Volume 2 - CH 20

MY DAILY LIFE

Come, let’s make tea.

It was a relaxing afternoon. I picked up the pot to make tea for the princess and her visitor. I set the steaming time of the tea leaves with an hourglass.

Steaming time is very important. Even if it is a little early or late, the taste and aroma will change.

Pouring the amber-colored liquid into a pre-warmed cup, the fragrance slowly rise up. Yeah, it smells good.

Today is a special blend of a flavored tea and a pinch of a different black tea.

I’m fine with it because I’m used to it, but for those who aren’t used to drinking it, the flavored tea can be too fragrant and won’t taste good.

If that is the case, adding a pinch of lightly flavored Seba tea leaves makes it mysteriously easy to drink! I highly recommend it!

While saying this, I finished pouring the tea. Of course, I poured it to the last drop. Because it is delicious up to the last drop!

I gave it to the princess and her visitor.

“Thank you, Aria. It’s delicious.”

“True. It’s a waste to add sugar or milk.”

No, no, no. It’s because there is no need for sugar thanks to the stifling sweet atmosphere created by these two!

See, even now.

“Princess, I felt unbearably miserable during those times we are apart.”

“Me, too. But Rufus-sama, you were busy meeting the messengers from Elusion and reinforcing the barrier…… Just being with you during this tea time makes me feel invigorated.”

“Me, too. I feel alive aT this moment. Ah, Princess……”

—Recently, the visitors come mostly during afternoon tea time.

Well, frankly, the first on the list is Rufus-sama, the Princess’s fiance.

In his daily visit, they keep on flirting and flirting and flirting……. I-I’m not in the least envious, okay……!?

Whatever they were thinking of, two pairs of eyes fell on me as if I were making a covetous expression.

“If Aria would only flirt with her fiance.”

“Please spare me.”

“But I thought Greed is always welcome.”

“I beg to differ.”

……Ah, what to do? My engagement with Greed-sama has been made completely official. I wonder how it happened when I had firmly refused.

After showing my defiance, neither the King nor the Prime Minister said anything.

……Maybe, they don’t care about my opinion?

As expected, I have recently been in a subtle mode. There are too many people around me who don’t really listen to other people.

“Aria, another cup of tea please. Also, since everyone visits around this time, please prepare.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

I decided to make a new batch of tea in a pot for two and reached for the bigger pot. In order for the pot and the cups to be warm by the time everyone comes, I immediately went to prepare to brew the tea.

In the meantime, the refill for the Princess and Rufus-sama was ready, so I lifted the pot to carry it to the table.

HOW-E-VER. The moment I lifted the pot . . .

A person suddenly appeared in front of me, and stood there.

“Hya~!”

My body immediately jerked. The reaction is normal, isn’t it?

I wanted to praise myself for not dropping the pot.

My heart pounded crazily and I even broke out in a cold sweat, and the golden-haired figure standing in front of me said.

“I missed you, Aria……”

The voice that spilled out from that well-shaped lips was very sweet and beguiling. Noticing the pot in my hand . . .

“So you were going to carry the tea. Then I . . . Ah, you told me the other day that I shouldn’t disturb you while you’re making tea. Then, please allow me to usher you to the table.”

And while saying that, that person—Greed-sama, stood beside me and placed his hand on my waist.

“.…..I don’t think you need to escort the person carrying the tea.”

“Greed, indiscriminately using the teleportation magic inside the castle is kind of……”

Princess and Rufus-sama both reacted in an exasperated voice.

While listening to them, I realized that my hand was gripping the the pot more forcefully.

Teleportation magic, is it? Oh, yes, he suddenly appeared from nowhere. I thought my life span just shortened.

……Phew.

—Educational guidance, enter!

I looked at Belinda, a Lady-in-waiting B who was nearby, approached her and shoved the pot to the girl and said, “Please take care of this.” She will pour the tea into the princess’s and Rufus-sama’s cups.

I have to start it first.

It’s because rather than admonish him later, it’s better to tell him outright now.

I removed Greed-sama’s hands from my waist, faced him and said.

“Listen well, Greed-sama. You can’t use teleportation magic inside the castle. A person will be shocked if someone appeared in front of them, you know?! Do you want someone to have a heart attack? And what would you do if such thing happens?”

“Oh, is it about the current pot? Even if it fell on the floor, it can be fixed with magic.”

Seeing Greed-sama grinning happily at me, I felt the blue veins popping out of my temple.

“That’s not the point! Look, in the first place, if you do not appear suddenly, such an accident will not occur. Unless you are in a hurry, do not use magic and use your feet!”

