Free Web NovelChapter 22: The World Beyond
Loraine was stunned at the prospect, the lowest ranking maid was actually given permission to leave the mansion grounds? She could hardly believe her ears right now, even Sarah was surprised as she briefly glanced at Loraine, before retuning her focus back to Margret. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Wait, you’re sending Loraine?" Sarah asked, a bit perplexed. She expected Margret to lash out, or blame Loraine for something she didn’t even do, but this turned out better than she had anticipated, a small smile forming on her face.
’Loraine’s going to leave the mansion!’ Sarah thought with excitement and joy, before realization crashed down on her, her eyes widening in fear.
’Loraine’s going to leave the mansion!?’ Sarah turned to look at Loraine, a look of horror on her face. ’Does she even know what’s outside these mansion walls? What if she gets lost? Or worse! Killed!’
Loraine tilted her head to the side, confused at the expression Sarah was making. A small smile formed on Loraine’s lips as she interpreted that her best friend must’ve been a bit worried about her, but she’s sure she’ll be okay.
’I dunno...I wanna be happy, but can I really trust her?’ Loraine asked herself, skeptical as she accepted the sack of coins, catching its weight with a soft jingle. ’Is this some kind of test?’
"May I ask what ingredients I’m going to be looking for?" Loraine asked, raising a brow as she stared at Margret, to which Margret handed her a small note, a full list of the ingredients laid on the paper.
’Damn these are a lot, must be because the Ashbourne family has returned. They’re probably going to welcome them back with a feast of some sort.’ She pondered.
"Go get these ingredients, and come back as fast as you can!" Margret said, her voice a bit anxious as she looked a bit distraught. "You better come back before its dinner time, or I’m gonna skin you alive!" She threatened, the last part coming out a bit too real to be a simple joke, she sounded like she would actually do it.
’And I don’t doubt that she would.’ Loraine thought with a shudder, this granny was truly terrifying.
"Alright, I got it." Loraine said, glancing at Sarah one last time as she started to walk away.
Sarah however was still rather paranoid, her hands nervously trembling as her mind began to auto-generate the worst possible scenarios, each one worse than the last. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
"M-Margret! Can I perhaps accompany her?" Sarah blurted out, the plea catching Loraine’s ears as she glanced over her shoulder.
"No you may not!" Margret said firmly, grabbing Sarah by her shoulders with brute strength as she spun the girl around on her heel, pushing her away from the area and dragging her off somewhere else. "One of you is already trouble enough, I don’t want the both of you tagging along together. Gods know what you do knuckleheads could accomplish together."
Sarah tried to protest, to beg, but Margret pushed her away regardless, leaving Loraine to watch with a bit of a stunned expression on her face.
"Damn...Sarah..." Loraine muttered her name, watching them disappear around a corner. She turned around and began to sprint, running through the mansion halls as she passed the other maids, nearly bumping into one and shattering an expensive vase.
"Sorry!" Loraine apologized as she ran, to which the maid angrily cursed at her, this time however it was justified.
As she ran approaching the main lobby, Loraine’s eyes landed on a young girl wearing a regal dress, in her arms a small teddy bear. Her eyes were a shimmering jet black, her crystal blue eyes flickering to Loraine who quickly skidded to a halt, as to not bump into her.
The young mistress, Lilith Ashbourne.
"M-my apologies, young mistress." Loraine apologized, quickly lowering her head in a quick bow as her heart hammered against her chest, a nervous sweat rolling down her face.
"Loraine!" The young mistress exclaimed in joy, running up to her with her arms wide as she embraced the maid, the sensation staggering her in place as she wasn’t expecting Lilith to hug her at all.
’Wait wait wait! Not now!’ Loraine thought, her body tensing as stiff as a board as she didn’t know what to do, her arms trembling at her sides as she contemplated hugging her back, or not doing anything.
Lilith glanced up into Loraine’s crimson eyes, noticing the uncomfortable and almost frightened expression on the young maiden’s face. "Hm? What’s wrong? Are you not happy to see me?" Lilith asked in a cutesy tone, tilting her head to the side as she stared at Loraine with big curious eyes.
