Miri(4)

The next day, Xian had a spar with Serika once again. He didn't have much difficulty before and was able to return some blows. Of course, if he felt like it, he can score a hit if he's desperate enough.

He waited for an opportunity until Carmillia and Lucinelle left the training grounds.

"Is it fun to beat me up?" Xian had been observing and thinking what to say to Serika, only to end up with that question. Talking about the suppression of the chief maid right away might turn his chances for the worse instead.

"Yeah. Your arrogant face contorting looks so funny that I can't get enough of it." She dismissively said with a smirk. Xian noticed a small fang on each sides of her teeth.

'Ah, she's that type huh? Is she a tsundere too?' Noting his vast knowledge of heroines, he instantly deduced Serika's typical archetype.

"You mean, you like my face?"

"Wha—! That's not it! No! What are you even saying!" Her strike's hardened for an instant but he endured it and tried to push back.

"Why are you overreacting? I'm kidding. Don't tell me…"

"Just try and run your mouth! I'm gonna rip it!" Snarled Serika with faintly blushing cheeks and fiery eyes.

'Woah! That's really intense.' Instead of feeling afraid, her reaction made him smile. Despite her increased intensity, the level of pain he received had become irrelevant to him at some point.

"You know, I noticed something strange the other day."

"Tsk, I didn't think you'd be the chatty type." She complained, but didn't tell him to stop.

"I remember the chief maid meeting the coachman before he got replaced." Xian didn't know if it's true, but that sounded plausible enough. If they can't go back in time and confirm it, then it might as well be the truth anyways.

"What?" Serika stared at him with disbelief, finding that revelation absurd. By herself, she was already forming what Xian wanted her to think.

Rather than outright saying his suspicions, it's better to make her realize that something suspicious is going on with what he witnessed about the chief maid.

"I kind of forgot to tell anyone. And no one seemed to be cautious enough to care."

"Why are you only saying this now?"

"Because I didn't think anyone else would believe me." It's a lie. Moris could've but who cares. He just needed to brute force his way into convincing her.

"But the head butler… " it seemed Serika had the same thoughts.

"The head butler would only move with evidence. And I recall that the two of them were quite close." As far as he knew, Carmillia and the swordmaiden duo hadn't stayed at this estate for long. In terms of knowing the relationships of servants and superiors, they were no better than him who came later.

"I could tell him. But at most, he will reprimand me and be suspicious of the chief maid. With her companion recently caught and even killed, there's no way she's going to act suspiciously if she's under Moris's eyes right?"

"That… Surprisingly makes sense." Serika's eyes winced, unable to disprove what she just heard.

'I know right? Even I, am surprised I can make up lies like this.' Xian was really stretching the amount of sensible bullshit he can spew.

"But, why are you only telling me?" Here comes the tricky part where he needed to convince Serika in discreetly capturing the chief maid.

"Team up with me, Serika." Xian deliberately called her name.

"Hpmh… Add ma'am to that."

That got filtered out of his ears as he went on. "With the two of us, we can overpower her. As for the justification, I saw her warily hiding something covered in parchment."

Xian met her eyes. "I think she's plotting something."

Their spar went on with only the sounds of their weapons hitting each other. For a while, Serika didn't respond.

'Is she not convinced?' Xian was already about to think about his next move when Serika finally spoke.

"So, what do you want us to do?" She brought down her sword indicating her willingness to hear Xian's plan.

"We need to investigate. For starters, I think we need a collaborator's help and I already have someone in mind." Xian gestured towards the maid who absentmindedly watched them spar.

Miri, noticing that they had stopped and were directing their gaze at her panicked. "Huh? I-is something wrong?"

"Her? Isn't she just an innocent maid?" Serika complained, already doubtful with his idea.

"You'll see. All we need to do is discreetly follow her." Xian called Miri over and she obediently walked towards them nervously. "Now, I'll tell you about the plan"

…

Xian's plan was simple.

To catch the chief maid, they need to practice absolute secrecy. He knew why Miri was chosen as the scapegoat. Because her nature and unassuming disposition made her innocuous towards to others eyes.

That meant, the chief maid viewed her the same way, she would never see it coming when Miri acts as a double spy. But, he didn't plan to make Miri do anything drastic. All she needed to do is receive what the chief maid gives to her and discreetly get rid of it.

Miri came back from the training grounds after Xian's briefing and dismissal. She was told to do things as usual but to keep his reminders in mind. She knew that the special butler was suspicious to the chief maid, but she honestly hoped that they were wrong.

"Miri? You're back early this time as well." As Xian said, the chief maid will definitely be waiting in their quarters. It's not something she always did but only occasionally. Today was the second time this week.

"Yes, miss Serika and sir Xian was done early. So I came here to be assigned new tasks."

"Hm, I see." The chief maid, fiddled with something in her desk. Miri couldn't tell but she only waited for her task to be delegated.

But instead, the chief maid talked about an entirely different topic.

"How's the special butler? What do you think of him Miri?"

"Hm? I-I think sir Xian is amazing… He's losing but he can keep up with miss Serika." She isn't an expert in battle, only knowing some superficial martial arts and throwing technique from back when she's still a maid trainee.

In her opinion, keeping up with Serika who's like a monster in her eyes in terms of strength is an amazing feat. The first thing the swordmaiden duo did upon coming in the estate was to crush the Estate Guard's retinue, establishing their authority martial superiority.

She saw how Serika cleaved the ground in half with a single swing and dark light. While Lucinelle gracefully crushed the mob of guards coming at her together. After that day, they didn't interfere like the guards expected but just prioritized guarding the young miss.

"Amazing? Do you think he can make it?" Before coming here, she was already told what to expect and what to do.

