While Clara was talking to Rina, two men were also having a discussion in the office of Eric Dragonherz, Clara's father. Looking at how the two were situated, even an outsider would be able to recognize this scene as a conversation between an employer and an employee.

“Once again, thank you for escorting my dear daughter back.” The employer, and owner of this mansion, who was sitting in a chair behind his work desk, spoke up. “And sorry for the delay. It was already late yesterday when you came back.”

“No, Lord Eric, I was just doing my job.” On the other side of the desk was a man of about the same age as his employer in a knight uniform. Looking at him closely, one could see, that the cape that was usually part of the outfit, was missing. After all, at the behest of his Lady Clara, he had to cut it off to give it to the commoner girl, who was naked at that time.

“You're stiff as usual, Arland. Didn't I ask you to talk to me as usual, when we're alone?”

“Well, then Eric... wasn't it you who just greeted me politely?” The man in knight uniform, Arland, smiled wryly.

“Ahem... Well, how is she?” Eric coughed and forcefully changed the topic.

“The girl has just woken up... Lady Clara is currently talking to her.” Arland didn't mind it and answered his employer's question.

“And how is the state of her mind?”

“Hmm.” The knight brought his right hand to his chin, trying to recall the bits of dialogue he had managed to hear through the door when he had passed the room where the girls were. ”As far as I could tell, she seemed to be sane, but also quite confused by her current situation. She stumbled over her own words quite a bit when she spoke the Lady Clara.”

“Ohhhh! That commoner girl has potential. After all, she was instantly charmed by my cute princess, hahahahaha...”

“... Stupid doting father... We all know that that's not the case.”

“H-hey Arland, you just said it out loud... I'm still practically your boss...”

At those words, the knight gave a deep bow. “Oh my! Excuse. It was on purpose.”

“...”

“...”

“”Pfff...BWAHAHAHA””

After both had a good laugh for a while, they calmed down and the mood turned more serious.

“Now Arland... is what you said yesterday true?”

“Yes, there is no doubt.”

Hearing the answer Eric leaned back on his chair and massaged the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “Dark magic, huh?”

“Yes, I saw her forming a large black magic circle on the ground, when those men were about to attack the young lady.”

“What happened to them?” Eric had been informed the day before that his daughter had almost been attacked by commoners, otherwise, he would probably have exploded in anger.

“They were suddenly pulled to the ground and couldn't move anymore, as if their bodies couldn't support their weight.”

“You say she can change people's weight inside that magic cirlce!?”

“Not only that. When we stepped into that magic circle, nothing happened to us. Her magic only affected those men.”

“So that means that either she can precisely pinpoint the targets of her area of effect spells or...”

“...or the magic seal she placed on the floor was only to activate the seals on their bodies she had placed before when they had groped her.” Arland finished the sentence that Eric began.

“Either way... she must be a genius to cast such spells...”

“What should we do?”

“Hmm... I'm thinking of offering that girl to Duke Lumiére in exchange for an engagement between his eldest son and Clara. They do collect people with a magic talent after all...”

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“The young Lady will be crestfallen by that. Have you already forgotten that she ran away because of that yesterday? Not only that, the young Lady seems to have taken quite a liking to that commoner girl.”

“...”

“Eric... I have a suggestion.”

“Hmm? Let me hear it.” The viscount perked up his ears.

“How about making her Lady Clara's servant and bodyguard?”

“...” Eric's eyes widened at those words.

“If we train her, she could become very strong... at least strong enough to protect the young lady during the demon invasion. After all, she has already protected Lady Clara twice...Then you won't have to marry your daughter off against her will for her happiness.”

“...”

“And don't forget, you wouldn't have to give up Lord Rick's way of life.”

“That's enough Arland. What is going on with you? You seem to be quite in favour of that girl. That's unusual for you. So... why?”

After some hesitation, the knight answered the question. “That girl, she looks much younger than Lady Clara, but still, she didn't even show any fear when she was about to be raped.”

“Maybe she just didn't know what was about to happen to her?”

Arland shook his head. “No... when the young lady intervened, the girl had shouted that those lowlifes were about to do terrible things, so Lady Clara had to run away as quickly as possible.”

“I see...”

“And when I later looked into her eyes, they didn't reflect any fear or panic or whatsoever at all. Those eyes are usually on people that had seen the pits of hell. They said that she would never despair, no matter what. I can't imagine what had happened to her still young life, but I think a person with that mindset around Lady Clara will be very valuable in the future.”