"N-no! Of course I’m happy to see you!" Loraine said with a nervous smile and strained chuckle, feeling the heat of a thousand hate-filled glares piercing her back as she started to sweat nervously.
The maids that had their heads bowed looked up to see the young mistress embrace Loraine so casually, struck a cord of jealousy and envy in their hearts. The fact that Loraine, the lowest ranking maid, pure trash, was being so openly embraced by someone of such grace, elegance, and purity such as Lilith, made them seethe with pure unadulterated rage.
"Look at her...filthy woman." One muttered, clicking their tongue in arrogance.
"I never understood what the young mistress saw in that tainted woman, she has no value and yet she’s closest with her of all people."
"Loraine must’ve corrupted the young mistress, that has to be it."
"Young mistress, please don’t bother with someone like her."
The cruel remarks continued, each one striking a nerve inside Loraine. She herself didn’t understand why Lilith was so fond of her, if anything Loraine was indifferent to the young girl, but perhaps that’s what made her stand out as everyone practically worshipped her.
’I need to stay in character.’
Loraine, determined, quickly masked her nervous behind a deadpan cold expression, gently patting the young mistress’s head.
"How was your trip? Did you have fun with mommy and daddy?" Loraine asked, her tone lacking its usual nervousness and panic, or at least she tried her best to make it seem that way.
"Mhm! Mhm! It was very fun!" Lilith beamed, flashing a bright smile as she very much enjoyed Loraine’s head pats, a small giggle escaping her happy grin.
Meanwhile, Alice and Beatrice watched this show of affection go down, staring at the sight with a bewildered expression on their faces, before Alice grit her teeth In frustration and anger, her eyes flaring with a surging fury.
"Loraine," A powerful voice echoed through the halls with the force a thunderstorm, Loraine flinching in place as she immediately recognized the voice. It was Kain Ashbourne, the Duke, and the lord of the estate, and beside him the Mistress, and the Young Master.
His amethyst colored eyes shone with a cold fury, the single mention of her name was a warning in of itself as he watched the interaction of his daughter and the trash maid.
Loraine quickly turned to face them, bowing deeply to show her respect. The other maids following in pursuit immediately after. "M-my apologies, sir." Loraine apologized as they passed her, her eyes widening in shock as she felt the strong presence of their Mana scrape her skin like a scorching flame, a testament to their perilous strength.
’They’re strong....’ Loraine thought, but even that wasn’t enough to describe their monstrous presence.
She glanced at the purse of copper and silver in her hand, immediately remembering her task as she quickly excused herself and walked out of the mansion, stepping into the cold evening air, the sun starting to set over the horizon.
"My my~" The Mistress spoke, casually fanning her fan to her face as she glanced around the mansion, utterly impressed. "You girls have done a great job to maintain the house in our absence." She said, to which the maids respectfully bowed and thanked her for her kind words.
’Everything looks so clean, almost brand new. Have the floors ever shone this brightly before? The walls, the shelves...did Margret do this? She is a [Sacred Maid] after all, but even her abilities haven’t showed this much promise before.’ The mistress thought, intrigued by this new development.
"I have to say, I too am quite surprised by how splendid everything looks so lately, they’ve really been putting their back into it." Valmont said, a smug smile on his face as his eyes observed the whole house.
"Enough," Kain cut through, walking towards the large staircase. "The Vincent family will be arriving at any moment, we’ve ought to get changed and look presentable." He said to them, briefly glancing at his black coat that was stained with a green liquid, some of it even being on his cheek.
A few traces of monster blood on his body from a recent dungeon expedition. His eyes wandered to young Lilith for a moment, his eyes squinting for a split second before he averted them, he had more important things to worry about.
"Have you sent someone to get the ingredients?" The mistress asked, glancing over at Margret who had just walked into the great hall.
Margret nodded, "Yes mistress, Loraine is on her way to get the ingredients." She said, a look of surprise etched blooming from the mistress’s gaze.
’Wait, she sent Loraine?’
