Chapter 728: Extra Chapter ~ ~ Lunamarias Episode ~ ~ ③ (2/2)

[Nice, Sieg!]

[Eeehhhh!? What a cruel betrayal this is. You're even ganging up on the helpless me…… Couldn't you call this bullying already?]

[……Putting aside you stupid commentaries, are you ready, Luna?]

[……Forgi———– Gyaaaaaahhhhh!?]

Before they knew it, she, Lunamaria…… had become an irreplaceable presence for both Lilianne and Sieglinde.

She, who always tries to be an equal friend to the both of them, was quite dazzling…… and a very warm person for the both of them.

In a room in the royal castle, Lunamaria was bowing to Illness, a maid rumored to be the most skilled in the castle.

[……Teaching you huuuuuh. I don't really miiiiiiiind, but are you going to be a maaaaaaaid?]

[Yes, I intend to. I was ”stripped of my knighthood after all”……]

[I heard thaaaaat you ”took the blaaaaaame” so that My Lady and Siegliiiiiinde won't be stripped of their knighthood thouuuuuuugh?]

[What? I wonder what you're talking about? I just summarized the information objectively and reported the most obvious fact that I was the biggest factor for not noticing that incident.]

[The way you said iiiiiit makes it easy for people to misunderstaaaaaand.]

[Those two were being overwhelmed with lots of things already…… so there's no need for them to carry unnecessary burdens like taking responsibility. It's not like I wanted to be a knight in the first place, nor did I feel that proud being one.]

What they were talking about was the recent incident where the Second Division had set up camp at the site of a mass monster outbreak.

The incident, in which the Deputy Division Commander was seriously injured, was understood by those knowledgeable to have been a set-up.

But be that as it may, someone needed to formally take responsibility for causing an incident that could have annihilated an entire division with one wrong move.

In response, Lunamaria directly spoke to the king, and fortunately, being that there were no deaths…… and it was settled in the form of ”Lunamaria's withdrawal from the Knight Order”.

Of course, this was kept a secret from Lilianne and Sieglinde, but Ryze had also encouraged Lilianne to quit the Knight Order and become a Duchess instead. This publicly looked like a punishment for Lilianne, but it was actually to protect her from the people who had set them up.

However, since Lunamaria took the actual responsibility for this incident, the government provided various assistance to Lilianne in setting up her Duchy.

Perhaps, Lilianne may have realized that Lunamaria had taken responsibility because of the lightness of her punishment. However, she didn't have the time to think about it now.

[And soooo, becoming a maid, riiiiiiight? You do knoooooow that My Lady would also need people in charge of the mansion's security, riiiiiiight?]

[……Lili is very unstable right now. Sieg also feels quite responsible, but more than that, that girl blames herself. That's why, she needs someone to stand by her side and support her.]

[Why are you going that faaaaaar?]

[Well, that's because I want to.]

[……I understaaaaaand. If you're fine with meeeeee, I will teach you what I caaaaaan.]

[Thank you very much!]

Hearing that she agreed to teach her the ropes of being a maid, Lunamaria deeply bowed to Illness. She then went to Lilianne's room, deciding to discuss with her the details later.

In the luxurious room that was typical of a princess, she saw Lilianne with her head down, seemingly packing her things.

[……Lili, what are you doing? Your hands ain't moving, you know?]

[……Luna…… What am I supposed to do? All of it was my fault…… If only I had been more firm with them…… Sieg wouldn't have……]

Hearing Lilianne's words as she spoke with her head down, Lunamaria slightly smiled…… and resolutely slapped her on her cheek.

(T/N: cheek on her face.)

[Ouch! Wait, even though you aren't using Body Strengthening Magic, why the heck am I the one who got hurt……]

[……Luna?]

[Erhem…… How long are you going to dwell on the past, idiot Lili!!!]

[ ! ? ]

[Alright, listen here, okay? Sieg is not dead, she's alive! Stop thinking about what you should have done, ”just think about how to heal Sieg's wounds”! You can pretend to be the tragic heroine all you want, but that won't change anything!]

Hearing Lunamaria's yell, Lilianne became astounded…… and grasping Lilianne's shoulders tightly, Lunamaria continued.

[There must be a way out there. A way to cure Sieg…… It's alright, I'll be there with you. With the two…… No, with the three of us working together, we should be able to find it.]

[……Are you going to follow me? Luna should still be in the Knight Order…… and you also have your mother……]

[I quit the Knight Order, not like I'm that obsessed with being in that group…… As for Mom, well…… I'll be expecting a salary, okay? My~~ Lady~~?]

[………………..]

When Lilianne saw Lunamaria's bold smile…… Lilia relaxed and smiled as well.

[Fu… fufu…… I guess that depends on your work, don't you think?]

[Whoa, now you said it. Well, you better be ready. There will come a day where you will pull my leg and scream ”I can't do this without you, Luna!”]

[Ahaha…… I'm looking forward to it then, Luna.]

[Yes…… Now then, let's start packing. We don't have much time, do we?]

As if to change the subject, Lunamaria stood up and started setting up the luggage in the room…… Looking at her back, Lilianne quietly muttered.

[……I'm really glad that Luna is here. Though I guess it's too late to say it now huh. Especially at a time like this….. I can't do this without you.]

[……Unnn? Did you say something?]

[No, I didn't say anything……]

[Ahh, look here! Lili, it's one of those toys back then! How nostalgic. I used to have one of these, you know? Let's play a bit……]

[Didn't you say we didn't have much time?]

[Oops, completely forgot about that. Well~~ What a blunder. Oya, this is!?]

When she saw Lunamaria stopping to talk to her when she found something interesting while cleaning up, Lilianne smiled, looking truly happy.

[……Always pretending to be stupid like that…… What a troublesome best friend, I have.]

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [……Now that's good seriousness. That aside, pretending to be stupid…… Was that also the reason why you highly appreciate Lunamaria?]

? ? ? : [Yes, as I said before to Kaito-san, I like those who play the role of the fools. I feel closer to them after all.]