Having successfully completed their Dungeon conquest, Ermes and the others returned to the ducal household.
After that, several peaceful days passed at the ducal estate.
The knights who had accompanied them were quite badly wounded, so part of that time was devoted to their treatment and recovery.
More than anything, what Ermes and the others had brought back—
an Ancient magical artifact.
Between the analysis of the artifact submitted to the royal household, the enormous rewards for the achievement of bringing it back, and all the associated matters, the entire ducal household was in a flurry—yet another reason Katia and the others couldn't easily move about.
And so, Ermes also had no work as a bodyguard for the time being.
"Lady Katia, your tea is ready~"
He was fulfilling his other job as a servant.
"Thank you, I'll have some—mm, this is delicious."
Taking a sip of the tea he had brewed, Katia couldn't help but widen her eyes and voice her honest impression.
"I'm glad to hear that. I wasn't sure of your preferences, Lady Katia, so I brewed it the way my Master does, but I'm happy it suits your taste."
"No… Forget about preferences—Erm, you're genuinely amazing at brewing tea. Where did you learn?"
"Hmm? From my Master, I suppose. I handled most of the household chores, so after five years I'd say I reached a fairly decent level, but…"
"Far more than just decent, Master Ermes."
The one who spoke up with a faintly amused smile was Leila, the maid who attended Katia.
She was currently being trained in all the ins and outs of serving as a maid for the Trackia household.
In other words, she was Ermes's direct supervisor.
"His household chores are flawless even compared to our maids, and he picks up the knack of new tasks right away and absorbs them. He's the ideal student—I'm sure I'll run out of things to teach him before long."
"It's an honor. You picked me up, so I need to become useful as soon as possible."
Having received her seal of approval, Ermes smiled with a measure of confidence and declared.
"So, with that said—please feel free to give me any orders, Lady Katia."
"*Gph*"
For some reason, Katia choked.
"A-Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes, I'm fine... some tea just went down the wrong pipe..."
"...That was your fault, wasn't it, Ermes."
And somehow, he was blamed for it.
"...In any case, after this we'll be studying my magic, correct? I'll be along shortly, so go ahead and prepare first."
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
He didn't fully understand what had just transpired, but it was true that what came next was the time they'd settled on in the Dungeon the other day—to closely examine Katia's magic in order to recreate her
Netherworld of Salvation
.
As expected of magic passed down through a ducal house, the complexity of the technique was on an entirely different level, and it would likely take more time than he'd imagined... but he could feel himself making steady progress with the analysis.
More than anything, though, it was simply enjoyable to observe such beautifully constructed, meticulously assembled magic.
Which angle should I verify today? Lost in thought about this, he soon forgot what had happened moments ago, and with a bow, Ermes departed Katia's room as he sank into a sea of contemplation.
◆
"......Haaah..."
After Ermes closed the door, a few seconds of silence passed before...
Katia set her cup down on the desk before melting into the sofa.
Naturally, her face was bright red.
"I know exactly how you feel, my lady."
Leila watched her, nodding with her arms crossed.
"Abandoned by your fiancé, at the very bottom of despair with some thug about to pounce on you — and then your childhood friend appears like a hero from a storybook! He'd grown into a fine young man, carrying the promise from your youth in his heart, and he brilliantly drove the villain off! Of course you'd fall head over heels. Even I got butterflies just listening to it — and you experienced it firsthand, so naturally you were completely swept away."
"...Calling him a thug is a bit much... And stop talking about me like I'm some easy woman."
"Well, that's not entirely wrong— ...Forgive me, that was rude."
She'd let her honest opinion slip out, but she quickly caught the dark aura rising from Katia and clamped her mouth shut.
"But you really did find a wonderful catch, my lady! Ermes is such a sweet, honest boy. He's nothing like that arrogant prince!"
"...He's the Second Prince. It's not right to speak ill of him."
"I don't care! I have no respect to spare for a man blind enough to throw away someone as wonderful as you, my lady!"
Leila turned away with a childlike huff.
