episode_0451

The moment I was about to return to the maid cafe to meet Seraphine, Ethan suddenly blocked my path.

I cringed slightly at the slightly unfamiliar sight of him, different from his usual self.

“What are you saying, Master Ethan?”

“I can’t send you. Don’t wander around for no reason today and rest quietly.”

“No, Master Ethan. There is still work to be done.”

“… What’s left to do?”

“First, we must return to the Maid Cafe and tell Princess Seraphine what has happened so far. Since we have successfully rescued Princess Mezlen, we must first capture the fake princess in the cafe.

Since she appears in the exact same form as Princess Mezlen, she may be capable of using dark magic, so she must be confined in a facility that strictly blocks contact with others and prevents even a single bug from entering. ”

“… Okay, then let’s stop there. Leave the rest to Princess Seraphine… .”

“No, that can’t be.”

“… … .”

“After securing the fake Princess Mezlen, we must immediately secure the remaining forces that kidnapped the princess. There is no way that the plan to kidnap the royal family was just one person. We must catch them, punish them, and execute them before they escape the academy with the crowd after the festival ends.”

“… I don’t understand. Why release that?”

“Because I created the situation for Princess Mezlen to participate in the maid cafe, and the kidnapping incident occurred because of that. If it weren’t for me, Princess Mezlen wouldn’t have been kidnapped, so I have to take responsibility for that.”

“Don’t think too far ahead. Princess Mezlen was kidnapped because that guy had planned to kidnap her from the beginning, and you, Lilith, didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But, if only I had stopped Princess Mezlen from coming home early the day before, this would have been… .”

“If that’s the case, then it would be more responsible for me or someone else in the hall, not Lilith in the kitchen. And even if she left work on time, does that mean Princess Mezlen really didn’t get attacked?”

“… Ha, but. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that I was the cause of Princess Mezlen’s life being in danger… .”

-bang!

“That’s why!! Why is that because of the release!!”

“… … !”

Ethan suddenly lets out an angry voice and slams the wall next to my face.

… It was almost the first time I had seen Ethan this angry. Especially since I was the one he was angry at.

“If Princess Mezlen hadn’t participated in the festival with us, but had been doing something else, don’t you think she wouldn’t have suffered this kind of misfortune?”

“… Princess Mezlen is always accompanied by her capable escort maid, Kate, and if she hadn’t been working with us, the princess would have been able to work alone and not have to go out… .”

“If it wasn’t just one person who kidnapped the princess, as you said, then what’s the point? If it really was people using dark magic who were determined to kidnap the princess, then the result wouldn’t have been much different. It wasn’t your fault, so you don’t have to take responsibility.”

“… … .”

“Do you know how surprised I was when you rushed at that guy in the underground facility earlier? It’s fortunate that it worked out somehow. What would have happened if Princess Mezlen hadn’t come to her senses in that situation?”

“… If I could save the princess by giving up one shoulder, it was a gamble worth taking. At least it was better than that guy’s incompetent hostage-taking and wasting time. ”

“How can you be sure that it’ll only end with one shoulder? What if that guy put the hilt of his sword to Release’s neck? What if you acted so dangerously and it hurt you too?”

“… Anyway, it worked out well, so in the end it was the right decision… .”

“… … What? What did you just say, Lilith?”

“… … Nothing.”

Ethan’s cold voice, which seemed to dig into my bones, forced my mouth shut.

… I think making excuses that everything was good because the results were good will only cause more irritation.

“… I’m sorry to say this to you, Princess, but what’s most important to me is your life, Lilith. So please, just let go. The rest is up to Princess Seraphine and the warrior to resolve.”

“But… .”

“Let’s stop talking now. There’s no reason for you to take responsibility or feel guilty, Lilith. … Even after I said this, if Lilith keeps acting like that, I might really not be able to stand it then.”

… If we look at it only briefly, Ethan’s words might be right.

But I knew best that Mezlen being kidnapped, tortured, and brought to the crossroads of life and death would never happen in the original world.

