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“Man…it was such a terrible time…”
“Milord, you were really adorable.”
“Hmph!”
“Ouuuch…Dominique-nee-san…”
“Why would you call him cute when the master you’re serving experienced something terrible!?”
“Isn’t it fine? He managed to return to normal in a day, right?”
“Do you know how sad Elise-sama would have been if he didn’t manage to return to normal…?”
“Yesterday she called him cute while hugging him tightly.”
“…Hmph!”
“Ouuuch…”
“You two are really funny, you know?”
At first Amalie-sama was the only maid going to the demon’s country, but because we gradually realized that it was a safe place, we also were allowed to come along with Milord’s Teleport.
Having said that, we took care of the babies while staying indoors for the most part. Right now we’ve come to the countryside…a place with lots of nature on the Baumeister House’s exclusive magic airship, so I’m pouring all my effort into making food and sweets.
Oh, right. At the moment, the queen of the demons and the Prime Minister are with us. They’re especially invested in making snacks.
The demon queen is still a little girl, so delicious sweets are indispensable and Layla-sama, the prime minister, is a young woman. There’s no way she’d hate sweet stuff.
As a matter of fact, both wolfed down the sweets I served them earlier without leaving anything behind.
During that time, our lord turned into a cute puppy for some reason, but because this sort of trouble was common at the Earl Baumeister House, we already got used to it as well. So it’s highly troubling that Dominique-nee-san dropped her fist on my head once again.
“Putting that aside, Lea, did you finish the pudding a la mode we’re going to serve today?”
“That part is covered. Anna-san is giving it the finishing touches right now.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Although it’s true…that remark can be somewhat interpreted as you lacking trust in me, can’t it?”
“Absolutely not. It means Anna-san has become skillful at arranging and decorating food thanks to your teaching.”
…Is that really the case here? Most recently Anna’s evaluation has only been rising while I feel like my position has become questionable…
“This is a foreign country, so I was anxious about the quality of the obtainable ingredients, but it ended up being a needless worry. They were cheap, too.”
“That’s true, isn’t it? I actually was surprised that they were actually making a profit with those prices.”
I heard from Milord that you could obtain good ingredients cheaply at the demon country, but now I can confirm it myself. We were given some demon money which had been exchanged for gold, but if you calculate it backwards, all of the foodstuff over here is cheap.
From our point of view, it’s very welcome, but can the people, who make and grow all this food, actually make a living from it?
“According to the story Erwin-sama heard from Milord, the demon country seems to lower the production costs by running agriculture and animal husbandry on a large scale.”
“And that makes it so cheap…? I don’t quite get it…”
“I didn’t understand it well either.”
It’s something neither Dominique-nee-san nor Anna-san comprehend, so there’s no reason for me to understand it, but basically it means they can provide cheap meals and desserts.
“Anna-san, is today’s pudding a la mode fine?”
“Yes. Fruits were cheap as well, so I added many different, high-quality fruits.”
“Certainly, it looks very nice.”
Anna-san married Erwin-sama just recently, but she’s striving hard at her training. Previously the number of sweets and desserts she could make was quite limited, but she’s improved in no time…
“What about my position?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden, Lea?”
I’m but a frail girl who also worries about what might happen if I get fired.
“Ahem, today’s pudding is quite hard.”
“That was Milord’s request.”
“Didn’t he talk about making the pudding as soft as possible until a little while ago?”
Milord regularly makes puzzling requests, but the most confusing one as of late was about the hardness of pudding. Up until some time ago, he had been saying that pudding is tastier the softer it is.
As a matter of fact, the pudding, which had become so soft that it couldn’t maintain its shape and get into the bowl because of its extreme softness, was highly popular among Doushi-sama. But, most recently Milord made a cryptic remark about the fad having passed, and started to make hard pudding.
“The fad has passed… Dominique-nee-san, was pudding ever a fad?”
“There are many things to be found in Milord’s remark that us commoners cannot understand, but it’s a fact that hard pudding fits a lot better when finishing it up as pudding a la mode.”
