kscans

Chapter 205 - Volume 2 Promotional SS: The Stairway of Love

"That is why I am saying that the young mistress is fine as she is!"

"But, as the daughter of a nobleman!"

Sasha and Dorfen argued vociferously.

Even within the Baron George family, which had a strong commoner temperament, Naya, who was used to serving as a former slave, and Dorfen, a nobleman to the core, were frantically trying to raise Chihiro into a proper lady. However, the head of the family, Drago, and Sasha, who had served Drago as a maid from a young age, advised the former two that it was best for people to be as they are.

"I was originally a commoner. It wouldn’t matter if Chihiro was just a little more than that."

"Indeed. The young mistress is clever and adorable enough. Nothing more is necessary."

Naya and Dorfen directly opposed the two who declared this.

"It is precisely because she is clever that we must educate her. If we finish now, she can live the rest of her life with ease. They say it is better to learn by doing, but if you neglect the basics, you will learn nothing."

"Indeed. Naya-dono is correct. The nobility is a world where you are ridiculed if you are incompetent. If you are thinking of Chihiro-sama's well being, it is best to start now."

Pressed by Dorfen's impassioned speech, Drago also stroked his beard thoughtfully.

The aristocratic society was bound by conventions. Drago had learned etiquette on his own after entering the castle as a royal chef. It was part of the job. If one was to work in high society, one could not afford to make the noble customers uncomfortable. Therefore, he had acquired a high level of deportment. It was still very useful to him now that he had been ennobled. His own experience supported the correctness of Dorfen's words.

The world is a harsh place. His beloved daughter was too young to receive its baptism. But Chihiro, who had become a member of the royal family, would be thrown into the filth of the world whether she liked it or not. Drago agonized, torn between the desire to arm her as much as possible and the parental desire to let her live more leisurely and carefree. Glancing at Drago, Dorfen glared at Sasha with his sharp eyes.

"You may not know this, but the upper class is not so lenient. Moreover, Chihiro-sama is royalty. She is the King of Kings, the Golden Queen. She is not someone who can get away with being as ignorant as an ordinary child."

As Dorfen repeatedly said you may not know, Sasha clenched her jaw tightly. She was a child who had been abducted from a distant country. She was sold to slave traders but was lucky enough to be rescued by the Frontier Knight Order and came to Frontier. There, she was again lucky enough to be hired as a servant by Drago and had been living peacefully without ever coming into contact with the injustices of the world. Sasha felt as if she had been sharply cut by his words. That she, protected by Drago and taught by Naya, living in a lukewarm water like existence, would not understand. That she should not utter such carefree nonsense. She felt such implications in every turn of Dorfen's words.

But that was reading too much into it.

She would later find out that Dorfen, while being the foremost warrior of the knight order, was also the foremost musclehead. Although he had the knowledge and education of a marquis's son, he was severely lacking in the emotional capacity to consider a woman's feelings. That was why his words were so unguarded, and he spoke so bluntly.

Sasha, who did not know his nature, frowned in frustration when she saw that even Drago was beginning to lean toward Dorfen's words. Chihiro entered the reception room, which was filled with a heavy atmosphere, leading Pochiko-san. And seeing Sasha, who looked as if she was about to cry, her face openly contorted with anger.

"What? Are you all bullying Sasha? Even you, Daddy?"

The gazes of the members, who heard the unexpected cry, gathered on the Little One.

"No, we weren’t bullying her..."

Naya and Drago nodded at the flustered Dorfen and explained to Chihiro. Hearing their story, the Little One's fury rapidly subsided.

"Oh. Is that all? Thank you, Sasha. I’ll be okay, y’know."

The Little One grinned and clung to Sasha's leg.

"No matter what kind of life you live, there are always ties. If you want to enjoy the luxury of being a noble, you have to follow the customs, too. It’s an equal exchange, y’see."

The Little One’s explanation, looking up at Sasha, was logical and clear.

That’s right. No matter what kind of life you lead, there are things you have to do, things you can’t avoid doing. That’s all. It’s a matter of course.

Sasha blushed with extreme embarrassment.

Hearing it from the Little One like this, she could understand. Naya and Dorfen had been saying the same thing, yet she had been spouting such childish selfishness. How embarrassing. As a noble, it was her duty to learn the customs and etiquette. If she learned them early, she would not have trouble in the future. Strike while the iron is hot. She had even forgotten something as simple as that.

Flushed with shame, Sasha hurriedly excused herself, saying she would go make some tea.

Seeing the troubled, moist light in Dorfen’s eyes as he watched her go in confusion, the Little One smiled a wicked grin.

Love is a fever, and the trigger is a trivial thing. Who’s little branch will the cute little bird released tonight sleep on?

Dorfen and Sasha, with Chihiro between them, would become established as having a dog and monkey relationship.

No one yet knows how that will end♪