Extra – Encountering a Fire (maybe) on a Charred Stake

 

 

---

<– Previous Chapter | Glossary | ToC | Next Chapter –> | Jump to Volume 20 –>>

---

 

 

 

“Work for Erw?”

“Yes, just a few days would be fine…because Margrave Holmia’s feudal army has been mobilized, we’re running low on sword instructors. I’d like Erwin-san to teach swordsmanship to the newcomers at our guard unit in Sirius.”

“Erw, are you okay with that?”

“Please leave it to me, Milord (it’s a temporary employment, right? That much should be fine. We’re in the same boat in this regard).”

“Take care of it then.”

“Since the boys gathered on Sirius’s training ground will be your charges, I think it will make commuting easier too.”

 

The negotiations with the demons weren’t really going anywhere as both sides had their own circumstances preventing them from conceding. Around the time when Master was standing by in the city of Sirius, or rather, fishing. …Well, usually it’d be unthinkable for a noble to fish, but we’re talking about Master here.

Anyway, a retainer of Margrave Holmia-sama had requested Erwin-sama to work for them. He was to teach the rookie guards, who were scheduled to be deployed in Sirius, in the ways of the sword. The usual sword instructors were all enlisted into the feudal army, and due to the current lack of qualified instructors, Erwin-sama had been chosen from among many.

But that makes total sense because of Erwin-sama’s military achievements, elevating him into being one the famous swordsmen in the Helmut Kingdom.

“Erw-san, should I teach them together with you?”

“Haruka-san, you’re using katana arts, right? You can’t readily get your hands on a katana in the Holmia Margraviate, so the sword lessons will be ultimately limited to regular swords. Please remain at home with Leon.”

“You got a point. I cannot use a sword overly well…I understand. Please come back home soon.”

Haruka-sama appeared sad when she heard that she’d have to stay back.

Katana and sword; they look the same to me, but it sounds like there exists a big difference on how you handle those two. Erwin-sama can use both, but Haruka-sama can’t wield swords quite as well. That means Haruka-sama will be of no help with this time’s sword training.

“Ah, but I’d like to have an assistant to handle the miscellaneous chores.”

“Heeeere! I will do it!”

“Me too.”

“Okay, Lea, Anna, I’m counting on you two.”

Applying to help Erwin-sama was only a matter of course as his future wife. Haruka-sama has to take care of Leon-sama, so it’s only logical for Anna-san and I to take care of that side.

“Alright, I’ll be off then.”

“I’m counting on you, Erw.”

“Please do, Milord.”

After being seen off by Haruka-sama, Leon-sama, Master, and the others, Erwin-sama, Anna-san, and I headed to the training ground adjoining Sirius’s guard station.

Without knowing that a fateful reunion would be awaiting Erwin-sama over there.

 

＊　　　＊　　　＊

 

“Erw-san? You’re Erwin-sama, right?”

“Karla-san? Why are you here?”

“My husband has been summoned to join the feudal army. And since they’re low on hands, they asked me about teaching archery…”

“The same for me. It was set that I’d be teaching swordsmanship…still with your skill in archery, the ones receiving the teaching can count themselves lucky.”

“I have heard that you have been quite active yourself as well, Erwin-sama.”

“I’d like you to stop with the Erwin-sama…if possible.”

“That won’t do. You’re a chief vassal of the Earl Baumeister house with an established reputation.”

“It doesn’t really feel like that, though.”

 

 

After arriving on the training ground, we went to greet the person who would be teaching archery together with Erwin-sama. She was a pretty woman with black, glossy hair who somehow resembled Haruka-sama. Moreover, she looked very delighted to have met Erwin-sama here.

Who could she be?

I didn’t know anything about people who are close to Erwin-sama in the West, except for his family.

“Anna-san, is she someone from his hometown?”

“No, I’ve never seen her before.”

In that case, he got to know her for some other reason?

“Lea-san, temporary instructors are usually chosen from among the retainers and their families depending on their reputation. Could she be the daughter of one of the retainers of House Holmia?”

Nothing less of Anna-san. Nice deduction.

Given that they’d be teaching the newcomers in the guard unit, no noble house would allow some shady folks to handle the teaching, no matter how skilled they might be.

That means she’s the daughter of one of Margrave Holmia’s retainers…or his wife? But, could Erwin-sama, who spent his time in the same environment as Master, have gotten acquainted with a retainer of the Holmia house and his family?

The more I thought about this, the more questions popped up.

“Lea, Anna, I’m going to start soon.”

