CH 13.1

It’s night time. 

When Laiya awoke, a dark room was all that greeted her. Blankly staring at the splendid golden bedposts, the little girl finally felt a sense of reality. 

Yes, after dying and being reincarnated, this is my world now.

My body aches.

It wasn’t a joke. 

My whole body aches, I can’t move.

As she exhaled in pain, her breath came out in hot puffs. 

Wah, I’m going to die?

Laiya turned her head slightly to the side, with her eye dimmed,  it seemed like someone was looking at her.

No, it’s as if someone is standing right next to me.

This is rare. Is there anyone who will willingly visit me now?

Her face felt hotter and as a result, the little girl’s vision was further blurred.

So, whether the person who looked like a black liquid was big or small, male or female, she was unable to make a distinction.

I want to see, but…

She stretched out her hand with difficulty, and felt something touch her fingertips. 

I grabbed something like cloth. 

Unable to pinpoint what type of material it was, Laiya assumed it might have been the hem of the person’s clothing which she accidentally wrinkled in her grip.

“I— Who…?”

Her breathing was ragged, but it wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling for someone who had fallen ill several times. 

It’s a pain I feel everytime. 

But she felt more lonely than anything else. 

“I don’t know who… please…? Stay by my side…?”

The blurry person flinched. 

Seeing as he wasn’t angry by her request, Laiya guessed that he was not the attending physician, nor was it one of the maids who would have already raised their hands. 

Laiya knew the reason for her downcast mood. She’d dreamt of the sad times of her previous life. 

Her body hurt, so she felt sadder. 

And she tried to use logic to argue that this was not the day she would die. 

But I might have been dying without even realizing it. 

“…Like this, if I die.”

If I die again that is..

“— too… It feels lonely.”

Maybe she was upset for no reason, Laiya pondered over that realization as she cried and wiped her nose. 

Ah, when I cry, my fever rises. 

She sighed inwardly, but the tears that had already flowed out and didn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. 

At that moment, something cold touched her face. 

Because of the tears, Laiya couldn’t see what it was, however, that coolness reassured her and she was able to fall unconscious once more. 

The next time the girl opened her eyes, her surroundings were filled with sunlight and it was midday.

Hmm… My body has become a bit lighter.

Maybe her body was once very hot and sweaty with illness, but now, Laiya didn’t feel much heat.

Well. Originally, a cold is a disease that can be cured by sweating out.

Of course, it didn’t appear that she had fully returned to her optimal capacity, but her body was weak to begin with, so Laiya found that to be understandable. 

It was already good enough that she was well enough to move around. 

The little girl tested her body as she sat up and then laid down on her back once more, with a glance to her side, she discovered something strange. 

“What is that?”

A white flower rested on the table next to the bed. Her eyes widened. 

That flower… I’ve seen it before.

It was a flower that bloomed at the third training arena. 

“…It seemed like someone was by my side last night.”

Could it be that it was Roy BlackWinter? 

Laiya was dumbfounded, but soon came to her senses.

What is this, is this a good sign?!

Was falling sick worth it?

Suddenly, forgetting all the dreams and unpleasant feelings from her previous life, she excitedly threw off her blankets. 

Ahh!

Before she could react, her bedroom door opened and maids poured in one after another, washing and cleaning everything. 

When she inspected the maids, the little girl couldn’t see any familiar faces.

All the maids have changed.

They probably replaced all the maids because I was knocked out.

It’s not their fault anyway.

It’s not like they were cut off from the mansion, instead, they were reassigned somewhere else.

It might have been better for them.

Whenever they saw the only daughter of BlackWinter, they were either startled in awe, or frowned as if they were looking at some kind of filth, and averted their eyes lest they be tainted.

Quickly, she gestured to the maids who obeyed with a silent bow. 

“Prepare a set of clothes for me.”

One of the maids bowed once more before leading to the dressing room. 

“When will the physician come?”

“…He left in a hurry last night.”

“… … You left in a hurry last night.”

