Chapter 30
"You have an odd number of parents too?"
"...Who?"
I stared blankly at the girl's question. She had light blue hair and matching eyes. About my age, give or take—she couldn't have been over fifteen, judging by her looks.
She's pretty.
This romance-fantasy world had some killer visuals. The best part was that pretty much every woman you passed was gorgeous.
But she's on another level.
Even among them, she stood out. I'd seen plenty of beauties. The fake pint-sized saint next to me was cute enough. Iris needed no words. Even that flat-chested princess was pretty in her own way.
...But her.
There was something mystical about her. The blank expression, the unknowable gaze—it gave off a strange vibe. And then...
Thump-!
Thump-!
Thump-!
My heart started pounding on its own, overwhelmed by her sheer presence.
What the hell is this?
First love? Was I falling for her without realizing it?
No way.
I don't get butterflies for girls who haven't grown tits yet. And hers were still a mystery anyway—no real logical attraction there.
Whirr... whirrr...
The vibrator that had been buzzing like crazy just moments ago had gone quiet.
What the fuck is up with her?
It was going nuts before, but now it's silent?
"..."
"..."
We just stared at each other without speaking. Then she tilted her head.
Oh, right. She'd asked me something.
"Who are you?" or whatever.
I recalled the question and answered her.
"A badass mage. Ruin, 2-circle."
"Oh my god..."
Aria reacted with shock to my over-the-top intro. What, so what?
It's not wrong.
"A mage?"
The maid eyed me intently at my words. I could feel a flicker of interest.
"A mage..."
"What? First time seeing one?"
"No...?"
"Then why the freakout—"
I stopped mid-sentence, frowning.
Wait, why's she talking down to me?
"Hey, why are you using casual speech?"
"...Mage-nim?"
She switched to polite speech right away, flustered. Whatever. She started it.
"...?"
The girl looked at me with wide eyes.
"A maid shouldn't talk casual to a guest."
"Maid..."
At my words, she glanced down at her clothes. Then she reacted like something finally clicked.
Bingo.
I was convinced.
She's no maid.
That aura? No way she's a maid. She's just wearing the outfit.
Who the hell is she?
No clue. First time here. All I knew was she wasn't some cute maid.
Just as I was thinking that...
"I'm a maid."
"Huh?"
"Me. Maid."
"..."
Ah.
She's just gonna keep up the act, huh?
She was doubling down. Tougher nut than she looked.
"...Fine. You're a maid."
"Yeah. I'm a maid."
But why casual speech? If you're role-playing, at least stick to the script. Pushing it with pure vibe like this felt kinda shameless. Absurd, but I didn't call her out.
Honestly, it was kinda fun.
Didn't know what to do at the Colton estate...
Found something entertaining. Perfect for killing time.
"Cool. Maid. What's your name?"
"What should it be?"
"...What kinda crazy question is that?"
What should it be? I gotta name you too?
Ridiculous. What a character.
Be honest. You weren't planning to fool anyone, right?
"Name... How about Frischel?"
I pulled out the name of a snack I wanted.
"...Frischel."
She made a weird face at my suggestion.
"Lichel. Frischel. Sounds good. I'm Frischel."
"You know that's half-assed, right?"
"What?"
"...Whatever. Frischel the maid. Got anything to do?"
"...Nah. Nothing."
Self-proclaimed Frischel shook her head. Perfect. If she's free, I can use her.
"You know this place well?"
"Kinda."
Shouldn't a maid say yes? Wanted to poke holes in her whole concept from one to ten, but held back.
"Then guide me around. I wanna take a walk."
"Guide?"
"Yeah, guide."
"...Hm."
Frischel looked around. She seemed to think for a bit.
"Sure. I'll do it."
Good, she agreed.
"...Mage-nim. Is this really okay?"
Aria asked, looking worried. Even she could tell Frischel wasn't maid material.
"What's the big deal? Nothing's gonna happen."
"...Pardon?"
"If this is Colton Clay's manor, we're good."
Not just anyone—this was home to one of the continent's strongest, Colton Clay. Who'd dare fuck around?
And if someone could...
...we're already screwed.
Not someone I could handle anyway. So, YOLO.
"...Um..."
Aria seemed uneasy, but...
"This way."
Frischel started leading us. We toured the garden.
It wasn't well-maintained. But Frischel went around pulling weeds here and there.
Snip. Snip.
She wielded the sickle like a pro.
"...Hey. By the way."
I noticed something off and asked.
"Yeah?"
"This isn't guiding."
"Huh?"
I'd clearly asked for a tour. Why...
"Do I gotta cut weeds too?"
"Isn't it fun?"
"Fun my ass."
Fun? She calls this fun?
As Frischel cut and pulled weeds, I joined in. Weirdly enough.
This was bizarre. Why am I doing this?
