From Maid to Mother - Chapter 5.2

Chapter 5.2

―― Ah, yeah, um… What should we do about this situation?

When we reached the mansion gates, a hilarious comedic act was being carried out in front of us .

「Damn, it just won’t break!」

「Then we’ll have to use our last resort, a human bomb… 」

「Stop! Don’t be so hasty!」

「We have no other choice!」

… Ummm . So judging by their conversation, these men were agonizing over how to demolish the barrier right now, but the exchanges they’re having were extremely comical .

「… Don’t tell me those are the people that Leonard-sama was worried about since they’re trying to break the barrier?」

「I don’t think so…」

Even though Amdo-san said that, he was watching them doubtfully . Well, he’s also making that kind of face, huh… That’s probably the same expression that I was having right now as well .   

「For the time being, let me deal with them」

「Wait」

When Milis made light of it and uttered a dry laugh, Amdo-san held her back .  

「What?」

「I’ll do it」

As soon as he said it, Milis looked like she was about to burst into tears .

「… Do you have that little faith in me? I can floor scums like them in the blink of an eye . Don’t treat me like a fool!」

Ah, she shook him off and took off . She got mad, huh .

I was sure Amdo-san wanted to chase after her but because he couldn’t leave us alone, he just gazed frustratingly at her back .     

I, who possessed no means of defending myself and Jill, who had no experience fighting . We were highly in danger if he left us . Therefore taking into account the odds, Amdo-san was correct in not moving . However――

「You didn’t know what those sort of men were going to do to a beautiful girl like Milis . That’s why you said you were going to handle it, didn’t you?」

「… Yes」

Even though Amdo-san bit down hard on his lips, he shook his head slowly .

「But, Milis has made up her mind」

「No . I think she just replied like that because of your words」

I felt words weren’t enough . They just kept missing each other’s intention .  

「Milis called her existence heretical」

Oh! Amdo-san’s angry . He hadn’t said a thing but the aura that he’s radiating was impressive .    

「It’s because she thinks she’s a heresy that she’s reliant on her abilities . Whenever it’s being questioned even in the slightest, it’s like denying her reason for living, which surely scares her」

「She’s not heretical」

「Then, what is she?」

I asked Amdo-san that question, my eyes were fixed intently on him .

Both of them had probably repeatedly misunderstood each other . Thus the reason for the expression Milis had on earlier .

But I don’t want her expressions to be mired with anxieties and fears any longer . However for that to occur, the words she needs right now has to come from Amdo-san and not from her friend .   

「Just think about it . My words won’t do anything to help Milis . It’s not just mine alone, neither will Leonard-sama’s」

「Why are you helping her like this?」

「Oh, is it strange for me to wish for my friend to be happy?」

「You’re a strange fellow」

Pfft, he let out . The smile he wore was a tender, affectionate smile that I had never seen before . Uwaa~ If Milis saw this, she’d faint . What a hottie~

The gap moe, how spectacular~ … Even my heart throbbed a little from that . Though that wasn’t going to blossom into love .

「I’ll just give you one piece of advice」

I laughed at Amdo-san as he looked slightly confused . I was deliberately meddling in hence I informed him .  

「I won’t spare any effort in helping my dearest friend . Which is why I’m telling you about Milis」

Well? I wonder if Amdo-san got the hint?

Before I could get an answer out of him, I heard a dreadful thunderous roar resounding nearby . When I looked in the direction of the sound, Milis was smiling triumphantly having imprisoned the men from earlier in a mass of water .   

「See? It was that easy!」

「Yup . I got it so just get their heads out of the water!」

They’d drown like that!

Since I didn’t know what was the best course of action to take, I had Milis and Amdo-san watched over those men whilst Jill and I headed inside .

Amdo-san used his wind magic to notify Leonard-sama about it . It’s really handy, wasn’t it? Magic .

