Ch.171Chapter 171. Where I Need to Be

“I have been quite rude lately.”

“Not at all. Please come in.”

After exchanging final farewells with the guard at the entrance of my lodgings whom I had always greeted face-to-face, I headed toward what would become my new residence.

Today, my steps felt unusually light.

Was it because I had packed only the minimum luggage, or was it the excitement of heading to a new place?

How far had I walked along the well-decorated, crowded streets of the capital city Einhart?

When the crowd began to thin out, an impressive mansion revealed itself in the distance.

‘Wow…’

The imposing building with its iron fence reminded me of the Nighthart family estate.

No, this was much better. It was inevitable that the architecture in Einhart, the imperial capital, would be more luxurious than that of Valhalart, an ordinary territory in the eastern continent.

When I reached the main gate, a guard spotted me and spoke.

“What business do you have here?”

Before I could answer, another guard nearby stopped his colleague.

“You idiot, that’s Lord Swen. The young man with white hair.”

“Ah…!”

As soon as the conversation ended, both men looked at me and saluted.

“I apologize, Lord Swen. Please enter.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After a brief greeting, I entered the building.

Passing through a well-maintained garden, following the path slowly inward—

A young woman in an extremely neat outfit welcomed me.

With her tidy updo and modest attire, complete with a pristine white apron skirt.

Anyone would immediately recognize her as a maid, and as soon as she saw me, she bowed and greeted me.

“Welcome. Are you Lord Swen?”

“Yes.”

“Welcome. The mistress is waiting for you inside. Please come in.”

After saying this, she opened the main door for me.

This was the most honorable reception I had ever received in my life.

Although I felt a bit embarrassed by the treatment that resembled a formal ceremony, I didn’t shrink back since I hadn’t come to a place where I shouldn’t be.

“Welcome.”

“Lord Swen, welcome.”

“We’ve heard much about you from our mistress. We will serve you wholeheartedly from now on.”

As soon as I entered the building, maids from all around began greeting me.

At first, I felt awkward, but eventually grew accustomed to it as I walked through the corridors of the massive mansion.

‘Mistress, huh…’

Has she risen to a position where people address her that way now?

Feeling inexplicably pleased myself, I finally stepped into the reception room where the “mistress” was waiting.

And—

“…Swen!”

“Swen, over here!”

The red-haired female knight, Irene Juliette, deputy commander of Serpina’s occupation forces and “mistress” of this mansion, along with Reika who was sitting beside her, welcomed me.

“Hello.”

“It seems the procedures ended early. Since you arrived earlier than expected, I couldn’t prepare anything…”

“Not at all. I’ve already received an overwhelming welcome from many people. It felt almost like those countless handshake requests.”

“Countless handshake requests…?”

Seeing Reika tilt her head at my words, I couldn’t help but smile as I replied.

“It’s a thing.”

“Is it…? Well, if you say so, Swen…”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Then we should fill your stomach first. You must be tired from your journey.”

“It wasn’t that far, really.”

“It makes me feel better. Swen, I feel uncomfortable if I don’t take care of you…”

“I understand. Thank you.”

Only after hearing my response did Irene show a faint smile.

Unlike Serpina, who had recently shown a rather precarious smile, Irene’s smile conveyed a firmness that seemed capable of overcoming any challenge.

To think that Irene, who had once been like a hunting dog miserably abandoned by her master, was now being called “mistress” by maids—

Such a dramatic reversal of fortune seemed like something out of a novel.

From today, I would begin living with them in this grand mansion bestowed upon Irene by Serpina.

Though living together wasn’t anything special; it was merely returning to our original state.

From the moment I met Irene, I had spent more days with her than apart.

Whether in Brans territory or Aeshus territory, she had spent days and nights with me… It was only after coming here that I realized anew that this wasn’t something to be taken for granted.

“Mistress. The meal is ready.”

“Hmm. We’ll be right there.”

I followed Irene to the dining room.

*

It had been quite a while since I’d eaten a meal with so many dishes spread across a massive table.

Perhaps due to the limitations of the era, the quality of cooking wasn’t exceptionally high, but isn’t it true that good ingredients make delicious food regardless of the time period?

Naturally, the table of a general holding an important position in Serpina’s army, the most powerful force, would be laden with only the finest offerings.

‘It’s nice to have expensive meat after so long.’

“This is delicious… *sniff*.”

Seeing Reika eating with tears in her eyes, it seemed the quality was even higher than the meals provided by the Nighthart family.

After finishing the meal,

Irene raised her hand to stop a maid who had brought tea with somewhat awkward movements.

“I’m sorry, but could you leave this to me?”

“Pardon? But—”

“It’s fine.”

“T-then… excuse me.”

The maid, who appeared quite young, seemed flustered before deeply bowing and withdrawing.

Irene skillfully brewed tea with the set the maid had brought.

In front of tea utensils, she was far more maid-like than most actual maids.

