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In relationships with lovers, the notion of healthy jealousy strengthens the bond between them. Shione began expressing her jealousy unabashedly after hearing about my successor, who might become her personal maid.

It seemed the maid’s assignment was not merely to serve her. Since I mentioned I might have to accompany her for a while and teach her a thing or two, it felt as though that didn’t sit well with her.

Thanks to that, Shione quickly shoved another cookie into her mouth, chewing away with cheeks puffed up like a hamster, casting me a sidelong glance that seemed to plead for comfort.

I poked Shione in the side playfully.

“Princess Shione?”

“Ugh…! What are you doing out of the blue…!”

“Are you feeling jealous right now?”

“Oh, seriously…”

Her face turned as red as a beet, and she scampered to the far side of the room.

With her side pointed out and an awkward posture, it felt like she was a haughty street cat, unwilling to allow any of my touches.

“If you’re jealous, there’s really no need.”

“Huh…?”

“Didn’t you say your maid has been with the Count’s House since its inception? She’s been there a long time and is quite a bit older, after all.”

“Ah.”

“They say she’s approaching her late thirties. So, there’s really no reason for you to feel jealous, is there?”

Shione’s embarrassment visibly crept up to her neck, and she hung her head.

I thought it’s not too late for someone in their early to mid-thirties to marry, but Diolia, the capable leader of the knights, is still unmarried past thirty. She even seems to be sorrowfully asking her close peers to set her up with someone.

In this world, where it’s almost an unspoken rule that not marrying after 25 is unusual, those without partners are like mercenaries wandering around.

With a steady paycheck and even as a baroness, it’s hard to believe that a noble woman would remain single.

“…Why are you just mentioning this now? The timing is way too late.”

But this time, Shione dashed over and pinched my arm.

When I tried to shake her off, she pinched me again.

To fend her off, I tossed a playful remark.

“Actually, now is the best time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because I just got to see a rather cute reaction from you.”

“W-What…!”

That remark seemed to hit Shione hard, as she repeatedly opened and closed her mouth in flustered confusion.

Tonight, when she goes to bed, she’ll probably pull her blanket tight, and the poor pillow will endure her punches.

“What’s most important starts from now. I mentioned that I wasn’t sure if I could win her over.”

As I shifted to the main topic, Shione soon regained her breath and responded.

“Do you know about the Feldart Barony in the West?”

“Feldart… Feldart…”

An unfamiliar barony.

The Count’s House exerts significant influence as a representative of the West. The direct noble families need to unify the western nobles to fight off monsters emerging from the Demonic Realm.

Though I received training as Shione’s personal attendant, there wasn’t much information available on the Feldart Barony, so the notes I had on it served as a clue.

“Oh! I remember now. The Feldart Barony is a place that has fallen on hard times, right? There must be very few people left there.”

“…Where did you hear that?”

“Well, I don’t have much to do besides reading in the room. I’ve read a bit of western history too.”

“In any case, that maid is said to come from the Feldart Barony. Apparently, she works super hard to prevent her sick family’s condition from worsening.”

The maid has been quietly dedicated to her work for a long time, hoping for her family’s health to improve. Given that the family was unaware of her circumstances, no one reached out to help.

Looks like she’s been genuinely committed to her job here.

“So, since she has earned the head maid’s trust, if we pay enough attention, we might catch glimpses of Herrel’s situation.”

But that’s not all.

“Also, I hear she was the only one who would sometimes converse with Herrel.”

The woman from the Feldart Barony might have been Herrel’s only friend.

“…Then I should probably have a chat with her.”

At that, Shione whispered softly.

Thus, the lively atmosphere ignited by Shione’s jealousy faded into a more peaceful state.

After mentioning what we gained from the conversation with the head maid and my intention to speak with Bronte and Sion’s attendant later, we took a break for a moment.

Shione and I aren’t fond of overthinking things.

“Oh, Ray! That’s the drink I was going to have!”

“I’ll finish this one and pour you a new one.”