“It’s really nice that it doesn’t fall apart, even if you remove it from the form. Whipped fresh cream is a great, cheap decoration, too.”
“It’s easy to add fruits to it, isn’t it?
Pudding a la mode. You add plenty of whipped cream to the hard pudding specified by Milord, and decorate it with all sorts of fruit slices. Cakes are great, but pudding a la mode is truly delicious as well.
“Lea, Anna-san, today you finished it nicely as well.”
“Alright, let us serve this to Milord and the others.”
If it’s like this, Milord should be completely satisfied with the pudding as well.
Afterwards, we served the pudding a la mode to everyone and received raving reviews for it. All of them ate up their share.
“Will Milord change his thinking to 『Soft pudding is better』 again sooner or later?”
“Maybe. But, no matter whether it might be hard or soft pudding, it is our most important duty to answer his wishes.”
Oohh! Being able to go this far over something as insignificant as the hardness of pudding; Dominique-nee-san is so damn serious about everything…
“Hmph!”
“Ouuuch…why did you hear my inner voice…”
“I’ve known you for a long time, so I can somewhat tell what you think.”
I don’t appreciate this keen discernment of my thoughts at all, so it’d be great if it could disappear for good.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Myuu myuu.”
“Dominique-nee-san, this puppy is very adorable.”
“Lea-san, did dogs cry myuu myuu?”
“Going by my memory, I haven’t encountered any such dogs. It’s my first time seeing a pink dog, too.”
“Anna-san, Lea, this puppy has become Her Majesty’s pet dog. No need to pry any further into this.”
After the snacks, the demon queen showed us a puppy which was crying in an odd way…although it’s very fluffy and cute. Unintentionally I felt a desire to cuddle it.
“What do you think? My servant Creampuff is adorable, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he’s very lovely.”
At times like this I envy Anna-san for being able to call something lovely without thinking about anything. Sure, the puppy is lovely, but many of its features make me want to retort…”
“Your Majesty, is Creampuff the name of this puppy?”
“Yes. I love cream puffs and they’re also very popular in society. Bearing such a name, this child will become a great servant who’s loved by everyone, I’m sure.”
Cream puffs are definitely popular, but I wonder what to think about it as a name for a dog…maybe because she’s the demon queen, her naming sense is somewhat close to that of Milord?
But, since Dominique-nee-san would hit me again if I voiced this out, I’ll just smile silently.
“Your Majesty, is it okay for me to hug him?”
“You were Anna, right? Sure.”
Anna-san is a professional smooth operator at such occasions. She’s unexpectedly sharp when it comes to her own benefit, or rather, she doesn’t let go of chances…I guess you could also call it shrewd.
She was happily holding the puppy…Creampuff-chan after accepting him from the demon queen.
“…Your Majesty, doesn’t this puppy smell a bit?”
“Hmm…maybe it’s because he hatched just a little while ago? He had been wet when he was born. Moreover, since he had been grooming himself, he might stink a tiny bit.”
“”Hatched?””
Huh!? Do dogs hatch out of eggs in the demon country?
“It means he was born. That’s right, isn’t it Layla-san?”
“Yes, it is as you say, Dominique-san. He was born.”
Layla-sama, who has been following Her Majesty around, and Dominique-nee-san were obviously hiding something…not probing too deep into this is the trait of a superb maid, so I won’t say anything further.
“You’re right. This puppy smells slightly. I think it’d be good to wash him.”
I also got to hug Creampuff-chan, but he smelled a bit too much to enjoy the fluff. Once he becomes sparky clean after getting washed in a bath, I’ll probably be able to enjoy the fluffy sensation to its fullest.
“I also think he stinks a bit. I guess Creampuff will become a servant who’s loved even more by everyone, if he washes and doesn’t smell anymore. What do you think, Layla?”
“I think it is just as you say, Your Majesty. Creampuff is your servant. If he smells, it will negatively impact your reputation as well.”
