The new daily life in the orphanage was monotonous.
I would wake up at dawn and wield my sword alongside Celin and Ceria. It would have been nice if Senior Delphine joined us, but she scoffed and declined.
She seemed to believe that we didn’t match her level.
Of course, I could quickly resolve the situation by pulling out my handaxe. However, as someone who had only begun to gradually reduce Senior Delphine’s fear, it felt like a burdensome choice.
Moreover, Senior Delphine, having dedicated her life to swordsmanship, must have had her own training methods. There was no need to force her way on us.
After that, if there was time left, I would explore the forest, or otherwise help with the chores of the orphanage.
By now, I had already become quite close with the children. It wasn’t just me; everyone felt the same way.
At first, Senior Delphine seemed a bit dissatisfied, but recently, for some unknown reason, she was willingly cooperating with the orphanage’s chores.
Ceria looked quite surprised by that.
“……Um, is my sister doing the laundry?”
Seeing Senior Delphine wringing out the wet laundry made Ceria freeze in place. She then looked at me with a pained expression.
“I, Senior Ian…”
Her eyes were pleading for me to do something. For Ceria, seeing Senior Delphine doing laundry seemed like a shock of monumental proportions.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Ceria was akin to a retainer of the Yuridina Clan.
Regardless of her humble origins, Ceria was a skilled swordsman and, on top of that, Delphine’s sister. Considering her status, it was highly likely that she would become one of Senior Delphine’s closest aides in the future.
Moreover, Ceria’s feelings for Senior Delphine were a mix of fear and admiration. She was feeling a tumultuous blend of emotions – fear and longing, as well as sisterly love.
So now, Ceria was witnessing her lord doing menial tasks, which was quite the spectacle.
It was indeed shocking. Senior Delphine was meant to become the head of the prestigious Yuridina Clan in the northern region. Using that noble being for nothing but laundry was quite unfathomable.
However, there was no reason to discourage Senior Delphine if she was willing to take the initiative. As I silently shook my head, Ceria, who had been fidgeting, soon rushed over to Delphine.
Ceria’s face was stiff with tension. As always, she wore her cold expression. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously spoke up.
“……Um, sister?”
“What’s wrong, Ceria?”
Even while squeezing the remaining moisture from the laundry, Senior Delphine’s voice was as flat as ever. Ceria felt even more intimidated by that haughty tone.
“Ah, I mean, you’re going to lead the Yuridina Clan one day… um, let me do it instead!”
“……Ceria.”
Delphine’s tone was a low admonishment. Ceria’s mouth immediately snapped shut.
Although she had won against Senior Delphine at the previous hunting festival, Ceria still feared her. Anyone could see that she was easily subdued by just a word from Delphine.
After glancing briefly at Ceria, Senior Delphine soon returned her indifferent gaze to the laundry.
“You’re worried because I’m the heir of the Yuridina Clan, right? Do you want to make me an incompetent lord who can’t even manage my own affairs?”
“N-no! That’s not it…”
“……I understand your concerns.”
The words were accompanied by a sigh. Ceria fumbled around, avoiding Delphine’s gaze.
That scene felt quite familiar.
Somehow, it resembled how Senior Delphine treated me. I couldn’t help but think it was a rather presumptuous assumption.
“But those who can’t even do trivial tasks won’t be able to accomplish greater things either. Picking and choosing tasks when there is a lack of manpower is nothing but a luxury right now.”
“Sister…”
Ceria’s expression was oddly a mixture of being moved. A moment later, she returned to me, her voice filled with lingering emotions.
“Senior Ian, I’ve reflected on this. My sister is indeed a strong person.”
Right, I gave a hollow agreement to support Senior Delphine’s dignity. I felt fear about the day Ceria would learn the truth about Senior Delphine.
I stared off at Senior Delphine. She was silently squeezing out the water, and when our eyes met briefly, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Clearing her throat in an attempt to regain her dignity, she now appeared only cute.
I recalled what happened yesterday afternoon.
It was the incident over just a glass of water.
I had merely asked for a glass of water.
However, the temperature around us dropped drastically the moment Senior Delphine handed me the glass.
Elsi’s eyes glinted coldly as she stared at Senior Delphine.
It seemed that Senior Delphine welcomed Elsi’s animosity instead. Her lips curved into an alluring arc. A confident and haughty smile, accompanied by provocation, was thrown.
“What’s wrong, Rainelle? The Lord Handaxe got what he needed, and you avoided doing errands… it’s a win for you too, right?”
