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Chapter 7: Time to Face One Another
— Around the end of the 1st month, 1,548th year, Continental Calendar —
It was around the time when the reinforcements sent to the Union of Eastern Nations were returning, and all of the cleanup was over. It was an evening so chilly that snow was falling in the royal capital.
Komain had come to Serina’s room in Parnam Castle, and was sitting across a table from the owner of the room. While there was tea laid out on the table, there was a bizarre atmosphere in the air that left her unable to relax and drink it.
In that tense situation, Komain asked, “Do you mind, Serina? I’m going to ask one more time.”
In response to Komain’s serious expression, Serina was her usual cool self.
Komain found her resolve and opened her mouth. “There’s not much time left, so no beating around the bush. How do you feel about Poncho?”
Komain sure cut straight to the chase.
Serina cocked her head to the side. “I don’t know what to tell you. I think Sir Poncho is Sir Poncho?”
“That’s not what I mean. I’m asking whether you like him or not.”
“Whether I... like him?” Serina groaned. She was a beauty, so there was a certain flourish to the way she looked when deep in thought. “I find him... likable, you know? He may be weak-willed and indecisive, and I would be grateful as his aide if he were to have a little more self confidence, but he has good character. I would say, without a doubt, he’s a likable person.”
“I agree, but... that’s not what I was asking.” Komain clutched her head, wondering how it had come to this.
Souma had asked her to subtly help Serina realize her romantic feelings, but an unaware Serina made for quite the tough adversary.
From Komain’s perspective, Serina and Poncho seemed compatible.
Serina was highly capable and filled in for Poncho’s shortcomings as a minister, while Poncho had used his cooking to seize firm control of Serina’s stomach.
Komain’s relationship with Poncho was similar, but she felt like Serina and Poncho’s ties were even deeper.
They needed each other.
That irked and frustrated Komain, who was pining for Poncho herself.
“You love Poncho’s cooking, don’t you, Serina?” she asked.
“Certainly.”
“How do you feel about Poncho, who makes that food? As a man.”
“I respect him. I think having encountered that sort of food is the greatest happiness in all my life. That’s why I’m grateful to Poncho for creating all those dishes.”
Serina looked enraptured. Komain thought there really was something there.
“And that respect and gratitude hasn’t transformed into romantic feelings at some point?” Komain asked.
“Romantic feelings... is it?” Serina looked up slightly in response to that.
That change made Komain think, “Oh?”
This was Serina, always cool and composed, her expression never changing, and yet now she looked just the slightest bit melancholy.
While Komain waited, wondering what it could be...
“Um... I don’t really understand what ‘romantic feelings’ are,” Serina confessed, as if searching for the words to express herself.
“...Come again?”
“My family has served the royal house for generations. I was educated from a young age to become a servant befitting the royal family. I was taught that loyalty and sincerity are meant to be reserved for those in the royal family. As a result, I’ve never thought about anyone outside the royal family.”
Komain was speechless. It seemed Serina’s cluelessness about love came from her devotion to her family’s duty, and the thorough education that had molded her into a maid.
No, no matter how proud a family was to work in service of the royal family, they wouldn’t suppress all their personal feelings except loyalty to the crown. If they forbade romantic feelings, then Serina herself would never have been born.
However, Serina, ever loyal to her duty, must have taken their teachings at face value.
Thinking of the royal family first, she had cast off any special feelings for any of the other people outside it as unnecessary. Serina could skillfully handle any job you set her to, but she was so awkward when it came to herself.
Komain slumped her shoulders, because of course this was going to be hard, but at the same time she thought, But even though she’s like this, Serina has a strong interest in Poncho’s food. Her usual iron mask has a way of falling apart when she’s eating, too, so with one more push, maybe she’ll realize her own feelings?
If that came to pass, what was needed next was Komain’s own resolve. In order to open a heart that was locked up so tight, somewhat forceful methods might be needed.
“Very well,” Komain said. “I will find my resolve, then.”
“Hm? I’m not entirely certain what you might mean?” Serina cocked her head to the side.
