Swearing on My Late Father
“You saw it, right?”
I flinched.
What are you talking about, Lily?
If I said I didn't see anything, it'd be a lie.
But I swear to the heavens, it wasn't as bad as she's imagining.
Right after sparring with Lily,
I hopped on Privia and took a quick lap around the Grand Duke's castle.
“Whoa, the view up here's pretty nice.”
“Piyoooo~!!”
“But it's kinda uncomfortable. Is it because you're still a baby bird and kinda small?”
You're the legendary bird of the North's myths, but carrying one person is a struggle?
“Right! In those dragon knight stories, they always saddle up and grab reins and stuff. Want me to get you some too?”
“Piyot!! Piyoooooot!!!”
She shook so hard, does that mean she loves the idea of reins?
Agh. Fine, I'll get off, so quit shaking.
Back at the rear garden lawn, Privia popped back into her girl form with a puff and ran straight into Karina's arms.
“Puaaaang~!!”
“P-Privia? What's wrong?”
“Sob… My master climbed on this lady, sob…”
“Young Master Edrick?? What on earth did you do to Privia…”
“No, this little brat's making it weird! I just rode her for a quick flight. You saw it too, Karina, right?”
Man, there's actually someone who cries “puaaaang” for real.
Though she's not exactly human.
“This lady is to be muzzled and bridled, you said!!”
“Good heavens… How could you do that to a child, young master…”
“No! Dragon knights do it too! It's just to make riding and flying easier—what's wrong with their heads!!”
It's not just Lily. Are all Northern women like this by nature? Some kinda temperament?
After watching Karina tease Privia—'Sister's hands are gentle'—I headed back to the office feeling refreshed.
“Feels good to move around after so long.”
Is this why Dad always went to the knight training grounds to beat up old man Karl, no matter how buried he was in paperwork?
Anyway, time for lunch, then back to hellish stamping duty…
“Lily?”
Lately, she brings my meals right on time.
When I suggest eating properly at the dining hall, she glares: 'No time for that, so don't leave any—eat it all.' No choice.
Of course, I wanna get rewarded, so even knowing she'll refuse, I toss out, “Aw, let's eat at the hall today,” every time.
Whatever. You try that Lily glare once. It's this indescribable tickle in your heart… Agh. Why am I even saying this.
Well, Lily's food tastes great no matter what.
It's mostly gourmet single dishes, but her cooking skills are top-notch.
Yesterday: meat pie stuffed with pork.
Day before: pane pasta, hollowed-out bread filled with cream pasta…
So I came back excited for today's surprise.
But no sign of Lily anywhere in the office.
“Weird. Where'd she go?”
Lily sticks to my side during the day, basically.
Sure, I was out joyriding on Privia for a bit, but I figured she'd be here waiting.
“In the kitchen maybe?”
Eh, back to work then.
If I slack off, she'll show up with lunch and roast me: 'Young master only slacks when I'm not watching—such a hopeless man.'
…So maybe I should slack?
An hour passed with some work and some slacking.
Still no Lily.
“This is seriously weird.”
Why? In all my time with her, she's never once done this.
Even old man Karl, FM king himself, says, “Shouldn't we enlist Lily in the military, young master?”
I got up and started searching likely spots.
“Young Master Edrick! What brings you to the kitchens…”
“Has Lily been here?”
“Come to think of it, no today. She's been zipping in and out the last few days making your meals. Speaking of, once you're less busy, mind sending her my way? Girl's got skilled hands—perfect successor…”
“No way. Can't give her up.”
Same crap as that treasury geezer.
Again: send Lily there, who's gonna drive my car and roast m— Agh. Slipped out.
Where else then…
She's my personal maid, but still a maid—maybe head maid granny knows?
But head maid granny just tilted her head at my question.
“Seen Lily by chance?”
“She's your personal maid—why ask us?”
“Thought maybe someone borrowed her for something urgent.”
“Lily's calling is serving you at your side. Don't worry about other tasks. But more importantly…”
Head maid granny gave me a strange look and asked,
“Lately Lily's been wearing something other than her maid uniform. Is that your taste, young master?”
Other clothes? That miniskirt office look?
