In her past life, Melody, then known as Ritsuko Mizunami, was a child prodigy. Ritsuko, who possessed the mentality of where there's a will, there's a way, did all she could to master every skill needed to become a maid. As a result, her educational approach could best be described as unforgiving. However, Lucy did her best to keep up with the training.
A few days later, while out in town, Melody thought Lucy's etiquette training was moving along well, so they had to make tomorrow's tea party a success. Then she recalled that Lucy's parents were also visiting soon. She had heard his lordship had managed to pay off his debts, had earned recognition for prudent management of his territory, and had been appointed to the royal chancery, the kingdom's highest administrative body.
Entering a store, a maid accidentally splashed liquid on Melody's dress. She felt guilty and dragged Melody to the mansion where she worked, to get her cleaned up. Before she knew what was happening, Melody was already soaking in a bath.
Still, she always thought how strange this felt. The bathtub was ceramic in the western style, but the bathing style was Japanese, with a pre-wash area and such. It was reminiscent of late nineteenth-century Britain. But overall, the presence of magic made it almost feel like medieval Europe. Almost as if someone were picking and choosing parts of Earth's history. But Melody thought, no way.
How long had it been since she had taken a bath drawn by someone else?
Melody decided to revert to her old self, changing her hair color. In the water's reflection, she saw the face of her mother. Melody had the same color eyes as her now, and she could become a maid. All that was left was to become the world's most wonderful maid.
She wondered how she would accomplish it. She had studied all about it in her past life, but this was her first time actually working as a maid. Right now, she was nothing more than a novice who had just earned her qualifications. She would start by gaining experience, and someday her dream would come true.
Melody mentioned how her lapis lazuli eyes reminded her of her mom. She made no mention whatsoever of the silver hair inherited from her dad. She was very unconcerned about him.
Leaving the bathroom, she suddenly bumped into Lectius, who was trying to take a bath as well. Staring at her, he flushed, thinking she was so beautiful, like an angel. Melody got completely embarrassed and chanted a spell that shocked the life out of him, causing him to pass out. Then she immediately reverted her hair color to black. When the other maid rushed in, it was as Melody feared. Lectius was the lord of this mansion.
A few hours ago at Leenbarth Manor, Count Cloud Leenbarth, vice chancellor of the kingdom, had informed Lectius about a ball which the crown prince would be attending, and Lectius was told to be there. Cloud thought that this way, the number of women flocking to him would decrease. Any young woman of that age would surely go for Lectius. He may have seemed like he was speaking rational words, but in reality he had sold off his subordinate to save his own skin.
He also told Lectius to bring a female companion with him, preferably one refined enough not to embarrass them at a ball. If he went alone, he would face an avalanche of women. And had Cloud's daughter been found, he would have had Lectius escort her.
Cloud's daughter, Lady Celeste, was still nowhere to be found. As the child born out of wedlock to his lordship and a servant, it seemed the search was being conducted in secret. Lectius wondered if she was safe, and where she could possibly be.
Opening his eyes, he muttered, "Ah, I finally found you, my lady."
But he realized Melody was not the one he thought he was speaking to. Looking closer, he remembered her as the girl who had been looking for the carriage to the royal capital. He asked why she was here.
Paula came in, bringing him tea. Paula said that she had mentioned introducing her friend to him. He had said he would wait in the drawing room and gone off, and when she returned, she had found him fast asleep. Obviously this was a complete lie, but a nice save for Melody. Paula then introduced Melody as a friend she had made just today.
Melody's simple greeting left him mesmerized. He thought it made such a difference when it was done with such sophistication. At that moment, he remembered the kind of person Count Cloud had asked him to bring.
A few days later, Hughes and Mariana Rutleberg arrived at the mansion and were shocked to see how well maintained it was. Melody welcomed them, but they did not recall their maid being so young. Lucy ran out to greet her parents. Her father, expecting a hug, explained how worried he had been when she was sent to the royal capital alone. But he was pleased to see her.
That was when Lucy went, like hell you were, as she smacked him with her fan. She called the fan a torture device designed to punish without hurting the person, known as the hottis. She knew her family was prone to making careless blunders, but how could they leave their only daughter stranded in this dilapidated mansion?
Confused, Hughes asked, "What part of the mansion was dilapidated?"
Lucy responded with another smack, telling him that Melody had fixed everything. Her mother also noticed that her dress seemed more beautiful. So Lucy decided to explain the details inside, while being served by clones of Melody. Lucy's parents were scared to their bones. And so a second round of shrieks was heard from the house of Rutleberg.
A few days later, Lucy was all dressed for school. Mariana wished Melody could come with them, but she would settle for telling her all about how brightly Lucy shone later. Even though it was just an entrance ceremony, Lucy's parents thought she would be radiant. With her begging them to stop, they thought she was so cute.
After they left, Melody happened to find Lucy's certificate of admission on her table. If Lucy did not bring it, she might be denied. So Melody took the certificate and quickly left to save the day.