Not Just a Maid.

I couldn't stop the laugh that burst out of me when I saw who was standing at the door—completely ridiculous and yet perfectly herself.

It was Lina.

She stood awkwardly at the threshold, her slim arms balancing a tower of my jewelry boxes, and—of all things—a small white medicine kit clenched between her teeth like she'd just returned from the battlefield.

She wore her usual maid uniform: a dark high-neck dress with a spotless white apron wrapped tightly around her waist. Her light brown skin glowed faintly in the morning light, and her twin dark braids bounced comically with each step. Her wide brown eyes were overflowing with exaggerated emotion, like she was about to burst into tears—or recite a tragic poem.

Nirelle narrowed her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. "Lina… why are you entering like you're off to war?"

Lina tiptoed into the room as if she were carrying treasure. She gently placed the jewelry boxes on my dressing table with the reverence of a priestess handling holy relics. Then, with a tiny gasp of relief, she grabbed the medicine kit from her mouth and cradled it protectively in her right hand.

She turned to me with an expression of such devastated heartbreak that I nearly laughed again.

"My Lady," she said in a voice thick with emotion, "are you really… leaving us?"

I blinked. "Leaving?"

She sniffled. "Yes, My Lady. Me. This room. Your bed. This mirror. This window. All of us."

Nirelle let out a long groan and rubbed her temples. "You're being serious right now?"

"She wants to go to the capital with you," Nirelle muttered under her breath.

I smiled, biting back another laugh. "Lina, I'll take you with me next time. Alright?"

Lina's face lit up like sunrise. "Really?! You promise, My Lady?"

"Of course."

From the corner, Nirelle sighed. "When will you grow up, Lina?"

"I am grown," Lina huffed with pride. Then, quickly changing tone, "I brought the jewelry like you asked! And medicine! For cold, cough, fever—and heartbreak—just in case!"

Nirelle squinted at the box she held. "That's not the right medicine. And that's not the jewelry set I told you to bring either."

Lina gasped. "You mean I carried all that for nothing?!"

Without replying, Nirelle walked to the table, opened one of the boxes, and revealed the jewelry we had actually intended to use.

A black diamond set—necklace and earrings—nestled in deep velvet. Cold. Elegant. It sparkled like frost under moonlight.

I inhaled softly. "…Beautiful."

"Please sit, My Lady," Nirelle said gently, guiding me to the cushioned chair in front of the mirror.

As I sat down, my eyes met Lina's reflection. That silly, emotional girl… and yet, she was more than that. Much more.

I remembered clearly the first day she arrived in my room—just after Nirelle had fallen ill.

---

Nirelle had collapsed from exhaustion after weeks of taking care of me single-handedly. Even though she wasn't my assigned personal maid, she'd been the only one who stayed. The only one who cared.

She brought me my meals. Changed my bedsheets. Helped me bathe. Brushed my hair. Whispered to me when I was unconscious. And in return, she got sick.

That's when Lina first entered my life.

She had come to assist temporarily, filling Nirelle's shoes as if she'd been trained for the role her whole life. She worked efficiently—silent and diligent. I was impressed.

But the next day… something shifted.

She returned angrier, clumsier. Cleaning every inch of the room with obsessive energy. Repeating tasks she'd already done, polishing the mirror frame twice, even dusting corners I knew were spotless.

I asked gently, "Hey… what's your name?"

She flinched like I'd struck her. "I-I'm Lina, My Lady."

"And what are you doing?" I asked. "Didn't you already clean that?"

She hesitated. "I… I'm sorry, My Lady. I just—it felt hot—no, I mean, I wanted to clean as much as I could."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

She bowed her head.

I got out of bed and walked toward her. "Lina," I said, locking eyes with her. "Are you pitying me?"

She froze.

"Don't," I said quietly but with weight. "Don't look at me like I'm some pitiful girl. If you feel sorry for me, then leave. Tell Nirelle there's no need for you here."

Her eyes widened.

And then, to my shock, she dropped to her knees. Placed her hands over her mouth. Tears welled up.

"I'm sorry, My Lady! Please don't send me away! It was my mistake!"

Then she bowed so low her forehead touched the floor.

"I'll never do it again! I promise!"

"Get up," I said, startled. "I said I forgive you!"

She raised her head slowly, and her brown eyes sparkled with a strange kind of wonder.

"My Lady… you're so cool."

I blinked. "What?"

"I'm sorry!" she said, covering her mouth. "I didn't mean to say that!"

Then she told me what had happened.

---

"When I was coming here," Lina confessed, "I heard other maids gossiping."

"They said you recovered too quickly. That you were faking your illness to get sympathy. That you wanted everyone's attention."

Her voice shook with growing anger.

"They said you and Nirelle are both pitiful. Always crying. Always unlucky. They laughed at you both."

She swallowed. "They said this room didn't belong to you anymore. That everything belonged to Lady Lilith now."

My heart stung—but I didn't show it.

"They said Nirelle was the only one still cleaning this room. That no one cared. And when she got sick, they laughed even more."

Lina looked up at me.

"That's why I cleaned like that. I was angry. I didn't want them to be right."

"And when you scolded me…" she blushed, "you were so strong. You're nothing like what they said. You're not weak."

I smiled.

"Yes, Lina. I'm not the same girl anymore."

Her face lit up. "Yes, My Lady!"

The next morning, she returned—this time with Nirelle, freshly recovered and already back on her feet.

I frowned at the sight. "Lina… why are you here with Nirelle?"

She bowed deeply. "My Lady, I'm sorry for my mistake. Please… may I work with Nirelle from now on?"

Before I could reply, Nirelle stepped forward. "My Lady, I believe Lina would be a good addition. She's childish, but she's sincere. And she truly wants to serve you."

I paused… then nodded.

"Alright."

Lina's face exploded with joy. "Thank you, thank you, My Lady!"

From that day forward, the two of them became my trust worthy maids.

---

Now, sitting in front of the mirror, I watched them move like artists. Nirelle fastened the black diamond necklace with calm grace, while Lina delicately clipped the earrings, unusually quiet and focused.

They worked on my hair next—brushing it into soft waves, weaving a few strands back with jeweled pins. The pale blue shimmer of my hair caught the morning light like a waterfall kissed by moonlight.

And then… I saw her.

The girl in the mirror.

Wearing a light blue gown trimmed with black embroidery. Elegant. Regal. Powerful.

My blue hair framed my face like something out of a dream, and the black diamonds glimmered against my fair skin like a constellation only I could wear.

"You look…" Nirelle whispered.

"Like an angel!!" Lina cried. "No—a queen from the heavens!"

I laughed softly, heart full.

"You two are the ones who made me look like this. Thank you… both of you."

They looked proud. Fulfilled. Seen.

But then Nirelle's smile faltered, just slightly.

"My Lady… are you alright?"

I tilted my head. "Yes. Why?"

"It's just… this is your first day out. Since the coma. Since everything changed."

I looked into the mirror again.

The girl I saw didn't look broken. Or forgotten. Or weak.

She looked like someone who had finally remembered who she was.

"…Yes," I said softly. "But I feel ready now."

Nirelle open the room door.

---