Chapter 6:

The door opened as it did every morning, with a light creak and the familiar hand of a red-haired girl clicking her tongue. Eres pushed her way into Leo’s room, scoffing at the lazy ass who still slept. It had been this way for the last three years, and probably would never change.

That’s right. She’d spent three years attending to this buffoon as his personal maid. Time passed by in a flash when one wasn’t having fun, after all. Or was it the other way? Eres didn’t care. Leo had been pushing her buttons all this time by requesting her to do ridiculous tasks, threatening to cut her pay if she dared refuse. 

Does the modern man need his apples peeled? Or a morning omelette decorated with a ketchup heart? She wasn’t even the one who cooked for him, yet he made her do such embarrassing things as that. 

The only edge she had on him was that now, she’d grown half a hand taller than the little bastard. She made no effort in hiding her disdain over her shorter employer. Tsk, this guy, saying he’d marry her then treating her like a maid cafe employee! No heart! No heart at all!

So it was with great work ethic that she ripped the window curtains open as she always did, letting the sun pour in.

“Augh…”

Leo’s sleepy groans rang through the room as he pulled the blanket over his head. He raised a leg and kicked it at her, his way of asking for more time to sleep.

“Hey, young bastard, you have an important thing today, yeah? Get up!”

Eres ripped his blanket from him, mercilessly exposing him to the morning chill.

He sat up, begrudgingly rubbing his eyes, and glared at her. “Isn’t it ‘young master’? Where did ‘young bastard’ come from?”

“Hmm, where did it come from I wonder. Maybe the young lord bastard needs help remembering?”

“Is that any way to talk to your employer?”

“Oh, should I sue you for work defamation? What employer requires ketchup hearts on his eggs every morning? Are you actually eight, are you?”

“Tch.”

Eres smirked as she pulled the preprepared outfit from his closet. It was an important day, after all. This was the day Leo would debut in high society, his first appearance at the fourth princess’s birthday party. They were of an age, so it was likely many children would appear. It was an important chance to make early political allies, though most of the children hadn’t realized it.

“Hey, Eres, you’re not really gonna make me go to a party of eight-year-olds, are you…?”

“Young Bastard, you of course need to fulfill your political duties. It just so happens that requires attending a party of snot-nosed brats.”

“Please just call me Leo…”

Eres smirked at him as she handed him his clothes. “Pfft. Have fun Leo.”

Leo looked at her with an odd expression. “Eres, could it be…you don’t realize you’re required to attend with me?”

“…”

“Oh, could it be, our wonderful, dutiful, top-tier worker Eres forgot she’s the personal maid of the young bastard…?”

“H-hey, Leo, you’ve got a stomachache, right…?”

“Obviously not, dear Eres. And, naturally, as my personal maid, you’re aware you need to fulfill your contractual obligation, yes?”

Eres raised a trembling hand. “P-please, Leo, I need a sick day. Vacation! Where are my vacation hours!”

“Vacations require one month of advance notice, dear Eres.”

Leo shot a smug smile. “Better prepare for the party, Eres. I’ll be counting on you.”

Eres sat next to Leo in the carriage with dim eyes. Should she die? Maybe she could fall in front of the carriage to avoid the party. No, no, how is it that even in her next life, she’d be required to attend unbearable social functions? Was that fate for the modern citizen? Awkward conversations around the drink table and a drive home with no music?

She reached over and pinched Leo’s side. He flinched, looking at her with indignation.

“What employee pinches her boss?”

“What boss makes his employee attend stupid parties with stupid kids?”

“…”

“...”

It seems they both would rather be home. Two introverts really had no business attending political parties. Eres sagged, sighing. 

“How long was the drive?”

“Two hours.”

“…How long has it been.”

“…Twenty minutes.”

Eres grimaced, and looked out the carriage window. “Hmm. I spy, with my little eye—”

“Don’t.”

“One hundred bottles of—”

Leo pinched her arm, shooting her a fierce glare.

Eres leaned back. “Fuck this, I’m taking a nap.”

“Don’t let Lana hear you talk like that.”

“If Lana could hear me from the mansion, I would be surprised.”

“I”d be surprised if she couldn’t. That woman scares me.”

“A ducal heir afraid of his own maid…?”

