The Young Lady’s Determination

 “You collapsed after fighting a demonkin—do you have any idea how worried I was?!”

It was the first time I’d ever heard the young lady raise her voice like that.

Not even when she argued with the Duke had she been this loud.

After all, she is the daughter of a duke.

She usually maintains the basic elegance and decorum expected of someone in her position.

But this time, she’d completely cast all that aside—

Which just showed how furious she truly was.

“Let me ask you—why didn’t you just run when you encountered the demonkin?!”

“Because he was outside your room… I was afraid he’d try to harm you…”

“Exactly!”

The young lady gripped my uniform with both hands and pulled with all her weight, bending me slightly forward.

At this close distance, I could clearly see the shimmer of unshed tears filling her emerald eyes.

“From the moment you first met me, up until now, all you’ve ever done is think of me.

You never think of yourself!

Back when you ran into those monsters on a supply run, I let it slide.

But now you faced an actual demonkin—and you didn’t even try to run!

Do you understand how dangerous they are?!

And this wasn’t just any demonkin—it was a high-level one that infiltrated the ducal estate!

Do you even value your life at all?!”

“But… protecting you is my duty…”

“We’re only a year apart!

You’re not my mother!

I don’t need you protecting me all the time!”

…But I’m your exclusive maid. If I’m not protecting you, I’m not doing my job.

I kept that retort to myself.

Maybe because she saw that I wasn’t remorseful, the young lady grew even angrier.

She bit her lower lip, frustration written all over her face.

“That’s exactly it! You don’t even understand how important you are to me!”

Didn’t she just say earlier that she wasn’t some helpless child who couldn’t survive without me?

“When I saw you collapse, I felt like my heart was about to explode!

It was like a thousand knives were stabbing my chest—I couldn’t even breathe!

It wasn’t until someone confirmed you were still breathing that I could finally calm down!

And while you were unconscious in the infirmary, I sat there watching you sleep, terrified you’d been cursed by that demonkin and would never wake up again!

I’m not letting someone important to me disappear again… I won’t…”

Her voice broke.

Lowering her head, she buried her face in my chest and began to sob uncontrollably.

She looked so pitiful, so vulnerable… it tugged painfully at my heart.

On instinct, I pulled her into a gentle hug and began stroking her back, trying to soothe her emotions.

“But I’m really okay now… See? I’m still alive and well…”

…Come to think of it, what did she mean by again?

Did someone close to her die before?

It might’ve been a relative… or a friend.

After all, the young lady had her own life before I became her maid.

I didn’t dwell on it. Right now, all that mattered was the girl in my arms.

“This time you were just lucky!

The guards arrived just in time!

What if they had been even a moment later?

Can you really say you would’ve gotten out of that alive?!”

“…”

She had a point.

To be honest, even with the guards’ swift arrival, if Vladimir hadn’t abruptly stopped his attack…

I probably wouldn’t be standing here now.

Maybe she was right.

Maybe I have been far too reckless with my own life.

But even so…

If I went back in time and faced the same choice again,

I’m certain I’d do exactly the same thing.

The young lady cried for a long time before her sobs finally subsided.

“…This is an order.”

She lifted her head and declared in a firm, commanding tone.

“From now on, you’re forbidden from doing anything that could get you hurt.

Even if it’s to protect me, you’re not allowed to act on your own.

I’ll become strong enough that I don’t need your protection anymore.

Next time something like this happens, I’ll be the one protecting you.

Your only job is to be my maid.

Bathe me, dress me, do my hair, clean my room, cook my meals, do my laundry…

And let me pat your head.

That’s all you’re allowed to do—don’t think about anything else.”

Suddenly, the young lady cupped my cheeks in her small hands, gazing up at my stunned face with eyes like jade.

“Ailena… you belong to me.

So you won’t disobey my orders… right?”

…

After that day, the young lady joined the Knight Corps’ training.

To everyone’s shock, on her very first day, she defeated every knight in the training grounds—except the captain.

…Shamefully enough, even I wasn’t her match in terms of physical strength.

Within just a few rounds, I was completely overwhelmed by her sharp, relentless strikes.

Her swordsmanship couldn’t simply be dismissed as talent.

Anyone with real experience could tell: her technique was also forged through relentless effort.

That said… her talent was undoubtedly real.

So overwhelming, in fact, that it was hard to believe.

After only a few days, the captain of the Knight Corps personally praised her, saying that she had already surpassed Young Master Claude.

…When he heard that, Claude could only laugh wryly.

Can’t blame him.

To have someone overtake your years of effort in just a few days—

And for that person to be your sister?

Yeah, anyone would laugh wryly.

Still… when did the young lady start learning swordsmanship?

Even I, her exclusive maid, didn’t know…

But it was clear now—she truly intended to keep her promise from that day.

…Being protected by someone younger than me—

It’s a complicated feeling, to say the least.

“Whew…”

As soon as she entered the lounge, I stepped forward with a towel and began wiping the sweat from her brow, tidying her appearance.

“The captain’s infamous training really is brutal, huh?”

“…Yes. Are you tired, Milady?”

“Hmm… not too bad.”

Not too bad?!

Honestly, that devil of a drill instructor runs a training regimen that no normal person could endure!

Even I was exhausted after just watching!

And she calls it not too bad?

…Is this really the same delicate, adorable Katarina I used to know?

Unable to put my thoughts into words, I went ahead and brewed a cup of tea.

“This is a blend Young Master Claude left behind before he departed.

It’s good for recovery—helps with fatigue.”

“From Brother?”

The young lady brought the cup to her nose and took a small sniff.

“Mmm… what a lovely aroma.

As expected of Brother’s refined taste.”

After taking a sip, she smiled in approval.

“It tastes great too.

Ailena, you’re pretty good at making tea.”

“I just followed what Young Master Claude taught me.”

“Next time we’re in my room, make some there too.

I quite like it.”

“Of course.”

I was a bit surprised to find a child who liked black tea so much,

But if the young lady asked, I could only obey.

Still… she’s been acting oddly mature lately.

“What’s for dinner tonight?”

“…If we have the right ingredients, I was thinking curry.”

“Curry?!”

At that, her eyes lit up like stars—like she’d transformed back into the innocent, adorable girl I knew.

But the moment didn’t last.

Almost immediately, she returned to her cool, aloof persona.

“Ahem… Curry sounds fine. Let’s go with that.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me…”

It was time to leave and start preparing dinner.

But just as I reached for the door to the lounge—

It opened from the other side.

A slightly older maid stepped in.

I’d seen her around a few times—if I remembered correctly, she was the Duchess’s personal maid.

She was pale and out of breath, clearly having run all the way here.

The moment she saw the young lady, she collapsed to her knees.

“Milady…! Something terrible… something terrible has happened!”

“Barbie, breathe. Calm down and tell me slowly.”

The young lady rushed forward and helped the maid, Barbie, to her feet.

I poured her a cup of tea and handed it over.

After a few gulps, her complexion improved slightly—but panic still gripped her face.

“Milady, please… come quickly to the Madam’s chambers…!

Her condition… it’s gotten worse!”

The words fell like a bolt of lightning,

Crashing into the young lady’s heart without mercy.