「Which reminds me . Jill, can’t you do what you did when we were in Leonard-sama’s room last time?」

「You mean like the other day when I called otou-san? Well, I can’t use it unless we’re in danger . Otou-san made me promise him that」

「I see… So you felt we were in danger that time」

「Yeah . But this time, Milis onee-chan and Amdo-san are here, and those people couldn’t break otou-san’s magic so I’m not scared . That’s why it’s fine」

The unwavering trust she had from her words to her expression all pierced my chest . When did she become so strong?

Not a sliver of the frail child when we first met could be found now . The person standing in front of me now was certainly『the magician Leonard Mariel’s』daughter . I was proud but at the same time, I felt slightly downhearted .

But, with this, Jill has found the place where she truly belongs .

「Lily, sorry to disturb you」

「Milis?」

When I was tidying up after making a snack for Jill to eat, Milis suddenly appeared in front of me .   

Incidentally, Jill was on the sofa having her afternoon nap . Once she’s asleep, it’s rare for her to wake up in the middle of it . Because of that, I was grateful that Milis kept her tone in check when she spoke to me .

「Is it alright to not stand watch over them?」

「Yep . Leonard-sama’s received Amdo’s report so he’s sent an envoy to greet them」

「An envoy?」

「The young magician from the other day」

Young… Oh! You mean Cedric-kun? Right, with his griffon, he should be able to easily carry two or three adults on it . Perhaps I ought to go out and greet him .  

「It seems like he wants to say hello . He’s waiting in the entranceway right now」

「Got it . I’ll be there soon」

Hmm, did I have any premade confections… Ah, the madeleines! If I gave this to him, he could take it back with him and it’d keep for a few days .  

「What are you doing?」

「Previously, I told him I’ll have tea and snacks brought out the next time he comes around . Tea is out of the question though but if it’s snacks, he could take it with him」

When I went to the entranceway with Milis, Cedric-kun was there .

At his feet were the men from a while back, collapsed and lying limp on the ground .

「That’s strange, they were awake just a moment ago」

「Oh, they were annoying so I put them to sleep for a bit」

I was just going to ignore that dark aura emitting from behind Cedric-kun’s pleasant smile . Yup .

「Hello, Cedric-sama . Thank you for taking the trouble to come all the way here」

「Not at all . I’m relieved that neither you nor Jill-san was harmed . Mariel-dono was rather worried when he received the report」

「I see . Please tell him that Jill and I are fine」

「I will」

The embarrassing laugh he had was sweet and appropriate for his age, but the fact that he came alone with his griffon, was evidence that Leonard-sama acknowledged his abilities .

Mmm, my worries of whether it was wise to hand them over had vanished .  

「We’ll be taking them to the royal palace’s guardroom to question them . We need to find out who they are in order to begin our investigations」

「I don’t really know anything about them . So it’ll depend on Leonard-sama」

I really don’t know much though . Whether it had any relations to Leonard-sama’s work or whether they had attacked for other reasons . Whichever it was, there’s probably no need to worry about if they weren’t able to break past Leonard-sama’s barrier . So I’ll let Leonard-sama decide on how to deal with them .  

「I see . Well, it’s unlikely that they’ll threaten you again so there’s no need to worry」

「Yes, thank you . Um…」

I interrupted Cecil-kun as he was about to straddle the griffon . Curious, Cecil-kun looked back . He stared blankly when I handed over a small bag filled with madeleines .

「This is?」

「The other day, I promised that I’ll have a delicious cup of tea and snacks prepared the next time you swing by . Tea is definitely a bit much but at least, take these snacks . They’re madeleines so you can have them during your break」

「Ah! Sorry for troubling you… They smell nice . I love sweet things so thank you for these」

「I’m glad to hear that」

Cedric grinned delightedly as he got on the griffon’s back this time .

「Well then, I hope we meet again . Next time, I’ll come visit you for a lot longer」

「I look forward to it . Please take care」

I waved at the griffon flapping its’ wings in the sky . Yup, though he was manly and handsome, there was just one quip I had to interject . I was convinced that those men earlier would be carried on its’ back .   

「… I bet those people would never expect they’ll be carried away like that by its claws」

I hope they won’t regain consciousness mid-flight . They would most certainly scream .