Not a Villainess but a Maid

#005 The Protagonist Arrives

Since the day I heard Ruby’s performance beside me, I naturally found myself sitting next to her, watching her play the piano.

I may not know much about music, but strangely, after completing a piece, Ruby always asked for my opinion.

Matching her music with my mornings became a routine, and Ruby’s cat, Milk, occasionally occupied the piano’s top, casting intermittent glances at us.

Then, one day, while Ruby was playing, she gestured towards the sheet music and said to me,

“Amber. Can you pass me the symphony score?”

“Yes, just a moment.”

I confidently grabbed a stack of sheet music, but struggled to find the one she mentioned.

The characters written on the sheets were all in the original language from the in-game world, and I couldn’t interpret any of it.

Watching me in that state, Ruby cautiously asked,

“···Is reading difficult for you?”

Now that lying wouldn’t make sense at this point, I acknowledged her words.

“Yes. I’m sorry···.”

Illiterate at the age of 13. Of course, it was because of the possession, but I thought Ruby would scold me or find it absurd.

However, she showed an unexpected reaction.

“…No. Rather, I should be the one apologizing. I haven’t been careful enough.”

Listening to her words, it seemed quite common for a commoner of my age to struggle with reading.

“I’ll make an effort to learn so I can read.”

Upon my response, Ruby asked with a puzzled expression.

“How will you do that? Is there someone to teach you?”

“…Well, there isn’t, but…”

After a moment of contemplation, Ruby spoke.

“Then let’s do this. Come to the library after finishing all maid duties.”

“The library?”

“I’ll help you learn to read.”

I responded to her suggestion with a perplexed expression.

“…But then I’d be taking away your time, Miss.”

“It doesn’t matter. Besides, I want a maid who at least knows how to read.”

In other words, I had no choice.

“If the Miss insists…”

While the situation of the mistress teaching the servant was a bit strange, I decided to comply with Ruby’s words since I was frustrated with my inability to read.

***

It had been a few days since I started learning to read in the library with her.

“Sigh…”

Last night, I could barely get three hours of sleep while solving the homework Ruby assigned me.

Ruby was undoubtedly a good teacher. Occasionally intimidating with her lack of emotional expression and stern demeanor, but she diligently corrected any mistakes.

The problem was the excessive, almost murderous amount of workload.

Already having a sharp mind, Ruby taught me writing following the process she had learned. As a result, with my average intelligence, I had to sacrifice even my sleeping hours to catch up with it.

“Can’t believe I have to study even after possessing someone…”

Although becoming a maid was physically demanding, I had mistakenly thought it would free me from pen and paper at least.

This day, due to oversleeping a bit, I hurriedly prepared and went to the living room.

– Clang.

A jingling sound echoed from the door connected to the mansion outside.

As a bell announcing the arrival of a guest, most visitors expected me to open the door.

“Who could it be this early in the morning?”

Since today was a weekend, there was no mailman expected, and I hadn’t heard anyone say a guest was coming.

I headed towards the mansion’s main gate, perplexed.

Beyond the lofty iron bars of the mansion, I could see the silhouette of a woman.

Though her face was somewhat concealed, judging by her height, she seemed to be a girl around Ruby’s and my age.

Standing on the other side of the gate, I greeted her.

“I am Amber, the maid of this mansion. What brings you here?”

In response, a clear and gentle voice reached me.

“I’ve come to meet Ruby Sarka. Would it be inconvenient for you right now?”

“I came to meet the young lady?”

I asked the mysterious girl who claimed to have come to meet Ruby.

“Excuse me, may I ask for your name?”

“Oh, I forgot. I am Dia Osteon of the Osteon family.”

“Ah, Dia Osteon…!?”

Surprised, I asked with a puzzled voice.

“Um, is there a problem?”

Dia Osteon.

She was the protagonist of the game I possessed, “Violet Magic Chronicles.”

“Dia at Ruby’s mansion…?”

I knew from the protagonist’s background that she had known Ruby since childhood, but seeing her in front of me like this was hard to believe.

“Well, I’ll let you in for now.”

I couldn’t keep such a precious guest waiting outside, so I decided to let her in through the front door.

“Excuse me-“

She pushed her face through the huge door.

“It’s really her, the Dia I knew.”

Although she looked slightly younger, Dia’s appearance was not much different from the game.

Her golden curly hair, which anyone would find adorable, and her eyes with a hint of blue complemented each other perfectly.