“But for me, it’s a top priority and the most important thing to come and see you, and it’s urgent.”

“Please demote it from being the top priority and the most important thing. A-NY-WAY, do not use teleportation magic in any other way except in an emergency. Even if you are in a hurry, do not surprise other people, especially in places with as few people as possible. Do you get me?”

I put my hands on my hips and looked at Greed-sama, and whether he understood me or not, he gave me a graceful smile.

“.…..I understand. If you say so. I will not use it except during an emergency, and when using it, I will consider the destination.”

“Please do so.”

Still with my hands on my waist, I nodded at him. Strangely, Greed-sama looked happy though.

……Is he that happy that I scolded him? Today, my suspiscion that Greed-sama is an M has resurfaced.

“Excuse me, Princess. Renas-sama and the others have arrived, shall I let them in?”

After the knock, the guard outside the door called out.

“Yes, please. Belinda, please receive them.”

“Yes.”

Belinda, who just returned the pot to the tea wagon, opened the door just as the princess ordered.

“Please come in.”

Since it is a royalty’s room, moreover a princess’s room, the soldiers will never open the door from outside unless it is an emergency. If a visitor comes, the door must be opened from the inside.

Since this is bothersome, Greed-sama and Milly-sama would like to get in easily by using teleportation magic or a skill.

Because: Inform the soldier about the visit→The soldier announces the visitor outside the door→Get the princess’s or the maid’s permission→Wait for the door to open from the inside. If you do not go through the process, you can not enter the room.

Basically, it is inevitable that Greed-sama, who doesn’t care about the customs and others, and Milly-sama, who doesn’t like sluggish movements, would want to break through such a cumbersome process.

In that respect, Rufus-sama, who is the only royal, follows the customs in the castle. Of course as a magician, he can also use teleportation magic, but he visits the Princess’s room in a rightful manner.

…… Greed-sama should emulate Rufus-sama.

“Yahoo, Princess.”

Along with Milly-sama, Renas-sama, Farah-sama and Rufaga-sama also came in.

“Greed. You suddenly disappeared so I wondered where you went. You were here as expected.”

Witnessing Greed-sama being confronted by me, Renas-sama bitterly smiled.

“So, you are being scolded by Aria, huh?”

Seeing my hands on my hips, Milly-sama’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Oh. This seems to work best for Greed after all.”

Holding the teacup in his hand, Rufus-sama also laughed and said. Looks like he’s also enjoying this too much.

“You’re amazing, Aria. Please keep on training him like this.”

Renas-sama winked and gave me a thumbs up.

“I’m not training him!”

I spoke on reflex.

“It’s bad to train people. Greed-sama is not a dog nor a cat!”

……Oh, but sometimes, he looks like a dog though!

“This is educational guidance! Since Greed-sama is an adult with a child’s psyche, I am re-educating him!”

Yes. Right now, I am “The Hero’s Educator”, not the Lady-in-waiting A. Involuntarily.

After I’ve gradually stopped seeing Greed-sama as the “Hero”, I noticed that he is slightly different from ordinary people. Perhaps it was because he was raised by the spirits when he was young that’s why he didn’t have a deep relationship with other people, but his common sense was left out when he was spawned. [T/N: LOL Author-san, is this a game?]

Greed-sama does not care about other people. How he see others or how he perceives other’s actions, he is indifferent. As to making people go his way…… In many ways, it’s different from self-centeredness, but it seems he’s letting other people look in his way.

Of course, he doesn’t listen to other people.

“Greed, if you want to go outside the barrier, please do it in a proper manner.”

“And if you go outside the castle, you have to follow the protocol.”

This is what Renas-sama and Rufus-sama told Greed-sama when he was using teleportation magic without telling anyone.

Actually, the shawl he draped on my shoulder that night was not borrowed from someone, but was purchased by Greed-sama at the town outside the castle, without letting anyone know about this transaction.

Although I am happy at the gesture, I still felt very guilty.

But that’s not the issue here; it is how Greed-sama went out without telling anyone, entering and exiting the castle without passing through the gate.

It’s because at such time of the night, accessing the castle is strictly checked. Even magicians were obliged to undergo this security check despite being able to use teleportation magic. Because if there is no record of leaving or entering the castle, then the significance of security will be lost.

But Greed-sama completely disregarded it.

“If there is something, just convey it straight from the heart. Why do I have to inform you of my short trip?”

“Whether entering or leaving the castle, there’s no problem if I use magic.”