Komain stood up and looked down at her. “If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll go all out! In order to reach the place I want to be, I don’t have the luxury of being picky with my choices.”
As Komain found her determination and left the room, Serina looked on dumbfounded.
It was a few days later.
Poncho was in a room in a certain mansion in the capital with a tense look on his face.
Just the other day, talk of an arranged marriage meeting had arrived, and he was about to meet the lady in question today.
Though the numbers had declined from their peak, Poncho was still a well-off bachelor, so these offers kept coming in.
Normally Serina and Komain stood behind him, keeping a keen eye out for ulterior motives, but today Komain was away on business. Because of that, the only one behind Poncho today was Serina.
When it was almost time for the meeting, and Poncho was losing his composure, he tried striking up a conversation with Serina behind him to distract himself from his nerves.
“I wonder who exactly it is I’m meeting today, yes.”
“Hm? You haven’t heard?” Serina asked.
“I haven’t, no. It was suddenly brought to the castle, so the information on my partner hasn’t had time to reach me. The castle says they want me to at least try meeting her.”
“That is... odd.”
Does anyone go into an interview about a potential arranged marriage with no knowledge of their partner? Serina wondered. If they hope to form relations with Poncho, they would have had to lay the groundwork for it first. Wouldn’t they normally give the lady’s name and advertise her lineage, appearance, and talents, so as to inspire as positive an impression as possible of her in Poncho?
While Serina was thinking that, Poncho bowed his head apologetically.
“I’m sorry to always trouble you like this, Madam Serina. Accompanying me to these marriage interviews.”
“No, this is a duty I undertake on His Majesty’s orders.”
“I’m still grateful for it, yes. I’d like to tie the knot already. I feel bad for you and Madam Komain, helping me with all this.”
“Yes, I... suppose.”
Seeing Poncho clench his fists with enthusiasm, Serina felt just a little irritated. However, she did not know what at.
Poncho had said nothing particularly strange. Yet still... for some reason, there was a rustling in her chest.
As Serina clutched at her chest, there was a knock at the door.
“C-Come in, yes,” Poncho called.
“Pardon me,” came the response as the door opened, and in came a woman in fine clothes. This woman was presumably his partner for the day.
When they saw her face, not just Poncho’s but Serina’s eyes bugged out, too.
“M-Madam Komain?! Didn’t you say you had business today?!” Poncho cried out.
“Yes,” Komain replied with a smile.
Today, she was more dressed up than usual. She wore a vibrant shawl over her usual Native American-ish outfit, and on her head she wore a hairpiece made of jade. This was likely her tribe’s finery. She was wearing make-up, too, thin though it was.
Seeing Komain all dolled up like this, it finally dawned on Poncho.
“C-Could it be that you’re my partner for today?”
“Yes,” said Komain. “I asked His Majesty Souma to arrange this for me. Please, take good care of me today!”
An instant later, an intense wave of pressure flew her way. From behind Poncho, Serina had turned those eyes that had repelled many conniving potential marriage partners on Komain.
Struck by this cold gaze, like that of a wild wolf, an ordinary woman would have broken. However, Komain had already experienced it once, and she knew it was coming, so she was prepared.
I won’t lose, Madam Serina. Komain sat straight up, looking right back into those eyes. Not returning the pressure, simply staring at Serina.
Responding, I have nothing to feel guilty about, and I’m not afraid of your intimidation.
As she kept staring back, Serina dropped the pressure in no time.
Perhaps Komain will be all right? she relented. She knew the woman was not approaching Poncho with ulterior motives. I know Komain’s personality well. She is without artifice, cheerful, and has a pure respect for Sir Poncho. In her case, even if they were to wed, I see no misfortune befalling Sir Poncho as a result... or at least I shouldn’t...
She had acknowledged Komain as a valid partner, but Serina’s chest was filled with an eddy of conflicted feelings.
As Serina tilted her head, unable to identify why, Komain seated herself across from Poncho.
“Um... if you’re here as a potential marriage partner, that means, you, um... would be willing to marry me, yes?” Poncho asked hesitantly.
