第１１６９堀：合流 (Part1)
Chapter 1169: Joining Forces
Joining Forces
Side: Orelia
"..."
Today, I am more nervous than I have ever been in my life—far more than that day when I was suddenly granted an audience with Her Majesty the Queen.
The reason is that yesterday, just before the hellish ordeal known as "training" came to an end...
"Hey there. Orelia, Yayui, Hobis. What's wrong?"
"Oh my~, we were just having them look after the children. Though, it is quite the labor-intensive task~."
"Honestly, you lack grit. This is just how children are. Besides, weren't you all children once, too?"
"M-my deepest apologies, Lilishe-sama, Hairen-sama."
"My deepest apologies."
"Ah, well, it's tough until you get used to it. Besides, Hairen was the same way, wasn't she? Calling them 'little brats' and all."
"Wait!? Don't bring that up. Anyway, didn't you have something to discuss with these three?"
"Oh, right. Well, starting tomorrow, you three will finally be working alongside Yuki-san. We just got the word. Do your best."
Yes, Riel-sama said it so nonchalantly, but for us, it meant the time had finally come to serve under our true master.
We had only met him once before—about five days ago, when he purchased us and entrusted us to the care of Tori-sama and Riel-sama.
For five whole days, without ever seeing our master's face, we spent every day being introduced to the high-ranking officials of Weed to prepare ourselves to be of service to him.
The fact that this period is ending means we are about to be tested on everything we have learned.
If we are deemed to have gained nothing, we will be branded as useless and cast aside.
Moreover, we have even been granted words of expectation directly from Her Majesty the Queen, let alone the heavyweights of Weed...
If we were to fail now, we would surely find it impossible to go on living in Weed.
...I cannot bring myself to tell the other two not to be nervous in a situation like this.
In fact, I haven't been able to eat a single thing since Riel-sama delivered the news.
Food simply won't pass through my throat.
*Tick, tock...* The sound of the clock is grating on my nerves.
I heard that the day begins at nine o'clock.
It is currently 8:45.
Unable to bear the wait in the room provided to us, I arrived here two hours early.
...Yes, the moment of judgment is almost upon us.
*Click.*
The door opens.
Surprisingly, it seems our master is the type to arrive ahead of schedule.
While there are aristocrats who consider arriving late to be the norm, Weed has clocks, and thus, they are generally strict about time.
That said, I had heard that our master is, in name at least, the number two of Weed—the pillar supporting it from the shadows—so I assumed he would be incredibly busy. I thought that someone in such a position might naturally expect his subordinates to wait for him, but it seems that is not the case.
...Come to think of it, he seemed to speak quite politely to Asu-sama, the slave merchant, and Guia-san as well.
"Good morning."
Yuki-sama said as he entered.
"Good morning!"
This is bad. We panicked and stood up to return the greeting, realizing we had committed the rudeness of letting our master greet us first.
"Ah, you can stay seated."
"Yeah. It's fine to sit down."
"Riel, really. Please, take a seat."
Told so by our master and his companions, we obediently sat back down.
"Now, first of all, I apologize for leaving you unattended for five days. I’ve been quite busy."
What is happening? For some reason, our master, Yuki-sama, bowed his head toward us.
I am left completely stunned by the sight.
Seeing our reaction, Yuki-sama gave a wry smile...
"Well, this is the Weed way. If you feel you've done wrong, you apologize. It might be an imposition, but it's necessary to convey one's feelings. Whether my bowing lowers the national prestige or whatever doesn't matter to me. I think it’s more of a problem if you don't apologize."
"Yuki-san is just that kind of person, so you'll have to get used to it."
"Though, you shouldn't get too spoiled by how kind Yuki-san is."
"Yes!"
One must not go against the master's will.
That is a matter of course.
If Yuki-sama is that kind of person, then it is our job to support him.
Still, considering the reputation of Yuki-sama that we have heard, it is understandable that he is an approachable person.
That is precisely why Riel-sama is telling us to keep our guard up and not take his kindness for granted.
"Now, as for what we'll do from here. But before that, I have a confirmation to make. Yayui, is that alright?"
"Yes. What is it?"
"You've had various meetings over the last five days. Did you receive any requests? Anyone asking you to pass a message to me?"
"No. There was nothing of the sort. We were only accompanied by Tori-sama and Riel-sama to introduce ourselves to everyone."
Yes. As Yayui said.
We were not asked by anyone to pass a message to Yuki-sama.
However, thinking about it now, it is strange.
Even as apprentices, being Yuki-sama's slaves should grant us a certain standing, so it wouldn't be strange for people to try to curry favor with us.
Yet, there was nothing.
"Yuki-san, we were avoiding those kinds of things. We are still just apprentices."
"Yeah. These five days were basically just introductions to us representatives, and then looking after the children with Lilishe-sama and Hairen at the Litea Church."
"Ah, I see. Indeed, the representatives would find it more effective to complain directly at the monthly meetings than to ask for a go-between to me."
"Yes. So, they haven't dealt with the general public at all. In fact, we don't even know how requests from the public are supposed to flow."
"Yeah, I have no idea at all. Even when we were with the 'public,' all we could do was play with the children. We don't know anything about diplomacy, and Shera and the others are always busy with something."
Indeed, I do not know how we would be approached by the general public.
While we did have some farm work over these five days, we were basically meeting with Weed's high-ranking officials one after another, so we had no contact with ordinary people.
The children, who are the only exception, have no concept of trying to curry favor with Yuki-sama, and the priestesses of the Litea Church do not seem like the type to engage in such worldly matters.
Well, those ladies are very gentle and don't seem to think about... no, they do seem like they would be well-liked by children.
"I see. Well, if you haven't been saddled with any troublesome business, that's for the best. It saves me from having to deal with it."
"So, what are we doing today? We'll be acting together, right?"
"What are we doing?"
"Ah, the two of you will be Orelia and her group's escorts. As for my escort..."
"I shall take that duty upon myself."
A voice came from right beside Yuki-sama, and when I looked, a woman dressed in a beautiful *yukata* was standing there.
Wait, she definitely wasn't there a moment ago. When did she appear?