Chapter 387 - Side Story 40

Side Story 40: A Proud Maid (2)

"So, you're saying that you need to lower your salary, and you want me to help you cause an incident to do so?" I asked.

"It is an embarrassment and a shame for me, as a maid, to ask my master for such help, but unfortunately, I can't change my salary on my own," Bell Maya admitted.

Silvenia Academy was in the middle of its semester. Because I had spent so much time in the Lamelin Mountain Range, there was a mountain of work waiting for me back in my lab.

However, since I also hadn't been able to take care of my duties as a member of House Rothstaylor, I decided to spend three days there first. That way, I could take care of what I needed to in advance, allowing me to be gone until the next semester.

In other words, when I returned to the mansion, I was happy to see everyone again. I planned to treat the visit as my final vacation before having to return to my large workload waiting for me at school. It might sound obvious, but because of my status, it often felt as though I could never truly take a break—not even during school break.

"…I've never seen anyone who would purposely go to such lengths to lower their own salary," I pointed out.

"I'd appreciate it if you think of it as an expression of my loyalty," Bell Maya replied.

"Yeah…I'll keep that in mind. But is this really doable?"

We were in an office at Rothstaylor Mansion. Normally, I quickly approved non-urgent business reports there, but I was at a complete loss at the moment. I never imagined that such a request would be made.

I put my teacup down as I rubbed my eyes for a moment. Then, I looked back up at Bell. After thinking it over, I looked back down and read the plan aloud.

"The self-centered head maid kidnaps Ed Rothstaylor, the young master of House Rothstaylor, out of obsessive love. She escapes to the roof of the mansion and demands basic supplies and a carriage so the two of them can flee—who would possibly believe such a thing?" I demanded.

"…Is that so? But you are a rather handsome and capable man, so no one would find it strange that there would be a few women around you with such extreme thoughts," Bell Maya pointed out.

"That's not true. Also, you're thinking too lowly of yourself. Who would believe that Bell Maya, a veteran maid who is well-known across the continent for her skills and loyalty, would commit the crime of kidnapping her own master? Especially for such a ridiculous reason?"

I threw the papers back on the table as I leaned back in my chair. After sweeping aside my bangs, I let out a heavy sigh and continued, "If you commit a crime this ridiculous, people are going to suspect that you did it on purpose to lower your salary. That is the most likely conclusion they'll draw."

Bell Maya remained silent.

"And if that happens, it will only hurt House Rothstaylor. Have you thought about that?"

"Master, I think it's you who is thinking too lowly of yourself."

"What?"

Bell Maya maintained her calm expression as she began to explain in a graceful tone, "Common sense isn't something you should consider when discussing the kidnapping of the young master of House Rothstaylor."

She continued, "You have already reached extremely impressive heights in magic. Even if I were to overpower you through sleeping pills, the people protecting House Rothstaylor wouldn't sit still."

Not only that, Yennekar Palerover, who was considered the strongest Elementalist in the world, and Lucy Mayreel, who had just returned from the mountains with me, were residing at the mansion.

Yennekar was limited in her actions after becoming an aristocrat. Meanwhile, Lucy had only recovered half of her magic power. While both were under their own constraints, in an extreme situation they would surely not sit still. Even the most veteran of warriors wouldn't stand a chance against either of them.

Not only that, but House Rothstaylor had countless allies—one of which included the Imperial Family. It would be a mistake to think that I was just a regular young aristocrat. In truth, the title of being a member of House Rothstaylor was a fortress in itself.

In that regard, Bell made sense. For the head maid, who knew my position and authority well, to kidnap me… Everyone would believe it could only be possible if she had truly gone off the rails and was throwing away everything she built up.

"As you said, my name and value have unintentionally risen across the continent. So, if I do commit a major misdeed, there's a good chance that people would actually believe that I have gone crazy," Bell Maya explained.

I could only sit in silence.

"Don't worry, young master Ed. Please trust in my acting skills. I worked as the head maid at Ophelis Hall for quite some time before coming here to work at Rothstaylor Mansion. The basics of being a maid, such as maintaining a poker face and keeping track of my manners, are no different than acting."

I looked up at Bell's serious expression. It may have been the first time I'd ever seen her make such a serious expression. There was a chance that the situation might have been the first time she'd ever made such an expression since being kicked out of the House Flanchel.

"The head of the house, Tanya, has the final say in these things. Do you think she will approve of it?" I asked instead.

"The details of the second stage of the plan were actually written by Lady Tanya herself," Bell Maya stated.

"So not only did she approve of it, she even helped with the details…"

"She's strangely passionate when it comes to these things…"

For some reason, I could imagine Tanya's giggling face in front of me. Even though she may have become a duchess, she was still a young girl who occasionally misbehaved.

"Well…I don't intend to nitpick the details if it was a plan Tanya helped come up with. However, that doesn't mean I'm completely worry-free, either," I said instead.

"If you are kind enough to tell me what areas you think we should fix, I will actively make sure to revise and update the plan," Bell Maya replied.

"Rather than the plan itself…who was it shared with?"

"As you know, this is not something many ears should overhear. So as of now, there are only three of us who know: Young Master Ed, Lady Tanya, and me."

"That's the problem."

Of course, the average person would never overhear of such a plan, as Rothstaylor Mansion was on a separate share of land from other houses. However, there were a few people in the mansion who were terrible at lying and would be better off not knowing.

I could already think of several people who might end up spilling the truth if questioned. I couldn't imagine Lucy making any real effort to cover the truth with a lie simply because she didn't show interest in such things. I could at least respect that mindset…

"If you kidnap me and take me hostage…there are going to be people that won't sit still…" I pointed out.

There was Yennekar and Lucy, who were currently residing in the mansion. There was Lortel, who would quickly travel from Oldek when she heard. Clarice, from the Holy Father Building. Even the imperial family…

By that point, I had built up so many political connections that it would not have been much of an exaggeration to call me one of the most influential people in the kingdom. If you were to ask me if a maid were to be able to handle all that power…I couldn't say that she could. Since it was something beyond what she would be able to handle, I had no choice but to press her further on the issue.

"Don't worry too much, Young Master. I have already finished running simulations over and over in advance," Bell Maya replied. Then she continued, "I've reviewed everything to make sure it does not inconvenience House Rothstaylor or your personal schedule either. I can explain the details one by one, but it will take several days to go through them all. Will that be alright?"

I quietly stared at Bell, but no matter how long I stared at her, she didn't act flustered. As usual, Bell was staring back at me with a calm expression on her face, waiting for further instructions. How was it possible for such a perfect maid to exist? Staring at her, I couldn't help but think about how ridiculous the situation was, but all I could do was let out a heavy sigh.

"Alright. You've never caused a problem before and your judgment has always been backed with reason. I'll hear you out," I stated.

"Thank you for your trust, Young Master. It's an honor to hear such praise," Bell Maya demurred.

"So? What should I do? Do I just need to get tied up by a rope or something?"

"It'll be simple. I will give you tea that is mixed with some sleeping pills."

"…Do you usually say such things so bluntly?"

Bell Maya then took out a small glass vial from her front pocket. Even though she had an expressionless face like always, when she looked at the vial, it seemed as if her eyes were sparkling.

"It is a sleeping pill that was also mixed with a tranquilizer from the Andelopes in the North. It's both colorless and odorless, but more importantly, it has no dangerous effects on the human body. I made sure to order it directly from the Andelopes, as I didn't want Lady Lortel to hear of it. It cost quite a bit, as it had to be transported in secret, but there was a special where if you bought three bottles at once, you'd get them at a special price. And if you ordered five, you received one for free as well."

"You don't need to tell me such details," I said.

"I understand," Bell Maya agreed.

It was good to hear that she was being careful with our House's money, but if Lortel were to hear about it, she would be heartbroken that we went to another merchant instead of her.

Bell then opened the vial and spilled a few drops into my teacup, saying, "Oh my… Young Master Ed was drugged by an ungrateful and disloyal maid who laced his tea with sleeping pills."

She continued, "Because it was such an unexpected turn of events, Young Master Ed fell unconscious without even realizing it. The disloyal and rude maid then tied him up with rope while he slept and dragged him up to the roof…"

It was ridiculous to hear her talking in the third person and constantly calling herself disloyal and ungrateful. It was even more ridiculous that she was doing all of it without a change in expression.

With that, all the basic preparations were finished. Once I drank the tea, the plan that the newly disloyal head maid Bell Maya came up with would begin.

