While Greg's thoughts wandered, the maid guiding them stopped before a door, knocked softly twice, then opened it and stepped aside.
As Greg passed her, he noticed how impeccable her posture and gestures were. Her back was straight, her hands folded in front of her, and her head lowered at just the right angle to show respect without sacrificing dignity.
He couldn't help marveling inwardly: A professional maid really was different.
Her movements were crisp, her bearing composed, and even the rhythm of her breathing seemed carefully regulated.
By contrast, the woman beside him was nominally a maid too, but she spent her days either drawing her sword to threaten him or greeting him with devious, cutting remarks.
They might as well have been entirely different species.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when Ellie, walking half a step ahead, suddenly turned and swept her beautiful eyes over him in a cold glare.
"Tch. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."
Greg's back instantly stiffened.
Although the maids at the manor still didn't know who he was, he was at least the Church's nominal Bishop. He absolutely couldn't let his former personal maid beat him up in front of other people.
He immediately collected himself and walked into the room, keeping his gaze straight ahead.
"Thank you for your help. You can return to your post."
Ellie said this to the maid, then entered the room as well and closed the door.
Outside, the maid remained where she was, looking at the closed door and murmuring to herself:
"This is the first time I've seen Lady Ellie get so close to a man without him losing an arm or a leg, or bleeding all over... Who exactly is he?"
Finally, she shook her head and left, still full