Chapter 1932 – 1932. Dark Moon
The day of the exam arrived.
Group 1, which included Yuria, and Group 5, which included Lydia, were to take the exam together.
First, Group 5 would play the role of nobles, and Group 1 would play the role of servants, hosting a banquet.
They were given one hour for preparation. Within that time, they had to clean the banquet hall, set the tables, and even serve the food. The most challenging task was, of course, the cooking.
Normally, the maids would divide their roles. Cleaning maids would clean, and cooking maids would cook. That was the most efficient way. But now, due to the evaluation, they had to do the work of ten people.
“Group 1, please go up on stage and begin preparing for the banquet party. You have exactly one hour for preparation.”
There were five evaluation instructors and dozens of other classmates watching. Many eyes were focused on them. The group members were stiff with tension from the unexpected attention.
Clap, clap!
Yuria clapped her hands lightly. All eyes turned to her.
“Let’s begin. First, we’ll clean and decorate the dining hall. We’ll finish that within 20 minutes, and then we’ll focus on cooking for the remaining 40 minutes.”
Following Yuria’s instructions, they began to move in an orderly fashion. Yuria, holding a vacuum cleaner, noticed stains on the white tablecloth and various spots on the floor. This was a prepared stage. If there were stains, they were also part of the setup.
“Juliet, please bring the sodium percarbonate. Rachel, please use magic to create hot water.”
They cleaned meticulously for ten minutes. Anything that couldn’t be cleaned in a short time was moved behind the stage.
“The concept is spring.”
Decorating the dining hall was completed even faster than the cleaning. It was simply a matter of bringing out and displaying the things they had prepared in advance.
For the remaining 40 minutes, they headed to the kitchen next door. Since they had already assigned roles, each person began preparing their designated dish. The most difficult task was Yuria’s. There were many things to keep an eye on in the kitchen. If even one person made a mistake, she had to intervene immediately. Of course, Yuria also had to cook. Her task was the main dish, steak.
“The preparation time is over. Group 5, please enter the banquet hall.”
The instructor announced. The girls, dressed in dresses typically worn by nobles rather than maid uniforms, entered the dining hall. Group 1, as maids, had to serve them.
The five instructors watched them with hawk eyes, exchanging opinions with each other.
“Juliet seems a bit clumsy. Didn’t she almost spill the steak sauce earlier?”
“She seems nervous. But she hasn’t made any major mistakes and is doing her part.”
“Lydia is indeed a noble. Her actions exude elegance and grace.”
“Tine is disappointing. Even in noble attire, she doesn’t feel like a noble. It’s natural for a maid to have poise… Hmm.”
“Well, given her background. She’ll get better once she gets used to it.”
Then, the instructors turned their attention to Yuria, who was attending to Lydia.
“Her voice, tone, and posture are perfect.”
“She has a perfect grasp of etiquette. The way she bows and holds her fingers… and above all, the way she slightly lowers her gaze is perfect. It truly feels like she is completely serving her guest.”
“She also seemed experienced when leading the maids. She reminds me of the head maid from the place I worked before coming to the academy.”
“It’s not that she doesn’t have flaws. She’s too noticeable.”
“Indeed, it’s a problem that she stands out more than the nobles.”
“Even if we ignore her natural beauty, her presence alone overwhelms the nobles…”
The dishes were brought before the instructors. Dishes made by the maids themselves. The instructors only took one bite each. They had to evaluate other students as well, so they had to eat as little as possible. They took a bite of the steak and their eyes widened.
“My goodness. How can a steak be so perfect….”
“The grilling and the sauce are perfect. It’s one of the best steaks I’ve ever had.”
“Yuria was in charge of the steak, right? I’ve had steak from the royal chef before… and this is comparable.”
The instructors stared at Yuria with astonished eyes.
The only flaw they could find was that she was too perfect. Other than that, they couldn’t find any fault, even if they wanted to. Frankly, even the instructors here were a bit inferior compared to Yuria. Especially Anna, the cooking instructor, looked serious as soon as she tasted the steak.
“I, I’m supposed to evaluate this? Do I even have the right…?”
Still, they did the evaluation. The score was, of course, perfect.
Next was the ballroom dance evaluation. There was nothing to criticize in the ballroom either. Both the guest service and the serving were excellent.
“Now, let’s switch roles. Group 5 will play the role of servants, and Group 1 will play the role of nobles.”
The roles were switched.
The instructors were as excited about Group 5 as they had been about Group 1. More precisely, they were excited about Lydia in Group 5. Lydia was also a talent recognized by the instructors.
“Her leadership is flawless.”
“Yes. However, she’s a bit forceful. It’s as if she’s a master commanding her servants, not a fellow servant.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“However, I’m pleased with her work. I also like the Christmas concept.”
“Yes. It feels warm. The cleaning was also thorough. Perhaps because she is a mage herself, she actively uses magic. Good. After all, it depends on how you use any power.”
However, the food that followed was disappointing.
“Lydia was also in charge of the main dish, steak.”
“Hmm. It’s excellent. It’s excellent, but….”
