NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40
Lena showed her face in front of the man.
This is the worst! If she’s recognized as the leader of the thieves, we’ll be under scrutiny.
Misha is also watching the man’s movements closely. If he tries to attack Lena, we’ll have to respond immediately.
However, the man didn’t seem to harbor any killing intent. On the contrary, he looked emotional upon seeing Lena’s face.
“Miss!”
The man shouted.
“Geizel!”
Lena also called out the man’s name (or so it seemed).
Huh? What’s going on here?
“It seems we were worried for nothing,” Misha sighed as a cat.
“Good grief.”
◇ ◇ ◇
We decided to entertain the man named Geizel. It became clear from Lena’s conversation that he was not an enemy.
“Miss Mireille has always been a tomboy, ignoring manners to learn martial arts. At 15, she ran away from home to avoid marrying her fiancé,” Geizel explained.
“So, Lena’s real name is Mireille, and she’s from a good family in Laikanslope,” Misha summarized.
“I may not have learned manners, but I do enjoy cooking.”
“Servants do the cooking. You should at least learn how to make tea for guests, though.”
Now I understand why Lena is good at cooking.
“I originally wanted to be an adventurer. But before I knew it, I had become a thief. I only targeted rich and noble families because I knew they were up to no good,” Lena said.
“My lord is a sincere man. Please come home. He’s worried,” Geizel insisted.
Geizel’s burly figure is apparently for fighting off villains targeting their family.
“I owe my life to my Master and Misha. I can’t leave them,” Lena flatly refused.
“But being a concubine to an A-rank adventurer tarnishes the family name!”
Geizel’s words made me choke, and Lena blushed.
“Hey! I don’t consider Lena to be a concubine!”
“…So she’s really just a servant?”
“Of course!”
“Master,” Misha, still in her beastman form, wore a menacing expression. “You haven’t done anything inappropriate with Lena, have you?”
“I swear to God, nothing has happened! So, please relax!”
“Let’s ask Lena too.”
“There’s really nothing! Why would I betray Misha!”
“So you’ve been living earnestly as a servant. Good.”
I vow never to betray Misha in the future…
“Look, Geizel. I like my current life. I have no intention of returning home. Please leave,” Lena said.
“If you’re going to speak so crudely…”
It’s true that no noble would refer to their older sister as “Big Sis.”
But it’s not good for a family to be estranged.
As the head of this household, maybe I should suggest something. A third-party opinion might be easier for Lena to accept.
“How about a compromise?” I suggested.
“What do you mean?”
“Let Lena visit her family temporarily. She can return here afterward. You’re not so at odds that you never want to see each other again, right?”
Lena looked troubled.
“That’s true, but what will they say to me?”
“You’ll have to bear it. Running away wasn’t right in the first place.”
“I think meeting your family first would be good,” Geizel agreed.
“As her employer, I’d also like her to meet them. Otherwise, I’d feel guilty imagining her parents’ sad faces.”
“If Misha says so, I can’t refuse.”
Lena seemed convinced.
“Alright. I’ll go see my parents. But—”
“But what?”
“Master and Misha should come too. I’d feel lonely going alone.”
“I see.”
“Of course, we have no objections. It’s only natural to welcome the people who saved Miss Mireille’s life.”
Then, it’s settled. A home visit it is.