By the time dinner rolled around, Haruki finally emerged from the room, supporting Kurome as they walked.
Her unsteady steps made her gait look awkward and stiff, and it was clear to everyone in the room what had happened—not that anyone said it aloud, though the amused looks on their faces made their thoughts obvious.
When they entered the dining room, the rest of the girls were already seated at the table. Chelsea and Taeko, dressed in matching maid uniforms, were standing off to the side, clearly having waited on Haruki and Kurome for some time.
Under the teasing gazes of the group, Haruki gently helped Kurome, her head lowered in embarrassment, into her seat, then slowly took his own place.
"All right, let's eat."
Realizing they'd kept everyone waiting, Haruki felt a bit awkward and gave a quick nod to Chelsea and Taeko.
For some time now, the two had been handling all the meals for Haruki and the others. Thanks to the slave collars, he wasn't worried about any tampering with the food.
"Tch… shameless tyrant. Fooling around in broad daylight. What a scumbag."
Chelsea muttered under her breath as she watched Haruki fuss over Kurome, but there was a subtle flicker of envy in her eyes.
Chelsea had grown up in poverty and suffered a lot in her early years. Back then, her biggest dream was to marry into wealth, to live a life of ease as a noble lady.
But after growing up and working in the Governor's mansion, she'd witnessed the Empire's ugliness firsthand. Disillusioned, she joined the Revolutionary Army, hoping to help change things. Deep down, though, she was still just an ordinary girl, without ambition or grand ideals.
Yet during her time as a maid in Haruki's household, she'd started to see things that challenged her past beliefs.
For one, the maids here actually smiled. They had hopes, dreams, and looked forward to the future. Haruki never treated them like objects. In the Governor's mansion, the nobles never saw the maids as human—every day was lived in fear, one mistake away from punishment or death. Smiles were rare, and genuine ones even more so.
Then there was Haruki himself. After watching him for over a month, Chelsea noticed things that didn't match her expectations.
Yes, Haruki was surrounded by beautiful women, and yes, he was clearly a bit of a flirt. But considering his position in the Capital, it wasn't excessive. More importantly, he genuinely cared for the women around him. He didn't treat them like toys to be discarded. He saw them as family.
Though he lived in luxury, it wasn't excessive for a man of his rank. And contrary to the rumors spread by Barbara and some of the Revolutionary Army, Haruki wasn't the root of the Empire's corruption. Chelsea had never seen him cozy up to politicians or abuse commoners. In fact, he often ignored those trying to curry favor—sometimes even brushing off the Prime Minister.
Living in his home had gradually dulled her once-fierce desire to reform the Empire through rebellion.
Sure, Haruki often made her do things she didn't want to, but he never took advantage of her powerlessness—not even once.
And that day, she'd witnessed firsthand how terrifyingly powerful he was. Most women admired strength. Combine that with how devoted he was to the girls around him—and the fact that, unlike the bloated, ugly nobles she'd known, Haruki was strikingly handsome—it was only natural that Chelsea found herself growing fond of him.
Maybe… just maybe, being a noblewoman like she'd dreamed as a child wouldn't be so bad.
As Chelsea and Taeko moved back and forth between the kitchen and the dining hall, the table in front of Haruki and the others gradually filled with dishes.
"Chelsea, Taeko, get your bowls and chopsticks. Come eat with us."
By now, Haruki had grown more familiar with them, and his enthusiasm for "training" Chelsea had slowly faded.
"Okay."
The two answered quietly, grabbed their bowls and chopsticks, and sat at the far end of the table, eating silently. Haruki's training hadn't been without effect—Chelsea no longer talked back during moments like this.
Back when it all started, she would retort every time Haruki gave an order, only to earn harsher punishments. Over time, though, she had learned better.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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