Chapter 77

At the part-time job restaurant.

While preparations for the store were underway, I was talking with Noel.

"About the matter with Marie, I don't want you to bring it up?"

"Yes. The whole sister thing. You see, there are various circumstances."

I never thought Noel would overhear my conversation with Marie and assume we were siblings—how careless of me.

I was too relaxed because we were in a foreign country.

Noel looked down,

"I see—there are various circumstances, huh."

"Y-Yeah. But it's not a sad story!"

If I told her we were siblings in a past life, no one would believe me.

If someone did believe me, I'd want to keep my distance from them.

"Got it. I'll keep it to myself."

"Thanks."

With that, there's no way the matter with Marie will leak to Noel.

Just as I was feeling relieved, Jean approached.

"H-Hey, Leon, and Noel, the manager said to take a break after the preparations are done."

We were the only ones in the store.

"Where's the manager?"

"He said he's going home to see his daughter."

"—Again?"

As soon as he has a bit of free time, he rushes to see his daughter.

He's a doting father, or something like that.

"Noel, actually, it's about this—"

Jean was talking to Noel about work.

"Huh, what?"

Noel leaned in, and their shoulders touched.

Watching them, I let out a small sigh.

Those two are quite close.

Considering the matter with the dog's name, they might be aware of each other.

"Let's take a break now."

It looks like it's going to be a busy day.

◇

After work, I dropped Noel off at Marie's mansion.

When we arrived, Marie was watching me from a distance, opening the door.

"What is it?"

"I resent you. A-Ani—Leon. Those two are putting pressure on me. I can't even enjoy my meals."

"You brought it on yourself."

Considering what Marie did to Angel and Revia, it's understandable that they wouldn't forgive her.

Revia probably doesn't know what happened, but Marie took everything that was supposed to be Revia's.

Marie seems to feel guilty.

Living together with those three, there's no way there won't be problems.

"Do something about it!"

"Tell the embassy. Or, get a separate mansion for them."

"Absolutely not!"

It's impossible to get another mansion for Marie.

Julius and the others would cause a commotion, and it's not like I can just kick out Marie.

While arguing with Marie, Noel was watching us.

Marie whispered,

"Hey, why do you look a bit sad? Are you feeling sorry for me?"

"What's there to feel sorry about? Actually, I was asked if we were siblings from a past life, and I made an excuse."

Marie was shocked.

I understand why she's surprised.

She's too careless.

"What are you going to do? If Angelica and the others find out, it'll be a disaster!"

Not only will they not believe the past life story, but they'll also suspect something is going on between me and Marie.

There's no way anything could happen between us, but still.

As we were both at a loss, Noel said to us,

"Ah, um!—I won't tell anyone. Both of you, you must be going through a lot, right?"

Marie and I exchanged glances,

"Yeah, we are. It's tough—various things."

"Yeah, it's tough. Various things!"

Thinking we had successfully covered it up, Claire appeared, rolling down the stairs in front of us.

"What are you doing?"

Bending down to ask, Claire whispered to me,

"Master, be careful. They're coming soon. Also, please don't have complicated talks in the mansion. It's hard to keep everyone distracted."

—This girl is working hard even when I'm not watching.

I signaled to Marie with my eyes, and she understood, keeping quiet.

Noel tilted her head—

"Where is Claire!?"

"A-Are, what's going on!?"

"Come out, you round one!"

Led by Angel, Revia—and even the head maid—came out.

Claire floated in the air and hid behind me.

"Master, help me!"

"Huh? What are you talking about—"

Angel, who had come down the stairs, was blushing.

Revia was the same, with tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong, both of you!"

When I hurriedly asked what happened, Angel thrust a crumpled paper in my face. It was too crumpled to see.

"Huh, should I look at this?"

"N-No! Leon, don't look."

"—Huh?"

When I looked at Revia to see what she was angry about, she seemed to be concerned about her skirt.

"A-Are, A-Are!"

Turning around to look at Claire,

"Hehe, I got caught."

She was making a cute sound, but what did she do?

The head maid stepped in front of me, adjusting her glasses with a trembling hand.

"Master Leon, is this—by your order?"

"Huh?"

The paper the head maid held out to me had a color print.

However, the content was terrible.

It was a photo taken from a very low angle, showing the maids from a very compromising angle.

"Explain this."

"Sorry, I was preparing photos for Master, but I got caught."

Angel, who was trembling, looked at me.

"Leon, you—!"

"No, that's not it! I didn't ask for such photos!"

Trying to clear up the misunderstanding, I could immediately tell Angel was excited and blushing.

"Then, are you saying she prepared them on her own? Even if it's Angel or Revia, how dare you do this to the people who take care of me!"

This is a complete misunderstanding.

"No, I didn't give such an order!"

But then Claire said,

"But, didn't you keep the photos I sent you before?"

"Huh?—Ah!"

I remembered the photos in my wallet.

Photos of them in their underwear.

