Count Rudleberg's villa in the royal capital is known as "the Haunted Mansion."
With its rusted gate,
cracked cobblestones,
and untrimmed trees,
it truly is a dilapidated mansion that lives up to its name.
Or so it was until two weeks ago.
This is Luciana's mansion?
What has happened?
Beatrice, Milliaria.
Luciana?!
Lady Luciana?!
Welcome to my home.
I'm very pleased that you came today.
Melody, we'll be heading to the terrace.
Please prepare the tea.
As you wish, my lady.
Now then, you two, please have some tea.
This is...!
What a rich, pleasant aroma!
The flowery scent of spring is gently enveloping me!
The taste is wonderful, as well.
Each sip feels instantly refreshing,
and the flavor is deep yet mellow, free of any harsh bitterness.
But are you certain it's okay to use such high-quality tea leaves?
Please rest assured.
Regularly Bought by Broke Nobles
CHEAP
This is the tea we always serve.
What?!
Even low-quality tea leaves can be elevated through proper steeping.
Isn't that right, Melody?
Yes, my lady.
Come to think of it, your maid is different, too, isn't she?
What has happened, Lady Luciana?
Everything looks so different after just two weeks.
Please, tell us what happened!
That, I'm afraid, is a secret.
You're such a meanie!
But don't you think it's about time to drop the act?
It's not like you at all.
I really gave off that young lady vibe, didn't I?
So
Proud
I worked really hard on it!
You did, you did!
I like your usual self, Lady Luciana.
You think so? Thanks!
Well then, until next time.
Have a wonderful evening!
Thank you, Melody!
My lady, you mustn't cling to your maid!
But I'm so happy!
It's all thanks to you that my tea party was a success!
I understand, but please step back!
C'mon, you know you want it!
Where did you learn such language?!
Pop
It looks like we'll need to start all over again with your etiquette training.
I'm sorry!
Anything but that!
By the way, what made you decide to work here, Melody?
It's because this mansion only employs one servant,
so I'm allowed to handle all the duties.
All of them?
Maids have a variety of duties,
so in places like the royal castle, they each have different jobs.
But here, every job is mine.
Laundry
(Laundry)
Scullery
(Washing Dishes)
Parlor
(Waitressing and Customer Service)
It's rare to find such a wonderful position!
Is it that wonderful?
Of course! I get to do all the maid work that I love so much, you know?
As a maid, the only choice for me was to become an "All-Works Maid,"
where I'm entrusted with every single task!
That's right... I'm going to become the world's most wonderful maid for sure.
Watch me, Mom!
Heroine? Saint? No, I'm an All-Works Maid (And Proud of It)!
Theolas Kingdom The Avarenton March Anavalez
_________________________
Mom, who's that pretty lady?
Pretty lady?
Oh, she's a maid.
Celesty McMarden, also known as Melody during her childhood days,
decided in her heart that day...
that she was going to become a maid.
You've been awfully cheery lately, Celesty.
Did something good happen?
Yep! But it's a secret!
When the time comes, I'll tell you!
My, my.
In this world, one is considered an adult at the age of fifteen.
Celesty decided to secretly train to be a maid until that day came,
thinking to surprise her mom.
Glow with warmth... Luce.
However...
Mom! Mom!
My beloved Celesty.
Please forgive me for having to leave you behind.
I wanted to be with you longer.
I wanted to celebrate you becoming an adult and a maid.
Are you surprised?
Your mother saw right through your secret, Celesty.
You know, I actually used to work as a maid, too.
Your father, Cloud Leginbarth, was the heir to a countship at the time.
I'm sure he has succeeded to the title by now.
Celesty, you have two choices you can make.
One is to rejoin your father and become a count's daughter.
The other is, of course, to become a maid.
I will respect your decision.
But, you know,
if you do end up becoming a maid,
please become the world's most wonderful maid.
I love you, Celesty.
Mom.
I'll become a maid!
For my sake and for yours, Mom,
I'll become the world's most wonderful maid!
For oneself and for others— the great vow.
Huh? Did something just...
Everything is in place.
Bestow the silver blessing upon the sacred maiden.
What am I even doing?
Even I know I have no talent for magic.
I've tried time and time again since I was a child.
Glow with warmth...
Luce.
I-Is this... mana?
How do I have mana?
A-And why does it seem stronger than Mom's?
Wouldn't it be bad if it went out of control?
This mana...
It's dangerous, so I'd better put it away!
Celesty didn't know
that her mana was even stronger than that of the kingdom's ten greatest mages.
I know!
If I combine fire magic and wind magic...
Wow!