Although I couldn’t explain the reason to Ethan… one thing was certain: the incident happened because I intervened in the story.

My belief that since it was my fault, I should wrap it up remains unchanged.

“No, I have to take responsibility.”

“… … .”

“At least I have to make sure that this incident where Princess Mezlen was kidnapped is resolved.”

“… I can’t understand, really.”

“There is no time to stay like this. If we don’t move quickly, the people who kidnapped Princess Mezlen might reach out again… .”

-Clang.

“… … Huh?”

An uncomfortable pressure in the throat accompanied by the sound of something locking.

I looked down, feeling a familiar sensation as if I had felt it before, and before I knew it, there was a circular necklace made of metal rings around my neck.

“I heard that woman say that and got it in advance, but I never thought I’d have to use it in two days. She’s definitely a witch, so she’s quite magical.”

“… Master Ethan?”

“Release. You are grounded from the dorms until today… no, until this matter is over.”

Ethan pulls me with a metal necklace and chain rope, saying those words.

Before I could even realize how this situation had come about, I was forced to walk by his hand.

“, Master Ethan! Release this! Th, this is not something I gave Master Ethan permission to do… .”

“If you have any complaints, I’ll listen to you later. But I have no intention of listening right now, so talking is useless.”

“Ah, I see! Then, just let it go for now and at least go to the dormitory and fill it up again! If anyone sees you dragging your exclusive maid around by her leash, Ethan’s reputation will be… .”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters to me right now is not my reputation, but to keep you from doing something dangerous.”

-Whoaaah!

“Eup, eh, Master Ethan!!”

Ethan dragged me out by the leash as if he didn’t care what other people thought, and I forced myself to follow him.

… I still couldn’t figure out what on earth had made Ethan so angry.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

The academy’s dormitory, occupied by Lilith, Ethan, and a maid.

Isabelle felt a moment of confusion when she saw the young master suddenly appearing with a leash and his friend hanging from the leash. Ethan sent the vanilla-haired maid outside for a moment and then brought the black-haired maid in front of the table.

“Sit down.”

“, Lord Ethan? First, go to Princess Seraphine and rescue Princess Mezlen… .”

“… If you tell me to sit, then sit.”

“… … .”

-Slurp.

Lilith takes a seat after noticing Ethan’s words, which feel particularly oppressive today.

Ethan sighed inwardly at the look on her face that seemed to still not know what he had done wrong.

“Release.”

“… … Yes.”

“Release I understand that you feel responsible for the kidnapping of Princess Mezlen. I don’t think you should feel responsible at all, but I can’t stop you from feeling that way.”

“Yes… … .”

Lilith looked at the man with an expression that seemed to indicate some dissatisfaction, and Ethan continued talking as if ignoring her gaze.

“I don’t understand Lilith’s way of thinking, so I won’t expect you to understand it either.”

“Yes?”

“As I said before, Lilith knows she won’t be able to leave this room until this incident is over.”

“Yes, yes?!”

Ethan spoke as if he was informing the black-haired maid, leaving her bewildered, and stood up from his seat.

The leash that was in my hand was wrapped tightly around a table fixed to the floor.

“Now, wait a minute, Master Ethan! Uh, this is not the time for us to be doing this…!”

“I’m saying this just in case, but you shouldn’t think about releasing it and running away. In the first place, you can’t release it yourself.”

“Mu, just tell me why you’re angry! At least tell me what I did wrong… .”

“It’s a pretty easy walk around the room, so it shouldn’t be that inconvenient. If you need anything else, just ask Isabel.”

“Master Ethan! T, let’s start with this and then talk… .”

“I’m going to see Princess Seraphine, so stay still. … If I come back and you’re doing something weird again, then I’ll really lock you up in prison.”

“What, what do you mean… .”

Ethan leaves the dormitory while Lilith is flustered at the sudden change in people’s reactions, unlike before.

The only thing left in the quiet room was the black-haired maid, still tied up with a leash and bewildered, unable to grasp the situation.