Book 2: Chapter 22 (1/2)

It was almost 3pm when I returned to the Earl’s mansion. The Earl should be back after sunset… but considering what happened yesterday, it wouldn’t be strange if he was later than usual. Let’s inform the chief butler that I want to meet him – was what I was thinking, but–

「You have returned.」

「Eh?」

The Earl was standing in the entrance hall.

「Reiji!」

「My lady– Oof…」

The young lady rushed and embraced me, causing me to stumble a step back, but I had confidence in my spring-like, flexible upper body, so I was able to avoid falling.

「W-What is the matter?」

「You said you’d return early! But look at the time…」

「Ah–」

Did I make her worry? No, the young lady was already worried from the start… and yet, I was having a leisurely lunch.

(Man, what am I doing…)

The thoughts about the Earl filled my head, causing me to forget about the young lady.

「…I am sorry, my lady. I’ll be with you for the rest of the day until it’s time to go to bed.」

「Really?」

「Of course.」

So, please stop hugging me… The chief butler is glaring at me with a furious devil-like expression, and the chief maid has a horse whip– Wait a minute, where’d she get that from!?

「Reiji-san.」the Earl called me, his eyes cold like permafrost!

「Calm down, Earl, calm down…」

「I know. I am calm. I am calmly thinking about how to lecture an escort who goes loitering outside even though there was such a big incident last night.」

Inescapable lecture course!

「M-More importantly, who is that gentleman?」

A tall and thin man stood next to the Earl. More so than a noble, he looked to be a civil official. He wore a fine brown coat. However, the color of his skin was bluish black, and his silver hair stood on end. He wore spectacles over his cat-like golden eyes. Doesn’t seem to be of the human race.

「Wow! I saw an interesting thing today. Your Highness Earl Sillys also acts like a normal parent.」

「…2nd Secretary Specular, you shouldn’t make fun of nobles like that.」

「I am sorry if I offended you.」

Looking at him talking to the Earl in a relaxed manner, does that mean a secretary is a high-ranking person?

「Eva, Reiji-san, to my room.」the Earl said.

Five people gathered in the Earl’s office, where the usual “10 days once” reporting session takes place: I, the young lady, the Earl, Specular-san, and the chief butler. Since the chief butler is standing at the doorway of the room, is he just going to be “watching over”?

(Just who is this person?)

When I was looking at Specular-san, he was also looking at me.

「Nice to meet you, Reiji-san. My name is Specular, a secretary at the capital internal affairs department.」

「Nice to meet you. I am Reiji, the escort of Lady Eva.」

「Hmm…」

「?」

At that time, it felt like Specular-san’s eyes were shining. Feels like… he’s trying to read me.

「…Earl, is Reiji-san’s escorting style the same as usual today?」

「Yes.」

「I see. Here it is.」

What is that?

Specular-san wrote down something on a piece of paper and handed it to the Earl. When the Earl took a look at it, his beautiful eyebrows furrowed, and he gave a slight nod.