#069 Where we look at each other
At the restaurant we followed Clara into, a luxuriously dressed employee welcomed us.
It appears to be operated by reservation only, and we were taken to a table with a nice atmosphere inside the restaurant.
The table was beautifully decorated with a couple of candles with a faint scent.
“Wow, this place seems really expensive.”
“Actually, this is the place I was planning to come with Ruby… “I just happened to come here with you first.”
“… Ahahahaha.”
“Well, you’re not that bad either.”
If she had been as close to Ruby as she was in the original, she would have brought them both here.
I felt like I had unintentionally taken Ruby’s place.
After a while, our eyes widened as the waiter placed a luxurious-looking meat dish in front of us.
Steak. I wanted to pick up a fork right now, but for some reason, I took a look at Clara’s thoughts.
“Please enjoy your meal. “This visit is for you.”
“Yes, then I will eat well!”
Clara smiled slightly as she watched me dismantle the steak without any formality.
“It’s like looking back at my childhood. “I was constantly nagged by my parents to teach me to hold a fork properly.”
“… “Is it weird holding that fork?”
Clara said as she suddenly stopped eating and turned her fork hand around.
“Just leave it alone. “It’s cute and nice to look at.”
“Now that you say it like that, I’m more concerned…” “
Because of what Clara said, I was scolded for worrying about my hands the whole time I was eating.
After a brief meal, I opened my mouth while waiting for dessert.
“Now that I think about it, I’m worried about Miss Ruby these days.”
“I’m worried. Is there something going on between you two? If that’s the case, I’m welcome.”
“… “I don’t think she’s the girl I knew.”
At my words, Clara tilted her head.
“… “What does that mean?”
“Can I say that you are more helpless than before…? “It seems like he doesn’t like the piano, which he loved so much, and he stays locked in his room all vacation.”
Clara, who had been quietly listening to me, shook her head and said,
“Even though you’ve been by Ruby’s side for so long, you don’t seem to know any of that.”
“Yes?”
“There’s no way Ruby would hate the piano, right?”
“But you haven’t put your hands on the keyboard once recently… ?’
“Then you should have asked the reason directly. “If you can’t do something you like for a long time, anyone will become that helpless.”
“Ah… “
“Ruby is the person who shines the brightest when she sits in front of the piano. “If someone like that refuses to play, I think it’s a pretty big problem.”
Like Clara said, she should have asked the reason directly at least once.
Is it my fault that I continued to neglect Ruby even though I was caring about her recently?
“… Clara knows Lady Ruby very well. “Maybe more than me.”
“Of course. How hard I tried to win his heart. “It’s enough to print a dictionary.”
“Can you tell me a few of the things you found out that I don’t know?”
“… Find out for yourself. “What have you been doing since you’ve been by my side for so long?”
“… “
Her words left her speechless, so she took a sip of water.
“… Well, it means that you are comfortable with Ruby to that extent. So much so that there is no need to observe them one by one.”
“Of course. “He’s like family.”
When I said that, Clara slightly frowned.
“… Family?”
“Yes. “We’ve been by each other’s side since we were young.”
“You wouldn’t have said that in front of Ruby, right?”
“I did it often. Is there any problem?”
“… No. “It’s your relationship, so you can figure it out.”
“… ?”
I didn’t quite understand why she reacted so sensitively.
Did I say something bad to Ruby? ?
After enjoying her dessert and a short chat, she walked back to her academy with him.
Clara looked at me, waved her hand coolly and turned around.
“Let’s part ways at this point. Thank you for hanging out.”
“Yes. “Today’s date was fun.”
When I answered that way, Clara suddenly turned around and shouted.
“Day… Rani, what are you talking about, you… !?”
“Isn’t this what you call a date?”
“That’s an expression used when two people who have feelings for each other meet. “I hope you pay attention!”
“… Yes. All right.”
They’re making a fuss about everything.
“… Well then, goodbye.”
After a brief greeting with Clara, I returned to Ruby’s dorm room.
“Miss, I’m here.”
She tried calling her, but there was no answer from her.
