(O3O)/ – Here is Ch-22.1!!!
(OwO) – I hope you guys like this.
(-.-) – This chapter is a bit longer than usual.
(O3O)/ – 3.600+ words!!!
(-.-) – That"s a lot, compared to the usual 1.800 words.
(OwO) – Enjoy∼♥
How long has it been since Kai had to write something with such a difficult face?
When the young butler asked confirmation, to see if what he"s writing was good enough, Kai"s beautiful and intelligent master would answer: “Yes.” Or “No.”
Sometimes she would say “Un.” And Kai would continue to write what he wanted.
Her words, even though there were few of them, had an impact on Kai, because it seemed like her voice was blessed by the spirits. His master"s hair had a beautiful black color and her eyes were amethyst colored. Her figure, though small, was still very attractive for the eyes of a boy, so Kai couldn"t help but peek to the side sometimes.
And it wasn"t long before Kai couldn"t take it anymore, he needed a break.
He returned the feather to the open case, after cleaning it with a small and dirty piece of cloth, before saying:
“Leonorsama, I need a small break….”
Kai used one of his hands to wipe the sweat on his forehead, before looking at his master.
The piece of paper that Kai was writing on, was supposed to be a letter for Lord Harkenberg and his wife.
At first, the letters were supposed to be sent once a week. But because of all the things that happened with Leonora recently, Kai"s workload was increasing.
The demands were escalating. And with requests for more letters per week, more details in each letter and for him to write more about Leonora, Kai wasn"t having time to rest properly. It wasn"t an understatement to say that Kai"s writing time was occupying the most part of his free time.
(But I still have to tell the people at the mansion that Leonorsama is doing well…!)
Anything that Kai wrote about “Leonorsama,” was being read by the people at the mansion.
Normally, the letter would be opened by the masters of the household and only then the servants would know of the news by word of mouth… this is the pattern in every “NORMAL” household by the way……… except the Harkenberg household.
The head butler, Kai"s father, entered in a heated argument with Lord Harkenberg because of Leonora….
The fight went by like this:
“Stop opening the letters about my cute Leonora! You f***ing loli-con butler!!!”
“I too want to know what happened to Leonorsama! Learn some shame you sh***y old man!”
“What did you say, you f***er!!”
“That"s my line, you geezer!!”
But Emilia, Lord Harkenberg"s wife and the head maid, Kai"s mother, both tried to pacify their respective husbands.
“Anata, if you don"t stop right about now I"ll destroy the letter….”
Said Emilia, with hollow-like eyes.
“Dear, if you don"t stop I"ll go grab the whip….” (TL/n: This one is more scary)
Said the head maid, with a big smile and eyes partially closed.
“”B-b-but he started!!!””
Both of them said, still holding at each other"s clothes.
It seems that they only agreed in these occasions.
“Fufufu, it seems that these two still need a bit of punishment, right?”
“You"re totally right, Emilisama.”
The dispute, to see who got to read the letter first, escalated to a huge degree.
And today too, Kai was writing the usual letter. (Tl/n: The beginning and this part are in totally different time frames, I don"t know why, but they are)
“Hmmm… if I ad this it will be good enough… I think.”
Kai loved his master, not in a romantic way. And because of that, the job of writing letters to the marquis couple, telling about the day-to-day of his beloved master, was a task that he loved to do.
He even simulated some of the conversations Leonora had today: “Do you want some sweets today as well, Leonorsan?” And the usual simple answer “Yes.”
“I"m back, Kai.”
The door of the room opened and beautiful voice could be heard.
But Kai didn"t notice, he was still writing.
Leonora, this room"s owner, had returned.
The girl saw Kai sitting on the chair in front of the desk, at the end of the room and leaned over his shoulder, to look at his face.
“What are, you doing, Kai?”
“L-l-leonorsama!? I"m sorry! I didn"t notice!”
As a servant, it was a dishonor to not have noticed the return of his own master.
Kai left the feather at the desk and did a dogeza in front of the girl. (Tl/n: For those who don"t know what Dogeza is, click HERE)
“I"m really sorry, Leonorsama! I was even using your own desk, without your permission!”
And because Leonora was a kind master, she wasn"t angry at all. She answered Kai with a simple “Yes,” like always.
“I can help, if you want, Kai.”
“You don"t have to worry about that, Leonorsama!”
Kai was a bit stunned with his master"s offer, so he raised his voice a bit too much. No sane master would offer to help with his own servant"s work.
Leonora the pouted a bit and said: “Yes… but if, you want help, pleas tell me, and I will, help you, Kai.”
