…

It had been several days since Liza’s ambush at the hands of Fate and the manor appeared to be the same, save for the two servants Jacob had ‘scolded,’ they were still quite visibly nervous though every other denizen of the mansion just passed it off as something Atlas had done.

 

Agatha had forced herself to wait these days for the report from Fate’s new attendant, Liza. Jacob had insisted that it was better for her to receive a thoroughly thought out report rather than a short one that may prove useless. She was currently staring at such a report, which was short yet still held all necessary details and had been compiled by Jacob himself during his spare time.

 

-That thing may or may not have the capability to use magic, it seems to be quite physically capable and has already made a large dent in a stone wall, and doesn’t suspect that the new servant is there specifically to monitor him? 

 

This was, of course, not all the report contained, however, these were the main points that she cared about.

 

Agatha: “This little monster gives me no end of troubling possibilities...Particularly if we confirm that it has magical abilities and my beloved...wishes to raise it up on a pedestal!”

 

Agatha smashed her fist into the table, making sure to leave a large scuff mark where it had landed. She rubbed her temples with a look of disgust. Clearly, the thought that her husband would raise the child she despised out of charges she concocted was repugnant for her to say the least.

 

-Oh shining Luna, grant me the wisdom to see through this situation! It is merely two years until the appointed date, however, my beloved has been sent out to a battlefield from whence he may never return and the monster that shall be disposed of is gathering strength under my nose! 

 

Two years, that was how long until six years of age that the ‘revelation’ decreed that the child she despised would supposedly be gotten rid of. Though it was a fabrication, Agatha believed it with all that she had and dreaded failing in what she believed was a holy task ordained upon her by her patron goddess…

 

-I must not slay that thing now...the goddess declared it thus, yet if I allow it to gather strength then I shall fail also…

 

Agatha: “...I must steady myself and think of a solution...It only needs to remain weak enough that I can contain it without killing it for two years...hmmm…”

 

She reflected on all previous knowledge she had on Fate, attempting to think of an immediate solution that would soothe her troubled heart. However, none came to her….

 

Suddenly, there were two knocks at the door, meaning that it must be Jacob.

Agatha: “You may enter, Jacob.”

 

The door creaked open and allowed Jacob to walk through with a tray, which seemed to hold Agatha’s next meal. He continued to pace towards her and proceeded to set the tray on her desk once she had signaled for it, however, he noticed the obvious displeasure on her face from her knitted brows.

 

He walked behind her chair and patted her on the shoulder, empathizing with her worries. Her brows loosened slightly, however, she still kept up her glare on the report until Jacob took the initiative to shake her.

 

Agatha: “Ah, I apologize for your having to sense my displeasure and more so for having the food you worked hard to prepare become cold.”

 

Jacob gave her a short nod and walked to the front of her desk to face her while he stood ready to help her with her meal. She looked down at the tray which was covered in silver dishes and covers, then she lifted the middle one to reveal a yellow soup.

 

She lifted another which revealed some small slices of bread and cheese. A slice of bread with cheese was dipped into the soup and placed into her mouth, causing a small smile to replace the dismayed look on her face while she chewed it.

 

-Ahhh, this is just what I needed...A moment of rest and a delectable meal that suits my palate is one of my guilty pleasures of the day. Sometimes I think that it’s the one thing keeping me going while my beloved isn’t…!

 

Her eyes opened wide, which made Jacob nervous enough that he rushed to her side, thinking that she was choking. However, her eyes soon returned to normal and she pushed Jacob away with one hand while she wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin with the other.

 

Jacob: “My lady, were you choking?!”

 

Agatha made sure that she had properly swallowed and wiped her mouth before responding to Jacob’s overbearing nature as her servant.

 

Agatha: “I was not, I can assure you of such. However, I have new orders for you in regards to the ‘problem child’ to ensure that they shall not be a hindrance to me.”

…

 

Fate lay on his cot while his legs hovered in midair. He was currently gazing at what seemed to be a cube that was radiating with a purplish glow, in awe of his own experiment’s success. 

 

Fate: “I know I wished for a『Magical Platform』skill before...but I think this is a very close second! Then again, it’s made from a skill which is controlling mana itself so...I think this would actually classify as better than what I wanted, right?”

