111 Asserting Dominance

While being pinned against the shelves by Lerish's head maid Filia, she whispered something which rang painfully inside my ear.

"No matter how much you do, you will never be enough for Milady."

To be honest, she was right, for I myself thinks the same way too. I'm still young, I'm not that bright nor handsome, and I can only barely provide the girls' needs with my earnings as an adventurer.

There are still so many things I lack and yet—

"You...seem to underestimate me too much, Miss Head Maid."

"W-Wait, what are you—"

Just as when she thought she's in control of me, I easily freed myself from her grasp and turned the situation around, with me the one who's pinning her against the shelves instead.

Up close, I can see that Filia is a cute girl even when she's flustered; it's such a shame however that her personality is also somewhat rough around the edges.

Caught off guard by my sudden counterattack, she tried to escape, but—

"Stop struggling. No one will hear your screams in these parts of the library thanks to the sound dampening magic placed on the walls. Trust me, I tried many times already."

With all noises louder than a normal conversation being filtered out by the magic walls, the ones managing the library doesn't have to wander around and hush everyone with their iconic 'Quiet!' line everytime. As a consequence, however, the library has unintentionally became a favorite spot for lovers looking for a place where they could have some action without care of being caught or heard.

Horrified, Filia spoke: "My family will kill you if you dare lay a hand on me."

"Relax, I'm not planning to do something like that to you. I just want you to listen to me, that's all."

I don't know why I had to do this. I'm not obliged to explain things to her in the first place, but my pride just couldn't let all of this slide. Since I already started this, I might as well go with the flow then.

Staring at me with extreme hostility, she said, "Y-You're the worst..."

"Yeah. And for those who are important to me, I can go even lower than this."

"Hweeh—?!"

Okay, maybe those aren't the right words to be used in this situation. Looking at her face, it looks like she's about to cry anytime, as she desperately kept on struggling, even going as far as to bite my arm.

Unlike the fierce lady I met at the villa, this girl in front of me seemed like a small and weak animal.

Take a deep breath Ren, and then...

"I...just want to make her happy."

"Huh...?!"

"No, that's not it—I will make her happy," I said as I matched her fierce gaze. "Say what you want, young lady, but I can't go back on the promise I made to her anymore. Even if I have my shortcomings, even if people scorn me, even if the future is uncertain—I will definitely help her live her life to the fullest—not because she's the Princess of Narashel, but because she's Lerish!"

It's...been only a short time since I met her, but she's already had a share in my life that I can't just abandon her. Even if she finds a better man for this role someday, I'd still stay right behind her.

"That's why—allow me to continue being her guardian!"

Though unwilling to accept the words I've said, Filia seem to have calmed down after hearing my intentions towards her master. I slowly stepped away from her with my hands raised up, and after I retreated she quickly regained her composure.

"Good grief. To think that Milady has befriended a lunatic trash of a man like you...just how pure-hearted she is, I wonder?"

"Just as how cold your heart is, I believe."

"A-Are you really trying to pick a fight with me?!"

Well, it seems like she can recover quickly during situations like this, so I don't need to worry that much. I apologized to her for what I did, and she only said that she'll let it slide for now.

"Just this time, I'll spare your sorry soul from the death penalty."

"R-Really?"

"D-Don't misunderstand that, alright?! I just don't want Milady to be tremendously sad if something bad were to happen to her guest, that's why I'm letting you live for now! Also...um..."

"Hm?"

Filia's fierce gaze mellowed as she said:

"I just want to say, uh...thank you, for saving Milady on that day."

"Ha...?"

"Ever since that bastard came into her life, Milady went through all sorts of despair trying to escape from him, even going as far as trying to commit suicide. It hurts that I, as her servant, couldn't do anything to help her, but you—you came to her aid despite all the circumstances—and for that I am extremely grateful. If not for you, I wouldn't be able to see Milady smile again," she said as she bowed her head at me.

Woah, wait—does this mean...

"A-Ahem! Nevertheless, this and that are different things! Just because you're Milady's savior it doesn't mean that I'll accept you into our lives! You're just a commoner, you better remember that!"

Crossing her arms together and looking away from me, all while letting out a short 'Hmph!', this lady really acts more of a master than her Milady herself, that I'm seeing to think of their roles are switched from birth.

Also, I don't know things much, but could this girl be what they call as 'tsundere'? I think it's a tsundere act if I ever see one.

"Ugh?!" Placing her hand on her forehead, Filia stopped for a moment and said, "I forgot that Milady has asked me to do something!"

Oh no, why are you wasting time, Miss Head Maid? Could it be that the reason why you're here is to escape from work?

