Chapter 5
The scenery that came into view felt quite unfamiliar.
Judging by the pitch-black view outside the window, it seemed to be nighttime, yet the softly glowing lamp made it easy enough to make out the surroundings.
Lucillea slowly sat up. Beneath her palms, she could clearly feel a soft, plush texture.
“…Oh…”
She let out a flat sigh without much emotion.
The bed she was buried in exuded a faint scent of warm sunlight, and the texture beneath her hands as she grasped the blanket was as soft as holding a cloud.
Pressing down on the blanket with her hands, Lucillea moved it aside and fully slipped out of the bed.
This time, the pure white drapes that had floated dreamily around the square canopy above swayed over her head.
“What’s this now?”
It was certainly not to her taste.
Brushing aside the drapes, Lucillea put her legs down to the floor and finally took in the full view of the room.
Along the walls were black matte wooden furniture, and on top of the cabinets were neatly arranged ornaments carved from amethyst that radiated a mysterious light.
The patterns engraved on the ornaments were the same as those on the side of the grand duke’s carriage she had traveled in, marking them as symbols of the Grand Ducal family.
As moonlight filtered through the windows, the ornaments sparkled like ice crystals.
She then noticed a birdcage occupying one corner of the room, where Cookie was dozing off.
“So Cookie arrived safely too.”
Before using the gate, Lucillea had asked Elbadin to let her bring Cookie along. Even for a small bird, she felt she needed permission.
Elbadin had agreed without hesitation, and Lucillea had called Cookie from her hiding place to move together through the gate.
After that… blackout. She remembered nothing.
“Come to think of it, why did I suddenly lose consciousness?”
Lucillea found a dark-colored blanket nearby. She covered part of the birdcage with it and then returned to the bed.
Oddly, her body felt weak, and even walking a short distance was exhausting.
Just then, as she tilted her head in confusion, the door opened, and a girl dressed as a maid entered, humming a tune.
“Oh! You’re awake, Lucillea-sama?!”
“…….”
Lucillea-sama?
Lucillea blinked her large eyes in puzzlement.
The girl looked young, as if just having reached adulthood.
Her skin was pale, almost cool to the touch, and her long black hair was neatly braided down to her waist.
Her softly curved eyes hardly changed, as if set in place.
Then, between those slender, curved eyes, a flash of light green appeared and disappeared.
The maid set down the tray she had been carrying on the side table and bowed her head to Lucillea.
“Hello, Lucillea-sama. This is our first greeting. I am Mei, and from today I will be your personal maid. If you ever need help, just call out ‘Mei~.’”
Her voice was high and clear, and her friendly smile was habitual. She radiated positive energy.
Yet something was odd.
Although her smile was gentle and her words kind, there was an indescribable shadow lurking behind it.
Lucillea tilted her head, feeling a vague sense of caution, and returned the greeting.
“Hello. I look forward to working with you.”
“And I with you!”
Mei soaked a washcloth in a bowl of water she had prepared in advance and gently pressed it against Lucillea’s forehead.
“You’ve been asleep the whole day.”
“Excuse me? The whole day?”
“Yes. You lost consciousness due to the gate’s side effects. Even Irevan came by, and everyone was so surprised. Ah, Irevan is the grand duke’s personal physician.”
“…….”
Side effects from the gate?
‘Did this novel even have such a setting?’
And then…
‘My personal maid…?’
Lucillea recalled what she had vaguely heard from Riat before passing through the gate.
A child chosen by the elite corps would receive treatment equivalent to that of a baron in the empire.
Thus, entering the grand duke’s residence would come with a personal maid.
-“Of course, the final verification to prove there’s not a single lie in your words must be completed. Only after the Grand Duke officially approves it will you receive a personal maid and the support of the Ducal household. We’ll discuss the details again after you arrive at the grand duke’s residence.”
Lucillea tilted her head.
‘That procedure… happens this quickly?’
In just one day?
She asked Mei.
“So if you’re my personal maid, does that mean the Grand Duke has approved me staying at the grand duke’s residence?”
Mei nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! That’s right, Lucillea-sama! That’s why everyone at the residence is surprised! It’s not something that would normally be resolved overnight.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Mei guided Lucillea from the bed toward the bathroom, answering naturally.
“Normally, those chosen by the elite corps have a verification period of at least a month.”
During that time, they handle agreements between the children’s parents and the village, as well as paperwork. There are a few other procedures too, and only after all of them is the chosen child officially recognized.
Lucillea’s eyes widened at Mei’s explanation.
“I see… being chosen by the elite corps isn’t the end.”
This was also a setting never explained in the original story. Naturally—early on, the fate of the vanishing villain’s family wasn’t important.
‘Anyway, this “verification period” has been drastically shortened.’
Perhaps the absence of “real” parents to discuss her future played a role.
‘It was a bit ambiguous to say I belonged to Mille Village too.’
While Mei stood Lucillea by the bathtub, she tested the water temperature with her fingertips.
“But in just one night, the Grand Duke’s approval was given.”
She smiled as she confirmed the water was perfectly warm.
“Alright, Lucillea-sama. Shall we get in? I’ll help you undress. Arms up!”
Mei raised her arms skyward like someone cheering.
But Lucillea couldn’t easily lift her arms.
“Ah… um…”
She hesitated.
Showing her body, marked with scars and wounds, to a stranger—even disregarding mental or physical age—was never easy.
It brought back shameful memories.
Fidgeting nervously, Lucillea whispered:
“I… I can bathe myself. Please, let me do it alone…”
“……”
Mei knelt to meet her eye level.
“Lucillea-sama.”
“Yes……”
Mei’s voice softened further, as if understanding Lucillea’s feelings.
“Actually, it was at the Grand Duke’s request.”
“…A request?”
Mei nodded.
“Yes. The Grand Duke is incredibly perceptive.”
Gently holding Lucillea’s hand, Mei observed the bluish discoloration on the back of it.
“He wanted me to assess your exact condition. It would help him understand the village people and the adopted father selected by lottery.”
“Ah…”
Lucillea pondered briefly, then nodded in understanding.
‘She said “assess,” but just now she said “process.”’
Mei had quickly corrected herself, but Lucillea understood the meaning.
‘Right, if it helps deal with Shured and Mille Village, I can manage this…!’
She had also been regretting leaving so abruptly.
With that thought, Lucillea clenched her eyes shut and raised her arms high.
“Arms up!”
“Yes! I’m ready!”
Mei chuckled softly and gently removed Lucillea’s outer clothing.
“Very well done…”
At that moment, Mei’s voice faded mid-compliment, and the smile at the corners of her lips stiffened quickly.
