Reincarnated Maid is About To Be Captured by All Players

“Anna.”

“Yes… I’m here.”

I responded, feeling like a nervous recruit singled out by a drill sergeant, cold sweat running down my back.

“It’s not like I’m asking for much… But I took a big risk, so a small compensation is due, right~?”

“…I don’t understand what you’re implying.”

I had no choice but to play dumb and hope to get through this, but Chris’s expression was like that of a madam in a brothel sweet-talking a naive girl — hinting, “Don’t you still have your body?”

“Yeah, we owe her, right Anna?”

“Higdelytha, you—”

Higdelytha blinked innocently at me, clearly unaware she’d just thrown me under the bus.

“Great! Then it’s settled! As payment for my hospitality, Anna, you’ll come to my room tomorrow. I’ve prepared lots of very colorf…”

“Lady, please mind your words.”

“Cough… very cute, beautiful clothes.”

She definitely meant to say ‘very H clothes’…

A wave of helplessness washed over me. While I could accept wearing a maid outfit, I wasn’t comfortable with other types of women’s clothing. The biggest advantage of the maid outfit was its appropriateness for almost any occasion, as long as I maintained my role as a maid.

I thought I could preserve my last shred of dignity this way, but now even that seemed at risk…

But Chris and Nora had been our saviors. I wasn’t the kind of maid to shamelessly enjoy the help and benefits without any gratitude…

If this small sacrifice… no, if this could ensure Lily’s safety, I, I—

“Well, it’s getting late, let’s rest for now. Bathing can wait until tomorrow, there’s a hot spring here.”

“A hot spring?”

Higdelytha’s eyes lit up immediately.

She was an elf, not accustomed to human bathing methods.

“Yes, a hot spring, where we can all… open up to each other…”

Chris winked at me suggestively, confirming my suspicions of her ulterior motives… but overall, a chance for everyone to relax was good. I’d just have to be extra cautious.

Worried about Trafalgar and Ivanhe, I hesitated to ask about their wellbeing right after our arrival.

I’ll find out more tomorrow… Realizing my recognition among adventurers and that my association with Lily was known, I understood I couldn’t risk public appearances until the Duke of Borghese’s mission was over.

Carole’s joke about hiding me in a golden house had come true, but the owner of this “golden house” was the daughter of a count.

“Nora, make sure they’re comfortable, then remember to come to my room, okay? Goodnight, Anna~”

“Right…”

I watched the content Chris leave, acknowledging that I owed her thanks for offering us refuge despite risking the Duke’s displeasure.

A small sacrifice of dignity was nothing in comparison, right? I was not scared. Really, I wasn’t.

Nora easily lifted Carole onto her shoulder and then carried Lily, handling both with tenderness, aware that Carole was an adventurer yet maintaining proper etiquette.

“Goodnight, Anna.”

Carole was settled in a room, and so was Higdelytha, who seemed to be at her limit.

After wishing Higdelytha goodnight, I hurried after Nora.

“Miss Nora, Lily and I can share a room.”

Nora stood silently outside the room, gazing at me.

“We owe you for helping us escape today. Please forgive our intrusion.”

Although our suspicion was necessary to avoid a trap, it was disrespectful now that we knew Nora truly came to assist us.

“I didn’t do it for thanks. I just… can’t refuse my lady’s requests.”

Nora’s reference to Chris as ‘my lady’ intrigued me. Chris said Nora was her head maid, but Nora’s address didn’t fit the typical master-servant relationship.

Perhaps there was a story there, one I might learn over time. For now, I wouldn’t pry.

“I was the first one with her. I’ve always been by my lady’s side.”

Nora looked at me as if trying to assert her position. Her emotions seemed slightly agitated, but she was careful not to disturb the sleeping Lily.

“Miss Nora…”

She bit her lip, looking away.

“I was out of line earlier. You don’t need to address me formally; I am a maid just like you. If you want to express gratitude, give it all to my lady. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have gone out to find you.”

Nora quickly regained her composure, her demeanor towards Higdelytha gentle, showing the courtesy of a servant to a guest. Towards me, however…

“Alright, this is your room. Everything you need is prepared. There are extra pillows and blankets in the closet. Let me know

if you need anything.”

Nora briefly introduced us to the amenities of the room and then left, closing the door behind her.

With many questions still unanswered, I knew the priority was to recover my strength.

Hopefully, tomorrow would bring a better day.

“Goodnight, Lily.”