Chapter 9

The person who burst out from inside the mansion seemed to be named Karsin Sankirai, a noble with the title of baron in this country. Before coming here, Tatsuki had heard a brief explanation from Celsedonia about Karsin.

Karsin, with a broad smile, bowed deeply to Celsedonia.

Even though he was a baron, the lowest rank of nobility, Karsin's unhesitating bow made Tatsuki realize anew Celsedonia's position in this country.

"Congratulations on this occasion! However, Celsedonia-sama, known as the 'Holy Maiden,' is finally getting married? Oh my, I wonder how many of your followers will be heartbroken upon hearing this news. I, for one, shed tears when I heard about it."

"U-um, Sankirai-sama? I haven't decided to get married yet..."

While looking troubled, Celsedonia sent a meaningful glance to Tatsuki behind her.

Although aware of her gaze, Tatsuki deliberately remained silent, watching Celsedonia's interaction. After all, the person in front of Celsedonia was a noble. It would be unwise for Tatsuki, just a commoner, to do something inappropriate and offend Karsin.

"Oh? Is that so? However, as a priestess, your leaving the temple to set up a household suggests that you will get married in the near future, does it not?"

"W-well... I hope so, but..."

Celsedonia glanced at Tatsuki again, and this time her gaze seemed to contain a hint of happiness, or so Tatsuki felt.

"What are you saying! There is not a single man who wouldn't want to take you as his wife! By the way..."

Karsin looked around.

"Is the person who will become Celsedonia-sama's master not with you today?"

"No, he's over there..."

This time, Celsedonia turned to Tatsuki. It seemed Karsin had just noticed Tatsuki's presence.

"Hmm? That man is..."

"Yes, he is over there..."

"Oh, I see! A newly hired servant, is it?"

"H-huh!? No, he is not a servant at all..."

Celsedonia's beautiful eyebrows furrowed. Unaware of her discomfort, Karsin continued to speak.

"But with just one male servant, it would be difficult to manage everything in the house. How about it? If you wish, I can arrange for additional servants, such as maids?"

"No! That's not necessary!!"

Celsedonia rejected Karsin's offer with a harsh tone. Karsin, not understanding why she was upset, looked flustered.

"Shall we, at least, go and see the mansion I'm about to introduce? I have prepared a few mansions as requested. Come, this way... Oh, right. I'll have a carriage prepared immediately. Please wait a moment—"

"No, walking is fine! Please show us around quickly!"

Celsedonia glared at Karsin with a stern look.

"S-so, is that it? Then, this way..."

Pressed by Celsedonia's imposing presence, Karsin hurriedly started walking.

Celsedonia, who had been glaring at Karsin's back, bowed to Tatsuki when she turned to him. Her cowlick atop her head also wobbled.

"I'm sorry for calling your master a servant..."

"A-ah, don't worry about it. I do look pretty ordinary, so it's understandable that you'd make that mistake."

Tatsuki's appearance was quite average. It seemed that the aesthetic standards in this world were not much different from his own. Compared to Celsedonia, who was called the 'Holy Maiden' and treated with great respect even by nobles, Tatsuki was just an ordinary person.

"Anyway, let's go. To be honest, I'm a bit curious about what kind of house it is."

Tatsuki said this playfully, trying to lift Celsedonia's spirits. She giggled at his words.

"Hehe, I feel a bit relieved."

"Eh? About what?"

"The master in my dream... was very gloomy and always seemed downcast. But now, you're smiling."

Upon hearing this, Tatsuki realized he was indeed smiling.

Over the past day, he had engaged in more conversation than he had in a long time. Although it was only with Celsedonia and Giuseppe, it was the first time he had talked so much since Chico, the parakeet, had disappeared.

He realized that he was able to smile now because he had reunited with Chico.

It had only been a day since he first met Celsedonia, but he could feel the same presence in her as he had in Chico, with whom he had lived for years.

In Tatsuki's mind, Celsedonia was already Chico, and as Chico, she was already a dear family member.

It made him very happy and joyful to have her by his side, just like when they lived together.

So, Tatsuki told Celsedonia, his Chico, clearly.

"Right. I can smile like this because Chico is here with me."

"M-master..."

Her eyes, red and moist, gazed at him with deep emotion. Tatsuki blushed under her intense gaze.

Meanwhile, Karsin, standing a bit away, tilted his head and watched the two of them with a puzzled look.

---

First, Tatsuki and the others were led to a corner of the city, about a 15-minute walk from Karsin's mansion, where particularly large mansions were clustered.

"This area is where the mansions of nobles with higher ranks, such as marquises, are located. Of course, no one would complain if Celsedonia-sama were to live here."