That was Greed-sama’s response to the advice of Renas-sama and Rufus-sama, respectively.

He has zero spirit of cooperation! He has too much freedom!

Such an exchange took place in front of me when I went to return the shawl, I sympathized with Renas-sama and Rufus-sama, and so I told him.

“Greed-sama, Renas-sama and the others are saying those things because they are worried about you. In addition, it is not absolute that you can enter and exit the castle via teleportation magic just because you are the Hero. There are rules. If you are within the castle, please follow them.”

Then, Greed-sama replied with a simple statement.

“If you say so, Aria.”

……At that time, both Renas-sama and Rufus-sama were dumbfounded as expected.…..

In retrospect, this was the start. Greed-sama doesn’t listen to other people, but he would listen to me for some reason. So as a result, when explaining things in detail, everyone decided to entrust the responsibility of telling Greed-sama to me.

Surely, Greed-sama will listen to me, but he won’t listen to what is important!

“Since I can’t marry you, please remove the bracelet.”

“I don’t want to.”

How many times did we have such a conversation!? Normally, it ends when the marriage proposal is rejected, right?

Before, I was worried I may not be able to refuse because of the pressure from the people around me, but there was a bigger problem before that! Owww!

My last escape route was blocked, and at this rate, I’ll be married off, giving me a feeling of a new sense of crisis.

—Damn, I have no choice but to change the fundamentals.

If I would say, Greed-sama grew up without emotions. The first time he met me, some feelings began to emerge from him. In other words, it’s almost like he is a child who has just started to grow up.

……Therefore, Greed-sama is obsessed with me just like a chick following its mother hen. Surely, more and more emotions will grow within him and he will be able to interact with different people, and his attachment to me will gradually fade.

……I-I guess so.

To that end, I must not hold back now……! That’s why I have to redress, I mean, educate him!

Things like common sense or reason should be drilled into Greed-sama.

—The aim is to make him into an ordinary hero with common sense!

……By the way, the first educational instruction I gave him was to deactivate the “bam!” of this engagement bracelet. I made Greed-sama sit on the floor of the princess’s room, together with Renas-sama who disliked it and grumbled, “Why me too……?”

If I was holding a hot pot filled with boiling water and then a “bam!” happens, it might involve not only Greed-sama and I, but also the people within our vicinity, putting them at risk. I have thought of other possible inconvenience. Yep.

As a result of the discussion between me and Greed-sama, who stayed calm after sitting for too long, and Renas-sama, who had been suffering from the numbness of his legs, it is decided that the “bam!” is invalid inside the castle.

I was a little dissatisfied as I was aiming for a complete release, but since I only get to go out of the castle on holidays, so it’s fine.

Anyway, there are no more embarrassing circumstances of being attracted like a magnet when I am unwittingly approached by Greed-sama.

Yes, I did my best!

……But since then, I have this strange feeling that I was placed under the eyes of the Hero’s party. I wonder why.

Whether it is an “animal trainer” or a “true hero”, that’s what was said behind the scenes.

……What is a true hero? Greed-sama is the hero, though.

* * *

“Aria, everyone is already here so please serve them tea.”

I was taken aback by the Princess’s words. Yes, tea!

“Yes, right away.”

I turned to the tea wagon and placed tea leaves in a large pot. The pot is already pre-warmed, so I can immediately add tea leaves and hot water. After adding the tea leaves, I picked up the iron kettle I placed on the portable stove (a fire type, a spherical magic tool that emits flames) a while ago, and poured hot water.

This will determine the success or failure. When pouring hot water, the tea leaves will swirl in a round pot if you let it contain a lot of air. The more they dance, the more delicious the tea will become!

Looks like I will be able to provide everyone with delicious tea today because of the way the leaves danced.

“Another cup please.”

Greed-sama said as he stared intently at the steaming pot beside me.

“.…..”

Since I was in a good mood, I took a cup that wasn’t for visitors from the bottom of the wagon. I poured the tea I prepared earlier into the teacups of the Princess, Rufus, and the visitors, and I poured it into the other cup.

However, before I could lift the the tray with teacups, Greed-sama took my hand.

“I will bring this.”

And lifting the tray with one hand, Greed-sama went to the table while pulling my hand.

Everyone were already seated on their seats, with the Princess and Rufus-sama in the center. However, there are two vacant seats at the corner of the table. Greed-sama made me sit on one of the vacant seats then he sat next to me.

……Originally, I shouldn’t sit at the same table with the visitors, but somehow, I was always made to participate like this forcefully by Greed-sama.