It is my taste. Hits too straight, that's the problem.
No, it matches, but I can't just say that here.
Any guy who doesn't like that outfit? Huh? Am I wrong?
“No idea what you're talking about, granny.”
“Didn't you tell her to?”
“Don't say stuff that'll get me in trouble! You think I look like some creep who makes her wear weird clothes for my kicks??”
“Oh my. This old lady knows nothing. Heard young nobles in the capital like that sorta thing…”
Capital young nobles? Those worthless rom-fantasy villain spawn.
Man, what a messed-up world this is. Future looks bleak.
“No Lily here? I'm off!”
Granny was spinning her own fantasies, so I bolted in panic.
Bad feeling that letting her keep wearing that office look will tank my image big time.
Tell her no more non-maid outfits from now on… But it'd be a shame. Table it for now.
Searched everywhere Lily might be in the castle.
No Lily.
Only spot left…
Her room, huh.
During work hours? Unlikely, but it's all that's left.
Last time I was in Lily's room… when was that?
When I was little, I remember playing there often.
No matter how much I scouted her sword talent,
She was just nine when she first came to the castle.
On stormy thunder nights, I'd sleep over so she wouldn't be scared.
Well, we were kids.
Obviously, once she grew up a bit.
Specifically, after head maid granny warned, “Young Master Edrick! Boys and girls should keep distance—no more sleeping in Lily's room!”
Haven't set foot in there since.
Heard whispers around then that Lily had… become a woman, y'know.
Anyway, gotta check.
I headed to the servants' quarters.
Luckily, peak work hours—empty corridors.
At Lily's door, I knocked lightly.
Knock knock.
“Lily? You in there?”
No answer.
Figures. As I turned to leave,
“Mmngh…”
A faint groan leaked from inside.
My heart dropped.
“Lily?? I'm coming in!!”
Click.
The sight that greeted me made me flinch.
“Y-You little exhibitionist…”
Changing clothes? She had the office look's tight white blouse on top,
But bottom… bare legs?
I whipped around fast, refusing to look, and yelled,
“L-Lily! What're you doing? Why're you half-dressed and passed out?”
“…Mmngh…”
Still no reply.
Bad vibes. Avoiding looking down, I approached and touched her forehead.
“Hot! Burning up! Lily! Lily!!!”
This is beyond me.
I laid her flat properly, covered her with a blanket, and bolted out.
Good—Karina and Privia were back in the office.
“Karina!! Karina, where are you!!”
“Young master? What's got you so frantic…”
“Doctor!! Lily collapsed! No, I'll call the doc. You know her room? Go change her clothes. Hurry!!”
Karina sensed the gravity, left Privia, and dashed off.
After the chaos,
The doctor said, “Just overwork plus a mild cold. Ha ha. Rest a couple days, she'll be fine. Here's the medicine.”
Only then could I calm my pounding heart.
Kinda weird to nitpick now, but this world's medicine is advanced for its tech level.
Not just medicine—desserts and a few niches are weirdly ahead.
Whatever. Thanks to that, Lily's okay. Grateful to this rom-fantasy world for once.
By evening, nursing her,
Lily finally woke.
“Wh-What makes you think I saw anything.”
“You did, didn't you.”
“What? Karina changed your clothes. Want me to call her to testify? I found you and—”
“So you were the first one in the room, young master?”
I flinched.
Aw, should've coordinated with Karina first.
Half dreading the roast, half hoping for it, I waited.
But no expected reaction.
Glancing at her, face still flushed from fever, Lily said softly,
“…Even if you did see, nothing to be done now.”
“I really tried not to look. I swear. On my late father's name.”
This is true.
I might be a bit of a flirt, but not the type to eye up a collapsed Lily like that.
Awkward silence stretched.
Then Lily pulled the blanket to her chin and murmured,
“…Thank you. Young master.”
“Huh? What was that?”
“Nothing. Just said I'm hungry.”
“Oh, hungry? Right, gotta eat well with a cold. Wait here. I'll heat up the porridge.”
A bit disappointed not to get the reaction I hoped for, but she's fine, so whatever.
I hurried to the kitchen for her porridge.