Not a Villainess but a Maid

#030 The truth is sometimes harsh (1)

Today, the Freedom Activities Department was running peacefully.

Despite Lady Ruby’s efforts, there were no more applicants to join, but the minimum requirement of 10 people was met, so it won’t disappear.

“I made black tea!”

When I put down the tea in front of the members with a familiar movement, they each picked up a cup and expressed their gratitude.

“Thank you for today, Miss Amber.”

“Thank you.”

Everyone was included in the tea time without exception, so it seemed as if everyone was melting into the atmosphere.

“…Hmph.”

Except for Clara, who stands to the side grumpily every day, arms crossed, and then quickly takes the car.

I looked at her and asked with a puzzled look on her face.

“Clara, why do you always eat while standing? “There are plenty of seats.”

“That’s my feeling, isn’t it?”

‘He’s a special person, really… ‘

The more you spend together, the more you think of him as a strange person.

“Huh?”

As I put down the cup, I realized that it was strangely enough for one person.

‘That’s strange. I brought it just for the number of people.’

With that thought in mind, I looked at the person who had put down the cup last and saw student council president Citrine sitting there, occupying one seat.

“Chairman? Why are you here?”

Normally, she would be busy with student council work, but Citrine was sitting in the clubroom without even knowing when she had arrived.

She made eye contact with me and said calmly, sipping her tea.

“It’s hard to see your face as a commoner these days. I came to see what you were doing here.”

Miss Ruby, who was located in the middle of the desk, looked at Citrine and spoke politely.

“I’m sorry, Chairman, but unauthorized persons are prohibited from entering.”

“What? An outcast?”

“Yes, an outcast.”

“This club was created thanks to someone!? All you have to do is grow taller!?”

Why does the key appear there?

When I sensed that the two people would continue to argue, I quickly started to mediate.

“Now that we’re together, you two, let’s have fun together. Okay?”

“”…””

The two people had somewhat dissatisfied expressions on their faces, but they seemed to agree with what I said and there was no further argument.

I looked around the place and realized that there was no car in front of Ruby.

“I think I need another drink. I’ll go and get some. I’ll prepare some snacks too.”

When I said that and was about to leave, Dia stood up with me and said.

“Oh, I’ll help you today too, Amber.”

“Dia? It’s okay. I have enough on my own.”

“Even though we are members of the same club, I thought I was only putting Amber through a hard time. Besides, I wanted to treat you to some snacks I made myself sometime.”

Snacks? If it were cookies, I would have already baked a mountain of them.

“I am grateful, but I still have a lot of cookies I made… “

When I was about to politely decline her offer, I heard Ruby’s voice from behind.

“Amber, why don’t we share the work today as Dia said? “I was also curious about the snacks that Dia made.”

Other members also agreed with her words.

“Of course, Amber’s is delicious, but wouldn’t it be nice to try something new sometimes?”

“Umm… “

It was definitely like that.

No matter how delicious the cookies I made are, I would get sick of them if I ate them every day.

“I understand. I’ll leave all the snacks today to Diamond!”

As I said that and turned around, I felt like I could hear something like a sigh of relief coming from behind me.

***

I could hear Dia clattering a bowl filled with cookie dough on the kitchen counter.

Seeing him handling the tools with unusual dexterity, it seemed like something he had only done once or twice.

I approached Dia, who was engrossed in making cookies for a while, and said,

“Dia, there’s really nothing you can’t do, right?”

Then, Dia looked slightly surprised by my sudden question, but then answered with a gentle smile.

“I’m not good at everything. It’s something I learned from my mother when I was still a commoner.”

“Aha…”

Normally, nobles do not cook their own food.

For that purpose, they hire subordinates, and I was one of those subordinates.

So, I thought it was amazing that Dia was good at cooking.

‘They said he was a commoner but became a noble.’

To be honest, I was very curious about this woman.

Although she is an aristocrat, she never shows it, but her attitude always gives the impression that she is taking a step back from events, which raises questions.

If we could know her background, wouldn’t those questions be resolved at least a little?

Although there are many cases where the settings of the heroines are planned in detail in games, the settings of the main characters are often vaguely overlooked.

I quietly watched her turn her hand, and then asked her carefully.

“…Dia. This may be a somewhat rude question.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“…Can I ask about Diamond’s original parents…?”