Is this okay……? I ask myself every day.

But instead of reproaching me, the Princess would beckon me and everyone would naturally accept it as I sat down with them, so in the end, I would sit down after being encouraged.

But is this really, really okay……?

If this would reach the ears of the other maids, I would be severely scolded.

……However, although it is slightly uncomfortable, listening to their conversation while having tea together is actually quite fun.

Now, each of them is busy working to help reinforce the barrier, visit the temple in Schwarze, and train soldiers.

As we gather in the Princess’s room and have tea, they always discuss the reports and events, but everyone is always smiling, especially when we’re with the mood makers, Renas-sama and Milly-sama.

Surely, on their way back home after defeating the Demon King, they were also like this, having a harmonious atmosphere.

……But there is someone who hardly speaks.

And when I sit in the corner of the table like this, I feel as if I became a member of the party. I couldn’t help but smile.

And—when the person beside me see me laugh and be caught up with my laugh, I feel somewhat happy.

I’m glaring at this person most of the time…… so why is he happy when I smile at him? Really, why?

—Like this, I have noticed that something has changed in each other little by little. And I don’t dislike that change.

And while I thought of this, wasn’t it bad of me for snapping at the King and defying him?

“Aria, I want another cup of tea.”

Milly-sama shook her empty cup and appealed to me.

Taking advantage of the situation, Renas-sama also said, “Oh, I want a refill too. Really, Aria’s tea is delicious.” And then added something funny. I swear, I will never think of food contaminants again.

Greed-sama, who is beside me, also said with a smile.

“Me, too. Will you brew again?”

I answered with a smile.

“Yes. Of course!”

—I can’t help but pray because it is so much fun right now.

I pray that everyone will continue to laugh peacefully like this.

*    *    *

—About the same time when Aria was enjoying tea time with everyone in the Princess’s room.

A pair of a man and a woman was looking down at the castle of Schwarze at a far distance that cannot be detected by Greed’s strong magical powers and the perception of the elf Rufaga.

“As expected, there is really no flaw in that barrier. Usually, there is a crack somewhere.”

“That’s not good,” the man said, laughing. He is a slender man with an ultramarine hair color and wore black clothes.

“Tsk, so troublesome.”

The woman with a thick, wavy black hair said with annoyance as she bit her nails. She also wore a black dress—a thin dress that fits tightly on her body.

“Those who have gone to scout reported that it was reinforced recently. Perhaps it was a suggestion from the Hero’s party.”

“If that idiot only hadn’t done something unnecessary……”

The man teased the irritated woman.

“Isn’t that idiot your subordinate?”

“I don’t need such an incompetent subordinate.”

The woman answered coldly.

“The only thing I ordered was to scout and to ascertain things. But he turned a deaf ear and laid his hand on the Hero. In the end, his incompentence made them more cautious in return.”

“That’s savage. But, well, if the Hero intervened and reinforced that barrier, then there is definitely something important to the Hero that he wants to protect.”

“Even if we knew what it is, we still can’t sneak into that goddamn barrier. Or should we forcefully break it? If only we had two more people, or……”

When the woman suddenly squinted her eyes, the man shook his head.

“Hey, wait, Ludy. Even if you invade using a flashy magic, the opponent is that Hero. Our lives are hunted. Just like your subordinates.”

“Then what should we do, Diel?”

“The woman who is our target won’t stay inside the castle forever. And there are so many ways to break the barrier without having to do it directly. Even if they strengthened their defenses, there is still a chance to breach it. Rest assured…… we will surely fulfill our greatest desire.”

Crossing his arms, the man smiled wryly.

“That Hero now has a weak point, right?”

The man and the woman stood in the air without any foothold.

Their eyes overlooking the white castle that getting smaller under the eyes—has a vivid red color.

*   *   *

—And also at the same time.

In the middle of a luxurious room in a certain country, a young woman trembled upon seeing the illustration in the extra edition of “The Hero Times”. The people around who saw her were worried.

“Unbelievable……! The Hero that I’m yearning for…… Proposed to such a mediocre woman……!”

I’m sorry for being mediocre, Aria would say had she been there, but fortunately or not, she will never know.

“For such a woman to be matched with Greed-sama…… I won’t accept it! I wil never accept it!”

Actually, Aria also won’t accept it, but the woman didn’t know.

The woman in a gorgeous dress glared at the picture of Aria in the newspaper and then smashed it and declared to the people around her.

“I will also go to Schwarze! I will go and bring the Hero to his senses!”

—Little did Greed and Aria know, a storm is fast approaching.