The sky darkened.
By the time Philip finally managed to calm the wild puppy with kind words and a bit of coaxing, more than an hour had passed.
But in the end, Eris did manage to quell her anger.
What convinced her most was something else entirely:
"Rudyus's" voice really did sound like a girl's… and "he" was even wearing the same kind of dress she wore.
Sure, she'd seen boys wearing dresses back in the royal capital before…
But the dazed way the kid lay there on the ground after taking a beating really did remind her of those frail girls she used to kick around at noble school.
Of course… that wasn't the main reason.
The biggest reason was—
She was just… tired.
The wild puppy was still just a tiger cub at this stage. Though she already carried the seeds of violence, her stamina simply couldn't compare to that of the future mad sword queen.
Even more absurdly, Rudy—lying on the ground—after a little while, realizing his words were useless against this young lady and that she couldn't even break through his defenses, simply sprawled out and gave up.
In fact… he even looked faintly amused.
It was ridiculous.
——
Now, at the dining table of the Greyrat household, the sudden darkness outside and the wind-driven clouds swallowing up the sunlight had forced the family to light a few candles.
The flickering flames made everyone's mood ebb and flow.
Eris sat there, legs swinging in a completely unladylike way, arms crossed as usual, glaring at the person across from her.
"What're you staring at!! Try not using magic if you're so great!!"
"You were clearly the one who mistook me for someone else, weren't you?! And what's with hitting people?" Rudy, already healed without a scratch thanks to healing magic, shot back indignantly now that he knew she couldn't do much to him.
"Are you trying to lecture me?!"
Rudy curled his lip. By now, he fully understood what kind of creature this young lady was. As for the fact that she was Allen's little sister… he suspected she didn't even know that herself. And even if she did, this reaction was probably the same.
She was, through and through, a true "young lady."
Who spoiled her rotten into this? Her mother? From what I've seen, Philip doesn't exactly keep her in line…
Seeing Rudy finally stop arguing, Eris snorted from her nose with satisfaction. But then she blinked, her brilliant red eyes seeming to hesitate as she glanced sideways—without turning her head—to the side.
Sitting there quietly was Sylphy, staring absentmindedly at her teacup, her pure white dress now dirtied and smeared.
Eris' lips twitched slightly, then she looked back forward, speaking loudly into the air:
"Hey, your name's… Hiru, right?!"
Sylphy blinked blankly, glancing at Eris' profile.
"I'm Sylphyette."
Eris blinked back at the air.
"Sylphyette! Fine. I hereby allow you to be Eris's… um… um…"
She quickly shot a glance at the cat-eared maid beside her, who was forcing a smile, looking helpless. It seemed she couldn't quite find the right word.
The cat-eared maid's ears drooped and she gently interjected:
"Miss Eris, you mean to say 'friend,' right? Not… 'maid.'"
Eris raised a brow.
"Friend??"
Of course she knew the word "friend," but she couldn't fully grasp it here and now, so instinctively she glanced at her maid—who'd always looked after her and stayed close, in a sort of pseudo-intimate role.
Then she crossed her arms again, straightened up, and declared loudly, as if announcing to no one in particular:
"Then I'll allow you to be Eris's friend!!"
The flickering of her pupils made it clear enough that she was directing her words at Sylphy.
The cat-eared maid hurriedly explained:
"You shouldn't say 'allow,' Miss Eris! Friends are equals. You should say, 'I'd like to be your friend,' instead."
Eris' mouth opened in a loud "Hah?"
Spoiled since birth by Sauros, and having always mirrored the domineering attitudes of those she trusted, Eris was used to being the "dominant party" whenever she tried to form a bond.
And that… was exactly why she couldn't make friends at noble school.
After all, no child could really handle that strange, high-handed "kindness."
But Sylphy noticed something.
Having endured plenty of malice in her life, she was especially sensitive to the faintest hints of kindness.
To her, malice stood out like ink dropped into clear water.
And kindness… was as easy to absorb as sunlight melting snow in early spring.
She was nothing like this bright, fiery girl, born in a manor like a fortress, surrounded by maids.
She was just a little wild grass, growing up through the coarse dirt roads of Buena Village.
Sylphy stole a glance at Allen—who was across from her, unable to stop himself from glancing at the cat maid's ears. Then she turned back to Eris, gathered her courage, and said softly:
"…It's okay. I'd like to be your friend too."
Eris' eyes immediately shone, and she whipped her head around so fast it looked like her neck would snap, her face lighting up in an excited grin.
"Good!"
Smack!!
Everyone turned to look at Allen, who'd just slapped himself.
He finally managed to drag his eyes away from the cat maid's ears, and forced a smile at Paul and Zenith, who both flinched.
"…Where were we? Go on, don't mind me. Mosquito."
Then he turned to Philip.
Philip's eyes glinted as he gave Allen a "just as I thought" look.
Damn it… there's another variable! You're testing me with this, aren't you, old man?! Not human!
Philip, seeing Allen's twitching expression—the way he clearly hadn't seen a beastkin maid in a long time and was struggling to keep his instincts in check—smiled.
"There are plenty of maids like her back at the Boreas estate. If you like…"
"I don't like them. Thanks."
"Alright."
Philip smiled and turned back to Paul.
"Back to the topic at hand. You have no objections to Rudy coming to Roa as a tutor, do you?"
Paul exchanged glances with Zenith and Lilia, then glanced at Allen.
"No objections regarding Rudy. Boys ought to toughen up. And with Allen at his side, we feel reassured. My original plan was to let them become adventurers in a couple years anyway… this is a good transitional step. And as you said, it's just tutoring, and you won't restrict their future freedom. So yes, I agree."
Philip clapped his hands and smiled.
"Then it's settled."
"However…"
Paul's tone hardened as he looked Philip straight in the eye.
"Rudy is Rudy. Allen is Allen. We can't make that decision for him. You need his consent. If he refuses, I won't let you take him out of Buena Village."
Rudy: ?? Don't I get a say either?
"Naturally."
As soon as he said that, Philip rose and walked to the door under Paul's surprised gaze.
He opened it.
The spring wind before a sudden rainstorm whipped his clothes with a loud rustle.
He cocked his head, still smiling lazily, and glanced at Allen—who was already rising to meet his gaze.
"Care to step outside for a chat?"
(End of Chapter)
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