New Maid

<p><br/><br/>Ren was pushing herself through her twentieth lap, training to improve her stamina and endurance. After a sparring session with Leo the previous week, she realized that while her stamina was good, it wasn't enough to withstand extended battles. Determined to strengthen herself, she decided to add endurance training to her routine.<br/><br/>As she ran another lap, she noticed her father speaking to a man clad in armor—a knight and likely one of her father's subordinates. Harris Lenxington, though a Marquess, also served as captain of a magic knight squad known as the 'Azure Wolf.' According to Ren's diary, the Lenxington family had been loyal knights, serving the royal family and country for generations. The 'real Ren' had always admired her father's dedication and had begged her parents to allow her to train as a knight. They had agreed, so she began studying swordsmanship with fervor.<br/><br/>Becoming a magic knight required three years of study at an academy, usually beginning at age fifteen or upon obtaining one's own magic.<br/><br/>After completing her laps, Ren paused, panting, her forehead beaded with sweat that trickled down her face. She took a moment to catch her breath, reaching for the water and towel she'd prepared to rehydrate and wipe her face.<br/><br/>After resting, Ren decided to change her clothes and headed back to her room. Near her door, she saw Rosalyn standing with an unfamiliar girl, seemingly waiting for her.<br/><br/>*Hm? Why is Rosalyn outside my door, and who's that girl with her?* Curious, Ren approached. Rosalyn bowed upon seeing her, and the unfamiliar girl, flustered, quickly followed suit.<br/><br/>"Young master, today your mother hired a new maid to serve as your personal attendant," Rosalyn explained, nodding towards the girl, who wore a Victorian-style maid dress similar to her own.<br/><br/>"Oh, Rosalyn, I thought you were my personal maid?" Ren asked, looking at her.<br/><br/>Rosalyn shook her head. "I'm sorry, young master, but I'm not truly your personal maid. I assist you as needed, but I have other responsibilities. Madam thought it would be better for you to have a dedicated attendant by your side."<br/><br/>Ren noticed a fleeting sadness in Rosalyn's expression, which left her momentarily confused. Turning her attention to the new maid, who was half a head shorter with shoulder-length pink hair and bright amber eyes, Ren found herself charmed by the girl's anxious demeanor.<br/><br/>"I-I'm Ain Xavier... and I-I'll do my best to serve you, young master!" Ain stammered, bowing. As she did, Ren noticed her ears reddening and found it endearing.<br/><br/>"Don't be nervous; you don't have to be so formal with me," Ren said gently. Ain looked up, catching sight of Ren's soft smile, which stirred something unfamiliar in her heart. "I look forward to working together."<br/><br/>"T-Thank you, young master Ren…" Ain replied, her cheeks still flushed.<br/><br/>Rosalyn, observing their interaction, remained silent, a faint smile on her face.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Later, Ren invited Ain to the pavilion in the garden, hoping to learn more about her new maid. Rosalyn prepared tea before bowing and stepping away, leaving the two to talk. Ren took a seat, encouraging Ain, who still seemed hesitant.<br/><br/>The table held a teapot and two teacups. Ren sipped her tea and looked across at Ain, whose gaze was fixed on her cup, clearly nervous.<br/><br/>Ren brushed aside a strand of her silver-blue hair and spoke softly, "So, Ain, tell me about yourself."<br/><br/>Ain looked at Ren briefly before casting her eyes down again. "When I was a baby, my parents abandoned me at an orphanage, so I grew up there. But when I was ten, I ran away because the older kids would torment me…"<br/><br/>She clenched her fists, and Ren listened with sympathy.<br/><br/>"When I left the orphanage, I tried to find work, but no one would hire me because I was so young. Thankfully, a kind woman who owned a small bakery took me in and treated me like her own daughter. She became a mother figure to me… but she passed away last month." Ain's voice broke as her eyes welled with tears. "Her sister took over her house and bakery and forced me out. I had nowhere to go. I felt so hopeless… that I thought of ending it all. That's when a carriage stopped nearby, and a woman, your mother, rescued me. She offered me this job, to serve you."<br/><br/>Before Ain could finish, Ren reached over and gently placed a hand on her head. "It must've been so hard," Ren murmured, offering her a handkerchief.<br/><br/>Ren stood up and moved to Ain's side, bending down to hug her gently. Ain froze at first, surprised, but then sank into the embrace, her tears finally spilling over. "You're not alone anymore, Ain. I'm here, and I'll be your friend."<br/><br/>Ain hesitated before wrapping her arms around Ren, her face buried in her shoulder, crying softly. Ren patted her head, her expression soft and comforting. She understood Ain's pain all too well; in her past life, she had also grown up without family, shaped into a person she never wanted to become. Though hardened, she had never completely lost her compassion, always using her earnings to support orphanages like the one she had known.<br/><br/>After a while, Ain looked up, embarrassed by the wet spot on Ren's shoulder. "Sorry…" she whispered.<br/><br/>Ren chuckled softly. "There's nothing to apologize for, Ain. We're friends now, right?" She gently lifted Ain's chin, giving her a warm smile. Ain's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she nodded shyly.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>The next Sunday, a bright day for a stroll, found Ren in the library instead, reading about the history of the continent where she now lived. <br/><br/>In this world, there were four continents. The first, Fura, was said to be home to demons, including a Demon King. Summoners in this land would call upon heroes from other worlds to combat the threat. <br/><br/>The second continent, Shura, was populated by people who wielded aura and martial arts instead of magic, and it was believed that aura was neither superior nor inferior to magic.<br/><br/>The third continent, Lura, remained shrouded in mystery, rumored to house fallen gods. Those who ventured there never returned.<br/><br/>The fourth continent, Zura, where Ren lived, had its own legend—a great dragon said to rest in the depths of the ocean. Zura was ruled by the Alarick royal family, known for their wisdom. The king had a son, his heir, and two younger daughters, blessed with extraordinary healing abilities.<br/><br/>After finishing her book, Ren placed it back on the shelf and selected another, intent on learning all she could about this world.</p>