Chapter 12: The Cool Maid! The Cheat Person Pierces Through Her Heart!

Following the tradition of twin maid sisters, one of them must be the cool type.

Chapter 12: The Cool Maid! The Cheat Person Pierces Through Her Heart!

[“……I'm like a gear in a machine───”]

Even though Maria skipped most of the scenes in "My Beloved Flower Blooms at the Gate," she remembered Igodome Kanaho's monologue because it was so memorable, even as a reincarnated Maria.

Or rather, it was also used as a heading on the character introduction page of the setting materials, which made it easy for even a masochistic skipper like her to remember.

That's one reason.

Before Maria became dependent on her, Kanaho had resigned herself to her life, and was simply a girl living mechanically.

Possessing the power of a superior Exorcist, Her mother, Igodome Sougi, who serves as the head maid for the Madozono family, instructs Kanaho:

["It is the duty of the Igodome family to help, support, and protect all those precious to us, even at the risk of our own lives."]

However, the head of the Madozono family, Madozono Mima, whom Kanaho actually witnessed, was a vile and toxic parent who verbally abused and ignored her own daughter, Tomoe, just because the girl could not control her magical powers.

Tomoe, too, was terrified of her mother, shrinking back and becoming somewhat socially anxious, hiding behind Kanaya, Kanaho's older sister, every day.

(Am I going to dedicate my entire life to these people?)

A dark, cold feeling enveloped Kanaho's heart.

Her more compassionate sister, Kanaya, felt great sympathy for Tomoe and, as Tomoe's personal maid, Kanaya treated her protectively, almost like a mother figure.

But Kanaho couldn't see Tomoe the way her sister saw her.

No, not just Tomoe.

She couldn't see Mima, whom her mother, Sougi, revered as her mistress, as her mistress either.

Young Lady Tomoe was a timid weakling, and her mother, the mistress, was a cold-blooded tyrant.

Neither of them could possibly be considered "noble and admirable people."

(Is it really okay to continue living this life, blindly serving the people of the Madozono family?)

Even though she had this doubt, Kanaho turned her back on her mother and sister and ventured out into the world, and realized that she didn't have anything she wanted to do.

This situation and the emptiness in her heart led to her monologue about "I'm like a gear in a machine."

In the original story, after becoming Maria's personal maid, every time she witnessed Maria's enduring horrific abuse from Mima, she feels a dark joy and a sense of superiority from being relied upon by Maria, and for that moment, she feels like she's not just a gear in the machine.

There's a scene where she confides these feelings to the protagonist.

Up until that point, Kanaho had already fallen for the protagonist, and the psychological NTR of Maria was already complete.

Nevertheless, Kanaho's feelings for the "Promise" she had with Maria were not a lie, so her confession of her feelings to the protagonist was a deliberately act intended to make the protagonist dislike her.

But then the original protagonist said something that moved her heart, like, "You're not a 'gear in the machine'," and after they shared a passionate embrace, the scene transitioned to a passionate kiss and a scene of love in a utopian paradise.

Afterward, the scene was discovered by Maria, the mistress of the house, immediately after the incident.

["So you're betraying me too...?"]

["You said you'd be by my side forever..."]

These infamous lines were uttered by Maria, who had been NTR'd both mentally and physically.

So, when did Maria and Kanaho exchange that crucial promise?

It was on the night after Maria had been living in the Madozono mansion for a while, and had suffered abuse in the form of corporal punishment from the head of the household, Mima, both physically and mentally, until her spirit was completely broken for the first time.

However, in this world, the reincarnated Maria gave Mima the letter from her deceased mother, and by impulsively reviving the Phoenix Staff that had been dormant in Tomo's body, the possibility of Mima becoming an abusive parent was completely crushed.  

In other words, the fundamental process of making the promise with Kanaho had been completely torn apart by the reincarnated Maria herself.

What a terrible case of karma and self-inflicted misfortune.

And yet, she was still worrying, "When am I supposed to make this promise?"

It was hopeless. Truly.

★★★

We rewind the time to one hour before the Reincarnated Maria woke up and lay in bed, troubled by the 'Promise' matter with Kanaho.

Kanaho, having finished her morning preparations and put on her maid's uniform, was summoned to Mima's office by her mother, Sougi.

When Kanaho immediately went to the office, she found Mima already seated at her desk, formally dressed, and her mother, Sougi, standing behind her, gazing at Kanaho with a serious expression.

"Kanaho, I hereby order you to become Maria's personal attendant and servant."

Mima, the head of the Madozono family, addressed Kanaho immediately.

"Understood."

Kanaho was slightly surprised by the hasty personnel change, given that it had happened just yesterday, but she had somewhat anticipated it, so she bowed her head and briefly indicated her understanding.