 

He spoke into the emptiness of his room, but immediately became startled and allowed the mana in the air to disassemble when a noise sounded from outside of his peripheral vision…

 

-What no…!?

 

Liza: “Hello, young lord!~”

 

Liza suddenly appeared out of nowhere and tackled him into a hug from behind! Fate was able to escape quite easily given that he had trained but felt uncomfortable nonetheless. 

 

Fate: “Didn’t I tell you not to touch me?! Seriously, don’t bother me when I’m…”

 

Fate turned his head away from her, regretting that he had begun to speak on his own private matters or even thought of doing so. Liza had a giant grin on her face and danced around him, continually matching his gaze when he kept trying to turn away.

 

She held his head in place and used her thumbs, to attempt working Fate’s dissatisfied expression into a smile like hers, but he refused to budge when it came to that.

 

Fate: “Ughh...What is it that you want, Liza?! I don’t want to play and I have been telling you for the last few days that I have no intent to do so!”

 

Liza: “Well I have to report your mother, silly! So monitoring what you’re doing isn’t just my personal passion, it’s both my passion and my duty!” 

 

Indeed, while Jacob and Fate’s mother both believed, at least for now, that Fate was being monitored with no knowledge of it, for Fate it was common knowledge. He still couldn’t figure out whether Liza wanted to be friends or if she was just a chatterbox, but he had quite the fit when she told him a few days ago.

 

-She wants to watch me and then report to Mother, but she still wants to be my friend...Good grief, just what is she actually reporting that Mother and Jacob haven’t already come here wanting to kill me?

 

Despite the shock that he got from the news that Liza was a spy and still wanted his friendship, he remained surprisingly calm about it. Though the 『Meditation』skill had risen a level so the calm might have been somewhat forced.

 

It wasn’t like he couldn’t turn off the calm, if he chose to it was rather easy. However, he believed that keeping himself calm was the best way to work his situation to his advantage...and keep his sanity which believed to be rapidly dwindling.

 

Liza: “Aww...come on! I want to be friends, but you’re not letting me into your world, even after I’ve gone out of my way to not tell your mother anything certain! You meanie!”

 

She pouted and pointed her head towards the floor, however, her words had caught Fate’s attention. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her towards himself, giving her a surprised look.

 

Fate: “What do you mean you’ve been ‘going out of your way to avoid telling Mother anything certain?!’ Don’t you realize how much trouble you can get in if she finds something even remotely wrong with you?!”

 

Instead of cocking her head in uncertainty, Liza gave him an inquisitive look, showing just as much curiosity in his words as Fate had in hers. 

 

Liza: “How would you know of such consequences that would make you tremble as you speak them?”

 

Fate instantly looked down at one of his hands, which was indeed trembling while clutching the bed. It seemed that his own fears were deeply ingrained in his body at a level that he couldn’t even control.

 

He brought his gaze back to meet hers and collected himself so that he wouldn’t give anything away, especially now that his composure was broken. However, he felt a grip on his hand that was very gentle, which he promptly tore himself from.

 

Liza: “I won’t force you to open up if you don’t want to, but maybe you could do me this favor if I...brought you some more snacks?~”

 

Fate’s ears immediately perked up at the notion that he could receive snacks, however, he forcibly calmed himself back down. While he was doing so, Liza’s hand resumed its gentle grip over his.

 

Liza: “I’ll probably bring snacks regardless if you threaten me, but think of telling me as a favor to a new friend who doesn’t want to be unprepared, ok? After all, I don’t want to lack knowledge of those who I’m withholding information from...”

 

Fate prepared himself to loosen her grip again but was strangely compelled to steer clear of such actions. He felt loneliness in her words, one that was similar to his own that made him feel like he could relate to her if anyone, it was a loneliness that made him feel that she had no one she could rely on for this other than him.

 

Fate: “Haaa...I’ll tell you a few things... but under no circumstances are you to tell a-n-y-o-n-e! Also, you have to give me extra snacks, that’s the only reason I’m generously giving you this information…”

 

Liza: “Didn’t you say ‘giving,’ my lord? Besides, extra snacks may be a bit hard to make happen...” 

 

Fate: “Did I stutter?”

 

Liza gave a short shake of her head as a no and Fate leaned close to her ear to whisper just a bit of what she wanted to hear. This wasn’t just him being weak, this was possibly gaining an ally...and acting out the art of the deal.