Leo didn’t respond. Eres was about to make fun of him, but looked out of the window for Lana’s ghostly visage nonetheless. That woman must have superpowers…in three years, she’d never failed to rain her wrath upon the two of them. Yet, she still begged Eres to sleep with her occasionally after she’d gotten her own room as a personal maid. Eres had felt more maternal love from Lana than her own mother in her previous life, so she occasionally gave in. 

What a troublesome mother.

Eres smiled, and closed her eyes. 

Leo looked at the girl who slept next to him. She’d been serving as his maid for three years, yet had never refused a single one of his ridiculous requests. He’d never expected her to do them—it had mostly been to embarrass her, anyways. Their back and forth grudge was constantly in flux, with one teasing the other. 

Still, Eres was the one he trusted most. This strange traveler from the same world. By this point, she really did feel like a sister. An annoying one, but family nonetheless. Her work ethic played no small part in his mother’s acceptance of his ridiculous claim of marriage. 

He’d only said that to shield the two of them. Really, what modern person could stomach being set up to marry a stranger? Leo felt especially bad for Eres, who’d been a man in her previous life. No, that would be too much, so he’d asked for something unreasonable. Who knew it’d work…?

His mother had always doted on him, despite her glacial  behavior. She came across as regal, but she was more awkward than reserved. Leo knew from experience that she was no less socially inept than he.

And yet, she managed to perform as the Duchess, had attended numerous events that would make Leo’s palms sweat. 

So he had to do his best, even if that meant talking with a bunch of kids. Really, how could any adult become true friends with children? That was why he had been noted as particularly reserved before he’d met Eres. The only reason they could be friends is because they were both the same age mentally. 

Being reincarnated truly was a massive pain. Maybe life would have been better without memories? But, then, if that were the case, he and Eres would likely have been strangers. 

If it meant being friends with her, maybe the rest was okay. 

He looked at her sleeping face. 

This dummy. How could she forget she’d have to go too? For someone with a remarkably good work ethic, she was surprisingly dense. 

Leo leaned back and closed his eyes. She had the right idea. It was time for a nap. 

The carriage rocked, sending Eres tumbling to the side. She crashed into Leo, hissing in pain as her head burned. 

“Fuck!”

Eres looked up, eyes teary. The carriage had stopped. Had it been two hours already? She looked at Leo who still slept, despite his omega-level cranium crashing into hers. 

She rubbed the tears from her eyes and tugged on Leo’s sleeve.

“Hey, Lord Bastard, wake up.”

Leo stirred, swatting her hand away as he leaned up. 

“We there?”

“Yeah, think so.”

“Why is your forehead red?”

“…”

“Ah! OW!”

Eres jumped out of the cabin before Leo could pinch her arm back. As she exited, she noted that the carriage was surrounded by others, each with their own occupants exiting in various fashions. It was time to get serious. Teasing Leo could be saved for later—for now, they needed to be the perfect Ducal Heir Leonard Fritz and his personal maid. 

He climbed out shortly after, his young frame exuding elegance as he stepped down, adjusting his tailcoat. Eres walked a pace behind him, her training from the Head Maid at full power. 

They strode to the hall, each drawing looks from those surrounding them. For as elegant as the others were, they were children. It was only natural that two adults would carry themselves differently, no matter how socially inept. 

With that, they were announced as they entered the banquet. 

“Sir Leonard Fritz!”

Leo walked in with a confident stride, Eres behind him. He nodded to those who acknowledged him, giving courteous smiles as they walked straight to the fourth princess. It was only natural for someone in Leo’s position to greet the subject of the party. 

Princess Celise was an elegant child. Her blonde hair hung in locks, framing the floral dress that she wore. She had startlingly green eyes that seemed to pierce through them. 

Leo bowed his neck with a friendly smile, saying, “Your Royal Highness.”

Princess Celise smiled. “So, it is Sir Leonard Fritz! I welcome you to my birthday celebration.”

Eres, who had dipped into a curtsy, couldn’t help but peak at her. A real princess! Wow! She lived up to the name. Her manner was quite a bit more refined than those who surrounded her. Had she suffered through the hands of someone like the head maid? My condolences…

Her eyes didn’t seem to register Eres, though. Maybe that was a consequence of growing up with servants. They become background noise, eventually. 