Kai could feel the kindness of his master. But that is exactly why he couldn"t let her help, because she would always overexert herself, just to help someone.
On the other hand, Leo, who had forgotten that he was a girl, again–
(Muuuu∼, I thought that if I helped a bit, I could earn some pocket money)
Leo leaked a small sigh. The best chance he had in a while, to make some money, simply disappeared, because Kai was overly zealous these last couple of days.
Basically, Leo was trying to make some money by helping people.
Although Leo wouldn"t receive money from someone he considered his little brother, it didn"t mean that the other person didn"t need to pay, Leo would just receive something appropriate for compensation.
(It"s already been three months, since the day I enrolled at this academy. I wonder why I felt so reluctant at first to escape from this place. It"s not like the academy is better than the orphanage, where Bruno and everyone is… but…)
Leo was still Leo… just a little bit more nervous than usual.
It"s been ten days since Leo returned to the academy.
In other words, a full three months had already pa.s.sed since the day of admission.
Leo, of course, didn"t intend to stay for so long either.
But the prince gave a gold coin to Leo, that"s why he stayed for so long.
(I"m an idiot! To be baited by a simple gold coin! Just how cheap can I be!)
It"s like trying to bait a toddled with sweets.
Leo even remembered what Bruno said to him back then, in the incident with the church, when they were small: “Promise me that you won"t be baited by money ever again.”
Leo couldn"t think of a way to apologize to his friend when they meet again.
“It was raining so badly these days… I wonder if the weather will be okay for the spirit festival….”
And hearing the word “Festival” made Leo raise his head and look toward Kai.
“Un, the spirit festival, is close.”
“So, Leonorsama is also looking forward to the festival, isn"t it?”
Kai smiled, knowing that his beloved master was looking forward to the festival.
Leonora had a beautiful black hair and amethyst eyes.
But because of that, this time, she wouldn"t be welcomed to the spirit festival, since her hair is black and the celebration is for the spirit of light. It would cause a fuss if a black-haired person were to come to the festival.
After Harlet"s incident, Leonora was lost and no one could find her, so it would be a good experience for her if she could go to the festival and celebrate with everyone.
“Yes, I"m looking, forward to it.”
But, Leo was looking forward to the festival for a completely different reason.
(With so many people gathered at the market area of the city, it would be a shame to not go there and try to make a profit.)
The spirit of light festival celebrates the arrival of spring.
The children of the orphanage “Train” the whole year, just to make a profit from the sales they make. And I don"t even need to tell you who started this whole “Training” thing.
In other words, Leo thought of throwing away the comfort he had right now and go to the market to sell things.
“Uh, umm, Kai–”
Leo was asking Kai in a cute way, while fidgeting. Not that it was on purpose anyway.
“–I want, to go to, the downtown.”
Leo wanted to return to the orphanage and change with Leena, so that he could be ready for the festival.
(The last time I tried to make a plan to escape, it failed. So this time I"ll ask for Kai"s cooperation)
In conclusion, Leo figured out that if he wanted to escape smoothly this time, why not disguise it as a visit to the downtown?
If Leo, for some reason, disappear suddenly, like last time, Kai would be troubled. So why not escape with him as well?
This way, no one can blame Kai for the disappearance of Leonora.
Even Leo didn"t want to Kai to receive the blame for something like this.
(But, I do feel sorry… for using Kai as a convenient tool)
As much as Leo felt sorry for Kai, he didn"t notice that Kai would do anything for him, he just needed to ask.
“To the downtown…?”.
However, the obedient servant didn"t answer right away, like he always did. His almond eyes were swimming to all directions.
“Well, hmm… if you manage to get permission… then….”
The girl was supposed to have grown up in the downtown area of Richard. There, she was physically abused everyday by the same men that killed her mother. (Tl/n: Not s.e.xual abuse, this is not hentai)
In addition to that, Lord Harkenberg had prohibited Kai to let Leonora out of school grounds, without permission. And that"s the reason why Kai didn"t answer right away her question.
“………why?”
Leo lowered his eyes, feeling a bit sad for what Kai said.
Kai and Leo"s new family care too much about him, even when Leo tries to go to the bathroom Kai is nearby.
If it"s inside the academy, Leo could go anywhere he wanted within the school grounds. But when Leo tries to escape, it would be always like this. Overprotective, all of them. Kinda annoying too.
“Then, lets do this Leonorsama. Why do you want to go to the downtown, so suddenly like this?”
“Well……….”
