I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince

T/N: This bonus chapter is sponsored by James B. (1/14). If you enjoy reading and are willing to help me catch up to the latest chapters faster by sponsoring bonus chapters, see my Ko-fi.

“Answer me seriously, Ed.”

“……”

Ethan Richard Blackwood was flustered.

Firstly, because Lilith had brought up something different from what they had originally planned to talk about in this situation, and secondly, because he felt an inexplicable chill from Lilith’s question that seemed to be interrogating him suddenly.

‘I don’t think this was the content of the conversation we had originally planned…’

As he remembered, the content of the argument he and Lilith were supposed to have wasn’t like this.

They had planned for her to chase away the woman who approached him, then get angry while comparing herself to that woman, and for him to retort as if he was tired of Lilith’s behavior. The initial plan was to make it seem as if there had been a gradually deepening emotional rift between him and Lilith (though there wasn’t) and that those deepened emotions had exploded at this noble exchange meeting. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

If things didn’t go well and no other woman approached him, they had planned to repeat a conversation similar to the one they had at the academy church before. Naturally, Ethan had prepared for both types of conversations before coming here, but he wasn’t prepared for this question Lilith was asking, so of course, he couldn’t respond immediately.

“Ed. I’m asking you.”

“Li, Lili… Are you angry now…?”

“I’m asking you. Why didn’t you avoid it when that young lady’s lips were approaching right in front of your nose? I’m asking because I’m really curious.”

He felt a chill down his spine, as if cold sweat was flowing from just below his neck.

Although it was a question asked during the operation, he had a strange intuition that if he didn’t answer this question properly, his relationship with Lilith might become awkward in the future.

“…I was going to avoid it.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I would have avoided it if she had come a little closer. I didn’t avoid it because there was no need to, thanks to you stepping in.”

“……”

It was a subtle expression. She seemed angry, but also as if she didn’t quite believe what he was saying.

For Ethan, it was frustrating enough to drive him crazy. He had pretended to be brazen until just before the young lady’s lips touched him, solely to not disrupt the plan he had set up with Lilith.

As Ethan cherished and loved Lilith more than anyone else, he didn’t want to ruin this operation with his actions.

If he had openly avoided it, it would have been like openly stating that his relationship with Lilith was still good. If the plan went awry because of that, the operation to take down Machart, which they had been preparing for almost a month, would also fail.

That’s why Ethan couldn’t understand Lilith suddenly asking this question in this situation. The Lilith he knew always made the most correct judgments and led him to make wise choices.

She sometimes acted impulsively, but the results of those actions always turned out well.

‘…No, maybe…’

What if Lilith’s question, which seemed angry, was an act to start an argument with him?

Thinking that way, everything made sense. Of course, Lilith wouldn’t ask a question that would trouble him without any thought.

It seemed Lilith was planning to portray herself as a ‘possessive fiancée’ at this noble exchange meeting. Even that impulsive kiss she had shared with him earlier must have been preliminary work for this operation.

It was strange that Lilith would kiss him in front of so many people just for show without any thought. At least from Ethan’s perspective, Lilith wasn’t a woman with such a possessive personality.

…Of course, this was just Lilith’s image from ‘Ethan’s perspective’, and the reality might be a bit different.

Anyway, having grasped the situation, what Ethan needed to do now was to match her words. Although it had changed a bit from the original plan, the current situation itself wasn’t bad for fostering discord between him and Lilith. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

The combination of a person obsessed with their fiancé and the other getting tired and angry at that was a human drama quite commonly seen in life. Especially considering his and Lilith’s background, it wasn’t strange for her to appear obsessed with him, so it was indeed an excellent role choice.

Keeping the fact that he was actually the one obsessed with Lilith tucked away, Ethan also began to act along with Lilith’s performance.

“So. What were you planning to do if I hadn’t avoided it and just kissed her, Lili?”

“…What did you say?”

“I’m getting tired of you nitpicking everything I do. Is there any reason to get angry and worked up over something that didn’t even happen? Whether I intended to avoid it or not doesn’t matter, does it? It didn’t happen, anyway.”

“Uh, uhhhh…?”

Ethan quietly marveled at Lilith’s expression of surprise, or rather, her act of being surprised, as if she hadn’t expected his answer.

Even when she had acted out a fight with Agnes before, her acting skills were truly amazing, and he thought once again that Lilith was indeed a person of many talents.

In reality, Lilith was just genuinely surprised by Ethan’s unexpected answer, but there was no way for Ethan to know that fact.

“I’m getting tired of your obsession, too. How long are you going to keep doubting and pressuring your fiancé like this before you’re satisfied?”

“Wh-when did I ever doubt or pressure you, Ed…?”

