110 Villa, and Classist Maid

"...And that, is how the Internet was born," I said calmly to the girls. "Thanks to the Internet and all the other things people have developed over the years, the phrase 'the world is in our hands' isn't a far-fetched dream anymore."

With my hands moving as if closing an invisible book, I ended a rather short account of the things that happened in my world within the last century as well as their effects on the lives of everyone living there, both positive and negative. While doing so, I did my best to make them believe that the 'hometown' I'm referring to is just some far away country at the very edge of this world, and not a different world itself.

Although I can't hide the truth forever, at the very least I'll try keeping it until the right moment comes.

"What a splendid story, Ren," Lerish delightfully clapped her hands. "To think that there is a place like that in this world...proves how little our knowledge of the world actually is."

"...Nn! Big brother's hometown is a totally different place from the ones we're familiar with!" Aoi agreed. "Leaving the ability to travel quickly and communicate over long distances aside, being able to create weapons capable of wiping out whole cities despite not having any magic exceeds my expectations! Big brother, I want to go there with you someday!"

"E-Ehh?! Uhh...hehehe..."

Well, it seems that the girls believed most of my narrative, if not a little skeptical. Especially Lerish, as her status requires her to have a good grasp on the culture of each country, as well as being updated in the current events in this world. Aoi, on the other hand, showed enthusiasm on my world's weapons, and wishes to see a tank or an ICBM in person—and test it if there's an opportunity.

"Your Highness, we have finally arrived at Harlin," Franz announced.

Oh? We're already here in the capital? It must've slipped past my mind as I was busy storytelling, but our journey from Plate Town to Harlin only took us about two hours—which is absurdly fast compared to the three days we've spent traveling when we first came here with the Rainens.

"Excellent work, Franz. Now bring us to the villa first," Lerish spoke in a gentle, yet commanding voice. "I intend on stopping there for a moment before proceeding to the royal palace."

"Right away, Your Highness."

"Y-You...you have a villa??"

"Y-Yes," she replied quite bashfully. "The villa serves as my sanctuary when everyone at the palace is busy, and is also where I personally receive my guests. It is located on the opposite end of the royal main road, so you might not have found out about it yet."

Unlike other rich nobles who owned several villas around Narashel, Lerish is content with having just one under her name. When asked why, she simply replied, 'so that I would not use more of the people's tax money.'

Upon entering the city through one of its huge gates, I expected that the knights guarding the entrance would acknowledge the royal carriage's arrival and give some sort of salutation or something. Instead, they just let us through without any interaction, as if we're just wind passing by.

"Are you disappointed, Ren? You must be expecting the knights to welcome our arrival in a grand way; my apologies, but I ordered them not to do so while I am around."

"What are you saying, Lerish? You know that I'm weak when it comes to things like this, so being treated like air is miles better for my heart than being given special treatment."

"Fufu, I am fully aware of that. However..."

"However..."

"The moment people finds out that you have me, the Princess, as a companion, everyone will soon focus their attention on you. While we do not know its implications yet, I believe that it might be better for you to accept the fact that you will be inevitably famous soon," she said with a serious expression.

Famous, huh...I never dreamed of becoming like that. Rather, I think i don't know what'll I do if I become like that. Sure, being noticed by many people might give me a weird fluffy feeling but I'm more worried about its effects to the people around me, especially Aoi.

Anyway, let's stay low-key for as long as possible.

From the East Gate of Harlin, it took the carriage about ten minutes to reach the villa. On the way, Aoi and I still marveled at the scenery from outside the window just like schoolchildren on a field trip, despite it not being our first time here. I can't help it, you know: I dreamed on going to Europe back when I was still in my world, particularly France, and Harlin—or Narashel in general—does give off that European feel to me.

Well, I'll be more surprised if there really is a country here that resembles France. Oui!

"We have finally arrived at the villa, Your Highness," Franz announced shortly after he stopped the carriage in front of a large mansion. Stepping outside the vehicle, Aoi and I immediately let out a couple of 'woooooww' at the sight of Lerish's villa, frantically looking around to see the details of the entire premise. Again, like schoolchildren on a field trip.

Standing beside us, Lerish chuckled and said, "I was worried that you might find it plain and boring because it is smaller and less extravagant than most villas, but I am happy that you still find it beautiful and impressive."

"Yeah, it does pale in comparison to the ones we've seen while on the way but I prefer this one over those villas, because it's yours."

