Ch.104Magic Corps #1

“Yes. That’s what happened……”

Experiencing something firsthand is completely different from just hearing about it.

Brown Hound had never realized this truth more acutely than today.

Helena’s madness was far more serious than he had anticipated. And then there was that young blue-blooded boy protecting her.

Their lives and thoughts were drastically different from those of ordinary nobles, and Brown had to admit he had misjudged them.

For him, an ordinary nobleman who never turned down women, their thinking was incomprehensible—but he had no choice but to acknowledge this incomprehension and move on.

“You may withdraw.”

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Right after Holly Hound bowed respectfully and left the office after reporting what he had experienced,

Brown Hound picked up his pen and began writing a brief report to submit to Luke Killinear.

The content stated that Zion Krauser had a different disposition toward noblewomen and women in general, which rendered their plans involving women ineffective.

The duchess’s obsession with the young man, craving his embrace.

And how naturally he accepted her.

Everything about them was utterly alien.

“Sigh……”

He had tried to elevate Zion Krauser, praise him, and pressure him by filling the gaps, but failed.

His prediction that someone who had achieved social advancement at such a young age would desire independence had also missed the mark.

Nevertheless, Brown, and by extension Luke Killinear, had gained one additional piece of information.

While it remained unclear whether the young Grand Duke harbored ambition, he certainly didn’t pursue women like ordinary noblemen did.

.

“Son-in-law. What is the meaning of this?”

After returning from the Hound earldom, I was sitting in the guest chair in Eas Krauser’s office, having been summoned by him.

Something so absurd had happened that the small puncture in my shoulder seemed trivial by comparison.

The cause was, unsurprisingly, Helena.

The day after we returned to our mansion as promised at the Hound earl’s residence,

she changed into a maid’s uniform as I had ordered and addressed me as “master” with utmost respect—a sight that must have seemed extremely strange.

“You’re referring to Helena. To put it simply… it’s because of a promise I made with her.”

“A promise…? You ordered Helena to act as a maid?”

“I thought she might mentally collapse from guilt otherwise.”

While I can’t say personal desire played no part, the main reason for this decision was to stabilize Helena.

I could have easily overlooked being stabbed in the shoulder, but had I done so, Helena would have been tormented by guilt.

After all, the fact that she had stabbed my shoulder with her self-generated aura remained unchanged.

“Hmm… Helena is certainly capable of that. She’s a child who would stop at nothing when it comes to matters involving you. Especially in this case…”

Eas seemed to understand and quietly closed his mouth.

“Yes. Regardless of the reason, she did stab me, so she probably couldn’t have endured it with a clear conscience. It might be my delusion or arrogance, but… I thought this might help ease her burden.”

“A burden on her mind. There’s some logic to that.”

There was indeed logic to my order, as Eas said.

Helena’s expression had brightened considerably after receiving my command, and though she still showed signs of guilt and depression, there was also a hint of anticipation.

Just seeing that gave me hope that she would improve.

“And, whether it was due to her recent bout of madness or not, there was a significant gain.”

“A gain?”

“Helena has overcome a barrier.”

Although my shoulder was punctured and needed rest, from the perspective of the entire domain, this was a substantial gain.

Helena, already strong, had grown even stronger, and the amount of mana she could hold had greatly increased.

Above all, the greatest benefit was her ability to process aura into a weapon-like form without a sword.

Even if her weapon was taken away or shattered, she now had the ability to respond at any time.

“Ah, yes. That black aura that pierced your shoulder. To think that an already powerful child has become even stronger. This is…”

Rather than simply rejoicing, Eas showed a troubled reaction.

He seemed concerned about who could stop her if she went berserk with her enhanced power.

From my perspective, this was nothing but needless worry.

There had never been anyone in this kingdom who could stop Helena to begin with, and even across the entire continent, such individuals could be counted on one hand.

So even if she became a little stronger, the situation hadn’t really changed.

Now that Ellen was here, acting as a sort of brake, but I didn’t think it was an issue of whether to restrain her or not.

After all, Helena is now my woman, and we’ve become lovers who cherish each other deeply.

“There’s no need to be so afraid. Not that we should be, anyway.”

“…Hmm.”

In the end, Eas is Helena’s father, and I am her husband.

We were in no position to be afraid.

If those who should provide affection as parents or spouses were to fear and check her preemptively, it would essentially be driving her into a corner.

At least, that’s what I believe.

Of course, I haven’t forgotten Hypnos’s purpose… but my growing affection for her was also a significant factor.

“You’re right. I’ll make an effort too, so I’m counting on you. You’ve essentially taken on the biggest role.”

“Don’t worry… though I can’t confidently say that, I’ll do my best.”

.

“M-My Lady! How could you possibly be doing this…?”

“Please don’t be so surprised. It’s all my fault, and this is something I must do because of it.”

In the kitchen of the Krauser mansion.

Helena had rolled up her sleeves to prepare a simple meal for Zion.

It was necessary for her to work as his faithful servant for the next month.