"Do you need help on that?"

"What? No, no thanks! I don't need help, especially if it comes from you."

She then excused herself as she headed back to her work. Before she left, however, she took a short moment to look back at me, then started running away frantically, with her hands on her cheeks. I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but eh.

"Now that the pest is finally gone, maybe I should continue with what I'm doing," I said to myself.

-----

When I went back to the villa, it was already almost sunset. Carrying a couple books on two large boxes, I carefully traversed the hallway leading to the room assigned to us.

"In the end...I decided to take everything on the cards. How are we going to read all of these overnight?"

Whenever a servant of Lerish comes, they always ask me if I needed help but I declined all of their offers, telling that the boxes aren't that heavy in the first place.

"Hmm...if I remember correctly, our room is on the left side of the villa. I'll take a turn from here, and then...—"

"Uwah?!"

At that moment, I bumped into someone upon making a turn on the corner, causing one of the boxes to fall and its contents scatter around.

"""Milady! Are you alright?!""" a group of maids surrounded the person I bumped into, which turned out to be Lerish.

Sitting in the floor, she replied: "I am fine, everyone. Please do not worry about me."

"I-I'm sorry, Lerish. I didn't see you coming with all these boxes blocking my vision."

"I forgive you, but next time you should be more careful, alright?" she smiled at me.

Her servants tried to help her stand up, but instead she told them to leave us for a moment.

"You should've let them help you. After all, it's their job to do that."

"Yes. However I thought that I will let you do it, as punishment for bumping into me."

Punishment, huh? This girl could be really sassy at times.

"What are you waiting for, Ren Mortel? Would you help this poor lady stand up?"

"Fine, fine. Hold onto my hand real quick."

Once that she's back on her two feet again, both of us started picking up the books scattered on the ground. I grimaced each time I take a closer look at each book, for I couldn't believe that books this rare and old are just being treated this way by me.

"Be careful when handling these books, Ren. You might be fined if you made even a small crease in any of these pages."

"F-Fined?!"

"Nn. There was even a time during the reign of my grandfather when a man was put to death after the court found out that he stole a book from the library and burned it. It was a rather petty offense, but it just shows how much the kingdom values the preservation of knowledge."

When she said that, I hurriedly picked up all the books on my own and placed them back in the box, making sure that the books haven't suffered any damage. I can't risk paying fines for such a stupid thing, much less be executed for it!

"O-Okay! No damage, as you can see. I won't be fined, right...?"

Seeing my stupid reaction, Lerish couldn't help but to laugh as she said:

"I have never met someone in my life before that is more concerned about paying fines than losing his own life. You really are a strange person, Ren."

Carrying a box each, the two of us then headed towards our room. For some reason the door wouldn't budge when I tried turning the knob, possibly because it's locked from the inside.

Knocking on the door, I spoke, "Aoi, what's going on there? Why is the door locked?"

"Ren, I have the master key. Let me open it instead."

After Lerish unlocked the door with the villa's master key, I bolted into the room to see what's going on.

"Aoi! Is something wrong?! Why did you locked the door..."

The next moment, our worries turned to shock when we finally saw with our eyes what's happening.

"Mmmhh! Mmmmmnngghhhh!!!"

"A-Aoi...what in the world did you—"

"...Ah big brother, you're finally here!" Aoi greeted me happily. "Look, I've finally dealt with this shitty maid! Now you don't have to worry about this maid saying bad things against you!"

"O-Oh my!" Lerish gasped in horror. "Filia!!!"

Unknown to us, Aoi managed to restrain Filia and lock her inside the room while we're away. Baiting Filia into entering the room with the pretense of needing something, she placed a weak curse on the doorstep that caused the victim to instantly lose all motor control. While Filia's down, Aoi then dragged her into the room, locked the door, and began tying the maid's body with whatever she could find inside the room. As an additional measure, she also threatened to disembowel her with the small knife she found inside Filia's uniform if she ever tries to scream for help. Unable to move and speak until now, she has no way to release the fear in her body, causing her to unconsciously wet herself upon seeing us enter the room.

Cutting the ropes and the gag with a knife, Lerish gently said to her, "Filia...do not be afraid. I am here; you are in good hands now..."

"M-Milady...please look away!!! I don't want you to see my unsightly appearance...!"

"...Hmph! That's nothing compared to what I have in plans for you!" Aoi said in dismay.

"Would you stop already? You've went too far, Aoi!"

I can't just watch things go on like this. I have to fix what my idiot sister did to this lady.

"Step aside, Lerish. I'll try something."

