— The next day, Ai's room.
The mansion's servants noticed Envy's absence and soon resumed their duties with Ai.
"Miss, wake up." A servant opens the door.
"I don't want to."
"Miss, it's noon..." The servant starts to gently shake Ai, trying to wake her up.
"I don't want to!"
"Your father is waiting for you for lunch."
"I don't want to!"
I think I know why her other maid left... Still, she's adorable.
"He wants to talk to you, as you will be going to the capital tomorrow-"
Ai would suddenly sit up.
"I'm too hungry to sleep."
"Y-yes... So suddenly?"
"By the way, what's your name?"
"I am your servant, Riliel, young mistress."
"I'm usually in the back area, so you probably haven't recognized me."
"It's a pleasure!"
The servant would feel a twinge in her heart seeing the young lady smile so warmly.
The reason I have little contact comes down to two issues. The first is that after my mother's disappearance, the atmosphere in the mansion was a bit strange. Things like 'accursed child' or 'illegitimate daughter' were normal.
Rumors tend to be a way for servants to draw attention from others. If it doesn't work, they keep escalating the rumor until they capture the interest of their targets. It's a mechanism our dear brains invented to get answers without asking questions. If you want to dispel a rumor, just deny it.
The second reason, well... I'm a bit antisocial... Just a bit.
"N-no... The pleasure is mine, miss." Oh, god... What's so accursed about this girl? It's like she's...
"If you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave."
"Yes!"
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An angel!
The servant leaves the room with a neutral expression. As soon as she closed the door, her strange fetishes escaped her control and took over her facial muscles.
After a few minutes, Ai would finish getting ready.
"The time has come." Until now, I had thought of ways to promote my beloved sweets, but my mother's disappearance had thwarted my plans. Damn uncertainty.
But now...
Ai heads to the dining room.
"Good morning, daddy!" Ai addresses him in an extremely affectionate manner as she sits down.
"Daughter... How did you sleep?"
"Good!"
"I'm glad to see you like this... Have a seat."
With the help of a servant, Ai would sit in the chair that was twice her size.
"And, what happened to your maid?"
"She said she had to leave for a while! But I miss her."
"I-understand." She left her... Well, at least she didn't harm her.
"But I know she'll come back!" Ai would once again show her angelic side.
Those present in the room responded by taking deep breaths to calm their hearts.
"What's that you have there?" Kirei might notice a small box next to Ai.
"Sugar!" She continues eating.
"Oh, I see... Sugar, huh..."
...
"Sugar? Why do you have that?"
"Envy gave it to me! She says they sell it in the city!"
"What!? Nonsense, sugar is almost like a relic in the empire." Kirei takes the small pot of sugar from Ai, slightly excited, and proceeds to open it. He then dips his finger in it to coat it with sugar and taste it.
Disgusting! Damn it, go back to your original series. Why is he sticking his dirty finger in-?
"Delicious! It's very sweet!"
Hmph... I guess I'll let your animal-like behavior slide this time.
"Although the one in the empire is finer..."
He undoubtedly wants to die-!
"But this one is sweeter!"
Hmph.
Ai takes another bite while, for some reason, she feels accomplished.
"Didn't Envy tell you where they sell it?"
"She said in the center! At a new store!"
"Hmm, I see... Let me know when she returns, I'll inquire about it."
Kekekek... Mortal. Now he'll start a fuss to find where they sell sugar in his fiefdom, and the rumors will spread throughout the territory.
"On another note, Ai... Your father needs to attend to some matters in the capital of the empire, so he will be leaving this week."
"You'll leave me alone?" She says with a look of regret.
"Ahem... I'll be back in 4, no, 3 days. Is that alright with you?"
"Yes!"
"Good, good... For now, Silvia will be in charge of you." He pets her head.
"Silvia?"
"Yes. Silvia was your mother's former maid, but right now she doesn't have many tasks in the mansion."
"I understand!" A maid brought by the viscount of his fiefdom. She probably helped and protected Vivian in her illicit plans against the baron. And one more thing, she also knows about the embezzlement carried out in this mansion by my father's steward, Michael Quinn. I don't know the reasons why he hides it, but we all form a perfect symbiosis in the mansion.
After the meal, Kirei set off for the capital with almost half of the servants, and Ai returned to her room to continue digesting.
— Hours later.
Ai would be sipping tea and reading, her usual routine.
"Hee... So they already understand the concept of gravity here..." She takes a sip of tea.
Now that Envy and Dorothea have gone to the border, things are much quieter, except for one thing.
Apparently, the wandering spirits can sense Miyamoto, and they can also enter the subconscious space I formed within my soul, where she practices fencing. That leads to moments where I find them in strange ways.
"STOP DRINKING TEA IN MY MIND!"
I can't stand it... It feels like a couple is having intimate relations in the apartment next door. It's really uncomfortable.
"DAMN IT!"
The gardener couldn't understand what problem the strange girl had, who screamed and played alone in her room all day. Once again...
The work gets weirder every day...