The Desperate Visitor
Another peaceful day at the academy. Shuen, dressed in his convenience store uniform, clutched the hot bar Hanna handed him for checkout, grinning like an idiot.
"Hee hee."
"...What."
"Hee hee hee."
"Just ring it up already. I'm busy."
Hanna clicked her tongue at Shuen's creepy giggling. Was he finally losing it?
That guy...
"Hee hee..."
Ever since the butler left, Shuen had started acting bizarre. When students came to buy snacks, he'd giggle, let out "oh ho ho"s, sneak a hand toward their butts, and wink... His behavior toward the magic department's resident rock—equal parts sexual harassment and pity—made Hanna feel sorry for him.
"Oh ho ho..."
Academy life must be tough. Was it chasing after senior Mihail that broke his mind? Or did his brain fry when the butler who used to eat lunch with him vanished? Either way, Shuen had been smiling vacantly a lot more since the butler disappeared—like a girl in the throes of her first crush.
Hanna eyed Shuen's lecherous grin and spoke up.
"Hey..."
"Eek...!"
"Hey... Shuen."
"Oh ho ho! What can I do for youuu?"
"What's with you."
Shuen glanced down at his uniform, then beamed proudly as if showing off a trophy.
"Oo hoo hoo... Histania Hanna. You've finally noticed, haven't youuu?"
He pinched the fabric with two fingers and launched into unwanted TMI.
"Your boy Shuen here got a new jobbbb! See my new uniform...!"
"No... that's not—"
"This outfit? It's the legacy Pongmin left me before he split! 'Take good care of SU Convenience from now on'—and he pinned this name tag right on my chest himself! 'Employee Shuen'!"
"...Sigh."
"Super stretchy! Excellent sweat-wicking! Only for SU Convenience staff!"
"No..."
Hanna shook her head as Shuen bit the hem and stretched it out. How could anyone be this dumb?
"Sigh... Whatever. Forget it."
"Hee hee."
"Just ring me up quick. I gotta get to class."
"Got itttt!"
"Hey, Shuen, aren't you going to class?"
"Ack! I gave up on graduatinggg!"
"Huh...?"
"I got plans!"
Hanna shook her head at Shuen's wrinkle-free brain casually declaring he'd thrown his life away. She took her change.
"Anyway, I'm out. Watch the store good. If you need a sub, hit me up."
"Thanksuuu!"
"Yeah."
Shuen leered at Hanna's retreating back with a smile.
"Oh, Hanna."
"Yeah?"
"You said you like that commoner... no, Ricardo, right?"
"Huh...? Did I tell you that?"
"Yesss!"
"Uh... yeah. So what. You gonna mess with him?"
Shuen shook his head.
"Just checking!"
"Lame."
Shuen watched Hanna leave and muttered under his breath.
"Histania Hanna... my rival nowwww...! Hee hee... I'll yield the principal wife spot. I'm generous like thatttt!"
Shuen was all for polygamy. The more popular his crush, the higher his own value rose by association.
"Hee hee hoo..."
Grinning slyly, he pulled out a discarded bento from under the counter and grabbed a spoon.
"Your boy Shuen won't lose out...!"
*Ding.*
"Welcome! This is the happy SU Convenience!"
Shuen smiled, thinking of the commoner who'd return to the academy someday.
Another peaceful day at Desmont Mansion.
"...Hmnyah."
The Young Lady, riding atop Gomtang, lazily picked her nose as she roamed the duke's residence.
"To the side."
*Grrrrooom.*
"Eeeek!! To the side, I said."
*Grooooom.*
"Eeeeeek!"
Of course, Gomtang went wherever it pleased, ignoring her. Still, the Young Lady yanked at its head fur like she was steering.
"Go!"
*Gom gom.*
"Eek! Ignore me again and I'll boil you in soup!"
*Gom.*
Whatever. Gomtang wagged its stubby tail and kept strolling.
Olivia's target: me, sitting at the table. She was on a personal crusade to deliver justice's iron fist to the impudent butler who'd abandoned his lady for leisurely tea.
The Young Lady, sensing the warmth of my teacup, yelled at me.
"Eeeeeek! Ricardooo!"
"Yes, Young Lady."
"Snack won't listen."
"It's not 'snack,' it's Gomtang."
"Same thing."
"No. If you keep calling it that, I might actually make it."