“Okaaaay.”

“Understood, Erwin-sama.”

Oops, now’s not the time to keep brooding over this. Anna-san and I have to help Erwin-sama…but then again it’s not that much work since it mostly revolves around preparing towels for wiping off the sweat and tea as well as water during breaks.

Given that Erwin-sama has a certain social status, he couldn’t have come here by himself. This is the major reason why he took us along in the first place.

“Oh my, those two are quite cute maids.”

“She’s my second wife Anna, and Lea who’s going to become my third wife,” Erwin-sama introduced us to the mysterious beauty.

He did so without any real hesitation…so it means they’re just acquaintances? But, if you look at how Erwin-sama is talking with her, they seem fairly close…!

“That’s only reasonable, considering your position. As a matter of fact, my husband has married a second woman as well…”

“I see…back then, just congratulating was already weird, so I was troubled about what I should say.”

“I can relate to that.”

The beauty seems to be the wife of one of the retainers after all. However, I really don’t get her relationship with Erwin-sama.

“Now then, time to start the training, I suppose.”

“Yes, good idea. I must play my role as my husband’s substitute well.”

Afterwards, the two seriously taught the boys in swordsmanship and archery. But, looking at them, I got more and more curious about their actual relationship.

Is there something to it?

“Yes, I believe there’s some more to it!”

Figures…

After all it was so obvious that even Anna-san believed that to be the case.

“Sorry. Would it be alright to request you several more times?”

“I don’t mind,” Erwin-sama answered.

“That is a big help. All our experienced guards have been mobilized and now the Holmia House is lacking hands on all ends,” The one in charge of the training ground thanked Erwin-sama while requesting further swordsmanship lessons.

Erwin-sama readily agreed to it, but in that case, will it take place together with the beauty again?

“Erwin-sama, your coaching has been very popular.”

“That’s great to hear.”

“We will be able to meet again, right?”

“Ah, Karla-san, you’re going to teach archery for a while too?”

“Yes, I’m replacing my husband after all.”

At this rate, those two will be meeting for at least a few more times. They don’t look like simple acquaintances to me.

Anna-san and I returned to the magic airship and immediately rushed over to Dominique-nee-san

 

＊

 

“With that said, we’ve come to you, Dominique-nee-san, the one who has lived the longest among us and served as maid for a long time.”

“Who are you calling old!?”

“Ouuuch─── That’s not what I meant.”

“(I don’t really get the exchange between those two…)”

“Did you say something, Anna-san?”

“No. Erwin-sama almost never left the territory back when he lived at his parents’ home, so it’s quite a mystery how he got to know that woman called Karla…”

Anna-san, that casual dodge of Dominique-nee-san’s probing question was marvelous…

I must follow her example.

“Karla-sama, huh? She used to be a member of the Margrave Browig House…”

According to Dominique-nee-san, Erwin-sama got to know the woman called Karla during a dispute with the Margrave Browig house which took place before I started working for the Baumeister family. Moreover, she seems to be the daughter of the previous Margrave Browig, which is quite amazing.

“Isn’t it kind of odd for a family member of the Browig house to become the wife of a retainer belonging to the Holmia house?”

The daughters of high-ranking nobles usually don’t teach archery as substitutes for their husbands.

“After the dispute, Karla-sama left the Browig family and wedded the man with whom she had promised to marry as a child. He’s an archery instructor of the Browig family or something like that… Karla-sama seems to be a master at archery, too.”

“I see.”

So that’s why she taught archery in her husband’s stead.

“So, how is she related to Erwin-sama?” Anna-san asked about the crucial matter without a moment’s delay.

“Erwin-sama fell in love with Karla-sama…umm…but she already had a fiancée at that time, so…”

Erwin-sama got rejected, huh?

“Afterwards he married Haruka-sama, soon to be joined by Anna-san as well. And as bonus he got Lea too, so I doubt he has any lingering attachments to her. She’s more like a nice memory, I’d say.”

“Dominique-nee-san? I’m a bonus?”

“We’re maids. Spreading groundless rumors about Master and the people around him is out of the question.”

“You ignored me!?”

Isn’t there quite a difference in treatment between Anna-san and me? I feel like it’s totally unfair!

“Okay, I understand. Erwin-sama has Haruka-sama, me, and Lea-san. Besides, Karla-san is the wife of another man.”

“You think so?”

“Lea, is there anything you want to say?”

“Well, look…even if he was rejected back then, Erwin-sama has nowadays established his standing as chief vassal of the Baumeister House. What about the husband of that Karla on the other hand?”

