A Villainess pulled out the Sword instead of the Hero.

‘You know, I recognized it when you came in unannounced.’ 

 

They should have gotten a feel for which drawing room she went to and whether it was soundproofed.

 

Or at least keep her mouth shut in the royal hall.

 

But what did the other maid do?

 

Technically, it’s a crime against my feelings, but as a maid in the royal palace, nobody, not even a Count, could dismiss or kill me.

 

As my employer was the royal family, they had all the power.

 

Countess Marleau rubbed the corners of her eyes tiredly.

 “Oh, I’m so angry, why is there no noise?” 

The medicines seemed to keep her anger from rising to the breaking point.

 

Rather than wait to be accused, she chose to go on a rampage.

 “If you want to get down, then get down. You think I’m a joke now after all the times you’ve stooped so low?” “We are maids of the royal family of Britain, our master is Princess Guinevere, her Highness, and we have been taught to never forget that we are the proud representatives of the royal family!” 

Morgana’s vigorous reply, with her hands clasped in front of her, made Countess Marleau open her mouth in disbelief.

 

Morgana stared out the open window behind her back. The sound of the carriage’s hooves and the royal seal of Britain came into view.

 “Guinevere. Princess Guinevere has returned!” 

Looking at Morgana, the Countess stammered and tapped the table with her fan, drawing her attention back to him.

 “You want to die?” “I don’t have a tour of the afterlife in my plans.” “Oh, how annoying, that girl is so obnoxious. Oh, get on your knees!” 

She picks up the fan and throws it at me.

 

The parlor door swung open, catching the flying fan in its path.

 

Again, footsteps. When the footsteps stopped, a dry but firm voice called out.

 “Who’s batting their eyes and screaming in my palace?” 

Soft orange hair. Blazing gold eyes.

 

Delicate, beautiful features, but a posture and manner of speech far more formal than Britain’s free-spirited atmosphere.

 

A person who stood stiffly in the doorway, clutching her dress with one hand in defiance of the law.

 “Guinevere, Princess Guinevere?” 

At her call, Guinevere scowled at the kneeling maid, her eyes scanning the room.

 “Have you gone mad, pretending to be a master in the palace?” “Ah, no, my lady, that’s not it, the maids have been talking about me behind my back…!” 

The young Countess Marleau, jolted awake, sprang to her feet.

 

Guinevere stomped on her fan at her feet, trampling it and grinding her teeth.

 “I heard it all downstairs, one of the maids called you a fool.” “Oh, that’s right, that’s why I was going to punish her!” “Why, she’s not wrong. The maid you recommended had some nasty things to say about you… What did she say in the interview…? Who does what with men?” “Well, that’s why I came today with this gift of a painting to apologize.” “Oh, I won’t take it. No!” 

Guinevere flailed one arm in an impatient gesture and kicked at her already unusable fan.

 

The maid of honor behind her winced, unable to stop her.

 “Oh, my dear princess. Oh, dear, my lady…” “Do you feed her bread? She’s been sitting there scratching her nerves since she got here. What are you all doing? Get up!” 

At Guinevere’s command, the maids scrambled to their feet.

 

When the maid who had been lying on the floor also rose, Guinevere stamped her foot firmly on her back and said,

“Why are you getting up?” “What? You asked me to get up…” “You don’t. You’re fired as of today. Right here, right now, by me.” 

The maid’s face turned as white as a sheet of paper.

 

No longer a member of the royal court, she was literally telling her to die.

 

Guinevere flopped down on the empty couch and leaned to one side, glaring at Countess Marleau.

 “Let the girl do her own thing, but you owe me an apology for punishing the maids in my palace on your own terms.” “Apologize?” 

Instead of answering, Guinevere gestured to the maids, who were now lined up against the wall.

 

Guilty as charged, Countess Marleau bit her lip tightly.

 

Under the unspoken pressure to do something about it, she stammered.

