Reborn As Noble

Chapter 33 Between Duty and Affection ( 33 )

Liana moved closer to Javier with graceful steps. She took the napkin from her arm and gently wiped the corner of his mouth, not saying a word. Javier blinked, surprised by her sudden action.

”There, young master,” she said softly, folding the napkin neatly and putting it back on her arm. Then, she leaned forward to refill his drink, making sure his glass was full before stepping back to her spot, just behind and to the side of him.

Standing there, Liana kept her hands lightly clasped in front of her stomach, showing the right amount of attention without being too close or too far away, ready to help if Javier needed anything.

Javier glanced at her from the corner of his eye. ”Youʼre way too formal sometimes, you know?”

”Itʼs my duty, young master,” she replied calmly.

Javier leaned back in his chair and teased her with a grin. ”But I like it when you feed me.”

Liana sighed softly, a small smile appearing on her lips. ”Young master,” she said ”we can do that in your room or when no one else is around. Iʼm here just for you, but in the dining room, please…”

Her eyes met his, showing both her care for him and her commitment to the rules. ”The dining room is a formal place. You know how the other maids and the family might see us.”

Javier chuckled, leaning forward with his chin resting on his hand. ”Youʼre too serious, Liana. I just think itʼs nice when you spoil me.”

”Iʼm serious because itʼs important,” she replied, straightening up. ”And young master, I spoil you enough already.”

He smirked and took another bite of his steak. ”Fair enough.”

Liana let out a soft sigh, her smile returning as she stood poised. ”Always testing the boundaries,” she murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.

After Javier finished eating and Liana made sure the table was clean, she turned to him with a mysterious smile. ”Let me show you something, young master.”

”Oh? What is it?” Javier asked, intrigued.

”Just follow me,” she said, waving her hand gracefully.

Curious, Javier followed her as Liana led him to a part of the manor he rarely visited—the maidʼs dining area. As they approached, he could hear cheerful chatter and laughter coming from inside.

Javier peeked in and saw a group of maids happily talking, their faces bright with smiles as they enjoyed breakfast together.

Liana pointed to the lively scene. ”As you can see, young master, when theyʼre not on duty, theyʼre relaxed and having fun. Thereʼs no such thing as overworked maids here.”

She continued, her tone calm but informative. ”The maids earn good salaries, have their own private rooms, and get a day off each week. They take turns helping the family, so everyone has time to rest. The head maid makes sure the work is shared fairly, so they can keep up with their responsibilities.”

Javier scratched his head, feeling a bit guilty. ”I didnʼt mean to cause trouble…”

Liana smiled kindly but firmly. ”Now, if youʼll excuse me, young master, I have something to take care of here.” She turned and entered the dining area, locking the door behind her.

Moments later, Javier heard Lianaʼs voice through the door, her calm tone replaced by a firm, scolding one aimed at the maids inside. ”Who allowed you to leave your post during formal dining hours? Do you realize the importance of your duties?

Javierʼs eyes widened as he imagined the serious look on her usually calm face. ”Eeeeek!” he squeaked, running away in a panic.

He stopped at a safe distance and leaned against the wall, wipe sweat from his brow. ”Scary Liana is scary!” he muttered.

The head maid, passing by, heard him and smiled, shaking her head.

She approached Javier with her usual calm demeanor. ”Good morning, young master. Would you like to follow me?”

Javier tilted his head, curious. ”Oh, okay...”

With a graceful turn, the head maid, Gloria, led the way. As they walked, she looked back at him. ”What Miss Liana said is true, young master. Let me show you something to help you understand better.”

They soon reached the maid quarters, a separate wing of the estate. Javier blinked in surprise at how big the building was.

Gloria stopped at the entrance and spoke to the two female guards there. ”Announce that the young master Javier is visiting.”

The guards nodded. ”Yes, Miss Gloria,” one said, stepping inside to make the announcement.

As Gloria led Javier inside, she explained, ”All personal maids, like Miss Liana, have rooms in the main manor. But household maids have their own comfortable rooms here.”

She guided him through the corridor, stopping at an open door to show a cozy room. It was simple but welcoming, with a neatly made bed, a small desk, and personal touches like flower vases and embroidery.

”See? Each maid has her own private space to relax,” Gloria said with a soft smile.

Javier nodded, taking in the details of the room. It felt nice to see that the maids had a comfortable place of their own.

”As for me,” Gloria added, ”I also have a personal room in the manor, courtesy of Madam Francesca. The head maid must be readily available at all times.”

They continued their tour, arriving at a large common room filled with activity. ”And here,” Gloria gestured, ”is the dining area for maids who are off duty or on their day off. When theyʼre working, they eat in the designated maid dining area—the one you visited earlier, where Miss Liana was scolding the others.” She chuckled lightly.

Javier rubbed the back of his neck, remembering how he felt during that tense moment.

Gloria turned to him with a gentle yet firm expression. ”So, young master, please donʼt think that the maids are overworked or mistreated. We do our best to run an efficient and fair household.”

”Uhh… Iʼm sorry,” Javier said, looking genuinely regretful.

Gloria nodded in understanding. ”Apology accepted, young master. Now, if youʼll excuse me, I have other tasks to handle. Have a pleasant day.”

As she walked away, Javier reflected on everything he had learned. ”I guess Iʼve got more to understand about how things work here…” he murmured to himself.

On his way back to the manor, Javier turned a corner and nearly bumped into Anna, the youngest maid in the household. She looked like she had just woken up, her hair a messy and her uniform a bit disheveled.

The instant Anna saw him, her eyes widened in panic. ”Hiiiii!! Young master?!” she squeaked, a mix of shock and embarrassment in her voice.

Javier raised an eyebrow, amused by her flustered reaction. ”Morning, Anna. Did you sleep well?”

Annaʼs face turned bright red as she scrambled to fix herself. ”Umm... ahh... excuse me!” she stammered, darting past him like a startled rabbit, almost tripping over her own feet.

Javier chuckled, shaking his head. ”Sheʼs like a little squirrel,” he muttered under his breath, watching her disappear down the hallway.

Before long, he heard quiet giggles and whispers from around the corner—likely Anna explaining herself to the other maids, who were probably teasing her about their awkward encounter.

”At least mornings here are never boring,” Javier said to himself with a grin, continuing on his way.

As he walked back toward the manor, he noticed Liana approaching him, moving gracefully. She looked calm and relaxed, but there was a slight tilt of her head that suggested she was keeping a close eye on him.

”Now, young master,” she said as she got closer, her voice gentle but firm. ”Letʼs head to your workspace.”

”Okay!” Javier beamed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

As they walked, Javier hesitated for a moment and asked, ”Liana, can we hold hands?”

Liana paused, letting out a soft sigh, but she didnʼt protest. Instead, she extended her hand, allowing him to take it. His hand was slightly bigger than hers—warm and steady, giving her a sense of comfort that always caught her off guard.

( End of Chapter )