Chapter 7-1

“Addie called for me?”

“Yes, he said that he wanted to convey something and beckoned your presence to his room.”

 

As her maid told her, Mary wondered what this’s about and tilted her neck.

It’s late at night, a period one was prompted to sleep.

But when she queried for his cause her maid knew no more, bidding her good night she dismissed her, Mary donned her jacket and traveled to his room.

 

Albert House’s mansion was extremely vast, therefore had countless employees.

Each of them owned an exclusive room like in dormitories; Addie as well was included in the equation.

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve passed through here.”

 

Muttering to herself, Mary walked inside the servants’ quarter.

When she was little, unable to differentiate the building’s outline, she often knocked any door netted in her sight as a game. Arriving to this place, she’d look after resting servant to play with her…….. Like that she was reminiscing her past.

—- In this era the concept of holiday hasn’t been established. All this time she felt guilty that she had destroyed their precious resting time —

Although as she grew up, she began to memorize the mansion’s structure and refrained herself from intruding anymore.

Of course, it’s not because of their different status, or utterances such as ‘a master who frequents her servants’ living abode’ that changed her mind. As the employers’ daughter she abstained herself from encroaching her servants’ private life.

Among other things, she had professional disposition as an employer, hence she fully realized how presumptuous of her to impinge on their hospitality.

 

While musing about those matters, she stopped her feet in front of a room. It’s Addie’s.

On the simple tea-colored door his name was embossed inside a plate.

Giving it a glimpse, Mary knocked lightly……..

“Enter please!!”

For his gibberish enunciation Mary rounded her eyes.

 

Really, she’d obviously enter inside.

 

Few minutes after she thought so,

“I-I’m sorry to keep you waiting……..”

Mary blew a sigh to Addie who showed his face, she promptly entered his room.

 

Even though it’s a servant dormitory, it’s within Albert House’s mansion.

The size of the room surpassed what typically a standard of a single person could afford, moreover it’s attached with a bathroom each, there’s a kitchen, dining hall and few facilities that were shared among them.

It’s too luxurious to be termed as ‘servant dormitory’, none other house outside would provide these kind of superfluity.

 

“It’s a little messy, but please sits down.”

“Messy you say…….”

 

Was lead to sit on the cushion, Mary scattered her gaze on the room.

It’s relatively a clean and tidy room…………..

 

“Uhm, I’m bothered by ‘he assembled immoral things and enclosed it with a cloth’ mountain there.”

“If you understood, please don’t mention it.”

 

Being targeted by Mary’s piercing stare, Addie…

“I’ll go prepare a beverage, please wait patiently.”

Set off to the kitchen.

Since he desperately emphasized his point, (it must be such things, huh.) ^Mary

As he had highlighted his intention* she decided to obey him, sitting on the cushion Mary sighed……and gently dropped her gaze.

She felt something ominous.

Strictly speaking, her instinct was screaming. It seemed something was hidden beneath the cushion…..being curious about it Mary shifted her weight; she stretched her hand bellow the cushion to confirm it.

 

BAM!!

 

A thundering slam reflex stopped her hand.

 

“The black tea. Is. ready!”

“…………right, thanks”

 

Cue to Addie’s frantic aura, Mary’s reached-out hand veered off from the cushion and directed itself to receive the tea cup.

Well, that established what it entailed about.

As to redeem her from pursuing the detail he offered to prepare some accompaniment snacks, Addie once again

“Please. sit down patiently. without probing anything. and wait quietly.”

Underlined his words and turned back to the kitchen.  His request went up by one, so it’s big chance that they really are those ‘objects’.

“You’re the one who called me here, so you ought to hide immoral things form my sight in advance.”

Well, he’s outside right now so it’s no count. (Albeit it’s inside Albert House’s mansion, this is Addie’s room after all.) ^Mary

 

And then, black tea has been served over the table, complemented by some snacks, it’s a ripe time to start the main topic.

 

“Well, mind explaining why you called me? Normally, you should be the one who come to my room.”

“No way, I can’t possibly visit your room in these hours. There’s a limit to my discourteousness.”

“Eh, you called me for that reason!? It’s literally putting the cart before the horse!”

 

She couldn’t comprehend how his brain works but Addie respectfully dipped his head forward. “My sincerest apology for troubling your honor, Thank you very much”

Losing her momentum to voice out her protest, Mary put her mouth on the tea cup. Certainly, a servant can’t nonchalantly pay a visit to his master’s room. Moreover, Addie is a boy and Mary is a girl. Additionally if it’s in this time of the day, it’d create a misunderstanding beyond a matter about insolence and such.

That being said, saying the opposite wouldn’t do the justice either. Obviously, allowing such conduct while factoring the premise of time and opposite gender, everything could crumble by a careless flurry.

That’s why, Mary…

“Even in the worst case, don’t ever try to do this stupid stance against my father.”

Threatened him, and Addie vehemently shook his head.

 

“That’s impossible! Even I’ve something to discuss about, I can’t allow myself to impose on Danna-sama’s time this late.”

“…………………………….This’s a great opportunity. When we are done, let’s talk carefully regarding the matter which has been adjourned for some times now.”

“Uehh!? No, uhm, anyway let’s dive unto the main topic. After we’ve done with our discussion, we can jump into it as long as there’s time remaining!”

“If your ‘main topic’ is a trifling stuff, I’ll unearth the things hidden beneath the cushion, stripped off the cloth from that mountain, and established the dismissal notice, do note of these as you talk.”

 

To Mary’s threat-like – no, genuine threat – words, Addie responded by laughing dryly.

His poker face stumped her for saying more, thinking back he had always brilliantly changed the subject.

-And again, many problems became more convoluted –

At last he ostensibly willing to discuss it now, as to imply it Addie cleared his throat and met Mary’s orbs.

He has a somber expression unlike the unfaithful-servant impression he had a moment ago, occasionally – a really seldom occurrence – he displayed a gallant and man-like mien.

 

“Ojou, please answer honestly. Why’d you be so eager to personify a villainous character?”

“Obviously, it’s because I’m Mary Albert. I live as a villain and meet my destruction end.”

“No, you’re not a frothy person who will move for such insignificant cause, you’re not suited to be a villain.”

“Oh dear, not suited to be a villain you said so I’m a holy woman?”

“No, by any means, not even an iota, not in the slightest bit I’ve thought about it.”

“A-an instant denial!!”

 

‘You should humor me even for a bit!’ Whereas Mary carped so, Addie faked a cough again. His fake cough was perhaps his fashion of saying ‘It’s useless to divert me by jesting around.’

Understanding his gesture, Mary resigned herself with a sigh. Usually if there’s issue veiled in the dark, one or two prevaricating jokes would do the magic, but apparently Addie won’t be beguiled today.

(Well then should I candidly confess?), Mary gulped her Black Tea in a gush.  As she swallowed the liquid, the mild sweetness and fruity aroma gushed inside her mouth, it’d keep her throat moisten for her long speech.

 

“If you insisted to that extend I’ll tell you. From the start I had zilch interest to be a villainous lady.”

 

For Mary’s forthright exclamation, Addie knowingly nodded (as I expected) ^Addie.

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*釘を刺された = stabbed with a nail, it’s an idiom that I changed into its literal meaning.

Sorry, this chapter was way overdue because of RL assignments and tests. I’ll try to catch up when I’ve more time, mind you this is a product of procrastination before the due-date of my assignment so yeah…………