Her audacious voice echoed, reminiscent of that charming smile. It reflected pride and arrogance as the heir of the Yuridina Clan.
It felt overly arrogant for merely running an errand. Yet Elsi, rather than being put off, seemed even more fired up by Senior Delphine’s taunts.
She gritted her teeth and let out a threatening sound. It was as if she had adopted a stance reminiscent of an angry cat.
“……Didn’t you say before that you hated being a maid, Yuridina? Have you finally figured out your place?”
“Yeah, well. It’s not bad? Especially considering I get to see you squirm.”
Why were these seniors acting like this? I pressed my temples in frustration. I wanted to mediate, but not knowing the cause made it all the more bewildering.
Should I have them run another errand?
While I was deep in this dilemma, the verbal conflict between Elsi and Senior Delphine escalated.
“Ha, serves you right… Yuridina? Then be a maid. Maid Delphine Yuridina! That doesn’t sound bad, does it?”
“Yeah, I’ll be a maid. I am Ian’s maid… so you just stay out of it.”
“……What?”
Elsi narrowed her eyes, clearly not expecting Senior Delphine to respond like this. Nevertheless, Senior Delphine remained confident.
Her competitive spirit had already flared up. The crimson glint in her eyes was filled with excitement and fighting spirit.
“If I do your share of being a maid, then that’s enough, right? So you can leave.”
“T-that’s…!”
Elsi’s blue sapphire eyes began to shake violently. She could easily leave as directed, but she kept hesitating.
A cruel smirk appeared at the corner of Senior Delphine’s mouth, convinced that she had cornered her opponent. Elsi’s response to that smile was one of anger.
After glancing at me cautiously, Elsi squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
“…I-I said I’d be the maid first! Why are you acting out now?!”
“Well, that was when there were no competitors. Wouldn’t we favor the more capable person in any task? No matter how you think about it, I am better than you.”
A blatant provocation caused a sudden shrill sound to resonate. It was Elsi.
Her blue eyes were filled with disdain and animosity. I couldn’t understand the situation at all.
What is this? Is this some kind of contest for the title of the best maid?
That too, between Elsi and Senior Delphine, left me in a confused state.
My only thought at that moment was one.
This scene must not be seen by anyone. The honor of both clans and even my public image were at stake.
Moreover, if the two of them, who were among the top students in the academy’s highest grade, were acting like this, the academy’s reputation would also take a hit.
The outcome would be disastrous.
“You damn bitch, it’s getting serious!”
Adding fuel to the fire, Elsi appeared incredibly worked up. Her hands started to glow as if charged with energy. Senior Delphine scoffed and brought her hands to her waist.
“I was ambushed last time, but what about today?”
“Of course, it’s decided that you end up crying and begging, you pathetic piece of trash!”
At the word “pathetic,” for a moment, Senior Delphine’s relaxed expression crumbled. She glared at Elsi with a fierce look.
“…Fine, then let’s agree that the winner gets to be the maid.”
“Maid? Hah! I’d rather be a slave.”
Elsi lobbed that ridiculous comment as though it was a challenge. Had one of Rainelle’s retainers been here, they might have contemplated suicide from sheer despair.
A voice barely managed to escape my lips.
“Stop…”
However, perhaps due to the overly heated atmosphere, neither of the two women paid my words any mind. Senior Delphine, after briefly frowning, flashed a provocative smile once more.
“…Oh? Then I’ll be a dog. Woof woof!”
“Then I’ll be a cat! Meow!”
“Enough…”
I pleaded, covering my face with my palm.
Being in the highest grade of the academy, their argument was absurdly childish. I spoke sincerely, but my words failed to reach them.
It was when Senior Delphine, as if finding it all foolish, started to speak again.
“Really? Then I…”
“…Please, stop!”
The loud crack echoed as the wooden table split apart.
The handaxe lodged on the table made a noise. The table split in half instantly, and the glass could not endure the impact, soaring into the air. Water droplets scattered like a rainbow.
Though the two women had refused to listen when it came to words, they immediately reacted as I took action.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Elsi and Senior Delphine were sprawled on the ground. They began to tremble and mutter incoherently.
“P-please forgive me… I made a mistake… D-don’t hate me! I’ll, I’ll wet myself…”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I won’t overstep my place again… Please, please let it end with just one arm…”
Two seniors, trembling and repeating those words, surrounded by a splintered table and spilled water, became a pitiful sight.
I let out a sigh and swallowed a chuckle. My hand instinctively went to my forehead.
“…What a mess.”
Indeed, it was a scene that fit that sentiment perfectly.
Now it was my turn to clean up this mess.
