Chapter 84. Little Jasmine Flower
Standing frozen in place, Erika didn’t know what to do next. The sensation on her shoulder told her the Artifact was on this woman.
Why would it be on her? Could she be the one who sealed Meladin?
That might be possible…
Vanessa had said this woman was the former Saintess of the Holy Church. So it wouldn’t be strange for her to have an Artifact. But still…
What should she do now? Should she try to steal it? But if she made a move here, would the guards outside notice? And since this woman held the Artifact, she must be powerful—could Erika even beat her? And besides…
She had no grudge with this woman. Should she really go after the Artifact just because of Meladin?
After pondering for a long time, Erika felt that nothing about this situation was safe or certain.
Now that she knew the Artifact was on this woman, she decided to play it by ear… Rushing into anything blind would only make things worse.
“Did you hear what I said?” Veronica asked, seeing Erika not respond.
“Ah… I heard you!”
“What’s your name?”
“Erika Blaniel.”
“Hm. Got it, Little Jasmine Flower.”
“I’m called Erika…”
“I like that name.”
“……”
Erika didn’t get it. She just told her her real name, and she still insisted on calling her something else—what was the point of asking in the first place?
“Little Jasmine Flower.”
“Yes, Miss Sunflower.”
Striking a proud pose, Erika inwardly found the nickname a bit silly—but she was here to work, and if the woman liked calling her that, she didn’t mind.
“Now go change your clothes and clean this place up.”
“Change what clothes?”
“You’re going to be my maid. Don’t you need a maid outfit?”
There was a rule for that too!?
Sighing, Erika pouted. “Then… where are the clothes?”
Veronica lifted a hand and pointed to a small bedroom on the right side of the room.
“In that room. The wardrobe on the right.”
“Okay…”
Erika blinked at Veronica pointing vaguely at the room. Didn’t this lady really know her layout? Was she blind or not?
Curious, Erika playfully waved her hand in front of Veronica’s face.
No response.
She really was blind!
Feeling cheeky, Erika stuck out her tongue and used her small hand to flip her own mouth into a silly face—like a petulant child getting something off her chest.
“You bold little thing,” Veronica said calmly, “you’re the first maid to dare make a face at me.”
“???”
That comment startled Erika into instantly returning to her obedient posture.
Oh no—!!
Can she really tell even when someone makes faces!?
“Heh.”
Veronica let out a soft laugh—she didn’t seem angry at all.
“You’re wondering whether I can really see, right?”
“N-no… I’m sorry, Miss Sunflower.”
“No need to apologize.”
Veronica remained calm, then lifted her head so her face was aligned with Erika’s.
“I am blind. That’s a fact, and I don’t care if people laugh at me for it. But I’m only blind with my eyes. It doesn’t stop me from understanding the world. Humans don’t only perceive things with their eyes.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Nose.”
Veronica pointed to it with her pale, delicate finger.
“My hearing and smell are extremely sharp. Especially my sense of smell—I can pinpoint the direction of anything, and even tell what sort of action is happening. So Little Jasmine Flower, I can forgive your rudeness this once—you don’t need to apologize again. But next time, don’t make faces at me, understand?”
“Got it…”
Erika clasped her hands and bowed earnestly, eyes wide.
“Alright, go change into your outfit. If the room is too dark, you can light a lamp. Don’t be so clumsy.”
“Yes.”
Following Veronica’s instructions, Erika lit a lamp and hurried to the designated room to change.
Opening the wardrobe, she found row after row of black-and-white maid outfits—big ones, small ones, all sizes.
Does this woman have some kind of fetish?
Erika’s thoughts chased each other around her head until she got goosebumps.
Wearing the uniform, she slipped into the short skirt, white lace-trimmed stockings, and black shoes.
It was her first time wearing this sort of thing. She felt a little awkward—but for work and for the Artifact, she braced herself and tugged it on.
With a pull behind her neck, she let her silvery-gray hair fall as she stepped in front of the mirror.
She twirled once.
“Hm hm hm—Even in maid clothes, I look pretty good.”
Satisfied with herself, Erika stepped out to begin cleaning the room.
This was her first time doing chores.
At home, Gladys usually did all the cleaning—Erika had never so much as looked at it. Now she finally understood—it was harder than she thought.
“Phew~”
After a long while, Erika breathed a long sigh. She wiped sweat from her forehead with a small hand.
Her red eyes scanned the room proudly.
Not bad, not bad at all—she had cleaned the room spotless! Surely Veronica would praise her for this.
But reality was far harsher than imagination.
Veronica spat out: “Little Jasmine Flower, your work speed is terrible.”
“My speed… terrible?!”
Erika didn’t like hearing that at all. She dropped the broom and spread her hands out, gesturing at the room proudly.
“Look! Where’s the dirt? It’s clean, okay!? Besides—face it—you can’t see that well anyway!”
“What I meant was your working time.”
With eyes closed, Veronica sat back in her wheelchair, brow furrowed, and pointed out the window.
“Look at the time. You’ve only cleaned this room once, and it took you almost three hours.
Compared to maids before you, you’re the slowest.”
“I…”
Erika opened her mouth to argue—but no words came out.
Frustrated, she could only snatch up the broom and stomp away.
Oh well. Say whatever you want. At least the room is clean. And you’re paying me every coin you owe!