He was called into the feudal army in a way that feels like he’s just a part of the mob, and now she’s teaching archery in his stead. Doesn’t she do this unwillingly as a former daughter of the Browig House?

“It’s the usual pattern of having married the one you love, but now finding out that it wasn’t all pretty.

Her discontent with the marriage should be growing. Even though she wedded the person she loves…she’s asking herself why she isn’t happy right now, and where she made a mistake in her choices. I’m sure she’s wondering whether she’d be happier around now if she had married Erwin-sama.

So as you hear, it’s quite possible that she could switch to Erwin-sama…”

“Lea, such things don’t even happen often in the books read by Ina-sama…”

Come to think of it, Ina-sama…even though she’s so lovey-dovey with Master, she loves stories with such unrealistic settings, doesn’t she?

“Ah, but…”

“Anna-san, are you also worried about something?”

Dominique-nee-san pays awfully a lot of attention to Anna-san… Even though I know her much longer than Anna does…

“The woman called Karla mentioned that her husband welcomed a new wife.”

“Karla-sama’s husband is an archery instructor. Him having two wives isn’t weird, is it? You could even say he made a career.”

“That’s the point, Dominique-nee-san!”

Her discontent had been getting worse all along. And then a new factor came into play, namely the new wife!

“Her husband became all engrossed in his new wife, furthering the friction between that Karla person and the new wife. Soon this started to rekindle and grow her feelings towards Erwin-sama. Erwin-sama isn’t all against it either…”

He was being courted by a woman who had rejected him previously. As a man, he might end up going along with her seduction against his better judgment.

“Lea, those are ultimately just your own deductions, right? Wasn’t it you who mentioned that Erwin-sama and Karla-sama have been working at their instructor jobs seriously?”

“But, look. I highly doubt they’d boldly flirt around while we’re watching.”

Maybe they’re actually keeping in touch secretly, setting up dates on their free days? I mean, we’re basically abroad here in the Holmia Margraviate, so the danger of people knowing Erwin-sama spotting him on a date with her is low since we aren’t in Baulburg.

“…I believe you’re overthinking this. Anyway, make sure to not spread any weird rumors.”

“Ah, but, from my point of view, this whole matter has quite a few worrisome aspects.”

If Erwin-sama and that Karla woman enter a relationship, won’t that close off my road to becoming Erwin-sama’s wife?

“Before any of that, that Karla person is married, isn’t she?”

Given that it’ll be a forbidden relationship since both are married, they will elope together…

I read a story like that in a book I borrowed from Ina-sama before. Those kinds of romances become stronger and more passionate, the bigger the obstacles the pair overcomes together.

“Umm…if I remember correctly it was fire…on something…oh, wait! I remember! It’s Fire on a Charred Stake! It’s easy for such a stake to flare up again!”

“If you’re so worried about it, you just need to keep an eye on Erwin-sama, right?”

Dominique-nee-san didn’t trust a single word I said about this matter. But, if something were to happen, it might result in me having to start over my 『Lovely-New-Wife Plan』. I will keep a close watch on that Karla woman for the sake of my own happiness.

 

＊

 

With that decided, I did just that for around a week after this conversation. Finally, Erwin-sama’s swordsmanship training greeted its final day.

I think it’s planned for the retainer of House Holmia to come back and take over the sword training, starting with the new week. The Karla woman is the wife of a retainer serving that house, so she will apparently stay there as archery instructor.

After the training finished, both shared a random chat about various trivial matters.

But maybe those two included some hidden love code only they can understand within their gossip…they could have agreed to meet up for an affair, couldn’t they?

“Erwin-sama, what do you have planned for tomorrow?”

“I will be off. I was thinking about wandering Sirius by myself for a change.”

“I see. I’m usually staying in Holmialand, so I don’t really know Sirius all that well.”

“Oh, okay.”

“As a matter of fact, I have a free day tomorrow, too. Since I was requested for this job on a short call, I must go shopping to buy the things necessary for living. After all, I might need to stay here for a longer time”

“Is your husband still enlisted with the feudal army?”

“I think the situation will remain like this for a while, so we might stay separated for a long time.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“It’s the same for all the other retainers, too.”

At a glance it sounds like an idle chat, but I noticed it.

Isn’t this possibly quite dangerous!?

“Is something the matter, Lea-san?”

“Anna-san, tomorrow will be a dangerous day!”