“Yes,” Komain replied crisply. “I have great respect for you, Poncho... Lord Poncho. There’s my gratitude for what you did for the refugees in our time of need, but I also am enamored with your gentle personality. Of course, I also love the many dishes you make.”
This straight expression of affection made Poncho blush.
He had been laughed at for his appearance before, but Poncho was unused to this sort of pure affection being directed towards him, so he was flustered.
“U-Um... I’m not much when it comes to looks or personality, but you still wish to be with me, yes? Oh, no, I don’t mean to suggest I would be dissatisfied with you in any way, Madam Komain. But still, your elder brother, Jirukoma, is a manly warrior, nothing like me, right? For someone as lovely as you, Madam Komain, I would think you could find a more talented and attractive man, one who has performed great acts of valor, yes.”
“I suppose I could. Long ago, I wanted to marry a strong, cool guy, like my brother.” Komain chuckled. “But the one I fell for was you, Lord Poncho. The heart never acts quite as we expect it will, does it? I mean, I fell in love with you, even though you’re the opposite of my type.”
“Madam Komain... thank you, yes.” Poncho answered Komain’s shy smile in his own shy way.
He met Komain while distributing food aid to the refugee camp, and she had helped him with the former refugees after he’d become the magistrate of Venetinova.
Then Komain had ended up serving under Poncho, supporting him both openly and secretly.
That was why Poncho knew how good-natured Komain was. He thought she was too good for him, but if she was willing to marry him, he couldn’t have asked for a happier outcome.
Poncho turned around and asked his assistant, who was standing behind him, “What do you think, Madam Serina?”
“...Let me see.” Appearing to think for a moment, Serina looked at Komain and said, “Madam Komain can be expected to support you without ulterior motives. However, you are a minister in this country, and, though you are an up and coming one, you are nobility. Without influential backers, I think Madam Komain merits some concern in that regard, wouldn’t you say?”
What Serina was saying was right.
The people they had chased off so far had come from lineages of knights, nobles, and influential merchants. If Komain, who had no backers, became his wife now, she couldn’t be expected to fend off the jabs of women of such parentage.
However, Komain looked straight back at Serina and replied, “If I am to become Lord Poncho’s head wife, then I am told His Majesty Souma will arrange for my adoption into a suitable family. He seems to feel it’s a threat to the country that a good vassal like Sir Poncho should remain single for so long.”
“H-How embarrassing... Yes...” Poncho bowed his head apologetically, but the reason he hadn’t tied the knot yet wasn’t his fault. It was because Serina and Komain were intimidating the candidates.
Serina looked probingly at Komain and asked, “True. In that case, your lineage should be no problem. However, in that case, the responsibilities of the first wife of a noble will land squarely on your shoulders. Can you bear that?”
“Let’s see. What I really want is for Sir Poncho to take someone reliable as his first wife, and then to keep me at his side as his second.”
“...Is that a fact?”
“Yes. However, that person just won’t appear,” Komain said. “If I just keep waiting like this, I never know when my turn might come. That being the case, I think I will do my best to be able to handle it myself.”
Komain words were earnest, determined, and there was nothing Serina could say in response.
The path she would walk was sure to be fraught with difficulties. Even knowing that, Komain had decided to walk down it. With her and Poncho supporting one another.
To make light of that determination... was something Serina could not do.
Serina closed her eyes and took a step backwards.
That was proof of her recognizing Komain as suitable for Poncho.
Poncho avoided giving Komain an immediate answer, due to the nature of these sorts of meetings, but he promised to provide a favorable response. They would likely be engaged to marry in short order.
“This is awkward to say, but this is a load off my shoulders, yes,” Poncho added.
“Hee hee,” Komain giggled. “You went through a lot of these marriage meetings, after all. You’ve lost weight, haven’t you?”
“Have I? I don’t think my waistline has changed much.”
“You wouldn’t be Poncho if you weren’t paunchy, after all.”
Watching the two of them talk, smiling, from up close, Serina felt like she had been left all alone by the flow of time.
“Whew...”
