Meanwhile… Laura's responsibility

[Laura's POV]

Laura stood still, watching the final moments of her mother's funeral ceremony.

It wasn't anything grand. Just a small group of locals and a local priest reading sermons and everyone saying their final goodbyes before the body was embraced by the fire from the local church. A ritual that represented that the body is now in hands of their patron goddess, Feronia, the Goddess of Fire.

She had to ask for another leave from her Madam after the news of her mother's final moments approaching came.

This was inevitable. She knew her mother didn't have much time left. She had known it for a while. That's why she didn't feel sorrow in her heart right now. Only the past memories of her mother repeated inside her mind. It would now be the only thing left of the woman she held great respect for.

Her mother was, after all, one of the most respectable women she had known in her entire life. Strict, but never unjust. And perfection incarnate.

Everything she knew, she had learned from her mother. Her mother had a big hand in making Laura who she was today, a proud Head Maid of the Maximus Household.

The memories shifted as she was once again reminded of her duties. She would return back to the Maximus mansion in a few days to help take care of things.

She had little time to mourn the loss. Ironically, her own mother had instructed her in her last moments to not waste time with unnecessary things like mourning for someone who is no longer there. And instead, focus on who is left behind. That her lady, the Marquess, and her household required her aid more than anything. Things were not going well in the household after the young master's disappearance.

One reason, among many, why she vehemently requested her Madam to not come to the funeral. She would've come for sure if not for her sickness. She was in no condition to leave her house. And she didn't want to add to her sorrows further.

In the end, she didn't refuse her mother's wish. She couldn't. She had always listened to her mother's commands because she knew her mother was wiser than her and this was her second last wish. She wouldn't disappoint. She couldn't.

With a sigh that was hidden from the rest of the gathering, she let go of her swirling feelings. This was no time to show weakness. After all, she was an adult and she now had a new responsibility to take care of.

Her vision turned to her side where a young girl with plain black hair stood, crying.

Her mother's last wish. She was to take her cousin and take care of her.

The poor thing had no one else in her life and was adopted by her mother. She had been taking care of her while Laura was occupied with her duties.

But now, after her guardian was gone, she knew the girl felt at a loss. She had nowhere to go, no one to depend upon, other than Laura herself.

"Julie."

She called her cousin, her tone as even as ever and not a hint of emotions leaking.

The girl in question looked back at her, her eyes were red and swollen from all the crying she had been doing.

Laura held back a sigh.

The girl was a mess. That won't do.

Approaching her, she pulled a personal use handkerchief and cleaned the tears and snot ruining the pleasant face of the girl.

She wished she could say something soothing to calm the mourning girl, but she couldn't think of anything.

She was never that kind of person.

She knew that if she tried, the only words coming from her mouth would be considered cruel and stern. So, she didn't say anything.

Sometimes, it was better to say nothing than to say something that would cause further pain and suffering to others.

So, she silently cleaned the tears while gently holding her flushed cheek.

Once she was done, the kept the handkerchief back, reminding herself to clean it later.

The girl, Julie, looked at her with pained eyes. Her dull yellow irises somewhat resembled her own yellow irises. But her usually drooping, but now gloomy face was strictly different from her cool and stoic self. It reminded her of how normal people should act in this situation.

Laura knew she wasn't normal. She had always struggled to feel emotions properly and express those feelings. To express emotions so freely, she envied the girl a little. She didn't know why it never came easy to her. That's why she felt comfortable with the composed stoicness she had mastered with ease.

She was different, but she had long accepted that part of her.

Before she realized it, she was being hugged by the girl, who seemed to have started tearing up again.

She felt a tinge of complicated emotions.

Why was she, who was blood-related and lived with her mother for over two and a half decades showing so little and why was this girl, who had only lived with her mother for a few years much more heartbroken?

Why did she feel like she was an emotionless monster who couldn't even properly mourn the loss of her last blood-related family?

Julie's pained cries seemed to act as needles, pinching her heart, and making her question herself.