“That’s indirect kissing…!”

“I’ve done more than just indirect kissing─”

“……!”

While sipping on Shione’s sweet tea, I made sure to grab the last cookie right in front of her while she glared at me like a furious cat.

Seeing her deflated like a sad puppy, an idea suddenly came to me.

“Shall we head to the special mission training grounds?”

“You want to go to the training grounds? I want to rest today.”

“Since I got arrows this morning, I wanted to try shooting them a bit.”

“Are you perhaps thinking of that mock battle you mentioned this morning?”

“Exactly. If I can handle the arrows well, I could maintain a sharper sense than usual. How about you, Princess Shione?”

“…You did say arrows won’t hurt much if I shoot carefully, right?”

I had nearly succeeded in convincing her, and with a little more coaxing, she’d surely join me.

Creating a new method for our archers to keep their skills sharp before the expedition. It would also serve well as my first achievement as the deputy commander wielding a bow instead of a sword. Just a little taste today would make it easier to flesh out my ideas later.

After all, there will be many days when I won’t be able to shoot my bow before the princess’s welcome ceremony, so I felt like I should make the most of today to avoid regrets.

“Though other knights may not be reliable, I can trust Captain Diolia.”

I immediately tossed the bait for our captain.

*

“Oh, if it isn’t Deputy Commander Ray. You’ve come prepared with your bow and gear. After all that hardship at the Academy, are you really thinking of joining the training already?”

Diolia chuckled as she clapped my shoulder, seeming quite trusting.

Shione also mentioned she’d gear up for her sparring, so she told me to go ahead.

Since it seemed she wasn’t here yet, Diolia, without her superior, received me casually.

“Hmm, it’s not like we’re on a silent retreat. You’re more playful than I expected. Anyway, I wish our knights would train as diligently as you do, even without being told.”

Though I heard some of the knights were slacking off.

While she was momentarily away for work, it seems the regular training session had turned into a group nap instead.

“The shooting range is over there. Just a bit ago, the rangers were practicing, and they’re taking a break now, so it should be nice and empty.”

Even with the enticing prospect of a quiet shooting range, I steeled myself and called to Diolia.

“Captain Diolia.”

“What is it, Deputy Commander?”

“Would it be alright if I asked for a spar?”

“Hmm, swordsmanship? Come to think of it, your armament has changed. Since you’ve got a new weapon, you’ll have to get used to it. If that’s the case, then anytime is welcome.”

“Oh, not that—”

I confidently raised my bow.

As the bow took up more of her view, shock filled Diolia’s expression.

By the time I casually tugged at the bowstring, Diolia was already shaking her head, tongue out.

“I really don’t want to spar with bows too. That’s not sparring, that’s wishing for an early grave, isn’t it? I really don’t have any desire to be pierced by an arrow.”

Given how vehemently she disliked it, she might take offense.

“Oh, look! Princess Shione is coming here—”

Just then, Shione appeared behind me.

Like me, she had her bow, weaponry, and sturdy armor prepared.

Diolia’s pupils seemed to shake like a leaf in the wind.

“Ray, Captain Diolia. What have you two been discussing here?”

“Welcome. Since Princess Shione chose practice over relaxation, I suppose I must work even harder.”

“What do you mean? I received some gifts from the Marquis House today. Since I got it, I should try it out, right?”

“Ah—”

Shione, speaking that way, showed her quiver and arrows to Diolia.

“I came to see if I could use this with Captain Diolia. You heard about our spar, right?”

“Oh, that—”

As soon as the spar topic arose, Diolia’s expression turned to one of concern.

Shione and I shared a glance, making sure Diolia couldn’t slip away.

“I’m sorry, but who else can I trust with something like this aside from you, Captain? The magic embedded in the arrows should prevent dangerous situations. So, I’m asking for your help here.”

Thus, Shione wouldn’t let Diolia slip away.

“Why so? Someone’s bound to see us. So just hurry up and look up.”

So, even knight Diolia ultimately accepted the spar with me.

 

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