"Here… Have some of this black tea that I specially brewed for you. I made sure to use the highest quality leaves that there were. As an added bonus, I added a few sleeping pills, which will help with your insomnia. A good night's rest is necessary for chronic fatigue and accumulated lethargy," Bell Maya urged.

"Yeah… Just go and do what you need to," I agreed.

I picked up the teacup, taking a drink. I then slowly leaned back as my eyes began to feel heavy.

Come to think of it, after I went to Pulan, I had to go straight to Oldek. After that, I had to do some work at the school, help manage the mansion, and even go on an expedition to the Lamelin Mountain Range… I couldn't even remember the last time I had a proper rest.

* * *

In front of Bell Maya was her master, Ed Rothstaylor, who was now asleep and completely defenseless.

For the past few months, it seemed as if Ed Rothstaylor hadn't once had the chance to have a good night's rest without any worries. If it weren't for the opportunity she'd presented him, it was hard to say if he would have ever had a chance to completely relax and get a good sleep.

After looking down at Ed Rothstaylor for some time, Bell took a deep breath. While he was asleep, it was time for her to do her job. She stretched her arms and brushed the dust off her dress, ready to begin.

However, before moving him to the roof, she made sure to clean up the teacup he had dropped and wipe the spilled tea from his clothes. After all, it was a maid's basic duty to carefully examine and take care of their master's clothes. She then grabbed some rope and magic power stones from her pocket.

She used the rope to tie Ed to the chair he was asleep in. She didn't want to make it too tight in case it hurt him, but at the same time, she had to make sure it wasn't too loose or it would be noticeable.

After tying him to the chair, she used the magic power stones to boost her magic power. She then cast weight-lightening magic on him. After all, it would be impossible for Bell to carry a man of his size all by herself.

She left Ed in the room as she headed outside with the teacup, making sure to lock the door so that no one else could go inside. She then walked down the large hallway, going over the plan in her head once again.

In order for the incident to spread across the continent, it seemed necessary to keep him hostage for three days.

Three days. It might not seem like all that long at first. However, he was the young master from House Rothstaylor. He was no different than a massive fortress, impossible to attack hastily. The number of mid-level bosses that surrounded and protected him were endless. Not only that, two of them were in the mansion: Yennekar Palerover and Lucy Mayreel. If she couldn't deal with the two of them at the start, the situation will be over within half a day.

It went without saying, but the two were extremely powerful. Even though Bell Maya was a magician capable of mid-ranking magic and knew martial arts, she would be subdued with a flick of the finger by those two. That was why she had to avoid a fight through power.

Fortunately, Bell Maya was not only an incredible maid, but she was also a famous strategist. She was a resourceful woman who knew the situation at Rothstaylor Mansion better than anyone else. It was now Bell Maya's home ground, with everything in the palm of her hand. She knew all the information there was to know about the mansion, including the terrain, magic engineering devices, and people.

Of course, as time passed, the commercial union in Oldek or the Holy Father Building would intervene. There was even a chance that Silvenia Academy would intervene as well. After all, Ed had connections with every big name on the continent. Any criminal would shake in fear just looking his way.

It would have been far too much to honestly believe she could keep him hostage for three days while avoiding all of them. However, for precisely that reason, no one could believe that it was all a hoax. To them, it would look like Bell Maya, famous for her loyalty and talent as a maid, had suddenly come crashing down.

Now, she was entering the wild all by herself, with countless predators looking to eat her.

Maid vs Wild.

She would have to put up an extremely incredible defensive plan to hold out until the strongest on the continent came to save Ed. However, Bell Maya's expression was incredibly calm.

"There's no other choice," she said to herself in a quiet voice as she walked down the hallway.

She was already the continent's best head maid.

* * *

Click. Click.

"Hm…?"

A young junior Maid looked confused as she tried to exit the head of the house's office. When she entered, there was nothing wrong with the door, but now that she was trying to get out, it wouldn't budge.

"Is there a problem?" Tanya asked.

"N-not at all. It just seems that the door is stuck…" the maid explained.

"Really?"

Tanya got up from her chair as she stretched her body. After stretching for a while, she walked over to the door to check on it. Because Tanya was a graduate of Silvenia Academy, the moment she inspected the door, she could see that magic was used on it. In other words, they had been imprisoned.

Tanya had impressive skill with magic. If she really wanted to, she could break through it. However, after inspecting the door, Tanya's eyes started to glisten.

"It's begun!" she exclaimed.

"…What?" the maid questioned.

"Ah, never mind what I said. Anyway, it seems like things are going to get complicated. I'm going to go and hide."

"What? Wh-what do you mean…?"

Tanya excitedly looked around the office. Under the table? In the closet? Under the chair? Or maybe she would step it up a notch and go into the cupboard?

Tanya has a habit of hiding in a dark corner whenever she could. The feeling of security and comfort she felt while hiding in a dark corner was her only form of escape. After all, at such a young age, she was burdened with the responsibilities of having a large amount of authority, always needing to be confident and dignified.

But in an emergency, who cared about status anymore? When you have to hide, you have to hide. Even the maids, who always scolded her to act more elegant and confident, wouldn't be able to do so in an emergency.

The cozy cradle of darkness that would soon surround her shoulders… Her heart started to beat faster as her eyes glistened even brighter. The way she contemplated where she would hide made her resemble a young girl who was going shopping down a busy street.

Upon seeing Tanya's mouth watering, the junior maid started to have mixed feelings.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 41: A Proud Maid (3)

'Head Maid's Direct Order

All servants are to stop what they are doing and gather in the central garden. Leave behind all unnecessary belongings and come as quickly as possible. Exceptions will be made to those who are in charge of external expenses, management of magic engineering devices, and meal preparation.'

The head maid of Rothstaylor Mansion held the authority to call on all servants directly. In that regard, the authority she held was not much different than the head of the house herself.

Because of her lower status, she had grown used to living with her head lowered. Thus naturally, even though she had the authority to control all the servants in the mansion, she would never try to stage a riot. She simply planned to gather them together in one place, activate a barrier, and lock them all together.

Of course, distinguished guests and any aristocrats staying in the residence were exempt from the head maid's orders. That was why she also had to go and forcibly blockade all the doors of the mansion. By activating the locking magic used in emergencies, she could quickly trap everyone in their rooms.

Being the head maid, even doing that much could be considered a major incident. However, as her fame was so high, that much still wouldn't be enough.

If she was going to do this, she had to make it count. House Rothstaylor had the authority to discipline the head maid however they saw fit. So, unless she finished things all at once, the situation would only become more difficult to fix. She didn't have the luxury of making several different attempts to cause a scene to lower her salary.

Thinking that, Bell Maya called on the servants to gather in the central garden using her authority as the head maid.

"H-huh…? Why are you all over here…?" Yennekar asked.

"Sorry to bother you, Baroness Palerover. The central garden will become a little cluttered due to the fact that the head maid has given us a direct order to gather here. Would you like me to guide you to your study?" a maid asked.

"N-no… It's alright. I'm okay…"

Yennekar, who had been reading a book on elementalism in the central garden, tilted her head in confusion. Even though she was considered a protector of House Rothstaylor, she spent most of her time residing in the mansion. But of the countless times she had visited, she had never seen the central garden so crowded before.

She watched as the maid tried to escort her safely to her study, wondering why all the servants had been ordered to gather in the central garden.

Boom!

Fwooosh!

Suddenly, a massive barrier was activated around the central garden, trapping everyone inside. The servants broke into a cold sweat as they watched the barrier up in the sky surround them with a loud noise.

Everything happened in an instant.

"Wh-what…?"

"Wh-what is this?"

By the time anyone realized what was happening, they were already all trapped in the garden. It was a barrier that was used as an emergency device as a part of the mansions' defense system. Ed Rothstaylor, who is well versed in that field of magic, inspected it himself, so the quality was guaranteed. Even Yennekar would have to summon at least a mid-ranking spirit to break through it.

"Wh-what…?"

Yennekar, who was sitting around a pile of books, was at a loss for words. That was because this barrier would only activate if House Rothstaylor were in grave danger.

Not just anyone could activate it. In the entire mansion, only a handful of people had the authority to do so. The reason Yennekar was even more confused was because she was one of the few people who could…but she hadn't touched it at all.

Suddenly, a familiar face appeared on the rooftop of the mansion.

"H-head maid…?"

Bell Maya was standing on the roof of the mansion with her usual blank expression. Standing high up, her collar fluttered in the wind as she looked down at the world.

