"I'm sorry, Lady Catarina, but could I have a moment of your time?"
"That should be fine..."
And with that, the boy dressed in a maid outfit disappeared.
Could this really be a dream after all?
Catarina thought as much, but she decided to prepare for the possibility that it wasn't.
◇◇◇
So, the place she had been transported to was Lord Harold's mansion.
Before that, she changed into her usual black steel light armor first.
She got the gate guard to wave her through with a face-recognition pass and headed to Lord Harold's office.
"What is it, Alan?"
"I had gone to see Lady Catarina."
"Hmm. As always, you casually say the most terrifying things."
"So, with Lady Catarina, a collar of obedi—"
"Stop, stop! I think I just heard words I really shouldn't have heard. Skip that part."
Lord Harold looked exasperated while simultaneously appearing to understand most of the situation.
This is bad. I've gone and done it.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't considerate enough. What I need is for you, Lord Harold, to vouch for me to Lady Catarina."
"Understood. But once that's done, you're coming straight back."
◇◇◇
This time, Lord Harold and I would teleport to the balcony where Lady Catarina was.
There, we found Lady Catarina and one other person — a boy of about six years old.
The moment Lord Harold confirmed who was before him, he dropped to one knee in greeting.
"Lady Catarina, I trust you are well. I never imagined we would meet under such circumstances. Please forgive the discourtesy of arriving without prior notice. I trust Lord Rashuan is also in good health."
"Lord Harold, it has been since the last ball, hasn't it? I certainly didn't expect you to be here. Go on, Rashuan, give your greetings too."
"Hey, Big Brother Harold! It's been a while!"
"Lord Rashuan certainly has a way with people as well."
Once the round of greetings was over, Lord Harold rose to his feet.
What is this farce.
Lord Harold is in his thirties but he looks way too young…
"Alan, a youthful face makes one easy to be underestimated. I've struggled with that myself as well."
Eep — he read my mind.
"Well, those who underestimated me were made to understand. You're the same, aren't you, Alan?"
"I'm not sure what you mean. So then, Lady Catarina, would you be willing to place your trust in me?"
"Yes, let's do that."
What a wonderful person she was, humoring my transparent subject change.
"That should do it, Alan. Now then, send me back."
I was about to teleport Lord Harold back to his manor when…
"One moment, Lord Harold."
It was Lady Catarina who stopped us.
"But still..."
"You were the one who dispatched young Alan here, weren't you? You ought to know the circumstances. Besides, now that things have turned out this way, you can't very well keep hiding it."
That's not quite how it happened, though.
"So you've made up your mind."
But seeing Lady Catarina's resolve, Lord Harold seemed to give up.
"Yes. Young Alan, I'd like you to look at Rashuan, if you would."
"Yes. ...There's nothing on him."
They apparently hadn't gone so far as to put a subordination collar on such a young child.
Well, putting a collar on the daughter of your own faction's leader was already monstrous enough if you asked me.
You wouldn't be able to complain even if you got killed for it.
"Lord Harold, I will absolutely convince my father, and we will side with Marquis Yarut."
"Ha, I am deeply honored."
Nobody told me you were going to go this far, Alan.
Lord Harold looked at me with those eyes.
I averted my gaze.
I ran around making decisions on my own authority a million times over, but things seem to be working out anyway, so please forgive me — I'll do anything.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Fist God] [Spear God] [Scorching Magic] [Frost Ice Magic] [Clear Gale Magic] [Rock Iron Magic] [Sacred Magic] [Dark Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Thunder God Blade] [Phantom Thief Gentleman] [Ninja Master] [Seeker of Truth] [Monstrous Power] [Skanda's Speed] [Pain Dampening] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Dark Spirit's Protection] [Super Intuition] [Heaven's Gate] [Contractor of the Abyss] [Magic Hand] [Treasure Search] [Seduction] [Incitement] [Telomesmerism] [Eloquence] [Extraordinary Luck] [10× Growth Speed] [Growth Limit Breakthrough]
Rank: Orichalcon
Thanks for reading!