The Young Lady Has Disappeared

The curriculum at Aptem Academy consists of three major departments. 

First is the Swordsmanship Department, where children of border counts who mainly deal with monsters and knight families enroll. They learn swordsmanship from retired imperial knights and also participate in practical training.

The second is the Political Science Department. This is where children of high-ranking nobles mainly enroll, and they basically learn the art of kingship. 

However, for most of them, the art of kingship isn’t that important. Most enroll in the Political Science Department to build connections, and many of them find fiancés and get married within the department. 

Of course, in the young lady’s case, she already had a fiancé, so there wasn’t really a need to enroll in the academy, but as she was the only legitimate daughter of the prime minister’s family, Marquis Fortus sent her directly, thinking she needed to study. Especially since the Political Science Department also teaches how to govern territories, apart from the art of kingship. He must have thought that was important.

And lastly, the third is the Economics Department. Unlike the Political Science Department where most students are children of high-ranking nobles, most students here are commoners or children of frontier nobles ranging from barons to marquises, and they are mostly engaged in commerce. 

Aptem Academy’s tuition is at a murderous level. It charges an amount close to a year’s living expenses for a typical family of four as tuition for one semester, making it almost impossible for ordinary commoners to enroll.

Of course, Aptem Academy did have a scholarship selection system, but it was just there for show and had hardly ever been used until now. 

But this year, Yulia entered through this scholarship system, didn’t she? She was quite an unconventional young lady in many ways, even asking me to speak casually to her from the start. Recalling Yulia’s brightly smiling face like sunshine, I slowly approached Lillian’s bedside. It was about time for her to wake up, but as always, our sleepyhead young lady was sound asleep, showing no signs of waking.

Her silver hair was disheveled, spread out on the bed like seaweed, but I paid no mind to it and slowly whispered to her.

“It’s morning, young lady. Please wake up.”

“Ugh… Just five more minutes…”

“No, you must wake up.”

Since words weren’t working, I started a show of force by gently grabbing both her shoulders and shaking her without causing pain. 

Then Lillian woke up, rubbing her eyes. Then she saw me holding her shoulders and let out a gasp.

“Are you awake?”

“Uh, yeah. What time is it now?”

“It’s eight o’clock, young lady.”

“Mmm~ I see. Get me ready.”

“Yes.”

I was worried she might refuse my assistance like at the mansion, but Lillian willingly accepted my help. 

I immerse the young lady’s body in the water I had prepared in advance and start washing her here and there. Ignoring the strange sounds she makes, like “Ehit, ahit,” I apply fragrant oil and gently brush her hair that spreads out like silk threads. Then Lillian lets out a moan with a much more relaxed face, “Huah~”

“This is really nice…”

“What is so nice?”

“Hmm? Ah, I was saying that Catherine’s touch is much better than other maids. As expected, Catherine is my only personal maid, I tell you.”

It was a bit ridiculous to hear Lillian say such things now after trying so hard to avoid me, but I just fulfilled my duty as a maid. 

After quietly observing Lillian’s beautifully styled hair, I picked up her uniform. I guess it would be better to start with the underwear.

“…Um, Catherine? Wouldn’t it be better if I put on the clothes myself? It’s a uniform, not a dress.”

“You, who have never put on clothes by yourself since birth until now?”

“Uh, yeah. Really, it’s okay? I can put them on by myself.”

Even though I even put on her underwear directly. By now, seeing the young lady’s naked body didn’t evoke any thoughts in me, so I didn’t think much of it, but Lillia

n seemed to keep feeling embarrassed. Well, Lillian, who is presumably a modern person from Earth like me, should be able to put on clothes by herself. But I couldn’t back down here if I wanted to be called a first-class maid.

“I’m sorry, but as a maid, I cannot allow my master to do such menial tasks directly.”

“…Is it really that serious? Haa, I understand. If Catherine wants it that much, I guess I have no choice.”

What’s this, why am I getting annoyed? I stared at Lillian, who accepted as if she had no choice, and for a moment thought about giving her a flick on the forehead. Of course, I only thought about it and didn’t actually do it. 

After putting on the underwear and a thin T-shirt, all that’s left is to put on the uniform skirt and blazer. For some reason, Aptem Academy’s uniform looked very similar to South Korean high school uniforms.

“Then, have a good day.”

“Okay. Catherine. Don’t get lonely without me.”

“…”

What nonsense is she talking about? This woman. 

I had such thoughts for a moment while slightly bowing my head. At times like this, I felt grateful that my facial muscles were dead. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to manage my expression.

After Lillian left the dormitory, I slowly started tidying up the bedding. Basically, while there are servants at Aptem Academy, they don’t enter students’ rooms. There’s the pretext of privacy invasion, but it’s also because there was an incident where a maid was bribed by a student’s rival family to sprinkle poison. Since then, Aptem Academy has allowed students to bring their own servants. 