It's amazing. With this much power, I can...
The power she obtained
was one that she could rule the world with if she so desired.
Depending on the circumstances, she just might...
With this magic,
I can achieve my dream of becoming the world's most wonderful maid!
And so, Celesty began developing maid magic.
Stain my form deep black...
Annerire!
Good. I've changed the color of my hair and eyes.
If this father of mine mentioned in Mom's letter,
Cloud Leginbarth, came to claim me as a daughter,
I wouldn't be able to become a maid.
Not that I can imagine he'd be looking for Mom now...
And what is a knight of House Leginbarth doing in a small town like this?
I'm looking for someone.
Selena?
Do you know her?
Y-Yes... but...
She passed away.
It's been almost half a year now...
She had a daughter, but she left two days ago
for the neighboring country, saying she wanted to heal
her grief over the loss of her mother.
A daughter?
Was Lady Selena married?
No.
How old was the girl? What did she look like?
She'll be turning fifteen this year.
A beautiful girl with rare silver hair, with her mother's lapis lazuli eyes.
Silver hair!
Trendivalez
If she left two days ago for the neighboring country,
she should have arrived here in Trendivalez by now.
A girl with silver hair?
I haven't the slightest...
I think I'd remember seeing a girl with unusual hair like that.
Silver hair just like His Lordship...
It must be the case, but...
What's wrong? Are you lost?
Miss...
U-Um, I couldn't find where to catch a carriage to the royal capital.
O-Oh.
It's over there.
Oh, you're right!
Thank you very much! That was very helpful!
Shoot! The silver-haired girl!
Wow, so the one who came up with this carriage service seven years ago
was the crown prince?
The actual project started seven years ago,
but apparently he proposed it a year before that.
I believe the crown prince is the same age as me, so he was six at the time!
There really are amazing people in the world, aren't there?
Indeed.
Thank you for telling me an interesting story, Lord Max!
I'm having fun, too. Um...
It's Melody. Melody Wave.
I changed my appearance
and didn't tell the townspeople where I was really headed or why.
But I still had to change my name to keep up the secret!
Say, the driver of this carriage is amazing.
How so?
It hasn't shaken at all, you know?
Even though the roads in this area have never been maintained well...
Oh, I'd better recast the spell soon.
Shake not, quake not... Orizzontale!
If you want to be a maid, it's best to go to the Commerce Guild.
They mediate for middle-class servants
and don't require a letter of recommendation.
Thank you so much, Lord Max!
Well then, see you!
I wish we could have hired you ourselves.
But well, I suppose Father wouldn't allow it.
There's nothing but short-term jobs for men...
Oh, is this one for women?
Huh, but this is...
The House of Count Rudleberg?
Recruiting a maid for a noble family?
Don't servants for nobility usually require a letter of recommendation?
Let's see, looking for one hire.
The job duties are...
All-works?!
"All-works" refers to...
a job that encompasses everything from cooking and laundry
to cleaning, attending to guests, and more.
It is the most grueling job with the lowest status among maids.
They are primarily hired by lower-ranking nobles or middle-class commoners
who cannot afford to hire a large number of servants.
To see a count's house recruiting one
suggests nothing less than a disaster waiting to happen.
Still...
This... This is...!
This is the exact job I've been wanting!
A haunted mansion?
Now this is a challenge worth taking on!
I absolutely must get hired here!
Let's see, the servants' entrance is...
Oh?
Who are you?
Whoa, she's such a beautiful girl, but...
It's such a waste!
Her skin and hair are in shambles, and her dress is old, too!
Oh, not the time for that.
I've come in response to your maid recruitment notice at the Commerce Guild.
I am Melody Wave.
What? You came already?!
Thank you!
Huh?
Let's talk in the dining area right away!
Please wait!
A servant can't go in through the main entrance!
I'll use the rear—
Oh, that? It's fine.
I'm saying it's fine, so there's no problem.
Pardon? What do you mean?
My name is Luciana Rudleberg.
Despite how it seems, I'm a bona fide count's daughter.
What?!
Have a seat. I'll make some tea right now.
Oh, no. I can't have my lady steeping tea for me...
It's okay.
I used to steep tea for myself when I was still back at my estate.
Wait just a minute!
Please, allow me to do it!
But I'm already...
I'll prepare you some incredibly delicious tea!
Is that so?
Then may I ask that of you?
Please leave it to me!
When was this water last drawn?
I drew this water from the well yesterday. It's still good.
Hmm, unfortunately, it's not good for steeping tea.
Come forth, crystal water...
Fare Acqua.
Wow! You can use magic?!
I'll steep it right away, so please wait.