First off, Erwin-sama and that Karla woman both have a day off tomorrow. I have known about Erwin-sama having a holiday tomorrow, but he mentioned he wants to go take a look at swords and didn’t invite Haruka-sama or us to it. Moreover, that Karla woman mentioned that she’d use her free day tomorrow to go shopping for daily necessities.

“At this point, the likelihood of them meeting in the city is quite high!”

“Ee───eh! Really?”

I think Anna-san is a bit too naive. Sirius isn’t that big a city, and the shops selling weapons and livingware can be all found on the same shopping street.

In short, it’s possible that they’ll meet up in the city while pretending to have run into each other by coincidence.

“So that’s why he didn’t invite us…”

“That’s quite likely the reason.”

He will be able to offer her to drink tea together or grab something to eat, if he’s alone.

“Lea-san…”

“It’d be best for us to take some measures in advance.”

“Okay, but what are you going to do?”

“At times like these, you consult with Dominique-nee-san.”

With that said, Anna-san and I immediately went back to the airship and repeated the entire conversation between the two, word for word, to Dominique-nee-san.

 

＊

 

“…Lea.”

“Yes, is something wrong, Dominique-nee-san?”

“You’re overthinking this, aren’t you?”

Ee───eh!

Dominique-nee-san’s reaction was a lot more lackluster than I expected!

“Given their past relationship, it’s absolutely necessary to be cautious of such possibilities!”

“I won’t go as far as calling it exaggerated, but I think you worry too much about this. If I put it like that, it might sound a bit mean, but Erwin-sama, umm…was rejected by her.”

“Isn’t that a story of the past?”

Unlike back then, Erwin-sama now has big achievements under his belt. He has become Master’s most trusted friend and he’s known in society as a famous chief vassal in the Earl Baumeister House.

On the other hand, the husband of that Karla person cannot measure up in rank to Erwin-sama at all.

“It’s never wrong to be careful.”

“Also, Lea, if you talk so loudly about these mat…hii───i!”

“Is something the matter, Dominique-nee-san?”

It’s rare for Dominique-nee-san to scream like that. Did a big frog show up or something?

“Eh? What is it? Behind me?”

Is there something going on behind me? Even if it’s not…a big frog…maybe a cockroach has shown up?

But, the kitchen in this airship is still shiny as it’s brand new. We have been cleaning it properly, so cockroaches shouldn’t appear there.

Because the change in expression and facial color of Dominique-nee-san is funny, I looked back, wondering what might be going on.

Thereupon…I found Haruka-sama standing there with an expression so frosty that it almost looked as if she was clad in an ominous aura…

“Ah…that’s why you’ve warned me about talking too loudly…”

This was already an incarnation of horror.

“It’s too late by now. Besides, there is something I must tell you right away, Lea.”

“What is it?”

I could somehow tell with my intuition as a maid. I’m pretty sure that I’m going to encounter various unfortunate events from now on.

“Haruka-sama didn’t know about Karla-sama so far. That means you must explain things to her from now on…”

“Dominique-san, Lea-san, I would like to hear more about that person called Karla.”

Haruka-sama! Please take your hand off the hilt of your katana!

At this point, it’s no more than the story of Erwin-sama’s unrequited love that ended a long time ago!

“You went ahead and selfishly blew up the whole story. So I will have you take responsibility for it,” Dominique-nee-san said before powerfully grabbing my arm.

It clearly told me that she wouldn’t let me get away.

I’m a beautiful maid girl of suitable age who wants Erwin-sama to do such things to me.

“Ah, but Anna-san, who is Erwin-sama’s wife as well, has joint responsibility in thi…wait! Where is she!?”

Just when I realized that she had been awfully quiet all this time, I noticed that Anna-san was nowhere to be found anymore. Obviously she took the first opportunity to get away from here.

“Haha, I don’t really know all that much about the woman called Karla-sama, so…”

I think Dominique-nee-san will be more than enough to cover the explanation part. I have to prepare dinner…if I’m late with that, Master will…it’s one of the few things I must pay close attention to, thus…

“There’s no way I’d allow you to escape by yourself after getting her feeling of danger completely riled up. Stand next to me!”

“Okay…”

For a while after this, Dominique-nee-san explained the relationship between Erwin-sama and that Karla woman to Haruka-sama while I ended up experiencing a terrible time as if sitting on a bed of nails.

 

＊　　　＊　　　＊

 

“I see…Erw-san had such a past…”

“It’s not such a big story. I think Erwin-sama might have simply been rejected by Karla-sama.”