"...Hee, this is hard, mage-nim."
Even Aria was doing it. And with a sickle? One by one? Why'd I even start?
Ah, this fucking orphan grit. The instinct to work if told, just to be liked—it's in our DNA.
I'm a badass 2-circle mage.
Didn't learn magic to do manual labor.
Shing-!
I spun my circle, forming a blade sword.
"Huh...?"
Frischel reacted. Surprised by the sword floating in midair.
I swung my hand, ignoring her.
Snip-! Snip-snip-!!
The blade sword flew, slicing weeds.
Yeah, way faster. Why bother moving my body like an idiot?
"Whew."
Cleared the area in seconds. I put my hands on my hips, smug.
"Nice. This is magic."
Fuck, I'm falling for myself. Weed removal in 20 seconds flat. Magic, baby.
"Ooh..."
Frischel clapped briefly at the clean spot.
Yeah, longer next time. I know I was cool.
"Over there too."
She pointed while clapping.
I told her,
"Sneaky, trying to get more out of me? Think I'll do it?"
"Ah, caught me."
Caught you? Caught you?!
"...You sneaky little shit."
She did it on purpose? Ha! I let out a hollow laugh and glared at Frischel.
"Not doing it. Just guide me."
"Okay."
She stood up without a hint of regret.
"Follow me."
"Why? More chores?"
"No. Sightseeing."
Hearing that, Aria and I followed Frischel.
Deeper into the garden.
This part felt different from outside.
Pretty.
The air changed the moment we passed a small stone door ahead.
Something's off.
I sensed mana subtly mixed in the floating air around us.
Magic?
A barrier of mana enveloped the area. It made the space feel distinct from outside.
Cool. Is this magic too? I've seen it, but couldn't do it myself. No clue on the formula or structure.
Whatever.
Not here for magic sightseeing. The real draw was the surroundings.
"Pretty."
Super pretty. Even a T-cup guy like me (90%+) couldn't deny it.
"Pretty, right?"
Frischel seemed pleased for some reason.
"Yeah, it is."
"The owner loved this place."
"...Here?"
Owner. In Colton Duke Manor's garden, so Colton's? Then...
"Who's the owner?"
"My mom."
"..."
Frischel dropped a bomb.
Mom?
"Your mom manages the garden?"
"Yeah. Outside and inside."
"...I see."
All sorts of thoughts flooded in. Then I asked,
"Inside's pretty, but why's outside like that?"
"Hasn't been maintained in a while. So I'm doing it."
"Why not her? Busy?"
"No. She passed."
"..."
I swallowed dryly.
Ah, fuck. Stepped on a landmine.
I rolled my eyes, thinking how to recover.
Then...
"Uh... what about your dad?"
"Dad?"
"Is your dad healthy?"
"Yeah."
"Oh?"
Jackpot. Escape route.
Mom's gone, but dad's alive? Huge relief.
Which means...
"You have an odd number of parents too?"
"...?"
"Me too. What a coincidence, haha."
"...Oh my god."
I shrugged it off casually. Aria was shocked.
What the fuck.
The odd-number pun is only for odd-number folks.
What do you know.
Frischel stared blankly at my joke. First time hearing it? Fair. Even I thought it was peak.
How could mortals get divine humor?
"...Odd... number?"
"I got a mom, you got a dad? Perfect match-up..."
I almost spewed nonsense but stopped.
A weird thought hit me.
Hold up.
Something's off.
Someone who can own a garden in Colton Duke Manor.
Needs status and position. And must be family.
But Frischel's mom owned it?
From the start.
I knew she wasn't just a maid.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"What's your real name."
A hunch hit, so I asked.
If I'm right...
I switched to polite speech.
Can't go casual if I'm onto her. At least not while pretending not to know.
"..."
Her eyes shook. Like, how'd you figure it out?
Unbelievable she thought she wouldn't get caught.
"Mirai..."
Frischel—no, the girl introducing herself as Mirai—said.
"Mirai Colton..."
"..."
The surname Colton. Proof of this house's bloodline, Colton Clay's kin.
Which means...
"...Sorry, but... your father's name?"
"France Colton."
"Oh. Holy shit."
The sub-male lead's name popped out. Or rather, the romance novel's male lead.
Meaning...
This girl.
Is the male lead's daughter.
And...
"...So your mother's... Rachel Fonde?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"..."
Rachel Fonde. I knew Mirai's mom's name instantly.
How could I not?
She's the protagonist.
Born in Korea, reincarnated here.
Rachel Fonde.
Daughter of the Fonde count family. The romance novel's heroine.
Her daughter was right in front of me.
...Wait... hold on, then this...
Only then did it hit me.
I knew Rachel and France existed.
What year is it here?
This world's timeline was way ahead of what I knew.
Like, way ahead.