Swinging on the last carriage of the night, Bernard returned home.

Even though he hadn’t been able to organize his thoughts, Eric came to report on the day’s happenings.

That, because the tiling on the roof had deteriorated completely, they would need to be re-covered. The ceiling boards and flooring of the attic were in a similar state.

“What, the ceiling has to be repaired too?”

“It seems like bugs had been living there.”

Looking at the quote, he unconsciously clicked his tongue  .

“And then, about the materials for the roof–“

While the repairs could be done with the same terra cotta tiles, they were told that if they wanted the tiles painted, it would cost extra.

“It seems, the roof tiles are originally brown and painted blue afterward.”

“Is that so.”

The circumstances surrounding the original color were that the then-wife of the Orlellian House wished to construct a house like one that would appear in a fairy tale. And thus, a house with white walls and a blue roof was completed.

“And as such, if the tiles were to be painted in the same blue hue, it would amount to approximately this.”

“Hm?”

The quote for the extra charge was handed over by Eric. Astonished at the amount, Bernard’s eyes opened wide.

“Wha’s this!”

“It seems that the materials for producing blue paint are expensive.”

“We don’t need to paint them!”

“But it seems that if painted, the roof tiles last a bit longer.”

“… No, for now, it’s fine.”

“Understood.”

At present, they were barely scraping by with just the repair expenses. If he became interested in adding color to the roof tiles, he decided he’d paint it himself.

The next thing that was reported was Agnes’ doctor’s bill. It was less than he had expected.

“Oi, what about the hush money for the doctor?”

“We called a doctor who is an acquaintance of Dominic. His mouth is sealed.”

“Is that so…”

He said that her fever had gone down compared to the morning, she had no appetite, and she had been laying in bed.

He thought that today’s happenings (in regard to Agnes) were nothing in particular to talk about or listen to.

“Even so, it’s awful, all of this is.”

The repair expenses totaled to ten gold coins.

It was how much Bernard earned in two months of work as a knight.

He said that due to the roof’s strange shape, they had to order special tiles to match it, and so, the price skyrocketed.

“It seems that, if negotiated, the payment can be made in installments.”

“Just pay it all off at once.”

“Understood.”

After seeing Eric off from the room, he let out a deep sigh.

While he had his monthly allowance from his parents, that mostly disappeared after paying the servants’ wages.

He hardened his determination after thinking there was nothing to do but to get by somehow.

　◇◇◇

To refresh himself before dinner, Bernard headed toward the bathroom.

On the way, he stopped in front of the guest room that Agnes was resting in.

He was in a state of uncontrollable curiosity/interest about what she was really like.

He thought that, even if it was just the reason that she glared at him five years ago, he wanted to know.

However, he hesitated, questioning if it was okay to enter the room of an unmarried woman. But, he was the lord of the estate, and Agnes was his employee. He realized that there was nothing improper about it.

Luckily, there was no sign of anyone being about.

Thinking that it would be fine if he quickly asked her and left, he opened the door.

The living room was pitch black. Relying on the moonlight that shone in through the window, he headed toward the bedroom.

Just in case, he knocked on the door, but there was no response.

Because he had thought about overstaying as well, he just decided to enter.

The bedroom was lit only by a hand-lantern placed next to the bed. The area was dim and faint.

“… Hey”

This time, he had tried calling out to her in front of the door, but even here, there was no answer.

Thinking that he could not back out after coming this far, he rapidly walked up to the bed with big strides.

He thought that even if he had to wake her up, he would ask about what happened five years ago.

The face that was illuminated by the lamplight was dim, framed with pallor, and covered in sweat.

Her sleeping face appeared to be in pain.

“Agnes Le Verges.”

In a low voice, he called her name.

Though he had thought that she would not be roused by such a small voice, Agnes opened her eyes slightly.

Though he had defiantly barged into the room, when their eyes met, he was startled, and his chest started pounding.

He started to feel as if he were doing something bad.

From her glance, he tried to discern how she felt.

In the quiet room, they had only met eyes for an instant before Agnes let out a surprised exclamation.

“–Aah, Mother”

“Hah!?”

“I’ve been thinking about how I had wanted to see you all this time”

Agnes held her shivering, frail hand out from the futon.

Bernard was looking down at this scene with incredulous eyes.