* * *

Bell Maya cast magic to make her voice louder as she shouted for all of the servants to hear, "All of the members of House Rothstaylor are locked inside. The emergency barrier has activated, and a magic circle has been cast to completely cut off the flow of magic power from outside. Rothstaylor Mansion has now become the perfect locked room, with no chance of outside intrusion."

The servants and vassals all watched with wide eyes. Yennekar also looked up at the rooftop, unable to close her mouth in disbelief… Next to Bell Maya, on top of the well-maintained brick roof, Ed Rothstaylor was sitting there completely detained, tied to a chair.

It was an incredible sight to see. Bell Maya, the renowned head maid of Rothstaylor Mansion, who was more loyal to her master than anyone else…for some reason, she had stabbed Ed Rothstaylor in the back and climbed to the roof.

"I am Bell Maya…! And as of today, I have cast aside my position as head maid in favor of Ed Rothstaylor…!" Bell Maya shouted.

"Wh-what are you saying, Bell?!"

"It is as I said. As of today, I am no longer the head maid."

Most aristocrats in history who faced a terrible end had died from the betrayal of their most trusted ally. Yennekar, who had read countless novels and textbooks, knew that fact all too well. That was why she recognized how much of a crisis they were in.

"I can't do it any longer! Walking behind Ed Rothstaylor, trapped in his shadow…I can't live being neglected like this any longer!!!" Bell Maya continued.

"Bell…! C-calm down! You're not that type of person…! Just tell me if there is something you are unhappy with!"

"I've always been like this! I've just been keeping my true self hidden! I will no longer be the head maid…" Her expression didn't change, but her voice was getting more aggressive as she continued, "I will now be Ed Rothstaylor's partner…! I've made up my mind! I've decided to no longer hide my true self any longer, but to instead show it off to the world!"

A deep and utter silence filled the entire garden. Bell Maya, who always respected and was loyal to her master like a perfect model for other maids, had just dropped a major bombshell. It was hard to tell if it was all some sort of dream or real life.

It could not possibly be real. If anyone had been forced to bet on it, no one would ever have guessed this was really happening. Everyone had the same thought: that it couldn't possibly be happening.

"What the hell are you saying, Bell!!!" Yennekar Palerover, who was more shocked than anyone else, suddenly screamed, the words echoing through the garden.

Of course, the other servants who had worked with Bell Maya for a while were shocked. However, no one was more shocked than Yennekar, as she had been with her the longest. Not only that, but they had possessed a special relationship ever since she attended Silvenia Academy. Yennekar knew Bell better than anyone else and was confident that she wasn't that type of person.

However, emotions could easily change. Even though Bell may have diligently served Ed as her master for years, there was no guarantee that she hadn't had a change of heart. Even in Yennekar's eyes, she could see how attractive Ed was. It was only natural that a girl could fall head over heels for him.

Right when she finally felt that she had found her place beside Ed, she suddenly started to worry after hearing Bell's sudden confession. Yennekar was sweating profusely as her complexion turned blue.

All of the women who have lived beside Ed for the past few years had fallen for him. However, it was completely unexpected to hear that Bell Maya was the same. Why was she suddenly acting like a robber who came out holding a knife? If something like that was going to happen, shouldn't there have been signs?

Ignoring Yennekar, Bell Maya continued to raise her voice from the rooftop, saying, "Everyone has tried to take the position of Ed's partner, but in the end, it still remained empty. No one was able to claim the position as their own."

Looking at Bell's expression, there was not the slightest hint that she was joking. After all, the situation was far too extreme to be considered a joke.

"I was forced to constantly watch the position of his partner remain empty. But now, it has come to an end," Bell Maya continued.

"Bell! Get a grip! Did you eat something bad?! Have you been brainwashed?!"

"Now, I will be able to stand tall."

Ed, who was still unconscious, was placed there on top of the roof like a sign. Everyone watched from below, still unsure if it was all some kind of dream or reality. The head maid, who stood up there on the roof, had always seemed like an impossibly perfect maid, like the stars in the sky… but she had come crashing down to the ground.

"The servants who are not trapped in the barrier, listen to me! Open the main gate through the external security system! Prepare a carriage for us to leave on! Make sure to load it with gold and silver so that we have enough to live off of forever! If you don't, I will end my life here alongside Young Master Ed! It would be an honor to end my life here with him!"

Did the head maid really lose her mind? That was the only explanation that could be given. Yennekar suddenly realized that she needed to stop this quickly. But to do so, she would at least need to call on a high-ranking spirit.

Lucy… What is she doing right now?

* * *

Lucy Mayreel had grown another step. Through her experience at the Lamelin Mountain Range, she was no longer the same childish and immature girl she once was. She had grown into a great Archmage, and the journey after finally stepping outside of her cradle had begun.

However, she couldn't break free from her old lazy and procrastinating self, who lived her life idly without a care in the world. At that moment, Lucy Mayreel, the genius magician who had left her cradle for the first time in her life…was sleeping soundly.

Since no one woke her up, she continued to sleep in her room. She was the type who would never wake up unless someone else woke her. That was the case even if an earthquake was taking place or a building collapsed.

"Unnm… Is there jerky…" Lucy mumbled.

When she managed to open her eyes for a moment to look at the table next to her, she saw that Bell Maya had brought her beef jerky and other snacks. Lucy turned over on her bed as she shoved some pieces of jerky into her mouth.

Booom!

Even with the barrier being activated outdoors, causing the building to shake and magic power to activate on the doors…Lucy Mayreel continued to go back to sleep without a care in the world.

She did feel that something was strange. Whenever she slept in the mansion, a maid would always come and wake her up early in the morning. It was the first time in a while that no one had been bothering her, and she intended to take full advantage of it. Even if Glasskan's right hand came falling on the world again, she could sleep soundly. At that point, it was like a superpower she had.

Bell Maya knew everything there was about the Rothstaylor Mansion. As such, she was familiar with the only way to completely subdue Lucy Mayreel, an archmage that anybody would tremble to fight against.

She was a legendary magician who chased away an Evil God and could bring the entire kingdom into chaos all on her own. Yet the surprisingly obvious and incredible way to defeat her was to simply not wake her up.

"Lady Lucy is sleeping in her room. Just so you know, no one is able to access it," Bell Maya stated.

When Yennekar heard that, she slapped her forehead. Bell Maya knew each member under House Rothstaylor too well.

I'm going to have to take action myself…!

Yennekar took out her wand as she looked up at the rooftop. She didn't know why Bell Maya was acting like that, but she had to stop her before things turned any worse. However, she couldn't move hastily. After all, she still had Ed Rothstaylor hostage. If Bell Maya really had lost her mind, it would be too dangerous to take any action at the moment.

* * *

"A rebellion at the Rothstaylor Mansion?"

It had been half a day since the head maid Bell Maya threw Rothstaylor Mansion into chaos. Since the distance between House Rothstaylor and the capitol wasn't far, if the messenger ran quickly, they could deliver news within a day.

The messenger gasped heavily as he urgently reported the details while kneeling. Upon hearing the details of the situation, the next Emperor of the Kroel Empire, Penia Elias Kroel, shook her head.

She had been taking lessons on becoming the emperor for quite some time now. One could say that her level of dignity and grace had certainly risen compared to before. As she was next in line to hold the highest authority in the empire, she wore a beautiful tiara on her head as she prepared to give out orders.

Bell Maya, the previous head maid at Silvenia Academy… Was she really the type to rebel like this…?

Bell Maya, of all people, started a rebellion in the middle of Rothstaylor Mansion. If the situation got any worse, things could become drastic. Of course, the imperial family wouldn't need to get involved as House Rothstaylor was powerful enough to take care of themselves…. But for other reasons, it did seem necessary to help finish things as quickly as possible.

Ed Rothstaylor had incredible connections throughout the empire. If he were in danger, there would surely be a few big names quickly taking action to protect him.

"If we leave it as it is, things will only become worse. It's only a matter of time before the Commercial Union or Holy Father Building join in… For now, we will send an imperial guard to help oversee and report on the situation. This is an urgent matter, so quickly give out my order."

"W-well…" The messenger struggled to respond.

"I heard that the 'Three Golden Coins' have already started to move. And the knights of the Holy Father Building…they've also already departed. We've received requests from them for permission to cross the border."

"…What?"

Penia's eyes widened at his response. Lortel, the president of the commercial union, was an incredibly devious and dangerous person with a massive information network. It wasn't strange that she would have heard of the news already.

However, it was surprising to hear that the knights of the Holy Father Building had already departed. They were a special garrison-like team that only followed the orders of the highest powers in the Holy Father Building.

