The part‑time restaurant where I work.
While the place was being set up, I was chatting with Noel.
“Do you want me not to bring up the Marie thing?”
“Yeah. The whole sister‑stuff. You know, there are a lot of circumstances.”
I never imagined Noel would think that I was talking about Marie as if we were siblings—how careless of me.
I let my guard down just because we’re in a foreign country.
Noel lowered her head.
“Got it—there are a lot of circumstances, huh.”
“Y‑yeah. But it’s not a dark story!”
Even if I said we were siblings in a past life, no one would believe it.
If anyone did, I’d probably want to keep my distance even more.
“Alright. I’ll keep quiet.”
“Thanks.”
Now there’s no chance Noel’ll spill the Marie thing.
Just as I was feeling relieved, Jan came over.
“Um—León‑san, and Noel‑san, the manager said to take a short break once we’re done with the prep.”
We were the only ones left in the shop.
“What manager?”
“He said he’s going home to check on his daughter.”
“—Again?”
If I had a little leeway, I’d go see his daughter right away.
Parental‑overprotective, or whatever…
“Noel‑san, actually, about this place—”
Jan was talking to Noel about work.
“Huh, what?”
Noel leaned in, their shoulders touching.
Watching the two of them, I let out a small sigh.
Those two are really close.
Maybe the whole dog‑name thing means they’re aware of each other.
“Let’s take a break while we can.”
Looks like today’s gonna be busy again.
◇
When work was over, I took Noel back to Marie’s manor.
When we arrived, Marie opened the door from a distance and stared at me.
“What the—”
“You’re mad at me, right? Léon—León. Those two keep pressuring me. Meals, it doesn’t even feel like I’m alive.”
“Self‑inflicted, isn’t it?”
Considering what Marie did to Angelica and Libya, it’s no wonder she can’t be forgiven.
Libya probably doesn’t even think anything was done to her.
But Marie basically stole everything Libya ever had.
She apparently feels guilty about that.
Three people living together and having no problems? That’s impossible.
“Do something about it!”
“Tell the embassy. Or get a separate manor for the two of them.”
“Impossible!”
We can’t just kick Marie out and give her another place.
If Julius and the others start making a fuss, we can’t just exile Marie alone.
While I was arguing with Marie, Noel was watching us.
Marie lowered her voice.
“Hey, why do you look a little sad? Are you feeling sorry for me?”
“What’s there to feel sorry about? I actually got asked about the whole past‑life sibling thing, so I made up an excuse.”
Marie looked shocked.
I get why she’d be surprised.
She’s always unguarded.
“What are you gonna do! If Angelica and the others find out, it’ll be a disaster!”
Not only will they not believe the past‑life story, they’ll start suspecting something between me and Marie.
There’s no way I can sort this out with her.
While the two of us were stuck, Noel spoke up.
“Um, uh—no one’s gonna tell anyone, right? You two really have a lot going on, huh?”
Marie and I exchanged a quick glance,
“Yeah, it’s tough—lots of stuff.”
“Exactly. It’s tough. Lots of stuff!”
Just as we thought we’d covered it up, Claire rolled down the stairs and appeared in front of us.
“What are you doing, you?”
I crouched down and asked, and Claire spoke in a voice only I could hear—
‘Master, be careful. The two are coming soon. Actually, don’t bring up the messy stuff at the manor. Distracting everyone is a pain.’
—Looks like she’s been handling things behind my back.
I gave Marie a silent signal; she shut her mouth, probably catching on.
Noel tilted her head, and then—
“Where’s Claire!”
“Are‑chan, what’s going on here!”
“Come out, you round thing!”
Angelica, followed by Libya, and even the head maid showed up.
Claire floated in the air and hid behind me.
‘Master, help!’
“Huh? What are you even saying—”
Angelica came down the stairs, her face bright red.
Libya was the same—teary‑eyed.
“What’s wrong, you two!”
When I asked what happened, Angelica thrust a paper she was clutching into my hand. She was holding it so tight I couldn’t see it.
“Should I look at this?”
“No, don’t! León, don’t look.”
“Huh?”
Looking at Libya, she seemed more worried about her skirt than anything else.
“Are‑chan—Are‑chan!”
Turning around to see Claire,
‘Hehe, got caught.’
She made a cute little voice, but what on earth did she do?
The head maid stepped forward, pushing up her glasses with trembling fingers.
“Lord Léon, could this possibly—be an order from you?”
“Huh?”
The paper the head maid handed me was color‑printed.
The content was awful.
It was a photo taken from a very low angle, basically looking up at the maids in a… very compromising way.
“Hey, what’s this about?”
‘Sorry. I was preparing photos for the master and got caught.’
A trembling Angelica stared at me.
“Léon, you idiot!”
“No, that’s not— I never asked for a photo like this!”
I tried to clear up the misunderstanding, but Angelica’s face turned beet red, clearly excited.
“So you’re saying she made it herself? I don’t care about me or Libya, but to think she’d touch the people who take care of me—what the hell!”
It’s a total misinterpretation.
“It’s not like that! I never gave that order!”
Then Claire piped up.
‘But I’ve been keeping the photo I sent earlier, right?’
“What the—!?”
I remembered the two photos I keep in my wallet—pictures of them in underwear.
