Ch.254Noble Guest (1)

Adelia’s transition to becoming a maid is an important matter, but there are still mountains of tasks remaining.

Leona and her mother are scheduled to visit the estate soon, and Cherry, who will be coming in disguise, will also visit before long.

Leona is someone Adelia knows about, but Cherry is closely connected to my identity. For this reason, I deliberately excluded stories related to Cherry.

I’ve already provided a rough explanation through letters, but hearing directly from the person involved is much better than reading about it.

So I explained everything in detail to my mother and asked for her opinion on how to proceed. Both my parents know that Leona is a beastkin.

Especially my father, who during his active duty had numerous violent confrontations with beastkin at the border regions. This means he witnessed his comrades falling to savage beastkin with his own eyes.

Naturally, he can’t help but have animosity toward beastkin. As I mentioned before, I’m deeply concerned that my father might vehemently object.

Although the story progressed rather smoothly, Leona’s affection toward me is genuine. She rubs her face against mine as if she’s really become a cat, and even wags her tail.

It’s just a misunderstanding caused by cultural differences between humans and beastkin, and those around us don’t think much of it.

Marie and Cecilly both share the common opinion that Leona feels more like a pet than a rival, which says it all.

Then my mother, after hearing this explanation, spoke as if unconcerned.

“Don’t worry about that. Neither I nor your father mind much.”

“I can understand you, Mother, but Father too?”

“Yes. He frowned a little at first, but he respected your choice.”

Contrary to my expectations, even my father accepted it calmly. I feel rather deflated for having worried unnecessarily.

“But you said she’s coming with just herself, right? As the daughter of the third wife, she has nothing to her name?”

“Yes. Among beastkin, wives other than the first are considered spoils of war.”

“Is there anything about her that could be helpful to you?”

“Hmm…”

I pondered my mother’s question carefully. Leona is dedicated to her studies, so her reputation is excellent not only among students but also professors.

She’s fundamentally very intelligent, and though she can be rigid, she’s also eloquent. I heard she even engaged in a debate with a professor recently.

Of course, Leona lost the debate. However, the professor highly valued her inquisitive mind and gave her full marks.

Because of this, professors are making efforts to bring Leona in as their assistant. Though Elena, the history professor, doesn’t seem particularly interested.

During her freshman year, she couldn’t fully bloom due to adapting to human society and the complex political situation in Animus, but since becoming a sophomore, she’s been expressing her talents and abilities without restraint.

“Her reputation at the academy is really good. I’d say she has an excellent future as a scholar.”

“A scholar… What kind of scholar does she want to become?”

“I’m not sure about that. Leona’s only goal is to graduate from the academy.”

Leona entered Halo Academy while hiding her identity to please her mother. Her only goal is to obtain a Halo Academy diploma.

If she’s just aiming for a diploma, she doesn’t need to join a specific department; she just needs to complete four years.

“She’s not becoming a scholar?”

“No. She told me she’s just going to get her diploma and return home to please her mother.”

“What a rare filial daughter. Hmm…”

After hearing my story, my mother picked up a neatly cut piece of fruit and put it in her mouth. After chewing a few times, she shifted her gaze to look at Adelia.

Adelia’s face was still red from what had just happened. She couldn’t even raise her head properly, seemingly quite embarrassed.

“Why not have Leona work as a maid too?”

After staring at Adelia for a while, my mother spoke as if she’d had a good idea.

I widened my eyes in surprise and questioned her.

“What? What do you mean? You want Leona to be a maid too?”

“Wouldn’t that be best? I can boast that I’m capable enough to employ a Halo Academy graduate as a maid!”

Is that so? I tilted my head at my mother’s suggestion, which seemed to make sense but was somehow peculiar.

I think I vaguely heard something similar in my previous life. I don’t remember the details, but it was a method often used by rich people obsessed with honor.

Moreover, a form of academic elitism exists in this world too. The difference between scholars who have completed Halo Academy and those who haven’t is quite significant.

However, my mother’s suggested method would take a long time, so it might be best to put it on hold for now. I should also ask Leona for her opinion.

“I understand. I’ll ask Leona about it, but I think it’s better to think about this slowly.”

“Let’s do that. And… Adelia?”

“Y-Yes?”

Adelia jumped in surprise at my mother’s call and quickly raised her head. Her round, sky-blue eyes were filled with surprise.

“I’ll tell Nana the nanny, so go see her tomorrow for training. You’ll need training, so I’ll tell my husband about it too.”

“Th-Thank you, Lady Baroness.”

“No need for thanks. Instead, promise me. Promise that you’ll stay by Isaac’s side no matter what happens.”

Was it my mother’s kindness and sincerity that touched her heart?

As soon as Adelia heard her request, she flinched and clenched her fists that were resting on her thighs.

At the same time, her expression changed to one of utmost seriousness. The maid who had been embarrassed with shame just moments ago had disappeared, replaced by a resolute knight.

However, despite the atmosphere, she seemed unsure, repeatedly opening and closing her mouth. This clearly revealed her tender inner self despite her usually tough exterior.

*Swish*

To ease her burden a little, I placed my hand on her clenched fist. Adelia flinched and looked at me when I did so.

I responded with a gentle smile and a nod, and Adelia’s tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed.

Eventually, she took both her hands and held mine, sharing our warmth. Adelia’s hands were rough and hard, covered in calluses from rigorous training.

Adelia seemed to gain confidence from my reassurance and curled up the corners of her mouth. Her confident smile.

“Of course, Lady Baroness.”

Adelia finally spoke. She seemed to feel no need to hide anymore and firmly grasped my hand.