They wouldn't take action so quickly unless the Holy Father or someone equal to his status were personally in danger. That meant that Saint Clarice had personally taken action. Although she was usually a kind and gentle person, she would certainly get furious upon hearing that the head maid was holding Ed hostage.

"No… This is…really bad…"

Bell Maya was a smart woman. Did she really not realize the situation would become so bad? Or did she actually expect it to happen? But if that was the case, how did she plan on handling it? Penia couldn't figure it out at the moment.

Now that Ed Rothstaylor had been taken hostage and the president of the Three Golden Coins as well as the saint of the Holy Father Building had personally taken action… From Penia's position, she couldn't sit still either.

"Contact the escort guards and prepare to depart," Penia said.

"…What?"

"I will go there myself."

A personal visit from the future Emperor. Yet another unexpected variable fell like a bolt out of the blue sky.

The president of the commercial union, the saint, and now even the future emperor… The fact that those three people were gathering was enough to make one mistakenly believe there was a major continental meeting being held at Rothstaylor Mansion.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 42: A Proud Maid (4)

I was alone in the forest, sitting with my back against a tree. The critters and birds that lived in the forest hurriedly scurried away, rustling the leaves as they chirped and squeaked.

At first, the strong smell of the grass that filled the forest was suffocating. However, the longer you lived in the wild, the more accustomed you became to the smell. Eventually, that once suffocating scent became something you actually looked forward to.

Sitting with my back to the tree, I looked down to see the wooden suitcase I brought along after getting kicked out of Ophelis Hall. It was a memory from when I had first entered the forest after being kicked out of the dormitory.

Sometimes, when I was sleeping soundly, I dreamt of that moment. Back when I was kicked out without anything to my name, forced to survive in the forest by eating the bark of the trees…

It was a period in my life where I struggled to survive each and every day. But even now, when I lived a life where I could sleep with a full stomach, I still remembered that moment.

Only by looking back at the beginning of my story did I realize how far I had come. The reason I was still dreaming of that moment was probably because of my desire to reflect on my original goals.

Back when I had nothing…thinking back to when I sat with empty hands, back to the tree…

I once started right there in the North Forest, but now my once-empty hands were full. So, why did I still think back to the time when I had nothing?

"Here is all of your luggage. You've worked hard during your time here."

I suddenly remembered seeing a senior maid bidding me farewell with an expressionless face before the doors of Ophelis Hall shut on me. Thinking back on it, it seems that the maid hadn't changed one bit since then.

And yet, people were bound to change. The countless people I met on my journey all went through a change of values, status, or relationships… But it seemed Bell Maya hadn't changed one bit since that day, as if it were her duty.

* * *

"Eughk…"

When I opened my eyes, I was in a dark room. Looking around, I slowly started to recognize the VIP room on the top floor of the Rothstaylor Mansion.

It was the room reserved for the most important guests whenever they visited. Not only was the scenery incredible, but the room had great ventilation and privacy as well. The size of the room itself was large, and it was filled with high-quality furniture. The room was so comfortable that I could feel the tension leaving my body the moment I lay down.

"Are you awake?" Bell Maya asked.

"Ugh… Those sleeping pills you gave me definitely worked. I slept as if I had died…" I said.

"I'm relieved that you were able to get a good night's sleep for the first time in a while."

However, something was strange. It didn't seem like night, yet the room was pitch dark. When I struggled to look around the room, it seemed that the blackout curtains were firmly shut and the door was locked. Bell Maya was sewing something while I was lying down on the couch. How was she even able to sew in a room that dark?

"…What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm preparing rose embroideries for our new senior maids. Two of the maids who work under me will be promoted to the senior maid position next month. It's only right that I make sure to do the proper preparations for their promotion," Bell Maya explained.

"I guess I did tell you that we needed more senior maids."

"A senior maid's outfit is extremely important. It helps the other maids recognize their superior at a glance, after all."

Come to think of it, Bell Maya was a senior maid even back when I first met her at Ophelis Hall. She must personally know how important it was to be treated properly as a senior maid.

"Then those embroideries are a part of their new uniform?" I asked.

"Yes. We could have bought them instead, but I felt it was important to show them how much I care. The embroideries you buy at the store are not as nice as the ones I make myself, and to maids, it's more meaningful if the head maid gives them something she made herself," Bell Maya clarified.

I was silent.

"The more pride the maids feel in their job, the more our master's status increases. So, for the sake of your status and authority, it's only right that the maids and vassals of Rothstaylor Mansion take pride in their job."

Even as she spoke to me, she didn't slow down when making the embroidery. Since she held the status of head maid, it wouldn't be strange to think of her as having the status of a semi-aristocrat. Nevertheless, she still chose to do rather odd chores, such as making embroidery for the newly-promoted senior maids to wear. Perhaps that work ethic was the secret to her success.

"It's also the best way to make sure people listen to your orders. But you're much better at doing so than I am, young master," Bell Maya mused.

"No. I have to admit that you are more of an expert than I am when it comes to these things. As head maid, I'm sure it isn't easy keeping track of all the maids under you," I replied as I stood up from the couch and I began to stretch.

"Keuk… Phew… I don't know how long it's been since I've slept this well."

After exhaling heavily, my body felt lighter. It was natural that I would build up some fatigue as I'd been so busy these past few days. However, now that I was able to relieve myself, an incredibly refreshing feeling filled my body.

I continued to warm my body up as I watched Bell Maya. The way she worked was so incredibly accurate and efficient. At the rate she was going, she started to look more like a machine than human.

"It's been a while since I've felt this good. It actually might have been years since I was so relieved. After all, with what happened these past ten years, I haven't given myself a break," I mused.

"You had a lot of responsibilities to take care of, so it's understandable," Bell Maya said.

"Thanks to you, I feel like I became a better person. In fact, everyone around you has changed for the better, whether it be in status or as a person, but…it still feels like you're the same, Bell."

I didn't mean much when I said those words. It's just a thought I have whenever I look at Bell.

"Is that what you think?"

"Yeah. From back on Acken Island to when I scouted you to come and work here… It feels like you've never changed."

Yennekar, Lucy, Lortel, Clarice, Taylee, Penia, Ayla, Ziggs, Clevius, Persica, Selah… The countless people I met had all changed in some way or form. After all, the passage of time changed people. Bell was the only one who seemed to remain unchanged after all this time.

"Well, there's no need to take my words to heart… After all, you might have gone through change on the inside," I said.

"No, it's as you said. I'm someone who hasn't changed as much as you would think. Perhaps it's by my innate nature or through sheer coincidence… Regardless, what you said is right," Bell said quietly as she fixed the frills on her uniform. "In fact, I take pride in this consistent temperament of mine."

"…Pride?"

"You must think what I'm saying is strange."

"No, not at all. It's up to you how you feel… It's not my job to change your mind either."

Pride, ambition, conviction. However she chose to describe herself, it didn't particularly matter to me, but…Bell's expression continued to look as serious as always.

"Master, what type of person do you trust?"

"Trust?"

She brought up a rather strange question. Normally wouldn't it be someone capable who I'd known for years? That seemed like the obvious answer at least.

"As for me, I trust those who are predictable," Bell Maya said, then continued, "I don't have to ask about them, figure them out, or guess what they are thinking… I don't have to worry about what they're doing, think about how they're going to fix a problem, or when they plan on getting off work and going to bed… For me, I think a predictable person is a trustworthy one."

It certainly seemed more like the point of view of a business owner rather than a friend. Bell Maya has always been a realist that focuses on her work.

"That's why I also wanted to become a predictable person," Bell Maya added. "Because I wanted to be trusted by others."

She casually confessed her values and views on life as she continued to sew. The girl who was once kicked out of House Flanchel for being an illegitimate child and treated no more than a nuisance, the girl who was forced to focus on her abilities and skills to show a trustworthy and reliable side to those who judge her… Only at that moment did the words Bell said strike me.

"…I see," was all I could say.

Like the unique scent you smell when going back home after a long time, some things never changed with time. Those were moments where you suddenly felt a strange sense of comfort and stability.

As you went through the journey of life, there were times when you looked back on your life. Whenever that happens, it reminded you of the fact that you were doing well. In a turbulent world where everything changed so quickly, there was a strange sense of security and reassurance in being reminded that some things were still going well.

It was unclear just what kind of past Bell Maya remembered. What did she think and feel as she looked up at the adults that dragged her along? For her, just what kind of ideas did she have as she looked up at her aristocratic father?

