#334
For the honor of the French royal family
The morning after Kim Deok-Sung received an invitation for the New Year.
Bella called Han Seo-Jin, who was busy making detailed plans to carry out Kim Deok-Sung’s orders.
Even amidst her busy schedule, Han Seo-Jin had no choice but to come out.
They were already close friends, and above all, Bella was her benefactor at that moment.
If she hadn’t nudged her to go on a Christmas date despite her hesitation…
If Bella hadn’t gathered the Heroines to set up the Christmas date plan…
She wouldn’t have received recognition from that person on the Ferris wheel that day.
That’s why Han Seo-Jin could never ignore Bella.
At the servant accommodation, in the lounge.
Looking out at the falling snow, Han Seo-Jin sat across from Bella.
“What’s the matter? Bella?”
Han Seo-Jin asked, setting down her steaming black tea.
Bella smiled softly at her.
“Congratulations on wrapping up your Christmas date so well, Han Seo-Jin.”
Hearing Bella’s words, Han Seo-Jin flinched.
Her face turned slightly red.
“T-thank you.”
“Let’s cut to the chase. The reason I called you is because I’m curious about Master’s schedule for the New Year.”
Japan is soon entering the New Year holiday.
There’s a custom of families gathering to celebrate the Lunar New Year, but Kim Deok-Sung is Korean, not Japanese.
Plus, being an orphan without any family, he probably has no particular plans for the New Year.
That’s what Bella thought.
“Schedule…?”
Han Seo-Jin trailed off in her response.
“If Master doesn’t have any plans, then perhaps with our lady…”
Bella seized the chance to reveal her true intentions.
Bella was exclusively Olivia’s maid.
It was her duty to turn Olivia’s wishes into reality.
‘If my lady secures her standing, my screen time will also increase.’
Competition was already on the rise.
Though she was still leading, it was uncertain when someone would catch up.
She needed to get closer to Master through a date, widening the gap with the other Heroines.
In that sense, the New Year was the perfect timing.
Both Kim Deok-Sung and Olivia are foreigners, not Japanese.
Unlike Japanese Heroines who will spend the New Year with their families, they would both have free time.
Moreover, in Korea, the Lunar New Year is on the first day of the lunar calendar month.
Unlike Japan, the first day of the year is not a holiday in Korea.
Asking about the schedule was a mere formality, and Bella’s main point was the proposal for Olivia and Kim Deok-Sung to spend the New Year together.
Olivia’s proposal for spending the New Year’s holiday with Kim Deok-Sung was Bella’s main point.
“I see.”
But her plan was denied from the start.
“You say… what?”
Bella stammered slightly.
Though she always boasted an unwavering expression as a versatile maid, the recent answer was unexpected.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung plans to visit Kurosawa Yuji’s mansion for New Year’s after receiving an invitation from him.”
Han Seo-Jin said.
“….”
Bella closed her mouth.
An invitation from Kurosawa Yuji.
On the surface, that’s what it was.
But the competent maid Bella sensed the true intentions behind the invitation.
“Kurosawa Haru must have invited your master.”
Bella’s brown eyes sparkled.
“….”
Han Seo-Jin kept quiet.
She also didn’t believe that the invitation truly reflected Yuji’s own will.
However, officially it was Yuji’s invitation, not Haru’s.
Thus, even though she considered herself a benefactor, as a mere shadow of that person, Han Seo-Jin couldn’t freely share personal opinions about such matters with Bella, an outsider.
So, she neither denied nor confirmed Bella’s speculation.
“It’s unexpected to see Miss Kurosawa taking action… but that’s alright. Thank you for your response.”
Bella said as she elegantly sipped her tea.
Though Haru’s interference was unexpected, it didn’t matter.
It’s only when one is unaware of a variable that it becomes frightening; once known, it’s hardly scary.
“Thank you for your precious time, Han Seo-Jin. Then, I shall take my leave. Enjoy your time.”
Bella stood up.
Now that she was aware of Haru’s ploy, it was time for them to respond.
*
The Shuo Hero Academy during winter break was empty.
Most of the students had gone home, likely due to the New Year holidays.
They returned to celebrate the biggest holiday in Japan, the Lunar New Year, with their families.
If it weren’t for Ichiro inviting Yuji to Shinozaki Mansion in the original Volume 16, he would have spent the New Year at Kurosawa Mansion with his younger sister Haru.
Thus, the dormitories were completely vacant.
The only students remaining during the break were foreigners like me and Olivia or orphans without families.
Thanks to that, I was able to have a rare moment of rest.
Of course, it wasn’t completely relaxing; I was still getting reports from Han Seo-Jin while drafting strategies for the ski trip, but even that was enough.
Once the ski trip started, there wouldn’t be any time for relaxation.
I lay sprawled on my bed and thought.
“I really didn’t want to go to Korea…”
Just thinking about summer break still sends shivers down my spine.
The welcome party at the Blue House, citizens waving the Taegeukgi at Gwanghwamun Plaza, and the damn national pride parade give me chills.
So, I vowed never to go to Korea during winter break.
But here I was, having no choice but to go.
The main antagonist Diego Morales.
The only place where I could lure him out while simultaneously setting a trap to catch him was Korea.
At least, I could consider myself lucky that the vlogs from my Christmas date were all scrapped by Han Seo-Jin for security reasons due to the Undertaker’s appearance and not uploaded to the internet.
If that vlog had been posted, imagining the backlash from national pride would be terrifying.
If it goes up, just imagining the national pride reaction that would follow is terrifying.
[Partner, why? Is your homeland a burden?]