Some days had passed since then. In a room in Parnam Castle, Serina let out her umpteenth sigh of the day.
Carla could simply watch no longer, and hesitantly spoke to her.
“...Um, Head Maid? Did something happen? It seems to me that you’ve been sighing a lot today.”
“Pardon me. I was a little lost in thought.” Following her meek apology, Serina resumed cleaning the room as a maid, but her expression remained as sullen as before.
Honestly... what is it...? Serina wondered.
Ever since she’d heard Komain’s confession, there was a maelstrom of conflicted feelings whirling inside her chest.
Poncho was a good colleague of hers, and Komain was a pleasant girl. She ought to have been happy they’d gotten engaged, so why couldn’t she bring herself to bless the two of them?
Do I think I’ll feel lonely once they’re married...? That’s absurd. I’m no child. I shouldn’t feel left out. So why...?
Though Serina’s hands hadn’t stopped working, her thoughts were looping, and they eventually poured out in another sigh.
Normally, Serina’s default persona was the cool and serious type whose emotions were hard to read, which made Carla all the more alarmed to see her look so gloomy.
“Um, could it be you’re feeling unwell somewhere? If you’re under the weather, maybe you should leave this to me, and take the rest of the day off?”
“That’s not it, really... Was my work sloppy in some way?”
“No, you were doing well,” Carla said hastily. “In fact, the way you looked so sad but your hands were still moving properly made it more creepy... Whoa, excuse me!”
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Carla hurriedly saluted and apologized.
Seeing Carla so flustered, Serina let out a sigh of exasperation. “There are times when I’m not at my best, too.”
“Um... are you really sure you won’t consider resting?” Carla suggested.
Serina shook her head. “It would be nice if I could, but... in this case, it wouldn’t let my mind rest.”
“Your mind? It’s not your body?”
“Yes. How should I put this...? I don’t like leaving things I could be doing to other people. It’s the job of a maid to look after others, so it feels to me like having others look after me is contrary to my role.”
“I see...” Carla said. “Well, I have to say, you aren’t the head maid for nothing. You’re like the ideal maid.”
The ideal maid. That was what Carla called her, but Serina cocked her head to the side and wondered if she truly was.
She felt like the desire not to have others worry about her came not from her thoughts as a maid, but her thoughts as an individual. Serina hated having to rely on others. She desired not to have others look down on her just because they had lent her their strength.
In the end... I suppose I’m clumsy.
If she could be honest with herself and accept help from other people, life would be much easier.
In fact, the king of this country, Souma, always honestly recognized when he could not do something himself, hired someone he could delegate the task to, and kept the country running smoothly by trusting them.
However, because Serina had the misfortune of being talented enough to do anything, she had come all this way not relying on others. She couldn’t just change the way she had lived after so long.
If my personality let me rely on others better... I’m sure I could have asked someone about these conflicted feelings... Serina reflected.
“Oh! But Head Maid, you’ve let Sir Poncho cook for you before, right? I hear he’s done it for you a number of times as thanks for being his assistant.” Carla suddenly brought that up.
“Yes,” Serina said. “What about it?”
“No, um, if you hate letting other people do things for you, maybe you actually dislike it when Sir Poncho cooks for you... is what I was thinking.”
The words Carla spoke off-handedly set off a rustling in Serina’s chest.
“That’s not true,” Serina said. “Sir Poncho’s dishes are all unique, nothing I could come up with. That’s not something I could do myself, you see?”
“Oh, no, maybe that was true the first time, but you’re a better cook than most, right? The dishes that Sir Poncho and the master make use a lot of unusual ingredients, but making the dishes themselves is incredibly simple. If you’d asked him to write down the recipe, there would be no need to trouble Sir Poncho. You could make the dishes yourself, couldn’t you?”
“Huh?!” When Carla pointed that out, Serina’s eyes went wide.
Now that she mentions it, that’s true.
Poncho’s dishes were novel, but all of them were made with affordable ingredients, and if he had just told her the recipe, of course, Serina could make them, too.
