stayed by Odelia’s side like a true brother while she regained herself, maybe she could find happiness sooner.

But how?

He’s still the male lead of The Gentle Handed Prince, after all. What should I do?

“Time to go. The sun’s—”

“Odelia!”

As I stood up to leave, deep in thought, I saw a familiar figure.

Vaizen.

Storming up the path with an angry face.

“What have you been doing here this whole time?!”

Seriously? You’re the one who ran off first. Why act like this now?

His eyes blazed as he stood in front of me.

“How dare you wander off without my permission?!”

I plugged my ears at his shouting. I’ve got legs and arms, why shouldn’t I go places? Not that I’d say that out loud. I like having limbs.

“Oppa, are you… worried about me?”

“Ha!”

Vaizen scowled at the word “worried.” Then, without another word, he grabbed my arm.

“Hey, that hurts!”

“You’ve been doing peasant work this whole time—of course you’re in pain. Come on!”

He yanked me forward with such force I nearly fell, but he didn’t even look back.

“Let go! What am I, your pet?!”

“If you were, I could at least keep you on a leash.”

He growled the words, then dragged me along faster.

When I tripped and fell to my knees, he barely reacted.

“Ugh…”

Good thing the ground was soft grass. A rock would’ve drawn blood.

“…Get up.”

“Can’t you see I fell? Just give me a—”

“I don’t see anything.”

He showed zero sympathy as he hauled me to my feet again.

“Hey!!”

I finally snapped and kicked him in the butt.

A solid whack echoed through the clearing—no one would believe it came from Odelia’s dainty leg.

As I clapped a hand over my mouth in surprise, Vaizen turned around, eyes wide.

“Y-you—”

He stepped back in shock, releasing my arm.

As I rolled my shoulders, I finally saw him clearly—not threatening, just flustered.

A startled face. A hesitant posture.

And in that moment, an idea struck me like lightning.

“Oppa, I just had a really fun idea. Want to hear it?”

“W-what kind of idea…?”

Sensing danger, Vaizen began backing away like he was trying to protect himself. Honestly, that just made me want to tease him more.

I took a step forward with a mischievous grin.

“Oppa, I really don’t like people touching me without permission. You know that, right?”

“M-maybe?”

One step back for him, two steps forward for me.

And then, like a starting bell, I said—

“Guess I’ll teach you, then!”

Vaizen went sprinting across the field like his life depended on it.

Even while running, he was frantically buttoning up his shirt—it was hilarious.

I heard somewhere that younger sisters help older brothers grow up faster, especially if the sister’s a bit of a nutcase.

Oppa! Let’s play!!