kscans

Chapter 216 - Destined to Be My Underling for Life

After finishing my talk with the King, I returned to the dining hall via his teleportation magic. When I got back, it seemed the girls had already started a tea party. They were seated at the table, elegantly eating sweets and drinking tea.

"Oh, are you done?"

Arc, who was still wearing his armor, asked.

"I am. Arc, I have a message. The King wants to check the potions for delivery. Could you go take them to him?"

This was something the King had asked of me before teleporting me away.

"Got it. I'll be right back."

Arc said, then stood up and vanished in an instant.

"Eleanor-sama, please have a seat. I will prepare some tea right away."

Mia pulled out a chair, inviting me to sit.

"Thank you."

I took her up on the offer and sat down next to Kaede-chan.

"So, what did you talk about?"

Yoshino-san, sitting across from Kaede-chan, asked.

"It was a 'please take care of Arc' kind of thing. And also a 'why doesn't Arc's appearance change' thing."

"Oh, that. He really doesn't change, does he? I saw Arc drink a TS Potion over and over in my living room at home and then peek into his own pants, but I couldn't tell the difference at all."

What was that kid doing in Yoshino-san's house? And what was Yoshino-san watching?

"He's still a child, and on top of that, he's handsome and androgynous."

"He's thirteen, though. A middle schooler."

A middle schooler, huh.

"I mean, Okita-kun had hair, but that kid didn't."

He's small, so maybe he's a late bloomer?

"Don't you ever say that to Arc. After that, he went home and was still angry, calling you a damn witch."

"What a difficult child. I'd show mine off proudly."

"That sounds like something a pervert would say..."

...Now that she mentions it. It does sound like an exhibitionist.

"I feel like guys don't really care about that kind of thing."

"My younger brother seems to be like that, but there are only women here, so you'll have to give up on finding agreement."

I'm happy to be surrounded by women, but it's a shame I have so few male acquaintances... Is Harry the only one?

"Eleanor-sama, here you are."

As Yoshino-san and I were talking, Mia placed a cup of tea in front of me.

"Thank you. Were you able to tell?"

I decided to check with Mia as well.

"No... I think I would be able to tell if he weren't wearing armor..."

"Tell him to take it off because it's weird."

"I will do so."

It seemed Mia thought it was weird too.

"But these sweets are delicious. And the tea smells wonderful."

Kaede-chan, who had been silently eating sweets, said with a huge smile.

"Thank you very much. The sweets you sent were also very delicious."

According to Arc's commentary, this maid ate a ton of them.

"I'm glad you liked them."

"Yes. It's a perk of the job."

She looks like she might gain weight, but she said she also serves as Arc's bodyguard, so she probably doesn't gain weight because she uses skills and magic.

"I'm back. I delivered them."

Arc, having delivered the various potions to the King, suddenly appeared. He sat down in his seat across from me.

"Good work."

"His Majesty was pleased too. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

I'll make as many as you want if I get gold bars in return.

"Alright, let's have some sweets. Mia, you sit down too. Eat with us."

"But..."

"It's fine, it's fine. You don't need to be formal with this bunch."

That was a very rude thing to say, but I didn't really care. I had zero expectations of formality from him, and as long as I could eat sweets, I was happy.

"Well then..."

"Mia, which would you prefer? The chocolate pie Kaede gave me, or the black gummy the damn witch gave me with a smirk?"

"...The chocolate pie, please."

Tch! What an intuitive kid and maid.

◆◇◆

After that, we continued our tea party, and when it got to be noon, we were shown to our guest rooms. We each enjoyed the otherworld hotel (?), and in the evening, we were served dinner. The dinner was different from the last time, and it was delicious again. Kaede-chan and Yoshino-san also seemed to enjoy it.

After finishing dinner, I went to that spacious bath. Of course, Kaede-chan, Yoshino-san, and I were separate, and I didn't run into Arc.

After getting out of the bath, I returned to my room, sat at the provided table, and decided to read some manga. For the record, I was in a separate room from my wife.

"The food and drinks are delicious, but the downside is that there's nothing to do."

Last time I had potion making to do, but this time I had nothing. I could make some if I wanted, but I've been doing nothing but that lately, so I wanted a break.

"I've read this manga before, too. Maybe I'll invite Kaede-chan for a drink?"

Feeling bored, I decided to go to Kaede-chan's room and put the manga back in my bag. Just then, a knock echoed through the room.

"Who is it?"

Could it be Kaede-chan? Maybe she was just as bored as I was.

"Eleanor, it's me, me."

That voice was Arc's.

"It's not locked, so come on in."

As I said that, the door clicked open, and Arc entered the room alone.

"Shouldn't you lock your door? You're being careless."

"Kaede-chan and Yoshino-san should lock theirs, but I don't need to, right?"

Gender-wise, I'm the one who would be doing the assaulting. Furthermore, Mia aside, Arc and the King have teleportation magic, so locking the door is pointless.

"Come to think of it, your room at your house wasn't locked either."

That's even more unnecessary. I live alone with Kaede-chan.

"So, what's up? You didn't just come here to tell me that, did you?"

"That's right. Actually, something a little troublesome has come up."

Arc said as he approached me and sat down in the seat across from me.

"Troublesome? The toilet?"

Was doing it standing up difficult?

"The toilet and the bath are both fine. Do you realize you're sexually harassing me?"

"We've both changed genders, so I'm just looking out for you. Or should I consult the King?"

"...I'd rather you didn't."

He probably wouldn't want his parent involved.

"Well, if anything comes up, let me know. I have twenty six years of experience as a man."

"If anything comes up..."

Hmm, I really feel like some sex education is necessary. Mia would... turn it into a lesson, wouldn't she? That would make me jealous, so it would be better if I just gave him an adult magazine.

"So? What's the trouble?"

"Well, actually, I gave the souvenirs from Feire to Lydia."

Trying to get on her good side?

"Hmm, so you went to see her. Did you invite her to this mansion?"

"No, I teleported to Lydia's house."

What a truly convenient magic.

"That's amazing. Was she happy with the food from Feire?"

"Yeah. Lydia loves sweets. She was really excited."

"That's great. Your affection points went up."

I once bought a cake on a whim and gave it to Kaede-chan, and her affection for me skyrocketed. She even said she loved me.

"It wasn't that I had any ulterior motives, though."

Neither did I.

"From what you're saying, it doesn't sound like there was any trouble..."

In fact, it sounds like you're bragging.

"Well, the thing is, we talked about various things while I was giving her the souvenirs, and she started asking all sorts of questions. One thing led to another, and she told me to bring the witch to her."

The witch... Me?

"Why... Also, don't go blabbing about everything. That's a state secret, isn't it?"

She might be the next queen, but for now, she's still an outsider.

"Well, a lot of things happened. To be specific, Lydia ate the gummy you gave me and got angry... and then she told me to bring the witch."

........................

"...You blamed it on me, didn't you."

"Master, help me..."

This brat...