「Haa… so cute.」
「Krea-kun. Get back to work.」
「It’s fine. I’ll finish everything in one go later.」
「Even so, you shouldn’t stare so intently at someone else’s wife eating snacks.」
「I’m not staring. I’m just looking at her with full power.」
Most normal people would call that “staring”, you know?
Noie sat on the same chair as me, eating bread spread with jam.
Even in this form, her blessings and spell formations remained active, so she was replenishing the energy she used to open and close the door.
To begin with, spell formations that can’t function without the blessing’s healing are fundamentally flawed in their design.
「Noie, you’ve got jam around your mouth again.」
When I scooped the jam off with my finger, she looked at it for a moment before suddenly biting down on the finger.
「Hauuuu…」
Krea collapsed to the floor, struck down by the sheer cuteness.
Inel-kun watched the scene with utter exasperation, casting a lukewarm glance at his colleague.
After licking my finger clean with soft little licks, Noie turned her attention and her mouth back to the bread.
This is dangerous. She really is adorable. Looks like today I have to show her my serious side.
I spread the documents across the desk and let my eyes and pen race at full speed.
Once I finish today’s workload, I’m free. Back home to pamper Noie!
-0-
「Welcome home, danna-sama.」
「Yes, I’m back.」
「You returned quite early today.」
「Yeah. A few things happened.」
「……」
The moment the maid spotted Noie, who had gone ahead and stepped down first, her demeanor completely changed.
Are the maids here lolicons too?
「Is this madam?」
「Ah, yeah. Due to certain circumstances, she’ll be in this state for about ten days.」
「……Her previous clothes can be altered to fit, I believe. I will prepare them urgently.」
「Thanks. Please do.」
With a bow, one of the maids hurried deeper into the mansion.
Good. Unlike the castle maids, the ones here are serious and professional.
「Shall I prepare a meal first…? Or is it still a bit early?」
「Yeah, probably a bath first.」
「Then I will make the preparations at once.」
But before that, work first.
-0-
「Throw it?」
「Yeah.」
「Yes.」
I released a lump of magic power toward a stone far away from the mansion.
The stone that took the hit from what Noie usually used, like a magic attack of thrown magical mass, exploded into fragments.
「Yep, still usable.」
「……」
As for the rest of the checks… how should I handle this one?
「Noie.」
「Yes.」
「Can you do summoning magic?」
「Yes.」
「Please.」
She trotted out into the garden.
Calling it a garden might be generous, it was more like untouched nature. With no walls, the boundary between garden and outside simply didn’t exist.
Raising both hands, she summoned a magic circle above her head.
After a short while, a single bird emerged from it.
Huge. An astonishingly massive eagle.
Now that I think about it calmly, this was the first time I had ever seen Noie’s summoning magic.
「It appeared.」
「It appeared, huh.」
The big eagle landed on the ground and stayed perfectly still as Noie stroked its beak. Even after becoming younger, it seemed to recognize its master clearly.
You do recognize her, right? Please don’t try to eat her, okay?
「We’ve confirmed everything, so you can send it back now.」
「Yes.」
Once again, she summoned the magic circle. The eagle clearly didn’t want to go back… but she forced it in anyway.
I never expected her to just pick it up and toss it straight into the circle.
「Arg-sama. What’s next?」
「Hmm… yeah. That’s all.」
「Yes.」
Noie clapped her hands together a few times and trotted over to me.
Watching her felt exactly like seeing a daughter finish playing in the garden.
「Good work.」
「Yes.」
I rubbed her head vigorously, and she looked delighted.
「Danna-sama.」
「Yes?」
「The bath is ready.」
「Got it.」
After receiving the maid’s report, I handed her the documents concerning Noie.
「I’ll take them tomorrow, so please pass them on in the morning.」
「Yes.」
I watched the maid bow and head back into the mansion, then took Noie’s hand and walked inside together.
「Noie, you can take your bath first.」
「……?」
She gave me the look that clearly said, What are you talking about?
You’re an eleven-year-old girl right now, you know? Do you realize that?
「Together.」
「Huh?」
「Always together.」
「But Noie…」
「Together.」
「……All right.」
When those eyes turn watery and pleading, there’s no way I can refuse. No chance of winning!
It was the most exhausting bath I’d had in a long time.
-0-
「……」
「Does it look bad?」
「It suits you incredibly well.」
「Yes.」
Normally her ahoge would be bouncing around with frills and energy, but right now there was none on her head.
Because of that, it was hard to read her emotions or mood.
Still, the current Noie looked very pleased. After staring at her for so long, I’d started to pick up on these things a little.
And yet… those castle maids really knew what they were doing. They must love children!
「Arg-sama.」
「Y-Yeah.」
「?」
It’s fine. It’s just like sleeping with your own child.
Except no daughter of mine would ever wear a completely see-through camisole like that.
Noie, now dressed in the nightclothes the maid had altered for her, climbed onto the bed first.
The way she rolled onto her side was unbearably cute. That’s all I’ve been thinking today.
If a blue fruit looked this charming and tempting, of course it would make anyone strangely aware and excited.
「Arg-sama?」
「I’m fine.」
「……I’ll help.」
She rose to her knees and approached, wrapped her arms around my waist, and lifted me effortlessly.
Unable to put up any real resistance, I was laid down on the bed. She snuggled close, pressing her body against mine like she was seeking comfort.
「Warm.」
「You’re warm too, Noie.」
「Really?」
「Yeah.」
「……」
Her expression softened just a little. Then she gently leaned in and kissed me.
It’s okay. I’m not a lolicon!
Carrying those conflicted feelings… I somehow managed to fall asleep.
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