“You’re right. I’ll try to wash him in the bath tonight.”
“Your Majesty, I will take care of something like this, so please leave it to me.”
After all is said and done, Her Majesty is still the demon queen. It’d be better for her to leave the job of washing a dog to us. We can wash him while taking our own bath.
“Dominique-nee-san, your family kept dogs and we occasionally washed them, didn’t we? It will be okay to have them leave it to us.”
Back then we washed the dogs with water during the hot season, but washing with water or washing in the bath makes no big difference.
“I’m used to it, and with Anna-san and Lea present, it will pose no problem.”
It’s unthinkable to let the demon queen wash a dog, so we’ll quickly take care of it with us three.
“No, I will wash Creampuff myself.”
“But…”
“Earl Baumeister approved of it as well. Staying at his side and taking care of him as much as possible will turn him into an incredible servant in the future.”
“””……”””
Does that basically mean she’s going to train him as a watchdog and outstanding guard by herself? But, I don’t think that the demon queen possesses experience as an animal trainer.
“Right now Her Majesty is eagerly studying various things to become a wonderful ruler. It would be a big help if you could regard this to be connected to that.”
“I see, so that’s what it’s about. Okay, we shall help out as well.”
“Forgive me, Dominique.”
“No, this is also part of a maid’s duty.”
She’s going to learn how to wash a dog to become a good demon queen? Is it something along the lines of actually understanding the things the commoners do by doing them herself? I feel like this demon queen resembles Milord in her way of thinking.
What if the demon queen and Milord get along…and then the demon queen also marries Milord…?
While trembling, I whispered, “(…there’s no way, right…?)”
“Is something the matter, Lea?”
“No.”
“Then let us wash Creampuff-chan during the evening bath time.”
“”Understood.””
Just like this, it was decided that we would be washing the dog together with Her Majesty and Layla-sama, but still…to name him Creampuff…the demon queen’s naming sense is just too unique.
＊ ＊ ＊
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, but the bathroom inside this ship is quite big. Don’t you think so as well, Creampuff?”
“Myuu myuu.”
“It has been constructed like this upon Milord’s personal order.”
“Hoh, so Earl Baumeister likes bathing, huh?
On the same day at night, Anna-san, Dominique-nee-san, the demon queen, Layla-sama, Creampuff-chan, and I went to take a bath together. Given the size of the bathroom over here, we could easily get in together.
Milord often enters the bath together with his wives after all.
This ship has been built for longer expeditions and thus quite a bit of money has been invested into the construction of the bath to make it spacious and luxurious. In short, it’s a bath suited to receive the demon queen.
“I guess we’ll wash Creampuff at once.”
“Your Majesty, Milord said that it would be fine for us to use this shampoo. Because it’s for dogs, the scent is apparently suppressed.”
“Earl Baumeister created such a shampoo? Nothing less of that man.”
“He is very attentive to detail when it comes to being considerate. Something you wouldn’t expect of an Earl.”
As a matter of fact, this shampoo was developed by Milord after he received requests by many male nobles, begging him, 『A strong aroma for soap and shampoo is a big problem when coming back from going out at night!』. Because it’s just a simple shampoo without scent, it’s no problem whatsoever to use it on dogs either.
But, explaining this to the demon queen would…be bad from an educational standpoint, so I won’t do that.
“First you apply warm water to his whole body except for the head, wetting the fur.”
“Like this, correct?”
Probably because the demon queen personally poured warm water on Creampuff-chan, he was quite docile and obedient. I’m sure he’s a very smart doggie.
“He’s a lot smarter than the dumb mutt Dominique-nee-san kept in the past.”
“Hmph!”
“Ouuuch…”
“Whose dog was dumb!?”
I mean, that mutt…always barked at me! Even if Dominique-nee-san and I are distant relatives, our relationship goes beyond that of real sisters, and yet the dumb mutt never learned it.
“Pero’s judgment might not have been wrong. He just thought your true nature back then was suspicious.”
