𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦
Surveying the town, they headed towards the lord’s mansion.
The town was quite expansive and bustling with activity. There were several taverns and a few general stores. Ashe and the group expressed a desire to shop after such a long time, but first, they headed to greet the acting lord, whose residence was on a small hill.
Upon arriving at the lord’s mansion, they were taken aback by the vastness of its grounds and. . . . . . a peculiar smell. Albero and the others frowned slightly at the odor.
They opened the gates of the lord’s mansion and stood before its grand doors.
Kid spoke to Yorha.
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“Hey, what’s with this stench?”
“Fufufu. You’re in for a surprise.”
“Just spill it. Being coy is one of your worst traits.”
“. . . . . .”
“H, Hey, Kid. . . . . .”
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Yorha twitched her eyebrows and cheeks while still smiling. Among all, only Kid could show such audacity towards Yorha, a royal member of the Asgard Kingdom.
Ignoring Kid’s question, Yorha cleared her throat and knocked on the door of the lord’s mansion.
The door opened, revealing a girl of the same age as Albero and the others.
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“Yes. . . . . .Yo, Yorha-sama?! I’m sorry for not greeting you at the door.”
“No worries, it’s been a while, Yuisis. Is Bartholomew around?”
“Yes, my mother is in the office. . . . . .Could it be?”
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The girl called Yuisis looked at Albero and the group.
Yorha gently pushed Albero to the front.
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“This is Baron Albero Rushout Isavel. The new lord of the Isavel territory. We’re on a short break, so I brought along his brides.”
“Wait?! Brides?”
“”. . . . . .””
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For some reason, Ashe and Lapis blushed, Ridelle shook her head saying, “No, not me.” and Leivinia tilted her head in confusion. Kid and Nisrok both yawned simultaneously.
Yuisis delicately picked up a part of her skirt to greet them.
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“Nice to meet you. I am Yuisis. A devoted servant of Yorha-sama and the daughter of Bartholomew, the acting lord of the Isavel territory.”
“Thank you for your kindness. . . . . .”
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Albero bowed, but Yorha lightly tapped him.
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“You’re a noble. You shouldn’t bow so easily.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Listen, you’ll be a lord soon, right? You can’t be so subservient.”
“Hmm. . . . . .okay, I got it.”
“Really. Alright Yuisis, lead the way.”
“Yes.”
ㅤ
They left their luggage with Marcosias, who was waiting in the garden.
Guided by Yuisis, the group headed to the office. They knocked and entered.
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“Ah, princess, thank you for coming from so far.”
“Well, it was just a few hours of travel. It’s been a while, Bartholomew. As mentioned in the letter, I’ve brought the noble who will be the lord of the Isavel territory.”
“Ah, finally, a weight off my shoulders.”
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Bartholomew.
A woman in her forties. Her long, sleek black hair flowed gracefully, one of her eyes was covered by an eyepatch, and her face bore wrinkles, evidence of her many concerns. Her attire was casual with a shirt, trousers, and a jacket, rather than a dress.
Bartholomew extended her hand to Albero.
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“I’ve been overseeing this land. My name is Bartholomew.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Albero.”
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They shook hands firmly.
Then, Kid spoke as if he just remembered something.
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“Bartholomew, that sounds like a man’s name, doesn’t it?”
“Hey, Kid?!”
“Hahaha. That’s right. My father was a noble, and I was born to a slave mother. My father, on a whim, named me, a girl, with a male’s name and exiled me along with my mother. My mother worked herself to death raising me. I became a mercenary and roamed the battlefields until I became pregnant with Yuisis. That’s when I retired. Later on, Yorha-sama took me in, and now I manage this place.”
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It was suddenly a heavy story.
And then, Yorha added something.
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“By the way, I ‘purged’ the father who abandoned Bartholomew. Maybe he’s now doing forced labor in some mine?”
“Hahaha. Yorha-sama, let’s save that story for another time.”
“Oh, my apologies.”
“””””””. . . . . .””””””
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As expected, Yorha was intimidating.
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◇◇◇◇◇◇
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After everyone greeted each other, they moved their belongings to their rooms in the mansion, and then gathered in the drawing room.
Yuisis made tea, and they drank it.
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“Ah, this is delicious. . . . . .”
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As Lapis took a sip of the tea, Bartholomew smiled.
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“This tea is harvested from the Isavel territory. I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s really delicious! And the way this tea is brewed too. . . . . .”
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Lapis looked at Yuisis. Yuisis gave a bright smile.
Kid wanted to add brandy to his tea, but Ridelle stopped him.
Yorha started telling what had happened so far, and Bartholomew nodded in understanding.
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“I may not be of much help, but please, future lord, stay here as long as you wish. Oh, and we have a 『hot spring』 here. Please use it as you like.”
“Hot spring. . . . . .?”
“Ah, a word you might not be familiar with. It’s. . . . . .water that springs from the ground. Think of it as a big bath.”
“Okaa-san. . . . . .you should explain better.”
“Quiet. I’m not good with words.”
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Yorha chuckled and said to Kid,
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“The scent outside is from the 『hot spring』. There are several large bathhouses in town.”
“Really. . . . . .?”
“How about a bath? Lapis, Ridelle, don’t you want to join? We’ve been sweating, let’s all go together!”
“Yes. Hot spring. . . . . .I’ve never heard of it. I’m excited.”
“I’m curious too.”
“Hey! I’m coming too!”
“Of course, me too. Let’s all go together, the women. Yuisis, you join us.”
“M, Me, too?”
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With that, the women left the drawing room.
Kid stood up and told Albero,
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“I’m going to have a drink in town.”
“You never change. . . . . .that’s comforting in a way.”
“Quit it. See ya.”
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Nisrok plopped down on the now empty sofa and started snoring.
Only Albero and Bartholomew were left.
Bartholomew, with a smile, said,
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“Shall we chat for a bit?”
“Ah, yes.”
ㅤ
This time, Bartholomew made the tea.