Promise Me a Life With Three Meals and a Nap, Duke

Secret Story 3: The Secretary’s Plight 3

　Lately, Claude-sama is trying his best to capture Risha-sama’s attention. No, I think he’s trying to gain her trust.

　On that note, how is he doing his best? For Risha-sama, who has an insatiable appetite for food, he casually found out what her favorite foods are and served them more often at meals, or raise the grade of the sweets at tea breaks, but Risha-sama probably didn’t notice.

　Sometimes, he even joins her during tea breaks――work! But it’s good for them to have some time as a couple.

　A family with a happy couple permeates a good air and atmosphere in the house.

　At least, the mansion is a lot better than it used to be.

　I’ve got caught up with work, but it’s wonderful that I don’t have to deal with the harassment of my master, who is slightly hot tempered, as often.

　Nonetheless, the fact still remains that he’s the master among masters, and this will never change.

　Which is to say he’s fond of tormenting people. 

　He loves it, absolutely.

　You have my word on it!

　I believe the world would classify him as a sadist!

　He has a face that makes people squeal, but you should see the devil he is at work. Wait, I’m being rather serious here.

　Claude-sama is like that, but lately he’s been working harder on his political duties.

　The reason being, Risha-sama doesn’t seem to be paying much attention to him these days.

　In the past, she would have dealt with him somehow, regardless of how reluctant she was, but now, it feels like Claude-sama’s existence to her is rather thin.

　Well, we’ll never know.

　Currently, Risha-sama is obsessed with a certain kind of beast.

　Claude-sama has given her permission to keep them…She couldn’t possibly be attached to them, right?

　At any rate, how can she dote on them so much that she ignores anything else? She’s doing it.

　I don’t think they’re cute.

　Except the small one.

　The big one…it’s cute, but very scary.

　Anyway, it’s intimidating, even though it’s just lying there. And that big beast came here for some reason.

“Eh? Isn’t it kind of cold in the room?”

　Michel-kun knocked on the door and opened it himself.

　As Risha-sama’s knight, he’s supposed to be with her at all times, but when she’s in the mansion, that’s not necessary.

　From time to time, he would come here to make small talk with Claude-sama as a kind of report.

“What do you want?”

“Claude-sama sounds in a sour mood, doesn’t he?”

　He walks up to me and asks me in a whisper.

　I’m so glad he asked! Yes, he’s in a foul mood!

“It’s because of that beast there.”

　I also whispered to Michel-kun.

　The beast I pointed at is the large, furry beast that Risha-sama is obsessed with.

　I had no clue what it is before, but it’s a Vancoury, a beast that dwells in a neighboring country.

　Their fur is so expensive that Claude-sama’s coat even cost 500 gold coins. It was only recently that we heard of it, so Risha-sama and I were shocked.

　Such is the case with Vancouries, but for various reasons ―― I’m not sure of the details, but there’s now a pup Vancoury and an adult Vancoury here in the Imperial Capital residence of the Duke of Lindbeld.

　And, although it’s also a mystery to me, they’re absolutely obedient to Risha-sama and do her every command.

　The little one doesn’t seem to know any better yet, and only seems to know not to bite, bark, or growl, but the adult one is different.

　When Risha-sama tells it to do this or that, it does what she tells it to do.

　And now, there’s an experiment in progress.

　If Claude tries to abandon his work and leave the office, Risha-sama orders him to stop him.

　It’s like a complete watchdog.

“Oh, I see.”

　Michel-kun was satisfied with that alone.

　The man who’s oblivious to the air is now very perceptive.

“What the hell are you doing here? If you’re here to play, get out.”

“No way! How can I be here just to have fun seeing Claude-sama in a bad mood?”

　You must be kidding.

　Michel-kun, you can definitely afford to make fun of him!

　I can tell Claude-sama is in a bad mood!

“How is Retzel doing? It seems that it’s perfectly obedient. He really does whatever Risha-sama commands.” 

　Retzel is the name Risha-sama gave the grown Vancoury.

　Even though keeping it still hasn’t been decided, Risha-sama was already ready to keep it. In fact, if the Vancouri shows no signs of leaving, they will keep it too, but they will have to go to the territory for that.

　Risha-sama gave him a name, feeling that it’s inconvenient for him to not have one, but it seems that the name has already taken root and Rezhel himself understands that the name refers to himself. Oh, also, the little wolf-like Vancoury is named Licht.

“Can you tell Risha to cut the crap? Don’t experiment on me.”

“But if something happens, Claude-sama is the only one who can deal with it. It’s quite inadvisable to sacrifice a knight, isn’t it?”

　No, no, no, it’s worse to use the head of the family as a test subject!

“If something happens in this room, well, someone’s going to be the first casualty.”

“Hey! I can’t be that!”

“What? Didn’t you have some practical training, Diego-san?”

“He’s got the lowest rating. He’d been so underrated that he’s fallen in love with it.”

　Excuse me! Please don’t expose my grades!

　Forget it, since I fight with my head!

“Anyway, stop trying to hold me back every time I get up.”

　He’s right.

　This has been going on for the past few days.

　You could say that Retzel is a loyal dog, but his master is Risha-sama, so he doesn’t listen to Claude-sama much.

　In particular, Risha-sama instructed him to hold Claude-sama back if he tries to throw off his work.

　Well, Retzel didn’t seem to understand what it meant to throw away his work, but he believed that  standing up is it, and he restrains Claude-sama whenever he does so.

　In short, he can’t go see Risha-sama by himself.

　That said, Risha-sama comes to visit him at meal times and such, so I think that’s a good thing.

“But now that we know that he will listen to Risha-sama’s orders for the time being, there seems to be no problem.”

“Right.”

　Large beasts that can be allowed into the Imperial Capital require a certain amount of provisions.

　One of the requirements is that the animal won’t harm people, and that it will listen to people.

　At the moment, if they decide to keep Retzel, they’ll have to ask for permission, that’s why they’re testing him now…but I felt intimidated and wanted something done as soon as possible.

“So, Claude-sama, who can’t visit Risha-sama, I’m here to report. Risha-sama is hooked on trimming Vancoury hair these days, so please buy her a good brush!”

　Claude is unresponsive, but Retzel, who is lying face down, wags his tail.

　He looks happy.

“Why should I do anything to please these beasts?”

“Are you jealous? You’re so narrow-minded. You need to be more open-minded and accepting!　They’re cute, but you aren’t, you know?”

　Claude’s fingers twitched.

　Stop it, Michel-kun!

　I’ve advised you multiple times, don’t stir things up!

“Don’t worry, you just have to get Retzel to help you decide which one is better! Risha-sama will be very happy if you give her the one that Retzellikes!”

“I’ll think about …”

　Gathering information needs various sources.

　Claude-sama, you can get information about Risha-sama from Ragnard-san and Michel-kun, but in the end, it’s useless if Risha-sama takes no notice at all.

　Also, please don’t bully me just because you can’t be bothered.

　One more thing, please don’t abandon your work and carefully read the report on Risha-sama that Michel-kun gives you since you’re still seated in your seat.

　Please do your job!