"Master Takebayashi, it is nearly time for the meeting."
"Thank you. I'll be ready in a moment."
Lulunese-san had come to fetch me just as the day was turning.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Are you quite all right? It is already very late."
"I'm fine. In the past, I used to go hunting at night. Sometimes I'd get so caught up in my research that I wouldn't even notice the sun coming up. Besides, thank you for all the hospitality."
At the moment, several slimes were crawling freely around the guest room I’d been assigned. Eins and the other Rimur Birds were likely relaxing in the specialized stables for avian magic beasts. As for me, while waiting for the meeting, I’d been engrossed in a few magic books from the mansion's collection that had been recommended to me.
The service here was perfect from start to finish. I was being thoroughly spoiled.
"If there is anything else you require, please do not hesitate to ask. Now, shall we?"
In the hallway, magic tools mounted on the walls emitted a faint, steady glow. It was dim, but more than enough to see where we were going.
However...
"Lulunese-san, may I ask you something?"
"Anything at all."
"Thank you. I’ve been getting a strange sensation for a while now... are there many barriers in this area?"
"Barriers? Well, the barrier mages on the security detail do maintain several layers for protection. But there shouldn't be anything special about this specific hallway."
That was strange. Ever since I’d left my room, I’d felt a subtle sense of dissonance. It was most frequent at corners and doorways. It felt like my location was being tracked or someone was aware of my movements... but it didn't feel like hostile surveillance.
When I described this vague feeling, something seemed to click for Lulunese-san. She stopped and turned back to me.
"That might be the House Fairies."
"House... fairies?"
I knew fairies were classified as magic beasts and could even be tamed. Were there some living in this mansion?
"I’ve heard that fairy species usually stay in the wild, but on rare occasions, they take up residence in old buildings. We maintain this estate as needed, but the structure itself is ancient. I hear reports of fairy sightings every now and then."
She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world and resumed walking.
"Does that happen often?"
"It does. The Young Lady was here until about six months ago, after all. It’s said that people with high magic power are more likely to sense their presence or see them. The Young Lady and her personal attendants often mentioned spotting them. I’ve seen them a few times myself. I’ve also heard they gather out of curiosity whenever guests arrive from distant lands or rare items are delivered."
Apparently, House Fairies didn't harm the owner or their guests; instead, they were seen as guardian deities that protected the home and its residents. In Japan, they'd be called Zashiki-warashi.
"So there are fairies like that here...?"
The sensation suddenly vanished.
"It’s rare for any fairy to show itself willingly, and they tend to hide if you go looking for them. The Young Lady used to drag her maids along on searches quite often, but she never found a single one while she was actually looking."
"I see."
"It is probably best not to pay them too much mind. I’ve heard that if they decide you’re fun to mess with, they might start playing pranks on you."
Real-life fairies. I wanted to see one, but if that was the case, I decided to put it out of my mind for the time being.
As we talked, we arrived at the meeting room.
"Excuse me...?"
There was no response, and for a moment I thought we were the first ones there, but then I saw Hughes.
He was motionless, his cheek resting on his hand at the round table in the center of the room. He must have arrived early and taken the seat of honor, but was he unwell? He looked completely drained... wait, was he asleep?
As I got closer, I could hear the faint sound of snoring.
"Is he like this again...?"
"Again?"
"Lately, whenever I see him at night, he's in this state."
He was likely exhausted from the promotion training I'd heard about earlier. While his personality and the trust he earned from the other guards were impeccable, the massive influx of clerical work was clearly his Achilles' heel. He was starting to remind me of a student cramming for exams.
"I’m happy that he’s taking our future so seriously, but I worry he'll ruin his health."
She looked around the room, as if searching for a blanket or something to drape over his shoulders.
While I was feeling a bit of a contact-glow from her casual display of affection, the door behind us opened.
"Oh?"
"Ah, excuse me."
I turned to see a middle-aged man entering with a basket that smelled absolutely delicious.
"And who might you be...?"
"Batz-san, this is Master Takebayashi. He is the one who saved my husband's life and is crafting the statues of the gods for us."