Hearing that, Lerish got confused at first, but she quickly realized what I mean as she replied, "Yes. I will leave it to you, Ren."

"D-Don't come near me, you maniac!!!" still lying weak on the ground, Filia's tears started to swell again.

More than being threatened by a little girl, being seen by a man in her dirtied uniform has dealt a huge blow to her. As she struggled to crawl away from me, I grabbed her and right in front of her eyes, activated the [Fool] Arcana in my left hand.

"W-What are you doing..."

"Don't move. I can't clean your uniform if you keep on squirming wildly."

Staring at my glowing left hand, she remarked: "You must be feeling very happy right now, seeing a girl in a helpless position while covered in her own pee."

"Don't lump me together with those guys who are into these kind of things," I retorted. "I'm just a normal person with normal interests in life, so I don't really see the appeal of it."

Seriously, I have never ever foreseen myself using my power to absorb other person's body liquids, especially that of a lady. Even though I'm trying not to touch the dirtied surfaces directly, the fact that the liquid magically goes into my hand makes me feel like I'm being punished for the things I never did.

"Alright, it's all good now," I said a few moments later, just after I washed my hands. "Can you stand up?"

"Huh? Nn."

And strangely, she quickly recovered despite experiencing two separate traumatic events in a span of few hours. Maybe, her nerves of pure titanium are the reason why she's the head maid of this place.

Rushing to her side, Lerish said, "Filia, are you alright now? Forgive me for not realizing the situation sooner..."

"I-I-It's not your fault, Milady! You don't need to apologize to me."

Yeah, and we already know the one who started it all.

"...N-No good! I must escape before they get their hands on me—"

"Don't you dare get out of this room, Aoi!!!"

"...Eeekkk—?!!"

While we're focusing on Filia, Aoi tried to sneak out of the room and escape. I caught her just in time, and grabbed her by her clothes so that she can't go away.

"... B-Big b-brother..." Trembling with fear, Aoi pleaded, "I-I'm just joking, big brother! I'm just trying to teach her a lesson! T-That's why...um...please let me go..."

"Oh, really?" I raised my eyebrows at her words. "Now that you said it, I feel like I'm in a mood to also teach you a lesson."

"...Eh? N-No, wait! B-Big brother—N-NNNYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!!!!"

As punishment, I made her kneel on the ground strewn with beans while holding a book on each hand. I expected her to endure it for a long time since she's the Death Goddess, but...

"...UWAAAAHHHH!!! I'M SORRY—I'M SOOOORRRRRRYYYYY!!! I PROMISE I WON'T DO IT AGAIN, BIG BROOOOOTHEEEERRRRRRR!!!!!"

Meanwhile, all the other servants in the villa were startled by a short yet high-pitched scream. They became worried for a moment, but decided to ignore it and continue on their work.

-----

I spent the rest of my day alone inside the villa's study room, free from anyone that might disturb me.

It's already late at night, but I'm still not done reading my share of materials about the tower. We're planning to begin our search tomorrow, that's why we only have little time to research.

"Ugh, it's been a long while since the last time I've researched on something...maybe that's the reason why my head feels like it's about to burst..."

While desperately trying to stay awake, I noticed that the door slowly opened, and I saw Filia coming in with a a tray on her hand, containing a cup of tea and some snacks.

"Eh? But I didn't asked for anything..."

"Just accept it," she said. "It was my own idea after all, so take it without question."

Reluctantly I accepted her kindness and took a sip of the tea she made. As always, rich people's tea really is wonderful.

Meanwhile, Filia seated herself on a chair in front of me, watching me continue with my research. She just stayed there, staring at me with a serious look on her face.

"You see...I feel uncomfortable being watched by other people when I'm busy. Is there anything you need from me?"

"Um, about what happened earlier..."

"I know. I'll take full responsibility for it, that's why you don't need to worry about me evading the law."

"T-That's..." she fervently shook her head. "That's not it."

"Then what...?"

When I asked her that, her face started to brighten up under the lamplight. Drawing heavy breaths, she suddenly climbed on the table and hastily crawled closer to me.

"Wait, what's gotten into you, Miss Head Maid?!"

Acting as if she didn't hear any of my words, she continued to grab the collar of my shirt—just like when we're at the library. Worried that she's trying to take revenge of me, I prepared myself for the worst.

"F-Filia—"

"At last...I've found you..."

Eh? Found...who?

In front of me who's confused, Filia—with her feverish gaze—said something unthinkable, something that is far different from the ones I heard from her the first time we met.

"I'm glad. I've found you at last...my prince!"