"Right this way. Master is waiting for you."
"Okay."
The current household, known as the New House Randol, was the baronetcy Elsa had established, now inherited by her older brother, Moritz.
Since the servants were well aware of this history, they did not let their respectful demeanor slip for a moment.
"You as well, Mine-sama. Please, come in."
"Eh? Ah, yes."
They had also been informed that Mine, who had once been their fellow maid, was actually Elsa’s biological mother. This made Mine the mother of the woman who had restored the once-dissolved House Randol.
"Please, don't be so formal. You are Elsa-sama's mother now, after all."
It seemed none of the staff harbored any envy upon learning the truth. However, Mine was still not used to being waited on by her former colleagues, and the treatment left her quite flustered.
"Edgar, was it? This way, please."
"Yes, thank you."
Word had evidently been sent ahead regarding the automata Elsa had created; Edgar was accepted into the household without a second thought. This was all part of Reinhard’s meticulous arrangements.
Led by the steward Cedric, Elsa, Mine, and Edgar stepped through the front entrance of the Randol Mansion.
"First, the Grand Master and Grand Madam are waiting for you."
"Where is Ani-sama?"
"Yes, Master... Moritz-sama is expecting a messenger from Loizart today, and he has not yet finished his preparations."
"I see."
Elsa was curious about the nature of the messenger, but she felt it would be inappropriate to press the issue now. She decided to prioritize the meeting with those Cedric called the "Grand Master and Grand Madam"—her father, Georg, and her stepmother, Marlene.
"Please, come in."
The door was already open, and her stepmother Marlene was waiting at the entrance.
"Welcome back, Elsa. And welcome to you, Mine-san."
"Mother, I'm home."
"Madam, it has been far too long."
Marlene offered Mine a warm smile. "Mine-san, you aren't a servant anymore, so please, relax."
Mine responded to the kind words with a bashful look. "Yes, thank you... though I fear this is just my nature..."
While the two "mothers" exchanged greetings, Elsa stepped into the room.
"Wel, come, ho, me, El, sa."
"Father, I'm home."
Georg appeared to be in much better spirits, though his speech remained halting and labored.
Is it brain damage after all? Elsa wondered.
Unfortunately, even Elsa’s Healing magic was not a miracle cure. It could not regenerate brain cells that had already died. Nevertheless, Georg’s expression was peaceful.
"How, is, mar, ried, life? Are, things, go, ing, well?"
The fact that he was asking such questions was proof of his significant recovery.
"Yes. I’m happy every day."
"I, see. That, is, good."
Elsa spent a while exchanging idle words with her father. The two mothers had stepped out, leaving her to enjoy a quiet, gentle moment as the soft autumn sunlight filtered through the window.
"Dear, it's time for your meal."
Around 11:30 AM, Marlene arrived, personally pushing a cart carrying lunch.
"Mother."
"It looks like you two had a good talk," Marlene said to Elsa in a low voice, careful not to let Georg hear. "Mine-san is in the dining hall, so why don't you head over?"
"Re, ne."
"Yes, dear?"
Georg’s face lit up with a smile as he looked at Marlene. The paralysis in his face seemed to have cleared up considerably. Elsa left them to Marlene’s care and headed for the dining hall.
"Mother."
Upon entering the hall, Elsa found Mine sitting at the table. She had expected Mine to be helping with the lunch preparations.
"I thought I'd help out, but they won't let me," Mine admitted.
"Because you are a guest," the Chef’s voice called out from the kitchen.
"See?"
Elsa giggled and took a seat next to Mine. "...How was he?"
Elsa immediately understood that Mine was asking about Georg. "He seems much better."
"I see."
Mine didn’t have many pleasant memories of Georg, so her reserved reaction was understandable.
"Elsa, sorry for the wait."
The voice belonged to Elsa’s older brother, Moritz, the current head of the Baronet Randol family.
"Ani-sama. Is your work finished?"
"Yeah, I’ve reached a stopping point. Besides, it’s time for lunch."
"That's true."
"Moritz-sama, it has been quite a while."
"Ah, Mine. It’s good to see you looking so well."
"You are too kind."
"You’re being too formal. You aren't our maid anymore, so please, speak to me as you would anyone else."
"Yes, thank you. The Grand Madam told me the same, but habits learned over many years are hard to break..."
Though Mine had once been a servant, she was now Elsa’s mother, making her someone Moritz treated with respect. Mine, however, was clearly struggling to adapt. This was the first time she had ever sat at the same table as the head of the house for a meal.
"Well, I suppose it can't be helped. Just take your time getting used to it."
Lunch was served shortly after. It consisted of white rice porridge, a miso-based soup, a small steak, and a vegetable salad.
"I’ve started eating this 'rice' for lunch lately," Moritz noted. "It really seems to suit my palate. This 'miso' as well."
Jin had apparently provided a great deal of instruction on proper terminology, and the mispronunciations of "misho" and "binpei" were beginning to vanish across the Shouro Empire.
"Yes, it’s quite good."
Moritz alternated between eating the porridge and sipping the soup.
The dashi is a little weak, Elsa noted privately. Still, it was certainly good enough to be called delicious. Hourai Island was simply in a league of its own.
While the Randol family didn't engage in loud chatter at the table, they maintained a pleasant, light conversation.
"Ani-sama, I heard a messenger is coming from Loizart."
"Yes, that’s right. I got word via pigeon post that they should arrive shortly after noon."
In the Empire, "pigeon post" was generally managed by the lords or their direct subordinates. In the town of Ekishi, House Randol maintained the pigeon loft and handled the official correspondence with the capital, Loizart.
"Is it trouble?" Elsa asked, noticing the troubled look on her brother’s face.
"It certainly seems that way," Moritz replied.