“Mo, ther…”

“No, I’m not your mother.”

Even as he pointed out this misunderstanding, he gripped Agnes’ wrist and roughly put her hand back inside the futon.

When he looked at her face more closely, he realized that her eyes were drowsier than usual and that her consciousness was fuzzy.

He had heard that Agnes’ mother had passed away in her infancy.

Once he spotted tears forming in the corners of her eyes, he felt a little pity.

“… I-I apologize.”

“?”

He peered into Agnes’s face to see if she had yet to regain consciousness.

But, what she would say next was completely beyond expectations.

“–Mother.”

Bernard, upon hearing this, became dumbfounded on the spot.

Agnes continued to speak.

“I can’t go there yet.”

“Don’t die, don’t die!”

To her delirious speech, he quipped back at her.

“You, just, go to sleep!!”

While he had said that, Agnes’ speech didn’t end there.

“Once I have returned my favor to Orlellian-sama, I’ll head th–“

“I-I’m telling ya, don’t die yet!”

After ordering, “listen, sleep,” he brought up the futon that was at her chest and pulled it up to her shoulders before leaving the bedroom.

After making sure nobody was in the hallway, he left Agnes’ room behind.

Entering the bathroom, he started to think about Agnes’ mystery which was only increasingly growing deeper.

As to what the favor that she owed him was. He combed through his memories, but he came up with nothing.

Covering his head in hot water, he briskly washed his hair and body and submerged himself in the bathtub.

–It’s useless, I dunno.

For now, he put off Agnes’ questioning to a later date.

The next day, he was informed by Giselle of Agnes’ condition, and that she was on her way to a steady recovery.

While the person in question had stated that she was ready to work, just in case, she was ordered to rest a little longer.

“Master, is that okay with you?”

“Aah, just do as you will”

“Thank you.”

“Though, with the repairman coming to start repairs on the roof and attic, it’s not going to be a very restful environment.”

“Well, that can’t be helped, huh.”

He instructed Giselle to properly care for Agnes.

As the time for the carriage to come drew near, Bernard left the house.

　◇◇◇

In the morning, Lazarre came by to say his thanks.

“Sorry for making you do something so tiresome yesterday.”

Because Agnes hadn’t come around to the orphanage, it seemed as if she weren’t there.

Bernard wavered, wondering if he should talk about Agnes here. But, in that space of that moment, Lazarre left the office room, stating he had to go to a meeting.

While he was feeling impatient about having lost the chance to speak, someone came to visit.

When the door opened, he was a little surprised to see someone he knew.

–Ernesto Barthélemon.

A member of the elite guards to the second prince, he was the second son of a marquess.

He remembered him as a person who would chase after the coattails of women on duty, the worst, the lowest, a bastard.

The last time they had met was three years ago, at the place the tea party hosted by the second prince took place.

To Bernard, who was making a surprised face, Ernesto greeted him as if they had met for the first time.

He had probably forgotten about the events that had occurred three years ago.

“Yo yo, morning–“

“Ah!!”

There, Bernard remembered.

That, three years ago, there was an incident where he had met Agnes in the rose garden by chance, and that he had helped her run away from Ernesto, who was chasing after her.

He felt refreshed, feeling that the mystery of the favor and thanks she had talked about was solved.

“Hey you, suddenly letting out a loud voice like that, you surprised me!”

“Aa, I’m sorry.”

In response to his behavior being pointed out, he returned to his senses.

He informed Ernesto of the absence of the commanding officer, but he was told that the stand-in commanding officer, Bernard, would fare perfectly fine.

Ernesto sat down on the offered bench with a flump.

“So, the task at hand is?”

“Ahh, I was thinking that I wanted someone to search for someone for me.”

A single sheet of paper was placed on top of the desk.

“–?”

What was there was some kind of picture that was drawn of something that couldn’t be distinguished between male or female. On the top of the paper was written, “To anyone who saw this woman, ten gold coins.”

“This is–?”

“It’s a portrait of Agnes Le Verges. I drew it of course.”

“Hah?”

While holding the picture further out in Bernard’s direction, he haughitly asked if Bernard wouldn’t search for her.

“It’s a wonderful task that even has a monetary reward. Consider it an honor.”

“Nah, or rather, who is this order coming from?”

“From me.”

He thought this was unbelievable.

