Negai o Kanaete Moraou to Akuma o Shōkan Shitakedo, Kawaikattanode Kekkonshimashita ~ Akuma no Nīdzu

After guiding Theo and Helvi, and saying she would be calling them in a few hours when dinner was ready, Idea returned to her room.

She left them in the best room in the mansion where they could rest after a tiring journey.

(Well… Whether or not they get any rest is up to them.)

The room they were in had a large bed, big enough to comfortably fit three or four people.

It was also the only bed.

(Mister Theo did not seem so inclined… But miss Helvi was clearly raring to go.)

As Idea left the room, she got the impression that Helvi had no intention of waiting until that night.

The room also had excellent soundproofing. No matter how much noise they made inside it, it would not be heard outside.

Idea returned to her room and sighed.

She read about it in the letter sent by Xena and Celia, but Helvi truly seemed mysterious.

They said she easily defeated them even after both attacked at the same time.

Xena and Celia were among the top class of mercenaries in this country, so it was hard to believe anyone could defeat both at the same time.

(I have no clue how strong she is. I have never had such a hard time seeing through someone.)

Since Idea was a beast person, she could instinctively perceive how strong someone was.

When Xena and Celia first arrived at the capital, Idea hired them after seeing their true potential, when other nobles could not.

With Helvi on the other hand, she had no clue how strong or weak she was.

(Perhaps I cannot comprehend her power because the gap between our strength is too large.)

Helvi was the moon.

The moon floated in the sky, was very large, and appeared to be close.

However, the moon was tens of thousands of kilometers away from this planet.

A normal person would have no idea how far the moon was just by looking. They would not even notice the distance.

Perhaps Helvi was simply too strong for Idea to understand just how strong she was.

(I have never experienced something like this… Interesting…)

Idea smiled, and heard something hit her window.

It was a signal she was used to, and she sighed as she opened the window.

She grabbed a magic item used for communication that was placed near it, and brought it close to her mouth.

“What is it Inessa?”

A few meters away, in the mansion next door, Inessa also stood by a window.

She was the one who threw a small rock or something similar.

“What do you mean what is it? Isn’t it obvious? I want to know how they’re doing.”

Thanks to the magic item, they could whisper at that distance and understand each other.

“Mister Theo and miss Helvi? They have been taken to the finest room in this mansion.”

“I-in the same room?”

“Of course. Isn’t that natural for a married couple?”

“Uu… I-I guess…”

“Is something the matter Inessa?”

“N-no… Nothing…”

Inessa sounded shocked, and Idea could tell even from that distance that she seemed disappointed.

(Are you that sad about it? Ah, could it be…!?)

Idea thought of something, and responded with a grin.

“Could it be that you have fallen in love?”

“Ueh!? W-what are you saying…!?”

“Hahaha. That reaction tells me everything I need to know. You are acting very much unlike yourself, Inessa.”

“Uu… That was low…”

It was rare for Inessa, who never lost her composure or alertness even during noble parties, to react so strongly.

If someone who was not too familiar with her saw this, they might have actually thought it was purposeful. But for Idea, who knew her since they were children, it was obviously real.

“Ehh… So even the straight-laced Inessa…”

“D-don’t tell anyone! Especially them…!”

“I know I know. I won’t.”

What she did not mention was that it seemed as though Helvi was very perceptive, and might have noticed it already.

“But to fall for a married person… It certainly seems harsh, especially when they seem so in love with each other.”

“I-I know, hum…”

“Ah, so that is why you are so eager to thank them and take care of them. You are loaded with ulterior motives.”

“You promised not to tell…!”

“I don’t remember making such a promise.”

Idea felt as though this was a golden opportunity to tease Inessa, and wanted to take full advantage of it.

After several more minutes, both had to leave, as they had other things to do.

“Ah, miss Helvi says she can compare our rooms and pick one.”

“Really!? Say so earlier!”

“We both know what the other’s cards are. Or should I lose on purpose?”

“You don’t have to do that. Ah, I’m sorry, do you want a reason to give in? If so, you can lose on purpose if you want.”

“Fufu, I thought so.”

Both grinned at each other.

“I know you want to look good in front of the person you like, so try not to mess it up Inessa.”

“Of course. I would never allow myself to look bad in front of miss Helvi.”

“…Miss Helvi? Don’t you mean mister Theo?”

“…Eh?”