At least, that’s what Helena herself thought as she entered the kitchen, but the staff working there were so surprised that progress was slow.

Though they were familiar with her from her frequent visits to the kitchen with Zion, this time the circumstances were different.

“B-But…”

“Quickly, please teach me. It would be troublesome for all of you if I stay here too long.”

A servant who was about to make an excuse closed his mouth tightly.

In truth, he was forced to close it due to the pressure hidden behind Helena’s smile.

A duchess acting as a servant? What absurdity is this?

All the servants, including Bart, the head kitchen staff, were sweating nervously with the same thought, but eventually resigned themselves. They had no choice.

If they continued to refuse, they feared what might happen to them for persistently rejecting a noble’s order.

Moreover, they knew all too well that Helena Krauser was particularly sensitive about matters involving her partner.

It was said that if one had to choose between insulting Zion or Helena, they should choose Helena—that’s how serious it was.

“Yes. Then… let’s start with something simple.”

Finally, a servant caught between Bart and Helena sighed and brought a sack of flour.

He intended to start with the simple cookies that Zion often baked.

Even for Helena, who excelled at handling blades, cooking would be a first.

However, all the servants were amazed at Helena’s unexpectedly excellent skills.

Perhaps due to her prowess in handling her body and sword, there was no awkwardness. Strictly speaking, while not entirely absent, she certainly didn’t look like a beginner.

She displayed skills of someone who had at least some experience in the kitchen.

From sifting flour to measuring, cutting, and shaping the dough.

“Thank you. It seems to have turned out well.”

“Not at all. It’s my honor to be able to teach something to the Duchess. Please, take care.”

Immediately after seeing off Helena, who left with a gentle smile,

everyone in the kitchen, including the servant who had guided her, exhaled deeply and collapsed weakly. They had been too tense.

“Phew! I thought I was going to die!”

“What on earth is happening…?”

“To think that a lowly person like me would teach something to the Duchess. Even a stray dog wouldn’t believe it.”

They shared all sorts of complaints as people who had experienced the same nightmarish situation.

Even amidst this, not a single ill word about the nobility was mixed in, proving the character of the Krausers, though it was clear they had suffered.

“By the way, to think that the Grand Duke would make the Duchess work as a maid. He’s truly impossible to read.”

“If we knew that, we’d be fortune-tellers, not cooks. There must be a deeper meaning, so let’s just accept it.”

Since there was no way for them to know, they simply nodded and cut off their interest at an appropriate point.

All the kitchen servants thought that this was the wise path for those working below.

They knew well what might happen if they crossed the line, no matter how good the character of their masters.

.

“How… was it?”

“It was… delicious. I can hardly believe this is your first time baking.”

While taking a brief rest, Helena had brought me cookies she had baked.

I naturally had to taste them, and surprisingly, they were quite delicious.

In other words, what I just said was by no means empty flattery.

“…Thank you.”

Helena, who had been tense until just now, showed signs of relief and smiled.

It seems she had been anxious, unsure whether they would taste good or not.

Although I had told her to serve me like a maid, I never expected her to actually prepare food for me.

It was truly surprising and delightful.

Even though I was treated like a master normally, the nature of it was different.

“Um… what should I do next?”

“Well. There’s not much left to do, so I think it would be fine to rest a bit longer…”

Ellen has been frequently absent lately to supervise the elf slaves, leaving Helena and me alone.

Because of this, there was a slight awkwardness. Strangely, it used to be more awkward when the three of us were together—I’m not sure when that changed.

I was debating whether to rest or finish my work, and ultimately decided to complete my work first.

I thought it would be more annoying and irritating to work after resting, so I wanted to get it over with.

Helena seemed to share my thoughts as she stuck close to me and helped with the paperwork.

The Central Knights would soon visit for training, and the persuasion of the Dark Elves was progressing smoothly, so there was much to consider.

In this case, the timing of the Dark Elves’ arrival might coincide exactly with the knights’ training period.

While not necessarily a bad thing, it was a situation that felt uncomfortable to simply let pass.

Somehow, like this, or like that…

“Master? Is something troubling you?”

I must have been pondering quite seriously, as Helena showed concern and pressed her body close to mine.

She was clearly worried about me, but that didn’t seem to be all.

She was embracing my arm and rubbing her upper body against me.

“It’s fine. There’s nothing like that. But what you’re doing now is quite mischievous.”

“What do you mean… ah!”

Placing a hand on her thigh and gently rubbing it, as well as rubbing her upper body against me… her intentions were too obvious.

While I appreciated it, I couldn’t just let it slide.

Despite the limited time, I was the master now.

So I wrapped my arm around Helena’s waist and gently pressed her lower abdomen, guiding her hand that was on my thigh gradually upward.

“With that vulgar body, you tried to seduce me… you must pay the price.”

“Ah…! Master…”

Though it might simply be role-play, Helena seemed deeply immersed in this game, showing a dreamy look in her eyes.

While I called it punishment, wasn’t it really just a change of pace to enjoy a different role?

With that thought, I tightened my arm around Helena’s waist even more.