Miri heard from Xian that the chief maid is going to ask about him. Just like this question. "No. Miss Serika is too strong. It's impossible in a single week." Xian said that's the answer she should give to the chief maid.

Miri spoke nervously but the chief maid thought of it as nothing. She's always been naturally like that. Anxious of other people and fidgety.

"I see. Then he's leaving in a week." The chief maid said while staring intently at her. That made Miri feel guilty and look away, right now she felt like betraying the kindness of the chief maid.

But if it's miss Serika and sir Xian who said they had suspicions, then how can she, a maid, doubt them?

However, the chief maid took it differently. She was investigating the butler who foiled the assassination attempt of their one particularly powerful ally just the day after. That day, Miri was the one assigned to him.

Surprisingly, Miri didn't shy away from Xian but instead helped him until they're at the doorstep of his room. She could tell that the maid felt comfortable and the same went for the new butler.

At that moment a plan formed in her mind. She never thought that the duke would foolishly send away his precious daughter in their estate at the academy city. But it was a chance.

Hence, all those who harbored resentment towards the duke and wanted a hand in his fall to demise gathered together. It just so happens that she's a maid with similar aspiration from an incident long ago.

She had given up as years passed, growing old and resentful. But when the young miss came, she saw a flash of hope. A chance to finally claim her revenge and calm the lingering nightmares of her unborn child.

'Forgive me, you poor child, but I need to do this.' She had plunged herself in workload and grew gray hairs over the years trying to mask her regret. But, it will all end now.

'For the peace of those whose lives were broken. Please die for our sake, precious daughter of the duke.'

"Do you not want that man to leave?" The chief maid uttered in a knowing tone and seriousness.

The maid flinched in surprise, not because she's been had, but because it was the second question that only proved Xian's suspicion.

"I… don't want sir Xian gone." Biting her lip, the maid answered and the chief maid felt relief that her suspicions seem to be right. Miri had always been the type to be uncomfortable towards anyone new.

Somehow, she wasn't uncomfortable with Xian. The chief maid thought that it must be because she fancied him.

But to Miri, seeing Xian beaten and get back up again is the true reason she felt comfortable around him. The fact that he's vulnerable against Moris, but kept trying touched her heart.

He would yelp, jump around in shock and flinch with his face contorting in pain. At first, she found him scary and intimidating.

But that look of weakness and desperation made Miri realize something. Xian was a human just like her, trying his best. She didn't know how Xian pulled it off, but the next day, he was going toe to toe against Serika for a while.

Of course there's another very obvious reason why she's attracted to Xian.

'H-he's kind of my type.' That brushed her mind as she answered the chief maid, making the oblivious other party even more confident in her guess.

"… Then you'll be in charge of him for the rest of the week."

"Eh? Aren't we supposed to shuffle?"

"No, Miri. There's no need if I permit it." Smiling, she wrote in a ledger. "I will tell the other maids. They seem scared of him anyways."

"Show your support if you don't want him gone. Make sure to cling your way through okay? You only have one week."

"C-cling my way through?" Miri wondered what the chief maid is trying to say. Is she that easy to read?

'Maybe, even sir Xian know's it too. After all, that time—!' She remembered the intense glare from Xian when talking about his suspicions on the chief maid and the way he cornered her.

"Also, make sure to drop by before going to work. Starting tomorrow I'm going to give you something special to boost your performance."

She couldn't help but freeze.

That was the first thing Xian warned him about. Receiving something from the chief maid. Somehow, it's all coming true and she felt like a bucket of cold water was poured onto her.

Right in front of her is an accomplice of someone who attempted to take the young miss's life. She wasn't at the scene but to even think of doing that…

Miri felt a little fearful of the chief maid. She didn't know what her role will be in all of this but decided that Xian can be trusted.

"You must use healing a lot right? Those who have learned healing can't restore their mana and just continue to do so carelessly. Unless you are an apostle directly using holy power." The chief maid said with a smile, finding Miri's nervous expression innocent.

"Take a rest for today and prepare for tomorrow, Miri."

…

'It really… happened as sir Xian said.'

On the way back, Miri was left thinking. Even though the chief maid was kind to her, to be an accomplice of a criminal…

She's aware of the Montagne's rumored affairs. The duke who slaughtered and his daughter who beheaded. Multiple families had fallen to be their victims. She applied in this estate especially because there wasn't a single Montagne that lived there.

But now, she's embroiled in a task that might decide the young miss's life.

"How is it?"

Xian who had been waiting appeared on the corner of the room. He noticed that Miri was particularly downcast compared to her usual self.

"It happened just like how you said… The chief maid is really…"

"There's no evidence yet. I'm just trying to think from her perspective, Miri." Xian coolly spoke as he turned his back.

'It's not hard what a person like her would want to know and make you do. You just need to regress.' Xian thought in jest as he walked away.

"But, if she really said those things then my suspicions proves true. She's trying to plot something, using you and me."

The fist in her chest tightened. Whatever thought is in her head, Xian didn't know.

With his other task done and after confirming through Miri that the chief maid is moving, he decided to head back in his room.

…

The next day, before dawn even came. Miri was already on her way to the chief maid. To receive whatever she's planning to give. Her heart still harbored hesitation.

'What if it's all a misunderstanding?'

'What if sir Xian is wrong?'

'What if the chief maid is accused wrongly?'

Her nature maid her subconsciously doubt the events around her. The suspected individual had been one of the kindest towards her all her life. Her lack of sleep didn't help either.

"Miri? Perfect. I've just finished brewing the medicine. Come drink while it's still hot." The chief maid with her faint smile and calm gaze gestured for her to take the cup she's prepared.

She could tell that it was recently brewed, with faint smoke still rising due to its heat. The sweet and fragrant smell wafted to her senses, but different thought's filled her mind.

"Chief maid… Is that really medicine?"