 “Oh, I’m so sorry. I got upset when I heard what you said behind my back and lost my train of thought…” 

But Guinevere didn’t stop there.

 “You should also apologize to the maid that you have forced to kneel before you.” 

She swiveled her head to stare at Morgana and asked,

“What’s your name?” “Mo, it’s Morgana, my lady!” 

She had finally met Guinevere! Morgana was thrilled and quickly repeated her name over and over again.

 

She nodded and turned back to the Countess Marleau.

 “You should apologize to Morgana, as well. For asking too much of a child who hasn’t done anything wrong.” 

Countess Marleau flushed with shame and clutched the hem of her dress with both hands.

 “My apologies.” 

Morgana stared at her, unwilling to accept.

 

Not expecting an answer, Countess Marleau bowed her head and spoke in a low voice.

 “I think you must be tired today, so I will go first.” 

With a barely concealed curtsy to Guinevere, she left the parlor at a brisk pace.

 

Guinevere picked up one of the teacups, which was clattering idly, and spoke up as she watched.

 “Morgana, the maid, when did you start?  “I came in today on probation!” 

She replied bluntly, then turned her head to study Morgana’s face again with round eyes.

 “Today was your first day?” “Yes!” 

Seizing the opportunity, another maid walked up to Guinevere and whispered.

 

Hearing this, she smiled broadly and even swiveled around on the couch to face Morgana.

 “Did you manage to get rid of Baron Garedon, too?” 

This was the same Baron who had asked for a drink at number 39.

 

The question was almost too good to be true, and the maids chattered beside them.

 “Well, how calm things have been since Morgana took charge!” “Even when Lady Marleau asked her to kneel, she held her ground!” 

Morgana nodded proudly as the maids flailed their arms and mimicked her behavior.

 “I’ve only managed to immobilize the Little Baron for one day.” “Good, because I didn’t want to see him. You’ve done your duty as a palace maid, and I think you deserve a reward. What do you want?” 

Now was my chance!

 

Morgana replied without hesitation,

“When I finish my apprenticeship, I want to be assigned to the Princess’s chambers!” “You’re going to be my direct maid?” “Yes!” “You don’t even need a probationary period, just come to my room starting tomorrow.” 

For some reason, the other maids’ expressions visibly hardened, as if they were afraid to speak.

 

Some turned to Guinevere, pleading softly.

 “My lady, I beg your pardon, but we are short-handed in the main palace, and a maid of such caliber would surely be of assistance at the banquet.” “No. She is assigned to my palace.” “And the prince’s palace…” “Why send talent to a palace that never comes to the court? Dismissed.” 

Guinevere rubbed her chin and turned to the maidservant standing before her.

 “Put her under my direct control, and pay her triple her weekly wage for today’s work as an incentive. That’s what I’ve decided.” 

Guinevere rose to her feet, refusing to hear any other decision.

 

The maids flocked to Morgana’s side as she was quickly promoted.

 “Congratulations, Morgana, you are directly in the service of the Princess!” “Thank you for helping me in front of Lady Marleau. If you hadn’t, she would have beaten me.” “I knew Morgana would make it to the Princess!” 

Sobella joined them, grabbing Morgana’s hand.

 “Morgana, do you happen to be working this holiday? If you don’t mind, I’ll buy you a meal to thank you.” 

Maids work one day a week. They were given a day off to take turns going out.

 

Mostly it was a day to go home and take care of personal business.

 

Morgana smiled sheepishly and waved her hand.

 “Sorry. I had an appointment that day.”  

The first day off work. Morgana returned to her mansion.

 

It had been a short time, but the mansion was still the same. She opened the door familiarly and entered.

 “Welcome back, Miss Morgana!” 

Percival smiled and opened his arms wide to greet her. He’d been picking herbs, and his clothes and hair were covered in leaves.

 

Morgana brushed off his clothes and bent down to meet his eyes.

 “How are you?”