【Till’s point of view】
As I tended to the flower beds in the garden of the mansion, I received word that Nero had come to visit.
The other maids seemed bewildered, because apparently he was quite worked up.
I stopped my work temporarily, and headed towards the gate where Nero was waiting.
As the maids said, Nero appeared to be different. In fact, he seemed angry. Did something happen?
He came all the way to the mansion to see me, so I assumed it had to do with Lady Iris.
“Oh, Nero. It has been a while. Did something happen?”
I spoke with my usual tone of voice, but he responded with irritation.
“Sephilia was taken by a demon.”
“…Funny joke.”
“It’s true. A bad one called an alraune queen.”
“…”
“What should we do?”
“I think our best option would be to put out a request to Loyd. He is a master rank alchemist, and has power that rivals Sephilia’s.”
I spoke calmly, holding back my emotions.
Sephilia was a dear friend to me, like family. Although it had only been half a year, we braved through life and death together.
The news that she had been captured was quite shocking.
“I want us to help if we can.”
“No. We have no chance against an opponent Sephilia could not beat. Are you stupid?”
“I’m fine being stupid. It’s better than exposing Iris to danger.”
“What do you mean?”
“Iris wants to save Sephilia herself. I tried to stop her, but Loyd got in my way. That guy…”
“Are you against her wishes, Nero?”
“Of course. What if she dies? We ran from Roland to protect her.”
“If Lady Iris dies according to her own will, we have no right to stop her.”
“You sound just like Loyd!”
“Nero, we serve Lady Iris. She is at the top. An attendant has no right to stop their master. Attendants are but pieces to be discarded by their master.”
I said clearly.
Lady Iris treated us like family, so it felt very displeasing to speak in a way that negated that.
However, I had my pride as her attendant, and I could not allow for a soft word like family.
“Nero, unlike a traitor like you who quit being her attendant, I am still here. That means I prioritize her happiness, so I’m sad to say, but I am not on your side.”
Nero did not know what to say in response, and I could see my face reflected in his eyes.
I looked just like an emotionless doll.
“Go to someone else.”
I said, and returned to the mansion.
I could hear Nero calling out from behind me, but I ignored him.
As I went back to the mansion and walked through the hall, I thought about Sephilia.
She was serious, considerate, and had airhead tendencies, but she was kind to everyone.
You would never have thought she was related to the crown prince Ghise.
Once, I asked her why she chose Lady Iris. Why put herself in danger and choose a path where her future was not guaranteed.
I more or less got roped into it, and did not really feel loyalty towards her.
After all, I only saw her as the creepy girl who always wore a mask.
That was why I asked Sephilia, because she put herself in that position by choice.
Sephilia’s answer was not what I expected.
“Because I want to stay with her forever.”
At first, I thought it was because she was a follower of Emeraude.
“She was my first friend.”
I did not understand at first. I could only see it as weird for someone to risk her life for a friend.
But as we traveled and I saw how Sephilia treated Iris, that way of thinking changed.
It was very similar to how I approached my little sisters.
I was raised in an orphanage, so I saw people there as my real family.
Surely, Sephilia valued Iris as family as well.
Yes, the lady was most taken with Sephilia. When opinions were split among the four of us, she almost always valued Sephilia’s opinion more.
She was probably doing so unconsciously, but she definitely treated her better than Nero or me.
However, that was no reason to complain. After all, she had been with her the longest.
Sephilia became a knight to protect the lady, and abandoned her title of royalty to see it through.
That was nothing to make light of.
“Till…”
I suddenly heard a voice behind me, and saw Lady Iris when I turned around.
She looked very serious, and unshakable.
I thought no matter how much I said no, she would still travel with Loyd to save Sephilia.
If possible, I wanted her to be calm. For her to stay in the safety of Minerva, and let Loyd handle it.
But it was too late.
“I heard about it from Nero. You are leaving Minerva with your friend to bring back Sephilia.”
“Yes.”
“I agree with Nero. I believe the best option would be to leave it to your friend.”
“I understand, but I want to save Sephilia.”
She said with a clear tone.
“If you have made up your mind, I have nothing more to say. You will do as you want, and I will follow.”
“I’m sorry, Till. I’m a bad girl for not doing as you say.”
She said with a sullen expression while bowing, feeling guilty about betraying her attendant’s wishes.
“Yes, you probably are right now.”
“I know.”
“…But if I were in Sephilia’s place, I would be happy from the bottom of my heart if you came for me.”
She looked surprised, and I smiled.
Our eyes met, and I held her gently, as if I were holding a child.
“Lady, have confidence in your decision. You are kinder than anyone in this world, and our proud saintess.”
“Till… U-uu… Uu… Thank you…”
She pressed her face on my maid outfit to stifle her voice as she cried.
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