“Dominique-nee-san, you’re really amazing for being able to spill all of it without holding back anything…”

“Then it’s necessary to keep an eye on him. If he gets courted by that Karla woman…let’s secretly follow him tomorrow.”

“Roger!”

 

 

Having heard about the circumstances, Haruka-sama announced that we’d be shadowing Erwin-sama tomorrow to make sure whether he actually gets in contact with that Karla woman. As Erwin-sama’s future wife, it’s only natural for me to participate in this as well.

I cannot afford to deny it. I mean, I’ll soon become Erwin-sama’s wife. As such, I’d be troubled if he eloped with that Karla woman at this point.

“But Haruka-sama, won’t it be difficult to tail Erwin-sama?”

I can understand Dominique-nee-san’s concern. When it comes to an outstanding swordsman and adventurer like Erwin-sama, we might be found out quickly.

“Besides, we’ll stand out because of our maid attires.”

Maids aren’t that unusual a sight in Holmialand, but Sirius is a port city. The number of people wearing maid clothes besides us is rather low. If we tailed him like this, it’s a foregone conclusion that we’ll stand out.

“I’ll also be noticed if I’m wearing my usual clothes. We have no choice but to go with a disguise on this occasion.”

We will make sure that Erwin-sama won’t suspect being followed by putting on inconspicuous clothes. This much of a countermeasure belongs to the basics of basics.

“What sort of outfit would be good?”

“An outfit that won’t stand out in Sirius. I’ll prepare something.”

“Thank you, Dominique-san.”

Feeling that it’d be impossible to deny the tailing of Erwin-sama at this point, Dominique-nee-san had apparently switched into her loyal-maid mode. But, is it the job of a maid to prepare clothes for stalking?

I guess that’s another necessary skill for a maid, if required. After all, we’re maids of the Baumeister House.

“Sirius is a fishing town. Because it houses many fishermen but few nobles, I think I will go with an outfit matching that setup. Now then, it looks like tomorrow will be quite eventful.”

Or so she said, but somehow I feel like Dominique-nee-san looks somehow happy about this…

She might actually look forward to it because she usually doesn’T get the chance to tail other people. But, given that she’d drop a fist on me again if I mentioned any of this, I kept my mouth shut.

 

＊　　　＊　　　＊

 

“It should be fine like this.”

“Dominique-san, what are these outfits?”

“They are the common attire worn by fisherman wives and daughters.”

“They don’t come with skirts, huh…?”

“Anna-san, fisherman wives and daughters wash fish and process them, so it’s normal for them to wear pants as it’d be easy to get the hems of skirts dirty.”

“Those are fairly thick aprons.”

“This is a measure to make it simple to launder them because water and fish blood usually cling to these.”

“I see. If we wear a disguise like this, we won’t be found by Erw-san. We also dyed our hair and changed our hairstyle.”

 

 

Dominique-nee-san, Anna-san, Haruka-sama, and I began to tail Erwin-sama after putting on our disguise. First off, Erwin-sama went to take a look at swords in the weapons shop as he mentioned the other day. While pretending to check out the kitchen knives sold in that store, we observed whether Erwin-sama would meet up with Karla-sama.

“(We haven’t been spotted)”

“(Well, we have disguised ourselves quite a bit after all)”

The hair dye we used for this disguise is a magic potion of sorts. It’s an amazing product, allowing you to recover your previous hair color right away, if you use the counter potion.

And if you change the color and style of your hair, it only makes sense that it’s not easy to find us out. Haruka-sama now has blond hair with her hair up, Anna-san has red hair in braids, and given that I’m the only one in our group with short hair, I was given a black wig with long hair.

As for Dominique-nee-san…

“(Why did you go with this? It doesn’t suit you)”

“(Mind your own business! Rather than my hair, we have to keep a close eye on Erwin-sama!)”

Dominique-nee-san was wearing a light-green wig with a similar hairstyle to mine, but…since observing Erwin-sama took priority right now, it didn’t pose a problem even if Dominique-nee-san’s wig didn’t fit her at all.

“(He’s just looking at sword…it doesn’t seem like he’s going to join up with someone)”

“(That’s odd)”

Erwin-sama was single-mindedly focused on checking out swords. Every once in a while, he asked the clerk about a sword, enjoying the expert chat. That clerk is an old man, and yet…

“(Maybe, he’s meeting with that old man!)”

“(As if that could be! What about Karla-sama? Erwin-sama simply visited this place to look at swords, didn’t he? In such case, it’s best for him to come here alone)”

“E───eh!? He’s merely here to look at swords, you say?)”