Karsin continued to wear his ingratiating smile.

However, Tatsuki was more focused on the surrounding buildings than on Karsin's smile.

Each mansion was large, with well-maintained and spacious gardens. It seemed that the gardens were designed to be seen from the outside, as the hedges and plantings were meticulously trimmed.

Tatsuki recalled a piece of knowledge he had heard somewhere: in Japan, the inside of a property is usually hidden, while in Europe, gardens are meant to be seen by others.

"Here we are."

Karsin pointed to a particularly large and magnificent mansion in this high-end residential area—no, in this noble district.

"This mansion originally belonged to a marquis who was quite prosperous until a few years ago. However, it seems that the marquis was secretly involved in the illegal slave trade. This was discovered by the kingdom, and the marquis family was disbanded. The head of the family and all family members were executed. Since then, this mansion has been vacant."

"F-family members executed...!?"

Tatsuki was taken aback by Karsin's casual statement.

However, Celsedonia did not seem particularly surprised, suggesting that such a punishment was considered appropriate in this world or country.

"——So, the price of this mansion, as a special favor for Celsedonia-sama, is—"

Karsin mentioned the price, but Tatsuki, unfamiliar with the local market, couldn't judge whether it was high or low.

While the mansion was indeed large, Tatsuki had something else on his mind.

"Hey, Chico... Can I ask you something?"

When the conversation paused, Tatsuki tugged on Celsedonia's sleeve and led her a bit away from Karsin.

"Hey, this mansion... we, Chico and I, are going to live here together, right? Giuseppe isn't coming with us, is he?"

"No, Grandfather already has his own mansion."

"Then... isn't this mansion too big for just the two of us?"

Tatsuki looked up at the mansion again. It seemed to have more than ten rooms. Living in such a large mansion with only two people was unimaginable for a Japanese commoner.

Maintaining such a large mansion would be challenging. Cleaning alone could take up an entire day.

"Or are you planning to hire servants, as Karsin suggested earlier?"

"N-no... if possible, I'd prefer to be alone with you, Master..."

Celsedonia, blushing deeply, covered her cheeks with her hands and looked up at Tatsuki.

"Then, a smaller house would be sufficient, right? Besides, living in a place where nobles reside seems stiff and uncomfortable."

"Understood!! I'll convey Master's wishes to Sankirai-sama!!"

Celsedonia smiled and resumed talking to Karsin.

It seemed Karsin was trying to persuade Celsedonia to choose a large mansion, but she refused to nod in agreement, following Tatsuki's wishes.

Eventually, Karsin, giving up, trudged along. Tatsuki and Celsedonia walked side by side behind him.

---

After that, Karsin showed them several more houses, but none of them met Tatsuki and Celsedonia's expectations.

Karsin enthusiastically recommended mansions, all located in the noble district.

Celsedonia, from Karsin's perspective, did not seem to like any of them, which left Karsin thoroughly perplexed.

"Exactly what kind of mansion does Celsedonia-sama desire...?"

Tatsuki was impressed by Karsin's ability to maintain his ingratiating smile.

"My master prefers a smaller, commoner's house."

"A commoner's house!? But, with Celsedonia-sama and Morganaik-sama's fame, wouldn't a large mansion be necessary? You might host gatherings in the future, and a commoner's house would be—"

"U-um, Sankirai-sama? Why did you mention Morganaik? I'm not going to live with Morganaik."

Karsin's face showed a look of surprise at Celsedonia's words.

"N-no, I mean, the person Celsedonia-sama is going to marry is the rumored 'Free Knight,' right?"

"No, it's not. The person I will... no, the person I will live with is not Morganaik, but—"

Celsedonia approached Tatsuki and embraced his arm, pressing it against her ample chest.

"—this is Tatsuki Yamagata-sama. He is my master."

Celsedonia looked up at Tatsuki with a happy smile.

Karsin, on the other hand, stared at the two of them with his mouth agape.

Karsin had assumed that Celsedonia's marriage partner would be the 'Free Knight' Morganaik, as rumored.

The 'Holy Maiden' and the 'Free Knight' had long been rumored to be in a romantic relationship. Karsin, having heard these rumors, thought that Celsedonia's search for a house meant that the two were finally getting married.

However, Celsedonia's partner turned out to be a completely ordinary man whom Karsin had never seen or heard of, and whom he had assumed to be a servant.

Tatsuki's black hair and eyes were rare in this country, and his clothing was unfamiliar.

However, he was not particularly tall for a man. Standing next to Celsedonia, he was slightly taller but not by much. His appearance was quite ordinary, nothing like the 'Free Knight.'

The 'Free Knight' was known as the strongest among the priest-warriors of the Savive Temple, skilled in sword