For a moment, I absentmindedly stared at Dia’s appearance, but then I snapped back to reality and quickly moved.

“I’ll inform Miss Ruby and come back, so please wait here for a moment.”

“Wait a moment, Miss Maid!”

Abruptly, Dia called me, and I stopped walking, turning around.

“Yes?”

“I’ve never seen you before, Miss Maid. May I ask for your name?”

Dia was set to use polite language with everyone.

Having spent her early years as a commoner, she was adopted into a noble family later and treated everyone with grace.

“I’m Amber. I recently became Miss Ruby’s exclusive maid.”

Upon my response, Dia chuckled, tilting her head.

“Ruby, an exclusive maid…?”

“…Is something strange?”

“No, it’s just a bit surprising. Nice to meet you, Amber.”

She laughed, and naturally, the corners of her mouth twitched.

Indeed, as befitting the protagonist of a yuri romance game, her laughter alone had a captivating charm.

“I look forward to working with you, Dia.”

***

“…Who came looking for me?”

Ruby’s expression stiffened upon hearing my story.

“That would be… Dia Osteon, sir.”

Upon informing Ruby that Dia had come, she seemed slightly unsettled.

“…I wonder what she’s here to talk about again.”

Unlike the lively atmosphere outside with Dia, Ruby’s expression was rather somber.

Dia and Ruby sat facing each other at a table.

As I poured tea into their cups, Dia nodded slightly and said, “Thank you, Amber.”

Ruby seemed slightly surprised by Dia’s words.

“···Are we already on a first-name basis?”

“Yes?”

Seeming a bit confused, she tilted her head, and I shook mine in denial.

“No, we just exchanged greetings briefly outside earlier.”

“···Is that so?”

Ruby, even if only for a moment, seemed relieved.

Dia was the first to steer the conversation.

“Have you been well, Ruby?”

“···Not really. Someone spread rumors about me leaving the concert.”

“Oh, right.”

At a glance, it might seem like an ordinary conversation, but observing from the side, the subtle currents between the two were quite intimidating.

Though still a child, it felt like a noble confrontation, or something along those lines—a sense of tension between nobles.

“Ruby, by the way, how’s your health? Any discomfort or···.”

“···I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. And how’s Milk doing?”

Without needing a response from Ruby, Milk meowed under the table and nuzzled their face against Dia’s leg.

“As you can see.”

Milk seemed to really like Dia.

“That darn cat, acting all disgusted when I’m not around…”

“The taste of this black tea is really good!”

Unlike Dia, who had only drunk about half of the tea I poured, Miss Ruby didn’t even touch her cup.

Continuing to casually deflect Dia’s questions, Ruby interrupted her and spoke firmly.

“Dia.”

“Yes?”

“…What is the reason you came here today?”

She was stern. Ruby had the same expression as usual, but I could sense that she was on guard.

“Too bad. I wanted to spend more time leisurely.”

“…Of course, that’s part of the reason I came, too.”

It seemed there was indeed a reason, Dia emptied the remaining tea and spoke confidently.

“Ruby, I’ll be straightforward. Please give up on going to the concert.”

I was so surprised by Dia’s statement that I almost dropped the teapot I was holding.

“Give up on the concert…?”

I never even dreamed that she would tell me to give up on the concert.

Ruby hardened her expression and asked Dia.

“Why should I do that?”

“I don’t want to compete with Ruby. I want to remain in this kind of relationship forever.”

Dia’s expression remained gentle.

“Do you really think I would give up a concert just because of that?”

“Yes, that’s what I thought Ruby would say.”

Dia seemed to quickly agree unexpectedly, but it was my misconception.

“Then I’ll give up the concert from my side.”

“…”

Ruby’s expression became even colder at her statement.

Something was wrong.

The Dia Osteon I knew would never run away from a goal she wanted.

She is the protagonist of this game.

It was strange for her to give up the concert just because she didn’t want to compete with Ruby.

Dia still spoke with a gentle expression.

“It’s okay if I don’t win. I’ll let you have this concert.”

The tension between them seemed like it could explode at any moment.

Both of them looked at each other without saying a word, but the atmosphere was so chilling that it could send any horror movie running.

“…It’s okay if I don’t win?”

Dia acted as if she knew she would win.

Standing slightly behind them, watching their conversation, I put down the teapot and interjected.

“…It’s not diamonds. I wonder if you’re mistaken.”

“…Yes?”

She seemed slightly flustered by my sudden remark.

