episode_0010

“I heard you found it.”

I went into the room the maid guided me to.

A woman with fiery red hair and snake-like green eyes.

“You’re here.”

Natia Bertain was waiting.

“The pillar in charge of the center. Meet the Duchess of Bertain.”

Next to him was Gerald, who was also grumbling.

I noticed it as I entered the room.

That guy is a mess.

I looked at Gerald with cold eyes.

The guy who tormented Elin like that, ran to his mother and told her because he got into trouble once?

It’s a pettiness that makes even the affection that wasn’t there disappear.

“Please sit down. I think this is going to be a long story.”

I sat in front of Natia and pretended not to know.

“What brought you here?”

“Huh… That shameless kid… .”

Gerald muttered, immediately excited.

Luke, who heard it like a ghost, shouted loudly.

“My name is not Shameless Kid, Your Majesty.”

“This bird―”

“Be quiet. Don’t interrupt the conversation.”

At Natia’s voice, Gerald became as quiet as a mouse.

He was more of a mama’s boy than I thought.

“I heard you met Gerald yesterday.”

“I happened to run into you in front of the princess’s room.”

I intentionally emphasized ‘the princess’s room’.

Then Gerald’s expression changed dramatically.

Why. You didn’t say this, did you?

“… Did you go to Elin’s room?”

It’ll be weird.

Elin’s room was used as a storage room.

There would be no reason to go out of your way to find it.

“It’s been a long time since I went to see my little brother.”

Gerald noticed Natia’s gaze and hurriedly made an excuse.

Natia narrowed her eyes.

He nodded as if he was going to move on.

“And Gerald had a stomachache yesterday.”

“Oh, are you okay?”

He had a genuinely worried expression on his face.

“I heard about it on my way. They said they kept going until the toilet got clogged.”

He sneakily inserted a fabrication.

“What… You did it!”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“I’ve been feeling sick ever since I ate the bread you gave me yesterday.”

“Of course not. I’m sorry I was late for the errand yesterday, so I made this bread specially for you… .”

This time again, the emphasis was on ‘errands’.

“Errands? What are you talking about?”

Natia pointed it out without fail.

In times like these, my snake-like nature comes in handy.

“That, that’s… .”

“Oh, it was nothing. He asked me to buy him some magic herbs instead. That’s why I bought them for him.”

“… Aha. You’re asking me to run an errand after I banned you? ”

Natia’s eyebrows furrow fiercely.

It was creepy how much he looked like my son.

“Ah… … .”

Gerald looked at Luke with a blank expression.

I knew this would happen.

You left out every single thing you told Elin to do?

So you don’t think Luke will come and tell you?

How could someone this stupid become the head of the Bertain family?

Oh, so that’s why it failed.

“And, it seems that Confucius is sick.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

I decided to get Gerald into some serious trouble while I was at it.

“Your hands are shaking badly. I am not a professional, but I think it would be a good idea to get a checkup.”

“Gerald. Take a look.”

“… I’m okay.”

“Come on.”

Natia lowered her voice sternly.

Gerald stepped back, his voice cracking, and held out his hand.

My fingertips were still shaking badly.

If I leave it like this, I’ll collapse from mana addiction first even if I don’t do anything.

◦Call the senator %◦.”

“Oh, Mom!”

Gerald, sensing something ominous, raised his voice.

“It’s really okay! What would a tutor know if he knew…!”

“You’ll know if you get a proper checkup.”

Natia clapped her hands after saying that.

“Did you call?”

An old man who had been waiting outside comes in.

“Let’s get Gerald thoroughly examined. Keep him out of the house for the time being.”

“Okay.”

“Mother! No matter what, the ban on going out is―”

Gerald’s voice grows distant as he is dragged along.

You took that bastard away by force?

I was admiring the congressman who was stronger than he looked.

A sinister glare pierced his face.

I’m going to kill you.

It was the shape of the mouth that Luke read.

“Don’t get sick and stay healthy, Confucius.”

He smiled and waved his hand at me.

widely.

The door closes.

Only Natia and Luke were left in the room.

“Now tell me in detail.”

Natia’s eyes sank.

After taking a sip of tea, he continued speaking.

“What happened yesterday?”

Phew.

He let out a short sigh and spoke lightly.

“Do you know that Princess Elin is being bullied?”

The content wasn’t light at all, though.

“… Bullying?”

Natia folded her arms and tilted her head.

“Yes, the princess has scars all over her body. Didn’t you notice?”

“… I didn’t notice it because I’ve been busy lately. Did you roll around somewhere?”

I’m going to stick my flippers out here.

Yeah. Is this how it’s going to turn out?

“Actually, it was not a coincidence that Confucius came to visit us yesterday.”

“There must have been something for Elin. I don’t know exactly what it was―”

“The princess hid emergency funds in her room.”

“… Yes?”

Natia’s eyes were filled with confusion.

You didn’t know this?

“I heard that Confucius limited his living expenses.”

“Yes. To fix my reckless spending habits… .”

“That’s why you hid the money in advance. In the princess’s room.”

“… … Thanks for the info. I didn’t know you’d hide it in a place like that.”

He spoke to Natia, who seemed to be thinking for a moment and keeping her mouth shut.

“The prince tried to seduce the princess. He just asked her why she had to run an errand.”

“I’ll scold you separately.”

“Are you going to punish Confucius too?”

Let’s throw out some words that have some substance.

“… What does it mean?”

He bit hard.

“Well, I don’t think the Prince made the scars on the Princess’ body by himself.”

He shrugged.

Natia, being quick-witted, would have figured out what Luke was trying to say.

Natia let out a deep sigh.