She went to her bed just in case and found Ruby sleeping, sprawled out with her face covered with her book.
‘… Also, I barely finished dinner.’
Since there was no sign of her dish being left out, she seemed to have finished her dinner with dessert again.
After changing her clothes into comfortable clothes, she sat down on Ruby’s bed and said.
“… “Miss, are you sleeping?”
“… “
Still no reply came back from her.
“I know you’re having a hard time these days. You are helpless and have no strength. “Can you tell me why?”
It was something I always wanted to ask, but never asked directly.
I just thought that Ruby would overcome it on her own as time passed, but it seems I was wrong.
The longer I left Ruby alone, the more I felt like she was falling into a worse direction.
“… I just want to sit next to her and listen to her play like before. “I want to see that look on their face as they are immersed in the performance.”
Even if I say this, she won’t hear it while she’s sleeping.
“… I’m sorry you’re sleeping. Good night.”
It was when I was about to wake up.
“… Amber. Wait for a sec.”
Ruby quickly got up and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
“… “Weren’t you sleeping?”
“I woke up on the way. “I heard your voice.”
I lowered my head and spoke with a helpless face.
“I keep feeling guilty these days. I feel like I’ve been neglecting you all this time… “
“… This isn’t your fault. “Don’t blame yourself, Amber.”
“How can you do that? “It’s my job to keep Lady Ruby in good condition.”
“Just being by her side is enough.”
“… “Are you not planning on telling me why?”
“There’s nothing wrong, Amber. I’m okay.”
It seemed like she had no intention of telling me anything.
I said, looking at her with her serious eyes.
“No. “I really need to hear the reason.”
“… “What if I can’t tell you?”
“We will at least go on strike.”
“That’s okay too. “As long as you stay with me.”
“… What did you say?”
“I just need you to be okay. “Nothing else matters, Amber.”
“That’s strange. “If you’re not okay, how can I be okay!?”
Right now, Ruby continues to worry me.
“For me, Amber, you come first. “You don’t have to do anything.”
“… No. “I can’t tolerate that.”
I shook my head and stood up.
“It’s not ladylike to do this. “Where on earth has that enterprising Ruby from before gone?”
Then Ruby looked at the floor with empty eyes and said.
“… “The more I do, the more dangerous it will be for you.”
“… “What do you mean?”
“That’s what it means to be born as the daughter of the Sarka family. “You saw it several times while we were together, right?”
Ruby explained to me with unfocused eyes.
“The more I do and achieve something, the more people around me will be jealous of me, and the more people will put that feeling into action.”
“I told you that if something like that happens, I will protect you. Oh my… “
Before I could finish speaking, she shouted at me.
“Amber, you don’t have the ability to do that… !”
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“… !”
When she heard what she said, she stood as if she had been hit on the head.
She looked at me and then spoke softly again.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you… “
After hearing everything Ruby said, I stood there unable to give any answer.
… It was like that. I had no ability to protect Ruby.
A person who can’t even protect herself, there’s no way she can protect others. I was left speechless by this new and cruel fact.
She sighed softly and continued her words.
“I can tolerate being in danger, but I don’t want to put you in danger.”
That’s why. The reason why Ruby hasn’t shown any passion for anything these days.
“…I just want to spend time with you in my room like this without having to worry. Do you understand how I feel, Amber?”
“… “I’m sorry, miss.”
I gathered up my clothes and prepared to leave the room.
“Amber? “Where are you going?”
“… “I have no intention of staying by her side until I see her change.”
Ruby was also well aware of her own talents. And the more she reveals it, the more she inevitably attracts people’s attention.
If I were like a shackle to Ruby, there was no reason for me to be by her side anymore.
“… “If Ruby has to end up like that because of me, I’d rather leave.”
This wasn’t what I wanted.
Because I didn’t want to watch you change like this because of me.
“Amber, wait… “
Before Ruby finished speaking, she ran out of her room as if running away.
She didn’t even listen to the rest of her words.
‘… Sorry. ‘Please give me some time to think.’
For the first time since becoming her maid, I offended Ruby.
