The Engagement Ring and the Maid's Pout
I walked with deliberately loud footsteps so the maids would notice me coming. The maids turned their heads at the sound.
“What brings you to our residence?”
When I revealed that I was the owner of the residence, one of the elegant-looking maids stepped forward. She bowed her head politely.
“Good day to you, Master Hendel. I am Hanna Camellia, the personal maid assigned to Lady Marine.”
“Ah… yes.”
The fact that she had a surname suggested this personal maid was also from noble stock.
“Did you come with Lady Marine? The knights told us that Master Hendel was with Lady Marine.”
I pointed at Marine, who was standing there blankly. Relief washed over the personal maid’s face the moment she confirmed it was her.
“Is Marine being expelled?”
The personal maid shook her head.
“If she had been even one day later, expulsion would have been unavoidable. But if she returns today, we should be able to prevent it somehow. The academy doesn’t want to expel Lady Marine either.”
Even the prestigious academy apparently found it politically burdensome to expel the daughter of the Northern Archduke. For me, who had been genuinely worried about Marine’s expulsion, this was good news. She’d probably just get a curfew and some demerit points if she went back like this.
I approached Marine to share the happy news.
“Marine, it looks like you won’t be expelled after all. It’d be best if we part ways here today before anything changes.”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
Marine, who had looked strangely pleased earlier, scrunched up her face the moment she heard the good news. I was taken aback. She’d avoided expulsion, yet she seemed upset.
With a stiff expression, Marine walked over to her personal maid. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, I followed after her.
Face to face with her personal maid, Marine spoke first.
“Why aren’t I being expelled?”
She wasn’t angry that they were expelling her—she was angry that they were preventing it. Both the personal maid and I looked bewildered.
“The dormitory rule clearly states that anyone who doesn’t return within twenty-four hours will be expelled, doesn’t it? I don’t think it’s right for me to receive special treatment just because I’m from a ducal family.”
The personal maid quickly wiped the shock from her face, staying professional.
“Then, Lady Marine, do you have somewhere to stay if you are expelled from the dormitory?”
Marine pointed at me with perfect naturalness.
“Hendel’s house.”
“…”
I didn’t remember giving permission for that. Of course, if she really did get expelled, I would take her in.
Having failed to persuade Marine, the personal maid shot me a pleading look. Normally I’d side with her, but being expelled from the dormitory would deal a significant political blow. If Marine were expelled, the social circles—already full of nobles harboring deep inferiority complexes toward high-ranking families—would never let it slide. I didn’t want to see Marine become a target for their attacks.
I gently placed both hands on Marine’s shoulders.
“Marine.”
“…Yeah.”
Marine pouted when she realized I wasn’t taking her side. I understood why she felt uncomfortable receiving special treatment. But this wasn’t some gentle light novel world. Sometimes you had to accept those privileges if you wanted to live comfortably.
“You feel uneasy because it seems like you’re the only one getting special treatment, right?”
“Ugh… yeah!”
“I’m touched, Marine. I didn’t know you thought that deeply about things.”
“…”
I gently stroked her head.
“But could you accept this one special treatment just this once? Sometimes in this world, when those above accept privileges, it makes things easier for those below.”
The personal maid nodded. I didn’t know the full story, but she would clearly suffer disadvantages if Marine were expelled.
“I’m truly grateful you saved my life. Still, let’s part ways here today, okay?”
“If Hendel says so…”
Marine still looked unhappy, but she slowly nodded.
“Instead, I have one condition.”
“Sure, what is it?”
Since she’d given in, I was ready to grant most reasonable requests.
Marine pulled an extra-dimensional wallet from her pocket and rummaged through it. She took out a small box.
Rare Magical Artifact
Automatically adjusts to the wearer’s finger. Emits blue mana when worn by both parties. Once belonged to a pair that saved two children’s lives.
The object Marine took out was the Fiancée’s Ring that had once saved both our lives as children. Seeing it after so long filled me with fondness.
Marine opened the box, revealing two rings shimmering with blue mana.
“My condition is that we each wear one of the Fiancée’s Rings.”
“…”
When we were kids, I could wear it without shame, but now that we were grown, wearing a Fiancée’s Ring would definitely cause misunderstandings.