Leo and Eres separated from the crowd and wandered, Leo greeting those who approached him amicably. They reached the back of the crowd before Eres tugged at his sleeve and whispered in his ear.

“You ok?”

“Yeah. This much is fine.”

“If you consider it like a cosplay convention, maybe you’d feel better?”

“Don’t patronize me.”

“Pfft, our young lord getting nervous over greeting toddlers…”

Leo glared at her darkly. “I will send you home with a different noble.”

She scoffed. “Then who would wash your underwear? I doubt you’d want Lana smelling your socks.”

He nodded. “True, only my future wife could put up with that.”

It was Eres’s turn to glare. “Are you still on about that? Here, of all places…”

He shrugged. “I’d rather it be public knowledge. Then I wouldn’t have people clinging to me for my status.”

He shot her a smile. “At least I know you’re with me because of my looks.”

Eres sneered. “What, with that squirt of a body? Come back in ten years, lil’ bro. Maybe when you’re taller than me.”

“It’s a promise.”

With that, Leo turned around and looked out at the crowd. 

Eres felt a sense of danger cross over her. Huh? Promise? When this bastard gets taller? Her palms began to sweat. No, surely not. 

…Maybe she should set him up with the fourth princess just in case…

The crowd went quiet.

Eres looked up, curious about what caused the change. The fourth princess had stepped away from her table, and it looked like she was in a quiet conversation with  a girl her age. Were they arguing?

“Do you know who that is, Leo?”

“…I think it’s the princess of the neighboring kingdom.”

Eres’s gossip-craving heart lit up. “Leo…let’s get closer.”

“It would be better if we—”

Eres kicked the back of his shoe. She couldn’t walk in front of her charge! But she could kick him in the right direction easily enough.

“Go, go.”

Leo sighed, before he began walking. “Why do I put up with you…”

“I make sure you have toilet paper.”

“…Oh yeah.”

Eres giggled as they got closer. The voices, though straining to be quiet, had attracted attention to the point that it was obvious they were the only ones speaking.

Frustrated, the fourth princess took a step back and raised her voice. Eres and Leo circled around to be close enough to touch. What was this called? The splash zone?

“Well, since you’re so insistent on causing a scene today, why don’t you ask me your question in front of everyone?”

The fourth princess’s voice was loud, challenging. Whatever the argument was about, it seemed she wasn’t backing down. 

The girl opposing her, a young woman with stark black hair, blue eyes, and a nasty look on her face, smirked.

“I was asking why I wasn’t invited to your party? Am I not in town? Have I not sent you prior notice? Have I so earned your ire as to be uninvited to your birthday?”

Celise’s mouth twitched. “Princess Shiera, the reason you were not invited to my party is because you notified us of your arrival after we had sent the invitations. You are here, are you not? Is it such an issue that you cannot enjoy the party? Need you a paper invite to be counted as present?”

“So, it is only a princess of the Malneshe kingdom that remains without an invitation. I will be sure to inform my father of such…delicate care.”

Eres looked back and forth in awe. Were these really eight-year-olds? Such political drama was truly popcorn-worthy. Well, to be throwing a fit over having an invite when you’re already at the party…that truly was an issue only a child could have.

“Your presence is always welcome in our kingdom, though not always known. Perhaps next time, you could give advanced notice of your arrival? Or should I hold an invitation for you at every party I have?”

Celise smirked as she said it. Shiera’s face blushed at the comment, seemingly no rebuttal prepared.

Shiera gaped, trying to find something to counter with.

“Oh, perhaps the lady is thirsty? You, maid, bring Princess Shiera a drink, if you would.”

Celise pointed a finger at Eres and snapped her fingers. 

Eres blanked for a moment, before three years of training kicked in. She scooped a glass of wine from a nearby platter—wait, wine for children? Whatever. She walked over, and presented it to Princess Shiera. “Your Grace.”

Shiera picked up the drink with a blank expression. Rage flashed through her face. Eres noticed her eyes flick from the drink to Celise, the edge of her mouth creasing.

No, surely she wouldn’t. No one remotely socially adept would toss a drink in the face of a princess. Well, no adult. 

…

Shit. With a heavy heart, Eres immediately predicted the temper tantrum of a raging princess. It wasn’t her business if someone wanted to commit an international incident, but…she was the one who gave her the drink. No shots could land with ammo she provided.