The head maid snatched my wallet in a flash,
“Excuse me—Lady Angelica, I’ve confirmed the photos!”
Since they were in my wallet, the crumpled pictures ended up in their hands.
Libya, shaking, said to me,
“Léon‑san, damn—”
—She scolded me.
“It’s not my fault. Claire did this on her own.”
Angelica crossed her arms over my slumped shoulders.
“Is that all the excuse you have? Seriously, you’re such a—”
Then,
‘Huh? I never said it was a command from the master.’
“What—?”
“Eh?”
Angelica and Libya looked at Claire.
‘Because normally we’d be apart for a year. The master must be lonely too, so having a photo helps soothe him. If you keep everything bottled up, you might end up making a real girl on site. Don’t you get that?’
The head maid stammered.
“Y‑yeah, I get that—but—Lord Léon is a man, after all.”
She kept glancing at me, as if wondering if I’m some sort of pervert.
I was about to tell Claire off when she said,
‘Master was overjoyed when he got the two photos. Simple and cute, right?’
Libya lowered her head, blushing.
“W‑when you put it like that… I can’t really say… Lord Léon, were you lonely without us?”
Claire stared at me with her single blue eye, seeming to understand what I was about to say.
—You set this whole situation up for me!
“So that’s it! Because we weren’t there, I just wanted to keep at least a photo!”
I’ll just claim I was missing them terribly.
Angelica, now embarrassed, looked shy.
“That’s understandable. But if you want photos, just ask first. I could’ve gotten better ones.”
Apparently the underwear shots are a no‑go.
“I… I’m sorry.”
Then the head maid noticed something.
“Wait a second. What do our photos mean? If it’s just the two of you, I get it, but there were also photos of us, right?”
‘Oh, that was just a bonus. I thought the master would like it. You know, men love uniforms, so I guessed he’d get excited by maid outfits.’
Claire’s excuse was terrible.
Marie shot me a cold look.
“Disgusting. Anyway, wait—this thing’s been rolling around all the time! Maybe I—”
‘You’re not even in my strike zone, so you’re off‑limits. Sorry, but you’re not a target.’
Marie twisted her cheek, muttering “This thing pisses me off.”
I don’t need Marie’s photos either.
Noel, looking at the colored photos, said, “The kingdom’s really progressing, huh?”
After a pause, Angelica grabbed Claire by one arm.
“Alright, about the photos we’ll talk later. I need to have a proper chat with you—right, Claire?”
Libya was fuming too.
“A‑re‑chan, I won’t forgive you today.”
‘What!? Why!’
I can’t defend her either. Claire’s being way too harsh. Secret‑shots are obviously illegal.
“Your own fault.”
‘Both of you should talk more with the master! I have work too!’
When the head maid took Claire from Angelica, she clutched her with both hands so she wouldn’t escape.
“Let’s investigate any extra crimes thoroughly.”
‘Mast—help!’
“Claire, I won’t forget your sacrifice.”
‘You’re cruel. I’ll get revenge someday!’
“Oh, a rebellion? All three of you, tighten up.”
I gave a thumbs‑up as they left. The head maid turned back to me.
“Lord Léon, we’ll talk later. Properly, of course.”
“—Yes.”
Looks like I’m still in trouble.
The three took Claire and left.
Thanks to Claire, everything wrapped up nicely.
Wiping the cold sweat from my forehead, Noel gave me a slightly sad look.
“You get along well with the two of them, huh?”
“Well, they’re my fiancées, after all.”
It’s my second life, and I consider meeting them a stroke of luck.
“Got it.”
Noel smiled at me.
Marie seemed like she wanted to say something, then turned away and stayed silent.
◇
Somewhere in the Republic.
Ideal was there.
In a cramped interrogation room, besides Ideal were a few soldiers and—a woman.
The woman was a former Kingdom noble—someone connected to the old aristocracy.
“Don’t you think this is terrible? That man stole our status and wealth and took his current position. What on earth did we even do?”
The woman had been a member of the “Ladies’ Forest,” now in her forties, middle‑aged. Her clothes were tattered; she used to be plump but had lost some weight, looking healthier now.
‘I see, that’s indeed a harsh story.’
Ideal nodded one eye, listening.
“He’s truly a scum—no, the very definition of a scum. Because of that hateful Léon, our family was driven out of our home and fled to the Republic. Even our personal servants abandoned us, leaving our family to suffer. How can this be allowed!”
She used to live in a luxurious manor, now scraping by after selling everything in the Republic.
‘I understand your feelings. If you can give me info on Léon, I’ll pay you more. If there are others in the same situation, introduce them to me. I’d love to hear more about the Kingdom’s condition.’
“Of course! The current royal palace is insane. To elevate a man like him and throw us out—pure madness. Oh, speaking of—”
The soldiers listening looked uneasy.
But Ideal was different.
‘Excellent intel.’
Even though she praised it outwardly, inside—
(Your personal bias is way too strong. Still, this’ll be enough material to convince the master. Léon Fou Bartfort—he’ll become a scoundrel.)
“I’m listening! At least I need money to hire exclusive servants. And a proper residence. This stable‑barn‑like house can’t even let me rest. Get something ready, now!”
‘Y‑yes. We’ll consider it.’
Seeing the woman’s determination, Ideal decided the master shouldn’t meet her.