Turning to Eliza, she spoke, "First of all, I am sorry, Young Miss. To be honest, you've returned at a… rather bad ti. I would be considered rude, but I think you need to know this."
The maid, Linda, paused slightly as she took a deep breath. As she exhaled, her breasts moved slightly, up and down. "The Lord, your father, has changed lately."
"Father?"
"Yes." Linda nodded slightly, glancing at . "I guess this is related to the church too, but please keep it a secret. I don't want Madam to feel… burdened, so…" Then she glanced at Emilia.
"Ah, I don't need to hear it."
Noticing the subtle glance, Emilia spoke first and stood up.
"May I look at the garden in front of the mansion? They seem to be beautiful and perfect to kill sotis." She continued with an aloof expression, the one she often wore when she taught people in the academy.
"Please feel free to." Linda smiled softly at Emilia. She opened the door and gestured for her to leave. "This is the way, Miss Emilia."
"Thank you." Emilia walked to the exit as she said so. When she passed , she gave a wink and whispered. "Good luck."
'That woman…'
My eyes followed Emilia's back as her hips swayed with each step until she disappeared into the hallway.
'She knows what I planned to do.'
I smiled slightly when I realized it. Among the girls who attached themselves to , Emilia seed to be the most mature and understanding of my situation. Maybe it was because she was a teacher? But I liked that part about her.
That was also why I could trust her to do what I ordered without ssing up and beca my representative in dealing with things that I was too lazy to do.
Clack!
And when Linda closed the door once again and locked it, she looked at with a serious face and bowed deeply.
"Please help the Madam, Sir Vainglory."
This was totally unexpected. Even Eliza got surprised and looked at Linda with widened eyes.
"M-Mama? Help her?" My childhood friend asked with a cracked voice. "W-What's wrong with her?"
Linda, why couldn't you be a bit subtle about it?
Eliza had experienced a lot lately, and her emotion wasn't stable yet. Heck, it was just stabilized a little while ago when I consoled her, but now she freaked out once again.
Noticing my sharp gaze, Linda coughed and continued.
"N-No, it's about the trial she ntioned earlier. It's just… it burdened her slightly."
Thankfully, she noticed my cue and decided to make it a bit softer.
"Madam had been the one who took care of almost every docunt related to the fief lately due to Lord's… getting a bit tired. I am unaware of the details, but it seed Madam needed so rest. That's why I asked for help." She said in a reassuring tone and smiled slightly.
'She's lying.'
Well, I knew that she was lying because I sent a sign to her to be more subtle. But would Eliza believe sothing like that?
"I-I see…" Eliza nodded with understanding and a serious expression. "Mama is working really hard."
Ah, it seed like she believed Linda. How did I say it? Eliza sotis was smart and sharp and could guess my emotions correctly. But sotis…
'She's like a naïve child.'
That difference was sothing that made her cute, but it would definitely bite back at her if she t so liars. Not that I would let her be hard, but…
Returning to the topic, Linda glanced at , telling with her eyes why she should hide this stuff from Eliza. I didn't say anything and turned my attention to Eliza.
"Co to think of it, why don't you go to your mother, Eliza? I will hang around with teacher Emilia around the city in the anti." I proposed and smiled at her. "You must've missed her quite a lot, no?"
"Huh? But…" Eliza replied hesitantly, looking at and then at Linda before stopping at . "Isn't Mama busy? Linda said that–"
"Please don't worry, Young Miss. Madam has finished all her business today. She just needed to relax after signing two more docunts, so she would have so ti to spend with you."
Linda added before Eliza finished her sentence, confusing my childhood friend further. She tilted her head cutely.
"But–"
"Madam would like to spend so ti with you, Young Miss." The maid interrupted once again, stepping away from the door. "Madam is usually in the study room or her private room if you want to find her."
The maid approached Eliza with a smile and prompted her to get up from the couch. She put her hands under Eliza's armpits. Her breasts were pushed against Eliza's back as she raised the brown-haired girl.
"W-What are you doing? T-That tickles , Linda!"
"Co on, Young Miss. If you want to cheer Madam up, then just et her."
"I-I know. I get it, I said! S-Stop! Get your hands away from !"
"Now, Young Miss, you will just run away and refuse to see your mother if I release you, so I will take you to her."
"Linda! I am not a child anymore. H-Hey, Arthur! Help !!" She extended her hand toward , seeking help. But I didn't do anything.
Eliza kept shouting as the maid half-forced her to get out of the room and closed the door behind them. I was left speechless, blinking repeatedly while looking at the closed door.
That was unexpected. I gestured for the maid to keep silent and hinted that Eliza needed to leave the room. But I never thought she would do it… forcefully like that.
By Eliza's reaction earlier, it seed like this happened a lot when she was a child. So I decided to get comfortable for a few minutes until Linda returned, which I guessed would be the case.
And just after I ate the snack I took from my inventory, the door was opened again, and Linda entered.
"My apologies. I only thought of Madam and forgot about Young Miss."
The door behind her was closed at the sa ti Linda bowed her head.
"I almost told Young Miss sothing that I should keep a secret from her. I was a failure of a maid due to my impatience. So I thank you for stopping with your gesture, Sir Vainglory. But I must ask sothing…"
She raised her head, looking at with a judging gaze.
"If you've already settled the matter with the Duke, what might be the reason you co to the Rose Barony? Surely it's not for hocoming, no? What do you know about our situation? And why did you stop before I even said anything to Young Miss?"
"I know nothing." I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. "I just thought that maybe what you wanted to say isn't sothing that Eliza should hear."
"I… see… My apologies." Linda apologized once again and bowed.
"It's not a problem." I said. "More importantly, what do you need my help with?"
The maid gritted her teeth, holding the edge of her short skirt.
"As I said earlier, it's about Madam. But before that, allow to tell you about sothing." She started explaining with a cracked voice about the situation within Rose Barony.
First, she told how their lord had changed in the past few days. Second, she explained what he did all the ti, sneaking out of the territory and returning without any money on him.
So maids were also harassed, sothing that had never happened before. The Lord sohow pushed all the works to Madam and only worked when the engagent letter arrived, but he turned once again after he sent Otto out.
And then, this morning was the end of the straw.
"He exuded an unpleasant aura, a sign that his Sins had been piled up to the point his Virtues had dried up. He then hit Madam once before disappearing." Linda ended the story while biting her lips. She then looked at with a hopeful gaze.
"Please, Sir Vainglory. As a Paladin, surely you know the case of his sudden change to the point he hit Madam in the open. I believe in you. Help us to find out why the kind Lord suddenly beca like a hooligan. Please!"
Linda bowed deeply, on the verge of kneeling. I looked at her with a pitiful gaze.
However, inside, I had a different thought. Why? Because I already knew the reason behind his sudden change.
'It's happening.'
I couldn't let my real thoughts be shown on my face. So I stood up and approached Linda, putting my hand gently over her shoulder.
"Don't worry."
My voice was calm and soothing. She raised her head, and our eyes t.
"I will try to find out the reason behind the Lord's change. However, I can't promise he will go unpunished because, from your description, he now has more Sins than the Virtues he accumulated all his lifeti."
"Even so, do you still want my help?"
"I am loyal to Madam." The maid replied almost imdiately with a firm expression. "If I judge my Lord is not suitable to be Madam's husband anymore, I will keep him away from her even if Madam punishes later. So my answer is yes, Sir Vainglory. Please help, Madam."
"Very well." I nodded at her, smiling at her conviction. "Let's find out the reason together. That way, we can tell Madam Vivian the truth."
"Yes."
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