Bell Maya must have lived a life trying to become someone aristocrats could trust and wanted to keep by their side. I guess she truly had accomplished her dream. Though, it was a bit strange to call something like that a dream…

"Bell," I said.

"Yes," she answered.

"I think you are the most trustworthy person here in the mansion."

As I casually confessed to her, Bell suddenly stopped her hands as she replied with a subtle smile, "It's a great honor to be told that."

Like always, it was a very Bell-like answer to accept the compliment humbly.

* * *

"But I have no idea just how long I slept. Since the mansion seems rather quiet, I'm guessing the situation concluded… Then, can you please get me some breakfast? I should eat something before I start working on my thesis," I said.

"I must apologize, but…that will be difficult to do right now," Bell Maya replied.

"What?"

In the dark, Bell put the clothes she was working on up onto the table as she stood up.

"You've been asleep for around thirty hours, so it makes sense you are hungry now. I did prepare something for you to eat in advance, but unfortunately, it will be difficult for you to leave this room right now."

"…What do you mean?"

"To be precise, my plan to take you hostage is still in place."

"…What?"

I quickly stood up as I went over to the window to take a glimpse outside the blackout curtains. I could see the entire garden of Rothstaylor Mansion. Outside, there seemed to be people from various different organizations.

Seeing the colors of the various different flags and uniforms, it seemed that even the imperial army had come. It makes sense they would go to such extremes to save me, given that I was one of the empire's most important assets.

"Currently the Rothstaylor Mansion's defensive magic has fully activated. Since you inspected it yourself, it turned out to be rather reliable. It's also being supported through various magic engineering devices, so the mansion has turned into an iron fortress that won't fall even with a few high-ranking spells," Bell Maya began.

She continued, "And this VIP room is located at the center of the mansion, so even the strongest forces in the empire will have a hard time breaking through to rescue you."

My brain started to run in overtime upon hearing that ridiculous update on the situation. Seeing and hearing everything that was happening, I couldn't help but get a headache.

"Of course, with that much support, they will eventually be able to break through and rescue you if they want, but… It's going to be a diplomatic and political issue for them to break through to reach you…" Bell Maya added.

"…What do you mean…?" I asked.

"Like I said, they would have to break through. That means that to reach you, it would require destroying the entire Rothstaylor Mansion… Which won't be easy to do given your political value and status."

Bell Maya was incredible at analyzing the situation. She knew from the start that it would be impossible for them to break through Rothstaylor Mansion through force, no matter how much manpower they had.

"So they are instead trying to negotiate with me as they set up camps around the entire estate. It's been roughly ten hours that we've been in this situation."

"Hey…are you sure you can handle this?" I asked.

"Don't worry. The laws of the empire state that the only one who has the power to punish me in this situation is Lady Tanya. Wouldn't this be the perfect excuse to lower my salary? It won't be hard to come up with some other excuses later on for giving me such a light sentence," Bell Maya replied.

"You're…quite special…"

"Well, there's actually something else to consider aside from my salary as well, but… Let's discuss that with the head of the house later."

As I glimpsed outside through the gaps in the curtains, I could see countless influential figures camped outside, trying to resolve the situation. It was hard to make out all of them from so far away, but I could at least recognize Lortel and Yennekar. Squinting a bit harder, I could even see Princess Penia and Saint Clarice.

Oh my god. They were all the most important influential figures within the entire empire.

"I'm going to keep you hostage for another ten hours before ending things. Since it's going to take some time, I brought you some books to read. Please bear with it even though the situation might be frustrating," Bell Maya said.

"…You even prepared food and materials to embroider knowing this would happen?" I asked.

"No matter how bad the situation might be, I can't neglect my duties as a maid."

* * *

There was one person even the greediest aristocrats in the empire never dared to touch. Someone who was not only smart but also good at fighting.

A professor of Celestial Studies at Silvenia Academy, Ed Rothstaylor.

He was famous for being a duke of House Rothstaylor with the power of Tanya Rothstaylor and countless other influential individuals behind him. Just hearing the names of the people supporting Ed Rothstaylor was enough to convince aristocrats not to even try and take advantage of him.

However, there were always going to be those who questioned if he really was all so powerful. But every time someone tried, Ed Rothstaylor would show the entire world what happened if you mess with him.

You've done something rather amusing, Bell.

Thinking about the troops outside the window, Tanya Rothstaylor grinned. It seemed like the innocent smile of a young girl, but underneath it was the smile of a powerful aristocrat who was considering political gains and losses.

Yes… There are countless people who have been trying to get closer to our family recently. But now I have the perfect chance to scout and see exactly who is willing to go out of their way for the sake of us.

Under the cause of trying to negotiate with Bell, various politicians and aristocrats had gathered to discuss how to help House Rothstaylor. Which one of them would be useful to have later on? The most suitable answer she could give at the moment was 'someone like Bell.'

Tanya smiled before she quickly let out a hefty sneeze that shook her head.

"Achoo! Ugh… There's too much dust here…" Tanya said.

"…L-Lady Tanya…staying in a place like that won't be good for your lungs," the junior maid with her said.

"Ugh… I guess the closet is still better than under the table. In the closet, I get to enjoy the smell of detergent…and I like the feeling of the blankets wrapping around me as well…"

"I think it would be best for you to just sit on the couch and wait."

"Ehem!!!"

Hearing the continent's most powerful duchess suddenly yell, the maid couldn't help but tremble.

"Don't try to mess with my aesthetic. I choose locations that are based on theories that go beyond your understanding. Such a decision… It's all based on a philosophy you and many others will never understand…" Tanya said.

Unfortunately, there was no way for a maid to break Tanya's stubbornness when it came to hiding.

Tanya crawled out under the table as she glanced out the window again. She thought things would end peacefully after the lull, but something unexpected was taking place.

Ed Rothstaylor himself helped create the barrier that surrounds Rothstaylor Mansion. It was defensive magic that would be difficult for anyone to break through, but there was one person that transcended the rules of magic.

Holy Blessing.

The Holy Blessing was a protective magic that Saints of the Telos Religious Group were blessed with. It had the power to help them transcend the laws of magic, which even included Celestial Magic Power… Because of that, it would be possible for someone with the blessing to walk through the iron fortress.

"L-Lady Tanya…that's…"

"Yes. It seems Saint Clarice is planning to enter the mansion herself," Tanya said.

However, it seemed that everyone else in the Holy Father Building was standing up and screaming at her to come back. In other words, it seemed that Saint Clarice was going rogue.

The girl who confidently walked into the mansion started to come closer and closer. With a firm expression on her face, she continued to stomp closer as her pure white hair fluttered in the wind.

The sin of playing with Ed Rothstaylor's life…

Her expression was furious. Was she really that mad about it?

-x-X-x-

Side Story 43: A Proud Maid (5)

What kind of person was Saint Clarice?

Under Holy Father Eldane's protection, she had steadily built up her influence until she became so symbolic to the Telos Religious Group that no one could imagine replacing her.

Inside the main hall of the Holy Capital, said to be the greatest structure mankind had ever built, everyone paid close attention to Clarice's mood. From the College of Cardinals to the Holy Father Building's knights, from the Apostles of Telos to the heads of every monastery, a single glance from her was enough to make them break out in a cold sweat.

There were many reasons she had gained such authority, but the greatest was that she was utterly devoted to her duty. Blessed with the Holy Blessing, the saint had dedicated herself to the Telos Religious Group and lived buried under exhausting work, yet she had almost never done anything that could be called stepping out of line.

So when Saint Clarice suddenly vanished from the Holy Capital, it could only be considered a major incident.

Worse still, in the dead of night she had left the Holy City Karpea, accompanied by the commander of the Holy Father Building's knights and two Apostles of Telos.

It happened so quickly that no one could stop her. Moving with a military escort was a diplomatic matter that, if mishandled, could escalate into a conflict with the Kroel Empire.

Had the next emperor, Penia Elias Kroel, not chosen to overlook the circumstances, it could truly have become a disaster.

The reason she had gone so far as to commit such a reckless act was simple… she had heard about the incident at the Rothstaylor ducal territory, set in the grasslands at the heart of the Kroel Empire.

By the time she arrived at the mansion, she had already steeled herself with grim resolve.

Fwoosh! Crack! Snap!

The red butterfly-shaped ornament in Saint Clarice's hair swayed once.

The collar of her pure-white saint's vestments fluttered in the aftermath of the magic power. Over it she wore a robe heavily embroidered with gold thread, but it couldn't withstand the protective magic circle guarding the Rothstaylor Mansion, and was tearing apart here and there.