“The steak we just had from Yuria was just too perfect.”
They only took one bite of the steak. The instructors turned their attention to Yuria, who was on stage dressed as a noble. Yuria, in a noble dress, was eating gracefully. Though she was young, she somehow exuded experience. She felt more like a noble lady than a noble young lady.
“…Her etiquette is perfect. She never makes a mistake in the order of using the utensils.”
“When our eyes met earlier, I almost bowed my head. For a moment, I thought she was a noble lady….”
“Wait. What’s going on over there?”
Tine was serving Yuria. Tine, pretending to make a mistake, spilled wine on Yuria’s white dress. She seemed to be acting, but she couldn’t fool the eyes of the instructors who had seen it all.
“Let’s watch for now. The exam isn’t over yet. I want to see how Yuria handles it.”
One of the instructors said.
• • •
The wine spilled.
Yuria’s dress became stained as if it had absorbed blood. From her side to the hem of her skirt.
“I, I’m so sorry!”
Tine immediately lowered her head. But she also smirked so that Yuria could see it. As if saying that this suited her better.
It was ridiculous. To cause such a thing during an exam to humiliate someone? She was too short-sighted. And she was also underestimating the instructors too much.
‘The instructors aren’t intervening.’
A maid making a mistake. It was something that could happen. As such, this would also be part of the evaluation.
So, what should she do?
‘I should stay true to my role. I’m a noble now.’
What would it have been like in the [White Hwan] world?
Her master, Eugene, would have brushed it off. He was lenient with beautiful maids. He would probably laugh it off and take off his clothes on the spot for such a small mistake.
But other nobles were different. It wouldn’t be strange to slap her and kick her out on the spot.
‘Even though there’s a class system here, it’s not strict. You can’t treat people carelessly.’
But she didn’t intend to let it go. She was a noble, after all.
“This is unpleasant.”
Yuria opened her mouth. Her cold voice instantly dampened the already bad atmosphere.
“I, I’m so sorry!”
“Don’t just say sorry, you have to take responsibility. Your actions show the level of your master. I am truly disappointed.”
Yuria got up from her chair and tried to leave the place. That way, Tine would get the evaluation of being a maid who only made mistakes and couldn’t handle the aftermath. In Yuria’s opinion, Tine would be expelled with this evaluation.
“I apologize, Lady Yuria.”
Lydia blocked Yuria’s path. She bowed and offered a sincere apology. It was a special situation, but a real countess was bowing to a commoner.
“Please follow me for now. I will prepare a change of clothes for you. You can’t possibly go back in that state. Also, our master would like to greet you personally. Please give us a chance to make up for the maid’s mistake.”
“…Very well.”
Lydia had already taken control of the atmosphere. If she insisted here, it would only be seen as abuse of power. Yuria followed Lydia behind the stage.
“I’m sorry.”
As soon as they got behind the stage, Lydia apologized again. She slightly lowered her head.
“My group member did this out of jealousy towards you.”
“…You must be very close to her. Enough for you to bow your head like this.”
“That’s not it. I haven’t even talked to her much.”
“Then why are you apologizing on her behalf, Lady Lydia?”
“Because I’m the group leader. It’s natural for the group leader to take responsibility for the mistakes of the group members.”
“……”
“There’s still the ballroom dance evaluation left. Your evaluation won’t be good in that dress, so I’ll lend you my dress.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“You don’t have to feel burdened.”
“It’s not that, I don’t think it will fit me.”
Yuria looked at Lydia’s chest. At best, she was a B cup. On the other hand, Yuria’s chest was full. The weight of one side of her chest alone was about 2kg.
Lydia looked at Yuria’s chest for a moment, her face contorted, and then she sighed.
“…Surely you’re not going to go on the ballroom dance stage in that dirty dress?”
“I have a maid uniform, so it’s fine. For a maid, a maid uniform is both a uniform and formal attire.”
Yuria passed by Lydia.
Then, at the ballroom. Yuria really stood on the stage wearing a maid uniform. Juliet, wearing a pink dress, approached Yuria.
“Lady Yuria. Would you like to dance a song with me?”
“Gladly.”
The instructors nodded at Yuria.
“It’s a deduction that a noble in the ballroom is wearing a maid uniform.”
“It can’t be helped. The only dress she had was dirtied… Still, doesn’t she look good in it, since it’s an outing dress?”
“It reminds me of the old days. In a corner of the ballroom… I once danced with a gentleman to the faint music in the background.”
“Lady Yuria was perfect again today. There was a mistake in the middle, but it wasn’t a mistake caused by Lady Yuria.”
“Tine is very disappointing.”
“If it was a genuine mistake, it would be one thing. But Tine was pretending to make a mistake in a despicable way.”
“She didn’t even clean up properly.”
“It seems you’ve all evaluated. Hmm. Is Tine’s score a failing grade?”
“She barely avoided a failing grade. Except for that mistake, everything else was excellent.”
“I don’t think she’ll last long. If she makes one more mistake, she’ll be expelled immediately.”