“...”

“... and I don't want to imagine what the Lumiéres would do to such a strong-willed girl like her. They are known for their sadistic and perv...”

“That's enough!... Arland, don't talk like that about a ducal family, that even holds the prime Minister's seat... I don't want to see you hanged for this if they hear you.”

“Excuse me.” The knight bowed deeply once again, this time more sincerely.

“... I understand your standpoint... let me think about it. At a later point, I'll talk to her myself later and decide afterwards... You can go for now.”

“Alright, see you later.”

*Clack*

As soon as Arland had left the room, Eric relaxed in his chair. On the one hand, he wanted to live out his family's credo and follow the rule of noblesse oblige... those who have power and strength should use it and take responsibility for those who don't. On the other hand, as the head of a traditional aristocratic house, he had to protect his subjects, his family, and first and foremost his beloved daughter... even if she ended up hating him.

Unable to find an answer, he looked up to the ceiling, or rather through the ceiling, to the heavens where the soul of his idol and hero rested.

“What should I do, Father?”

***

“Will you serve me?”

“...”

“I want you to be my personal maid, helping me in my daily life. Then, in a few years, I want you to accompany me to the Royal Knight Academy and assist me there.”

“...”

“In return, I offer you, besides a maid's salary, a place to sleep, an education that is usually reserved for nobles, and my protection from any danger. Incidents like that from yesterday will never happen to you again. And I promise that I will never mistreat you.”

“...”

“So, what do you say? I think it's a good offer for you.”

At first, Rina was doubtful, as the offer was too good to be true. After all, in both lives combined, especially with yesterday's events, she had gathered more than enough experience of getting into 'too-good-to-be-true' situations and getting hurt by them as a result.

But didn't she already decide that she wouldn't mind getting hurt, abused, or whatsoever anymore? After all, she was about to let those men do whatever they wanted. So why not direct that attitude towards the cute, blonde girl instead? That way she could even be at the girl's side, something that she had never experienced, even in her previous life. Wasn't this the epitome of a win-win- situation?

When Rina looked up at Clara, she was met with a gentle smile, crystal-clear, blue eyes, that brimmed with honesty, and an outstretched hand as if to signal to her to take it.

“An angel...” Rina muttered unconsciously.

The fact that Clara was standing between her and the window, through which the morning sun was shining, created the illusion that Clara had just descended from heaven to reach out to her. Especially when her blonde hair reflected the sunlight, giving the impression that she was embraced by a holy hue.

Thinking back to the day before, it was Clara who had appeared out of nowhere and saved Rina from being raped. Although it was bearable, Rina did feel disgusted by the hands that were groping her body at that time. No, that was putting it too lightly. Back then, she had to be careful not to throw up every time one of those men's fingers crawled across her skin. Wouldn't that mean that only hell awaited her, once those men entered her? Was it really possible for her to endure that? Maybe. Maybe not. In the end, she was glad, that she didn't have to find that out. So she was very grateful to the noble girl.

And now, the girl had stretched out her hand and asked Rina to serve her.

Looking at the blonde and her angel-like illusion, Rina could feel her face heating up. Of course, she knew what it meant.

'I'm already in love with her, aren't I?'

She was too familiar with this situation. In her previous life, there were several girls at school who had directed their goodwill at her.

When Rina had dropped a pen once, the girl sitting next to her picked it up for her...

When she was carrying a heavy trash bin, a girl passing by offered to help her lift it...

When she was on class duty and had to clean the classroom, a girl who was also on duty helped her...

When she was talked to by a girl...

When she was smiled at by a girl...

Every time, without any exception, Rina fell in love with them, imagined being together with them, got hurt when she realised that there was no way her fantasies would come true, and cried herself into sleep. She hated that she was able to fall for multiple girls at once. She hated that she could fall in love so easily. She hated how cheap she was. She hated that she was so starving for love. That's why she had distanced herself from all the girls in her past life. To protect herself from getting disappointed, from getting hurt, and from despairing that no one had ever returned her feelings.

This time, too. Rina was already in love with the girl called Clara. Isn't everything repeating itself again?

No.

Things had changed. Rina's mindset had changed. She no longer wished for her feelings to be reciprocated. So this time, she wouldn't run away from girls anymore. Instead, she wanted to see the girls she had fallen in love with to be happy.

So Rina looked back at Clara... and grabbed the outstretched hand that was patiently waiting.

“Yes, allow me to be by your side.”