There, all done.
It's delicious!
The aroma and the taste are totally different!
To think one steeping method could make such a difference!
Melody, was it?
Is it all right to assume that you'll be working for me?
Yes, my lady!
I'm so glad!
I look forward to it!
Well then, I'd like to consult the housekeeper right away...
What? You're not aware?
Of what, my lady?
You see, Melody...
It's just you.
Oh, this is...
It's only you.
You're the only maid—or rather, the only servant working for me.
Only... me?
This is probably where she turns down the job.
The Paltescian Royal Academy for Higher Learning
is located in the capital of the Kingdom of Theolas.
The noble children of the kingdom are required to attend this academy
for three years as soon as they turn fifteen.
Luciana Rudleberg was also accepted for enrollment,
and had planned on relocating to the royal capital with her parents.
However, due to circumstances beyond her control, Luciana ended up going alone.
And...
What is this?
There was only one elderly maid as a servant.
And even she...
I-I'll be fine. Even when I was back in my estate, I took care of myself!
I'm fine. I'm fine. I can keep going.
I need to buy supplies...
Um, my lady?
I'm going to be handling all of the duties, correct?
Since it's all-works?
You can't possibly do all of it!
Just do what you can, and it'll be enough.
I'll try to help out, too.
So... So...
Oh, my! Thank you so much, my lady!
I'm going to do my best, starting today!
Y-You're really okay with that?
You know you'll have to run the whole household all by yourself, right?
Of course!
I'm just thrilled to know I'll be entrusted with all of the duties!
Why is she so happy about it?
How lucky can I be?
{\fs15\fnComic Sans MS\b1\bord0\c&H060505&\pos(156,221.333)\clip(83,221,234,237)\t(1515,1630,\clip(220,221,234,237))}Enthusiasm Gap
Well then, I'll get started right away...
after I make my uniform!
A uniform? Right now?
It'll be done in a snap.
Enrobe me, light, with clothing fair... Ricucitura.
Amazing!
I can't see the girly bits at all!
You don't need to comment on that.
I'm going to become one, aren't I? A real maid.
The dream I've always dreamt.
The thing I've longed to be ever since before I was reborn—
A real maid!
Were you able to catch Melody's words just now?
"Since before I was reborn."
That's right. Melody Wave is...
a reincarnated being who came to this world due to a certain incident.
Her name before being reincarnated was...
Ritsuko Mizunami.
She saw everything in monochrome,
and believed that to be the world's true nature.
A born genius,
she became an expert across multiple fields by age six.
As a result, she lost interest in the entire world.
However...
Welcome. Thank you for coming.
Mom, who is that pretty lady?
Pretty lady? Oh, she's a maid.
Ritsuko's knowledge leans heavily towards academics, after all.
Apparently, the organizers went out of their way to bring her over from the UK.
She's a parlor maid in charge of customer service.
She's very pretty.
A maid... A female domestic servant.
The maid concept flourished particularly in the latter half of the century.
Welcome home, Master.
What an adorable maid!
I'm glad Ritsuko seems to be having fun lately.
Truly. She'd seemed so bored with everything she did.
The faded colors of her world were returning.
And then...
Ritsuko grew into a full-fledged maid junkie.
With an extraordinary capacity for learning,
she mastered every skill associated with being a maid
and pursued her academic studies.
Dad, Mom, I'm going to study abroad in the UK to become a maid!
Oh, is that right?
I hear they have a tourist attraction called Big Ben.
You really love maids, don't you, my dear Ritsuko?
Have a good time.
And then...
Maid... Airplane...
In that moment, she remembered...
Who she was before being reborn.
By the way...
Mizu
Nami
Ritsu
Ko
Wave
Melody
Thank you for waiting.
What do you think, my lady?
Yep, I think it's cute.
Thank you very much.
You can't be a maid without the look, right?
Magic can do this sort of thing, too, huh...
I managed to make a pretty decent uniform.
It has protective magic on it, too, so it's sturdier than most armor.
Melody, you sure tell weird jokes.
If only it were a joke.
The top priority is certainly to do maintenance on the mansion.
This might actually prove difficult to do all on my own.
So, in that case...
O body, be not but one... Alter Ego!
Episode
The Girl Who Wanted to Be a Maid
Everyone, let's get started!
Yes, ma'am!
Translation: Yukari Murase-Louden Timing: Edgar Cruz Editing and Typesetting: Gabriella Alabanza Quality Check: Geoff Mazzolini Final Quality Check: Elizabeth Ellis
Episode
At This Moment, a Maid's Superiority Is About to Unfold
Illustration: Yukiko