Leo didn"t know what to do, since he didn"t expect the sudden question. But when he looked over at the desk, an idea came to mind.
“I, umm, received a letter, from the orphanage….”
“From the Hanna"s Orphanage?”
“Y-yes!”
The Hannah Orphanage is, basically, the best orphanage in all Richard. The kids are disciplined and never cause problems. (Tl/n: I see that Leo is an exception)
And Leonora often was seen writing letters to the director of the orphanage.
(I never received such letter, but if I"m lucky enough Kai won"t notice)
But Kai then leaned his head forward.
“But, didn"t we write a letter to the director of the orphanage recently, saying that, if they wanted, they could come and visit you here anytime?”
“E-eh!? Ah, un, I t-think, we did.”
Leo was sweating buckets. Kai was the most sharp butler out there.
It wasn"t an understatement to say that Kai was an Esper.
“The spirit festival, is getting close, but the kids, aren"t lively, like always. I"m worried, so I wanted, to do something, for them.”
And in fact, this was really the truth. But Leo didn"t know that his little lie, was actually, the truth.
Besides, Leo wasn"t really that worried with the festival. It was just an excuse….
“Is, that so….”
But on the other hand, Kai was making a difficult face.
If his master had really received a letter from the director of the orphanage, then Kai wanted to help her with everything he had.
Leonora is truly special, not every n.o.ble would put the well being of the commoners first, over their own well being.
But she would always walk into danger, willingly or not.
(I don"t want to go and ask for permission, please Kai…)
But Kai had already found an answer.
“Then, Leonorsama. What about a ball, or even a tea party…?”
“Eh…?”
Leo was surprised, he didn"t think Kai would agree so easily. He was even thinking on what to do next, if Kai didn"t agree.
Speaking of which, Emilia once told Leo, the next day when they first met, that his debut in a ball, or tea party, had to be special.
That"s the only thing Leo could remember. It wasn"t money, so he didn"t pay attention to it at the time.
“That"s right, Leonorsama. We should invite His Majesty The King, to the ball you"ll be hosting. Even though you"re still so young, everyone wants to meet the “Altruistic Saintess.” It will be a grand debut and I"ll make sure you will love it, Leonorsama.”
There is no one who didn"t hear the rumors about a young girl with exceptional beauty, high magic power and amethyst eyes, that exposed the conspiracy of the church with a unique spell that no one had ever heard about. Her heart is so pure, that even the spirits love her. Even the common people knew about this rumor, some even regarded it as the only truth in theirs lives.
Many of the students in the academy were telling the tales of their savior: “Leonora von Harkenberg the Altruistic Saintess,” to their parents and the people of different countries. It reached a point where everyone knew about her. So, many kings and princes requested a meeting with such lovely young lady.
Some of them even send letters everyday, hoping to receive an answer to their marriage proposals.
Kai was still blabbing about something, but Leo wasn"t hearing. Instead, his face was becoming a bit blue.
(How did a simple excuse escalate to such degree…?)
Leo even put his hand on his stomach. For some reason, it was starting to hurt all of a sudden.
Leo had partic.i.p.ated many times in Bianca"s tea parties, so he knew what to expect. But even the King would be present, so by deduction, Leo understood that this “Tea Party” he would host, was nothing but the most extravagant tea party ever. It was his debut into n.o.ble society after all.
(I"ll need to wear that stiff dress again… and I wont be able to eat the food at my own party, because I"m the host! No way! It"s impossible for someone like me!)
‘All of them will be eating the high cla.s.s food and I"ll be stuck there talking with important people! In other words, torture! Kai you brute, monster!" – Leo thought.
Leo had already learned formal etiquette in a cla.s.s that he went with Bianca. So, to be doing the usual “Ufufu∼ and Ara ara” for hours, was leagues above Leo"s capabilities.
(In the first place, all n.o.bles trow away their gold coins like it"s nothing. I don"t want to spend all of my money just for a party)
After all, Leo needed to find a way to escape.
Leena probably won"t return to the aristocratic society when we change places, so this will probably be his last opportunity to partic.i.p.ate in such a huge party.
Even if he was told that his eyes could see the truth, a simple life was still better. To be friends with Albert the next King, Bianca the first princess, Natalia their cousin, Oscar the rich son of a merchant and to be the granddaughter of a marquis couple, was something Leo never wanted… and to this day, he still believed that he had nothing to do with this environment.
“Umm, Kai… I think, that, umm, I don"t want, to host, the party, anymore.”
Kai released a small sigh.
“Why you don"t want to…?”
“I, umm, I think, that… I"m not, good enough, to host such, big party….”