“Um… don’t you think it’s a bit much for us to wear Fiancée’s Rings at our age when we’re not actually engaged?”
“…”
Marine looked up at me with an expressionless face.
“We’re close enough that this much is fine.”
Even though Marine’s aura was a little scary, I had to firmly refuse what I couldn’t accept.
“Still, I don’t think this is okay. Could you ask for something else?”
The previously expressionless Marine let out a small snort of laughter.
“Are you conscious of me, Hendel?”
“Cough… cough…”
Her sudden remark made me choke.
“Th-that’s not it.”
“If you’re not conscious of me, then there’s no problem wearing it, right?”
“No… people will stare…”
Marine snorted again.
“Since when have you cared about what other people think?”
“…Still, this isn’t right.”
“Hmph. Then I’m not going back to the dormitory.”
Marine puffed out her cheeks and plopped down on the ground, completely forgetting her dignity.
“My lady! The ground is dirty!”
“Hmph, I don’t care.”
“Then at least sit on this. Please.”
The horrified personal maid spread out a handkerchief for Marine, who had sat directly on the ground. Marine awkwardly shifted onto the handkerchief, apparently finding the cold ground uncomfortable.
“…”
I’d thought Marine had grown up quite a bit, but she still had these childish sides. A grown woman sitting on the ground was drawing the eyes of everyone passing by the residence.
“Oh my, why is she sitting like that?”
“Looking at that ring box, it seems the woman got dumped. What kind of man would reject such a beautiful girl? Must be impotent.”
“Making a woman sit on the ground… tsk tsk.”
My head was spinning. Marine was acting like a child throwing a tantrum in a store demanding a toy. The problem was that this strategy was surprisingly effective.
Feeling my cheeks burn, I grabbed Marine’s hand.
“Fine, I’ll wear the ring, so get up.”
“Really?”
Marine, who had grown bold enough to outmaneuver me. She had won against me after all.
I held out my hand for the ring. Marine shook her head.
“That’s not how it works.”
“Huh?”
“It’s only natural for the other person to put the Fiancée’s Ring on for you, right?”
“…”
I stared at her, but Marine, thick-faced as ever, innocently avoided my gaze.
“Alright, I’ll put it on you first, so please just get up.”
She must have sensed the irritation creeping into my voice, because she quickly stood up. Marine held out her finger proudly.
“Oh, you already know that the Fiancée’s Ring has the strongest effect when worn on the ring finger, right?”
“Yeah…”
I kept my face as neutral as possible, suppressing any emotion, and slipped the ring onto Marine’s ring finger. The ring slid smoothly onto her pale, slender finger.
Marine smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the ring on her hand.
“Now it’s Hendel’s turn!”
By now, not only the residence’s knights but even the maids were watching our ridiculous spectacle with great interest. I felt like my face was going to explode from embarrassment.
In the end, I squeezed my eyes shut and held out my hand.
Marine kept stroking and fiddling with my hand instead of putting the ring on. I opened my eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“Uh… um? I was… checking your finger size!”
“The Fiancée’s Ring automatically adjusts to the wearer’s finger, you know.”
“R-right!”
She didn’t even know the most basic fact. It seemed Marine hadn’t listened properly when she bought the rings. Well, given her impatient personality, that made sense.
“I-I’m putting it on?”
“…”
Something about that sentence sounds weird.
Having caused this whole situation herself, Marine blushed in embarrassment and carefully pushed the ring onto my finger. It adjusted its size on its own and settled perfectly on my ring finger.
“Hehe.”
Marine laughed like an idiot. Seeing her smile melted away my anger. A pretty girl smiles and my anger disappears—just like that. I may be a man, but men really are simple creatures.
“Now you’ll go back to the dormitory, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll go back!”
Having achieved her goal, Marine no longer seemed upset about returning to the dormitory.
“Then, one last hug before we part~”
Marine burrowed into my arms. I gently patted her back as she nestled against me. After about ten seconds, she pulled away with a bright smile.
“See you after the new semester~ Bye!”
“Yeah, take care.”
Even as she left with her army of maids, Marine kept turning around to wave. I waved back while watching her go.
Once Marine was completely out of sight, I returned to the residence. Cani was standing at the entrance with a sulky expression.
“I’m back!”
“Hmph!”
What’s with her? Why is she pouting again?