Outside the Royal Capital of Univance, in the outer perimeter.
A strange rumor had recently surfaced among the Royal Army and the Royal Guards.
It said, 『If you run in the outer perimeter, you get attacked by a maid.』
No one should have believed such an absurd story. But in fact, those who went out for runs returned injured.
Those who were attacked all said the same thing: 『I was cleaned by a passing maid.』
「Listen well, you lot. We are the elite, called the finest within the prestigious Royal Army.」
The captain leading the group shouted as he ran.
「If the rumored maid appears, what will you do?」
「「We will intercept and capture her!」」
「Exactly. Do not allow any more insolence!」
「「Yes!」」
They must be well-trained… Their voices were steady, and their trained bodies still seemed to have plenty of reserve strength.
The subordinates running behind him were also quite well-built men.
They radiated such a masculine aura that if any unmarried, leftover women saw them, they would likely jump on them saying, 『Hold me right here～』.
Then, the captain leading the front noticed something. The figure of a maid standing alone in their path.
He slowed down and stopped near her.
「Are you the maid from the recent rumors!」
「I am not aware of any rumors…. but if you mean the maid who has been cleaning the soldiers recently, that is I.」
Saying this, she gave a gentle bow.
Hearing her reply, the captain sent hand signals to his subordinates.
Watching the soldiers slowly take their positions without letting their guard down, the maid smiled softly.
「Although it is not my place as a maid to make unreasonable requests of everyone….」
The smile on her face changed into something sharp.
「I would appreciate your assistance in helping me move my stiffened body sufficiently.」
「Capture her!」
「「Ooh!」」
Against the soldiers rushing at her, the maid bowed lightly once more.
-0-
「The elite of the Royal Army were annihilated.」
Receiving that report, Halfren threw the document onto his desk.
The Head Maid, who had stopped appearing within the castle walls, had now gone outside and begun 『cleaning』 the soldiers.
She would attack the running soldiers, teaching them about the abilities they needed to develop. Many were injured, but injuries were part of training, and above all, the soldiers, having been shown the direction in which they should train, devoted themselves to their exercises even before their wounds had fully healed.
「She is truly a monster that cannot be dealt with.」
「Yes.」
「So, what do you think of this behavior?」
When he spoke to the tall maid standing by, she thought for a moment before opening her mouth.
「My master has been away from actual combat for a long time. Normally speaking… she is likely cultivating her sense for battle.」
「That’s right. In other words, she assumes we will block her if she tries to attack Arg.」
「Yes. In fact, we have assigned four times the usual number of guards to Argusta-sama. My master is likely on high alert as well.」
「Even so, that monster will definitely make contact with Arg.」
Crossing his arms, Halfren glared at the maid standing by.
「I will definitely interfere.」
「Yes.」
-0-
Huh?
My movements stopped as the door opened.
When I entered my office this morning as usual, the maids were still cleaning.
Ah～. Maybe they couldn’t clean yesterday because I worked a bit of overtime? I felt like I had done something wrong.
「We apologize, Argusta-sama.」
「It’s fine. You are cleaning for me, after all.」
「We will finish up quickly.」
The maids other than the one I was speaking to worked silently, and once they finished cleaning, they left the room.
Yes. Something felt good today. Working in a freshly cleaned room wasn’t bad.
「So, what is this?」
A letter placed on the desk I used.
But it was sealed with wax… making it difficult to open easily.
Peeling it off and looking inside, I found a sheet of letter paper and a single platinum plate.
『How about it?
Marisan』
I saw a cry of the soul that went beyond brevity.
It had taken quite some time, but that witch had engraved the plate.
I picked up the plate, the other item inside, and checked its contents.
Yes… it should probably be fine.
「Good morning, Argusta-sama.」
「Good morning, Krea. Huh? Where is your cute lover?」
「Who are you talking about!」
She got angry with full force when I teased her.
「Of course, I mean Mil, one of the twins.」
「……」
「Who did you mistake me for?」
「I don’t know!」
Blushing, she turned toward her own work desk.
By the way, Inel always arrived late because he collected documents from each department before coming here.
「Hmm～. I wonder who it could be～?」
「I don’t know! If you don’t stop, I’ll get angry!」
「Oh, oh. How scary～」
「Youuuu～!」
As I grinned, an enraged Krea started pounding her desk.
Just then, Inel arrived, holding documents.
「Morning～」
「…Good morning.」
「…!」
Seeing Inel completely flinch at her behavior, Krea’s face turned bright red again.
「Are you okay, Krea?」
「Shut up, idiot!」
「…Sorry.」
Krea snapped at Inel, who had rushed over out of concern.
Watching his dejected back as he walked slowly toward me, Krea looked startled and appeared on the verge of tears.
Mmh. Indeed, I believe honesty is important in love.
「Hey, Inel.」
「Yes?」
「What is this one on top?」
「I’m not sure. It was placed in the collection box.」
Placed in the collection box, huh…
I picked it up to check, and it indeed seemed to be just a letter.
The problem was the wax seal stamped on it. If I remembered correctly… this was from the king’s younger brother’s house, right?
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