The Maid In The Reverse Harem Game Wants To Quit - Chapter 124
Translator: Nabi
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Chapter 123
After Story — If You Had Loved Me (4)
Next life.
It was Irene’s habit of speech. To Otis, who didn’t believe in things like past lives or the afterlife, it occasionally felt strange. It was puzzling that someone so realistic like her would talk about something as absurd as an afterlife so often.
‘I wonder if Irene has a religion she believes in.’
It is said that there were also religions across the continent that believed in reincarnation and rebirth, so if it were such a faith, he thought he would respect it.
Nevertheless, Otis knew Irene well.
She hated religion. Without confining herself to any particular religion, she disparaged all religions as nothing more than filth.
— It’s all utterly useless. If there were a god, he wouldn’t have created a world like this.
Even though she rarely revealed her inner thoughts, there was one occasion when she muttered something like this.
At that moment, Otis was surprised to discover that she harbored such strong resentment and anger. It was because Irene always maintained a gentle and serene expression, so it was the first time he had ever seen her face so fraught with emotion.
— How much did I pray, how much did I wish…
Hatred, resentment, anger, remorse, grief, despair…
The tangible emotions that surfaced on her face were fierce, as if she were about to set a church on fire at any moment.
What on earth could have made her so sorrowful?
‘Of course, among those who have entered Lavrenti, there isn’t a person without a story.’
Irene hardly ever spoke about her family. It wasn’t because she didn’t have acquaintances around her or because something was troubling her right now.
Her lover, Otis, knew best about her.
Still, if someone asked if Irene was a person who could easily harbor hatred for the world, the answer was definitely not.
‘It’s rare to come across someone as mature as Irene.’
Of course, if you were to ask whether she was always affectionate, that certainly wouldn’t be the case.
Beyond all of that, Irene possessed a skill that surpassed all of them. She was incredibly adept at everything she did, even when it came to Otis. She knew about him as if it were a given, even things Otis himself didn’t know well.
Every time this fact surprised him, Irene would simply smile enigmatically.
— Because I love you, and I’ve known you for a long time.
Along with these words.
As such, Irene was undoubtedly the person who had firmly rooted herself in reality that Otis had ever known. So, it was understandable that her talk of the afterlife, which she often mentioned, might feel somewhat strange.
“No matter how many lives I live, You’ll always be my master.”
However, such doubts became unthinkable as he saw Irene murmuring these words. If she wished, he could promise his life time and time again. Despite hanging himself on the love he’d been ridiculed all his life, it would have been easier to change his skepticism than to tilt his hand.
So whenever Irene uttered such words, Otis willingly embraced her romanticism.
“I feel the same way, Irene.”
“….”
“To me, there will always be only you as well. Even if, in the next life, you don’t want me anymore.”
Irene responded to Otis’s words with a smile… no, it wasn’t a smile. It was just a habit. He knew that she had a habit of tugging at the corner of her lips.
Just like now.
“… Don’t worry. I’m used to it.”
She muttered quietly. It was a voice so faint that even Otis, right beside her, could hardly hear it.
“What? What did you just say—”
“It’s nothing.”
Even though he wanted to ask her more about it, Irene smoothly cut him off and picked up a cup of tea she had brought with her.
“Rather than that, the tea will get cold, so please have some. It’s the tea you like. How are you feeling?”
“It’s alright. It’d be difficult to slack off on a day like today unless something is broken.”
Taking the teacup from Irene, he spoke as he brought it to his lips. He didn’t know if she knew this, but today was the day the new maid was supposed to arrive.
‘They said it’s someone sent by mother.’
There was no way the three brothers didn’t know about the new employee entering the mansion. The three of them had discussed confirming the person recommended by Henrietta through a letter of recommendation.
Among them, it was undoubtedly Otis who had the most restless sleep due to this matter.
‘According to the investigation, there doesn’t seem to be any particularly suspicious past.’
Among those who have pointed a knife at them, where were the only suspicious ones? Rather, it would be quicker to count the people who weren’t suspicious.
But Otis’s interest in the new maid who would be coming didn’t develop beyond that.
‘If I knew her relationship with mother, I wouldn’t have to get along with her anymore.’
He also had the thought of using this opportunity with the new maid to turn the tables on Henrietta. After all, he didn’t intend to keep Irene as a maid forever.
‘Now is the time to consider marriage with Irene.’
Even without this, Henrietta was always discontent with not being able to push another noblewoman onto him. So, Otis planned to take this chance to reveal his relationship with Irene to Henrietta and gain her permission for their marriage.
The maid coming to Lavrenti with Henrietta’s recommendation would likely be the person to provide that cornerstone.
As Otis neatly placed the emptied teacup on the tray, he opened his mouth.
“Thank you for the tea, Irene. By the way, did you hear the news about the new employee arriving today?”
“…Of course. All the new servants coming in are informed to me.”
“She’ll also be working as a chambermaid like you. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen two chambermaids in Lavrenti. Now, you might be able to relax a little.”
It wasn’t a particularly funny story, but Irene let out a small laugh.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
“I thought that I might not necessarily feel more at ease. The new person coming in might actually not be good at the job, right?”
“She’ll do well.”
“How do you know?”
“If you push anybody to the limit, they’re going to do well.”
Otis was genuinely hoping that the incoming chambermaid would excel in her job.
‘That way, even if Irene leaves the mansion, the void she leaves won’t be too significant.’
And perhaps then she would accept his proposal.
Despite Otis’s objections, Irene had been working as a maid all this time because, in her eyes, there was no suitable replacement other than herself. Knowing her sense of responsibility well, he couldn’t help but be glad at the possibility of having someone capable of taking her place.
‘If the new employee is on good terms with mother, I could just mend the situation by a conversation…’
Such a trivial issue wouldn’t become a major obstacle, so Otis was secretly dreaming of a positive future.
…The day he would receive permission for marriage from Henrietta and also propose to Irene.
When that day came, Irene would be his only woman for all eternity, and there was nothing that made his heart race as much as that thought.
Just when he thought everything seemed to be following a satisfying path.
“No, it won’t be possible. She’s really incapable of her job.”
Irene’s lips parted.
Her voice was mellifluous, yet its content held a certain bitterness.
“Even torture won’t work. People don’t change even if you offer a fortune. How is it possible for someone to be so affectionate and kind…”
Something was strange.
With a face that looked like she was either smiling or mocking herself, Irene murmured incomprehensible words. Even if her words weren’t as audible as they were a while ago, it was clear that something was amiss.
Unconsciously, Otis reached out his arm toward Irene.
“…Irene, what did you just say—”
“You will come to love her, too, Young Master… because that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
“What’s that supposed to mean—ugh!”
At that moment, his body lurched forward as an unfamiliar pain he had never experienced before started surging in. If it were someone else, they might have needed time to comprehend the situation, but due to the years spent in Knox, Otis grasped the situation immediately.
This was poison.
“Irene, ah… why…”
“After trying it several times, I found that poison is the easiest way to kill multiple people.”
If even one person survived, there was a chance she might not return to the beginning, so there was no other option. Irene mumbled softly, holding her dying lover tenderly in her arms.
“Don’t worry, Young Master.”
Because we will meet each other again soon.
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Translator’s Note: Hello, it’s Nabi! I’m the translator of this novel ପ( ๑•ᴗ•๑ )ଓ♡ If you like the novel and would like to support me, please feel free to click the button below to go to my kofi~! Thank you so much for always supporting the novels I work on, even if you don’t buy me a coffee, I really do appreciate it a lot. ❤︎
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