I Favor the Villainess Chapter 28Way of maid

“And that’s why, I got Lene to be a lecturer”

“I’m Lene. Please treat me well”

When I introduced her, Lene softly laughed and lowered her head.

All the order’s members were slightly confused, but still welcomed her with applause.

I sneaked a peak at one person.

“Hey, commoner. What do you think you are doing, using someone’s servant as you please”

Claire-sama stood up and rushed here.

“No, I asked for it”

“Rod-sama…”

With his intervention, Claire-sama’s tone weakened.

In preparation for the gender-reversal café, Rod-sama asked that he wishes to be introduced to a person well-acquainted with serving customers and cooking.

So, I chose Lene.

She’s been serving a difficult person like Claire-sama as a maid for many years, I think that’s plenty enough to be a lecturer.

“If that is the case… It cannot be helped”

Claire-sama said unwillingly and sat down.

“Then, please, Lene”

“Yup”

Lene smiled pleasantly and surveyed her surroundings.

“Before teaching how to serve customers and cook, I have a request”

“Yup? What is it?”

Yuu-sama asked carefreely.

“Unlike everyone here, I’m a commoner. Among the Order of the Academy there appear to be some commoners, but still they are the elite who have passed the selection exam. There are many people who must be opposed to asking somebody like me to teach, aren’t they”

It may be as she said.

There’s basically no opportunity for noble members to be taught by commoners.

For commoners, who yearned for the Order of the Academy enough to join, it might be a matter of pride.

There’s nothing I can say.

“… What about it?”

Sein-sama prompted Lene.

“I’m aware I’m being rude, but because I’m teaching royalty and nobility, I’d like to do away with the distinction from commoners. Being fixated on that will make you unable to serve customers”

“Hmm, that’s fine. There’s no problem, right?”

With Rod-sama saying it’s fine, no noble will oppose.

Needless to say, the same goes for commoners.

“Thank you. Then, from now until the day of the festival, please call me teacher”

At Lene’s words, the council room became noisy.

Is it really necessary to go that far, was the reaction.

“Lene, do not get carried――”

“It’s Lene-sensei”

Lene calmly interrupted Claire-sama’s sharp words, and while she said it gently, the tone was tinged with the feeling of not allowing refusal.

“Wha, wha…”

“Claire-sama, please call me that. Ready, go?”

“Gu…”

“Fuhaha! You’re interesting. Claire, call her that”

Somehow it seems she struck a chord with Rod-sama, he’s completely amused.

“Kh… Lene… sensei”

“Your voice is quiet”

“That…!”

“Fufu… Claire, you can’t?”

Yuu-sama’s voice held back Claire-sama, who had grown visibly angry.

“… Lene-sensei”

“Well done, Claire-sama. Please continue like this”

“You, I’ll remember it later…”

Claire-sama somehow swallowed various things she wanted to say.

Well, she absolutely plans to say these various things later, but Lene will have prepared for it.

“So, Lene-sensei, I wonder what we should keep in mind?”

Misha inquired.

Because of her high adaptability, or rather, because she’s not a person to fuss over social status, she doesn’t seem to particularly oppose calling her Lene-sensei.

“The frame of mind comes first. What do you think is the essence of the way of maid?”

“Wa, way of maid?”

For some reason Claire-sama raised her voice at Lene who started talking.

“That’s right. What I’ll teach you all is the way of maid”

Lene said so maintaining her soft smile, but her aura was somewhat different from usual.

Frankly, it’s somehow scary.

“Got it? The way of maid is very profound. Naturally, it’s impossible to master it in around a week”

“No, we do not intend to master the way of maid――”

“However!”

Lene interrupted Claire-sama in a loud voice.

As I thought, she’s scary.

“I want to impart the magnificence of devotion and subservience to all of you, representatives of nobles and commoners. I am here for that single purpose”

I felt like I saw flames light up behind Lene.

That’s bad, an absolutely strange switch was flipped inside Lene.

“Right, devotion and subservience… This is the essence of the way of maid. I think everyone’s unfamiliar with them, but it’s an important idea that could even lead to the world peace”

She got passionate about the topic.

Lene’s fervent speech continued like that for an hour.

◆◇◆◇◆

“―― And so, I believe you should soon understand the basics of the way of maid”

“Yes, Lene-sensei”

“That’s a good response, Claire-sama. Then, let’s review. What is the essence of the way of maid?”

“Devotion and subservience, Lene-sensei”

“That’s right. Well done”

“Thank you, Lene-sensei”

Since a few minutes ago, there’s something strange about Claire-sama’s appearance.

Her mechanical, flat tone sounds like she was possessed by something.

Highlights disappeared from her eyes.

And that was not limited to Claire-sama――.

“Then, Rod-sama. What does the way of maid start with?”

“Greetings, Lene-sensei”

“Good. Then, everyone, say it together”

“””””Welcome home, master”””””

“You are too quiet!”

“””””Welcome home, master!!!”””””

“That’s right. Everyone is beginning to understand little by little. Teacher is overjoyed”

Saying so, Lene smiled satisfied.

It’s strange.

When did she brainwash this venue.

It sounds just like a training for newcomers in dubious religious groups or black companies.

“Err, Lene?”

“It’s Lene-sensei”

“Lene-sensei, haven’t this gone in a somewhat odd direction?”

“That’s not true. I only want them to understand the splendor of the way of maid”

“I, I see…”

“Yes, Rei-chan too, raise your voice. Welcome home, master?“

“We… welcome home, master”

No good.

Right now, this place is completely under Lene’s control.

Well, once everyone leaves, their sanity will return… It will return, right?

“The foundation of the way of maid is?”

“””””Devotion and subservience!!!”””””

“The proper greeting?”

“””””Welcome home, master!!!”””””

Somebody, help.

◆◇◆◇◆

“… It was terrible”

After the brainwashing way of maid training, the disheartened Claire-sama finally returned to her room.

“I’m sorry. Unintentionally, I got overzealous”

Although kindhearted smile showed on Lene’s face, Claire-sama subtly distanced herself.

She’s closer to me than to Lene, it’s never happened before.

“I have no energy to get angry… Lene, so you had such a side”

“Usually, I have no opportunity to display it”

“If possible, I do not want to see it ever again”

Saying so, Claire-sama flopped on her bed.

“You mustn’t, Claire-sama. You need to take a bath and change clothes”

“… I am tired”

“You mustn’t. Please get up”

“Muu…”

“Get up”

“Yes! Lene-sensei! … Ah”

Having reflexively responded, Claire-sama shivered from shame.

“… It’s an unexpected side effect”

“Rather, is it not an aftereffect!?”