"You were also there yesterday when the Phoenix Staff was revived and manifested, so you probably have a vague idea, but, that girl, Maria, is highly likely to be the Saint in the Legend."

"...Yes."

"Even without that, her magical power is extraordinary. Even now, she possesses more magical power than I do. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that when she grows up, she will become the top Exorcist in Japan, no, in the whole world. Do you understand what this means, Kanaho?"

"....Maria-ojou-sama will likely to become the next head of the Madozono family?"

"That's right. Thanks to Maria, Tomoe's 'Magic Manipulation Inability' has surely been cured, but her magical power is still nowhere near Maria's level. Beside that, Maria is my Onee-sama's daughter. She is a more legitimate heir than my Tomoe."

At this, Mima stood up, looked Kanaho in the eye, and continued.

"Kanaho. Becoming Maria's personal attendant is a much greater responsibility than you might imagine. Of course, Sougi and the other maids will support you, but... please approach this role with the intention of dedicating all of your abilities and life to it."

"Yes. I humbly accept the role of being Maria-ojou-sama's personal attendant."

Kanaho replied, bowing deeply.

"After all, as a gear in the machine, I had no choice but to accept." she muttered to herself.

Even if she were appointed as Maria's personal maid, her duties would likely be almost identical to her sister older, Kanaya's, and there wouldn't be much change.

(Like a gear in the machine, I will simply continue to turn steadily.)

Kanaho's heart, filled with a profound sense of resignation towards her life, was as calm and still as a still sea.

It was cold and quiet.

Even when it came to her first task as Maria's personal maid—inquiring about her health—
she felt no emotion or sentiment whatsoever.

She simply knocked on the door of Maria's resting room, and uttered the emotionless, formulaic phrase.

"Maria-ojou-sama, are you awake? Pardon my intrusion."

Even if Maria was awake, she was in a house that was practically unfamiliar to her, and moreover, she was just a young child, so she probably couldn't give a precise answer.

Judging this, Kanaho opened the door without waiting for a reply from Maria.

And their eyes met.

A young girl with ruby-red eyes, a beauty more fitting than the word "cute."

Upon receiving that gaze, Kanaho felt a faint electric shock run through her entire body.

She then felt a slight sense of bewilderment at the young girl's gaze.

It was as if the girl had been waiting for her in bed.

Shaking off such strange thoughts, Kanaho bowed her head to Maria.

".... So you're awake. Good morning. How are you feeling?"

Maria returned Kanaho's question with a gentle smile.

"Good morning. I'm fine. Thank you for your concern."

Kanaho's expression clouded over slightly.

Having honed her observational skills in paying attention to others' well-being through her mother's duties as head maid, she was able to sense that Maria was not feeling well.

Furthermore, despite her unusually mature responses for a young child, it didn't feel like a forced act.

Having lost her own mother so soon, and then moving to a relative's mansion where she didn't know anything.

Supplying an enormous amount of magical power, almost to the point of endangering her own life, for the sake of her cousin whom she had just met for the first time.

It seemed impossible that a young child's mind could withstand such mental strain.

And yet, the beautiful little girl before her wore a smile as if nothing had happened.

Kanaho recalled what Mima had said.

"That girl, Maria, is highly likely to be the Saint in the Legend."

(Is she truly a "saint"?

Does this girl even understand that herself?

Is this girl so focused on being a "Saint" that she is unaware of her own pitiable circumstances?)

As these various questions arose, Kanaho began to find the way Maria, this girl, existed a truly heartbreaking sight.

A feeling of pity welled up in Kanaho's heart without her realizing it.

Without even realizing it, Kanaho also began to feel a strong desire to protect Maria.

"Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Igodome Kanaho. I am a live-in servant at this Madozono mansion.

Starting today, I will be in charge of taking care of Maria-ojou-sama's personal needs. I look forward to working with you."

Kanaho introduced herself slowly, explaining things clearly so even a toddler could understand, and bowed respectfully.

"Likewise, I look forward to working with you too,"

Maria returned the bow with a radiant smile.

At the beautiful young girl's smiling response, Kanaho felt a sense of composure beyond her years, and was slightly impressed.

Kanaho wondered if she could have responded so calmly at Maria's age.

But she couldn't just be impressed.

"....First, I'll take your temperature, Ojou-sama. Excuse me..."

Taking out the thermometer, Kanaho reached for Maria's nightgown.

Maria's small hand gently rested on hers.

"Maria-ojou-sama?"

Kanaho stopped what she was doing and peered into Maria's face.

Maria then hurled sharp words at Kanaho.

"Kanaho-san. You, you think of yourself as a gear in the machine, don't you?"

AN:

The creeping cheat of knowledge from the original work...

Of course, I'll make sure Kanaho-chan is also thoroughly misled (^∀^;)