房客(糙汉)何璐程曜坤

"There's still a bit of paperwork and official stuff to go through, but basically from now on the Galamroze family will be officially recognized as a branch of the Banemor family."

In the royal castle, in the chambers usually delegated to foreign consuls, Zoemi was standing behind timid Aedlier, talking while brushing her amaranth hair as the girl was sitting by the vanity table.

One part of the table was delegated solely to desserts stacked on fancy multi-level trays and was more intimidating than anything to the cautious girl while the other had various cosmetics lined up neatly.

The young girl was freshly out of the bath and was wearing a bathrobe so fluffy that the only comparison she could come up with was the clouds in the sky outside the window to her right.

Zoemi wasn't the only person in the room, four maids were delegated to specifically care for her and two of them were working on Aedlier's toenails, and another one was doing her nails on one hand, leaving the hand free so the young girl could enjoy the desserts within her reach, and the last maid - a black-haired woman in her early thirties - was standing by the door ready to fulfill any of the wishes that Aedlier had.

"Although it still would take a while. Reestablishing the Banemor family isn't official as of yet. I kind of wanted to march into the Espine territory, slaughter everyone, and had Aspy turn them into corpse puppets for any and all information... but she told me it was a stupid idea and she's against a slaughter like that... do you have preferences to your hairstyle? We got a nice basis now."

Zoemi continued with an annoyed expression before looking up and making eye contact with Aedlier's reflection.

"I see... eh...? M-my hair? Wh-whatever's convenient to move in and doesn't hurt, please..."

The girl was taken aback by the sudden change of tone and topic so she stuttered but ended up braving embarrassment and responded.

"Young lady, what nail polish color do you prefer?"

The maid doing Aedlier's fingernails used the chance to ask before reaching out to the table and opening a stylish box and revealing several small bottles. The two maids by the girl's feet also looked up waiting for the girl's decision.

"I... my attribute is blood so I guess..."

"My lady, pardon the interruption but I would like to report that recently red nail polish started to be used by women in serious relationships as the status symbol. Many young noble ladies who have yet to accept an official suitor abstain from choosing it even if they are fire magicians."

Aedlier looked at the available palette and her gaze focused on the one bottle shining with crimson content but before she actually pointed it out directly the maid by the door bowed apologetically and shared the latest fad amongst the nobility.

"O-oh... I see... umm... What is popular amongst the girls my age...?"

"Hmm~"

Aedlier hesitated but ended up making the right call, it might have been a small thing but getting the opinion of someone knowledgable in the subject - especially someone who had a lot to lose if they were trying to trick the other party – was the optimal choice... and made Zoemi let out a content hum.

"Pearl, my lady."

"Then let's try it out."

The maid responded, bowing again, and Aedlier nodded benevolently adjusting the way she acted to match the proper master-servant dynamic.

Sometime later Zoemi, Aedlier, and the black-haired maid were walking down the royal castle's hallways and soon ended up in the dining room that was used for smaller, more exclusive meals.

"...Miss Galamroze, what do you think about snatching this maid from the royal palace? She appears to be capable enough to be your attendant..."

"...!"

The three of them were the only ones in the dining room and as the maid closed the door, Zoemi nudged the amaranth-haired girl and asked motioning at the black-haired woman with his chin.

"Wh-what are you talking about, lord Banemor...?! I... I don't have funds to employ anyone...!"

Aedlier flinched and clung stared at the black-haired young man in embarrassment and whispered to him while glancing at the unwaveringly calm maid who undoubtedly heard it all but did not show any reaction.

"Oh, that problem will be resolved when the Galamroze territory will be returned to you. Also, this nice lady and a few of her acquaintances tried to assassinate me in the past, so she owes me quite a big favor for sparing her~"

"...wait... what...?"

Zoemi shrugged his shoulders and revealed so nonchalantly that Aedlier got completely dumbfounded.

"Once again – the job we took was to kidnap you, one of my coworkers merely took things a bit too far, my lord."

"...?!"

The black-haired maid bowed her head politely and pointed, sprinkling the tiniest amount of context that honestly made the amaranth-haired girl that much more taken aback.

"You did quite a nice job settling yourself in this place. Still, how about changing your occupation once more and supporting my cousin?"