Personally I’d get bored of that within a minute. I mean, all the swords look the same to me, so what’s the point in looking at them by yourself?

“(But, I’ve heard people say that men occasionally like to have some time for themselves)”

“(Master steps out himself as well at times. Maybe it’s like that for all men)”

Anna-san and Haruka-sama know quite a bit about the mentality of men. Nothing less of married women… Huh? Dominique-nee-san is also married, however…

“(Is everything okay with your husband?)”

Maybe he has little breathing room during his life married to Dominique-nee-san? I feel like I’ve previously heard somewhere that you must let men catch their breath every once in a while…

Given that I plan to become a capable wife myself, I intend to properly put that part into practice.

“(That’s not the case…but, leaving that aside, he left the shop)”

Oh, she’s right! Erwin-sama hasn’t bought anything at…oh wait, he seems to have bought a tool to maintain swords, though.

“(Where is he going next?)”

“(Let us go after him)”

“(Dominique-nee-san, you’re enjoying this quite a bit, aren’t you?)”

Following Haruka-sama, we dashed out of the store…

“(He’s wandering the city. Maybe sightseeing?)”

“(He might be looking for Karla-sama)”

Haruka-sama and Dominique-nee-san continued their passionate shadowing of Erwin-sama. Is it because both of them usually have such serious characters?

“(Lea-san?)”

“(Somehow I’ve got tired of this)”

“(Umm…I don’t think you should be the one to say that, Lea-san)”

I got warned by Anna-san, but look, Erwin-sama is merely strolling through the city…

…Just when I thought that…

『Oh, Karla-san? Did you finish your shopping?』

『Yes. I didn’t buy all that much』

Unbelievable, Erwin-sama and Karla-sama ended up running into each other in the middle of the city. Is this pure coincidence? Or did they arrange this beforehand?

The two started to chat on the street, and after a short while, they began to move without parting.

“(We must make sure to not lose them)”

“(Lea-san, your motivation has fully recovered, hasn’t it?)”

Wouldn’t anyone in my position want to know what those two are going to do next? That is the real question here.

“(It looks like they entered a coffee shop)”

The two sat down on the open terrace of a coffee shop located on the city’s main road, and apparently ordered tea and sweets. It seemed as though they had started some sort of conversation, and I was kinda curious what they were talking about.

We must secure ourselves a set of seats allowing us to listen in on their conversation without being noticed by either of them.

“(This table here should be good)”

“(Over here we’ll be right behind Erwin-sama, and I doubt we’ll be suspected either)”

Haruka-sama and Dominique-nee-san were quick to act. At once they sat down at a nearby table and began to attentively listen to Erwin-sama and Karla-sama.

“Welcome. What are your orders?”

“Umm, this cake set and as for beverage…a milk tea.”

“(Lea, we didn’t come here to enjoy a nice tea time. You don’t need any cake, do you!?)”

“(Eehh!? But, but…the cake looks super delicious. The menu also mentions it as recommendation of this shop…)”

“(We didn’t come here to eat cake)”

“(It still looks tasty though…)”

Since we went out of our way to enter this coffee shop, we should at least try its specialty. Why must Dominique-nee-san be such a serious stickler? Is she going to fall sick and die early or something, if she’s not serious?

“(Ah, but Erwin-sama and Karla-sama might be less suspicious of four fisherman girls, if we act like we came here during our free time to enjoy some cake)”

“(Now that you mention it, I must admit you have a point. I’ll also get a cake set and milk tea)”

Dominique-nee-san…you always accept Anna-san’s opinions at face value, don’t you? Isn’t this what you’d call discrimination?

“(Order this cake set for me as well)”

Haruka-sama casually ordered cake as well. Well, it’d be weird for none of us to order cake after we came here in a group of four women.

Based on the just cause of not giving Erwin-sama and Karla-sama any reason to suspect us, all of us ordered cake sets.

Huh?

I didn’t make some sort of mistake, did I?

“Thank you for waiting. Here you have four servings of our recommended cake sets.”

“They look great. At this rate, I could even go for a second serving of this.”

“(I told you, we didn’t come here to eat cake. How many times must I repeat myself!? We ordered cake to now appear shady to Erwin-sama, but we didn’t come here to simply enjoy cake!)”

“(Ouch, that huuurt… What is that technique?)”

