Chapter 32

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As Lapis and Sera were harmoniously walking together, from behind, Lily caught up with them in a slight jog.

「Sorry for the wait♪」

Saying so with some hostility towards Sera, Lily also clung to Lapis’s opposite arm and interlocked her fingers. With a ‘Howa’, a sigh of admiration was leaked.

「Good work, Lily.」

「Well, as expected, accompanying those people wears down on the spirit.」

「Sorry. And thank you.」

「Fufu, if it’s for Lapis’s sake, it’s no problem.」

While flirting, the three of them continued walking. Shortly after, they arrived at the room holding Horun.

Unravelling her bound arms, Lapis grasps the doorknob. Remembering something, Lapis turns and faces Lily.

「Lily. I forgot to say this earlier, but Horun is a Senzokaeri, so don’t get surprised.」

「Senzokaeri? How rare. I got it.」

Senzokaeri.

Several thousand years ago, perhaps even millions of years ago, there was a characteristic race that actually had that generic name.

Compared to normal people, they have longer, tapered ears, in exchange for their short stature, they are nimble, and have animal ears and tails.

Currently, they are rare, but, only 200 years ago, they were being persecuted.

In the past, they were called demon’s children.

In the past, they were not considered human.

In the past, they had received their unsightly appearances as divine punishment.

Being different from humans, they were a good example of discrimination.

However, there was an event that completely changed their treatment.

A single witch discovered a doctrine called Senzokaeri.

For her extensive lifespan, she didn’t just complete magic research, but also biological studies as well. Then, she arrived at a so-called atavism, a mutation of sorts. She devised the term Senzokaeri, then passed it along to reliable royalty, who then spread it to the public.

Though not in a short span, their treatment did improve.

Nowadays, in most of the country, if someone mistreats a Senzokaeri, they will receive punishment.

Incidentally, the witch that discovered the Senzokaeri is Lily’s master.

Since Lily gave an assenting nod, Lapis opened the door.

There, modestly said, was a luxurious room.

There was a bed with a canopy attached, a chandelier for illumination, a three-sided mirror, a rug lining the floor, and on the walls were paintings and a stuffed deer.

All of the splendor, heard and imagined, is condensed into this room.

In one corner of the room, there was yet another glamorous table set, seemingly used for teatime. Sitting there with her shoulders hunched over, was a girl.

Her age looked roughly in the later half of her teens. With fiery red hair and eyes and a short stature, she had modified maid clothes wrapped around her body.

Then, her most defining characteristic was the large bulge from above her clothes— not, but the ears standing from the top of her head. Covered in fur the same color as her hair, they seem like cat ears? They flicked around uneasily.

Hearing the door open, the cat-eared girl turned their way. Then, tears flowed from her eyes.

「L-L-Lapis-sama~! Y-you’re fine! Ah, finally contacted, uuh… …anyway, I’m so glad–!!」

Kicking off of the stool, she stood up and embraced Lapis at full speed. With her relief that her master had returned safely she only had gratitude.

Even though—

「Could you take your hands off my girlfriend?」

Lily childishly separated the two. One more time. Childishly.

The cat eared maid had a bewildered face, while Lapis had a face showing mixed feelings, wishing that they’d read the jealous/pleasant atmosphere. Leaving the others behind, Lily opened her mouth.

「You’re Horun-chan?」

「Ah, yes, that’s right. I’m called Horun. Um, are you… Lapis-sama’s… girlfriend…?」

「Yeah, I’m Lily. Hi.」

Somehow, Lily’s tone was cold.

It was almost as if Lily had marked Horun a dangerous person, for hugging Lapis.

Wondering, Horun took a glance at Sera. Silently, Sera nodded with relaxed cheeks, to which Horun then turned to Lily and spoke with a lively tone.

「Oh! So you are her girlfriend! Wow, I’m glad. Like the prince from the neighboring country, isn’t she a peerless beauty?」

「Eh? Ah, no」

「Lapis-sama is also smiling, is this also due to Lily-sama?」

「P-perhaps?」

「Much gratitude, you couldn’t see it much back then, when Lapis-sama was depressed.」

With a smile holding no malice at all and talking on, Lily’s spite dispersed.

Embarrassedly ending the conversation and taking a step back, Lily whispered to the spectating Sera.

「…Sera-chan, this girl, what is she? She’s making my envious self look like a fool.」

「Horun-san is Ane-sama’s believer.」

「Ha?」

「Horun-san is Ane-sama’s believer.」

「Ah, no, it’s not like I wasn’t able to hear you.」

Discerning that she wouldn’t be able to learn anything else by asking, she gave a sigh as she gave up.

「Now then, Lapis-sama. It’s fine that you have returned, but honestly, I think that it would be better if you weren’t here at the castle. The betrothal talks are probably still on.」

「Ah, it’s fine, don’t worry. I quit being a princess.」

For a moment, Horun froze. But, a second later, she revived.

「Is that so? Then, I’ll quit being a maid. If Lapis-sama isn’t here then, there isn’t any point in me being here.」

「Then, Horun—」

Lapis spoke with her whole face smiling.

「—Want to work at our house?」

(TL note: A few things. First, Senzokaeri (先祖返り) translates roughly to ‘flipped ancestor’. If anyone has any better ideas for a replacement word, please let me know.

Second, the first time Horun speaks, she has a slip of tongue (I think), saying “You’re fine! Ah, you haven’t been in contact, uu…”. Slight creative liberty. Also, Horun speaks with an accent, usually ending with ‘ssu’, which I’m not planning to include, since it messes with the sentence flow.)

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