「Even though the construction workers are here… Have at least a little awareness as royal knights.」
「「Yes.」」
To prepare for the long holiday starting tomorrow, Frea had come to collect her personal belongings. Mische and Lutte bowed their heads before her.
Noie simply watches the scene, swinging her legs back and forth while sitting on a log turned sideways to serve as a chair.
「Then Mische, as punishment, you will weed the surrounding area.」
「……Wait, just me?」
「Obviously. The fact that the captain hasn’t returned to normal has become quite a serious issue. Weeding is far too light a punishment to even count as one.」
「That’s the kind of punishment you mean!」
Mische, the very person who had let Noie peek into some jar or another, was now receiving complaints from everywhere.
The biggest problem… was the flood of grievances from parents saying that seeing the girl-shaped Noie punch away dragons was a bad influence on the other children.
「I really wish the people of this country had broad enough hearts to laugh off a joke～」
「Indeed. If they were any stricter, it would have been a hanging.」
Mische’s feet stop as she starts heading toward the weeding.
Her head turns with movements so stiff they seem about to creak with rust… and she looks at her colleague, who is smiling as usual.
「A joke?」
「……You should thank Argusta-sama. He said, 『Isn’t it nice to be able to watch Noie grow? Since we know what she looked like grown up, it’s something to look forward to』 and worked hard to keep the matter from blowing up. That’s the only reason your head is still attached.」
「Argusta-sama～! Thank you so much!」
The fool turns toward the castle and prostrates herself in a dogeza.
「Now, Lutte?」
「Yes?」
「Starting tomorrow I’ll be on leave, so for the time being, just carry on as usual for three days. I’ll come by once in four days. If any problems arise by then, tell me. Understood?」
「Yes.」
Lutte’s reply comes out slightly high-pitched, perhaps from nerves.
Frea gives her a gentle smile, while inwardly sighing at the sheer amount of work she still has to finish during this long break.
It’s not like 「she」 is at fault or anything, but naturally Lutte’s gaze drifts toward Noie.
The girl, who had been swinging her legs as if waiting for something, suddenly leaps up like a spring and lands on the ground.
「Over there.」
She vanishes in a blur, leaving an afterimage behind.
Lutte hurriedly activates her blessing and spots a small dragon that has just appeared at one of the dumping grounds.
「Ah～. As expected of the captain. She’s already there… and punching it.」
「If only she would attack with magic instead right now, that would be better.」
「……She was smashing large ones to death too, you know?」
From high above, Lutte watches the sight of Noie grabbing the dragon by the tail and swinging it around, then shifts her viewpoint to check the other locations as well.
Her stomach suddenly growls with sharp hunger, so she releases the blessing and decides to head back to the hut.
「Oh, Lutte.」
「Yes?」
「Argusta-sama said 『Come to the office later』.」
「……Did I do something?」
「Who knows? The only one who can read that person’s mind is probably the captain.」
Lutte feels an indescribable unease at her superior’s shrug.
-0-
Thanks to the nature of her blessing, Lutte is granted long-term leave, but the morning duty of checking the dumping grounds remains mandatory.
If, by some mistake, a large number of dragons appeared at the dumping grounds during the night and the soldiers approached them unaware, nothing could be more dangerous. That is why she shows up at the soldiers’ gathering place every morning without fail.
(Even so, getting half a day off like this…)
Riding on the rattling cargo cart, Lutte heads toward the castle.
Frea finishes packing her personal items and rides back alone on horseback. Mische is weeding the grass like a madwoman. Noie is still chasing down the occasional dragon and beating it senseless.
(In a way, it’s peaceful.)
Thanks to Captain Noie, the threat of dragons has faded considerably in this country.
But Lutte had just heard about the hardships from none other than her husband.
「Enduring pain that feels like your whole body is being torn apart… Yeah, it’s impossible after all～」
The fourteen-year-old girl spoke her honest feelings plainly.
-0-
「Nohohoho! This is too luxurious… What is this?! What kind of extravagance is this!」
「Calm down, Krea?」
「Impossible! Absolutely impossible!」
「……You’ll gain weight, you know?」
「Don’t use that forbidden word against a woman～!」
Hearing the voices echoing from inside the room, Lutte turns her gaze toward the maid standing in front of the door.
The maids remain completely motionless, faces unchanging like stone statues, showing no reaction at all. It must be an everyday occurrence for them.
On the other hand, Lutte feels a little bewildered but still knocks on the door and opens it.
「Please come in.」
「Excuse me.」
The moment Lutte steps one foot inside the room, the overpoweringly sweet smell makes her hold her breath.
The entire office is filled with an intensely sweet aroma.
The source is the mountain of sweets piled high on the table placed in front of the sofa.
「Oh～. The queen of sweets has arrived.」
「What does that mean?」
「Exactly what it sounds like.」
The room’s owner, her superior, holds a cup in both hands and appears to be cleansing his palate with something.
What does it mean that Frea’s younger sister, is devouring sweets like a madwoman?
「I heard you called for me?」
「Yes. For now, just… eat as much as you like.」
「Pardon?」
「This is a thank-you party for everyone who worked hard on the recent southern expedition.」
「……」
Lutte understands the words, but she never imagined she would be specifically invited for something like this.
As encouraged, she sits down on the sofa and looks at the sweets on the table. Every single one is a high-class delicacy from an expensive patisserie, known for being both luxurious and delicious.
「Is it really okay to eat these?」
「We’ve already set aside Noie’s share over here… and it would be a waste to leave any behind.」
「So～ good! Right now I wouldn’t mind dying of suffocation by sweets!」
Lutte gazes at the girl who has already reached her limit… then reaches out her own hand.
All the while thinking that, if possible, she would like to wrap some up later and bring them home to her parents.
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