Warning: This contains a scene that readers may find uncomfortable. I do not condone this type of behavior. This was simply for dramatic effect.
There was a family meeting, a meeting where it was Zenith and Lilia sitting at the table, face to face in silence. Me and Paul were in the room, Paul was sitting in silence with his head down. I stood next to the entrance way, peeking around the corner.
Zenith was in thought while Lilia stared at the center of the table. Her eyes were red from rubbing the tears away.
In all my life of knowing Lilia, I never expected her to do this.
Actually, I may have. Deep down, I knew this would happen but I didn't want to believe it. When I had that dream of Re-chan, it was just my subconscious telling me there were doubts. I should have kept my expectations low. Because now, I'm pissed off.
Finally, Zenith spoke up.
"What do you plan to do?"
"I will assist with childbirth. After that, I plan to return to my hometown where my family is."
"That's a month's ride… you'll be exhausted from your own childbirth. Do you really plan on doing that?"
Lilia looked down, afraid to look into Zenith's eyes.
"What choice do I have, my lady? I have nowhere else to go. In fact, this is punishment for breaking yours and Rudy's trust. I have no right to complain." Her eyes started watering again.
Zenith couldn't help but stare daggers at the maid. "Why would you go so far? Especially far enough for Rudy? He is hardly involved in this."
Lilia wiped away her tears again, "Rudy is precious to me. This is his family… I'm breaking that family…"
Was I really that precious to you? What a load of bull.
"You know Lilia, you and Rudy have gotten very… very close in recent months. You even started calling him by his nickname. Then, there was the time he was sleeping in your room again… even though he wasn't supposed to. Then little Sylph mentioned you took a bath together a while back."
Lilia started shaking a bit, as if she was caught in something else.
Have we been caught?
"Well… Rudy- Master Rudeus is very fond of me… my lady."
"Lilia…" said a chilling voice which made the maid in question jump slightly.
"Instead of breaking my family… Are you trying to take my family?" Zenith eyes had the look of betrayal, disgusted, and anger in them.
Then Lilia finally looked into Zenith's eyes. "No! Of course not Zenith! I would never take away what's yours! I didn't mean for any of this to happen-"
"Then how did this happen?"
Silence filled the room again. That was until Zenith started tapping her finger on the table, waiting impatiently. This was unusual as Zenith was known to be a very patient woman.
Lilia looked back down, taking a deep breath as she did. "I… I did it because I didn't have a choice."
The tapping stopped.
"What do you mean you didn't have a choice?"
Another breath was taken, "when you were unwell these past few weeks, you no longer… shared yourself with Paul. This made him restless. He came to my room, asking if I could assist him. I refused him at first, saying it wouldn't be fair for my lady." A few seconds of silence started, until one last breath could be heard. "He then mentioned a secret I've been keeping for a long time from my past, and said he would tell you if I didn't do as he asked. So I relented… I gave him what he wanted."
Then Paul quickly got out of his seat and stepped into view of the entrance.
"Wait a minute! I didn't do that! I admit, I went into Lilia's room to talk but I didn't say anything about a-"
Then Zenith looked at him and slammed one hand on the table hard.
"YOU KEEP QUITE!" She yelled.
Paul shut his mouth.
Zenith looked back at Lilia, "are you telling the truth?"
Without hesitation, Lilia looked into Zenith's eyes again with confidence. "Yes my lady, and this isn't the first time Master Paul took advantage of me."
Now it was Zenith's turn to be confused, "what do you mean?"
"You are aware that Paul and I met at my family's dojo. Where he and I train in the sword together. Paul was at odds with my father, so much so that he took revenge on him by sneaking into my room and forcing himself on me and deflowering me."
Zenith was shocked, not as shocked as Paul was.
"That time… it was-"
"So it's true?!" Zenith asked.
"Well… I uh…" he couldn't find the right words.
"After that incident, he left. Once my father found out, he sent me away. I was damaged goods, unable to marry. I was left in the care of the royal maids, where I was taught to follow any orders my Master has given. Any orders… including ones… that were… were…"
Lilia couldn't finish that last part, she looked like a wreck.
