Chapter 2 – Lilia the Expressionless Maid
Disclaimer: I don't own shit.
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Lilia was once a guards-maid for Asura's royal concubines.
A maid whose job included protection, someone who can take care of all their needs and also protect them with a sword.
She faithfully accomplished this duty. So much so, that even with Royalty's high standards, there were no complaints.
Yet realistically, She was only average. Nothing special.
Even if she was diligent, just a single moment of carelessness protecting the newly born princess, taking a blow meant for her, she got injured by the assassins dagger.
A dagger coated in poison meant to specifically kill royals. A poison with no detoxification or healing magic known for it.
While the wound was somehow miraculously treated due to their quick response, even with all their efforts they could not cure her completely unscathed.
She could never run or stomp again. Due to this, she was fired and sacked without hesitation. It was a common occurrence, and she accepted it herself.
Having lost her abilities to protect and fight, it was a given she would lose her job that required them.
Even though she was given no compensation nor any accolades for risking her life, she considered it fortunate she wasn't silenced by the royal family.
To keep up appearances even things like assassination will be pushed under the rug, especially since they could not find the mastermind.
Lilia left the capital immediately.
She didn't want to be considered as a target to be silenced.
She did suspect the palace let her leave to easily due to being used as bait, but she will just take advantage of that to leave for her safety.
She would really have no regrets leaving that place.
Discreetly switching stagecoaches while traveling, and arrived at the region of Fedoa, which was one of the agricultural lands of the kingdom located at the border.
Lilia wanted to find work here.
As she he leg was crippled, she was unable to do jobs that require strength.
She thought about teaching swordsmanship to the locals, but she'd rather be a maid as it makes more money. After all in the a rural area like this maids versed in domestic affairs was relatively rare.
Low supply, higher pay.
Although she decided to avoid the lords and nobles of Fedoa, as they would definitely have relations with the king.
As she was experienced in the ways of the palace, she would rather not be used as a political tool.
She really didn't want to have another do-or-die situation again.
Even as she felt sorry for the princess she protected, Lilia didn't want to be part of the royalties power struggle.
But, if her salary is too low she wouldn't be able to send money to her family.
Trying to find a safe job with a good salary wasn't as easy as she would've thought.
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After a whole month of searching, Lilia came across a recruitment notice.
A lower class knight from Buina Village in the Fedoa region, was looking to hire a maid.
On top of that, the notice says priority will be given to someone with experience in midwifery and taking care of children.
Buena village is a tiny village in the most rural area of Fedoa.
A village among villages. Somewhere they can only call the boonies.
Somewhere no royalty would be really get caught visiting.
It was exactly what she was looking for.
While the notice says the employer is a lower class knight, she was quite surprised to see the emplyers name.
Paul Greyrat.
Her junior back in Water-God style school.
A nobles profligate son, who on one day, barged into the dojo where Lilia was learning.
During that time, he seemed to have run away from home after having an argument with his father, and had come to learn swordsmanship.
While he studied a different style when he was at home, without much time, he surpassed Lilia quite easily.
This fact was quite disconcerting to her, but she really understood that she had no talent, so she just let it go.
Paul who was brimming with potential, was later banished from the dojo due to a mistake.
He left Lilia a single parting sentence, "I'm becoming an adventurer."
Really the gall of this man….
Truly a man that was like a squall.
It has been 7 years since then.
At that time, he actually became a knight and got married.
While not having the best impressions of him, she truly never thought of Paul as a bad man.
If she told him her problems, I'm sure he would help her.
If that doesn't work, she could always mention some past events. She definitely have leverage when it comes to negotiations with him.
Making a decision, she headed to Buena Village.
Contrary to her doubts, Paul hired her immediately and without as much as a question.
He truly only cared about my experience with children as his wife Zenith was about to give birth.
Lilia had been taught extensively in midwifery for the princess's birth. Moreover Paul was already acquainted with her.
She was received with a warm welcome. Her salary was also much higher than she expected, so her wish was achieved.
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Zenith gave birth to twins. Two Boys.
Even with that, there were no labor issues at all. It went just as she practiced for in the inner palace.
It was quite successful as birthing twins are concerned.
However both boys didn't cry coming out of Zenith, which was very different from experience.
She may be paranoid but she couldn't help but break in cold sweat.
She couldn't help but touch the baby in Zenith's arms to make sure it was alive, making sure it was really breathing. It was alive and well, but it really wasn't crying.
Lilia remembered her head maids words.
Babies who don't cry at birth usually have complications.
The instant when she thought of this.
"Ah, ah." the baby she was touching mumbled something as he looked at her.
"Waaah!" she turned her head to see the second one crying as Paul tried to comfort him.
Lilia finally relaxed. Even though there is no evidence for it, she felt there would be no more problems.
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The boy's names were; Rudeus and Archer.
Both were uncanny children, never crying or fussing. At first, she assumed both boys were weak, and that taking care of them would require hardly any effort.
But, such things were only in the beginning.
After both learned to crawl, both boys started to move everywhere in the house.
Literally everywhere. Kitchen, back door, storage, my bedroom, fireplace, etc…
Both even managed to climb onto the second story, though we couldn't imagine how.