“…”

She paused for a moment in her hand that was turning her device in response to my question, and then opened her mouth after a moment.

“You two are living well in your hometown. Just…”

The silence continued for a while, and then Dia moved her hand again.

“After she sold me to a noble family, she never came to visit me.”

I apologized while quietly listening to the rattling sound.

“…I’m sorry. I asked a nonsensical question.”

“It’s okay. I’m not really worried.”

I certainly didn’t expect him to have an ordinary background, but the truth was much simpler and crueler than I thought.

I asked, turning her eyes to the dough she had spread out on her cutting board.

“How good are the snacks now?”

“Overall, I think I’ve completed 70% of it. Now all I have to do is stamp it into a mold, shape it, and bake it.”

“I’ll help you shape it.”

As I stood next to her and rolled up my sleeves, Dia smiled and answered.

“Really? I am grateful.”

After receiving her mold from her, I started pressing her dough into her shape.

Dia, who was watching her closely, smiled brightly and asked.

“Ms. Amber is so special.”

“Yes?”

“You could say I’m different from ordinary women. I feel like I’m different on the inside somehow.”

‘…!’

She asked, slightly embarrassed, because what she said seemed to imply that I was a man.

“…Uh, what made you feel that way?”

Dia had already finished making the dough. She walked towards me and answered.

“Stronger. Than any other people I’ve seen.”

Strong? I?

“Hey, are you kidding me?”

I was so surprised to hear something like that from someone who was defeated by a cat.

“It’s true. There are few people as strong on the inside as Amber.”

“…I’m such a coward.”

Ever since my life before being possessed, I have always been very scared.

What a coward he is, when there was a small fire at school, his feet were so stiff that he was left alone until the end.

But Dia shook her head and spoke as if she was denying what I said.

“Do you remember when Ruby awakened her fire powers?”

There was no way I couldn’t remember.

Ruby, who was enjoying a banquet after the awards ceremony, unintentionally woke up and a fire broke out throughout the venue.

“…Yes. “He was definitely there at the time.”

“At that time, I left my seat and went to get water because I thought I had to put out the fire. “I thought I could save Ruby only if I put the fire down first.”

Although her timing was a step late, she definitely brought a bucket of water.

Dia looked a little bitter and continued speaking.

“But Amber was different. “Unlike me, he jumped into the fire without hesitation.”

Even in my opinion, it was a dizzying act.

“At that time, she was out of her mind thinking she was losing Ruby… “

Both Ruby and I almost thought that this was a mistake that could have been made, but it seemed like Dia thought differently.

“Most people try to run away when a crisis occurs. But Amber is trying to solve the problem by facing it head on, right?”

“…”

“That’s not something anyone can do.”

I’ve never thought of it that way before.

I used to think that the reason my hair turned gray every time I encountered a problem was simply because I was a coward.

It is true that I was really scared, but when I think about it, I was always the one who remained in such scenes until the end.

But in the end, it was because everything worked out well. If something went wrong, he would definitely be seen as a fool who couldn’t even protect himself.

“…I’m not as great a person as DIA thinks. I have no special abilities or strength. “

“…Is that so?”

Dia put her cookies in her oven, took off her gloves, squeezed my hand, and she said,

“Still, Amber is like a warrior to me.”

‘He’s a warrior…’ ?’

His face turned red for no reason because he felt like he had received a somewhat unfair confession.

Dia looked at me with her blue eyes, and I was captured by her gaze.

‘…Pretty.’

I feel it again, it was truly an overwhelming visual.

Enough charm to captivate the hearts of all the female heroines in the original game.

The main character, Dia, definitely had that undeniable charm.

Before I knew it, my body was slowly being pushed away, and it ended up looking like it was pressed against a wall.

“…”

She cupped my hands and slowly pressed them against the wall.

“Da, diamond?”

At some point, the distance became so close that her breath touched her, and she spoke softly.

“…I want to get to know Amber even more.”

“…Yes?”

A thin strand of golden hair fell from her diamond forehead and swayed with her exhaled breath.

It was more embarrassing than I thought to look at each other in front of our noses without blinking.

Just getting close to my face makes my heart pound, making me feel like I’m a prisoner of diamonds.

“…So, please let me know about you.”

In his suffocating silence, Dia slowly tilted her face towards me.

—- ( + )

Crucible of shock