Hmmm, so he seems to have healed me quickly. 

But he was a man who aimed to perfect one specific  skill.

“And he said he would see you again tonight.”

“Is that so?”

She frowned. 

Although he had good skills, he wasn’t someone Laiya wanted to talk to after meeting him face to face before.

“Yes, Miss. Since we’re leaving, shall we bring the shawl with us?”

“Yeah!”

Immediately after she spoke, one of the maids raised her head in absolute surprise. 

It was a completely different reaction from the maids who had only shown obedience or disregard until now.

“Yes?”

The maid who raised her head was one of the two maids who took a step forward in greeting earlier.

The maid standing next to her seemed hesitant to voice her question.

“That, ah…”

“It’s okay to speak your mind.”

The little girl tilted lightly scratched her while tilting her head. 

“Or should I command you to speak?”

“Oh, no! No, the Miss just got up from the bed after being ill, but your behavior is— Now, I wonder if it would be good for you to restrain yourself and rest up, Miss.”

“Ah?”

Laiya blinked. 

When you think about it, it was natural. 

The problem is that no one has ever told me to rest well or cared to suggest this to me. 

Curious, she got up and started to walk. Her steps were a bit heavy ladened, but it didn’t interfere with walking.

As Laiya approached the maids, they panicked and broke out into a sweat. 

It didn’t matter if they were scared, after all, there was only one person she was interested in.

Laiya strode toward the maid who questioned her.

“It’s a face I haven’t seen before, are you a newly assigned person?”

“Yes? Ah yes. That— Yes.”

“And your name is?”

“…It is Yuri.”

“Okay, Yuri.”

The daughter of BlackWitner smiled lightly, causing some maids who were looking at her to quickly avert their eyes.

“You’re BlackWinter’s high-ranking maid, so you’re good at handling a sword, right?”

The maids there are further divided into three classes.

Classes are divided into badges worn on the chest, and those who wear these black badges are high-ranking maids.

It was also said that they were servants and at the same time were included to some degree in the armed forces serving the BlackWinter family. They would become combat personnel in emergencies such as national wars and clan wars.

“That’s right. Not enough to be a swordmaster, but I do know a little. However, it’s not just about handling swords.”

“What else?”

“We use the shield together.”

“A shield?”

If it’s a shield, it’s an unfamiliar weapon in this household. The BlackWinter family is a swordsman addicted family who would allow no other weapon besides a sword. 

In the same way, her mother’s family, the DenDarians, insisted on only handling spears as they were all spear fanatics. 

“Aren’t you from here?”

“…Yes, I am.”

Yuri, the maid in question, glanced at her colleague, before choosing to open her mouth.

“I got a recommendation from WoodTail and came here, Young Lady.”

WoodTail. It was a place where shields were handled. To be precise, a family who developed shield skills.

There were a total of 6 famous families in the land, and each family had a different priority weapon.

For example, the WoodTail of the shield, the DenDrian of the spear, and the Kalaka of the bow.

Except for those three, the other three were masters of swordsmanship. However, there were various detailed differences in sword handling and swordsmanship.

The main character’s enemies, allies, and colleagues were obtained from these families, and the sides were divided.

“If it’s WoodTail, then your Master wass the Marquis who is a friend of my mother?”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Of all six families, the Marquis of WoodTail happened to be close friends with Laiya’s mother.

And when BlackWinter turned evil, DenDarian and WoodTail followed behind BlackWinter.

I wonder, did they all fall together?

I mean, you shouldn’t mess with the main characters of fantasy novels.

Laiya was convinced that Yuri was from WoodTail as those who have stayed at BlackWinter for long would never say such concerned words for her.

The little girl looked at Yuri’s skirt for a while and then looked up to her face.

“From now on, you will be my exclusive maid.”

I never had a dedicated maid.

Every time I collapsed without warning or fell sick, the maids were all replaced, and sometimes they decided to use it as an opportunity to neglect me.

She was tired of changing and seeing new people. 

“Yes?”