“Here, take it.”

Taking a sip of the tea she offered, I felt warmth spreading to the depths of my chest.

It wasn’t just because the tea was warm or the aroma was deep—those external reasons.

Yes, to be precise, it felt like I had finally returned home.

The time spent with Jenis wasn’t bad, but… truthfully, when returning to those lodgings, it felt more like arriving at a temporary place to sleep rather than coming home.

‘A home should indeed have Irene’s tea.’

Taking a sip of it after so long, the familiar taste gently moistened my throat.

“Oh? This is that tea, isn’t it? The black tea with a slight smoky aroma.”

“You remember, Swen.”

“Of course I do. We drank a lot of this at Anel Castle, didn’t we?”

“Hehehe.”

“Wow… the aroma seems even deeper than when you made it last time.”

Reika also seemed to like this tea leaf, as she was repeatedly blowing on it with flushed cheeks, making slurping sounds while savoring it.

“Swen.”

“Yes?”

Irene spoke with a very serious tone, her face slightly flushed.

“Making tea for you… it finally feels like I’m home.”

“I feel the same.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Hearing my words, she wore a smile like starlight on her face.

“…I’m glad.”

Irene spoke slowly, as if restraining her emotions… carefully parting her lips.

“I’m… so happy… to be able to drink tea with you like this again, Swen.”

She always used a very formal manner of speech with a serious tone—

But in front of me, she would occasionally speak like this, with a girlish quality.

Honestly, that aspect of her was indescribably cute.

“You know… do you remember? What you said to me.”

“Which one?”

“Back then… at the fortress located in the northern part of Kelstein Castle, what you said to me.”

“Ah.”

It’s a bit embarrassing to recall now… but I should say it.

“I asked you to brew tea with the embers that hadn’t gone out.”

“Yes.”

Irene smiled broadly upon hearing those words.

At that time, she was like a precarious candle in a storm that could be extinguished by even the slightest breeze.

Having suffered harsh treatment from Lynn, being demoted despite her achievements, and ultimately driven to the brink—it was unavoidable.

To think that she, who seemed like she might break at any moment… can now wear such a lovely smile on her face—what a wonderful thing.

Why?

In that moment, which could rightfully be called extremely happy for me,

The precarious image of the blonde female ruler flashed through my mind.

——Will Serpina also be able to smile like that someday?

‘…No.’

Now wasn’t the time for such thoughts.

“I promised you. That I would brew tea for you anytime… so, now like this… I’m happy to be able to do it again.”

It seemed that being separated from me had been quite lonely for Irene as well.

How did I feel upon realizing this? I was happy. Because I wasn’t the only one who had been lonely.

The fact that she and I had felt similar emotions resonated with me more than anything else.

“I’m happy too.”

“…Yes.”

“…”

Turning my head to look aside, I noticed Reika with a deeply flushed face, clearly flustered, which was a bit concerning… but what could I do?

Just as Irene was sincere, so was I.

“Thank you for waiting. I’m sorry I’m late, Irene.”

“…No, Swen. Welcome back. I’ve been waiting.”

To our memories of drinking tea together at Anel Castle, the northern fortress, and Valhalart Castle—

This was the moment when an unforgettable time at Einhart Castle was being added.

* * *

And.

‘Wow…’

There was a girl who couldn’t help but marvel at the two.

Reika nervously watched the two of them.

‘They really seem to… like each other so much…?’

Will I be able to get along well between them?

If possible, I wanted to get along well.

Irene was truly an admirable person. She was incredibly strong yet gentle, and as a woman, there was much I wanted to learn from her.

Having the same husband meant becoming family. Reika seriously thought that if she could choose a woman to spend her life with the same man, she would choose someone like Irene.

——However.

Reika’s heart began to beat in a slightly different direction.

It hadn’t always been like this before.

Was it because her teacher, Swen, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, seemed to have become more attractive?

Or was it the exhilaration from solving a case together using magic as partners a few days ago?

Reika felt a little sad.

She caught herself thinking: if only I could exchange such glances with Swen…

‘…The marriage proposal… is it still valid?’

Hadn’t Swen told her to think about it more?

That meant—it wasn’t a rejection, right?

But… what if his feelings had changed in the meantime?

After all, Swen didn’t look at her with such a loving expression.

Reika liked Irene. And Swen… had started to concern her.

Whether she was simply caught up in the atmosphere or just feeling lonely, she couldn’t tell exactly—

She envied Irene.

She had the impertinent thought of what it would be like if she were in Irene’s place.

The emotion Reika felt toward Irene right now, even if just a little—

Was one she had never felt before, yet one that every human naturally possesses—

——Jealousy.

Reika was feeling jealous of Irene, whom she admired.

‘…I too… need to express my feelings more…!’

And so, while the two people who had crossed the line of death together exchanged glances filled with years of shared history—

One woman began to gradually become aware of her own feelings.