episode_0171

“There have been many examples so far.”

“No. Please take a look.”

After saying my final goodbyes to the guard in front of the dorm, whom I always saw face to face, I headed to where I would become my new residence.

Today, my steps felt very light.

Is it because I only packed the minimum amount of luggage, or is it because I am more excited about heading to a new place?

How far did we go along the well-decorated and crowded streets of Eyngart, the capital city?

When the crowds became a little less crowded, a very nice mansion appeared beyond.

‘and… … .’

The iron bars in front of the majestic building felt like the old Knighthard Street building.

No, it was much better than that. It was inevitable that the style of Eingart, the imperial capital, was more luxurious than the style of Valharat, an ordinary fiefdom in the eastern part of the continent.

When I went to where the gate was, the guard saw me and opened his mouth.

“What’s going on?”

Before I could answer anything, the guard next to me stopped the soldier who was talking to me.

“You idiot, it’s Swen. A young man with white hair.”

“Ah… … !”

As soon as the conversation ended, the two people looked at me and saluted.

“Excuse me, Swen. Please enter.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After saying hello briefly, I entered the building.

Let’s pass through a fairly well-maintained garden and slowly step inside along the path.

A young woman wearing very neat clothes greeted me.

Neat bun hair, not-so-exaggerated outfit, pure white apron skirt.

As soon as a woman who looked like a maid to everyone saw me, she bowed and said hello.

“Welcome. Are you by any chance Swen?”

“Yes.”

“Welcome. The master is waiting inside. Please come in.”

After she said that, she opened the door.

The most delightful treatment I have ever received in my life.

I was a little embarrassed by the treatment that seemed to resemble protocol, but I didn’t have to flinch since I wasn’t in a place I shouldn’t have been.

“Welcome.”

“Swen, welcome.”

“I heard a lot from the owner. We will serve you with all sincerity in the future.”

As soon as I entered the building, maids started greeting me from all over the place.

I was a little embarrassed at first, but eventually I got used to it and walked down the hallway of the huge mansion.

‘It’s the owner… … .’

Has she now reached a position where she can hear such things?

For some reason, I felt myself getting better, and I finally stepped into the parlor where the ‘master’ was.

and-

“… … Swen!”

“Swen, here!”

Irene, a red-haired female knight, second-in-command of the Serpina Army’s occupation force and the ‘owner’ of this mansion, and Ms. Reika, who was sitting next to her, welcomed me.

“Hello.”

“It looks like the procedure ended early. Because you came earlier than expected, I couldn’t prepare anything… … .”

“No. I’ve already received a huge welcome from many people. It makes me wonder if this is a request for countless handshakes.”

“A request for countless handshakes… … ?”

Seeing Reika tilting her head at my words, I unconsciously smiled and said,

“There is such a thing.”

“Okay… … ? Well, if Swen says so… … .”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Then it would be better to fill your stomach first. You too had a hard time coming this far.”

“It wasn’t that far. ”

“I feel at ease that way. Swen, I feel uncomfortable if I don’t take care of this and that for you… … .”

“I understand. Thank you.”

Irene smiled slightly after hearing what I said.

Unlike Serpina, who had a very dangerous smile not long ago, her smile showed a strength that made her feel like she could overcome anything she faced.

Irene, who was a hunting dog miserably abandoned by her master, is now called a master by the maids…

Even so, wouldn’t this be something you only see in novels?

As of today, I will begin living with them in the mansion that Serpina gave to Irene.

Even though we lived together, there was nothing special about it, it was just a return to the original state.

Since I first met Irene, the days I spent with her were longer than the days I spent apart.

Even when I was in Brans County and when I was in Aceas County, she spent days and nights with me… … It wasn’t until I came here that I realized once again that it wasn’t something that was natural.

“Master. The meal is ready.”

“Hmm. I’ll go right away.”

I followed Irene to the restaurant.

*

It’s been quite a while since I’ve had a bunch of food spread out on a huge table.

Perhaps because of the limitations of the times, the level of cooking was not that high, but wasn’t it said that regardless of the era, good ingredients can be used to produce delicious dishes?

Of course, good things are bound to be on the table of a general who holds an important position in the Serpina military, which has the greatest national power.

‘It’s nice to use expensive meat for the first time in a while.’

“It’s delicious… … Black.”

Watching Reika eat while shedding tears, it seemed to be of a higher standard than the meals provided by the Nighthart family.

So I finished my meal.

Irene raised her hand to stop the maid who served tea with a slightly immature gesture.

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

“Yes? But-”

“Because it’s okay.”

“Well, then… … Please excuse me.”

The maid, who still seemed young, didn’t know what to do, but then bowed her head and backed away.

Irene skillfully brewed tea using the tea set the maid brought.

