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Chapter 3 of 10

I'm Not Angry

On my way back after training.

Claire wiped her finger across a frame hanging in the hallway and frowned at the dust.

Claire

Looks like the cleaning hasn't been thorough.

Claire

I'm pretty sure the maid in charge of cleaning this area was...

Claire

Ah, there you are. Emily?

Emily

Yes?

Claire

The frame's not as clean as it...

Claire

Emily, why is there a cape on your uniform?

Emily

Huh? Oh, I didn't realize...

Emily

I was thinking it was hotter than usual...

Emily

Since when was this here...?

Claire

*Sigh* It was probably that lizard's doing. Take it off for now.

Bell

Claire!

Bell

Come look at this!

Claire

Haven't I told you over and over not to run in the hallways?

Bell

S-somebody embroidered a dragon onto my longevity stone cover!

Maid A

M-Ms. Claire! Someone put this on the lobby tablecloth...!

Bell

This is all that damn lizard's doing!

Bell

Call her in and tell her off!

Claire

*Sigh* Emily, could you go and catch Scarlet?

Claire

My apologies, Captain. Today's been more chaotic than—

Maid B

M-Ms. Claire!

Claire

What is it?

Maid B

There's an enormous cart parked outside...!

Maid B

It's carrying a boulder the size of a house.

Claire

Ms. Bell, is this your doing?

Bell

...Uh, could you tell them to give me a sec? I'll be right out.

Claire furrowed her brows as she let out a deep sigh.

Claire

Not even Ms. Carnelia's guidebook contains protocol for something like this.

Claire

Please, just keep your trouble within reason.

Claire

And... you should send back that ridiculous boulder.

Bell

Ridiculous?!

Claire

Ms. Bell. Where did you even find the money to purchase that boulder?

Bell

I, uhh... saved up from the activity expense every month...

Claire

I see... You tampered with your expense receipts?

Claire

So you're saying you had leftover money but didn't return it and kept it for yourself instead?

Bell

Ugh...

Bell

Could you let this one slide... Please?

Bell

This wasn't a big deal when my sister was around—

Claire

And you didn't cause any trouble when Ms. Carnelia was around.

Bell

Th-that's a different story...!

Claire

Enough.

Claire put her hand on the stone Bell was holding.

Bell

You have no idea how much it costs to return this...

A crack rang out from the stone.

Claire

Please don't make me repeat myself.

Bell

...!

Bell

...Now where did I put the return form?

Claire

*Sigh...*

Claire

My apologies for that, Captain.

Claire

That was unsightly of us.

You must've been... upset.

Claire

It's fine now.

Claire

If I didn't say I wasn't ticked off, that would be a lie... but this much, I can handle.

Claire

Anyone can stray down the wrong path.

Claire

But the Master Maid of Candle Square has another responsibility.

Claire

The responsibility to set her fellow maids on the right track if they were to go astray.

Claire

Displaying emotions such as anger out of petty grievance isn't befitting of a Master Maid.

Claire

In fact, Ms. Carnelia has never once lost her temper.

Claire

And I should follow her example as well.

She says she's fine, but judging by how red Claire's face has turned, that didn't exactly seem to be the case.

It's a bit worrying to see her hold in her anger like that.

If she doesn't let her emotions out from time to time, one day that stress will start eating away at her.