“No matter what happens, I will protect Isaac.”

A resolve as firm as it is unbreakable. Hearing this resolve, my mother nodded with a satisfied smile.

I smiled warmly at Adelia’s determination. The Adelia I knew was good in every way, but lacked the courage to take a step forward. You could also say she lacked ambition.

I hope today gives her courage and a bit of ambition. Adelia is someone who deserves to be loved by someone.

“I understand your feelings. Then…”

After confirming Adelia’s heart, my mother nodded, then clapped her hands together and said cheerfully.

“Shall we go take your measurements for clothes now?”

“What?”

Adelia asked in a confused voice at the seemingly out-of-place suggestion. The serious atmosphere was once again beginning to slip away.

Even so, she didn’t let go of my hand, gripping it tightly. She didn’t seem to realize it, so I left it as it was.

“You’re Isaac’s personal maid. Especially for Adelia, who is tall and has a good figure, we must take measurements.”

“I… see. Understood.”

“Next… Isaac?”

While Adelia was making a sullen face, my mother called for me this time.

I faced her without much thought and answered.

“Yes, Mother.”

“Do you have any design preferences?”

“Design?”

“Yes, design. For a personal maid, the master can order the outfit they want.”

I wonder if that’s true. I don’t know much about maids, so I’m not sure if this is true or false.

They say you can tell someone’s intentions by their expression, but my mother’s face is all smiles. She always has that expression when we talk, so how would I know?

Adelia? Adelia is someone who doesn’t even know slang because she’s been so focused on martial arts. Even now, she’s looking bewildered, as if wondering if this is correct.

So that means I can say whatever outfit I want. I glanced at Adelia and carefully opened my mouth.

“Can I show you a drawing later? It emphasizes practicality, so it’s difficult to explain here.”

“Of course. This mother is curious too.”

Despite our mother-son conversation, Adelia just sat quietly, unable to join in. She just blinked her eyes like a grown puppy.

I smiled inwardly while talking with my mother. Even for a personal maid, there must be a standard uniform.

But seeing my mother make such a suggestion, it seems she’s saying I can have whatever I want. In that case, I should do it.

“Sister Adel.”

“Y-Yes?”

“You’ll wear whatever clothes, right?”

Adelia rolled her sky-blue eyes at my question and answered in a reluctant voice.

“Y-Yes. Of course. As long as it’s not strange…”

“It’s not strange at all. As I said earlier, it’s practical and comfortable.”

“Well, then…”

Although she gave me a suspicious look, she reluctantly agreed. Now that I have her permission, all that’s left is to submit the design.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

I hope the day comes soon when Adelia wears her maid uniform.

******

Although Adelia’s maid incident was resolved smoothly, there are still mountains of work piled up.

Until the publishing house completely moves to our estate, we can’t even publish side stories, and we also need to prepare for the exhibition.

In that sense, I moved to the office to help my father, but…

“…What is all this?”

“Documents.”

I couldn’t help but be shocked when I saw the pile of documents stacked high on my father’s desk. To exaggerate slightly, they were stacked as high as my eye level.

Despite the accelerated development and even the construction of a temple, isn’t this too many documents? I looked at my father, who was wearing glasses and signing documents.

Father was reading each document carefully with a frown. His perfectionist tendencies, carried over from his days as a knight commander, were still evident.

One might say he could just sign them quickly and be done with it. But that’s impossible because each of those documents is very important.

From the buildings currently under construction to the merchant groups coming from other countries and the resulting tariffs. There are many things to pay attention to.

Naturally, all of this is because of the Biography of Xenon and the exhibition. The estate, which was originally supposed to develop three years later, is growing rapidly due to the exhibition.

The meaning of developing three years later is that manpower would also be dispatched from then. In other words, my father was handling all the paperwork.

“Didn’t the imperial court dispatch personnel?”

“This is with their help. More than half of these are approval documents.”

Father answered my question without even looking up. He was so busy that his hands never stopped.

In this world where not even calculators, let alone computers, have been invented, the importance of documents goes without saying. Since people have to calculate directly, mistakes happen more than once or twice.

Because of this, professions like accountants or calculators are considered top-tier personnel. In return, they need to be very intelligent, and some of them are even magicians.

However, our estate was just a rural backwater until a few months ago. Although the imperial court is providing support, it’s inevitably insufficient.

“Are you just going to stare, or do you have any intention of helping your father?”

“Do I have the authority? You said they were approval documents.”

“…No, you don’t. I wish I could pass the family headship to you right now.”

How hard must the work be for him to say such things? Just looking at the stacked documents makes me nauseous, but it must be terrible for the person who has to approve them.

Eventually, my father stopped signing for a moment and took off his glasses. He rubbed his brow to express his fatigue.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I was wondering if there was anything I could help with.”

“There’s plenty. Attending to the guests who will be visiting and inspecting the estate. That’s enough.”

“Like the previous exhibition?”

If it’s like that, it’s easy. I can just do what I did at the last exhibition.

But that was a complete miscalculation.

“Yes. And you’ll also need to act as a guide. Not just for the Teres royalty, but also for our empire.”

“What?”

Just as I was surprised by this news I was hearing for the first time, my father continued in a nonchalant voice.

“Additionally, we’ve received communications from Helium and Alfheim. They want to enjoy this exhibition together and have asked for guidance.”

“…”

“Son.”

My father made a complex expression and asked me, who was dumbfounded.

“What exactly have you been doing?”

“…”

“First Cardinal Kate, and now this. What have you done to give your father such headaches?”

I could only feel sorry.