In front of the tea utensil, she looked more like a maid than most maids.

“Here, take it.”

As I took a sip of the tea she gave me, I felt warm to the core of my heart.

It wasn’t just because the tea was warm or had a deep scent.

okay. To be precise, I should say that I finally feel like I have returned to my home.

The time I spent with Janice wasn’t a bad time, but… … It was true that when I returned to the dorm, I felt more like I had come to a place where I could temporarily sleep rather than that I had returned home.

‘Of course, Irene should have her car at home.’

I took a sip of it for the first time in a while, and the familiar taste lightly moistened my throat.

“Huh? Is this it? That black tea with a slightly smoky flavor.”

“I remember, Swen.”

“Of course. Of course I remember. You drank a lot of this at Annel Castle, right?”

“Hehehe.”

“Wow… … I think it has a deeper scent than the last time you burned it, right?”

Reika, too, must have liked these tea leaves, as she continued to savor them while blowing hot breath and making noises with a slightly red face.

“You know, Swen.”

“Please tell me.”

Iren blushed and spoke in a very serious tone.

“I’m giving you a ride… … I finally feel like I’m home now.”

“Me too.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

After hearing what I said, a starry smile appeared on my face.

“… … Thank goodness.”

Irene speaks in a calm voice, as if she is controlling her emotions… … He slowly released his lips.

“Me too… … Swen, I can have tea with you… … I love it so much.”

She always used a serious tone and a very etiquette-oriented tone, but-

In front of me, she sometimes spoke like a girl like this.

Honestly, that sight was too cute to describe in words.

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

“What are you talking about?”

“At that time… … What was said to me in the fortress located in the northern part of Kelstein Castle.”

“Ah.”

It’s a little embarrassing to think about it now, but… … Still, we should talk about it.

“If there was an ember that was not extinguished, I asked you to make tea with it.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Irene heard that, she burst into laughter.

At that time, she was a candle in a dangerous typhoon that seemed to be extinguished if the slightest strong wind blew.

There was nothing he could do since he was severely persecuted by Rin, and despite his contributions, he was demoted without recognition and was ultimately driven to death.

She looked like she might break at any moment… … How wonderful it is that I can now have the smile of such a lovely woman on my face.

Why?

It’s safe to say that I was very happy at that moment.

An image of a blonde-haired female monarch flashed in my mind.

――Serpina, will you be able to smile like that someday?

‘… … no.’

Now was not the time to think about that.

“Because I promised you. I decided to make some tea sometime… … So, like this now… … Again, glad I could.”

It seems that Irene felt very lonely being away from me.

How did I feel when I noticed that fact? I was happy. Because I wasn’t the only one who was lonely.

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

“I’m happy too.”

“… … Yes.”

“… … .”

When I turned my head and looked to the side, I was a little concerned that Reika was blushing and not knowing what to do… … What can I do?

As much as Irene is sincere, I am also sincere.

“Thank you for waiting. Sorry for being late, Irene.”

“… … no. Swen. Come on. I waited.”

In our memories of drinking tea together at Agnel Castle, Northern Fortress, and Balharat Castle –

It was an added moment to my time at Eyngart Castle that I will never forget.

* * *

and.

‘wow… … .’

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

Reika didn’t know what to do and looked at the two people.

‘Really two people… … I think they like each other very much… … ?’

Will I be able to get along with them?

If possible, I wanted to get along well.

Irene was a truly wonderful person. She was a very strong and kind person, and there were many things I wanted to see and learn from her as a woman.

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

–but.

Reika’s heart started pounding in a slightly different direction.

I didn’t really have to do this in the past.

Is it because my teacher, Swen, whom I met after a long time, seems to have become cooler?

Or maybe it was the excitement I felt when we became partners and used magic to solve a case a few days ago.

Reika felt a little lonely.

If only I could share that look with Swen… … I think about it.

‘… … Talking to myself… … Is it still valid?’

Didn’t Swen also tell me to think about it a little more?

In other words, wouldn’t it be safe to say that it doesn’t mean dislike or rejection?

but… … What if I change my mind in the meantime?

That’s right, because when Swen looked at me, she didn’t have such a lovely expression.

Reika liked Iren. And, Swen too… … I started to worry.

I’m not sure if I was simply swept away by the atmosphere or if I was just lonely, but…

I was jealous of Irene.

A curious thought occurred to me about what it would have been like to have been in Iren’s place.

What Reika feels towards Iren right now, even just a little bit, is-

It’s one of the emotions that I’ve never felt before, but is an extremely natural feeling that every human being has –

–jealousy.

Reika was feeling jealous towards Airen, whom she admired.

‘… … me too… … I have to express my feelings a little more… … !’

So, as the two people who crossed the line together exchange glances filled with the past years-

One woman began to become aware of her feelings little by little.