Chapter 112

A problem has arisen.

‘Was gathering points always this difficult?’

I am dying of curiosity regarding the newly updated trait, but because I am lacking a mere 30 points, I can’t even get a glimpse of it.

‘I am certain achievements used to hand out a ton of shop points, though.’

Despite a considerable amount of time having passed since I started Round 2, the speed of achieving achievements is remarkably slow.

It is far too different from Round 1, where points were generously showered upon me even for the most trivial things.

Presumably, it seemed that the achievements already completed in Round 1 had entirely carried over.

If that’s the case, since I am in a state where I have already cleared a significant number of the achievements obtainable in the early game, I am bound to face difficulties in earning shop points like before.

In other words, to obtain shop points, I either have to progress the story further than before, or…

‘I have to target clearing new achievements by doing things I have never done before.’

It isn’t a completely pessimistic situation, however.

Ever since the moment Robert survived, the story is practically no different from being completely created anew.

It means even I have absolutely no idea what will happen ahead, and even attempting to predict it is an entirely meaningless state.

“What are you doing? Lita. Ah, mopping?”

Io tapped my back as she initiated a conversation, but the moment I turned around, she put on an exaggerated display of pretending to be startled.

“Ack! My apologies! I got the wrong person!”

Naturally, she wasn’t doing that because she genuinely couldn’t recognize me; she was simply teasing me.

Isabella, who had approached before I knew it, snatched one of the water mops held in both of my hands and spoke.

“Knock it off, Io. You already saw her this morning, so why are you being like this?”

“No, I still haven’t fully adjusted yet. Because there is way too much light radiating from Lita~!”

That’s right. Today, I got my heavy bangs trimmed at a hair salon and initiated the cosmetics I purchased yesterday, even if just a little bit.

“Even though it’s your first time, how did you manage to do it so naturally and well? It’s completely ‘no-makeup makeup’ style!”

I had merely recalled my experience of receiving makeup from a professional back during my days as the Saintess.

I guess learning over someone’s shoulder provided at least a tiny bit of help.

Because Belita possessed a good natural canvas to begin with, even though I did nothing more than push her bangs aside slightly, conceal her dark circles and pale skin, draw a tiny bit of eyeliner, and apply some color to her lips, the effect was incredible.

I had harbored expectations that clearing an achievement might trigger just from dressing up, but regrettably, the notification window remained entirely quiet.

Since a shift in appearance had already occurred back during Round 1, it was likely due to the fact that all related achievements had already been cleared.

Ding!

Conveniently, there was a choice that perfectly represented my thoughts. The moment it popped up, I selected it without a single shred of hesitation and was about to open my mouth.

“Stop it. It’s embarras—”

“Ah, so noisy! Anyone else hear a pig squealing somewhere?”

“Pfft!”

Faced with the naked sarcasm that rang out entirely out of nowhere, I couldn’t finish my sentence, and both Io and Isabella’s faces stiffened simultaneously.

As if aligning with those words, scoffing sounds also drifted in from hither and thither.

“Why don’t you wipe the floor one more time in the time it takes to say another word?”

“Aren’t they complete salary thieves? I heard those ones receive a hefty pay under the title of high-ranking maids. Doing the exact same work yet it’s so unfair~!”

“Especially since Lord Robert is the master of this place now.”

That’s right. We are currently facing untimely ostracization.

To be precise, it wasn’t strictly just us; every single servant of the former Duke was enduring it.

As of today, a massive number of the former servants were dismissed and left the mansion, and the servants who used to work at Robert’s private residence were integrated in their stead.

The servants currently picking a fight with us were also individuals who came from Robert’s private residence.

Io and Isabella vented their dissatisfaction, whispering softly enough so that the others couldn’t hear.

“Ugh! Seriously, they cause a fuss at all hours of the day.”

“Tell me about it. Just what do they think they’re doing acting so childishly?”

“Even the Head Maid has changed, leaving just us dangling awkwardly. Ah, it’s truly annoying!”

The primary targets of the staff purge were the high-ranking superiors who used to closely serve Vincent, along with the mid-to-low-tier workforce that could easily be replaced by the Robert family’s personnel.

Even if the master had changed, many counter-argued that it was an excessively harsh treatment toward people who had faithfully served the Rubel family for a long time.

Even taking into account that it was inherited by a brother who had already moved out and established his own household rather than a son, far too many people had entered and far too many people had left.

Even so, Robert remained firm.

‘Of course, since the internal affairs of the family belong to his wife rather than Robert, this large-scale personnel replacement might actually be his wife’s intention.’

Because my roommates and I held ambiguous ranks and positions, we barely managed to survive. The others were ruthlessly forced to leave the mansion without a single exception.

They likely required existing personnel to handle the transition so that the newly entering servants could adjust, and it would have been a burden for their side to kick out even high-ranking maids like us who knew the mansion inside out.

In other words, this was a case of the rolling stones bullying the embedded stones.

‘Or is it? According to what those guys said, since this is Robert’s house now, do we become the rolling stones instead?’

Furthermore, the remaining former servants had been scattered all over and assigned to separate duties.

Looking at the numbers alone, we were essentially integrated into their crowd, which likely made it even easier for them to act territorial.

“Man! Isn’t there anything we can do?”

“Who knows…?”

