Anger

"You... why are you like this?"

His voice was low, filled with curiosity. And I smiled softly as I turned to face him.

"Isn't that quite obvious, young master?"

I chuckled and tilted my head to the side, but he didn't seem satisfied with my response.

"That's because I'm your personal maid."

That lighthearted, simple answer was enough to make him widen his eyes slightly.

"I don't understand..."

He murmured, loud enough for me to hear but I decided to question him back.

"What was that, young master?"

My smile morphed into a playful one as I quietly giggled.

"... Forget it!"

He continued to eat his meal in silence as he averted his gaze away from me.

(How cute.)

(I can't believe Nokto was actually this cute when he was young. It's a shame the novel didn't mention how adorable he was while acting this way.)

I bit a giggle and continued my work to clean up his room, deciding a few changes such as the rug, vase, the curtains, and blankets.

After I finished cleaning while Nokto remained under his blanket again, I left his room to return the tray to the kitchen and look for a better replacement for the damaged objects.

(He really ate all the foods I prepared.)

I smiled triumphantly as I walked into the kitchen by myself and set it on the table for the other maids to handle.

As I was placing the tray, another maid entered the room at the same moment, and it was a maid I recognized. She's been employed here for almost five years.

(Alma was it?)

"Alma, what a good timing."

I gave Alma a kind smile as she walked into the kitchen.

"Do you know where to find replacement for young master's blanket, rug, and vase? Or something along those lines."

I chuckled to myself as I asked her, my eyes waiting for her response with eager anticipation because I want Nokto's room to be perfect.

However, the response I received was disappointing.

"What the? You actually cared for that useless thing?"

She expression turned into disgust the moment I questioned her, and my smile disappeared from my face.

(... Did she just call Nokto 'useless thing'?)

"Pfft— I guess even the servant will be this idiotic while serving under him."

She mockingly laughed at me, and I was speechless at how awful she was.

(... This heartless bitch—)

"Take back what you said."

"Huh?"

My eyes narrowed as I clenched a fist with my palms, attempting to contain the anger inside me.

"I don't mind if you make fun of me, but don't make fun of the young master."

"Hah? Are you being serious right now?"

Her eyes widened in surprise as she stopped laughing and replaced it with a scornful glare.

My eyes widened as she abruptly raised her hand and slapped her palm into my cheek, causing it to sting.

(What the...)

My arms trembled as I reached for my own stinging cheek, which had been slapped without any apparent reason.

"Did you just—"

"Hey, newcomer, the person you're currently serving is a waste of time who has no influence or power. He's just an illegitimate child who is not worth to serve for."

(Not worth to serve for?!)

"It appears that you need to be educated in order to fully understand—"

I raised my hand and landed a strong hit on her cheek with my palm before she could continue her sentence, causing her to stagger and groan in pain.

"W-what did you just do?!"

My eyes were filled with rage as I gazed at her. I worked hard to keep my rage contained, but my patience was wearing thin.

(This bitch needs a good slap at least—)

I raised my hand once more and slapped my hand against her cheek on the other side, causing it to turn red.

(Twice!)

"You crazy woman!"

She yelled angrily at me, and the commotion attracted the attention of other employees, who rushed into the kitchen.

Those people's eyes widened in disbelief at what they saw, as it appeared that I was assaulting her.

"H-help...! This new maid was hitting me for no reason!"

Alma's eyes welled up with fake tears as she chose to play the victim, sorrowful eyes on the other staff.

She was taking advantage of the situation not just because I was slapping her, but also because I was a new maid who acted rashly and she was a long-time employee.

Of course anyone would support her in this situation.

"Alma, are you alright?!"

"Miss Bell, please refrain yourself! Are you not embarrassed?!"

"Oh gosh... her temperament is even similar to the young master..."

"Like master like servant, I wondered how she was able to work here."

(... I was able to truly confirm that Nokto's remarks were true after witnessing it for myself.)

(He said that people here are trash. Whoever it is, they are trash.)

These people didn't even question as to what was going on, what had happened to us, or seek my viewpoint.

(Ha...)

I curtsied respectfully in front of everyone, a gentle smile on my face.

"I deeply apologize for the commotion, but miss Alma was getting on my nerves and her cheeks looked like it was prepared to be slapped."

I chuckled lightly, and Alma's eyes widened in surprise as she gazed at me, looking as if I was crazy.

However, I returned her gaze with a kind smile, but she quickly realized that my gaze was ridiculing her.

"That's not a reason to hit miss Alama, miss Bell!"

"He's right, miss Bell!"

(Nokto...)

I drew my eyebrows together as I noticed each and every one of the employees staring at me with suspicion and contempt.

(... Living with people like this must feel like shit.)

"What happened here?"

Soon after, we were drawn to the door by a familiar voice, and we turned to see Emma looking at us with a judgmental gaze.

Alma's eyes lit up when she spotted the head maid, and she behaved even more dramatic than usual because she's acting the victim.

"M-miss Bell hit me when I was giving her advice...!"

While she was stroking her two burning cheeks, tears streamed down her eyes.

She looked pitiful, she's a great actress.

Emma turned her gaze toward me, her black eyes analyzing me but I just smiled at her in return.

***

"So that's the story."

Emma nodded as I told her the entire scenario up to the point where I hit Alma twice.

(At the very least, Emma is willing to hear my point of view.)

"While your story was very different from Alma, it is the most believable of the two."

Emma's expression remained stoic and calm, as if she was used to it and could distinguish who was telling the truth and who was lying.

(Even though she's wise like this, she can't do anything because of the Duchess.)

"Things like this happened all the time, but don't worry, you won't be fired."

(Thought so. It was difficult to find someone willing to look after Nokto.)

"But after what happened today, don't expect to receive kind treatments from the other employees."

My eyes narrowed in understatement.

"I'm aware of that."

"They might even do things worse than today to you. Do you still willing to work even after all that, miss Bell?"

I nodded, my gaze unyielding, since I stick to my beliefs and will never change my mind because of an accident like this.

Besides, I came to make joyful memories with Nokto in order to help him manage with his misery.

This is a little issue in comparison to what he's been through in this pavilion, surrounded by unsympathetic employees and cruel parents.

"I understand."

Emma let out a long sigh as she nodded her head in response to my answer.

"You should go back now, it's time for lunch, you must be hungry."

I gave her a friendly smile and nodded before getting out of my seat.

"Thank you Emma. I don't receive any punishment thanks for your help."

"It's your first day after all. Make sure this accident won't happen again."

"Yes, of course."

After exiting her office, sigh escaped my lips and I realised there's still lingering anger in my chest the more I was reminded of Alma's words.

If someone insults my Hero, I can't stand it.

Because while I'm still living my previous life, I'm able to survive through hard days because of Nokto.

I enjoyed reading [Blessings of Glory] since it shows how strong Nokto was, even when he attempted to give up on life at times.

He was my role model and someone I looked up to, despite the fact that he wasn't real.

But now that he's real, breathing and alive, I know his suffering was far more severe than I thought.

And I'd be offended if someone mocked his misfortune and way of living simply because he's an illegitimate child.

As someone who has long admired him, I want to help him and alleviate his suffering.

It was the only thing I could do as his maid.