As Shiera’s arm moved, so too did Eres. She stepped in front of the drink thrown from a princess, flinching at the feeling of wine splattering over her uniform. Her hair hung sticky with wine, the alcoholic scent a sickening perfume. 

Well, considering the result, surely none splashed on Celise. 

The room fell quiet. Shiera’s initially triumphant expression, now devoid of her previous rage, paled at the implication of what she’d done. The growing horror in her eyes was apparent. 

“Oh dear,” Eres said, “It seems your hand slipped, your Grace.”

“…”

“…”

Naturally, it was obvious that was not what happened. However, the adult thing to do was to stop a foolish argument from happening in the first place. A princess on princess battle? As much as Eres would have loved to see it, that truly was too much of a pain for Leo. If such things happened, they should happen far away from them.

Shiera, perhaps realizing that Eres was giving her an out, immediately went with it. 

“Y-yes, it seems my gloves caused my fingers to slip.”

Leo looked on with rage in his eyes. He clenched his fists, but cooled his anger. Had Eres not been trying to deescalate, and had Leo not wanted to respect her wishes, he would have poured a drink on Shiera twice over by now. But…

He looked at his maid, her face and clothes dyed red. 

Leo stepped forward. “Princess Shiera, I believe you might be tired from your trip. Why not rest, and my maid and I will clean up this mess?”

His words were quiet, but the anger was obvious even to children. 

She flinched at his voice. “I…yes, I will go. I—”

She looked at Celise, the girl staring at her with a cold expression, and frowned. “I’m sorry, Princess Celise”

Shiera turned and fled from the room. 

Celise watched on in silence until the end. 

Leo grabbed a handful of napkins and brought them to Eres’s face, wiping the liquid off. 

He muttered to her. “Dummy. You should have just let it happen.”

“Hmm~ and ruin my Young Master’s public debut?”

Celise stepped close to them. Her head hung low, a look of shame dancing over her face. With her cheeks somewhat blushed, she looked at Leo.

“I…am sorry, Sir Leonard. It seems my handling of the situation…could have been better.”

Leo, not stopping his cleaning of his maid, simply nodded. 

Celise smiled at Eres. “It appears you have some talent in handling public administrations, young maid.”

Eres smiled, bowing her head slightly. She ignored the stinging droplets that hit her eye, blinking them away. “I appreciate Your Grace’s compliments.”

Celise snapped her fingers in the air, and  a butler appeared.

“Have this young woman cleaned and clothed. I’ll not have her working for the remainder of this party. If that is acceptable to Sir Leonard?”

Leo smiled. “Of course.”

It was with little fanfare that Eres was spat back out in the party freshly washed and sporting a green dress. How had that happened? Maybe she’d lost consciousness when the event so familiar from her youth happened again. How was it she always ended up yanked away to be cleaned?

Her hair was let down from its previous ponytail, laying in curls across her shoulders. She sighed. Long hair was such a pain…if it weren’t for Demon Lord Lana appearing when she’d been about to slice her hair off with scissors last month, she wouldn’t have to think about it. How did she even know…?

Whatever. Eres looked around for Leo. He was sitting on a couch catty-corner to Princess Celise, talking with a blank face. Eres had to stop herself from laughing. What was with that muppet-like appearance?

She walked over. A couple of boys, perhaps mistaking her for a maid, approached to talk to her, but she politely bowed and explained she was meeting with someone. 

She crept behind Leo, silencing her steps. Celise opened her mouth to say something, but Eres brought her finger to her mouth. This was the perfect chance! Never mind whatever crime shushing a princess was, the opportunity to mess with Leo was never a bad idea. 

She whispered in his ear.

“Excuse me, my lord, could I have this dance?”

Leo turned around in alarm, having not realized someone was there. His eyes met Eres’s hand extended in a playful manner.

His lips twitched. Just as Eres lowered her hand to tease him, he gripped it tightly.

“Certainly, my lady.”

Huh? That wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to like, freak out or something! Not agree!

I’ve made a terrible mistake.

She tried to pull her hand from Leo’s. “Hey, no, you can’t dance with your maid—”

“You’re not working right now, though.”

“…”

Leo turned to Celise. “Princess, would you take offense if I led young Eres here in a dance?”

Princess Celise smiled. “Certainly not. I couldn’t bare to disappoint the girl who protected me so valiantly.”

