Not the Villainess, but the Maid

Chapter 8: The Recital (Part 2)

The familiar sound of someone calling her name reached her ears, and soon, Dia appeared amidst the crowd.

“Congratulations, Ruby.”

“…Dia.”

As the two women from prestigious families faced each other, the surrounding nobles naturally stepped back to give them space.

“It was a wonderful performance. I would say it was very ‘Ruby-like.’”

Though Dia had narrowly lost to Ruby, she wore a surprisingly lighthearted expression.

“…Dia, aren’t you disappointed?”

“I am, but I enjoyed it. It was nice to have a proper match with you, Ruby.”

Dia, who was smiling faintly at Ruby, glanced around before speaking again.

“…It seems others also want to have a word with you, Ruby.”

As Dia naturally stepped aside, Ruby was once again surrounded by nobles.

I observed her from a slight distance, sipping from the wine glass in my hand.

‘Thank goodness. Nothing happened to Ruby.’

It seemed that the incident caused by Ruby’s ability awakening had been avoided, thanks to the change in the recital’s winner.

As I finished the remaining wine in my glass, Dia approached me.

“Meeting again, Amber.”

“…Ah, hello, Dia.”

This was the first conversation we had since she visited the mansion last time.

“Thank you for encouraging me to compete with Ruby honestly.”

“Pardon?”

It had been a rather bold statement I had made in the heat of the moment, but thankfully, she had let it slide without issue.

“I was getting arrogant,” Dia admitted.

She confessed that she had been so preoccupied with avoiding competition with Ruby that she had presumptuously dismissed Ruby’s potential.

“…No, Dia’s actions were also out of concern for Lady Ruby. If anything, it was I who was rude.”

Dia had no reason to apologize to me.

Her actions were her way of showing care for Ruby.

It was simply that our approaches had been different.

“…Amber, you really are kind.”

“Am I?”

“I’m truly glad you were there that day, Amber. For both Ruby and myself.”

I stood silently beside Dia, staring at my now-empty wine glass.

– Clink.

A sharp sound of glass breaking caught my attention.

Turning around, I saw Ruby leaning against a table, staggering.

The nobles around her asked with concern.

“Are you all right, Lady Ruby?”

“…I’m sorry. Please leave me alone for a moment…”

Though it wasn’t warm inside, sweat streamed down her face as she struggled to catch her breath.

“My lady, are you all right…?”

As I grew worried and tried to approach Ruby, it happened.

– Fwoosh.

Suddenly, massive flames erupted from where Ruby crouched on the floor, spreading rapidly around her.

‘An ability awakening…!?’

“My lady…!”

I called out and tried to reach Ruby, but the soaring flames blocked my way.

“Ahhh!”

“There’s a fire…!”

The nobles inside the venue screamed in panic and scrambled to flee.

Unfortunately, the place was filled with highly flammable items like large rugs and tablecloths, causing the fire to spread swiftly.

‘I let my guard down…’

After Ruby won the recital, I had assumed the conditions for her awakening had been avoided.

Even after leaving the venue, there had been no signs of anything unusual, so I had relaxed.

But it had happened with a delay.

No one dared to approach Ruby.

Buckets of water had been confiscated at the entrance by the guards, and I had to find a way to save her.

My mind went blank.

My instincts, which made my body freeze when nervous, began to take over.

– Fwoosh.

But when I saw Ruby trembling in fear amid the flames, all such thoughts vanished.

I was the only one who knew the outcome of this event, the only one who could save her.

‘Right now, Ruby has no one but me.’

I spotted a large drink dispenser on an intact table nearby—the same one from which I had just poured my drink.

Although it held a significant amount of liquid, it was nowhere near enough to extinguish the fire.

Grabbing the container, I upended it over myself, soaking myself thoroughly.

Then, drenched, I closed my eyes and charged into the flames where Ruby was.

Within the flames, I found Ruby, petrified with fear. Upon seeing me, she shouted.

“Don’t come any closer…! You’ll get hurt too, Amber…!”

Even the mere gesture of her hand caused enormous flames to rise.

An overwhelming amount of mana, pent up and on the verge of bursting, was surging uncontrollably.

In this event, she would lose control of her powers and collapse with severe burns on her face.

Ignoring her pleas, I marched closer.

When I was about the distance of a single step away, I could see Ruby trembling and crying.

“Please… don’t come. I’ll end up hurting you…”

“It’s all right.”