Please don’t grab hold of my face after spreading your hand as far as possible! I feel a fierce pain as if my face is going to be crushed any second…

Even without such techniques, Dominique-nee-san possesses inhuman strength that completely contradicts her outward appearance.

“(Who possesses inhuman strength!?)”

“(Gahh, you read my mind agaii───in!)”

“(This technique is called Iron Palm. Luise-sama learned it from Master. Dropping a fist on your head shows increasingly less effect.)

What effect? In the first place, the huge loss of me forgetting my happy memories thanks to her fist…hasn’t appeared. In the end, I don’t forget anything.

“(That technique is off-limits since it changes the contour of my face!)”

“(It might lead to your face becoming smaller)”

“(As if!)”

“(Umm…what happened to observing Erwin-sama, you two?)”

Oh right! Now’s not the time to mess around with Dominique-nee-san!

Haruka-sama was watching Erwin-sama seriously…and at the same time, she was properly tasting her cake. As might be expected, women love their sweet stuff.

『I heard that your wife gave birth to a child, Erwin-sama. Congratulations』

『Thank you. It’s a boy, but he’s really cute』

『I’m envious of you. I still haven’t had a child…』

As I listened in on those two, I heard that Karla-sama still hadn’t given birth. If I remember correctly, Karla-sama got married before Erwin-sama, according to Dominique-nee-san’s information.

In that case, this might worsen her position somewhat. I heard that her husband welcomed a concubine, but this might be a recommendation by the people around the couple since Karla-sama hasn’t given birth yet.

If no children are born, the family will die out. There’s the option of adopting children into the family too, but in the end, most families wish for children sharing their blood.

Accordingly, her husband’s relatives urged him to take a concubine, and her husband accepted because he couldn’t afford to refuse. Karla-sama was discontent about this arrangement as first wife. Moreover, the two ended up living apart due to the current tensions…

This is…!

“(Karla-sama is trying to get intimate with Erwin-sama quickly after having accumulated quite a bit of discontent! If her husband’s seed can’t impregnate her, she’s going for Erwin-sama’s seed as he’s already produced a child!)”

 

“EE───EH!?”

 

『What’s going on? It’s got pretty loud all of a sudden』

『Umm…it’s the women sitting nearby』

“Your husband got arrested again because he went on a rampage after getting totally wasted? You sure have it tough.”

“…Yes…indeed.”

『Ah, I guess it’s because we’re in a fishermen’s city… I’ve heard from Wend that many fishermen are dumped by their wives because of booze, gambling and kicking up a fuss due to women when their hauls are good』

『Oh, really?』

Haruka-sama had cried out upon hearing my deduction, so I thought we might be found out by Erwin-sama, but our disguise saved us. Dominique-nee-san immediately coming up with an act also played a role in this.

“(Haruka-sama, you must be more careful)”

“(You’re right…as daughter of a samurai, I must always stay calm…)”

“(It’s all because you said something so shocking, don’t you think!?)”

“(Ouuuch…)”

My face is creaking and hurts due to her iron palm, so I’d like her to stop. But, it might also help me in getting a slightly smaller face…

“(In my eyes, this is just Karla-sama voicing her worries, or rather, getting consultation from Erwin-sama who is her acquaintance, you know?)”

“(You say that now, but what will you do if something happens beyond that?)”

“(Uuhh…that’s…)”

Se,, even Dominique-nee-san believes that there are some doubtful parts to this whole arrangement. That’s why we’ve followed Erwin-sama today.

『I came all the way to Sirius for the archery training because I thought I could be of help for my husband. Right now, his new concubine is watching the mansion…he’s not a bad person, but my husband hasn’t come back after departing to the front and it’s not like I’m not worried either. Having married him was…』

『Ah, stop right there』

『Erwin-sama?』

Huh? Usually you’d expect Erwin-sama to go 『I’m here for you』, and then…wait! That would be bad, wouldn’t it!?

『It might be disgraceful of me, but you see, back then I was in love with you』

『Really?』

So Karla-sama didn’t realize Erwin-sama’s feelings towards…

Erwin-sama’s one-sided, unrequited love… It caused us to feel slightly melancholic.

