Chapter 40: Suggestion
The rest of the morning passed in an awkward sort of silence.
Nobody knew what they were supposed to do after everything that had happened. The mansion was still the same luxurious estate it had been yesterday, but it no longer felt untouchable. Servants moved through the halls at a slower pace than usual, exchanging uncertain glances whenever they passed one another. Some quietly returned to their normal duties, while others remained in the lounge, almost afraid that if they left, the strange honesty filling the room would disappear.
I stayed by the window a little longer before finally setting my empty coffee cup on the table.
"...I should probably head back."
Every conversation in the room stopped.
Lila looked up first.
"So soon?"
"I’ve already missed enough time."
"And if I disappear for another day, the academy’s going to start asking questions."
Sasha let out a quiet sigh.
"Unfortunately... that’s true."
Lila nodded slowly.
"I’ll have someone drive you."
"That’s not necessary."
"It wasn’t a suggestion."
She smiled faintly.
"I’d rather know you got back safely."
There was something different about the way she spoke now. She still sounded confident, but the edge that had always been there seemed noticeably softer.
Before I could answer, I noticed someone standing quietly near the doorway.
Yuna.
She had changed out of her maid uniform into a simple gray dress. Her hair was neatly tied back, and without the knife in her hand or the hatred burning in her eyes, she looked... surprisingly ordinary.
She hesitated for a few seconds before slowly walking toward me.
Everyone watched.
She stopped an arm’s length away and bowed her head.
"...I’m sorry."
I blinked.
She continued before I could respond.
"Not just for last night."
"For everything."
"I scared you."
"I put everyone in danger."
"I..."
Her voice caught in her throat.
"I don’t know if I deserve forgiveness."
The room remained quiet.
I scratched the back of my neck.
"I’m probably not the right person to decide that."
She gave a small nod.
"I know."
"I just wanted you to hear it from me."
I studied her for a moment.
The obsession from last night hadn’t completely vanished.
It was still there.
I could see it every time she looked at me.
But now it was mixed with something else.
Embarrassment.
Regret.
Hope.
"You should apologize to everyone," I said gently.
"Not just me."
She turned toward the rest of the room.
One by one, she bowed.
"I’m sorry."
The words were simple.
She repeated them to every maid gathered there.
Some accepted them with quiet nods.
Others simply looked away, still unsure how they felt.
No one expected everything to be fixed in a single morning.
That wasn’t how people worked.
Lila stepped forward.
"Yuna."
Yuna looked up immediately.
"...Yes, Miss Lila?"
Lila was silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"From today onward..."
She stopped herself.
"No."
She sighed.
"Let’s start over."
"My name is Lila."
The room went completely still.
"I don’t think I’ve ever properly introduced myself to you."
Yuna stared at her as though she’d misheard.
"I..."
"I know your name."
"I know."
Lila smiled awkwardly.
"But I never asked yours."
Yuna’s eyes slowly widened.
"...It’s..."
She swallowed.
"Yuna."
"It’s nice to properly meet you, Yuna."
No grand speech followed.
No dramatic music.
Just a simple greeting.
Oddly enough...
It carried more weight than any apology had.
Mr. Hayashi quietly cleared his throat.
"I’ll begin reviewing every employment file today."
"I’ll also arrange meetings with each member of the household individually."
"No one will be rushed."
"If anyone wishes to raise concerns..."
He glanced around the room.
"...I’ll personally record them."
Several maids exchanged uncertain looks.
Luna was the first to speak.
"...Will our answers stay confidential?"
"They will."
"And if we criticize management?"
"They’ll remain confidential."
Another maid slowly raised her hand.
"...Even if we criticize Miss Lila?"
Lila answered before Mr. Hayashi could.
"Especially then."
A faint murmur spread through the room.
For the first time since arriving, I noticed some of the maids smiling at one another.
Not because everything was solved.
Because someone had finally opened a door that had always been locked.
About half an hour later, a black sedan pulled up outside the mansion.
One of the drivers stepped out and politely opened the rear door.
Lila walked with me to the entrance.
Sasha followed a few steps behind.
Neither of them spoke until we reached the driveway.
Lila folded her arms.
"...About yesterday."
I looked at her.
"I don’t regret meeting you."
She laughed quietly.
"I wasn’t talking about that."
"...Though I suppose I don’t regret it either."
Sasha immediately rolled her eyes.
"Of course you’d say that."
Lila ignored her.
"I meant..."
She looked back toward the mansion.
"I’ve spent years believing I understood this house."
"It turns out I only understood the parts I wanted to see."
She looked back at me.
"So..."
"Thank you."
I smiled.
"I don’t think I deserve the credit."
"You still chose to listen."
"Most people wouldn’t have."
Before I got into the car, someone called out behind us.
"Master—"
Yuna immediately clamped both hands over her mouth.
The entire driveway went silent.
Her face turned bright red.
"...Sorry."
She looked absolutely mortified.
"I..."
"I meant..."
She glanced helplessly between me and Lila.
"...Adrian."
The awkwardness lasted only a second before Sasha burst out laughing.
Lila covered her mouth, trying—and failing—not to laugh as well.
Even several of the maids standing near the entrance couldn’t hold back small smiles.
Yuna looked as though she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
I chuckled.
"It’s fine."
She slowly lowered her hands.
"...Have a safe trip."
"I will."
As the sedan pulled away from the mansion, I looked back through the rear window.
Lila and Sasha stood side by side near the entrance.
The maids were beginning to return inside.
Yuna remained on the front steps, watching the car until the estate disappeared behind the gates.
I leaned back in my seat.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I’d managed to survive a disaster without making things worse.
That was probably worth celebrating.
Unfortunately...
I had a feeling the academy wasn’t going to let me enjoy that victory for very long.