“It was a necessary punishment.”

“Is it necessary to beat someone’s feet so hard that they can’t walk and swing a cane so that their calves burst?”

“That’s Bertine’s way.”

“If such a method exists, I will not follow it.”

It stings.

Sharp eyes pierce the skin.

“You’d better watch your words. This is Berthain.”

Luke continued, unconcerned.

“I am in charge of the princess’s education.”

“So you’re saying we shouldn’t interfere with Elin’s education from now on?”

“Yes.”

“Ha… . I am Elin’s parent.”

parents?

Who wants to laugh out loud right now?

What do you mean these things are also parents?

“Is it because you really love the princess?”

“Of course.”

“Ha.”

If you’re going to lie, shouldn’t you at least show sincerity?

“What is being done to the princess is not corporal punishment, it is abuse. Is there a reason why you are treating her so harshly?”

“To become a person worthy of Bertain, you need to grow up harshly.”

That sounds ridiculous.

“What on earth do you think of the princess?”

“A child who has not yet become a Bertine.”

In an instant, Luke’s fist tightened.

Do you really see Elin as a human?

“I haven’t been able to stand out in any field yet. I’m really worried.”

Natia lets out a deep sigh.

I truly believed that Bertain’s way was the right one.

“The princess is only 12 years old.”

“Gerald picked up a sword at age 7. Clavel mastered 2nd circle magic at age 8.”

“Everyone grows at different rates.”

“Even so, it’s too slow.”

“A slow horse won’t become faster just by whipping it.”

“If the whipping stops, won’t it just stop there?”

The conversation continues parallel.

I had a feeling that this wouldn’t end.

“Let me ask you this in return. Why are you being so nice to Elin?”

I was speechless for a moment.

You said you were trying to do something nice for me? That never happened.

“I just want to make sure you can grow up like a normal child.”

“Bertain should not be ordinary.”

Natia gave a short sigh and a look of contempt.

As if you don’t understand this either.

“How far along have you been in class? It’s already been three days since you came.”

“I am still in the process of becoming intimate with the princess.”

“… Yes?”

Natia frowns as if she heard something she shouldn’t have heard.

“Does that mean…you didn’t attend any classes?”

“This is also part of the class.”

“Anyway, you’re saying you didn’t teach me any magic?”

“Yes.”

He answered confidently.

There’s no use trying to teach Elin magic right now.

Rather than that, it is more important to treat them as equal human beings and take care of their broken emotions.

Look at it again today.

Didn’t Ellen muster up the courage to approach Luke?

This is proof that Luke’s way was right.

“After all the trouble of bringing a tutor… .”

But Natia didn’t seem to like that very much.

Natia, who had been pressing her eyebrows, raised the corners of her lips.

The forced smile that seemed to crack was bizarre.

“It’s difficult if it comes out like this. You have to improve Elin’s level as stated in the contract, right?”

“Of course I plan to do that.”

“If you really think that way, you wouldn’t have time to be this relaxed.”

The eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“Would you please prioritize your classes over Elin’s condition in the future?”

“Classes are scheduled to begin tomorrow.”

Before that, Luke added.

“Can you please assign just one maid?”

Ellen didn’t use any of the bath products I bought her.

It’s the same even if you explain how to use it.

No matter how much I look at it, I still don’t understand.

He repeats Luke’s explanation, saying that he understood it correctly.

And then I came out after washing only with soap, and it was crazy and I was jumping for joy.

Luke can’t go into the bathroom himself because he feels stuffy.

A maid who could personally assist with bathing was absolutely necessary.

“… Hmm. That might be difficult.”

But Natia shook her head.

“How come?”

“If you are Bertha, you should be able to stand up for yourself.”

“So you don’t keep anyone by your side?”

Natia nodded.

“Huh.”

What the hell is going on?

Elin is still a child.

But, not only did they break my leg, they even took away my crutches, so how am I supposed to stand up on my own?

“With just a little help, the princess can fly.”

“… Is this against Bertain’s policy?”

Natia continued to make frustrated noises.

In the end, Luke had only one thing to show.

“If you give me a maid, I will show you how to use space magic in no time.”

result.

I have the confidence to show you as much as I want.

“What would you do if that didn’t work out?”

“I will give you the space magic book I wrote.”

“… … Yes?”

In that moment, Natia’s mask-like expression cracked and shattered.

A grimoire containing unique magic.

Depending on the rarity of the magic, the value varies greatly.

I pull out a book from the subspace.

“This is a book of magic that I wrote myself while attending the academy. It contains my own unique space magic, and there is only one copy in the world.”

“… If there is only one volume.”

“I believe you know the value well.”

“No matter how much money you have, you can’t buy it.”

He smiled brightly as if to say that was the correct answer.

Natia was troubled.

What’s the possibility that Luke’s words are false?

Almost none.

Haven’t you seen it with your own eyes?

The subspace and teleportation Luke uses are spatial magic that has never been seen before.

Open another dimension and move through it?

It is a way of thinking that is not easy to approach from the start.

This means that there is a high probability that it is a unique magic that has been modified from existing spatial magic.

Natia is also a wizard before she becomes Berthain.

How could one not be curious about knowledge that one is seeing for the first time, and knowledge that is the only one of its kind in the world?

It’s not difficult to attach a maid to the mansion.

Let’s consider the pros and cons.

What you get is a rare grimoire.

You have nothing to lose.

If you don’t respond, it’s a crazy offer.

Natia nodded after thinking about it.

“I will assign you a dedicated maid as soon as possible.”

“Thank you.”

“You’d better not regret it.”

“Don’t worry.”

Luke smiled and left the room.

“Because you will become a better magician than me.”