Why the “3rd Special Assault corps” would have no choice but to carry out a private mission.

“If you found Agnes Le Verges, what would you do?”

“Ahh, I was thinking that I would shut away the pitiful girl, y’know.”

Shutting her away meant that he would make her his lover. Bernard looked at Ernesto with a hard-to-believe expression.

“I cannot accept a private mission that has no approval from a superior.”

“Normally, huh.”

He brushed it aside with a calm demeanor, stating that was the purpose of the ten gold coin reward.

“The thrill of the danger of ushering in the daughter of the Le Verges House that bought displeasure over the King, you know?”

That was a statement that pierced through even Bernard, himself.

It wasn’t something that should be done so casually.

“I’m telling you, that’s why there’s a ten gold reward.”

“A reward as well as hush money, is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s it. If she were to be hiding in the basement of the house, there’s no way she’d be seen.”

Furthermore, Ernesto said he had heard some welcome news. It was something that he had gained the right to say because he was a member of the imperial guards.

“If you find Agnes Le Verges for me, on top of the ten gold coins, I’ll support you in a meeting for promotions.”

However, he wanted Bernard to take caution to not spread this information widely. He was told to keep the number of people he told within five, even in his unit. While gazing at him from above, Ernesto declared that.

“If the rumor spreads, I’ll be in trouble, so. Ahh, right.”

Ernesto produced a gold-embedded leather bag from his purse/handbag/pocket.

“This is?”

“It’s hush money for keeping quiet about this mission.”

“…”

With Ernesto still in front of him, Bernard let out a deep sigh.

Letting Ernesto know that he would be entrusting all information related to this situation to his commanding officer, he requested that Ernesto please leave.

“Well, I’m relying on you.”

“…”

Without responding, he silently closed the door.

—

Character Introduction:

Bernard Orlellian

20 years-old, brown hair, brown eyes, height: 183 cm

The fifth son of a rural aristocrat. A young man who lives in a mansion in the outskirts of the royal capital.

Has a blunt personality. Can’t go against his servant who is his former wet nurse, Giselle.

His monthly salary is five gold coins (50,000 yen)

 

Agnes Le Verges

19 years-old, blonde hair, blue eyes, height: 163cm

The only daughter of the renowned Le Verges family, which fell into ruin.

Quiet and well-behaved personality.

 

The Servant Family

Giselle Balzac

48 years-old, blonde hair, blue eyes, height: 173cm

Bernard’s former wet nurse. Has a realistic view as a servant. An attractive old lady with blonde hair and blue eyes (MILF)

Candid personality.

 

Dominic Balzac

51 years-old, black hair, black eyes, height: 190cm

Giselle’s husband. Gardener. A man large like a bear.

Taciturn personality.

 

Eric Balzac

27 years-old, black hair, blue eyes, height: 179cm

Giselle’s eldest son. Butler.

While he displays an amiable expression, he has an indifferent/candid/frank? personality.

 

Clarisse Balzac

24 years-old, black hair, blue eyes, height: 163cm

Giselle’s eldest daughter. Left the house two months ago after getting married.

Lives in the royal capital.

 

Aaron/Aren Balzac

20 years-old, black hair, blue eyes, height: 178cm

Gizelle’s second son. Cook. A candid personality that takes after his mother’s. The closest to Bernard.

 

Carol Balzac

14 years-old, black hair, blue eyes, height: 153cm

Giselle’s second daughter. Twins with Celia.

Is learning how to becoming a servant by watching while attending school in the royal capital.

 

Celia Balzac

14 years-old, black hair, blue eyes, height: 153cm

Giselle’s third daughter. Twins with Carol.

Is learning how to becoming a servant by watching while attending school in the royal capital.

 

Knight Company Officials

Jibril Noailles

20 years-old, ash-colored hair, green eyes, height: 173cm

Bernard’s former colleague. Child/baby-faced.

Talkative personality.

 

Lazarre Shillay

35 years-old, brown hair, black eyes, height: 180cm

Bernard’s superior. Commanding officer of the 3rd special assault forces.

Very passionate, but unrelenting during training.

 

Ernesto Baltemon

23 years-old, blonde hair, green eyes, height: 177cm

Member of the Second Prince’s Imperial Forces. Second son of the family of a marquess.

A light personality that loves girls.