The next day, Noelle woke up.
Beside her bed lay a pillow covered in tear stains.
As usual, she made a Satisfying Salad, drank a glass of milk, and ate a slice of bread.
As for how breakfast tasted... she had no idea. She had not tasted it, nor had she been in the mood to. She simply stuffed it mechanically into her mouth, then left home once she finished.
When she reached the Knights of Favonius headquarters, she froze at the entrance, unable to bring herself to go inside.
After all, she had failed nine times. She did not know how the people inside would look at her once she walked through those doors.
The uncertainty beyond the entrance filled her with an inexplicable fear, so strong that her legs felt as though they were filled with lead.
After lingering outside for a long time, she finally walked in.
Not because she had found her courage, but because she had entered the Knights of Favonius headquarters at this very hour every day for so many years.
If she did not go inside, she had no idea where else to go, where else to turn...
A maid's work really consisted of just a few things.
Cleaning, wiping windows, organizing the library's books, washing clothes and cooking for the knights busy working outside, and brewing tea and grinding coffee for the busy Acting Grand Master Jean.
Noelle had performed these tasks countless times. The dull, repetitive work had long since become instinctive.
By now, even without thinking, she instinctively knew when to wash the clothes, when to clean, and when to bring coffee to a sleepy Acting Grand Master Jean.
When to bring pizza to Acting Grand Master Jean after she had exhausted herself, and when to bring her dessert after