Leo didn"t even mention why he wasn"t good enough, but it was the only thing that Kai didn"t want to hear.
“Why do you always treat yourself like this…!”
Kai wasn"t saying that it was wrong to maintain a low profile, but even as a “Saint,” this was too much.
Kai was biting his own lips in anger, because he knew why she was always thinking so low of herself.
(I know she"s afraid of basically everything… but… even I don"t want something bad, like what happened to Claudisama, happening to her… that"s why…)
His master still wears the same black dress, because she was still mourning her mother.
Even if people trow compliments at her, even if she is being called a “Saint,” the fear of strangers, that those men imprinted in her, still remains. That"s why she lives in self-denial all the time.
Kai wanted to rip apart those men that did this to her, but the girl in question was,
“Kai… are you, angry?”
Holding the tip of his right sleeve, with a scared expression, but still looking at him in the eyes.
“Why… are you, angry?”
Kai hurriedly shook his head to the sides and held her trembling hand.
“I"m sorry, Leonorsama! I"m not angry!”
Kai is Leonora"s guardian, he is the only person that needs to make her feel secure all the time.
(If she doesn"t want the big party, then a normal party in the downtown, just for the kids of the orphanage will be enough)
The servant of Leonora von Harkenberg, Kai, can be bent this easily by his own master. Not that Leo was doing this on purpose.
Kai then smiled to his master, a.s.suring her that he wasn"t angry anymore.
On the other hand, Leo, who wanted to go sell things in the market area of the downtown, was: “Well, I guess there is no pocket money for me this year….” It"s not like Leo could run away from the tea party that Kai was planing.
‘I"m glad that at least the Marquis couple is kind to me all the time." – Thought Leo.
(But, it"s better to make an excuse, just in case that Kai wants to do the other tea party)
The Marquis couple is easy to deal with. I just need to act as a cute granddaughter… and they… will….
(Like a cute granddaughter… That"s it!)
Leo raised his face to look at Kai, who was still thinking.
“Kai! Tell this, to Ojii-sama.”
“Y-yes?”
“I want to host, a tea party, but I don"t know, the proper manners. So, I would like, to have Obasama, teaching me, the proper courtesy.”
At that moment, Kai held his chest and turned to the other side, to look away from Leo.
“Kai!? What is, wrong!?”
“N-nothing… it was so sudden… that… I….”
Kai"s heart skipped a beat. It wasn"t on purpose, but the way Leo did it was at fault. Holding his chest, like something precious is going to escape from his grasps and looking up to Kai with those upturned eyes at the same time.
(Did I convince Kai with that excuse?) (Tl/n: You think?)
Leo wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Leo didn"t even notice his own servant squirming with shyness, after taking the full punch of his girly attack.
(Ugh! Now I feel sorry for my grandparents. Obasan is going to teach me how to dance, even though she is already old…)
But because Kai was still clutching his chest, Leo thought that he needed to apologize. ‘Maybe I"ve hurt his feelings." – Leo thought.
“S-sorry, Kai. If this is, too much, then I don"t, need it.”
“…….”
Kai turned to look at his master again, just to see the same lovely scene. But this time it wasn"t so bad.
“I was taken off-guard, next time it won"t happen again….”
Kai said, bowing towards Leo.
Leo didn"t understand why Kai was bowing, so he just said “Un.”
Kai then brewed some tea, poured some into a cup and gave it to Leo.
“Oh, I"m very sorry, but I need to go out for a bit. There is more tea in the pot if you want, Leonorsama.”
“Huh…?”
It was unusual for Kai to go out and leave Leo behind.
“Of course. But, why?”
“I need to deliver this letter as soon as possible. I"m sorry, Leonorsama, it won"t take a long time….”
Kai seems to be going to the post office everyday, but why he"s sending so many letters?
(Kai is a really nice guy…)
It"s a shame that they can"t spend the rest of the day chatting, but this is one of Kai"s best qualities, he is always serious when working.
And although the conversation they had about Kai being his little brother remained untouched since the day of the presentation, Leo wanted to hear his answer.
“Hmm, Kai….” (Tl/n: KITAAA!!!)
“What is it?”
And with a serious look in his eyes, Leo asked.
“Ah, there is something I want to talk about.”
“There is, something we, need to, talk about….”
(O3O)/ – This is the moment we"ve been waiting for!!
(-.-) – Kai can fall at any second now.
(O3O)/ – True!!
(OwO) – I just hope he"s lucky enough to avoid it.
(-.-) – See you guys next week.