Despite that, Serina had never tried to make them herself. She would just smack her lips and eat what Poncho made for her with an enraptured look on her face.
Though she claimed that she hated letting others do for her what she could do for herself, Serina had been letting Poncho cook for her.
Serina was certainly looking after Poncho, but Poncho had been looking after her, too.
And not once had that felt unpleasant to her.
Now that she had been made to realize that, Serina stood there with a rare look of amazement on her face.
I... was relying on Sir Poncho, wasn’t I? And the reason I didn’t notice, was that it came so naturally...
This was the first time she realized how special Poncho was.
“The weather’s just awful, isn’t it?” Serina griped.
It was that afternoon. The sky was heavy with clouds.
According to Naden’s Weekly Weather Forecast, which she, as the head maid, dutifully checked every week, sleet was expected today, turning into snow at night.
Under a sky that weighed her down just looking at it, Serina left through the gates of Parnam Castle and headed out to town.
She had work as Poncho’s aide today, so she was on her way to his residence.
Being an aide to Poncho was a respectable job, so normally she was able to receive permission to take a carriage... but today she was in a walking kind of mood.
She walked through the chilly streets wearing a coat over her classical maid uniform.
When a beauty like Serina walked through the city, she naturally drew the eyes of men passing by. If those men had women accompanying them, the jealous women would sometimes pull their ears or slap them for it.
From a man’s perspective, she was quite the sinful woman.
While looking at the scenery of the town, Serina let out a sigh. Normally, she wouldn’t think anything of this scenery, but today it felt awfully lonely to her.
I’m sure Sir Poncho will be replying to Komain soon. Those two will be engaged, then eventually become husband and wife. There’s no place for me there...
Serina remembered something that Ginger’s secretary and maid, Sandria, had said. “Then, how would you feel if Lord Ginger were a woman? If it were a woman that Lord Poncho was having such a good time talking to right now, would you still not feel the least bit anxious about it?”
What did I respond back then...?
If she recalled, it was something about how, if Poncho only made food for that woman, and she couldn’t eat with him anymore, she wouldn’t like it... or something like that.
If things continued as they were, the one eating with Poncho would be Komain.
Was it all right for her to hate that?
Did Serina have the right to?
It’s like a scene I’m looking at through glass...
Staring at the glass window of a carriage that had just stopped in front of her, that was what Serina thought.
She could see the people within clearly, but they were in a separate space, and as envious as she might be of what she saw, she could never have it for herself.
Looking at her face reflected in the window, Serina looked like a child about to burst into tears.
Sleet began to fall from the sky.
“It’s started coming down, huh?” Serina murmured.
It was soggy snow that turned to water the second it touched her skin or clothes.
Serina had been staring vacantly up into the sky for a while, but at this rate, she was going to catch a cold.
She had meant to arrive at Poncho’s mansion before it started coming down in earnest, so she had made no preparations for rain at all. Fortunately, it wasn’t far.
Serina walked quickly through the sleet until she arrived at Poncho’s mansion.
When she knocked to inform them of her arrival, Komain came to answer the door and her eyes widened.
“Whoa! What happened, Serina?! You’re soaked!”
“I got caught out in the sleet for a little while.”
“This took more than a little while... Why didn’t you come by carriage?”
As Komain fussed over and welcomed the soaking wet Serina, heavy footsteps sounded from deep inside the mansion.
Of course, it was the master of the house, Poncho. He had a large bath towel in his hands.
As he rushed to Serina’s side, he threw the towel over her head quickly. “I... I heard Madam Komain’s voice, so I brought a towel. If you don’t wipe yourself quickly, you’ll catch a cold! Madam Komain, please boil some water and bring it here, yes.”
“U-Understood!”
Watching Komain hurry off, Poncho started wiping Serina’s hair with the towel. His hands weren’t gentle at all, and Serina was at his mercy. Hanging her head, her eyes closed, Serina was thinking.
No... I really don’t dislike this at all...
Her wet hair was being touched and scrubbed. She was letting someone else take care of her. Despite that, she didn’t feel any displeasure from it at all.