Gently, I took hold of her wrists.

“…!”

The flames flared up momentarily, but I did not let go of her hands.

“This is your power, Lady Ruby. I believe you can control it yourself.”

Magic—whether to unleash or suppress it—was ultimately determined by the user’s will.

“Try to think of something else. Focus on calming yourself as much as possible.”

Hearing my words, Ruby finally closed her eyes tightly and murmured.

“…I’ll try.”

She tried to suppress it, but the flames showed no sign of subsiding.

“…No. Even when I try to stop thinking, it just keeps…”

“…”

It was difficult to think of something else with murderous flames right in front of her.

“Am I really a monster? Why… is this happening?”

In the original game, Ruby was known by the moniker “Witch of Fire.”

The name came from her fiery temper that burned everything in her way.

Once she got angry, she wouldn’t stop until something burned away to nothing.

Unable to control her emotions, Ruby Sarka expressed her anger through magic, earning her infamy as a villainess.

But that was the twisted Ruby of the game. The one before me was different.

“…There’s no way you’re a monster, my lady.”

Saying so, I pulled Ruby into my arms.

Suddenly embraced, Ruby spoke through her tears.

“Amber, I…”

“Close your eyes and focus only on me.”

The sound of a heartbeat quietly echoed between us.

Her hair barely brushed my shoulder, her scent of soap lingered faintly, and the warmth of her overheated body felt close enough to touch.

I made her focus on me so intently that there was no room for any other thoughts.

“…It’s natural to feel paralyzed and to tremble when fear overwhelms you.”

Humans are creatures that create fear for themselves and then tremble before it.

But once you realize that fear is your own creation, all that’s left is to run with all your might.

“When that happens, don’t fill your head with anything. Just think of what you love most.”

What I had learned from my own experiences, I wanted to share with Ruby.

She tightly gripped the fabric of my clothes and replied softly.

“…Okay. I’ll try.”

The blazing flames lost their strength and receded as if it had all been a lie.

The fire conjured through mana vanished without a trace, leaving behind only black soot.

With the flames gone, we stood there together for a long while.

“…You can open your eyes now, my lady.”

When Ruby opened her eyes, the roaring flames were gone.

Looking a bit calmer, Ruby spoke to me.

“I couldn’t control my magic at all…”

“This isn’t your fault, my lady.”

It wasn’t her fault for being inexperienced at handling magic or for possessing an extraordinary amount of mana.

Ruby was simply born a little different from others.

Those who excel at everything from the start often fail to understand those who struggle.

From tying my shoelaces to actions others took for granted, these things were always difficult for me.

Having lived such a life, I wanted Ruby to know that none of this was her fault.

“My lady, let’s head back to the mansion…”

– Splash.

“…!”

Ruby and I were suddenly drenched with a splash of water.

“Ruby, Amber…! Are you all right?”

Dia appeared, holding a bucket.

She must have fetched the water from somewhere.

Looking around calmly, she seemed to take in the situation only now.

“Huh? The fire…”

“…It’s just been put out.”

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

“…It’s fine. You were just trying to help.”

Ruby, soaking wet, responded to Dia.

“It’s cold…”

Dia fumbled apologetically in front of her.

“Wait here. I’ll get something to dry you off…”

In the end, Ruby didn’t lose at the recital, nor did she suffer any trauma from her ability awakening.

Though we returned to the mansion soaked and both ended up catching colds, it was nothing compared to what could have happened.

Most of all, I was relieved that she was safe.

On the way back to the mansion in the carriage, Ruby spoke to me.

“Thank you, Amber. If it weren’t for you, I…”

She trailed off, looking deeply troubled.

“You’re welcome. I only did what I was supposed to as a maid.”

“No, I can’t just let this slide. I want to thank you properly…”

After thinking it over, Ruby spoke again.

“I know. I’ll grant you a wish.”

“A wish?”

“Yes. As long as it’s something I can do, anything…”

Her face turned slightly red as she said it.

“A wish, huh… What should I ask for?”

“Just so you know, nothing too outrageous…”

“Then, please buy me some meat.”

When I answered briskly, Ruby blinked in surprise and repeated my words.

“…What?”

“Buy me some meat. I haven’t had any in ages.”

“…”

Hearing my response, Ruby quickly turned her head and muttered something under her breath.

“…Idiot.”

“Pardon?”

After that, she didn’t look at me again until we arrived back at the mansion.