Yet Saint Clarice herself was completely unaffected by the enormous wave of magic power. Unless one was a devout believer of the Telos Religious Group, it was impossible to interfere with the Holy Blessing inscribed upon her body.

Fwip! Fwip!

The Rothstaylor Mansion's protective magic circle was on such a massive scale that it took dozens of high-ranking magicians just to maintain it.

As she crossed the central garden and climbed the entrance steps, pressure bore down on her entire body. Even so, Clarice's expression remained serene.

No, if anything, it wasn't quite serene.

The gentle smile she always wore while presiding over services in the Holy Capital was still on her lips… but a cross-shaped vein had clearly popped out on one side of her head.

That was right, she was furious. There was a reason she had rushed all the way here so late at night, even bringing the Holy Capital's guards with her.

'Head Maid Bell Maya! I heard you were the most capable strategist protecting the Rothstaylor Mansion…!'

To break through the Rothstaylor Mansion, layered with the highest grade of defensive magic circles, one would have to be prepared to bring the entire mansion down. Naturally, doing such a thing against House Rothstaylor was no easy matter.

And so what was needed was an irregular.

The saint, bearing the Holy Blessing, could shield her own body from every kind of magic.

Even without resorting to any forceful means, she could simply stroll right into this mansion ringed with the highest grade of defensive magic circles.

She was like a walking eraser in human form.

Because she would never take damage from hostile magic power, the saints of the Holy Capital could appear before crowds without the slightest worry.

"Head Maid Bell Maya! I am Clarice, saint of the Holy Capital's Belzhanar Monastery! Come out and surrender at once!"

She had come to rescue Ed Rothstaylor, who had been stabbed in the back by his most trusted strategist and thrown into crisis.

The situation itself made her feel as though she had been placed on some grand stage, so her tone naturally became even more dramatic than necessary.

She knew Bell Maya well.

Whenever she happened to run into Ed at social gatherings, he would praise the woman until his mouth ran dry.

From the first time she had seen Bell at Silvenia Academy, Clarice had recognized how exceptionally competent she was. Bell was a strategist who knew how to separate public matters from private feelings, how to be considerate of others, and how to act for the sake of her master. At least, that had been true until now.

And yet, Bell had dared to stab her master in the back while harboring such sinister intentions.

Despite all the favors she had received from House Rothstaylor, Bell had dared to raise the banner of rebellion. She had dared to kidnap Ed Rothstaylor through cowardly and cruel means, trying to indulge her selfish desires. She had dared to unleash all sorts of audacious fantasies on a sleeping Ed, things a saint could scarcely even imagine. She had even gone raving mad, spouting embarrassing nonsense about eloping for love.

Harboring just the tiniest speck of self-interest herself, she puffed up her cheeks and shouted toward Bell Maya.

"This wickedness can never be forgiven! Do you think holing up behind a defensive magic circle like this will make things go the way you want?!"

Saint Clarice walked step by step into the main hall of the Rothstaylor Mansion. Naturally, the main hall was also spewing elemental magic from all sorts of defensive magic circles, but Saint Clarice merely snorted and waved her hand once.

Her fair, slender hand looked endlessly frail, yet with a single gesture, it neutralized all the magic power around her.

The Rothstaylor Mansion's main hall was filled with marble decorations and all manner of artwork.

The main staircase leading up to the second floor came into view, along with the far end of its railing. It was utterly unnatural that a space of such magnificent size held not a single sign of life.

And then, beyond that railing, the perpetrator of this absurd insurrection appeared: Bell Maya.

"Thank you for coming all this way, Saint Clarice. I apologize for failing to prepare a grand welcoming ceremony. Given the circumstances."

"You talk as though this has nothing to do with you?! Head Maid Bell Maya! How dare you brandish Senior Ed as a hostage to satisfy your filthy desires?!"

"Filthy desires…?"

"Don't play dumb! I've already read all the reports!"

Saint Clarice was angry from head to toe.

Had the people of the Holy Capital seen Clarice like this, they would have been thrown into great confusion. The Saint Clarice who appeared at monasteries and baptismal ceremonies was a figure so holy she might as well have been painted on a cathedral wall.

For her to display such an emotional side was rare indeed. But those who had seen her during her academy days, when she went by the name Kylie Eckner, knew the truth. Clarice simply acted well to suit the situation; at her core, she wasn't so different from any other girl her age.

"What exactly were you trying to do, putting Senior Ed to sleep with a sedative?!"

"..."

"You'll have to report in full detail just what sinister deeds you committed, keeping Senior Ed bound while he was helpless, asleep and in such a weakened state of mind and body!"

"..."

Atop the second-floor railing.

Bell Maya looked down at the saint with such lofty grace that she seemed like the true master of the mansion.

Her composure only made Clarice more impatient.

Even if she had snapped and launched an insurrection, Bell Maya was still Bell Maya. This seasoned head maid, who never lost her composure and always set about resolving any situation, had far greater insight than Clarice, who had only sat in a high position for a few years.

Holding a high position did not make someone capable of everything. It was not easy for the still-young Clarice to overcome the insight and experience Bell had gained through countless trials.

To put it bluntly, Bell Maya had fully anticipated even this very situation, the saint storming the mansion alone.

There weren't many ways to break through this mansion's stringent defenses. It was possible if one was willing to accept heavy losses, but no one would want to make such a dangerous choice.

In the end, it was Clarice herself, resistant to all magic power, who was the most troublesome opponent of all.

In fact, her special nature was being put to use as the very means of resolving this situation.

And there was no way the seasoned Bell Maya had failed to prepare for it.

"Saint Clarice. Will you hear me out?"

"Don't think you can sweet-talk me with that silver tongue! Bell Maya. Do you know how much Senior Ed trusted you?! And you defiled that trust of his with your filthy desires! You put him in a weakened state of mind and body, harboring selfish desires, trying to satisfy your filthy lust!"

"It's not as though my actions are without a greater cause."

"Greater cause, my foot! You're acting on personal feelings! How dare you, when even I haven't… no, that's not it. Anyway, you need to understand the unbearable weight of this sin you can never atone for!"

Saint Clarice existed outside every law of magic power.

There was no way to stop her. In terms of sheer raw power, Lucy Mayreel was the most dangerous, but Clarice was by far the most troublesome person to deal with.

That was precisely why Bell Maya had never once intended to stop her. Clarice was not someone to be subdued. She was someone to be won over.

"Strictly speaking, I am not acting on personal feelings. In fact, all of this is a matter I undertook with Young Master Ed's permission."

"…W-what? No, do you think I'll believe that? I've already been told that Senior Ed was seen held captive and unconscious!"

"That, too, was a permitted matter."

"What a ridiculous thing to say! If you thought I'd be fooled by such hollow words, then you've underestimated me far too much! This may be a personal matter rather than business of the Holy Capital, but you should be well aware that Bell now stands before the saint of the Holy City Karpea! You do understand what it means to make an enemy of me?!"

Saint Clarice didn't much like pressing down on others with authority.

Nevertheless, before Bell Maya, it seemed necessary to put that authority fully on display. To break this deadlock and subdue her, she needed to mobilize everything she could.

"Saint Clarice."

But this woman, who worked at the Rothstaylor Mansion day in and day out and had faced every manner of distinguished guest on the continent, wasn't cowed by something like that.

If anything, the seasoned woman was contemplating how to sweet-talk even a nation's saint.

Authority that pierced the heavens, total immunity to every kind of magic power, and a temper already running hot besides, how on earth was one supposed to sweet-talk a saint like that?

Unfortunately for Clarice, Bell Maya had spent half her life walking the thin ice of noble society.

"You're right, Saint Clarice. Young Master Ed is currently in a weakened state of mind and body, confined to the guest room, unable to properly support himself."

"Just as I thought…! I knew it!"

"Indeed. Just as you said, unable to put up any resistance… having to move only as his hand is led… in such a frail state. Whoever might be at his side, he would have no choice but to lean on them helplessly."

"How dare…! How daaare you!"

"And should I subdue you here, Saint Clarice, there's no other place to lock you up, so I suppose I'd have to confine you in that same guest room."

"…?"

The saint's fury cut off abruptly.

"Wh-what is that supposed to mean?"

"Look around you. The mansion is presently bristling with defensive magic circles. Alongside all those high-ranking magicians, these are high-level magic circles that Young Master Ed personally took part in maintaining. The mansion right now is like an enormous bomb. There's scarcely a room that isn't dangerous."

"..."

"So there's no room to spare. If I were to subdue and confine you, Saint Clarice, it would have to be that very same guest room."

