“Is this little girl looking down on me?”
Even though several of the contestants watching from the sidelines frowned in indignation for him, Young Master Bert didn’t think the Maid was looking down on him at all.
The posture she displayed did make people wonder, “Is she really planning to fight seriously?”— but only he, standing on the stage, knew that from this seemingly casual girl emanated an oppressive aura that could only be described as alien—and it was aimed solely at him.
Just looking at her, he felt as if the platform beneath his feet was cracking open and the sky above his head was caving in.
It was as if molten lava was gushing from those fissures, scorching the air with blistering heat.
He had to exert all his strength just to maintain his stance in this seemingly collapsing world, and he could barely hold onto the sword in his hand—was this really a pressure that a human could emit?
Could it be that she realized he was testing her, so she was responding in kind?
“…Your strength is truly impressive.”
The girl quietly praised him like that. And as her voice fell, the pressure, which seemed to warp even the space itself, vanished without a trace in an instant.
“Huff… Huff… Was that an illusion?”
Young Master Bert’s neck was drenched in cold sweat. With his non-sword hand trembling, he loosened his collar, then, as if trying to calm himself, brushed aside his gaudy bangs once more—
But even his forehead was covered in sweat, and the hand holding the sword seemed almost glued to the hilt… but perhaps that’s for the best.
“Mistaking you for some useless dandy who only cares about money… That was my mistake as well. So, as an apology, please be on your guard.”
She—she’s going to make a move!
Hearing her declaration, Bert mustered every ounce of strength to widen his eyes and focus his attention on the Maid before him.
He even used Magic Power, which wasn’t allowed in this kind of match, to heighten his senses. Alright.
How is she going to attack? Since she doesn’t have a weapon, she must first close the distance for hand-to-hand combat.
She’ll probably lower her stance to prepare for a sprint—
“Huh?”
He blinked once and found the girl before him had vanished.
“Where—”
He tried to search for her, but his body moved before his mind could react. He was sent flying through the air, then crashed down onto the platform with a dull “thud”.
Compared to that time in the Tavern when she slammed him down with all four limbs flailing, this posture on the ground was much more dignified.
But this time, he truly felt the impact of being thrown—the shock made his internal organs tremble.
“The match is—”
“Wait!”
The uproar in the audience and the Master of Ceremonies’ verdict were both interrupted by Young Master Bert’s furious shout.
He shakily climbed to his feet, signaling with his eyes to the Master of Ceremonies that he still had the Willpower to fight.
“You wish to continue?”
Even Lian now felt a bit of admiration for him. To express her apology, she had truly used her strength just now. Yet he could still stand, and wanted to keep fighting.
“Q-Quit with the chatter! I can still fight…!”
His movement as he stood up was strained. The impact had really sunk deep into his body… Right now, he must be relying solely on Willpower to keep going.
Was this the pride of a noble? Lian couldn’t really understand such feelings, but she had seen many nobles like this on battlefields during her travels, refusing to yield before their enemies.
And she herself had forced her body to stand again and face her foes countless times, even when it refused to move—but not out of pride.
Yet regardless of the reason, Lian truly admired people who could do such things. Because it showed that their Willpower was strong enough to overcome physical pain.
“May I ask why you wish to keep fighting? You must already understand the gap between us.”
Lian lowered her voice even more. She wasn’t mocking him; she was simply curious.
“…Why do you work in Aunt Meliya’s Palace? What is your goal?”
Huh?
Faced with Young Master Bert’s sudden serious question and hostile gaze, Lian was stunned.
“I knew it from the day you tossed me out of the Tavern… You have monstrous strength. How could someone like you just become a welcoming Maid in Aunt Meliya’s Duke’s Mansion? What exactly are you after? Let me say this… She’s a benefactor to my family… If you mean her or her daughter any harm, I won’t let you go.”
…So that’s how it is.
Seeing his expression become so earnest, Lian smiled wryly.
“Even if I had some scheme, do you think you could stop me with your strength?”
“Of course not… But I have money! All the money I’ve earned thanks to Aunt Meliya’s kindness—I’ll spend it all for her! Even if I can’t beat you, I’ll hire everyone I can—”
“Alright, alright!”
“What are you—”
Suddenly, Lian slapped Bert on the shoulder with a loud “smack”. Bert was about to curse at her, but found that the pain lingering in his body was rapidly disappearing.
“You might not believe me just from my words, but I’ll say it anyway—your worries are unnecessary. Meliya… Her Grace the Duchess has shown me countless kindnesses that I can never repay. It’s precisely to return her favor that I work as a Maid in her Palace.”
“…”
Bert moved his body, then looked into Lian’s eyes.
As the wealthiest noble in the Central Realm, he understood the power of money and was well acquainted with the faces people made when lying for money or gain—no matter how good their acting, their desires would always betray them through their eyes.
But the eyes of the girl before him—this monster—were so clear and transparent. There wasn’t a trace of ugly desire in them… in fact, there wasn’t the slightest impurity at all.
“…I accept your goodwill.”
Bert thanked her honestly. He knew full well that his wounds had healed thanks to the palm she had just placed on his shoulder.
“So you understand, right? Since we’re both serving Her Grace the Duchess, let’s get along from now on.”
“You’re putting a future master of all Central Realm’s gold mines on the same level as a lowly welcoming Maid… Whatever.”
Faced with Lian’s offered handshake, Bert took it with a look of disdain.
“Um… are you two going to keep fighting?”
The Master of Ceremonies, watching from the side, was completely bewildered at how the two went from on the brink of battle to this bizarre sense of camaraderie.
Their conversation had been so quiet that even standing on the platform he hadn’t caught much.
“Shall we continue?”
“Yes. It’s a rare opportunity to get guidance from someone of your level.”
Looking at the rekindled fighting spirit in Young Master Bert’s eyes, Lian smiled with satisfaction.
But then, as if remembering something, her expression darkened rapidly:
“I can give you some pointers. But first, you have to answer me one question.”
“W-What is it?”
Bert was startled by her sudden change in demeanor. Just from her pitch-black expression, he instinctively realized that his answer to this question would determine his fate.
“You called Aunt Meliya so affectionately just now… Although it seems unlikely… you don’t happen to have any disrespectful thoughts toward her, do you?”
“What nonsense are you spouting! She’s the wife of the Hero—I’d never dare harbor any profane thoughts toward her!”
At this, Bert’s expression was even more solemn than when he’d just been questioning Lian’s motives. And seeing his answer, Lian’s face immediately blossomed into a radiant smile:
“Good! Mhm…! You really are a promising talent! I’ll make sure to teach you well! But let me ask one more thing… What do you think of Lady Milin?”
“Oh… You mean Her Highness the Princess?” At the mention of Milin’s name, he suddenly looked a bit awkward.
“Well… isn’t her sixteenth birthday coming up soon? I actually wanted to ask Aunt Meliya about proposing to her…”
“Haha.”
Lian’s smile became brilliantly radiant.
“Why are you so happy?”
“Young Master Bert, let me give you a word of advice. Please remember this from now on.”
“W-What is it?”
A chill ran through his entire body. The pressure he’d felt earlier was nothing compared to this—
“Clench your teeth!”