Sango really was leaps and bounds more humble than when she’d first arrived. Maybe she had always been a docile girl, and her mind couldn’t catch up to the bizarre experience of being transported to another world. It was enough to bring a smile to Ruri’s face.
“I heard you’re working very hard too. Honestly, I don’t feel comfortable eating for free all the time and want to work myself, but no one will allow me to,” Ruri said with a sour expression, shooting a quick glance at Rutile to gauge her reaction.
“Of course we wouldn’t,” Rutile replied with an awkward grin. “What nation would make their Beloved work? Beloveds make nations prosper just by being around, so there is no need for them to work.”
“Even you’re against it, Rutile-san?” Ruri slumped her shoulders in disappointment. She’d thought that Rutile would be a little bit more accommodating than the others, but it seemed to be a lost cause. “Still, I’m pretty confident in my abilities, since I did a lot of chores when I lived at Chelsie-san’s house—cooking, cleaning, laundry, and so on,” Ruri said. Chelsie had taught her enough to confidently cut and fillet the game caught during hunts efficiently.
“Making sweets for His Majesty and the spirits is the most we’re willing to compromise on,” Rutile stated.
“Yes, right...” Ruri said in resignation. She knew that but was testing the waters just in case.
“Being a Beloved is more constricting than I thought. While I do envy you for being able to live in the lap of luxury, I might be glad that I’m not a Beloved because it seems like a pretty boring lifestyle,” Sango stated. Seeing as Sango had arrived at the castle stating that she was a Beloved, she had a completely different mindset nowadays.
“Sango, what kind of work do you do?” Ruri asked, not knowing what her work actually entailed.
“Thanks to milady and Lady Euclase vouching for me, I’ve been assigned work that isn’t too difficult. Most of it is chores, but since I have Chibi around, they ask me to do work that involves water magic,” she explained. The squirrel that had been riding on her shoulder for a while now was actually an upper-level spirit that Sango had named and subjugated after arriving in this world.
There were a few of those who were beloved by the spirits, but even fewer who were beloved by the spirits enough to subjugate them. Subjugation was something that bound the spirits, preventing them from disobeying the orders of the subjugator. However, it was said that which orders they prioritized between a supreme-level spirit and a contract-bearer depended on that spirit and contract-bearer’s relationship.
Having been named by Sango, Chibi seemed to very much like her. If push came to shove, they might even disobey the orders of Rin, the supreme-level spirit of water. But even if they were to disobey, Rin had said that since she was much stronger, she would suppress Chibi if they ever showed problematic behavior. That being said, Sango worshipped Rutile, so she would likely never give an order that would inconvenience Rutile. After all, she was the founder and president of the Rutile fan club. She was steadily gaining like-minded members even now.
It was hard to tell which was more amazing, Sango’s power to propagate a following or Rutile’s popularity. Then again, Ruri was pretty sure the latter was greater. By the time Rutile had returned after her stay in the Imperial Nation, all of the girls in the castle were excited beyond belief. Even now, they came up with any reason they could concoct to stop by Ruri’s room and were delighted to see Rutile. In the castle, her popularity among the women was so overwhelming that she was probably more popular than Ruri, a Beloved.
“Oh, I need to get back to work. My break is almost over. Let’s chat again some other time, milady!” Sango said.
“Sure, do your best.”
“Aah, what a pity I have to leave...” Sango lamented, not wanting to leave Rutile but giving a big wave goodbye before heading back to work.
However, before she could leave, Ruri flagged her down. “Oh, wait a second. Can I come with you?”
“You, Ruri-sama? Why?”
“I’m genuinely curious about what kind of jobs people who use magic are entrusted with. Also, I really have nothing else better to do...” Ruri replied with an awkward grin.
“Why not go to the king? You’re newlyweds, aren’t you?”
“Jade-sama is too busy with work and doesn’t have the time to entertain me. Since we took that trip to the Imperial Nation, his desk has been covered with paperwork that he has to sign off on,” Ruri said, explaining that their long stay in the Imperial Nation had resulted in Jade’s work getting backed up. Jade had given Euclase, the chancellor, a certain degree of discretionary authority, but there were apparently many tasks that required the king’s personal input. “I wish I could help him, but Beloveds are not supposed to participate in political affairs.”
A Beloved involving themselves in politics would reflect the will of that Beloved, no matter what, potentially giving rise to dictatorships and chaos. Therefore, it had been decided by the Four Great Nations that no country would involve a Beloved in politics. And others had followed in suit, respecting the Four Great Nations’ decision. Then again, the only other country outside of the Four Great Nations that had a Beloved was Yadacain.
“I’ve been told by Euclase that I distract Jade-sama in the office, so I should go elsewhere. But Jade-sama won’t allow me to go into town, so I have nothing but time on my hands...” Ruri explained.
“Being a Beloved sure is rough, isn’t it? Okay. You can come along with me,” Sango replied.
“Thank you,” said Ruri.
Sango was basically allowed access to Sector 5 and lower. Having discovered that she possessed mana ever since coming to this world, she opened up a pocket space and started tossing the laundry of the training soldiers inside. Ruri just stood and observed, as she would be stealing work from Sango if she joined in. She was impressed by how Sango was working so effortlessly, like an old pro, despite the fact that not much time had passed since she’d first arrived at the castle.
“So, did you learn about mana after coming here?” asked Ruri.