Master's Sweet Maid
The bookshelf lining one entire wall was perfectly clean up to the point where her arms could reach, but the problem was above that. No matter how she stretched and strained, her hands never touched the top shelves, and of course, she had never dusted them.
She could have gone to the storage room, fetched a folding ladder, and cleaned it easily... But, being the klutz who always ends up causing bigger accidents when trying to do less, Emilia glanced sharply over her shoulder. The master who had gone to tend the garden showed no sign of returning.
This was her only chance to climb onto the armchair.
Perfect.
Emilia gathered a handful of her skirt's trailing hem, tucked it into her bloomers, and without hesitation stepped onto the armchair and climbed up, pushing the duster deep onto the top shelf of the bookshelf.
After wiping away the thick dust like a carpet, a thrilling thrill surged through her, but with her vision raised higher, the dust piled high on the very top of the bookshelf now caught her eye anew.
Originally, she had planned only to lightly dust the reachable areas, but when she thought this was all going to end up in Master's nose, she couldn't stop herself.
Just a little more... just up to there.
Emilia reached up from the armchair's backrest, stretching on tiptoes, and finally stepped carefully onto the edge of the bookshelf with her foot. The heavy bookshelf luckily endured her weight. She shifted her steps cautiously to the left. One step... another step.
Just as she was moving leftward, balancing on the tips of her toes against the bookshelf, she reached the left end. Stretching her arm fully to wipe the dust thoroughly, a voice like ice froze behind her.
“Emilia!”
“Hah.”
Her body jolted at the sudden voice, and the right foot that had been balancing precariously couldn't find its center and wobbled.
“W-what...!”
Flailing her arms to not fall, she instinctively grabbed the bookshelf, and the bookshelf filled with books swayed along with Emilia. A prickling fear crawled up her spine.
If the bookshelf fell with her, she'd die. Both herself and the master behind her.
“Wait, don’t move!”
At Master's urgent shout, Emilia startled and hugged the bookshelf. The duster she had dropped fluttered down, and her fingers soaked in sweat slid down the shallow bookshelf.
“Waaah! D-don’t come this way... waa!”
Emilia, flailing her arms in panic, eventually fell headfirst onto the floor like someone tumbling off a cliff. For a moment, something touched her thighs, but she had no time to recover.
Crash!
With a loud noise, she rolled on the floor, and a sharp thud swept her back. Luckily, the bookshelf was fine, but Emilia soon realized the urgent problem. Under her body was not the carpet on the floor but a solidly built body. She felt the cold touch of the belt around her waist.
Master must have fallen with her too...! It's all because of me!
Feeling sorry, Emilia shook her arms and hurriedly got up from her body. Immediately after, her mind went blank.
As soon as she sat up, she felt a firm pressure. It was as if sitting on a strangely shaped bicycle seat, felt right between her thighs and hips.
Curious, she looked down. Under her partially lifted skirt and bloomers, she saw Master's disheveled hair and fine forehead line, which she respected immensely.
And Master's firm nose bridge was poking right through her thin bloomers, the place you shouldn't poke.
So... the place where a child comes out if pregnant.
Emilia hurriedly backed away, butting her hips against Master's chest, and in doing so kicked his broad shoulders too. Her flailing hands patted all over Master's body, but she didn't even have time to think if she had touched anything improper. She quickly retreated onto the carpet, turned around, and fixed her clothes.
This can't be. It wasn't possible. Emilia desperately denied reality, but the Master's facial contours she had felt from her bust were still vivid. Sensing Master's careful movements behind her, sweat broke out all over her body.
This is impossible...
Accidents she had caused before were countless. The number of times she had been fired was uncountable. She had even become so thick-skinned that breaking a plate at work wouldn't make her cry or rejoice.
But, swearing to the heavens, this was the first time in her 21 years of life that she had committed such a horrifying and embarrassing accident that was hard to put into words.
The problem wasn't just that. Last month, she had ruined several pairs of underwear, and today, even though it was early autumn, it was unusually hot and humid, so Emilia wasn't wearing any separate underwear under her bloomers.
In other words, she was wearing only her thin bloomers that had covered Master's face.
Emilia's mind went blank.
She wiped the sweat from her fingertips with the hem of her skirt and cautiously turned around. Master was sitting with his back to her, tidying his clothes. His platinum hair, which had always been flawless and neat without a single wrinkle, was slightly mussed, and the area around his ears and neck was flushed red.
Seeing that, fear gripped her. A maid... sitting on him. No matter how kind the master was, he probably wouldn't forgive her so easily.
Now, it's really over. Emilia sensed intuitively. This was an accident that couldn't be smoothed over with her usual spunk and passion.
He wouldn't treat her affectionately like before. He might openly show displeasure. Seeing Master's straight back as he sat quietly without even looking at her after fixing his clothes, tears welled up.
To someone so pure and precious...
At this moment, Emilia did something that a skilled maid should never do. She hurriedly stood up, ran to the hallway, and slipped into her room.
The door slammed shut behind her with a bang, and Emilia collapsed face-down on the bed, burying her face in the pillow and cried loudly.
Emilia truly respected and loved her Master with all her heart. She had served him for over a year without ever raising her voice to him, always smiling gently.
He should be surrounded by the finest things in the world like high-quality black tea, the fresh aroma of flower bouquets, and luxurious jewels, yet...
Her... had rubbed against his beautiful face.
Now, Master would probably think the villagers were right. A woman who shows bare skin in broad daylight, doesn't wear proper underwear, and sits on a nobleman's face, being crude, rude, and completely unnecessary.
Her round shoulders trembled delicately with sorrowful sobs.
What if he tells her to get out right away? Now she has nowhere to go. The salary she received had been spent on buying pretty ribbon hats or sweet honey beer. Even though Master had gently admonished her not to.
Most of all, thinking that the Master who had been so kind to her would never smile at her again made the world feel like it was collapsing. With the feeling that she wished the world would end tomorrow, Emilia poured the tears gushing out endlessly onto the pillow.