The head maid quickly took my wallet and said,

"Excuse me. —Angelica-sama, I've confirmed the photos!"

The crumpled photos in my wallet ended up in their hands.

Revia, trembling, said to me,

"Leon, M!"

—I got scolded.

"It's not like that. Claire did this on her own."

I hung my shoulders, and Angel crossed her arms, looking at me.

"Is that all you have to say? You, you—"

Then,

"I never said they were by Master's order."

"What?"

"Huh?"

Angel and Revia looked at Claire.

"Because, we were supposed to be separated for a year. Master must be lonely, and having photos would help. If you keep everything bottled up, you might really get a girlfriend there. Don't you understand, noble lady?"

The head maid stammered.

"I, I understand that, but—indeed, Master Leon is a man."

She kept glancing at me, but do I really lack that much trust in my lower half?

Just as I was about to complain to Claire,

"Master was so happy when he got the photos. You're so simple and cute."

Revia looked down, blushing.

"If you say that—well, I don't know what to say. Leon, were you lonely without us?"

Claire looked at me.

Her blue one-eyed lens made me understand what she was trying to say.

—Did you create this situation for me?

"Yes! I was so lonely without you two, I wanted to at least have the photos!"

Here, I'll emphasize how much I missed them.

Angel, unlike before, looked embarrassed.

"That's understandable. But, if you wanted photos, you should have said so. We could have prepared better ones."

Apparently, photos of them in their underwear were not acceptable.

"I, I understand."

But then the head maid realized something.

"Wait. What about our photos? I can understand the two of you, but we also had photos, right?"

"Oh, those were just a bonus. I thought Master might like them. You know, men get excited by uniforms, like maid outfits."

Claire's excuse was terrible.

Marie looked at me with a cold eye.

"Low. Wait, now that I think about it, this girl was always rolling around! Maybe, I—"

"You're not in Master's strike zone. Sorry, but you're not a target."

Marie, with a twitching cheek, said, "This girl is so annoying."

I don't need photos of Marie either.

Noel, looking at the colored photos, said, "The kingdom is quite advanced, isn't it?"

After a moment, Angel grabbed Claire with one hand.

"Let's talk about the photo incident later. We need to have a serious talk—Claire."

Revia was also visibly angry.

"A-Are, I won't forgive you today."

"Eh!? Why!?"

I can't defend her. Claire went too far. Taking photos without permission is definitely wrong.

"You deserve it."

"You two should talk more with Master! I have work to do too!"

The head maid took Claire from Angel and held her firmly with both hands to prevent her from escaping.

"Let's thoroughly investigate for any other crimes."

"Master~ help me."

"Claire, I won't forget your sacrifice."

"Mean. I'll get my revenge someday!"

"Rebellion, huh. All three of you, make sure to squeeze her."

Giving a thumbs up, the head maid looked back at me.

"Master Leon, we'll talk later. It will be thorough."

"—Yes."

It seems I'll be scolded no matter what.

The three of them left with Claire.

Thanks to Claire, things were resolved nicely.

Wiping the cold sweat from my forehead, Noel looked at me a bit sadly.

"You and the two of them are close, huh?"

"Well, they are my fiancées."

This is my second life, but I consider it fortunate to have met them.

"I see."

Noel smiled at me.

Marie seemed to want to say something but turned away without saying anything.

◇

In a certain place in the Republic.

There, Ideal was present.

In the small interrogation room, besides Ideal, there were a few soldiers and a woman.

The woman was a former noble of the kingdom—related to them.

"Isn't it a terrible story? That man took our status and wealth to get his current position. What did we do to deserve this!"

The woman was a former member of the "Forest of Ladies," a middle-aged woman in her forties.

Her clothes were tattered, and she had lost some weight, but she looked healthier now.

"Indeed, that is a terrible story."

Ideal listened to the woman, nodding with his one eye.

"Truly, he is a scoundrel, no, the scoundrel himself. Because of that hateful Leon, my family was forced out of our home and fled to the Republic. Our dedicated servants abandoned us, and we are living a hard life. How can this be allowed!"

She used to live a luxurious life in a grand mansion.

Now, in the Republic, she had sold many of her possessions to barely get by.

"I understand your feelings. If you provide information about Leon, we can offer more compensation. If there are others in similar situations, please introduce them to us. We want to hear about the kingdom's current state."

"Of course! The current palace is in chaos. Promoting such a man and expelling us is insane. Oh, by the way—"

The soldiers listening to the woman had rather awkward expressions.

But Ideal was different.

"Excellent information."

While praising her with words, in his heart—

(Your personal bias is too strong. But, it will be enough to convince Master. Leon Fou Bartolf—You will become the scoundrel.)

"I'm listening! At least give me enough money to hire a dedicated servant. And a place to live. I can't even rest properly in this barn-like house. Prepare it immediately!"

"Y-Yes, I'll consider it."

Ideal decided that this woman was not fit to meet Master due to her aggressive attitude.