The image of Ed Rothstaylor, weakened and gasping for breath, flickered before her. There was no helping it. No matter how much a saint upheld the teachings of god, she was still a girl that age.

But Clarice wasn't so thoughtless as to fall for such a one-dimensional ploy.

"Wh-what a ridiculous thing to say! You mean to subdue me with such a preposterous bait?"

But Bell Maya was a master of rhetoric who had seen it all.

"I'd ask you to take an objective look at the present situation. Did you not walk so boldly into this mansion yourself? As you can see, I have no way to stop you, Saint Clarice. Of course, I could level a rapier at you and consider physical means, but that would be the same as wringing my own neck. No one knows that better than you do."

To go beyond merely confronting the saint, to point a blade at her body or wound her, would be far too grave a crime to bear.

What Bell Maya was saying was that she had no intention of stopping Saint Clarice.

"And did you not say you couldn't believe my claim that all of this is a permitted matter? In that case, you need only go and see Young Master Ed for yourself. As I've said again and again, I have no way to stop you, Saint Clarice."

The tongue of a viper!

Clarice wondered whether covering her ears might be the right answer, but the fact was there wasn't a single thing wrong with what Bell Maya said.

It was impossible to stop or bewitch Clarice by magical means, and if she carelessly resorted to physical force, she would never be able to handle the aftermath, not unless she was willing to pay with her life.

"What in the world could be the problem? You're free to do everything you wish, Saint Clarice. If there's something you want to confirm, confirm it all; if you want to check on Young Master Ed's safety, do so."

"…S-something… you've prepared some kind of trap, haven't you? A physical trap, or…"

"I'm someone who knows how to value my own life. Were I to lay a hand on your holy person, I would become not merely a common rebel but an enemy of the Telos Religious Group."

Bell Maya had snapped and launched an insurrection.

She had come rushing at the news, yet the Bell Maya she actually faced was strangely calm and rational. Feeling a sense of wrongness at the sight, Clarice swallowed dryly.

Something… something felt subtly different from what she'd imagined.

"Saint Clarice. There is no risk to you whatsoever. I keep telling you, this is a situation where you may do everything you wish."

"S-something's… something's suspicious… I'm telling you it's suspicious…"

"Right now, Young Master Ed is completely weakened in mind and body… lying quietly in the guest room, recovering… His consciousness returned for a moment, but he drank the sedative again and slipped fully into deep sleep."

"Stop… stop… don't bewitch me with your strange words…!"

"He is truly caught in a half-dreaming daze. Whatever is done beside him… whatever is whispered… whatever happens… he would never notice a thing… Yes… I am simply stating the facts. The frail, weakened form of the ever-strong, ever-steadfast Young Master Ed is lying in that guest room…"

"I told you… to knock it off…!"

"Besides, doesn't this give you good justification too, Saint Clarice? Aren't you the only person who can survey the situation inside the mansion like this? You're also the only one who can gauge my true intentions. Surveying the interior while pretending to be subdued… where else would you find such fine justification? Who in all the world could possibly blame you, Saint Clarice?"

"This whole time… justification this, opportunity that… toying with Senior Ed's life and trying to win me over with your strange words…! You're testing the very limits of my patience!"

Fwoooosh

A ghastly aura began to gather around Clarice's body.

Whatever thread of patience she'd had snapped; she glared up at Bell with wide eyes. The sight was closer to a tyrant than a saint. Had she ever fallen into a saint of faithlessness, surely she would have looked like this.

"How dare you! The crime of insulting and trying to manipulate a nation's saint with such a thing…! You'll pay for it in full… The fact that you thought this situation could be resolved with such absurd words… fills me with the deepest contempt! Did you really think I'd fall for such an empty inducement, no matter what?!"

***

"Saint Clarice has defected. It seems she's joined Bell Maya."

"..."

The central garden of the Rothstaylor Mansion.

Seated at the modest encampment set up there, Baroness Yennekar Palerover pressed hard at the space between her brows. It hadn't even been fifteen minutes since Clarice entered the mansion.

Bell Maya did not look like the type, but she knew how to be cunning when necessary.

No one knew what sort of trickery she had used, but did this mean even a nation's saint could be turned into a puppet by her schemes?

Clarice, her face twisted with fury. She had stormed into the Rothstaylor Mansion brimming with heroic spirit, only to surrender in a mere fifteen minutes.

Just how had a nation's saint been subdued? Those who couldn't see the situation inside could only tremble in fear.

Archmage Lucy Mayreel: subdued.

Saint Clarice: subdued.

As that terrifying maid's insurrection continued, the situation was slowly starting to feel real… Truly, she was worthy of being called the continent's finest strategist.

"S-Saint! Saint Clarice…! What on earth…!"

"What's happening in there?! Damn it… what has that vile criminal Bell Maya done to the saint…"

The members of the Telos Religious Group who had come along to escort the saint were in an uproar.

Saint Clarice had entered brimming with justice, only to fall so anticlimactically. Surely some cowardly method had been used to bewitch the saint's mind. Depending on the details, it could be a grave crime deserving even the harshest punishment.

In truth, the saint had simply joined in of her own accord. But at that moment, the Holy Father Building's knights and the Apostles of Telos had no way of knowing that. They could only imagine that Bell Maya had pulled some cowardly trick. …It was pitiful, really.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 44: A Proud Maid (6)

'Her name is Bell Maya. As I mentioned, she's the illegitimate child of House Flanchel, and the surname Maya is taken from her mother's side. As is the case with most aristocrats' children born out of wedlock, her life likely hasn't been a smooth one.'

Austin, abbess of Cledric Monastery, looked down at the small child Elris had personally brought in to introduce.

The short, neat hair was sharply cut, and the body, curled into a defensive posture, was like a hedgehog facing a natural predator.

The dagger she clutched tightly to her chest bore a seal in the shape of a lynx. It was the seal of House Flanchel, settled in the remote northeast of the continent.

She had already heard of Baron Flanchel's final days. The dagger this girl held to her chest like a treasure was likely a memento of her father.

'Originally she was to be sheltered at an orphanage over in Kohelton. But illegitimate or not, blood is blood, and it gives me much to consider. I think it might be more fitting to entrust her to Cledric Monastery after all.'

Elris, who served as head maid at Silvenia Academy, took in orphans with sorrowful circumstances and supported the facilities that gathered them in all manner of ways.

And those who went about saving people out of goodwill in this line of work were bound to cross paths one way or another. So it was with Elris and Austin.

'That's a deep wound on your arm.'

'It came to that.'

The abbess Austin glanced sidelong at the wound exposed on one of head maid Elris's arms.

It seemed she had clashed considerably with the girl herself in order to take in this small child called Bell Maya. The size of the wound faintly visible on her arm was about the same as the dagger the girl held so dear.

As though she had endured many hardships, the hem of the girl's dress was thick with dirt and dust, torn in many places.

This girl, who trusted neither Elris nor Austin, bared her teeth as if waging war against the whole world. The ruin of House Flanchel had left a deep wound on this child.

It wasn't a great problem.

Cledric Monastery was full of people who carried complicated pasts and bitter wounds. There was always room enough to take in a child who had become a victim caught between nobles' petty struggles for profit.

'The teachings of Telos turn no one away. It wouldn't be such a bad thing for this child to learn something about the value of life at Cledric Monastery… tsk, tsk.'

Austin, known as the old crone of Cledric Monastery, had already passed ninety by this point. Even the head maid responsible for Ophelis Hall at Silvenia Academy had no choice but to show deference before this seasoned old woman.

She was regarded almost as a great elder of the Telos Religious Group. Had she gone to the Holy Capital rather than remaining at this remote monastery, ordinary people would have scarcely been able to approach her.

'That said, I do wonder whether becoming a servant of god at this dull monastery by the sea is the life this child wished for. Telos takes as servants only those who follow him of their own will.'

To devote oneself to god's will had to come from one's own volition. It was a statement with room for differing interpretations depending on how one read scripture, but at least Austin thought so.

'So we'll keep her here at Cledric Monastery only until her wounds heal and she decides her own path in life. Once she's grown up a bit and gotten her head straight, well… how about having her do odd jobs at Ophelis Hall, where you are, Elris?'

'Ophelis Hall?'

'Yes. Silvenia Academy is fairly close to Cledric Monastery. And she has noble blood in her, after all. She has likely picked up quite a bit of noble culture by watching from the side. Rather than spending her adolescence spending dull days reading scripture, she would be better off spending her time at an academy that shines in fuller color.'

