L.E.M. C.18: Bon Voyage!

A Maiden’s Instincts

“Ah, Nana-san! Thank you very much!”

Sticky sticky Nanaki.

“I have heard about it yesterday from Zean-sama. Thank you for helping my beloved!”

Nanaki became sticky after getting covered by the sweaty Shiel-sama. Of course dodging it was possible, but if Nanaki had not caught the already exhausted Shiel-sama, she would have headbutted the earth. Humans other than Nanaki must not headbutt the earth. At worst, they may die.
The earth may headbutt you back
Nanaki was finally released from Shiel-sama who had been overcome with emotion thirty seconds later. If it was not for Nanaki’s lung capacity, there would have been a chance of suffocation. A shower is necessary too. Right now Nanaki has definitely become something outrageous.

To Nanaki’s sharp nose, the smell is also quite hard to deal with. Her faint perfume is already at death’s door. In fact it has mixed with the vicious smell of sweat and has become a chimera smell. Nanaki will say it honestly. Right now, Nanaki is feeling faint. The sense of smell that was useful in the wild is inconvenient in many ways in civilised life.

“My apologies Shiel-sama. I do not really understand the situation.”
“Like I said, I heard everything! About the duel with earl Arkahn.”

I see, that incident.

But that is a misunderstanding. Nanaki has not a single memory of ever telling master he should do this or he should do that. It has become this path all because master had possessed pride and embraced his courage in order to make that one step. Which means the one that should be praised is not Nanaki but my master.

But explaining that to the Shiel-sama overcome with emotions seems extremely difficult. Since she is still calling Nanaki Nana-san it seems Nanaki’s true identity has not been spoken off. Now then, what should Nanaki do?

“How about we continue this after returning to the estate Shiel. If you are too late, your father would be worried.”
“Ah, that’s not good. I unintentionally got overcame with emotion……I’m sorry, Nana-san.”

Good master, Nanaki is grateful.

“No, please do not mind, Shiel-sama.”

Nanaki likes Shiel-sama’s beautiful heart. That is why I want the best smile I can make right now to reach her. For reference, it has to be Mother. That beautiful and tolerant smile. Fortunately, Nanaki’s appearance is identical to Mother’s. Now, a miraculous expression. Reminiscent nanakismile. Beloved and respected Mother, it’s Nanaki.

“Seeing Nanaki-san’s cute smile is healing. I think it is a nice smile.”
“……thank you very much.”

It seems Nanaki has not reached Mother’s greatness yet. Please scold this incompetent daughter, Mother.

“Then let us go Zean-sama, Nana-san.”

As Shiel-sama turned around, Nanaki looked at master. When Nanaki met his gaze, he nodded quietly. Understood, my master.

“My apologies Shiel-sama. The truth is that I have been tasked to do something by master again today.”
“Today too? ……oh? Wait, Nana-san. Did you not return to the estate faster than us yesterday?”

Oops, this is a problem.

Thanks to master’s gentlemanly tact, the curtains of the horse carriage was closed yesterday. That’s why she doesn’t know about Nanaki struggling the with carriage’s weight problem. But Shiel-sama caught on to that point. Is there a good excuse?

“It’s simple Shiel. It’s the maid that defeated the knight hired by Arkahn in a duel. She can use magic.”
“Ah, come to think of it, that’s right.”

That’s true. Why did Nanaki not realise it.

Nanaki is a shameful maid that requires my master to follow-up. Nanaki will dedicate myself. In order to proof that Nanaki is a special human. Nanaki opened the door of the carriage and stood by as Nanaki vowed in Nanaki’s heart. After waiting for the two of them to board, Nanaki quietly closed it. Now then, Nanaki will be in your care today as well, uncle.

The driver uncle gave me a thumbs up over his shoulder. There is already no need for words between Nanaki and uncle who have overcome predicament together. War comrades are great, Mother.

intermission

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intermission

“Please do not be careless.”
“I will bear that in mind.”

It has become Nanaki’s role to serve the tea due to Shiel-sama’s request. Well the one who prepared the tea was head butler Ridolf. Since it is just before dinner, there was only a small number of tea cakes, it might not be enough for Shiel-sama. In order to avoid embarrassment, Nanaki shall offer seconds herself.

Currently, speed is not necessary. Slowly and elegantly carry it to the courtyard. The figure of the two of them talking under the madder sky is truly that of aristocrats. Just that, the size of one side might be a little, no, very strange.

