The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 38

Lately, the weather had been humid and unbearably hot.

Even though all the staff had switched to lightweight summer uniforms, it didn’t take long to get overheated while working.

To make things worse—

Just yesterday, the magical device that regulated temperature inside the Deiamor estate had broken down.

The stifling heat robbed the maids of their dignity.

Lying on the cool marble floor, one maid was experiencing a kind of bliss she could hardly describe.

“It’s so cool…”

“Right? Isn’t it amazing?”

“But still, you really shouldn’t be lying here. This is the entrance hall—it’s one of the dirtiest places in the house because everyone walks through it.”

“It’s fine… I’ll wash up later…”

Nivellia mumbled as she rubbed her cheek against the floor.

Instead of hesitating or scolding, the maid found herself doing the same—pressing her cheek and arms deeper into the cool marble.

“Ahhh…”

A satisfied sigh escaped her lips.

“It really is cool…”

“Feeling refreshed?”

The lazy voice above them sent a chill down the maid’s spine, like someone had poured ice water down her back.

Slowly, she pushed herself up—unable to even lift her eyes.

“If it’s so refreshing, why don’t you just stay lying there?”

“H-Housekeeper…”

The air around them turned cold—cool enough to cut through the heat entirely.

Yet cold sweat beaded on the maid’s forehead.

And in the end, she received a severe scolding.

“Wait!”

Nivellia rolled over and inserted herself between them.

She clung to the housekeeper’s skirt with pleading eyes.

“Nini told me to lie down! She said it’s cool!”

“Miss, why are you lying here of all places? Where’s Deter? And where’s Master Aref?”

“Deter went on an errand for Grandma. I came out here ‘cause I got hot during my nap. Aref’s training with Grandpa, so he’s not here.”

“Still, you should’ve called for someone.”

“It was too hot… I didn’t want to move.”

Nivellia’s words were full of honesty.

“And I’m thirsty, too…”

Give me water.

Like a kitten, Nivellia opened her mouth and waited expectantly.

The housekeeper finally gave in, ending her lecture with a reminder to the maid about maintaining grace and dignity. She then escorted Nivellia back to her room.

“Oh—Housekeeper?”

Just then, Deter returned from her errand and entered the room.

The housekeeper let out a heavy sigh as she recounted what had just happened.

“No matter how important the errand was, you mustn’t leave the young lady alone. You could’ve asked someone else to go in your place.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful.”

“She was rolling around on the entrance hall floor. You’d better give her a proper wash.”

Nivellia, who had been watching from the side like it had nothing to do with her, suddenly opened her mouth wide.

“I—I was going to bathe after dinner!”

She flatly refused to bathe now.

But there was no overlooking the mess she was in—rolling on the floor to cool off had left her covered in grime.

And since the maid had been mopping at the time, a faint musty smell was starting to cling to her.

In the end, Nivellia was dragged off for a bath.

“Nooo! I don’t wanna!”

“Well, you shouldn’t have rolled around on the floor while it was being mopped. The entrance hall is one of the dirtiest spots in the house.”

“Nuh-uh! The toilet’s dirtier!”

“Sadly, right now, you are the dirtiest one here.”

“HISSS! HAAAH!”

Backed into a corner, Nivellia hissed in warning like an angry kitten.

She even threw a few half-hearted punches with her tiny fists.

“Go away! Go!”

“I’m afraid I can’t.”

Despite the fierce resistance, Deter managed to dunk her into the tub.

Water splashed everywhere.

The hissing continued non-stop.

By the time the bath was over, Nivellia looked utterly betrayed, her pouty face full of resentment.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“You said one bath a day was enough!”

“I’d love that too, trust me…”

Deter replied weakly, soaked in water and sweat.

She felt like she had aged three years in that one afternoon.

Freshly dried, with her damp hair fluffed up and a clean set of clothes on, Nivellia finally started to feel human again.

She gulped down a glass of cold milk and let out a big sigh—puhah—as if all the heat had left her body.

A little white milk mustache had formed above her lip.

“Feeling better now?”

“But I’m bored.”

Nivellia yawned wide and loud.

She was bored, but also a little sleepy.

Maybe she’ll nap again, Deter thought, watching her.

Just as she was about to suggest it—

“Nini!”

Soles burst into the room.

“The Archmage is here! Want to go say hi?”

“Yeah!”

Any trace of drowsiness vanished in an instant as Nivellia turned to Deter, eyes sparkling.

Deter smiled softly and followed after her.

