Compared to those of other regional nobles, the Florence family’s second home in the capital was especially modest. Located on the outskirts of an affluent neighborhood in the east of the capital, most of its grounds were set aside for gardening, and the Florences had planted those of the Atikan plants that could grow in the capital.
It took on a bright atmosphere after Miyako arrived looking for a fiancé, but when the overworked Odina lived there by himself, the locals had called it a gloomy haunted mansion.
“Lady Miyako! I’m glad you’ve returned safely,” said the head maid Susie, giving Miyako a warm welcome. She had served as the head maid at the Florence family’s second home for as long as Miyako could remember, and the wrinkles engraved in her forehead displayed a sort of dignity, as though they embodied her warm but strict personality.
Susie heaved a heavy sigh.
“I never would have guessed that Fuuka Hamilton would lose her mind and abduct you after losing her engagement...”
“Huh, what?! That’s what people are saying?!”
It’s the other way around! If it’s one or the other, well, no, it’s completely the other way around! I took Fuuka’s hand and dragged her along to the Atika region. So where’s this coming from?
“All the rumors have it that none other than Fuuka Hamilton herself confessed as such. So much so that even I know about it, and I’m just an old servant.”
“But that’s...”
Why would she do that? The question circled around Miyako’s mind.
“I hear that she confessed as much to Reinhardt-sama. I’m not sure what deal they made, but the rumors say that to apologize the Hamilton family has taken on the brunt of the costs for the Enot River management project they’re working on jointly with the Reinhardt family.”
“But...”
“But I’m glad. When you and Fuuka went missing at the same time, if there had been even the slightest suspicion that you abducted a lady of the Hamilton family... I’m afraid that would have spelled the end for a family of regional nobles like the Florences,” said Susie in a matter-of-fact way.
That made Miyako realize what had happened.
I get it now... Fuuka lied to protect me.
“Thanks, Susie.”
“You’re welcome. By the way... who’s the cat?”
“Nyaa?”
“Ah, she’s called Umi, and...”
And she’s an Undine that was sleeping beneath the garden of our cabin in the countryside, Miyako almost continued, but she stopped herself.
“We’ve never kept a cat here before...”
Susie was clearly hesitant, so Miyako hurried to smooth things over.
“She’s a good cat, no trouble at all!”
“Nyaa!”
Umi nodded in satisfaction at Miyako’s praise. For the moment, she seemed to be following Miyako’s request to act like a normal cat.
“Hmm.”
Susie directed her sharp gaze at Umi.
“And she’s well-mannered!”
“Nyaa!”
“I see?”
“And she’s so cute...”
“Nyaa...”
“Is that so?”
“And she’s really dignified!”
“Nyo kidding!”
“Hmm... Huh?!”
...Oops.
“N-Nyo kidding!!”
Trying to cover up Umi’s voice after she forgot herself and jumped into the conversation, Miyako desperately did her best cat impression. It paid off, and they just barely managed to get Susie to allow Umi into the house.
“Well then, my lady,” Susie cleared her throat and began again in a more formal tone. “Judging from how you’ve hurried back, I imagine you have something you’d like me to do for you?”
Susie stood up straight, and Miyako nodded her head.
I’m taking Fuuka-chan back. I came back to the capital to do that, to fight for that. The head maid is a capable, dignified woman. I can count on her support.
“Susie, I want you to gather the things I’m about to tell you as quickly as you can.”
Hearing Miyako’s voice, Umi flicked her tail from within her arms.
✦ ✦ ✦
Writing paper, an envelope, servants’ clothing, a gorgeous dress, and one of the small flowers blooming in the corner of the garden. Those are what Miyako asked the head maid Susie to get for her urgently.
“Miyako, what’s that?”
Umi stood on her hind legs and stared at Miyako’s hands as she sat at the desk writing.
“It’s a letter to Odina.”
“Can you trust him?”
“Hmm, my brother generally doesn’t have much going on in his head. He does whatever he’s told... a typical worker drone. He doesn’t really have any convictions, so to speak, so I think we can get him to do what we want.”
Miyako knew that Odina worked for the Reinhardt family. She wasn’t aware that he worked as a spy, a sort of shadow steward, but her appraisal of Odina wasn’t far off. He had no firm convictions, and he was soft on those close to him. The only reason he brought Fuuka to the capital was because she had asked him to.
He was working for the Reinhardts to save up money for the future when he would assume the role of head of the Florence family. Still, he was much more suited to the life of a worker than he was to being a country noble who would have to deal with all sorts of trouble. It’s a shame his current job has such dull prospects.
All that ran through Miyako’s mind as she touched pen to paper.
“Okay, that’s done with. Now all I need to do is...”
She sealed the envelope with wax and wrote “Odina Florence” on it in large letters. Then she stood up suddenly and took off her clothes.
“My, how bold, master!”
“I’m just getting changed.”
Miyako put on a style of work clothes that was all the rage amongst the working class of the capital. They were modest clothes, designed with a russet theme and very little lace or decorative buttons. They were much simpler than the plain clothes Miyako wore while living in the Atikan countryside.
First, I have to check whether Fuuka-chan is okay.
The people of the Hamilton household were exceptionally cold towards failures. They might be treating Fuuka poorly. Actually, there’s no “might” about it.
I’ll assess the situation first... Then, I’ll be straight with her when I take her away from that place; no more catching her off guard.
“Huh.”
“What’s the matter, master?”
“Nothing, I just thought, I’ve really changed.”
Miyako thought about her previous life, which she’d whittled away with long hours of work. She could never say no and was always passive, giving up on what she wanted. She used to hope in vain that some other person would change things for her. That hope had a name, “salvation by faith.”
But then she met Fuuka, fell in love, and came up with a plan employing all her knowledge and strength to run away with her. And now, she was using her own initiative to take on the world and secure a future she could share with Fuuka. She decided to keep up the fight as long as it would take.
I’ve changed. I feel like I could do anything for Fuuka-chan.
Far from the game’s plotted course, Miyako could no longer tell the future.
But she had an Undine by her side. And she had Shan Li, Aisha, and Maria spurring her on. She also had her feelings for Fuuka.
Miyako was so happy to have all of them. She felt invincible, like she could do anything.
“All right!”
She tied her long, auburn hair up in a plain bun and gave a cheer to pump herself up.
“First, we’ve got to see how Fuuka-chan’s doing!”
“Nyaa.”
Miyako clenched her fist firmly and took the first step of her plan to retrieve Fuuka.
Umi yawned by her feet.
From behind the door, a figure watched them. It was Susie, the head maid who managed the only three servants in the Florence family’s second home.