Either way both seem to disappear if you stop looking at them.
But both boys will always be found somewhere in the house.
The boys never left the house.
Both would occasionally look outside the windows, with Archer seeming to like it more, while to her Rudeus seemed to be fearful of the outside.
It was the first differences she had noticed between the twins.
She was instinctively scared of these twins due to their weird composure. But the one that scares her the most was Rudeus.
Most of the time, Rudeus would be smiling, which was the opposite of Archer who would mostly have a neutral expression or a frown.
While you would find both boys in the same place every time, both seem to look at different things. Sometimes to her it seems Rudeus seemed too interested watching her do the laundry, looking specifically at my underwear.
One time, she saw him looking at drying laundry through the window while mumbling, and showed a smile that made people seem disgusted.
A naturally disgusting smile. A smile not unlike the higher ranked nobles she had to deal with. Bald, pudgy, and ugly. They would always leer at her when they stared at her breasts.
It was exceptionally scary when it happened when she had to hold Rudeus.
Rudeus nostrils would flare, corners of his mouth would rise, and his breathing hastens as he buried his face into her chest.
He would also make strange noises, "Heeee" and "oooohhhh," with sounds that she could attribute to laughter.
Every time it happened, Lilia's body could only shiver violently in reaction.
She always had this urge to throw this baby and smash him into the ground.
While not as responsive she definitely liked the other boy better. She could not help but find Rudeus uncute. His smile the same as officials that bought many female slaves.
This was a baby supposed to have been just born right?
Lilia felt discomfort every time she held him, and at times felt peril.
Perhaps something was possessing it? She has had heard stories about evil spirits possessing people, making them act in a strange ways.
When the Greyrats went to sleep, she did her home's ritual to exorcise evil. Secretly of course.
Lilia didn't think Paul and Zenith would appreciate her concerns over one of their sons.
After trying to exorcise him, Lilia carried Rudeus the next day.
It didn't work…..
Rudeus was still disgusting as usual. That eerie expression still on the baby's face.
This was too strange to be hereditary. Especially since the other twin does not have the same impression.
Zenith earlier once said, " When feeding this baby milk, he will lick…."
Lilia could only be silent in shock when she heard it. While Paul was a pervert, and had no restraint to women, he didn't give out this disgusting presence.
Lilia remembered another story, this time from the princess's palace. Of a prince possessed by a demon, crawling in the night, then killing any unsuspecting passerby.
Was he like that? Lilia couldn't help but feel it was so. That Rudeus could've been a devil in a baby's body.
He's still obedient now, but what about in the future?
Lilia couldn't help but have regrets taking this job…..
NO, no, no! Its still too early to have such regrets, as so far, this family has been good to her. But contrary to her adamant decision, she really can't get it this thought out of her head.
"I'll get attacked sooner or later."
…...Lilia was a person who seriously believed in such superstition.
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Even after the first year of her work, she was still afraid of the boy.
Both boys seem to be doing the same thing, yet slowly she is observing some differences in how they act.
The twins didn't disappear as much as before, and both boys seem to like to stay in Paul's study on the second floor.
She called it a study, but it was just small room with a few books. The twins would stay there without leaving.
Once she tried to observe them silently and without notice and found both boys mumbling to themselves while reading a book.
Mumbling? Are these boys old enough to read? Did we teach these boys anything about letters?
Looking at them again, they are there silently looking at the book like they were reading, turning the page after some time, and repeat.
It was frightening in a way…..However, she no longer felt disgusted by Rudeus, since both started staying in that room.
Rudeus still would occasionally show that disgusting smile when she carried him, it no longer felt unpleasant.
He wouldn't bury his face in her chest, and no longer suddenly pant. It was like he became a decent baby overnight. Rudeus now gives her the impression like his twin brother.
Why did she ever find him scary again? Recently she couldn't help but question her past musings and fears.
Right now, both boys give her the feeling of sincerity and diligence. So much so that she could never bring herself to disturb them when they do this.
After much deliberating, Lilia decided that not to care for the twins was better.
True, it was an idea that is against common sense. Fact of the matter is, you can't just not care for children that was born just recently.
But she knows. Both boys have signs of knowledge in their eyes. She had not proof, but her gut says it is so.
A strong will and determination, with wisdom far above their years.
What should she do? Even with her knowledge of children from the palace, she really wasn't prepared for children like this.
On the bright side, she no longer felt disgusted, or uncomfortable around the children.
So she decided it was best not to disturb a good thing. She didn't want him to revert back to how he was originally.
….Let's just leave it as it is. She really could only conclude so…
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Authors Note: They really didn't show it in the anime, but the novel goes more in depth about how others look at the character in general and first impressions. Will probably have more chapters like this in the following chapters, just like the novel. Will also have a Rudeus POV in this style soon too, as I want to follow his perspective of a twin brother that was not in the original work. If anyone has any suggestions please leave a soft review.
PS. How's everyone's holidays so far. Mine sucks, but you know we push on. They are making hard for me to get a new passport so I can fly home. Hope everyone's holidays will be better than mine. We all deserve it. The world is shit, and I pray that all my readers will have something to look forward to this holidays. God bless.