*Click*
"Ohh, What's this I'm seeing, a few punny maids discussing whether a maid is competent or not? Who gave you the right to decide or even think about that? You even went as far as disciplining her without even consulting the head maid? Your only job is to do what you're told, you don't get to judge how someone else does his or her job."
Upon entering the room, Keiji's mother, still carrying Keiji, didn't waste time hearing or questioning them, she had already heard everything that happened on her way.
Her usual affectionate and loving tone of speech wasn't there instead, it was replaced by a cold one mixed with a murderous aura enough to make them fall to their knees, of course, she only directed it at the three maids. She didn't want her son or any other maid to be affected, she was clear on who she should be angry on and who she shouldn't.
"Welcome, mad---"
The head maid, arriving shortly after her madam, witnessed such a scene and knew not to interfere, she knows that if she did it'll only make things worse by being dragged in and decided to stay silent.
'Good thinking head maid, even I wouldn't know what to say to my mother in such a situation. I don't know when or how mom heard what happened, but from what I can see, it looks like those three maids kneeling were abusing the little maid who seems to have lost consciousness after being hit too hard. They deserve whatever will happen to them, I won't even try to empathize with them. They're simply unforgivable.'
Keiji gave a silent thumbs up to the head maid after he saw how she remained silent after seeing the scene. He also decided it'll be best not to interfere and just see what his mother will do. But that wasn't even what in his slightest concerns.
'I mean, how can you hit such a cute little maid? Look at those bright blue and red eyes coupled with a cyan colored hair to give her cute face a look of playfulness. She just needs a little washing and all those features will show their effect. How can they even get the heart to hit her.'
Keiji was sure that whoever can commit such a crime, has a vicious heart and is a huge threat to whomever they serve.
"M-ma-madam, w-we didn't mean to, we were just being a bit harsher on her as her seniors so she becomes an excellent maid when she grows up. I-I mean this time she didn't even do her wo--" One of the maids, grovelling on the ground, tried to explain why they did that. But she didn't know that there is no was out for them as Keiji's mother heard the situation clearly.
"Her work???????? You just said HER WORK????? Do you think I'm that stupid to believe such lies?"
"S-She di-didn't mean to madam." The other maid, also grovelling, quickly covered her friend's mouth to prevent any further damage.
"Oh no, I get exactly what she meant. You three were jealous lazy or whatever, I don't care what your motive is, dumped your work onto her and tell the head maid that it was you who did it. Quite shameless, a maid younger than you, by a big margin, doing your work for you. I don't think there's anything that can justify that."
"M-madam, we didn't like how she was acting all arrogant and playing around when she finishes what's assigned to her, she didn't appreciate that some street rat like her was chosen to work at your esteemed mansion. So we assigned extra work for her so she becomes better. I don't even get why a child like her was chosen, she doesn't deserve it."
Mary, seeing as punishment is unavoidable, tried to shift some blame from them. She tried to explain that the young maid's carefree attitude is what made them assign their work to her and that the person who decided to hire such a maid was wrong in his decision.
Unfortunately, she didn't know that it was her madam who chose the little maid, and also the one who assigned her work to groom her into what she wanted.
"And what does that have to do with you three? I don't remember giving you such authority."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three maids stayed silent, trembling from fear. Not daring to utter a word.
"Even if what you say is right, and you have the authority to assign more work to her. What made you hit her? I'm sure that it was strictly mentioned that no violence is allowed when you signed up to work here. Oh, and I'll have you know that I was the one who hired her and assigned her work purposefully to make her have more free time. So now what's your excuse?"
Keiji's mother then glanced silently at the head maid gesturing her to take care of the mess.
"Madam, how do you want this servant to handle this?" The head maid responded to her madam's gesture, which made the three maids tremble even more and feel like their situation is helpless.
"However you like, I just don't want to see them or anybody like them at all. If there is a next time it won't be just them that will be punished."
[Ding]
[The system has found a suitable servant for the host, please proceed in taking them under you and nurturing them.]