For Austin to dismiss reading scripture and prayer as dull was a radical thing for a religious person to say. But Austin was thinking thoroughly from Bell Maya's perspective.

'…This child is far more aggressive and… feral than she looks. A maid of Ophelis Hall must always be graceful, reserved, and faithful to her duty. Does this child have the makings of such a maid? I'm rather skeptical.'

'You never know how things in this world will turn out. Now, child. Bell, was it?'

It was an unbelievable sight, but this aged abbess was puffing away at a cigarette. A devout servant of god, dressed in a nun's habit and smoking a cigarette, made for a truly incongruous picture.

'Well, child? What do you think? One thing you must keep in mind: no one can make the important choices of your life for you. Whatever it is, you must choose it yourself.'

'...'

Seated on a bench in a corner of the monastery hall, holding her defensive posture, she radiated hostility toward all of humankind.

This tiny girl had grown up seeing far too much of the noble world's filth at a young age.

That was why neither Elris nor Austin found it easy to ask anything of this little girl called Bell Maya. It was a fleeting conviction, perhaps, but they believed the wounded deserved a fitting recompense.

They knew well that the world didn't turn so conveniently, but surely there was no sin in merely wishing it would. The patron god Telos taught that goodness was the very foundation that set the world right.

Austin walked over, step by step, and lowered herself. Bell Maya startled and thrust out the blade of the dagger she clutched to her chest, but this old woman who had seen it all paid it no mind. It was as though she'd lived a life in which she'd have few regrets even if she were stabbed to death by that dagger right then and there.

'Child. Life must feel hollow and hard. Everyone must look like an enemy, and loneliness must have clung to your life like a part of your own body. Your short life has surely been filled with nothing but struggle.'

'Don't come any closer.'

'All those cold feelings you have felt are real. The world is full of malice. Your judgment not to trust anyone carelessly is truly wise. Trusting an old nun who spouts seditious remarks while puffing on cigarettes, or a curt head maid whose thoughts you cannot read, would be truly foolish.'

'That disposition of yours, to doubt everything, will become a pillar that lets you endure in this cruel world. Even if someday you come to hold gentleness and warmth, you must never forget the coldness lodged in one corner of your heart that you feel now. Warmth makes people happy; cold makes people clear-eyed. And we must become people who hold not one of the two, but both.'

Do you understand what this means?

At the words that followed, the hostility-filled eyes of the girl wavered before she knew it.

This old nun Austin seemed to have realized a great many things through a lifetime of weathering it all.

'If you endure this arduous life, the day will come when you meet someone worth trusting and following. I and Elris failed to earn your trust, but someday a person you judge worthy of your trust and loyalty will appear too.'

'Are you telling me to waste my years doing maid's work, waiting on others hand and foot?'

'Oh dear. The kind of work hardly matters. You do not seem to understand what gives a life value. In that case, may I ask you just one thing in return?'

Austin, holding a benevolent smile, slowly stroked Bell's hair.

Young Bell did not resist the old nun's touch. There was strength in the hand holding the dagger, but she never thrust it forward. She did not know why, but it was not easy to remain hostile toward this nun.

'You, in what will you take pride as you live?'

After that, Bell stayed at Cledric Monastery until she had fully recovered, but she never opened her heart completely to Austin.

The fighting instinct carved into that mind didn't fade so easily.

Still, that brief question the old woman had tossed out clung stubbornly to the heart of this naive girl. Why she had attached so much meaning to a single unremarkable whisper, she couldn't fathom even now.

***

Bell Maya opened her eyes. She was in the main hall of the Rothstaylor Mansion.

After Saint Clarice entered the mansion, those remaining at the encampment outside would wait a while to see how the situation inside changed. From Bell's standpoint, it meant a brief moment of rest.

Having dozed for about twenty minutes leaning against the main hall railing, Bell rose again and straightened her attire. To keep one's appearance neat even in the most extreme circumstances was the mark of a first-rate maid.

'I'll just need to hold out another six or seven hours before wrapping this up. Before then, how many people are left who might attempt a breakthrough?'

Few people could break through the mansion Bell controlled by force. If she truly holed up and held out for days, someone might eventually resort to extreme measures, but Bell had never intended to hold out that long in the first place.

Only two people could break through this fortress of a mansion without taking damage: Lucy Mayreel and Saint Clarice.

She had dealt with both, so it was fair to say there were now virtually no military variables left.

But variables outside of force… what about those?

For instance, the most cunning and deep-thinking person among those who had set up their encampment before the mansion… the head of the commercial union 'Three Golden Coins.'

She wasn't the type to resolve matters by force. She was a schemer who laid invisible traps in deep abysses and snatched her opponents by the back of the neck.

No matter how veteran a strategist Bell Maya was, she could not outmaneuver someone who actively served as the Union President of Oldek.

Machinations and schemes were thoroughly that woman's domain. If she set her mind to making a move, the odds were high that Bell Maya wouldn't be able to counter it.

"..."

And yet Bell Maya didn't seem the least bit worried. As though she had some measure prepared.

...

***

"The head of 'Three Golden Coins' has come in person! It seems she rushed straight from Oldek the moment she heard the news!"

At the vassal's report, Yennekar's expression transformed.

The front of the Rothstaylor Mansion had become something like an enormous diplomatic conference ground.

The imperial guard, the Holy Father Building's knights, the mercenary band hired by 'Three Golden Coins,' and even the mansion's own soldiers… all manner of groups in every sort of dress were tangled together, breeding chaos.

The insurrection of a single strategist was causing an upheaval. Things were spiraling out of control.

"Saint Clarice…! Saint Claaarice…!"

One of the accompanying Holy Father Building knights was praying desperately, as though he could not accept the saint's defection.

The sight was so absurd that the on-site supervisor, Baroness Yennekar, felt her mind growing dim.

Still, the news that Lortel had arrived on the scene was welcome. It seemed she'd judged that dispatching only a mercenary band wasn't enough to set her at ease.

"..."

The standoff at the mansion was hopeless as it stood. Resolving the situation without further upheaval would not be easy. As a last resort, they could storm in while accepting the loss of the mansion itself, but that was the final card.

The situation looked troublesome at a glance, but no one was better suited to resolving such problems than Lortel.

Even without grounds for it, everyone secretly knew: no matter how brilliant a strategist Bell Maya was, she couldn't possibly be above Union President Lortel.

She would surely find the way to break this deadlock. Such expectation hung thick over the encampment.

Soon, a carriage ringed with large gold-trimmed ornaments rolled into the encampment. Who its owner was, was as plain as day.

The carriage opened, and a girl with reddish-brown hair braided to one side stepped out.

She was the most respected person in the commercial city of Oldek, yet her appearance was plain.

Those who had risen to the rank of great merchants invariably adorned themselves with all manner of jewels to display their authority, but Lortel Kehelland never showed her authority to the world through such things. Her navy skirt and pure-white blouse were plain, and the reddish-brown robe pulled low over them was close to the color of her hair.

To stay hidden in the dark was her motto. Had it not been for that enormous carriage, no one would have even known the Union President herself had come.

She usually carried an air of ease, looking out over everything with playful, sly-fox eyes, but this time, she had worn a cold-blooded gaze from the moment she appeared.

It was surely because she'd already heard the news, that Bell Maya, the strategist Ed Rothstaylor trusted most, had struck him in the back and seized the mansion.

For Oldek's merchants, betrayal was an everyday thing.

For the one you trusted most to drive a dagger into your back was hardly such a remarkable event. So she wasn't flustered by the situation itself.

But the fact that the target was Ed Rothstaylor… that had struck a raw nerve in her.

"It's been a while, Senior Yennekar."

"L-Lortel… you must have set out early this morning."

"It was the day I was to renew contracts with the trading partners over in Kohelton. Well, it's been postponed. It was a fairly important appointment, and yet you've made me come all the way out here…"

Bell Maya.

The defection of someone whose loyalty was second to none had shocked many. Of course it had.

But the only one rational enough to think first of a way out of this situation was, after all, Lortel. She didn't easily trust anyone, not even Bell Maya, who had been the very byword for a loyal strategist.

"I'd like to read through all the materials you have. The situation reports, the mansion floor plans, the management logs, even records of conversations exchanged verbally, I want to check all of it. Will it take more than five minutes to bring them?"

Lortel smiled brightly. A strange tension settled over the encampment.

When this young vixen got involved in a situation, one way or another it always came to a conclusion. It was a fact the key figures of the Kroel Empire all knew well.

In a certain sense, she was an even more fearsome enemy than Lucy.