『At the time of our final parting, you introduced your husband while looking very happy, didn’t you?』

『Sorry…』

『No, it’s okay. When I saw that, I knew that I wouldn’t have any chance…. Well, having said that, I wasn’t that understanding after the initial shock, to be honest. I remained spaced out for a while because of it. But, that’s also why I was able to meet Haruka-san. So in the end, it worked out fine for me』

『Haruka-san? Your wife?』

『Yep, she’s too good a wife for me. I also have a wife called Anna who’s come all the way from our hometown to meet me. Right now, I consider myself to be a happy man. However, this happiness of mine is based on you having decided to marry your husband without paying me any attention. To me it looked like you two were a good match. Currently some things might be going on and you might also feel anxious as he’s absent, but sooner or later you will be able to happily live together again, won’t you? You’re still young, so you also got more than enough time to worry about children. It might be an irresponsible way of consolation, but I’m an idiot, so…』

Erwin-sama, you’re such a kind man! Even to a woman who broke your heart in the past. Also, you exceed Master by leaps and bounds when it comes to handling women at critical moments.

Master is a lost case when it comes to such things after all.

『Listening to you calmed my heart. You’re right. Even if I fret, it won’t change anything, I suppose』

『Besides, you won’t hit your targets with the bow if you lose your composure』

『Quite true』

『I’ve heard that this coffee shop has fairly decent cakes. How about I treat you to one, Karla-san?』

 

 

『No, I would feel bad after making you listen to all my worries』

『Don’t mind the small stuff. Even though I may look like this, I’m still a chief retainer of the Earl Baumeister house. I got enough money to at least treat a friend to cake』

『Thank you kindly, Erwin-sama』

『I wonder whether I should order one as well』

『Oh, so you also like sweet stuff, Erwin-sama?』

『Without a doubt, it’s influenced by Milord. Also, if I go out with my wives, it naturally leads to that, I guess?』

『Oh my, you seem to be very happy couples then』

Afterwards, the two enjoyed tea and cakes, before eventually bidding farewell in front of the shop.

It looks like my worries ended up to be needless.

 

＊

 

“Ehemm, I have always believed in Erwin-sama.”

Haruka-sama, you came with us because a small doubt about his integrity had actually nested in your heart, didn’t you?

Moreover, because she was praised by Erwin-sama for being too good a wife for him, she was now beaming in joy.

“I also believed in Erwin-sama.”

Anna-san also…seems overjoyed after being praised by Erwin-sama.

“Haruka-sama, we should cook one of Erwin-sama’s favorite dishes for dinner.”

“That is a wonderful idea. Okay, let us go shopping for the necessary ingredients.”

“Yes.”

With their worries gone, Haruka-sama and Anna-san cheerfully left us behind and left the coffee shop to buy the groceries for dinner.

Now only Dominique-nee-san and I remained here.

“Well, isn’t it wonderful that it ended up to be needless worries?”

“Having said that, I also just believed it to be a measure for the very unlikely event of something happening between the two.”

“By the way, Erwin-sama referenced Haruka-sama and Anna-san, but you…I think you must invest more effort into your relationship with Erwin-sama.”

As soon as she said so, Dominique-nee-san placed both hands on my shoulder and started to look at me as if watching a very pitiful existence.

Is she saying that I’m a useless fiancée because Erwin-sama hasn’t mentioned me at all?

“No, no, no, I’m still his fiancée, and that’s why Erwin-sama left me out there. If I were already married to him, he’d surely say that I’m wasted on him as a wife.”

“You think so? Didn’t you doubt your own, future husband?”

“Am I the only bad one here?”

I mean, didn’t all of them come along? In other words, they all agreed with my thinking, even if only to some degree…

“By the way, is it alright for you to not go? Haruka-sama and Anna-san went shopping for the dinner that will be served to Erwin-sama…”

“Oh, right! I will head out as weeell!”

Wait! I cannot leave these behind! I still haven’t eaten all of the cake…

“Ah, whatever! Ngggnh…all finished! Please wait for meeeeee!”

I’m also going to help make Erwin-sama’s dinner! While shouting after those two, I rushed out of the shop and chased after Haruka-sama and Anna-san.

 

＊　　　＊　　　＊

 

“The sudden day off was a lot of fun. Skillfully using your available times is yet another must-have skill of maids.”

There are all kinds of things when it comes to married couples. At times, you relax peacefully while enjoying cake and tea by yourself in a coffee shop located in a city with no acquaintances.

It’s a truly superb way to spend your holiday.

For Lea’s antics to come in useful like that might be what you call a lucky break, I guess.

 

＊

 

And, this is a story from another day, but Karla-sama eventually became pregnant and gave birth to a male heir. Just as Erwin-sama said, it must have been needless anxiety on her side.

 

 

 

 

---

<– Previous Chapter | Glossary | ToC | Next Chapter –> | Jump to Volume 20 –>>

---

---

Translation Notes: