Allow Me to Thank You

The ducal household's maids and attendants were briskly tidying the garden, which had been wrecked yet again.

The Sun God statue had been carted off somewhere.

With the commotion settled, Anatia-san approached us.

I lowered my head.

"Given how things turned out, there's no point keeping it around, so I'll have it disposed of. Who knows what they might've done to it."

"Anatia-san, I'm sorry for stepping away partway through."

"It's fine. I was the one who gave you permission. Besides, thanks to that, we created a situation where they can't talk their way out of it."

It was more like the other side destroyed themselves, if anything, but I nodded at Anatia-san's words.

Evris's actions probably hadn't been part of the plan.

The archbishop's shock hadn't looked like an act.

If I recalled correctly, Evris had mentioned that he wasn't supposed to come but showed up anyway.

Regardless, I'd been able to make him pay for trying to cut down Master.

The only thing that still irked me was how satisfied he'd looked when he died, but no one was harmed, so I'd let it go.

"Originally, I'd planned to spend a few days conducting the investigation, but it all wrapped up on the first day."

"What would you like to do? It doesn't seem like you need an escort anymore."

"That's true, but… Yohane-san aside, I haven't been able to properly thank all of you for helping me. Why don't you stay and relax a while longer? The original contract was for several days, after all."

"… I'd have to ask Yohane-sama."

"I think it would be fine."

Alexia-san said.

"The portal will be reopened, yes?"

"Yes, the inconvenience is becoming untenable, so it should be within a few days. We'll be strengthening the usage restrictions and surveillance, of course."

"We were originally prepared to walk home if we had to. If the portal's going to be available, a few days' difference is nothing."

"I suppose that's true, but…"

"Azu-chan just wants to see him soon, right?"

"Th-that's not it. Don't say weird things like that."

My heart sped up because Elza-san said something strange.

I jabbed her with my elbow to cover my embarrassment.

"Ow! Azu-chan, elbowing me in the stomach hurts…"

The elbow landed cleanly, and Elza-san went quiet for a while.

I did want to be praised for how well I'd done, though.

… Actually, maybe I did want to see him soon.

"Then why not make him wait a little?"

"Make him wait?"

"If you keep him on edge, the mood will be that much better when you finally reunite."

Alexia-san said this with a self-assured look.

"That's from the romance novel Alexia-chan's been reading lately."

"Shut it."

Alexia-san smacked the backside of Elza-san, who'd recovered and was chiming in again, with her open palm.

The slap rang out loudly.

"Ow, come on!"

Elza-san rubbed her rear while laughing.

Despite the sound, it probably didn't hurt as much as she was letting on.

Watching us, Anatia-san smiled warmly.

She always wore a smile, but this one felt different.

"You're all so close. Like a family."

"Do you think so? We've been together all this time, so I suppose we are practically family."

"That's true. Yohane…-sama and I are sometimes apart, but the three of us have hardly been separated since we came together."

"Lucky you three get along so well."

"I feel like I'm always the one being helped."

"So, what about my proposal?"

I thought about it for a moment.

I felt a little guilty toward Master, but what Alexia-san said about making him wait nagged at me.

Maybe he'd worry and then hug me when we reunited…

"I accept!"

"Wonderful. Not as an escort, though… How about spending the time as friends? Would that be all right?"

"Friends? That feels a bit presumptuous…"

"The duke is my father, but I'm just his daughter. I know it's hard to see me as just any ordinary person, since I'll eventually inherit the title."

"Why don't we start as acquaintances? That would be easier. For both of us."

"Exactly, we can become friends from here."

"You're right. I look forward to it, everyone."

The four of us women huddled together, and the idle chatter went on and on.

I had the feeling the conversation could go on indefinitely, but Duke Baroba came over and brought it to a halt.

It might have been the longest I'd chatted in a while.

When I talked with Anatia-san, it felt like she naturally drew words out of me.

Duke Baroba drew near.

Alexia-san whispered to me to kneel, and I was about to, but Duke Baroba raised his right hand to stop me.

Perhaps because the ground was muddy.

"My daughter tells me you've been a great help. You're that merchant's escorts, correct?"

"That's right, Duke Baroba-sama."

I left the response to Alexia-san, who knew how to handle nobility.

To call us Master's escorts wasn't entirely wrong, either.

And it was best not to use careless words of denial.

"The Anti-Magic Orb proved useful right away, it seems. Quite the magical artifact, surpassing its reputation."

Duke Baroba-sama held the Anti-Magic Orb in his hand.

Its beautiful radiance was stunning no matter how many times I saw it.

"I dislike owing debts. My daughter wished to express her gratitude, but the House of Deiancle has not yet properly done so… Above all else, I thank you as a father. Thank you."

"We are deeply grateful for your kind words."

That might have been the first time a nobleman had thanked me.

… I wished Master could have heard that.

He was probably the one who'd worked hardest for it, after all.

"Is there anything you want? I will provide anything up to what my daughter's life is worth."

"That's far too generous… Your words of thanks are more than enough."

"Not merely adventurers, then. Hmm. Decide before the end of your stay."

Duke Baroba-sama said this and walked away.

"Father can be so brusque."

"He does hold the position of duke, after all."

"That's true, but still."