No... I can’t hide it anymore. This person is special to me.
Serina finally acknowledged her own love.
She placed her right hand on top of Poncho’s left hand, which was on the other side of the towel, and brought it down to rest on her cheek. His big hand was warm and reassuring.
“M-Madam Serina?! Wh-What is it, yes?!”
Serina’s sudden action made Poncho’s usually narrow eyes go wide.
“Nothing really... Only what I want to do.” When she looked up, Serina wore her usual dauntless and serious face. However, the corners of her lips were turned up just a little. “Sir Poncho, your right hand is slacking. You were going to wipe my hair for me, weren’t you?”
“Y-Yes... Um, but, it’s difficult to do with only my right hand...”
“Bear with that much, at least. Because you are a special person who is allowed to take care of me.”
“I... I don’t know what you’re talking about. Wait, Madam Serina, why are you touching my cheek now?!”
This time Serina’s left hand was on Poncho’s cheek. That ultimately put them in a position where they were holding one another’s cheeks.
Poncho’s eyes darted around as he tried to process the situation. “Wh-What is this?! Is this a joke?! Are you teasing me, yes?!”
“Yes. I am teasing you. But this is no joke. In my own way, I’m showing my love for you here.”
“Y-Your l-love...?! Wait, whaaa?!”
Serina took one step back from the surprised Poncho, then lifted up the hem of her long skirt and bowed her head, like she was asking him if they might share the next dance at a social event.
“Sir Poncho. You are special to me. That is why I cannot abide you pushing me aside to share your table with someone else. Even if that is a family member. If you say you can only let family sit at your table, then let me be a part of that family.”
“Huh...? What do you mean by...”
“It’s simple. If you are to take Komain as your wife, please take me, too.”
Poncho was left speechless, his mouth just opening and closing silently like he was a goldfish.
When a beauty like Serina, whom he had assumed was far out of his reach, suddenly confessed her love to him, even if she did it in a weird and roundabout way, his mind went blank.
That was just when Komain came back with a basin of hot water. “Um... Did something happen while I was bringing the water to a boil?”
“I was just expressing my desire for Sir Poncho to make me his wife.” Serina said nonchalantly.
Komain’s eyes went wide. “Well, then! You’ve realized your own feelings, Madam Serina?”
“Yes. It did take some time to look at them, however.”
“Ahaha... Too long,” Komain said, laying the basin down with a laugh. “But I’m glad. If you’ll be coming, I don’t need to be adopted into a noble family. I’m fine with being the second wife.”
“Komain... are you sure about that?”
“I said I would do my best if the need arose, but I think it really would be hard for me to act like a nobleman’s wife, after all. If you’ll take care of things outside the home as the first wife, I’ll focus on inside the house.”
Seeing the peaceful smile on Komain’s face as she said that, Serina smiled a little, too.
She was sure she could get along fine with her.
“Wait, Poncho?!” Serina shouted. “Your eyes have rolled into the back of your head! Are you okay?!”
Komain shook Poncho and tried to call him back to reality.
As she watched her, Serina suddenly remembered something Komain had said before. “By the way, what was the ‘place you want to be’ that you were talking about that time?”
On the day that she had most likely resolved herself to have the marriage meeting with Poncho, Komain had said it was to reach the place she wanted to be.
Komain responded, “That’s obvious,” and grinned. “The table that Poncho, you, and I can sit around as a family.”
Later, Poncho’s engagement to Serina and Komain would be widely publicized, and the gold digger women would be greatly disappointed.
Conversely, Souma and the other elites of the kingdom who had been worried about Poncho were relieved.
“It feels like everything worked out the way it should in the end,” Souma said with satisfaction.
“Yes,” Hakuya agreed. “If Madam Serina and Madam Komain are with him, we can be sure they will protect the gentle but timid Sir Poncho from those who might try to take advantage of him.”
Souma gave a big nod in agreement. “He’s someone we need to continue doing good work for us in the future. For the development of the kingdom, and for my own personal reasons, I want to see Poncho build a happy, stable family.”
May the three of them be happy together, Souma wished silently.