Chapter 7 - II -

 

I guess it’s one of the most embarrassing stunts I did in my entire life.  But at least that dispelled the tension that was simmering inside that dining hall.  The partially drunk guests, as well as the equally drunk hosts, finished their meal, chuckling at me.

 

“Haa…”

 

I could only sigh as I went around the private space that was given to me.  After that event, everyone had retreated to their rooms, while a servant of the Duke’s household led me to a rather simple cottage outside the manor.

 

They didn’t like me in there.  Well, it’s not like I want to stay there too, either…

 

I couldn’t help but feel bad about myself.  If Her Holiness knew about her father’s contempt for commoners like me, then why did she ask me to come along?  It’s like she threw me right into the lion’s mouth to be devoured.

 

“!!!”

 

My train of thoughts was interrupted when I heard a soft knock coming from my door.  I quickly got up from my bed and welcomed my unexpected visitor…

 

“Y-Your Holiness!?” I couldn’t help but be surprised by the guest I had in this hour, “And Lily?”

 

The Human Saint was at my door together with her trusted maid.  She had shed her disguise for a moment, possibly because she had to rest and recover her mana for a while.  They were all wearing coats to hide their identities from those who might come across them.

 

“And I’m here as well, Master!” it was Her Fluffy Holiness.

 

Oh, it’s the holy pug, too!

 

“Can we come inside, Kuro?” the Human Saint asked, though I could tell that she was embarrassed.

 

“Oh, sure!” I opened the door further and checked if there’s anyone outside who might’ve seen them enter my place.  Luckily, there’s none.

 

 

“I’m surprised not because you visited me, but by actually walking out to come here.” I told them my private thoughts, “You could’ve just teleported on your way here like you always do back in the palatial gardens.”

 

“I won’t do that.” Her Holiness said, “At least, not here.  Not only because I wanted to do some exercise, but I also don’t want your privacy violated.”

 

Heh, for someone who keeps on reading my mind, it’s a first that you put my privacy first.

 

“Hey, I said it’s only here.”

 

See?

 

Anyway, after asking the Saints to stop reading my mind for a moment, I questioned Her Holiness for the reason for her sudden visit.  I’m sure that if her father, or her siblings, gets wind of this, I’ll be losing my head.

 

“I’m sorry for bringing you here, Kuro.” the Saint bowed her head, “You see, I know my father hates commoners, but I also thought that I could protect you from him, that’s why I even had Ruro come with me.  Turns out, I gravely miscalculated his intentions.”

 

“It’s fine, Your Holiness.” I tried consoling her; it’s not like we could do something for what happened to me earlier.  And I didn’t want to bring up the primary reason the Duke had me imprisoned as well…

 

“Kuro, come on!  I’m being serious, please look at me for a while and not at my beautiful breasts!”

 

Ah, sorry!  It’s not because I wanted to stare at them; I just remembered something awful…

 

“You see, I’d like to thank you for what you did earlier.”

 

“Hmm?  What are you talking about?”  Well, I’m already aware of what she’s thanking me for, but I still pretended I didn’t know the reason to discuss.

 

“Well, it’s difficult for someone to embarrass themselves like what you did.  I know you did that for me.”

 

“Uh…you’re welcome as usual, Your Holiness.”  Man, getting appreciated like that sure felt good; it made my heavy feelings lighter, even if it’s just for a little.  “But you know, you also protected me when I almost got mad because your father insulted my way of eating.”

 

“No, please.” Maddie insisted, even trying to bow before me.  We prevented her, of course, but she continued her words.  “What you gave is much greater than what I did.  For that I thank you.”

 

“Ah yes, gratitude accepted.  But you have to accept my gratitude as well…”

 

“Yes, I accept, but I want to thank you more—”

 

“You know…” it was the Beastman Saint, “I think you two should stop throwing gratitude to one another, and get on with your topic.  You look and sound stupid, both of you.”

 

“…”

 

Well, Her Fluffy Holiness has her point.

 

“Haa…” I could feel the Saint’s exhaustion with the way she sighed.  She reeked of sadness, and her eyes were tearing up.

 

So, even though it’s quite embarrassing for me, I summoned all my courage and patted the Saint on her head, “Ah, don’t worry Your Holiness, we’ll get through this somehow.  I understand what you’re going through right now; you see, I have an overprotective mother back in my old world, and she’s almost the same as your father.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yep.  She always tells me to be home at a certain time of the day, and that’s non-negotiable.  If I don’t do it, she’ll keep on calling me on my phone—a communication device in my world—and by the time I’d seen it, it’s peppered with around 100 of her missed calls.  That’s the moment that I knew I fucked up.”

 

Her Holiness laughed softly through her tears.  I asked Lily for a handkerchief and wiped her eyes with that.  Then I continued with my story, “And if I get myself in a fight when I was a kid, she’ll come barging into our counselor’s office demanding justice to what was done to me.” I laughed in nostalgia, “Heck, my mum is so protective of me and my siblings that she always reminded us to get girlfriends only when we’re old enough to pay for our daily needs!”

 

I heard the other ladies chuckled when they learned that.

 

“Well, you know, sometimes our folks back at home may be obnoxious…but in the end, all that they want is what they think is best for us.  Although, sometimes, what they think would be good for us could lead us to ruin instead.” I explained, trying to lighten the mood with some reflections.

 

“I understand your point…” Her Holiness smiled softly, “You see, our family is tightly-knit, held together by my father and my mother.  We’re a typical noble family, with father doing the work at the capital, and my mother was concerned with the affairs of our fief most of the time.”

 

“I see…”,

 

“We lived happily before, you know…our subjects, though they were going through tough times, loved and respected us as well.  That is until my mother suddenly fell ill.”

 

Uhh…for some reason, I felt like there’s going to be a big turnaround in Her Holiness’ story.  Well, isn’t that the case?  In most animes that I watched, if not both parents, it’s always the mother who gets the death sentence.  The father was an absent figure, rarely showing up.  And if they appeared, it was only to bring problems to the hapless male protagonist in the form of absurd conditions, or anthropomorphic stuff like cat-girls…

 

And when we didn’t see their mother earlier raises my gut feelings more…

 

“My mother died when we’re still young…”

 

See?  Their mother was already dead, again.  Tch.  I hope the author of this stupid story will give justice to all anime mothers out there who only wanted to love their dense kids…

 

Wait, this isn’t an anime though.

 

“…”

 

Ah, anyway, I needed to listen to Her Holiness’ story…

 

“…our father was utterly devastated, and I and my siblings were overcome with grief.  Our home was never the same again.  The royal doctors from the capital diagnosed that her sickness was from a curse which may have come from her daily dealings with the common folk of our place.”

 

Man, that’s…sad.

 

“My father became embittered towards the commoners after that, and my siblings were affected by his anger as well.  So, you know, I knew I had to do something!  Then I remembered that Papa always used to say that I’m in the likeness of my Mama, so I tried my best in being the ‘mother’ to Sophia and William.  That’s why they’re that close to me.”

 

Oh, so that’s why the old guy is like that to commoners.  Even so, that won’t explain your father’s attitude towards you…

 

“Ah, Papa?  Well, though he doesn’t want to, he has to make me stay far from home that much, since you know he’s averted to big chest sizes.  That’s why he wants me to marry as soon as possible to a dependable and responsible man, so he can rest assured that I’m well taken care of.”

 

“…”

 

“Papa says that the only thing that I don’t take from Mama is my big chest.”

 

I guess it just ruined my bittersweet and sentimental mood.  Man, that Jimmy Nee ancestor of hers sure had a long-lasting idiotic legacy to their house…