Zoemi – who in Aedlier's mind was speaking far too casually with someone that threatened his life in the past – smiled friendlily to the black-haired maid, putting his hand on the amaranth-haired girl's shoulder.

"...if that is my benefactor's wish..."

The woman hesitated and glanced between the pair before gently grabbing the sides of her skirt and curtsying politely.

"Great~ I will give you a bit of advice regarding the use of your attribute later so make sure to hand in your resignation before the end of the meal."

"...as you wish..."

"Lord Banemor...!"

Zoemi commanded and the black-haired maid agreed in a rather hollow voice... on the other hand, Aedlier's voice was rather heated as she called out, voicing her protest to the one-sided turn of action.

"I will not budge on you ruling your territory and will offer advice only if directly asked by you, I ask you to humor this worrywart cousin of yours on this one thing, young miss Galamroze."

"..."

The black-haired young man let go of the amaranth-haired girl's shoulder and asked while walking to the table and seating down while she was standing there observing the unmoving maid.

"What's your name?"

Aedlier glanced back at the peacefully sitting Zoemi who seemed to be interested in the movement of the clouds outside and then focused back on the maid and asked.

"Mandwaharn, my lady."

The black-haired woman responded immediately.

"Mandwaharn. I am Aedlier Galamroze, the head of the Galamroze family. I will consider hiring you thanks to lord Banemor's recommendation, but only for three months. If you do not win my trust in that time, I will send you away without any hesitation."

"...!"

Aedlier nodded and declared proudly, surprising the maid who did not expect such a turn of actions.

"Lord Banemor, thank you for worrying about me, but I will not budge on this. If you don't like my decision then do not force Mandwaharn to serve me."

The amaranth-haired girl turned to her cousin and announced with a stern expression, prepared to receive the reproachful look...

"...?"

But instead of that, she saw her cousin smile brightly, great content with her actions.

"Thank you for being considerate, my lady. I'll see to your meal now."

The maid bowed her head a lot more this time and backed out of the room leaving the pair behind.

"..."

Aedlier observed the door for a moment before braving through timidness and taking a seat by the table.

The spot she chose was one seat away from her cousin.

"...lord Banemor, was that a test...?"

The amarnath-haired girl asked after only a few seconds of silence.

"Not really~ All that it showed me is that you understand the basics. My impression of you have improved – so don't mess thing up in the future, young Miss Galamroze~"

"..."

Zoemi's face lighted up with a satisfied grin but Aedlier didn't seem happy about it.

"...lord Banemor... was your first impression of me a bad one...?"

The girl cleared out her throat and asked acting just a little bit upset.

"I wonder~?"

But if she wanted to be reassured, she was barking up the wrong tree as the black-haired young man snickered teasingly.

Aedlier frowned, getting a bit grumpy, but just as she thought up a good comeback and opened her mouth...

...the air filled with the smell of ozone and a girl with long platinum hair wearing a white one-piece dress materialized out of the thin air, sitting on the table with her feet on Zoemi's lap...

"?!?!"

"It's okay."

Aedlier freaked out, jumping out of her chair at full alert, already raising her hand to her mouth to bit through her skin and unleash the blood attribute, but Zoemi reached out his hand, stopping her from doing something unnecessary.

"..."

Miriette glanced over her shoulder, giving the alarmed amaranth-haired girl a rather grim look, and then turned back to Zoemi without addressing Aedlier directly.

"Rejected."

The platinum-haired girl said coldly, squinting her eyes at the black-haired young man.

"Miri, this is the daughter of my godfather. Young miss Aedlier Galamroze."

"Double rejected."

Zoemi snickered at Mieirette and introduced his cousin, but the platinum-haired girl doubled down on her opinion.

"Miri. She isn't an option."

The black-haired young man let out a defeated sigh and grabbed the ankle of the platinum-haired girl, lightly tugging on her leg so that she would stop speaking nonsense.

"Oh. If that's the case... Hello, it's nice to meet you, young lady Galamroze~ I hope you appreciate being in MY Zoemi's care~"

"...!"

Miriette behavior did a one-eighty and she turned to Aedlier, greeting her with a lovely smile and barely concealed threat that left the amaranth-haired girl speechless.