“A concert like this isn’t important. The lady’s goal was to compete with you.”

After spending a few weeks by Ruby’s side, my head seemed to have gone astray.

It was an action I would never have taken under normal circumstances.

“If you truly respect Miss Ruby, then face her squarely in the concert.”

After my statement, the room fell silent.

I didn’t want to render Ruby’s efforts in vain.

Even if the result turned into sharp thorns that would prick her, I thought it would be better than her fading away without ever seeing the light.

It was a strange situation.

Surely my original purpose was to somehow prevent Ruby from participating in the concert and prevent any accidents caused by her awakened abilities.

But when I came to my senses, I found myself cheering for her more than anyone else.

Dia, who had heard everything, spoke with a sad expression.

“…Amber is right. I have no right to say anything about Ruby’s emotions.”

Then she turned her head and looked at Ruby.

“…Then I’ll ask Ruby. Can you promise that you won’t be hurt no matter what the outcome of the concert is?”

In response to her question, Ruby firmly nodded her head.

“…It’s impossible. If I lose to Dia, I will definitely be upset and sad.”

“…I see.”

Diamond seemed determined not to bend her thoughts.

“Well, then, I also···.”

“But,”

Ruby’s words interrupted it.

“Still, I want to compete with you. Diamond.”

···.

In her dark eyes, there was a desire to defeat the opponent in front of her.

Ruby, born for the first time and the only woman she had set as a goal. Diamond Osteon.

As if not willing to miss the opportunity to compete with her, Ruby’s red eyes flickered, vividly depicting the opponent.

Diamond seemed to be trying to persuade her.

···If you win, surely your heart will hurt a lot.”

“Yeah, I know.”

···Now, you might come to hate music.”

···Certainly, that could happen.”

Diamond, with a very sad expression, asked her one last question.

···Even if you can never touch the piano again?”

The room fell silent as if a mouse had died at her profound question.

But Ruby responded with the same expression as her initial answer.

···Still, I want to be with you. Diamond.”

In the midst of fearing what response would come from Diamond, she opened her mouth after a moment of silence.

“···I’m sorry. I underestimated it.”

After contemplating for quite some time, Dia nodded with a slightly refreshed expression.

“You had a wonderful maid, Ruby.”

“···.”

Ruby didn’t say a word and just looked at Dia.

Dia cautiously stood up and spoke.

“I’ll participate in the concert as planned. I’ll leave now for today···.”

Ruby nodded.

“Amber, see her off.”

“Yes···.”

Dia walked towards the entrance and greeted Ruby.

“Well then, see you on the day of the concert.”

“···Yeah.”

As I left the mansion, I immediately bowed my head and apologized to Dia.

“I apologize, Miss Dia. I spoke without knowing the subject···.”

I quickly bowed my head in a way that implied I shouldn’t mistake her.

She’s a noble young lady from a well-known family, after all.

It felt as if Ruby’s actions were being disregarded, so I impulsively said it.

Dia extended both her hands as if telling me not to worry about it.

“No…! There’s no need for Amber to apologize at all.”

She lowered her head, tightly gripping both of my hands as she spoke.

“Actually, I’m glad that Ruby has a trustworthy maid like you.”

She seemed sincere.

“And the Amber just now… how should I put it, she sparkled.”

“She… sparkled?”

“T-Thank you…”

The expression “sparkled” was something new.

Perhaps it was her way of complimenting me.

With her head still lowered, she murmured softly.

“…I feel a bit jealous of Ruby.”

“What?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Thank you for today, Amber.”

I stood at the entrance where we first met, and now I was seeing her off.

“Are you leaving now, Lady Dia?”

“Yes. There’s no need to address me so formally. I used to be a commoner, just like Amber, not too long ago.”

“Yes, understood…”

As Dia stepped out of the mansion, her eyes seemed to be filled with a complicated emotion.

“Please take good care of Ruby in the future, Amber.”

She seemed to have a complex and intertwined relationship with Ruby beyond my imagination.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have uttered words like giving up the recital herself.

After parting ways with her, I stood quietly, contemplating.

‘… If Ruby performs at the recital, certainly…’

Like in a game, I might experience an unfortunate event after losing to Diamond.

Perhaps I’ve stepped onto an irreversible path now.

But watching Ruby immerse herself in the performance, it felt right to do so.

I wanted to believe in my still inadequate self and in Ruby, at least once.

That’s what I ended up thinking and saying.