“I feel like you’re being mean to me here!”
“Ultimately, it was limited to suspicion. Anyway, once you properly wet the fur, you can foam up the whole body with the shampoo.”
Somehow I feel like I was being skillfully deceived…
The demon queen applied the shampoo to Creampuff-chan’s fur, making his body all foamy, but this doggy is truly docile, isn’t he?
“Once you’ve washed the body sufficiently, you wash off the foam with warm water. Make sure that nothing is left.”
“Creampuff, please stay still.”
Apparently comprehending what the demon queen was telling him, Creampuff-chan let himself get washed by her without acting up. Seeing how he seemed to enjoy it, it might be that Creampuff-chan likes baths.
“Is it alright to wash his head as well?”
“Creampuff, close your eyes.”
“Myuu myuu.”
Dogs and cats hate it when you splash water on their heads. Because of that, many owners don’t wash their pet’s head, but Creampuff-chan followed the demon queen’s instructions, closing his eyes and letting her wash the head as well.
“It should be okay with this. All that’s left is to dry the wet body well.”
Probably because of Creampuff-chan’s cleverness, the washing finished much faster than expected.
“He’s become so clean. We will look after Creampuff, so please take a proper bath, Your Majesty,” Ina-sama showed up at just the perfect timing, seeing how we just finished to wipe Creampuff-chan’s body, to pick him up.
She was talking about taking care of him, but her own desires were clearly included in this as well. She probably wants to cuddle the fluffy fur of Creampuff-chan after completely drying him.
I want to do that as well!
“Hmm, it looks like this number of people wasn’t necessary. Your Majesty’s Creampuff-chan is very smart, so it did not take much time and effort.”
“That’s because he’s my servant…”
“Your Majesty, is something the matter?”
Even though we finally washed Creampuff-chan, the demon queen seemed to be worried about something. She stared at Dominique-nee-san fixedly.
“Seeing Layla, Dominique, and Anna, I suddenly wondered: is my chest going to become as big as yours once I grow up…?”
I see. The demon queen will soon reach that age…it’s the same with demons as well, right? It sounds like she worries quite a bit about her chest growing big.
Huh?
“Your Majesty, you forgot my name! Ughuuaah!”
“Is something wrong, Lea?”
“No, it is nothing. Your Majesty, you will grow up like us in due time.”
Dominique-nee-san. Isn’t this weird? I mean, I’m going to become Erwin-sama’s wife very soon…in short, I’m close to being an adult woman. So, why am I not included in that “as big as yours” mentioned by the demon queen? No matter how much of a difference in standing there might be between us, this involves my dignity as a maiden, so I must hear the reason for it at any cost!
“Your Majesty, your skin is so pretty, so I am sure you will become a beauty in the future.”
“Being told something like that makes me feel happy, but I value refining my inner values, knowledge and abilities to guide everyone as ruler, and beauty of heart that loves its subjects over my visible beauty.”
The demon queen didn’t appear to be overly happy about Anna-san’s praise. She’s got fairly high morals for her age. I guess I should expect as much from a demon queen.
“I must train myself much, much more,” she stood up in the bath, striking a daunting pose while making such a declaration.
In the future she should become a beauty, but right now she’s as flat as a washboard. As of yet, she cannot win against me. After all, I do look incredible, if I get naked.
“Lea, you still haven’t slimmed down properly.”
“Dominique-nee-san, please don’t pinch my tummy flesh!”
When going out to shop in the demon country, I ended up buying lots of sweets because they were so cheap! Because Katharina-sama looked like she wanted them really badly, I shared some of it with her in secret.
The next morning, Katharina-sama carefully checked her weight in front of a mirror, but at noon she looked at me with a face as if she wanted some more sweets…ah, sheesh, I don’t know what’s what anymore.
“Creampuff’s washing has finished without a hitch and I also took a proper bath. I’ll get out now.”
“Please wait, Your Majesty.”
“What is it, Layla?”