“Why! There could easily be someone high up who hates having such subpar servants inside our proud Rubel Ducal House!”

Io looked like she wanted to report them to a higher-up for workplace harassment.

However, I have no intention of getting involved in this kind of squabble.

Either way, the people with ranks higher than us are all on their side, so even if we filed a complaint, it wouldn’t be accepted.

Besides, I have zero intention of doing anything that stands out. I need to approach Robert and first guide him toward contemplating a divorce.

If I fail the quest, it’s a situation where I have to start all over again from the very beginning. In the midst of all that, I also have to keep the Synchronization Rate in mind.

‘Nothing has really changed yet, though.’

Either way, it meant I had no choice but to be careful with every single action.

‘It is a bit annoying, though.’

It was miserable having all the shared workload dumped on me. Mopping the floor all by myself earlier was part of that.

And yet, they had the nerve to criticize me for being a salary thief—talk about shameless.

Ding!

‘……How long has it been since I decided I didn’t want to stand out, and yet options like this pop up?’

Among the choices that were violent either verbally or physically, a verbal dispute was bound to be better than committing physical violence.

“Do you think you can just run your mouth off however you please just because you have one?”

“B-Belita……!”

My two roommates grabbed my shoulders as they pretended to hold me back, but their affection levels were honest.

On top of that, though…

…It felt like I had inadvertently stumbled upon a way to earn shop points.

It was a mere 2 points, but right now, it was my only source for points.

My resolve to stay out of petty territorial squabbles crumbled completely, and I began to run my mouth more proactively than anyone else.

“Is this girl completely out of her mind? Who do you think you’re talking to, telling them they run their mouth just because they have one…!”

“It’s true, though. You’re blathering without even knowing how to distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be said.”

“W-What? Hey, did we say anything wrong? Has-beens should just leave quietly instead of clinging on so despicably!”

“Exactly! If the master changes, it’s only right that the servants change too! If you truly care for the former master, you should leave to prove your loyalty!”

Unable to stomach the absurd argument, Io chimed in.

“Hey, why are we bringing loyalty into this? At the end of the day, both you and us are just employees anyway!”

“We are different from——”

“What is all this racket!”

At the sharp, raised voice echoing down the hallway, the servants shut their mouths simultaneously.

Recognizing the owner of the voice, the servants flinched in surprise and bowed at the waist.

I also turned my head reflexively, and a somewhat familiar face came into view.

“Gasp! M-Miss Sera!”

“What if the Duchess sees you causing such a scene?!”

“We are sorry!”

Sera Clock. She was the individual who died back in Round 1 while trying to frame me.

And we happened to have crossed paths once even after I returned to the past.

Since nothing bad had happened to Robert, I figured she would take some sort of action, but there hadn’t been any notable signs so far.

Averting her gaze from the other maids, Sera looked at my face and her eyes widened in an instant.

“Why are you holding your head up so confidently?”

Ah. Lost in thought, I had completely missed the timing to bow.

Back in Round 1, she had used polite honorifics with me since I belonged to a different estate and hadn’t been integrated yet, but her current tone clearly showed a determination to treat me based on our hierarchy now that we were in the same household.

It was a bit vexing, but now was not the time to act up.

I immediately bent 90 degrees at the waist and shouted.

“My apologies! I was simply so startled that I momentarily lost my bearings…”

“Ah. Well. That… that can happen.”

Sera bit her lip with a face that looked as if she had just seen a nightmarish demon, barely managed to reply.

Then, she questioned us in a dignified tone.

“Ahem! So, why were you fighting?”

“Well, you see…”

“Since it’s our first time working together, it seems everyone was simply overeager to do a good job! We shall coordinate better moving forward! Right, Bridget?”

The moment I turned my head slightly and flashed a benevolent smile, Bridget, the maid who had been picking a fight with me earlier, stared at me as if looking at a lunatic.

She mouthed something without letting out a sound, and judging by her lip shape, it seemed to be: Have you lost your mind?

“You should answer, Bridget. Miss Sera is waiting.”

“Ah, w-well… I am sorry.”

“Make sure to be careful from now on.”

Sera left the spot, leaving us behind in a rather awkward atmosphere.

“Haha! Lita! Shall we go wrap things up over there?”

Io pulled my arm, speaking in a strained, awkward manner.

“Hey! Hold it right there!”

Without stopping, I merely turned my head out of pure curiosity while being dragged away by Io, prompting Bridget to shout furiously.

“D-Don’t you dare act close with me from now on.”

‘……’

Isabella whispered softly.

“Is she a child?”

I couldn’t agree more.

“That maid from earlier. Was she the Duchess’s personal maid?”

“Yeah, Sera Clock. I’ve heard of her back when I was the most well-connected person in this entire mansion.”

“Not anymore?”

“How can I be well-connected when almost every person I used to know has been replaced! Besides, the newly arrived bunch is incredibly hostile like that!”

“I guess even your sociability can’t do anything about it.”

Io shouted as if pouring out all her accumulated frustration.

“Like hell it can!”

Oops. I didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but it seemed her feelings were hurt.

She must have taken that title of being well-connected quite seriously in her own way.

“Anyway, then she must possess a fair amount of influence. You saw it earlier; she seemed to have them completely under her thumb.”