Volume 2 Chapter 24: I’m Taking You Along, Too 【The Aristocratic Council Arc】

“It’s peaceful…”

“It’s peaceful, isn’t it…”

I space out in my office.

Isn’t the most pleasant thing in life to spend time idly, without a care in the world?

I can’t help but think so.

I do enjoy that drowsy state where you’re about to sleep but never quite do, yet I prefer this even more.

There’s an irresistible thrill in the feeling of wasting precious time.

In other words, slacking off during the time I should be working as a feudal lord is pure bliss.

Next to me, lounging in my chair, Nanashi was also half in a daze.

Her jet-black hair tied into a bun, and she wore a pristine, long-skirted apron dress.

She is the epitome of a maid among maids, yet in reality, she is a maid scheming to seize all the assets of the Apophis domain.

…Really, if her housekeeping skills weren’t so incredibly excellent, I would have fired her long ago.

“It’s most important that the assets destined to be mine eventually remain safe.”

“Are you dreaming, perhaps?”

Her pitch-black eyes, devoid of any sparkle, were fixed on me.
It’s rather intimidating, though.

Surely, by now, you’ve already concocted an assassination plan in your head, haven’t you?
I’d prefer if you didn’t utter such half-asleep remarks with those intimidating eyes wide open…

“Since there’s no emergency, there’s no need for a maid’s guard, so I can slack off to my heart’s content.”

“Exactly.”

“You need to work, you know.”

Don’t casually announce your intention to slack off in front of your master.
While we’re engaged in a tug-of-war between “work, work!” and “no, no, I hate it”…

Knock-knock sounded at the door.
The moment I recognized the knock, my body was once again seated at my desk, reviewing documents.

“Please, come in.”

『Your ability to switch gears is as impressive as ever, Master.』

Switching gears is crucial, Nanashi.
Incidentally, one can surprisingly often tell who it is just by the sound of a knock.

For example, there is a maid named Artemis at the mansion, whose knocking isn’t really knocking at all, but rather a series of rapid bangs on the door.
Instead of subtly announcing her arrival, she unleashes a startling cacophony meant to warn in advance.
I’ve had my heart stop and nearly died of shock more times than I can count.
So, when I hear a calm, deliberate knock like this, I know Artemis is not the one.

Nanashi has started slacking off…
No one else could produce such a refined sound.

“Pardon me for interrupting your work.”

The one who bowed immediately upon entering was Ashvin.
Long silver hair, and a complexion of deep bronze.

With just that, it is clear that she belongs to a much-dreaded foreign race.
She wears a long-skirted maid outfit similar to Nanashi’s, but her physique overwhelmingly outshines Nanashi’s.

Nanashi, how disappointing!
…Just as I thought that, Nanashi glared at me with eyes as cold as absolute zero, and I immediately ceased my musings.

Sorry…

“No, don’t worry about it. If it’s Ashvin’s story, I’ll prioritize that.”

“Well then. Balor-sama is quite skilled, isn’t he?”

Ashvin let out a refined chuckle.

It seems almost unbelievable that until just a few days ago, she was a demon of vengeance.

No, even when working, she was as calm as she is now. It was only during Marcel-related matters that she turned into a demon, so I pretended not to notice.

“However, what I’m about to report is rather troublesome and bothersome…” 

“What do you mean by that?”

I really don’t want to know. Looking at Ashvin’s bitter expression, I trembled in dread.

Ashvin is competent—basically, I’d like to entrust everything to her.

For her to show such an expression, one can only imagine how troublesome it must be… Just imagining it makes me want to sulk in bed.

“Here you are.” 

“Huh? A sealed letter?”

What was handed to me was a sealed letter. It looked unusually luxurious, though…

Even the wax seal was elaborate. Who sends me such an extravagant letter?

Before I could play dumb, Ashvin solemnly spoke.

“It’s from the aristocratic council.” 

“Burn it away” 

“!?”

◆

Aristocratic Council.
It’s an utterly repulsive body where gloomy fools lock themselves away in closed rooms, whispering conspiracies and acting as if they truly decide the fate of the nation.

They’re full of overly proud idiots, deluded enough to believe that they alone keep the country running.
In short, it’s a gathering of exactly the type of people I despise.

“Master, do you have a type you like?”
“Someone who suits me.”
“Ah……”

Nanashi slinks away from me. The look she gives me is as if I’m nothing but trash.
Utterly disrespectful.
Frankly, those useless lot have no right to live.

“In any case, they’re nothing but maggots who live solely to satisfy their pride and pathetic self-esteem. Even if they summon you, nothing good will come of it.”
There’s nothing but trouble.
At the very least, nothing positive will ever come of it.
I really want to ignore them.

“And on top of that, it’s at this timing.”
“That’s true……”
“Is it?”

Nanashi tilts her head. I hate it so much that even my sentence endings come out all twisted.

“Then, shall we ditch them?”
“Normally, you’d probably come up with some excuse if you did that, but……”
“Master, you’re so hell-bent on ignoring a summons from the nation’s highest authority. That’s just savage.”

I’m pretty good at covering things up with smooth talk. Deceiving those idiots in the aristocratic council is a breeze with my skills.
However……
“However, that thing did happen…”
“That, huh?”

Marcel’s uprising.
Perhaps the aristocratic council wants an explanation for it.
In an uprising, of course, the mastermind is the worst and gets executed, but surprisingly, it can also call into question a feudal lord’s competence.
They say it’s the fault of the lord for creating the conditions that let a rebellion occur.
Well, I don’t know about that.

“Surely, they won’t wipe us out entirely, but…”
“They might consider carving up our territory or seizing part of our lordship. But that’s only if you ignore it, of course.”

I want to completely deny what Nanashi is saying.
I want to deny it, but… I just can’t.
If it’s those trashy aristocrats, it wouldn’t be surprising if they did.

“Nooooo! I absolutely don’t want them to take away the fortune I need to live without doing anything in the future!”
“That trashiness of theirs makes my heart race, too.”

As I flail about, she comes over and pokes me sharply.
Hey, don’t touch me!

“Then, we have no choice but to go. An upset stomach won’t work as an excuse.”
“……Yeah.”

I nod in profound disgust at Nanashi’s words.
Our destination is the royal capital—a repulsive place churning with power struggles, one I wouldn’t want to get near.

“And besides, even though you think you’re not involved and can say whatever you want, I’m taking you along to the aristocratic council.”
“!？”