MPBAGS Chapter 31

 "Um... we have arrived."

The coachman called out to Henna and Kanna. His voice trembled and he couldn't meet their eyes, clearly showing how difficult he found it to deal with Henna.

Ever since she became the young lady's attendant, all the servants in the mansion had been uncomfortable around Henna.

'That' Evangeline's personal maid.

That was the title Henna was known by in the mansion these days. After several people had previously quit in fear and rumors spread that Daisy had gone blind and been sent to a monastery, Henna, who continued working normally, stood out all the more by comparison.

Kanna, on the other hand, never left the young lady's side and wasn't officially employed, so people didn't know her face and treated her casually. Of course, after having ordinary conversations and parting ways, they would often wonder "But who was that girl?" and rack their memories.

"Thank you."

"No, not at all. I'll wait here in front."

Would that coachman, who spoke so respectfully even to a mere maid, remember that he used to chat with Henna occasionally in the past?

"How splendid."

Whether the coachman was flustered with Henna or not, Kanna, who was looking up at the grand temple, voiced her impression.

Indeed, as she said, the grand temple was extremely splendid. It would probably rival the imperial palace. Even Henna let out a small gasp of admiration, but Kanna's words were dry and emotionless. If she were a child of her age, she would naturally be amazed by beautiful things, but instead there was even a faint sense of hostility.

Henna thought this was because the young lady disliked the temple, and that influence had extended to her sister. If not for that, what reason would her sister have to be hostile toward the temple?

Whether due to the coachman's extremely polite greeting or because they had alighted from the elaborately decorated count's carriage, people's gazes were drawn to them. The main customers of the grand temple were nobles, so the exterior landscaping was also well-maintained, with many people enjoying the outdoor scenery.

"That carriage's crest. Which family's coat of arms is that?"
"What crest? That crow?"
"No. It's a phoenix. It's the Rohanson count family."
"Does the Rohanson count family have children? I've never seen them before."
"There's that sickly daughter of theirs."
"Ah. That's right. So which of the two is that daughter?"
"Well. The one who looks sicker?"
"Oh my. I heard she had died, but it must have all been false rumors."
"Or maybe she resurrected like her family's crest."
"What a joke. Haha."

Their ridicule was accompanied by mockery. Is this why the young lady was reluctant to come? Even though Henna knew the real reason was different, she felt that way for a moment.

Would those fools have any idea that their joking words, meant to mock the count family, were close to the truth?

Surely if the young lady had come, they wouldn't have dared to even open their mouths. Beyond social status, Evangeline Rohanson possessed overwhelming authority. Anyone standing before the young lady would be reduced to a mere human.

"Excuse me. Young lady. Are you indeed Lady Rohanson?"

And from the group that had been appraising them like displayed goods, one particularly assertive man approached. His gaze was directed at Kanna. With Henna's tanned face and rough hands beside her, he seemed to have mistaken Kanna for the young lady.

"You seem to have misunderstood because we came by carriage. I'm the young lady's maid."

"Ah, really?"

As soon as the man learned that Kanna wasn't the young lady, he immediately changed his attitude. His gentlemanly demeanor from moments before vanished instantly, revealing his true arrogant and condescending nature.

Wasn't Kanna hurt by his sudden change? Henna subtly checked on her sister's condition. Fortunately, she seemed unaffected as Kanna was still smiling.

"Well, her clothes are too shabby to be Lady Rohanson."

Henna's body flinched. If she had known this would happen, she should have stopped by the dressing room before coming, as Kanna had suggested. Even if it didn't matter for herself as a maid, it upset her that Kanna had to hear such words.

Moreover, it was like tarnishing the young lady's name. Since the young lady wasn't interested in such things, Henna should have been more careful.

"Your lady is too much."

"My lady is too much?"

"If she's going to send you to the temple, she should at least lend you some clothes for others to see. Don't you think? The Rohanson count family has so much money. Oh, you probably don't know much about it?"

"What don't I know?"

When Kanna asked, the man covered his mouth with both hands as if about to share some great secret. But since his voice didn't lower at all, it was merely a performative gesture.

"That lady's maternal family is the Hosaquin ducal house. But apparently the ducal house doesn't provide much support? Seeing as there's no money to buy clothes for the maids."

The man laughed as if he had made the joke of the century. Since his voice was still loud, even those who had been pretending not to look while glancing this way covered their mouths with fans.

The only person who couldn't laugh was Henna. No, there were two.

Henna couldn't bring herself to laugh because she was more afraid of her sister's face standing beside her than of the man's or the nobles' sarcasm.

Kanna, whose smile had stiffened when the young lady's story came up, now had a completely expressionless face. Even Henna, who had cared for Kanna for so long, didn't recognize that expression. No, had she seen it once before? When was it? When she was looking down at Donau's corpse, who had committed suicide by piercing his own throat?

Henna suddenly felt afraid. Surely her sister wouldn't kill that man right here? It seemed absurd, but Henna was genuinely worried about that.

Fortunately, the laughter of the man and people quickly died down.

"...Young lady."

No one would dare laugh frivolously in front of Evangeline Rohanson.

When will Henna and Kanna return... It's been a while since they left, but there's no word from the kids. My parents must have waited for me with this same feeling when I was late. Suddenly I miss them so much I feel like I might tear up.

Are you doing well? Mom. Your daughter has become a romance novel villainess...

"When will they return?"

"They probably haven't even reached the Grand Temple yet."

Looking at the clock, really not much time had passed. So many eventful things happened in between that I thought it had been five hours.

Today, since Henna and Kanna weren't here, I went down to the dining hall to get lunch. When I went there after a long time, everyone was in a panic. The cook was so nervous about me being in the dining hall that he cut himself while chopping, and the maids serving me were trembling as they carried food and even broke plates.

Then they apologized while bowing on the broken glass, saying they were sorry. Even though glass was embedded in their hands and legs and they were bleeding, they just kept watching my expression. What kind of blood-calling villainess am I? I said it was fine and sent them away, telling the butler to treat them with holy water.

Since the Count doesn't eat with me either, I was eating alone, but everyone was so quiet they weren't even breathing audibly. In that huge dining hall, the only sounds were me eating, utensils clinking, and my chewing, which made me want to die of embarrassment.

I miss Kanna and Henna...

Being friendly with those two doesn't seem to be enough to shed Evangeline's notorious reputation. Well, just because the contents inside have changed doesn't mean all the evil deeds accumulated so far disappear. They probably just think Evangeline has amnesia.

I didn't realize I'd feel this empty without Kanna, who treats me comfortably. I'm worried too. Should I have just followed them? I didn't go because I didn't have the courage to see corpse drawings, but I should have said I'd wait in front.

This won't do.

"Jelly. Let's go see Kanna."

I have an otherworldly beastman mage by my side - a superior version of a taxi! Let's teleport there with a flash!

I feel like I've become an overprotective parent who sends their kids on errands then secretly follows to check if they're doing well.