CH 14

[Author note: Melisa's POV is written like a synopsis. It doesnt matter much even if you don't read it.]

For a long time, I, Melisa, have been Miriella Ojou-sama's maid.

As soon as I entered the Duke of Fowders household, I was given that role, but to be honest, at that point, I wanted to go back to my parents' house.

The reason the bowl came around to me was because the previous maid cried and complained that she wanted to quit. And so, I have come to terms with the fact that it's a tough job to be a maid of Miriella Ojou-sama.

As soon as it started, I learned that being Miriella Ojou-sama's maid, one needs to be very patient. Ojou-sama was only seven years old at the time, but she was already called a 'tyrant' behind her back. I was terrified of when I would be told that I was fired while I was doing my daily duties.

However, something big happened to Ojou-sama.

Leon-sama, who had been withdrawn, a shut-in, until then, had undergone a transformation. Speaking of Leon-sama, he is Ojou-sama's uncle-in-law, and I had never seen him before because he had been shut up in his room for many years. Leon-sama suddenly stopped being a shut-in and started interacting with Ojou-sama.

At that time, Leon-sama told Ojou-sama a strange story. I couldn't believe it when I heard that Ojou-sama was going to be imprisoned, but Ojou-sama immediately believed it.

And Leon-sama was the first to scold such Ojou-sama who was a tyrant.

I will never forget the shock I felt at that time.

Shocked, Ojou-sama asked me and another maid, Maille, "Do you like romance novels?" At that time, I could not understand why such a question was asked. After a while, when I asked Ojou-sama what she meant

"When I found out that both of you read my favorite romance novels, I thought you two are the same girl as me. I thought that Melisa and Maille were just as jittery and excited as I was when reading those books."

Like so, she answered.

I'm sure Ojou-sama didn't expect her servants to be as happy and sad as she was.

Since then, Ojou-sama has enjoyed talking about romance novels with us, and has even introduced us to recommended books. Maille, the maid who changed from being with Leon-sama to being with Ojou-sama, was surprisingly talkative when it came to talking about it.

At the same time as Leon-sama's transformation, Leon-sama and Ojou-sama began to have their own secrets. It is a secret such as "Leon-sama is a reincarnation of someone who lived in another world". I don't know the details, but the one whom are aware of this is only Maille and I, and Leon-sama's close attendant Bert. However, this is a secret between the two of them, as the attendants and maids who basically serve their masters will not divulge their secrets unless there is an extreme reason.

The little lady interacted with Leon-sama and gradually changed into an obedient and lovely young lady. She exchanged greetings with all the servants, including us, and began to talk a lot. On the other hand, I think that the servants were puzzled for quite a while by the change, because she stopped using harsh language and unreasonably looking down on others.

Leon-sama also helped such Ojou-sama in the shadows, and he himself made his own place in the mansion.

Ojou-sama is very understanding. Of course, she's still young, so it's only natural, but everyone in the mansion knew about Ojou-sama's affection for Leon-sama.

According to Leon-sama, "I have memories of another world", so he often interacted intimately with Ojou-sama, stroking and patting her head and holding her hand. There are times when his words and demeanor are not typical of aristocrats. Ojou-sama blushes her face every time her head is *nade*nade* *pat*pat* done so and closes her mouth as if she is about to grin. Seeing Ojou-sama's happy face, we servants were also smiling.

However, when Ojou-sama turns eleven, they begin to live separately. In order for Leon to become a teacher at the Royal Academy, he decided to enroll in a teacher training school.

Ojou-sama cried when she heard it for the first time, and after that Leon-sama coaxed her into a ball and convinced her. Although her tone and demeanor are mature for her age, she is actually surprisingly simple. Especially when it comes to Leon-sama, most of the time she is rolled around in his palm.

However, at the same time that Leon-sama has moved, Ojou-sama made a new friend. Marquis Ward's daughter, Anessa-sama.

Anessa-sama is the fiancée of Ojou-sama's older brother and is the same age as Ojou-sama. Compared to the slender and tall Ojou-sama, she is a quiet person who creates a small and soft atmosphere.

The two hit it off on the day of Ojou-sama's birthday, and since then they have been friends frequently visiting each other's houses.

Ojou-sama is in love with Leon-sama, and Anessa-sama is in love with her fiancé, Edmont-sama. That's why the two of them are always happily talking about love and having a blast. 

Anessa-sama's voice is so low that I can only hear my Ojou-sama's voice, but she looks really happy.

Around this time, my partner, Maille, got married. She is the daughter of a viscount family like me, and she decided to return to her parent's house after receiving an offer of marriage brought by her parents. There is no problem with Maille, who is already twenty-three years old, getting married, but it is sad. Both Maille and Ojou-sama were in tears when they parted.

I'm two years younger than Maille, so I'm already at the right age, but I don't know if I'll be able to get married. Although my family is a viscount, we don't have any particular power, and we are not in need of pawns to use for political strategy. I can't expect any marriage proposals from my parents, so I'm starting to think that I might be able to continue my life devoted to Ojou-sama.

To return to the main topic.

And so the days pass peacefully, and Ojou-sama grows day by day. A neat face with clear features that resemble The duke's, and the same strawberry blonde hair as the duchess'. A youthful figure on the way to becoming feminine while keeping her slender hands and feet.

Ojou-sama is occasionally invited to the birthday parties of aristocratic children of the same age, and little by little she is heading out to make her debut in aristocratic society. When I accompany her, I always have a high nose. There may be some favoritism, but my lady, who wears a red ribbon and a dress, looks the most beautiful of all the ladies.

I don't know what kind of life Ojou-sama will lead from now on, but it's absolutely impossible for Ojou-sama I'm proud of to end up in prison.

Only that alone I can proudly say with pride.