Has she done those types of services in the past? She only mentioned how she was groped or stared at by those perverted nobles, but nothing beyond that.
I don't know anymore.
"I can see why you came here. You couldn't stand to work there anymore…" Zenith said, slowly losing her edge.
Once Lilia regained her composure, she continued.
"It wasn't just that, my lady. I was injured while protecting a royal child. The healers did what they could, but I could never wield a sword properly ever again. So they fired me, I was thrown out later."
Zenith looked mortified.
"I was afraid they might kill me because I knew too much, so I ran as far as I could. Eventually, I found myself here, and found a note on the board saying they were in need of a maid. I went here, and met Paul again."
They seem to be the end of the story, which left everyone speechless.
"Why did you agree to work with us if you knew Paul was here, after what he did to you?"
Lilia slightly shrugged, "I had nowhere to turn to… and I figured Master Paul owned me for what he did. Even if he doesn't remember, I will." That was her answer.
This left Zenith with a lot to think about, but not for long.
"It seems your misfortune never ends… even now, you're still unfortunate. You never wanted any of this, this was brought upon you by someone who disregards anyone's feelings." She looked at Paul intensely.
"You shouldn't continue having this misfortune any longer. If you wish Lilia, you can continue to stay here. I can't let you leave the house while you're pregnant, but I can't force you to stay if you are now uncomfortable with Paul."
Lilia was having a hard time holding back tears. "T-thank you my lady…I wish to stay and continue serving you and Master Rudeus. Because you two are precious to me."
Zenith smiled weakly, then got out of her seat. "I need to lay down, this was exhausting." She went to the entrance of the other room that Paul and I were in. She walked past Paul but not before stopping and without looking at him. "I think it's better if you sleep in Roxy's old room." She said straight up.
Paul reached out to Zenith, "please, listen-"
She slapped his hand away, "you will no longer touch me anymore." That was the last thing she said before finally leaving. She went upstairs to her room and shut the door behind her.
Paul looked at Lilia with a gloomy look, not saying anything. He left as well, going upstairs to Roxy's room.
Now all that's left are me and Lilia.
Nothing was said at that moment, I wasn't sure who would speak first.
Guess I'll be the one.
"So much for leaving and finding a home together huh?"
"Rudy I-"
"I guess I kinda knew this would happen eventually. Paul is that type of scumbag, but to go that far."
"Well… it wasn't exactly true."
"Yeah… I kinda figured. Paul isn't the type to use force on someone."
"But-"
"I figured it was a lie. I'm sure you were just fulfilling your duties as a maid. Like you did to me."
Lilia got out of her seat.
"No Rudy! It wasn't like that. I care for you so much. You mean so much to me." Lilia declared.
"Then why did you do it? Why did you agree to sleep with Paul and get pregnant?"
I-I didn't agree with him at first, that was the truth."
"Why did you do it anyway?"
No response.
"Forget it… it does matter."
"I was fulfilling my duties." She finally said.
Silence filled the room again.
"Of course it was."
"But if you allow me to explain for clearly, I'm sure we can-"
"It doesn't matter Lilia… it still doesn't change the fact you slept with him."
I let out a deep breath.
"It's fine… you know what? This is great, we can end this now. That way, we won't get caught."
Lilia looked worried, "no Rudy I-"
"This thing of ours wasn't gonna last anyway. It was only a matter of time."
"Rudy please-"
"Call me Master Rudeus…"
More silence.
"I'm going to bed… I'm tired. Just… fulfill your duties as a maid by cleaning up." I left, leaving Lilia to herself.
"Yes… Master Rudeus." She bowed.
I went upstairs to my room and fell into bed.
My head was swimming in emotions. None made a major impact than betrayal and…
So this is what it feels like…
Heartbreak.
Lilia's Perspective:
Why did I cause such a mess to begin with?
Was it all because I wasn't satisfied with what I have?
That I wanted more?
No, I just behave irresponsibly.