“You have forgotten to wash your head. Your Majesty, keeping your personal appearance prim and proper is an important duty. You must wash your head every day.”
“Is it really necessary to wash it so often? Creampuff doesn’t wash it every day either.”
“Your Majesty, you and Creampuff are different. Now, come here.”
“But, you see…”
Is Her Majesty possibly bad with washing her head?
“The shampoo could get into my eyes.”
“Please keep your eyes closed then.”
“I might start to feel uneasy if I keep my eyes closed all the time while washing my head.”
I can totally understand that feeling. I didn’t like washing my head during my childhood either.
“Layla, this is an order as queen! Won’t it be alright to wash my head tomorrow?”
“No, that will not do.”
She had given me the impression of being level-headed for her age, but she also has some childish parts to her. Like her hatred towards washing her head.
“Your Majesty, do you dislike closing your eyes during the shampoo phase?”
“Yes! It makes me feel uneasy.”
“In that case…I should give you this.”
Dominique-nee-san left the bathroom for a moment and brought back something from the shelf in the dressing room.
“What is this big, thin donuts-like thing?”
“It is a broad-rimmed topless cap that has been invented by Master. If you put it over your ears like this, you can apply shampoo to your hair while keeping your eyes open.”
Which reminds me, we also had something like that, didn’t we? I’m sure it’ll become necessary when Friedrich and the other children reach an age where they can enter the bath by themselves, but since no one is using it right now, I totally forgot about its existence.
“This is something absolutely indispensable to me! Layla!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Urged by the demon queen, Layla-sama put the shampoo cap on the demon queen’s head and started to wash her pretty, blond hair.
Since she has such nice hair, she should wash it properly every day, I think.
“Wow, you can really wash the hair while keeping your eyes open.”
The demon queen apparently took a liking to the shampoo cap, so there was worth in Dominique-nee-san having recommended it to her.
“Your Majesty, I am done.”
“That shampoo cap is a truly nice thing. Maybe I should buy it from Earl Baumeuster.”
“I agree with that.”
As long as she has the shampoo cap, it’ll make Layla-sama’s work in regards to watching the demon queen’s hair much easier.
“But, don’t shampoo caps exist in the demon country as well?”
Going by the fairly advanced impression the city gave me while I was out shopping, I’d think that someone would come up with the idea of inventing a shampoo cap. Or does that mean our Lord is just that much of a genius?
“Ah, I feel totally refreshed now. Has Creampuff been behaving himself?”
After leaving the bath, the demon queen immediately went to check on Creampuff-chan, but Elise-sama and the other women were doting on him quite a bit. Creampuff-chan was staying very obedient too. Maybe…”
“Does Creampuff-chan like women?”
“Why have you reached that conclusion? Right now he’s being hugged by Doushi and yet he’s remaining docile, isn’t he?”
“Ohh! Even after becoming a puppy, you are quite cute!”
Just as Dominique-nee-san pointed out, Creampuff-chan was obedient even while being hugged by Doushi-sama…eh?
“Dominique-nee-san!”
“What is it?”
“Did you see that just now?”
I saw it! It was just an instant, but the instant Creampuff-chan averted his face from Doushi-sama, he revealed an evil face as you wouldn’t expect from a dog!
To me it looked like he was saying he’s just playing the good boy here because he got no other choice. I witnessed him showing an expression that was completely different from his usual cuteness.
“Dominique-nee-san, you saw it, didn’t you?”
“What? Creampuff-chan is a smart and cute puppy. Isn’t that fine? At least, we need to perceive him in such a way.”
“Okay…”
Afterwards Creampuff-chan became happy as he was being hugged by the demon queen, but is he really a puppy?
If you start questioning it once…no, we’re maids, so if Milord and his friends say he’s a puppy, then he’s a puppy…but, later on I was told by Erwin-sama that Creampuff-chan was actually a dragon child that had been transformed into a puppy with a magic tool. Hearing that, I could totally agree with that explanation.
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