“I have brought the tea.”
“Ah, thank you very much Nana-san.”

This is Nanaki’s job so there is no need for thanks Shiel-sama. But Nanaki shall accept your feelings. Nanaki really think she really is a good person.

“Come, Nana-san have a seat as well.”
“No, that would be.”

In what world is there a servant that joins in and sits down at the place where the master and the fiancee are talking. Nanaki extremely thankful for her good will, but Nanaki shall restrain myself. Even if master gave Nanaki permission, Nanaki shall not sit down in that chair. My apologies, Shiel-sama.

“It’s an order, sit, Nana.”

It was not permission but an order that came. Sit down, silently.

Nanaki must not shame master by disobeying this order. Nanaki has judged that Nanaki should help master save face even if that means Nanaki getting the stigma of a shameless maid. Servants must not disobey the master’s orders.

For a while the two of them casually chatted. Nanaki concentrated only on becoming an ornament. Nanaki is stillless itself. Respond to the topics that turned this way occasionally with harmless remarks. It might be a little cold, but being in the middle of the conversation between fiancees in the first place is an abnormality.

Stay quiet.

“Nevertheless, where did you meet such a wonderful servant? Zean-sama.”
“She came flying out of an alley. I almost died.”
“Well, Zean-sama, what a nice joke.”

Shiel-sama laughed. Nanaki could not smile. But master was smiling. Nanaki has to admire that broad-mindedness.

“Oh yeah, Nana-san.”
“Yes?”

It seems that the topic of Nanaki is still continuing. It is slightly uncomfortable, but Nanaki must fulfill Nanaki’s duty as a maid. It is too early to whine. Say what you will.

“If Nana-san is fine with it, would you like to become friends?”
“————————That is extremely kind of you……but those words are too much for a servant like me.”
“Th, that’s true. Even though Nana-san has her position to consider……my apologies, that was careless.”
“No, that makes me happy. Thank you very much, Shiel-sama.”

Nanaki has not said anything wrong, I think. But for some reason, hearing Shiel-sama’s proposal made Nanaki have a gnawing feeling in Nanaki’s heart. Shiel-sama is an extremely nice person. To be offered to be a friend of such a person should have made Nanaki happy. But something held me back. No, this is caution? Against what?

Could it be an illness? But Nanaki has confidence in Nanaki’s health. Nanaki has never been sick as far as Nanaki can remember. Even when there was a nasty illness spreading around the capital, only Nanaki was fine. This Nanaki that has never even visited a doctor is sick?

“Zean-sama, the dinner preparations are done.”
“Ah, got it. Sorry Shiel, go on ahead. I have to talk to Nana about the earlier task.”
“Understood. Then I shall go on ahead.”

Would it be better to see a doctor? No matter if Nanaki is a special human, Nanaki is not perfect. If it were a nasty illness, it might not be something that can be recovered from. Let’s apply for leave to master before long. Nanaki also needs to look up the nearby hospitals.

“Nanaki.”
“————Ah, yes. Is anything the matter?”
“That’s my line. If it’s about that, then you don’t need to mind. That is the natural answer for a servant.”

Yeah, at that time Nanaki should not have been mistaken. Despite that why does Nanaki have this gnawing feeling.

“What does master think of Shiel-sama?”

When Nanaki realised it, Nanaki’s  mouth had moved.

“My fiancee and a person with a beautiful heart.”

Nanaki thinks that too. Why did Nanaki ask this kind of thing. There is something wrong with Nanaki right now. Friend, what is wrong with Nanaki? Friend said nothing and quietly shook his head.

“But even I have preferences in terms of appearance.”
“You must not say that, master.”
“Yeah, I’ll reflect.”

Master smiled tenderly. Hooked by that kind smile, Nanaki smiled too.

“Now, if we don’t hurry Ridolf will scold us.”
“Yes……hm?”
“What’s wrong?”
“……No, it is nothing.”
“Is that so?”

At some point the illness was healed.

the end

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Author’s note: Chapter one -end-

Not-author’s note: Bon Voyage! Za ship has sailed!

(Disclaimer: choice of Titanic was entirely coincidental and has no deeper meaning whatsoever.)

Reformatted (11/8/2018): Couldn’t past me have chose a less flashy picture.

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