The Black Prince speaks in my head.
Burden…
Korean national pride had reached the level of madness, not just a burden.
On top of that, I’m a hero who has awakened to a mental development and reached EX rank.
A tsunami of national pride, different from summer, might engulf me.
Still, if I can catch the Grand Elder, I have to endure this much.
The Messiah probably hasn’t fully healed from the wounds inflicted by the Swordmaster yet.
In the original volume 16, during the attack on the Shinozaki Mansion, the Messiah pushed himself to the limit to steal the Black Stone, and the use of a replica was actually for minimizing damage.
Even so, the setting book noted that the Messiah’s injuries had worsened. The problem would be healing that cleanly later with the Philosopher’s Stone he completed.
The information about the Black Stone being disposed of is manipulated; I had previously requested that Ichiro dispose of it.
Given the disposal info of the Black Stone, the Messiah would have switched to Plan B, unlike in the original.
I don’t know the details of Plan B, but considering the extreme efficiency of the Messiah’s personality, it is clearly less efficient than Plan A.
If one of the goals of the Philosopher’s Stone, the final product of Plan A, is to heal the Messiah’s injuries, the timing for the Messiah’s complete healing will surely be the same as or slightly slower than in the original, no matter the variables.
Now that the Messiah has received the info that the Black Stone has been disposed of, he will never come out.
So, in the timeline of the original’s volume 16.5, where the skiing trip episode is included, the Messiah cannot move.
Now is the opportunity to take down the Grand Elder.
There is no next time.
Just then, I thought that.
Bang, bang.
A rough knocking sounds like the dormitory door will break.
Who is it?
The number of cadets left in the dormitory can be counted on one hand.
There’s only one cadet who would come looking for me.
“Olivia?”
Olivia came looking for me.
It’s rare for her, with her tsundere personality and pride as a French princess, to come to me first.
But why suddenly?
[Partner. Are you going to leave my lovely little sister standing in the dormitory hallway?]
Even if it wasn’t for the Black Prince’s words, I had no intention of rebuffing Olivia.
I got up, tidied my clothes, and opened the door.
“Phew. You. G-Good afternoon!”
Olivia awkwardly says with a face blushing pink.
“Uh, yeah…”
I decided not to correct her about it being afternoon instead of morning.
Tap.
As she stepped into the room and frowned at the messy space, she said,
“What on earth is this room? It looks like a pigsty. You! Honestly, without me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, your maid, it gets messy in no time. Hmph! Move over!”
With that, Olivia started organizing the scattered clothes and clutter in the room.
A pigsty, huh.
That’s exactly what my mom used to say when seeing my room before my possession.
Still, I wasn’t that messy of a person.
But at this point, I figured bringing that up wouldn’t get me anywhere.
Like when my mom nagged me.
I kept my mouth shut.
After a brief moment, I was able to see my room looking neat for the first time in a while.
I finally got to see my freshly cleaned room after a long time.
“Phew. Nice! It looks more like a place where people live now!”
Olivia crossed her arms and said while looking around the room.
“Thanks.”
I mean, nagging is nagging, but gratitude is gratitude.
“Hmph. I was just fulfilling my duties as your exclusive maid!”
When I thanked her, Olivia replied with her arms still crossed.
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red.
Olivia naturally sat at the table on the balcony like it was her own home.
Tap.
With a snap of her fingers, a beautiful brown bob-cut girl in a maid outfit, Bella, emerged from Olivia’s shadow.
Whoa, what the heck?!
“Good to see you again, Master’s Master.”
Bella greeted me politely and began to set out a tea set and snacks on the table from her own arms.
Zoom.
In an instant, the snacks were arranged, and a steaming cup of black tea was placed in front of me.
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass of the balcony, the snowy scenery outside was visible.
“So… Olivia. Why did you come to see me?”
I asked while holding the warm teacup.
Upon hearing my question, Olivia’s face flushed as she shouted.
“W-What do you mean why?! I am your exclusive maid! I have the duty to be by your side and assist you at all times! And yet, you have never once come looking for me…”
I was busy planning a ski trip, okay?
“You could just come and find me.”
“I am the eldest daughter of the noble Bonaparte family and a French princess! Even for you, I cannot just go looking for you! So, you, you must call for me! How could I possibly…?”
Olivia blushed and began to stutter.
She kept making excuses, but really, she was just embarrassed to come see me first.
That tsundere personality is still the same, huh?
If this continues, it’ll take half the day just to get to the main point because of her tsundere attitude.
“Anyway, you must have come to see me for a reason.”
I’m used to putting up with her tsundere nature, but still, it’s better if we get to the point quickly.
Upon hearing my words, Olivia’s earlobes turned pink.
She looked down, fidgeting with the table, and said.
“…I found out that you were invited to the Kurosawa’s home for the year-end and New Year holidays.”
“And?”
Upon hearing that, Olivia bit her lip.
“Ughhh…”
She groaned and lifted her head.
With a bright red face, Olivia placed her hands dramatically on her chest and shouted.
“Wh-What do you mean ‘so what’?! You, without your exclusive maid’s company, are just going to waltz into someone else’s unfamiliar home?! Such reckless behavior is absolutely intolerable for me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, in the name of the honor of the French royal family!”
Olivia yelled in an excited voice.
Is it really okay to throw around the honor of the French royal family for something like this?
“S-So! I shall accompany you to this year-end and New Year’s invitation! As your exclusive maid!”
Olivia shouted while looking at me with her trembling blue eyes.
Finally, we were getting to the main point.
But seriously, can we not keep bringing up the exclusive maid thing?
