The Village Head was currently visiting the various dungeons, but I was left behind on standby.
I was not pleased.
The complaint slipped out before I could stop myself. That was a lapse in discipline.
It was the Village Head's decision that I should remain behind, and I certainly didn't harbor any actual dissatisfaction with his orders. I was simply struggling to suppress the lingering desire to have gone along with him.
Wait... what?
It wasn't the Village Head who decided I would stay behind, but Lady Frau?
Well, that changed everything. Where was she? I wouldn't rest until I had delivered my grievances directly to her. I intended to be quite firm and clear about it.
So, where was Lady Frau?
Right behind me?
...No, no, I had absolutely no complaints whatsoever. None at all!
Ohohoho... Gyaaaaaah!
Frau had become quite aggressive lately. It felt as though her judgment on when to resort to physical discipline had become much more lenient than before. As someone with noble blood in my veins, I believed it was far more elegant to first attempt a resolution through conversation.
"Submit your complaints in writing later," she told me. "More importantly, have you finished the work you were assigned?"
Even if I submitted them in writing, she would just toss them into the fireplace without a second glance. Paper was a precious resource, so I decided I would write my grievances on a wooden board instead. I would make sure to choose a well-seasoned one that caught fire easily. Last time, I used a board that was far too durable, and my written complaint sat in the hearth for three days. It was mortifying having everyone see my frustrations just sitting there, refusing to burn.
In any case, my work was finished. There was no way I would be complaining over tea if my tasks were still outstanding.
As for my next assignment, I was to participate in a meeting. Though, technically, I was only there as the recorder.
The members gathered in the mansion’s conference room included Lady Lu, Lady Flora, Lady Ann, Sena, and Lady Frau. Lady Hakuren and Lady Rusty were absent due to their pregnancies. Granmaria, Kudel, and Corone were also away, as they were currently serving as Lord Alfred's escort. Lady Yoko was tied up handling trouble in Village Five.
While the circumstances were unavoidable, the empty seats were quite conspicuous. That said, I didn't expect Lady Guronde to be sitting in one of them. She was there as Lady Hakuren's proxy? I see. Well, if Lady Lu and the others accepted her presence, I certainly wasn't going to complain.
I served the tea and we began. Lady Frau urged us to proceed efficiently, as everyone was busy.
As the attendees suggested, this was not a formal council. If it were, there would have been more men present, like Lord Donovan or Daga. Or, failing that, a much larger group of women. This was an informal gathering—officially titled a "Tea Party."
The topics discussed at these tea parties were wide-ranging, but they primarily served as a venue for prior confirmation before any official consultation with the Village Head. To be clear, this wasn't an attempt to manipulate his judgment or suppress anyone's ideas. The main objective was to review upcoming proposals so we could gather related materials and organize information in advance. This ensured that whenever the Village Head had a question, we could provide an answer immediately.
It was an essential part of village administration. We also used the time to consolidate similar requests or coordinate who would present a particular topic. After all, bothering the Village Head with the same question multiple times would be a poor use of his time.
Everyone was well-versed in this routine. We moved through the agenda briskly, and I did my best to record everything accurately, as the minutes would eventually be shown to those who couldn't attend.
Once the business regarding the Village Head was concluded, the reporting moved on to matters that didn't involve him. Specifically, reports on matters we couldn't let the Village Head hear. It wasn't that the content was nefarious; please just understand them as maidenly secrets that shouldn't reach a man's ears. Naturally, I left those off the record.
Finally, the meeting transitioned into a true tea party—a time for idle chatter.
"There are a few items among the tributes from Village Five that I’d like to claim. Is that alright, Frau? You’re the one managing them, right?"
"I have a proposal regarding the education of the children."
"Ah, that sake. I saw Lord Donovan with it earlier."
"I wonder if Ya is truly serious about having children?"
"It’s a bit worrying how Isree sometimes gets that faraway look in her eyes."
"Lord Alfred and Lady Urza's future paths are more or less set, but what are we going to do about Lady Tiselle’s partner?"
Since it was just gossip at this point, I was able to join in. It was quite enjoyable.
Midway through, one of the High Ogre maids arrived with a message for Lady Ann. They had received word that the Village Head had safely departed the Southern Dungeon and was now making his way toward the Northern Dungeon. We didn't anticipate any trouble, but one can never be too cautious. It was a relief to hear that his travels were proceeding smoothly.
The report on the Village Head's movements had caused a brief lull in the conversation. I decided this was the perfect moment to introduce a new topic.
"Speaking of which, I wanted to consult with everyone about Pirika..."
Pirika was a human. Since I was a demon, I often forgot the difference in our lifespans, but considering how humans aged, it wouldn't be strange for someone her age to already have several children. I had asked her recently if she intended to remain single.
"It’s not that she has no desire to marry," I explained to the group. "But she said that if she does, her heart is set on Lord Galf."
"So she wants to be Galf’s second wife?"
"Yes. However, since beastmen generally lean toward monogamy, she’s been holding back out of consideration for his culture."
"If she has the first wife's permission, surely it can be managed?"
"I suspect obtaining that permission is the most difficult hurdle of all..."
"From what I’ve heard, the wife might be open to it, provided Pirika comes to pay her respects properly..."
I felt a little guilty for gossiping about her, but the topic was a huge hit. Other people's romances are, after all, the best nourishment for a young lady’s soul.
What about me?
Well, I've set my sights on the Village Head. Yes, I know I'm a coward who loses her nerve at the last possible second, but I am a maiden. Someday, it will happen. I'm certain of it.