Eres’s face paled. “I-I couldn’t possibly take the first dance at your very own party, Princess. I-it would be disrespectful.”

“Hmm?” Celise grinned, “Who said I haven’t danced yet? Of course I have.”

Huh? No way? She was lying, right? The dance floor hadn’t even cleared yet. What kind of situation was this? 

Eight-year-olds shouldn’t be this accommodating! Get selfish! Don’t understand social nuance! Help me!!

Her eyes screamed at the princess, but were ignored. 

Leo dragged her to the dance floor. He grinned at her, that smirking bastard.

“I’m not okay with this.”

“I am.”

“Shouldn’t both parties consent?!”

“It’s just one dance. Could it be? Our respectable young Eres can’t dance when toddlers can?”

“…”

“Besides, we’ve already been trained. The Head Maid saw to that.”

“I still don’t know how I got dragged into your dance practice.”

“Because my wife is the only partner I’ll dance with.”

“Why would I dance with someone shorter than me? Also, you’re socially required to dance with others.”

“Tch.”

“Clicking your tongue at your dance partner…how hideous.”

Leo smirked. “So you are my dance partner.”

“T-that…I mean…”

“The music’s starting.”

“…When did you betray the introvert alliance…?”

“I never signed up for that.”

Eres pouted. So there was really no way to get out of it. She flinched when she realized a circle had parted around them. Princess Celise was beaming on the side. She gave Eres a thumbs up.

“When were princesses so down to earth…?”

Ugh. If she had to do this…she couldn’t embarrass herself. She’d been taught by the gallant Head Maid, after all. 

The music began, and Leo lead her into a simple dance. It was far from the most complicated thing Lana had taught them, but it was nice to warm up with. 

Their moves became more complicated, helped by the fact the two of them had already practiced extensively. Maybe it was the adrenaline, but her moves seemed sharper today than they had been before.

Eres lost herself in the movement. Ha, damn it all, it was fun. It was fun to dance with Leo. 

By the end of it, they were both out of breath and laughing when Eres had stepped on Leo’s foot. 

They both limped out of the center, passing by Princess Celise as she whisked some noble boy to be her dance partner. 

She pulled Leo to the balcony, and they stepped outside into fresh air. 

“Really…the maid dancing before the princess. I’d stone myself.”

“Relax, Celise doesn’t seem to be that type. No one else seemed bothered either. They’re too young to care.”

“Since when were you so confident? I thought hikikomoris were supposed to be bad at this.”

“Eres, please. They’re eight.”

“Tsk.”

“Was it really that bad?”

“…No.”

“Fun, right?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

He slapped Eres’s shoulder. “Chill, dude.”

They both leaned against the balcony and stared through the window indoors.

Eres chuckled. “They were too well spoken for kids.”

“Right? I thought I was watching a soap opera.”

“I really wanted to eat some popcorn…shame she called me out of the crowd.”

“Probably better that way. I hate that you got splashed, but…well. The alternative.”

“Yeah. Would’ve sucked if two kids started a war over an invitation.”

“…”

Eres looked at Leo. His face was somewhat gloomy. She raised an eyebrow. 

“You good?”

“Yeah…just. You know. This is real.”

“…”

“We could see something like that, you know? It’s not our old world.”

“Way to get gloomy, dude.”

“Sorry…”

“No, it’s fine. I try not to think about it. Like what would have happened if I hadn’t met Lana.”

He flinched. “Yeah. That…I’m glad you did.”

Eris slapped his shoulder. She grinned at him. “Oh~ is our young lord admitting he’s glad he met me?”

He scoffed. “No way, who’d be happy getting such a poorly trained maid? Who ignores their boss’s orders and wakes up at six?”

Eres hummed, a sly smile over her face. “Such harsh words from my future husband.”

Leo smiled. “Ah, accepted your fate, then?”

“What fate? As if a shrimp like you could propose to anyone.”

“…tch.”

Eres leaned over and poked his cheek. 

“What was that? Mad? Huh? Huh? Hehe, get mad, shorty.”

“I’m gonna reduce your salary when we get back.”

Eres curtsied. “Hubby, please don’t reduce your wife’s salary, she needs to save for when she divorces you~!”

Leo burst out laughing. “No shame at all.”