Aside from that, this villa of hers is located very far away from where most other villas stood, at the very edge of the city. It has its own small lake, as well as rolling hills and open plains filled with various crops, where the villa gets its own foodstuffs. It's like a small pocket of the countryside inside Harlin, except that this place is also heavily guarded.

"...Simple is the best after all, just like what big brother always say!"

"Miss Aoi...Ren..."

"...So, are we going to just stand here and do nothing, huh? I'm already excited to see what's inside yo—ATATATATATATATA! IT HURTS, BIG BROTHERRR!!!"

"Sorry about this, Lerish. You know this little brat's attitude, right? She's just as impatient as she is impolite, but she's not like this all the time," I apologized as I press down my knuckles against Aoi's head.

"I-I do not mind it, though," Lerish said worriedly.

After much ruckus, Lerish then personally guided us into her villa. She didn't chose to let Franz do the task because first, he already left without us noticing and second, she consider us as very important people, that it would be a great shame for her to only have her subordinates look after us.

"Open the door—for Her Royal Highness has finally arrived!"

Immediately the huge doors at the entrance began to swing slowly inwards, sending faint tremors beneath our feet as they open. Inside the villa, we are greeted by a battalion of uniformed servants of both genders, arranging themselves in a crescent formation and either bowing their heads down or lightly raising their skirts while curtsying in front of Lerish.

"We are pleased to see you again after a long while, Milady," a young lady with a shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes, and wearing a different colored uniform from the others greeted Lerish as she stood in the middle of the formation. She gave off a cold yet elegant vibes around her, as if she's only cosplaying as a maid.

"Yes. It has been a long while indeed, Filia."

"I was very sad when Milady left Harlin, that's why I had the entire villa cleaned once I learned from the palace about your return."

The servant named Filia then glanced at Aoi and I for a moment, then spoke with a straight face: "Milady, while I very much appreciate your act of helping beggars as much as you can, you don't actually have to bring them here. The capital already has a facility for them, have you already forgotten?"

""B...B-Beggars?!""

W-What the hell's wrong with that woman?! It doesn't look like our clothes are in tatters, and yet this maid thinks of us as beggars? Who the hell is she?!

"That's right, and your status will still be obvious no matter how much you hide it, especially you, young man."

"M-Me?"

"Yes," Filia nodded. "Judging by the fact that you're standing alongside Milady, it seems that you managed to leech off Milady's generosity quite well."

Hearing Filia's haughty words, Aoi's body started to tremble with rage.

"...How dare you...call my big brother a beggar..."

"Aoi? Don't, don't you do it..."

Just as when Aoi's about to unleash her power against Filia, Lerish—

"Speak one more ill word against my friends, Filia, and I myself will sever your tongue off and have it fed to the beasts."

"U-Ughk—?!"

Filia stepped back in fear upon meeting her threatening gaze. In front of her master, she is but a mere ant that Lerish could crush anytime. Even the other servants started to shudder at her presence too, even though they spoke nothing against us so far.

"Enough of this already. All of you, get back to work," Lerish said coldly to all her servants.

Quickly and frantically the servants then returned to their stations. Even Filia, who got caught off-guard after seeing Lerish getting mad, also left, but not before throwing a 'hmph' at me.

"...Hrgh! I will make her regret the day she decided to slander my big brother..."

"I will also make you regret it too if you do something to her, Aoi."

"My deepest apologies, Ren, Miss Aoi! As her master I will take full responsibility for Filia's actions, that is why...I am asking you to please spare her life!"

Lerish explained that although she's working for her as the villa's head maid, Filia came from a high-ranking noble family along with Franz who is her father, and to my surprise even that snobby knight Granz, who is her older brother. That explained her sense of superiority towards commoners, but in actuality she's a nice and caring girl...or so Lerish claimed.

Even though what that girl said was offensive, hurting her in return won't help us in any way. Rather, we'll be worse than beggars if we do it.

"Don't mind it. I'll let it slide for now," I said to Lerish.

"...As much as I want to kill that girl, if big brother said he'll let it slide them I have no choice but to obey," Aoi said, clicking her tongue in dismay.

"Thank you very much!"

"...Well, in exchange...you have to give us a welcome feast, with the most exquisite dishes that you have here."

"A-Aoi?!"

"...What? We're already called beggars after all by that stupid maid. That said, you won't mind it if I start acting like one right, Lerish?"

This girl...really doesn't seem to forgive anyone that offends her that easily. With Lerish taking responsibility for what happened, Aoi's making sure that she'll pay for it dearly.

Unsure of what to do, Lerish gave her a wry smile and said, "Y-Yes, I will inform them right away!"