Of course, in the case of scholarship students who can’t afford to hire servants, they receive consent and have their rooms cleaned or odd jobs done for them.

This doesn’t apply to Lillian. After tidying up all the bedding, I slowly started cleaning. Of course, I did it yesterday too, but cleaning is something that needs to be done every day, isn’t it? 

After dusting and wiping with a cloth, I glanced at the time. Three hours had already passed. It’s about time.

I approached the kitchen attached to the dormitory and flung open the door. There, the dormitory’s chef was yawning lazily. 

Although called a chef, she was a young woman who looked to be in her early 30s. Despite having no makeup on, she had beautiful features with snow-white skin. The chef glanced at me and tilted her head.

“What’s the matter?”

“I need to prepare lunch for the young lady.”

“Ah. Feel free to use it. I don’t have anything to do at lunchtime anyway.”

While most students living in the dormitory eat dinner in the dormitory cafeteria, it’s empty at lunchtime. Thanks to that, I could use the kitchen freely.

I fill the lunchbox with what the young lady usually eats. With familiar skill, I continue cutting while adjusting the heat and placing side dishes in the lunchbox. 

Originally, the young lady only ate food I made, so it was unavoidable. Of course, I don’t know if that’s still the case now that Lillian’s soul has changed, but there’s no harm in doing the work.

Perhaps because I was in front of the fire, I wiped off the small beads of sweat flowing on my forehead with a handkerchief and packed the lunchbox. The chef, who had been staring at me, waved her hand towards me.

“Bye bye~ Miss maid~”

With the impression that she was quite a strange woman, I headed towards the main building.

* * *

The Aptem Academy shown in the game consists of four areas:

First is the main building where Aptem Academy students study. 

Second is the annex where Aptem Academy’s dormitories are built. 

Third is the club area where club activities take place. 

Lastly, the fourth is the faculty building used by professors and deans.

Among these, Lillian’s impression of seeing the largest main building up close was truly one of wonder. To think she would see in reality the scene she had only seen as an image in the game. Since the entrance ceremony and most events were held in the faculty building, this was her first time seeing the main building.

Seeing the grand appearance of the main building, which was certainly similar to the description in the game, Lillian was once again reminded that she had entered the world of the game, and she blushed slightly as she recalled the morning’s events. 

Come to think of it, she hadn’t realized it in the morning rush, but she remembered that Catherine had put her underwear on for her.

Is that the norm in noble society? Lillian thought this as she entered her classroom. 

Aptem Academy has classes from A to C, with Class A mostly filled with Political Science Department students, Class B with Economics Department students, and finally Class C with Swordsmanship Department students. Originally, all three departments were mixed, but the game text explained that they were divided like this because students fought too frequently.

The most important protagonist, Yulia, was in this Political Science Department. To be able to see Yulia’s innocent smiling face after realizing they were in the same class following their first meeting at the party, Lillian felt her heart swelling just thinking about it. 

Okay, she’s coming soon. Coming. Coming… 

After muttering this to herself about three times, the classroom door flung open and Yulia entered.

“Hello everyone!”

“…”

What’s this, the prince should be saying “Glad to see you” around this time, but it’s too quiet. I glanced at the prince, but he was just focused on an open book, as if he had no interest at all. 

If no one greets her like this, won’t Yulia be too embarrassed? 

Having reached that thought, Lillian slightly waved her hand.

“Hello.”

Lillian’s greeting was in a very small voice, but it was enough to resonate in the classroom filled with silence. It was around then that Yulia’s face, which had been turning increasingly red during the approximately 5 seconds of silence, brightened.

“Yes! Hello!”

Whispers could be heard from around, but they quieted down just with Lillian slightly turning her gaze. The prince was still reading his book. Why on earth? Lost in thought in this puzzling situation, Lillian suddenly recalled yesterday’s events.

‘She definitely said it was Catherine who helped, not the prince…!’

Could it be that today’s event didn’t occur because of that? Then what about Yulia? 

The prince was no different from a kind of device. He was the source of Yulia’s power, and played the role of reducing her troubles, but now that device had disappeared as she couldn’t become close to the prince.

Inwardly sighing, Lillian suddenly realized there was one method left. Although not as much as the prince, Lillian, the only legitimate daughter of the Fortus family, was a villainess with absolute power. What if someone like her protected Yulia? Wouldn’t that serve a similar role?

Of course, the villainess would disappear, but others would soon fill her place. There were many villains in this game besides Lillian.

‘Yeah, it should be fine if someone like me drops out.’

It might be naive thinking, but Lillian, who suddenly thought this way, nodded and reached out her hand to Yulia. Thinking that becoming friends with Yulia would be the best way to avoid the bad ending, anyway-