"Ah... right. I did hear you would be joining the meeting. So, it's you—or rather, you, sir. Forgive my late introduction. My name is Batz. I am the Head Chef of this estate."
"I’m Ryoma Takebayashi. It’s a pleasure to meet you. And thank you for the wonderful dinner tonight."
"Ah, so the menu was to your liking? That is good to hear."
I wasn't sure what it was, but this man felt nostalgic to me.
It might be rude to say, but while he seemed gentle and soft-spoken, he didn't have much of an authoritative air about him. He didn't look very tall to begin with, and his slight hunch made him look even shorter and somewhat frail. Between the wrinkles of age on his face and his thinning hair... he gave off the strong impression of a father who had no place at home, or perhaps a middle-management salaryman who’d been pushed aside.
"Thank you for coming yourself tonight, Head Chef."
"Not at all. I want to make sure my daughter’s big day is as perfect as it can be."
"Daughter?"
Wait, what? Were they actually related? Batz-san looked like a human, but Lulunese was cat-kin.
"Batz-san has looked after me since I was a child. He is like a real father to me."
Noticing my confusion, Batz-san elaborated.
"Her parents were a maid and a guard here. They were my benefactors and took great care of me when I was still an apprentice. I wanted to repay that kindness, and while I was looking after her, I eventually started thinking of her as my own daughter."
"Both of my parents died in an accident while on duty when I was very young," Lulunese added. "Lord Reinbach couldn't bear to see me left alone, so he allowed me to live here as an Apprentice Maid. The people who work here are my colleagues, but they are also like my parents and siblings."
"...I see. So that was the story."
I’d thought it was a bit unusual for the ducal family to lend out the mansion grounds for a servant's wedding. Knowing the Jamils, I’d accepted it as their usual kindness, but there was more to it. She had been a playmate to Reinhardt when they were children and had served as Elise's personal attendant when she first married into the family.
Having grown up in the mansion, Lulunese was highly respected for her experience, skill, and loyalty. She was trusted with very important roles.
"To think that little girl who couldn't do a lick of work is finally getting married," Batz sighed.
"You've told that story a dozen times... I only made it this far because no one gave up on me back then."
"Maybe so, but I think most of the long-term staff feel the same way."
Lulunese’s face turned a faint shade of red, and she fell silent.
"Master Takebayashi..."
"Ah, please, just call me Ryoma. You don't need to be so formal."
I might be a guest, but I wanted them to feel comfortable around me. Since I was helping with the wedding, I didn't want them to feel like they had to walk on eggshells. Even if social standing mattered, I wanted it set aside for this meeting.
When I made the request, Batz nodded.
"Ryoma-kun, you're a friend of Hughes, right?"
"Yes. We haven't known each other that long, but he's been very kind to me."
"I see. In that case, I want you to stay on his side. It’s not that I dislike him or that I'm against the marriage... but it seems we can't help but be a little hard on him."
With a wry, warm smile, Batz gently set the basket on the table.
"Nn... huh?"
"Oh, you're awake?"
"Crap, did I fall asleep? Boss Batz, is the meeting over?"
"It hasn't even started. This is a meeting for a very important ceremony. If the groom is snoring away, someone is bound to wake him up, right?"
"I guess you're right. Oh, Ryoma and Lulunese are here too?"
"We've been here for a while."
"Good work today, Hughes."
"You finally noticed. I wonder if the groom will really be okay like this... if you ever do anything to make Lulunese cry, the stress will make my hair fall out. If that happens, I'll be even more self-conscious about my head than I am now. I might just 'accidentally' drop some hair growth tonic into your dinner while I'm cooking."
"Keep your old-man tonic out of my food! And don't force yourself to be snarky like that. That whole speech was way too long and roundabout... and besides, I have no intention of making her cry in the first place!"
"I certainly hope that remains true forever."
Batz probably wasn't the type to say things like that normally. However, his inner feelings were clearly complicated.
As someone who had never been a parent, that specific sentiment was something I couldn't fully grasp. Everyone has their own burdens and their own ways of caring.
I stepped back and watched the three of them—Batz, Hughes, and Lulunese standing between them.
Gradually, more people began to trickle into the room, and before long, the meeting was underway.