What I told Lady Zenith was half of the truth. Paul did in fact come to my room while I was undressing. I felt so absorbed in my mind that I have forgotten to close the door properly. I was surprised he came, he never entered my room with a good reason. He looked restless, his mind was unfocused. Since Zenith was unable to help Paul with his problem, he asked if we could do it once. I wasn't surprised when he asked this, this was expected of him. But it was still still shocking he would do it all, I had believed he had changed.
I refused him, saying it wouldn't be right for Zenith… and for Rudy as this would break the family apart if they were to find out.
He pestered for a bit, and I continued to refuse him. He finally relented and apologized for asking for this. He just wasn't sure how to deal with it.
Then a thought came, if he hadn't changed at all, would he still follow his old habits? He had a habit of moving on from one girl to another if she didn't give him what he wanted.
Would he leave the house to find a woman to help with his needs? What if he got her pregnant accidentally?
There were plenty of young women in the village, so it was likely.
I couldn't let him do that and damage this family. So I thought if I let him do it once behind closed doors, then there would be no need to seek out other women.
Then Rudy came to mind. I did not wish to betray someone I've come to be close with. But I did not wish for Paul to break this family either.
I keep thinking to myself that it will only be one time and that's easy. I'll fulfill my duties as a maid and that will be the end of it.
So I agreed to let him do it.
It was for Zenith's sake and nothing more.
When we did it, it actually hurt. I wasn't exactly excited, so it wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be. If anything, I felt disgusted. A part wished I didn't do this, but I didn't want Paul to break Zenith's heart.
I asked if he would finish quickly, so he did… inside of me. I thought it would be a safe day, and I could clean it up quickly, so I didn't think too much of it.
I should have been more careful.
When Zenith asked how this happened, I panicked and went with a half truth.
I had hoped she would find sympathy if I told her Paul was the cause of my suffering.
Luckily, she did and I was allowed to stay.
I only told this lie not just because I panic, but because I would be forced to leave and be apart from Rudy.
Rudy…
That boy had been nothing but strange since he was born. But he never did anything unusual. When he looked at me, he either looked kind or uninterested. When he was growing up, he seemed to be in a daze at times, admiring the outside, sticking to himself and hardly interacting with his parents… but me.
When he first stayed in my room, he opened up to me for the first time by hugging me. I've never seen him be affectionate with anyone, so this action surprised me but made me feel something inside.
We continued being close, closer than we ever were. He would confide in me about his worries, relying on me for anything. We share many moments.
Our first big moment I will treasure forever was when we took a bath together for the first time. As always, he would tell me his worries and I would lend him my ear. Then he turned to me, and said eyes were pretty. That's when my heart skipped a beat.
I don't know what possessed me to do it, maybe it was all those frustrated nights hearing Paul and Zenith activities, and Rudy being with me didn't help that I couldn't relieve myself. It also didn't help that Rudy looked at me with kind eyes like Zenith, and smiled at me like Paul.
I kissed him.
When I moved away, I was scared… scared I had ruined our relationship for good. For a maid to kiss their master without their permission.
But it didn't matter as Rudy kissed me back. He felt warm, sweet, it was just lovely.
We continued kissing more after that, making sure no one knew. Then one day, when Zenith and Paul were away, we shared our first experience with each other. I was Rudy's first woman.
What drove me to have such interest with a boy this young?
It was because he was the only one that shared any affection towards me, saying how he only wanted me.
It may have been from the words of a child, but I felt as though he was genuine, and it made my heart race.
I had to play it safe and said it was just practice, in case we were ever discovered.
We continued our relationship until the reveal of my pregnancy. I knew it wasn't Rudy's because he was still young, so it wasn't possible. But I had wished by some miracle that it was his. It would've strengthened our relationship more.
But now that relationship is no more, it broke my heart.
But it was my fault, I ruined it.
I am now carrying a child I never plan to have with anyone but Rudy. Our dream to leave and find a home together can never come to be.
But then a thought came to mind.
If this child I'm carrying were to be born, and if it's a girl, she could fulfill our dream for him. She could give him anything that I could longer give as I was tainted. This pure child could live my dream. So I prayed that his child would come out safely, that this child was a girl, and once she comes out, I'll teach her everything about servicing Rudy.
I'll teach her to be his wife.