"Eeeeeek... Anyway! It won't listen to its master."
I flashed a cheeky smile at the fuming Young Lady.
"You're too easy on it."
"Eeeeeek!!! Bite!"
*Gom.*
"Not me—Ricardo!"
*Grooom!*
Another peaceful day at Desmont Mansion.
I'd just finished my convenience store shift and was savoring the bliss of unemployment for the first time in ages.
This must be why we live.
*Eeeeeek!!!*
Go that way, you dumb bear!
*Grooooom!*
*Ugh...!*
Don't run!
*Grooooom!*
*Ricaaaardoooo!!!*
Sure, the Young Lady caused chaos, but I was content with this peaceful routine, sipping tea and enjoying life.
*Slurp.*
I'd thwarted a tragic's impossible love and wrapped up my new venture successfully enough. No explosive success, but satisfying achievements. As the Young Lady vanished from view, I rose lightly from my chair to fetch her.
"Where you headed?"
*Grooooom!*
"Whoa..."
Gomtang had charged to the vast entrance of the duke's residence. At this rate, Desmont's mascot might become the empire's. Smiling, I hurried after the Young Lady's weird screams.
"Young Lady!"
"Hmnyah."
"Stop!"
"Ricardooo. Bear won't stop."
Enlightened, the Young Lady embraced the wind, feeling freedom—until we hit the main gate. She pouted at the tense knights.
"Ah... G-Good day, milady! I'm Elang Bartor, guardian knight of Desmont Mansion! The knight beside me is...!"
"Hmnyah. Hi."
"Zero external visitors so far, zero intruders—ironclad defense...! If y-you need anything, uh... just say the word."
"Hm..."
"Milady, is there... anything we can assist with?"
The high knight, spooked by noble presence, introduced himself fluently while gauging her mood. How could he not tense up with the dog-biting lady right there?
Gatekeeper Elang Bartor's mind flashed to ten years ago.
*Grrrr...*
"Milady...! It's a stray. Just ignore it and—"
"Eek! Let go! It growled first, picking a fight?!"
"Milady...! Even so, it's a stray."
"Eeeeeek!"
"...Gulp."
Having dealt with the unreasonable villainess, Bartor worried the bear and lady might clash. The bear wouldn't win, after all.
*Sniff sniff sniff.*
The lady's bear nuzzled Bartor's armor pocket, drawn by the jerky snack scent. As it pressed its nose like it might chomp his leg, Bartor gripped his sword hilt and swallowed hard.
Should he fear the bear? Or the lady?
"Hold on."
*Gom?*
"Not food."
*Gom.*
"Sigh..."
Bartor sighed in relief at the socialized bear, calming his pounding heart. He'd take a monster over this.
And then.
"Young Lady!"
My arrival—Bartor's savior. He beamed at me, eyes full of "why now?" affection.
"Butler!"
"Ahaha...! Sorry. You must've been shocked."
"No, I—hahaha... sigh..."
I gave an awkward smile at Bartor's pale, aged face. I could guess his thoughts.
I naturally hoisted the Young Lady onto my back and greeted him.
"Speak casually, Bartor. You did back then, thirteen years ago."
"Didn't know you were nobility then, haha...!"
"If memory serves, you took money to hit the Young Lady harder... "
"Shh... please...!"
Bartor glanced at the puzzled Young Lady, silenced me, and slipped gold into my pocket.
"Ancient history. Forget it."
"No need for this."
Trained folk were different. Smiling satisfied, I left Bartor and headed back slowly.
The Young Lady on my back asked.
"Ricardooo."
"Yes."
"Friends with that knight?"
"Yes. You remember too, right? The guy who kept watch when we fought in the slums."
"Mhm."
"Decent fellow."
"Yeah?"
She nodded lightly, then buried her face in my back, grumbling.
"Ricardo."
"Yes."
"When we going home?"
"Hamel?"
"Mhm."
"You wanna go?"
"Mhm. Scared someone'll steal my chocolate."
"..."
I smiled faintly at her petty worry.
"Tonight."
"Buy chocolate on the way."
"Got it."
At that point, I figured the long-vacant mansion would be fine. It had guardians, and no real threats.
But.
Someone unexpected was knocking.
"...Please, just one meeting."
A familiar middle-aged woman on her knees.
I gave her pale face a bitter smile. Her name: Ella. Friend of my friend's mother. Mihail's mother.