“Why is the Archmage here? Did he come to see Nini?”

Nivellia asked Soles.

“He’s here to fix the broken magic device.”

When they arrived in the drawing room, they found the Archmage just about to leave with her grandparents.

“Aref!”

But Nivellia shouted Aref’s name brightly and without hesitation.

Aref, having just finished sword training, was already standing beside the Archmage.

“Did you finish your lesson?”

“Yes.”

“Well done. Any injuries? Let me see—should I check?”

Like a mother cat, she started inspecting Aref all over, checking for bumps or scrapes.

“Oh, come on. Unbelievable,” Magia muttered, unable to watch anymore as he stepped in.

“Hey. Am I invisible to you or what?”

“The Archmage can wait. Take your turn.”

“That sassy attitude—definitely runs in your family.”

Magia glanced sideways at Muniel and Ardores, but they just smiled quietly.

“Lord Archmage, I heard you came to fix our magic device. Thank you so much for coming.”

Soles greeted him politely.

The scowl on Magia’s face softened almost instantly.

“Yes, yes, you’re the miracle of Deiamor…!”

“And also my grandson.”

“Zip it, paladin.”

Magia stuffed Soles’s hands with a handful of candies and chocolates.

Nivellia, seeing this, drooped her eyebrows dramatically.

“Nini wants some too!”

“Nope. You didn’t greet me.”

Still, he tossed her a bag of wrapped chocolate cookies like he was feeding a stray.

“What about Aref?”

“The wolf already got his. Unlike you, he said hello.”

“What, are you haunted by a ghost that died from being ignored?”

“…What happened to you?”

Where’d she learns to talk like that all of a sudden?

Caught off guard, Magia cleared his throat and finally addressed why he’d come.

“So, I heard your temperature control system broke?”

The magic device that regulated temperature in the Deiamor estate was located on the top floor.

As soon as they entered, a wave of hot air smacked them in the face.

“Whew, this place is roasting…” the Archmage said, tying up his long purple hair.

“But why did it break in the first place?”

“Nini knows!”

Nivellia shot her hand into the air.

“The answer is…!”

She added a dramatic ta-da! sound effect for flair.

“It broke because it got too hot!”

“Oh my, what a sharp deduction,” Muniel chuckled.

“Sounds correct to me,” Ardores agreed, nodding seriously.

Magia clicked his tongue and bent back over the machine, mumbling about how he shouldn’t have listened so intently.

After all, he had been the one who personally crafted this temperature control device for the Deiamor estate.

It was built to last—and he came every year to service it himself.

There was no reason it should have failed so easily.

“….”

As Magia inspected the device, his expression gradually hardened.

The people watching him started to grow tense as well.

Except Nivellia.

“Maybe the Archmage needs to go potty.”

Everyone froze.

Magia let out a long, forced laugh and rose to his feet.

“Let’s take a look around the estate first.”

“So, you do have a theory?” Ardores asked.

“I want to confirm it. That’s why I need to see more.”

There was quiet anger behind Magia’s words as he turned away.

Muniel and Ardores asked the children to guide the Archmage around the house respectfully.

“Are we getting paid for this?” Nivellia asked boldly.

“You need to be polite to the Archmage,” Muniel replied with a condition.

“He came all this way to fix something important, so don’t bother him and treat him with kindness.”

“I’m always kind.”

Nivellia looked at Magia with wide, innocent blue eyes and asked sweetly:

“Right?”

“…You shameless little cat.”

And just like that, the “house tour” disguised as an official task began.

Before they set out, Nivellia, as self-declared leader, gave a pep talk.

“No wandering off! No running! You could get hurt! And if you need to go pee, raise your hand and say something! If you get thirsty…”

She proudly showed off the wolf-shaped backpack she was wearing.

“There’s water and cookies in here! I’ll share!”

“Very well prepared,” Soles praised.

“Deter packed it for me.”

For context—Deter had been completely wrecked after giving Nivellia her bath and had gone to tidy herself up with Muniel’s permission.

She was probably in a flower-filled bathtub by now, humming while scrubbing the stress away.

“Miss, would you like me to carry your bag?” Aref offered.

But Nivellia shook her head.

“A true leader always carries the burden. I protect my team! That’s the weight on my shoulders!”

“Okay, okay—just hurry up and lead the way…”

“Geez, Archmage, you’re an adult and yet so impatient.”

“……”

With a dramatic sigh, Nivellia, unable to win against Magia’s glare, finally declared:

“Let’s move out!”

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