After finishing breakfast, we left the soldiers in charge of protecting the Carbuncle village and returned to the royal capital.
「Yuuki-sama, turn right there, please.」
Lilianna sat on the coachman’s seat with a bright smile, tilting her parasol carefully so her face stayed mostly hidden from view.
「Hey, Lilianna…? This isn’t the road to the royal castle, is it?」
「Indeed, it is. And even if we were going to the castle, you would need to change into formal attire first. Besides, there are certain people you really ought to meet.」
「Certain people?」
I tilted my head, completely clueless, as the carriage rolled into the noble district lined with grand mansions.
「Ah, Yuuki-sama. Over there.」
She pointed ahead, and there stood an absolutely enormous estate.
「Lilianna-san… don’t tell me this is…」
「Yes! This is our residence in this world.」
No way… When did this even happen…?
「Originally, this mansion belonged to me personally, but after I fell into such a weakened state, it was left unused for a very long time.」
「Still… for a place that’s been abandoned, it looks awfully well-kept.」
Despite supposedly being neglected, the building itself showed hardly any signs of decay. Sure, there was the gentle weathering of years, but it honestly looked like someone had been living here until very recently.
「Yes♪ After I finally awoke, I decided to have it cleaned and restored so it would be ready for use again♪」
Lilianna spoke with pure delight sparkling in her eyes.
「I see… But we probably won’t be coming back to this world very often. Is that really okay?」
「It’s perfectly fine. Returning once every two or three months will be more than enough. Plenty of great nobles who hold territories spend only a single month per year here in the capital.」
Now that she mentions it… I think there were nobles like that in Liebernshtein too…
「But… isn’t that kind of wasteful?」
「At first glance, perhaps. But sending young people to serve in noble households, or having them work in the service of great families, actually creates employment. And if they perform well, they might even be invited to serve at the royal palace itself. It also makes finding a good marriage much easier.」
「So basically… it’s part social mixer, part matchmaking venue too, huh…」
「Micks-er…? I’m not familiar with that word, but if it means a place for meeting potential partners, then yes, absolutely. Though of course there are quite a few restrictions…」
And just like that, I got the full noble-special deluxe package of annoying complaints and complicated family drama.
Yeah… figures.
(Guess I’m gonna get dragged into this mess eventually too… ugh, what a pain!!!)
While I was busy internally groaning, the carriage rolled right up to the massive front gate. Two guards stepped forward immediately.
「Apologies, but if you park here, it’ll block the people arriving after you. Also, we’ve been ordered not to let anyone through today. Terribly sorry, but could you possibly come back another day?」
The politeness was so over-the-top it didn’t even match the usual stuck-up noble gatekeeper vibe. Lilianna immediately started giggling behind her parasol.
Hey, come on, if you’re hiding your face like that, of course they won’t recognize you…
「Lilianna… stop being mean.」
「Fufu♪ You’re right. My apologies, gentlemen. Your work ethic was simply too perfect, so I couldn’t resist teasing you a little.」
「「「「!!!!」」」」
The second she lifted her parasol and showed her face, the guards’ eyes practically popped out of their skulls like cartoon characters.
「S-sorry for the trouble. May we come in?」
「Y-Yes!! Of course!!」
「We’ve been waiting for you!!」
They practically sprinted to throw open the gates. Beyond them stretched a jaw-droppingly gorgeous garden.
「Whoa…」
「Sooo pretty…」
「This is… the work of truly masterful gardeners…」
Somehow Selene, Amilia, and Lopple had all poked their heads out from the back of the carriage at the same time, staring in open-mouthed awe.
「Indeed♪ The flowers and the gardeners are all top-class professionals. Though the far end of the garden is currently being used as a training ground for the new recruits…」
Lilianna gazed at the garden with a soft, nostalgic smile.
「So, Lilianna. Why are we here instead of heading straight to the castle?」
I’d been fully expecting a direct route to the royal palace, so I had to ask.
「Well, you see… I believe they should be arriving any moment now… Ah, there they are.」
Amilia pointed, and sure enough, right at the mansion’s grand entrance stood over a dozen maids lined up in perfect formation.
「Lilianna-sama! Danna-sama! Welcome home!!」
「「「「「Welcome hoooome!!」」」」」
「Uh… that voice… Mimir, is that you?」
She looked completely different from when we parted ways, but that bell-like, tinkling voice was unmistakable.
Wait… was her hair always that deep plum-red?
While I was staring at Mimir’s hair, she must have noticed. She gently smoothed a few strands behind her ear and started explaining with a shy smile.
「Ah, this hair color… Yes, it’s because my race absorbs magic power naturally. In places overflowing with magic power, our hair turns this shade. On the other hand, in areas with almost no magic, or when we use a lot of spells, the color fades. Last time we met, I was constantly reinforcing my body just to be able to walk, so…」
「Ohhh, so that’s why! Still, the change is so pretty it really caught me off guard.」
The second the words left my mouth, Mimir’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. She ducked her head, looking adorably embarrassed.
「Hey, Yuuki. It’s fine to accidentally charm people with your natural denseness, but if you actually make a move on her, things are gonna get messy real fast, okay?」
Amilia shot me a deadpan look, arms crossed.
「I’m not gonna!! Wait, hold on…」
「Eh? You’re… not?」
「You’re not going to, Master?」
「You won’t, Yuuki-sama?」
「Then please put your hands on me instead!!」
Why is everyone staring at me with those huge, expectant eyes?!
And the maids in the back, stop it with the tiny disappointed sighs, even if it’s only a few of you!!
「No, look, she’s still a kid…! Well, technically she’s not a kid anymore, but still, no way!!」
「Haaah… Since we’re back in this era anyway, I’ll report this to Hikari-san later.」
「Yuuki-sama! If you’re going to make a move on anyone, it should be me first!」
「I’m fine being last…」
「Me me!! Holy Knight-sama too!!」
Barely back in the capital, and I was already completely exhausted…
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