Chapter 42 – The maid decided to support the lady all the way

We’ve decided to go to the fairy kingdom, so we made our way to Sieglinde’s house as soon as possible to ask where Kaya is.

“Houa… It’s like a princess…”

Says Ririi with a sparkle in her eyes when she sees Sieglinde’s home.

Sieglinde lives in the main residence of the Floyd family, which is honestly less like a mansion and more like a castle. I’d like to try living in a place like this for a while.

I don’t know what her problem with this place is, but she says she wants to move out. She told me when she was drunk that her father won’t let her.

She’s like the opposite of me, who left home as soon as I graduated, but I’m sure that’s common for a noted family like hers.

“Excuse us!”

I guess we’re here too early, because Sieglinde is still sleeping, so we’re taken to a reception room. And it looks like this might take a while, because the young maid is playing with Ririi.

Beary is curled up on the sofa.

“Hum, this is Beary! And this is daddy!”

“You’re great at drawing, Ririi.”

“Yes! Ririh loves drawing.”

As I watch Ririi play with the drawing set that I don’t even know where the maid got, the door opens without a sound and I see Sieglinde.

I thought for sure she’d be wearing the same clothes she slept in, but for some reason she’s wearing her uniform. She told me she had the day off.

“…”

Sieglinde stops by the door and looks around the room.

I feel like her eyes stop on top of the maid playing with Ririi for just a second, but then she walks this way.

“…Thank you for waiting.”

“It’s all right. Sorry for coming here so early.”

Sieglinde sits in front of me with her usual sharp expression. You wouldn’t think she just woke up.

Then again, I’m sure someone as disciplined as her doesn’t have any problems waking up, or still being half asleep after getting up. I really am jealous.

“So, what is it? I’m pretty sure it’s your first time here.”

“Probably. I don’t have time, so I’ll cut to the chase. Tell me where Kaya is.”

“…That girl from before? Do you need something with her?”

Asks Sieglinde while looking at me with sharp eyes.

Sieglinde works to maintain the peace and safety of the capital, so in her eyes, Kaya is probably still suspicious. To me she’s just an idiot, but an easy going guy like me doesn’t have the same responsibility as the assistant to the chief of the ministry of magic. Sorry for giving you one more thing to do.

“We’ve decided to go to the kingdom of fairies, and we need her help.”

“Wha!?”

Sieglinde yells and gets up for some reason.

This scares the maid playing with Ririi, who immediately turns around and straightens her back.

She looks relieved when she realizes it’s not about her, and turns back to Ririi.

“W-why…! So you… You want to take her along as Ririi’s mother…!?”

“…Ah?”

I unconsciously let out that sound after Sieglinde said something that couldn’t be further from the truth.

…Maybe she really is half asleep.

“Of course not. I just want her to look after Beary while we’re away.”

“I-I see…”

I guess that shook her pretty badly, because she still has that stiff expression on her face as she sits back down on the sofa.

“Beary… That’s the angel bear, right?”

“Yes. Kaya’s an expert on angel bears, and she’s free anyway. She’s the perfect person to look after it.”

I’m not so sure about her being an expert, but she definitely is free.

“Then… She lives here.”

Sieglinde writes down the address on a notepad and hands it to me. I’m pretty sure this is in a middle class residential district. The ministry of magic is really looking after her, putting her in a relatively nice place despite her being jobless.

“Thanks. See you.”

“W-wait!”

I get up, but Sieglinde calls out to me.

When I look back at her, she looks away and mumbles.

“…What?”

“…Well… Nothing… Be careful out there.”

“We’ll make sure to have fun. Come on Ririi, we’re going to see Kaya.”

Yes!”

Ririi holds Beary and runs over to me.

I thank Sieglinde, and we leave the Floyd residence.