What was wrong with herself?

She suddenly realized her thoughts her taking a strange turn and her emotions were going out of control on their own.

'…Why am I being so affected now when I have already accepted things?'

Today was a complicated day.

Shaking the strangeness from her head, she wrapped one hand on the girl's back while she used the other to gently caress the girl's head, trying to mimic what she saw her madam do when she soothed her children when they cried during the loss of their father.

'Don't show weakness now, Laura.'

She roped in her emotions, strengthening her determination, and with another internal sigh, she moved on to the present and near future. Now that her mother was no longer in the world, Julie was her responsibility.

"Mother asked me to take you with me to my workplace. There's not much left here now for you. So, Mother had decided you'll be under my care after she was gone."

She noticed the girl sniffing and sobbing, but also trying to hold back her tears and listen to her words. Instead of soothing words, Laura had instead chosen to divert her attention to the near future.

"You'll be working as a practicing maid in the Maximus household. I have already asked Madam's permission and she was willing to offer you the position of a temporary maid."

The Marquess was more than willing to support Julie when she heard of her circumstances. But she herself requested that instead, Julie should be given a job as a maid. She didn't want to take advantage of her Madam's generosity and she deemed it better to give the girl a new purpose in life.

Unfortunately, much like her, Julie had no ambitions or desires in life. She followed the words of her now-late mother and was extremely dependent on her emotionally. And now she had to take that role. But she knew she was not as capable as her mother. Especially when it came to giving emotional support. So, the best choice for Julie was to live among people who would treat her well. She had no one she could trust Julie with and Julie was too shy and timid to live with strangers. It took her years just to open up to Laura's mother.

And forget the thought of her living alone. The girl was simply not mature and independent enough for that.

Julie was also the caretaker of her mother during her final years and thus had learned most of the household responsibilities. She was timid and occasionally air-headed, but she was hardworking and didn't have any bad habits.

Laura hoped that this would allow her to distract herself from the painful emotions and, in time, move on. She didn't want Julie to waste her potential here.

She waited for a while to let Julie calm herself.

And after a while, she got her reply.

"I-I am not sure, big sister. Can I really work in such a place? What if I mess up something? What if they found my work lacking? Wouldn't they kick me out?"

She needed to work on the girl's weaknesses.

Julie had practically zero confidence in her abilities and a habit of degrading herself, even though she was a hard worker and was fairly capable.

"You don't have to worry about that. You'll be working under me and I'll teach you everything you'll need to know. Besides, my lady's family is extremely kind and generous. They won't be disappointed if your work is at least acceptable. But I won't allow you to slack. As a maid working for high nobility, you will need to be exemplary. Mistakes are understandable in the beginning but you'll learn from them and ensure that they aren't repeated. Do you understand, Julie?"

She got a reluctant and unsure nod from her.

With a tone softer than before, she continued.

"I also want you to find a new purpose in life. You have potential that you yourself don't realize. Mother always said she saw something special in you. You can try and find that special something. Working there will allow you to learn and grow in many ways. And you'll earn well. So, work hard, Julie. Don't be afraid, I will take care of you."

She knew it was a little cruel to suddenly push new responsibilities on the girl who was still mourning her loss… their loss… but due to Julie's emotional nature, she wouldn't be able to move on for a long time if left on her own devices.

Laura had to take control and ensure she didn't get stuck in her life.

Julie was her responsibility, after all.

"I understand, sister. I-I will not disappoint."

Julie's determined face and reply were more than enough to sate her worries for now.

Uncharacteristically, Laura gave her a small smile.

"Good."

She'll be sure to fulfill her mother's final will. She'll teach Julie to become an exemplary woman.

As she looked at the flames that danced around and consume the body and the enchanted wood surrounding it, she remembered one more thing her mother had said to her. Something she tried not to think too hard about right now for various reasons.

…

"Find yourself a good husband, Laura."

[End of Laura's POV]

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