But she quickly composed herself, and this time with a mischievous grin, she said:
"It's obvious to anyone with eyes, so let me just say it plainly — you're in love with him, aren't you? Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"
"Wha—! T-There's no way I could do that!!"
Katia, who had just managed to get her blush under control, flared up again and leaned forward to object.
"Is there a problem?"
"Everything about it is a problem! Our social standings are different, our positions are different — and the place he's looking toward now is surely different from what it used to be. Besides..."
"Besides what?"
When Leila pressed her, Katia's eyes drifted as though reluctant to speak, but in the end, in a quiet voice:
"...I'm a woman who just lost her fiancé last month. And then, out of nowhere, doing something like that... What if El thinks I'm the kind of woman who changes her feelings so easily..."
"...My lady. You're too cute."
"Wait, Leila, why are you hugging me?"
"Because you're too cute."
At such an abrupt gesture, Katia shifted from her earlier manner and shot Leila a half-lidded glare.
Everything was starting to feel ridiculous, so she decided she might as well say everything that had been on her mind.
"Oh, and also."
"Do you have yet another concern?"
"Somehow, El just seems too... mature."
"Oh?"
Leila released her embrace and turned to face Katia.
Ever since reuniting with him, that had been the thing bothering her the most.
In the past, he'd been a perfectly age-appropriate child — a boy who wore his heart on his sleeve and expressed his emotions openly and extravagantly. That was how she remembered him.
But when she met him again after five years, he had become someone remarkably composed and detached.
If people called him mature, then fine — but to put it bluntly, it felt as though all his various emotions had grown thin.
He'd gotten angry on her behalf over that Dungeon incident, so it wasn't that he had no emotions at all. Still, that point gnawed at her.
...In plain terms, she wanted him to be more interested in her — though that was entirely selfish of her.
"He did compliment me, saying I was beautiful, but he was awfully casual about it. So, you know..."
"I see! You want to see him flustered, confused — reactions like that!"
"...Well, yes."
"I want to see a boy my age react all flustered and bashful over the irresistible charm of the great Lady Katia, the most beautiful girl in the Royal Capital!"
"I-I wouldn't go that far... Wait, that's just your own opinion, isn't it?"
"I won't deny that!"
I'd always thought this, but this maid was far too transparent about everything.
"But I'm being completely sincere! Even without any bias, Lady Katia is top-class among the most beautiful girls in the Royal Capital! And if that's the case, please leave it to me!"
"...What exactly do you mean?"
Katia eyed Leila with a hint of suspicion as the maid puffed out her chest proudly.
"The other day, my lady, you brought back from the Dungeon"
"an Ancient Magical Artifact"
"and presented it to the Royal Capital. This is a truly remarkable achievement! You will undoubtedly be granted some manner of reward... and a commemorative party will surely be held as well."
"!"
"That's the chance! Allow me, who knows my lady better than anyone, to put together the perfect outfit that brings out your charm to its fullest! Then I'll have Ermes escort you, so you can see my lady at her most captivating up close like no one else can!"
Leila clenched her fist and declared with conviction.
"No man could fail to be swept off his feet by a beautiful girl of my lady's caliber going to such lengths for him! Fortunately, at that party, my lady will undoubtedly be the star of the show — no matter how stunning an outfit she wears, no one could fault her for it. That's right, all those decorations and dresses we've always wanted to use but never could...!"
And naturally, her burning desire to dress Katia to the absolute nines was thoroughly included as well.
Just as Leila had predicted,
an Ancient Magical Artifact
was bestowed upon the Trakia family as a reward.
Without delay, plans were set in motion to hold a commemorative party.
Currently without a fiancé and with no siblings, Katia designated Ermes — a servant — as her escort.
Ermes wondered whether he would be a suitable choice, but when he heard the reason — that he was the only male servant close to her age — an explanation that was obviously a pretext but technically a valid one — he agreed.
And so, things proceeded exactly as Katia had planned and anticipated.
However, on the day itself, unexpected events would come to pass. The party was about to begin.
Next time: Lady Katia is adorable.