maid chapter 26

Think sad thoughts, think sad thoughts. Ellie summoned every ounce of sorrow, putting on her most pitiful expression. “So… you absolutely can’t fire me from here.”

“No one said I would,” Daniel retorted gruffly, but the guilt etched on his face betrayed him. Ellie wasn’t the only one in the world who had grown up without parents, but Daniel couldn’t shake his discomfort. She must have been truly desperate for this job, with her entire family’s survival depending on it.

Ellie secretly smiled triumphantly. He wouldn’t be talking about firing her again. It was a bit underhanded, but a win was a win. Walking along with a relaxed gait, she tripped over a loose stone. “Whoa…!”

Ellie yelped, flailing her arms. The Bible she was holding flew out of her hands, scattering the enclosed letter and flower onto the ground. Daniel quickly grabbed her elbow, forgetting to moderate his strength. Ellie, who nearly crashed onto the stone pavement, regained her balance thanks to him.

What was wrong with her? Couldn’t she even walk straight? Just as startled as she was, Daniel raised his voice. “Be careful!”

“Ha… uh, thanks.” Ellie, having narrowly escaped disaster, clutched her chest. She quickly bent down and picked up the Bible first, carefully retrieving the letter and placing it back inside. Lastly, she picked up the flower and gently blew on it.

She carefully tucked the dusted flower back into the pages of the book. It was just a single flower wrapped in paper, not even a real gift, just something she’d paid him to buy for her. Yet, Ellie treated the insignificant flower like a precious treasure. Watching her, Daniel felt a lump form in his throat.

It’s because of that pointless story. Daniel strode forward, trying to shake off his thoughts. As always, Ellie trotted along beside him, but her next action was a little different. She scrutinized his face as if she’d noticed something odd. “But Diana, you…”

At her suspicious tone, Daniel swallowed involuntarily. Had she figured something out?

After looking him up and down, Ellie spoke in an unusually serious voice. “You’re really strong. I thought I was really going to fall…”

Daniel clenched his fists discreetly. He’d been careless. He hadn’t felt the need to be cautious around the seemingly clueless Ellie Brewer. He never thought his identity would be exposed so easily.

His mind raced. He’d have to silence her with money. Perhaps he could even put her and her entire family on a ship and send them far away.

Completely oblivious to his dark thoughts, Ellie poked his arm and asked, “Have you ever been to a ‘Pig Catching Contest’?”

“What?”

“Don’t you know? Oh, maybe they don’t do that here. You catch an angry pig with your bare hands, like this… Whoa!” Mimicking grabbing a charging pig, Ellie stumbled again. Daniel instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist to prevent her from falling forward.

“I told you to be careful!”

“Yeah, sorry…” Ellie sighed in relief. Once again, thanks to Daniel, her knees were safe.

Daniel sighed even more deeply. He shouldn’t have caught her this time. It was a useless act. He shook her off as if brushing something away.

Fortunately, his assessment of Ellie Brewer—a hopeless fool—proved correct. With a carefree expression, she continued, “Anyway, if you ever go to Newchester, you should definitely participate. I bet you could catch even the biggest pig.”

“No, thanks.”

“They give you the pig you catch as a prize.”

It was foolish to entertain such nonsense. When Daniel firmly closed his lips, Ellie pouted. If he didn’t want to eat it, he could catch one for her.

The mansion came into view in the distance. It wasn’t quite like home yet, but it was a place of refuge. The open gates and the sight of the old gatekeeper welcoming the returning servants felt particularly comforting today. Ellie dashed towards the gate. Daniel frowned fiercely.

“Don’t run!”

“Okay!” At Daniel’s scolding, Ellie wiggled her hips and walked quickly, as if speed-walking. Daniel was speechless at her goofy behavior. He’d been worried she’d discover his true identity?

He belatedly remembered the message from “Goat.” He should have thought about that first, but Ellie Brewer had completely distracted him. At this rate, he might even forget his true purpose.

She was the reason he wanted to leave this mansion as quickly as possible, yet she was the very reason his goal seemed increasingly distant.

Daniel sighed again, a sigh that had become so frequent lately it was almost tiresome.