The Maid In The Reverse Harem Game Wants To Quit - Chapter 29

Originally, the route selection should have ended by going to clean Rodion’s room on the first day when Louise came to the mansion. Though as she entered Otis’ room, the game was strangely twisted.

So, Irene thought that she might be connected to someone else by any chance.

‘That is a relief.’

Irene was relieved without realizing it.

‘If it were Rodion, it would not be difficult to reach the Love Ending.’

To Louise, she always felt indebted to her that she had to leave her alone in this harsh story, so this made Irene feel a little relieved.

‘I have no choice but to help her as much as I can while I am still in the mansion.’

In order to do so, she will have to find out about the spies as well.
​​
‘Because we need to eliminate variables as much as possible…’

As she was lost in her thoughts, Irene could hear a voice coming through the curtain again.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“I’m okay, except for the fact that my body does not move well like wet cotton.”

“It is because of the release of a relaxant. Try moving your fingertips and toes.”

At that, Irene did as Otis said.

“How is it? Can you move well?”

“I think so.”

“Then, let’s move a little more. Can you stretch your arms out to the sides?”

Irene did the same again this time. It was not at the level that it was impossible to move only because her body was a little heavy, so the arm moved easily without any problem.

Except for the fact that her fingertips were sticking out of the curtains.

“That is looking good. Congratulations on being safe, Irene.”

Saying so, he then tapped something into her hand that was sticking out of the curtain. When she moved her hand back, she found a paper-folded rose in her hand.

“…Did you mean to give the rose from the beginning?”

“Of course, it is for the purpose of checking since I could not rudely roll the curtains.”

Otis said so, and added it as an excuse.

“It reminds me of my childhood.”

“When you were young?”

“I was lying down, waiting for you to wake up. I remember the day I first met you.”

She did not want to question it, so Irene quietly listened.

Otis’s voice slowly continued his speech.

“At that time, I was a child full of rebellion against the world. I do not think I was being honest with you either.”

‘I know that.’

Irene tried to answer this time, but strangely, her body had become drowsy.

Was the medicinal effect of the relaxant spreading around the awakened body?

“Still, I think you…”

She could hear Otis continue, although for Irene, who was already sleeping, it was just as meaningless as the chirping of birds.

Irene shut her eyes again, clutching the paper rose.

She did not realize that until the drowsiness ate more than half of her consciousness.

‘It feels like I have forgotten about something.’

Nevertheless, still unable to remember what she was forgetting, Irene decided to entrust her body to the drowsiness—using Otis’ soft voice as a lullaby.
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It felt like many hardships.*

‘…Wait a minute.’

Obstacle after obstacle?*

Obstacle…?

“Ah!”

Unknowingly, Irene screamed and hurriedly jumped up to her feet.

She remembered now.

Spy…!
​​[ T/N: The author used a four-character idiom from the word ‘첩첩산중’ which means ‘many hardships,’ as a play-on word for ‘첩자’ and ‘첩’ to make Irene remember the word ‘첩자,’ which means spy. ]

‘How did I even forget about this?’

She then quickly removed the curtain. Because when you think of something, you have to say it right away.
​​
“Young Master, in our mansion…”

However, Irene’s words were cut off. It was because in Otis’ hand, a sadly crumpled paper rose could be seen.

Also, Otis’s face, smiling bitterly.

“…Did something happen?”

“Ha, ha…”

Though that smile only briefly stayed on his face. It was a smile as if something had happened to him.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Crunch.

The paper rose was completely distorted in Otis’s hand as he answered that.

The fact that Irene had just crushed his little confession along with the paper roses by her scream just now.

It was a secret that only Otis would keep.

* * * 

Unfortunately, the paper roses never opened again after that. First of all, around that time, it was time for Rodion to return, and most of all…

— Didn’t you have something to say, Irene?
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— Ah… It’s nothing.

For someone who jumped up so suddenly like that, Irene was strangely quiet.

— Your hand is wounded.

In addition, a rather unnatural change of subject.

— …Yes. I got a paper cut.

— You do not get cut by a knife, but you cut your hands on paper even though you are doing origami every day.

— You are more vulnerable to familiar things. Besides, it is not deep, so it is okay.

— Then, that is a relief.

Otis was certain she had something to say. However, Irene kept her mouth shut and returned to her usual expressionless face.

A maid who is speechless knows her place well.

— You must be busy, so I think you should go now. Thank you for your care.

The voice that gave the congratulatory order was too dry.

As if they had never had a conversation with a thin curtain between them.

No matter how many paper cranes and flowers he gave her, Irene would always respond like that. Of course, that made him comfortable, but sometimes, Otis felt frustrated, stuffy like there was a button up to his neck.

It was a different frustration than when he found Irene shaking in the garden.

So, it would not be too strange for him to think that he would have to go to Irene, the causative factor, to resolve it.

Trying to rationalize it, Otis went up the stairs.

The bloody coat was left with the footman, and he headed to the room where Irene was lying.

Just as a migratory bird returns with a vague naturalness. Of course, it was a late hour, so he should not visit her recklessly, but fortunately, he had a plausible cause today.

What Irene was about to say earlier…

He could say that he came to ask her about it.
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Even if it were that expressionless face that still made him feel stuffy, looking back, it would definitely feel better than he does now.

Those gazes and eyes without desire, as though she had no interest in anything at all.

He wanted to hear a contemplative voice that would never harm him.

It was a night where he could fall asleep only just by hearing that voice.

As he went up the stairs and turned around, he could see a dim light leaking from the room in the dark hallway.

‘Did she not fall asleep yet?’

Otis was not even aware of it.

He took a few steps like a child following a dandelion stalk, then stopped abruptly. It was because of a voice that became clearer as he got closer to the room and the light that became brighter.

“It looks like there are flowers in this season as well.”

“I think you liked flowers quite a bit, Irene.”

A voice as profound as wood grazed by rain.

A familiar nickname.

“Seeing something you like helps with psychological stability, doesn’t it? The physician said it is important to calm you down.”

“I am fine.”

“That is the word I have heard the most since getting to know you. I think it is time to stop listening to it.”

A quiet, warm conversation flowed from the room, like a bonfire.

A hallway with chilly air lingers and a room where light leaked out.

Why did the gap in the space that was only a few steps away feel so great…?

Otis stood silently in the hallway, before turning around.

The walk back was heavy.

* * * 

Irene’s return came within a week.

Of course, Ahibalt and the servants wanted her to rest a little longer.

“Miss Irene! I popped a pincushion, what should I do?! Will it be deducted from my salary?”

“It is because the fabric is worn out. It is time to change it, so get some scraps from the tailor.”

“Miss Irene! No matter how hard I try, the blanket does not straighten out. What should I do?”

“Do not try to get up on the bed, use your hands like an iron to straighten them out.”

“Miss Irene! Is there a way to dust off the carpet without getting it all over our body?”

“Just… I will do it.”

Unfortunately, her successor was not talented in household chores.

It was really sad that she wanted to cry…

But, it was not just Louise that made Irene unable to lie down comfortably.

Rather, it was the visit of the three male protagonists that was the biggest concern.