“You’re doing it right now. Just moments ago, you grabbed my collar and forcibly kissed me, and not even a minute has passed, and you’re doubting my feelings again.”

“F-forcibly…? D-did you just say forcibly?”

“If forcibly pulling my face and pressing your lips against mine isn’t forceful, then what is it? The way you talked as if I was your possession… It seems you’re starting to cross the line, Lili.”

“……”

With each word he spoke, Ethan felt like he was stabbing his own heart with a dagger. Even though it was an act that started to foster discord between him and Lilith, the current situation where he had to say words that could hurt her was regrettable.

The fact that he had to disgrace Lilith in order to protect her tormented him. Probably after today, all sorts of rumors would spread about her being a baroness’s daughter obsessed with her fiancé, the duke’s son.

Although Lilith had said she didn’t care much about marrying anyone other than him and told him not to worry about her reputation, Ethan, as someone who loved her, found it unfortunate that he had to create such a situation.

“…Perhaps, do you think the same as what that young lady said earlier?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you also think that those moderately sized breasts are much more appealing than these disgustingly large ones?”

“……Huh?”

“Do you think, as that woman said, that these uselessly large breasts are inefficient? That they get in the way when wielding a sword, that they’re just fat with no proper feeling when touched, that they’re so buried in flesh that you can’t even feel properly? Have you always thought that way every time you touch my breasts?!”

Ethan was once again taken aback by Lilith’s sudden talk about her breasts.

He had somehow managed to go along with her act of being a possessive fiancée earlier, but how was he supposed to respond to such sensitive talk about body parts?

He should have agreed to match Lilith’s goal of provoking conflict, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. But if he denied Lilith’s words, it would end up comforting her, so he couldn’t say that either.

To begin with, he didn’t want to evaluate her body in front of other people, especially in front of other men.

Lilith’s body, from head to toe, should only be his. As Ethan had thought about someday making both her body and heart his own, he didn’t want to critique what was his in front of others.

‘If it were something else…’

Thinking it would be better than evaluating Lilith’s appearance or body, Ethan tried to change the subject.

…Not anticipating how his words from now on would be received by Lilith.

“So you thought that way too, Ed?! You didn’t try to avoid that woman approaching because you agreed with what she said! Even now, you’re taking the side of that woman whose name you don’t even know, let alone listening to me….”

“…Aren’t you being too arrogant for just a baroness’s daughter? Especially since you’re from a branch family of the Blackwood family, no less.”

“……What?”

“Did you think you were something special just because you became engaged to a ducal family when you’re just a baroness? Without being my fiancée, Lili, you’re just a lower noble young lady without any backing, aren’t you?”

“……”

Ethan didn’t want to bring up such issues if possible, but it was still much better than disparaging Lilith’s figure in front of others. [Only on Galaxy Translations! / Axiomatic]

Arguments using noble status differences often ended badly. In other words, bringing up such talk was good material to show that the relationship between him and Lilith had already broken down.

Originally, Lilith wasn’t even a noble but a commoner, and she probably wouldn’t take being called a lower noble young lady as an insult, so Ethan thought this topic was definitely…

“……Sniff.“

‘…Tears?’

Ethan was taken aback when Lilith showed tears for the first time during their argument after hearing the words ‘lower noble young lady’.

…And even more so at Lilith’s ominous response and action that followed.

“So that’s what you’ve been thinking.”

“…Wait, Lili….”

“I’m sorry for being so arrogant all this time, not knowing my place as a lower noble young lady. Well then, goodbye.”

As he watched Lilith wipe away the tears gathered in her eyes and quickly flee towards the outside of the annex, Ethan thought to himself.

He had sincerely hoped that this response was just part of Lilith’s vivid acting.

Imperial Palace Annex, the garden connected to the back door.

A black-haired baroness’s daughter who had fled through the back door after finishing the love triangle battle with Ethan walked alone.

“…Ah.”

Lilith let out a single word filled with many meanings as she looked up at the night sky. It was a dark night sky without even a crescent moon rising.

As soon as she came outside, the cold night wind brushed her face, cooling her face that had been heated up with intense emotions, and her mind also slowly regained composure.

Along with that, after some time had passed and the strong alcoholic effect of the brandy had calmed down, and her momentarily excited emotions had subsided, Lilith covered her face quietly with both hands and let out a deep sigh rising from the depths of her chest.

“Haaa, how embarrassing….”

T/N

Hello! Axiomatic here.

It’s crazy how far Lilith will go yet still stay so committed to the plan.

Anyway, thanks for waiting! If you’re wondering, my exam earlier went really well as I just received the score a few hours ago; I’m surprised it got released so quickly.

Thanks for reading, see you tomorrow for the bonus chapter!