While Lerish is in a hurry telling her servants what to do, Aoi and I stood watching from the entrance, amazed by the turn of events.

"You really are petty, aren't you, Aoi?"

"...Heh, I'm the type of girl who takes no prisoners, big brother."

Lerish must be having a hard time right now, trying to accommodate us as much as possible. Although a simple welcome would be fine, her pride won't allow it, and thus would settle for something befitting of a royalty or whatnot—especially now that Aoi coerced her to do so.

Hah...I feel sorry for her, really.

-----

Aoi became sleepy immediately after eating too much, that's why the task of researching about the tower was left to Lerish and I.

"Even though I already warned her not to overindulge, she still feasted like there's no tomorrow. That girl, just how much is her appetite, really? Maybe I should force her into a diet, to see what will happen to her."

"Fufu. Please do not be mad at her: at this time and age, children who have huge appetites are considered their parent's treasures..."

As we walked through rows and rows of shelves inside the city's Grand Library the two of us talked about anything and everything under the sun, with no care even if the librarians scold us. Right now, I'm complaining to her about Aoi's recent behavior of overeating.

"Hey, aren't you spoiling her a bit too much, Lerish?"

"A-Am I...?"

"Yeah. You always tend to agree with everything she says. It's alright to scold her too if she does something wrong, you know? Don't worry, I'll make sure she won't do anything to you in revenge."

At that moment, Franz returned and whispered something to Lerish, causing her to feel somewhat excited.

"My apologies, Ren, but it seems that there are some urgent matters I need to take care of. Is it alright if I excuse myself from here?"

"A-Ah, yeah. Sure."

Well, it can't be helped. Living far away from Harlin does limit her capacity to perform her duties, and there are times when she has no choice but to go back to the capital—such as this time.

So that leaves me to be the only guy to look for research materials then. Inside this hella huge of a library, I wonder how I'll be able to make it out alone...

Luckily there's a magic equipment inside this library that helps its clients by letting them write keywords related to the subject on a magical board. Based on the keywords, the equipment will then recommend a couple of reading materials and a guide on where to find them.

Now that I think about...isn't that just how web browsers work?

"Hmm...let's see...how about we go with 'great white tower', to see how many books have that as a subject."

Shortly after I wrote those keywords on the board, several small cards suddenly came out from the slit on top of the board, containing titles where info about the tower might be located. With the way the cards came out together in a long strip, it looked like these are tickets inside an arcade.

"Ugh, this is tedious. How can I find all of these in a short time..."

For the meantime, let's go to the nearest book the magic board recommended to us. It'd still take me two minutes to get there though, so it's still far actually.

"000LX6...000LX7...000LX8...ah, here it is!" I exclaimed as I got my hands on the first book on the result cards, the book with the code 000LX9. Unfortunately it's a book about crystals, so I don't think there's any substantial info about the tower in this book.

"Haaah. It's disappointing, but there are still plenty of books here in these cards for me to check. 00CD20, right? Maybe I should check that one too...—"

When I was about to go look for the next book on the list, I was surprised to see a familiar lady blocking my way.

"Yo, I didn't expect you here, Miss..."

Short blonde hair, cold blue eyes. That's right, the one standing in front of me is none other than Lerish's head maid, Filia.

"Ren Mortel, is it? I heard that you're the one who saved Milady from that mysterious creep."

With her hands placed on her hips, she looked at me with a gaze sharper enough to cut butter. I don't have any idea what's her agenda this time, so I pretended not to care at all.

"Yeah. What of it?"

"You do seem to be very satisfied with the result, being able to gain favors from not only Milady, but from their Majesties as well. Is my assumption correct?"

"Well, I did left a good impression on them, that's why they're treating me nicely. The royal family is kinder than I expected, honestly."

Hearing those words, Filia slowly approached me and grabbed the collar of my clothes as she pressed me against the bookshelves.

"I-I expected you to be taller because of your attitude, but it turns out you're a bit shorter than Lerish..."

"A lowlife like you has no right to call Milady by her name, much less look at me in the eye. I don't care even if you're Milady's savior; I will never accept the fact that someone like you is recognized by her."

"So, you're saying...it would be much better if Lerish was saved by a dashing prince and not a commoner like me?"

"As it should be," Filia spoke straightforwardly. "Nobles should interact with nobles, and trash like you should remain in your place. That way, the harmony our society have will be maintained."

Forcibly pulling my collar down, she then placed her lips near my ears as she whispered:

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