Chapter 4
As our eyes met, Prinz scattered a sheepish, bright smile.
"The young master got all the test questions wrong. Still, he didn't get hit much today. I submitted the homework on his behalf."
"……."
At this point, it would be good to go over our family, House Rodelain, as mentioned in the original work.
My father, Leonard Rodelain, was from the "Golden Ivory Tower," called the Tower of Alchemists. He was a promising elite alchemist, but he earned the dislike of his superiors and became a wanderer.
The Gillett Count's household was the one that snatched up such a man—a single daddy with two kids—and hired him on the cheap.
Dad... hmm, I'm still a bit shy to say it. The Alchemist was so ignorant of worldly affairs that he kept renewing his slave contract and devoted himself to the Count's household.
Prinz and Ailet, who came along as part of the package, naturally grew up as servants of the Count's household.
Prinz became the valet who took the beatings in the scoundrel's stead, and Ailet became a maid-of-all-work.
In the original work, only the Alchemist and Prinz appeared briefly as minor characters.
After finishing his knight training and returning to the Count's household, the scoundrel treated the protagonist—his own lifesaver—very poorly.
At that time, it was Prinz who prepared the protagonist's sleeping quarters, and on the morning the protagonist left, it was the Alchemist who apologized and gave him potions.
The part I took note of was the entrance scene of Prinz and the protagonist.
The place Prinz guided the protagonist to, claiming it was the cleanest room, was the Alchemist's room.
Discovering Ailet's belongings there, the protagonist panicked, thinking it was a woman's room. To reassure this upright holy knight, Prinz smiled and said this—
"It's my younger sister's keepsake. She accidentally stepped into a dungeon sealed deep within the Count's castle, and so... *sigh*, that was the future of Ailet Rodelain.
This damned Gillett Count's castle had terrible feng shui.
As if having a dungeon nearby where a Burst could occur wasn't enough, they said the Count's castle was built right on top of a dungeon.
Anyway, I looked at Prinz again.
Even though I called him brother, he was just a boy who looked about twelve years old.
When I thought about how his hands and shins would never have a peaceful day because of the scoundrel, I felt a surge of emotion.
Prinz, who had washed his hands squeaky clean, stubbornly chased me out of my spot and started turning the butter churn.
I was too concerned about Prinz's hands.
"How about applying ointment first? Go see Dad."
Prinz was startled and flustered.
"No! Then Dad will worry."
"Dad doesn't know?"
"Yeah. If he finds out, he'll tell me to stop. I-I don't care if I get hit. I want to attend the young master's lessons, even like this..."
"Still..."
"But kid, why are you suddenly pretending you don't know? You promised to keep it a secret from Dad in exchange for eating all my pudding..."
Since it was already in her stomach, I couldn't say anything to that.
Prinz, with his bright smile again, relayed the message.
"Oh right, Dad went out on urgent business. He said there was a problem with the herb merchant group that trades with the Count's castle."
"Then let's go to the lab later and find some medicine. I'll apply it for you, brother."
I said that because his red, swollen hands looked pitiful, and I was grateful for his help.
The use of "brother" at the end also seemed natural for someone who possessed this body today.
It seemed to be because my memories of my previous life's real older brother also stopped at a young age similar to Prinz's.
But suddenly, Prinz's eyes became moist.
"Ailet..."
"W-what?"
"Kitchen work must have been really hard for you. You called me brother... that's the first time since you were four."
"Huh?"
"Before, you said what kind of brother is someone like me... You said I was slow and clueless, that you hated being with me, and hated it when I talked to you..."
"……."
It seemed the original owner of this body didn't have a gentle personality. My heart felt a bit tight.
After hesitating slightly, I opened my mouth.
"Uh, um, that's right. I went through a lot in the kitchen today, so I think I've matured. I'll call you that from now on. Forget about the past."
Since I am now Ailet Rodelain, the kind older brother of my possessed body is mine to take over.
"R-really? No take-backs!"
"Yeah, yeah, brother."
"Wow, it really feels like I have a younger sister. N-no, that doesn't mean you were a fake sister before! I'm just happy."
If that's what he thinks, I'm grateful.
With Prinz's help, the work was finished. Now all that was left was to wash the wooden tub of the butter churn.
"Alright everyone, finish up your work and have your snacks."
The kitchen was nice because it had such good welfare benefits.
"Brother, let's clean up quickly and eat snacks too."
"M-me too?"
"You helped, so of course. If they don't give you any, I'll share my portion."
"Ailet..."
Is it that moving?
It was a time when I felt embarrassed for no reason as the sibling affection seemed to surge one-sidedly.
"Hmph, I guess kitchen work is doable."
I turned my head toward the thoroughly twisted voice.
A brown-haired girl was standing in the exact same pose as the head maid from earlier.
"Nelly."
Nelly swept her eyes over me from top to bottom. As soon as she found something to nitpick, her tiny lips curled into a sneer.
"My, did you become the dishwashing attendant? How pitiful. I'm preparing tea and snacks to serve the Madam."
"Mm, work hard."
"If you only wash dishes, your hands will chap and crack soon. Too bad."
Her smug tone was a bit annoying.
It was when I had finished all my work while ignoring Nelly, who kept babbling without pause.
[
[
[
'Ooh, fast level up!'
I was feeling pleased with the sense of having become even stronger. Among the messages, there was a word that pulled at my attention.
'Hmmm, tea brewing?'
My eyes narrowed and shone.
Even during all this, Nelly kept running her mouth.
"Well, since you have no talent, you have no choice but to suffer physically, right? These kinds of odd jobs are perfect for you ignorant siblings."
"……."
"Hey, are you listening to me? Why are you staring blankly into the air like an idio—Kyah!"
Smack!
In the process of resolutely standing up, I ended up striking Nelly's chin hard with my head.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
"Ow, that hurts me too."
"How funny! You blockhead!"
While I touched my bumped head and received Prinz's worried attention, Nelly shrieked at the top of her lungs.
The commotion drew attention.
"Nelly, don't be so flighty. A child who is to serve the Madam must be more composed than that."
"L-Lady Isella..."
The middle-aged maid who was sternly reprimanding her was measuring tea leaves. It seemed she was the Countess's tea time attendant.
This was perfect. I grinned as I looked at Nelly.
"What, what is it. Why are you smiling like that?"
As expected, beasts are good at sensing danger. I threw a question at the fully cowering Nelly.
"Your dream was to become the maid who serves tea, right?"
"Huh?"
"Just watch from right there."
Leaving Nelly with her dumbfounded expression behind, I walked with big strides.
Though given my size, it probably just looked like a little kid trying to act tough.
"Ailet Rodelain?"
The head chef, who had been giving various instructions among the maids, finally turned to look at me.
Feeling everyone's gaze focused on me, I resolutely opened my mouth.
"Head Chef, may I brew the tea for snack time?"
"Ailet, you?"
"Yes. I want to brew tea for everyone who has worked hard together."
The older maids egged me on.
"My, Ailet?"
"Shall we try the tea Ailet brews?"
"Yes! I'll brew delicious tea for you all. Leave it to me."
The head chef gave permission with an impassive face.
While I was boiling water in the large kettle, I measured out the black tea leaves for the servants. As I stepped on a wooden stool and fumbled around on the shelf, I felt a prickling gaze on one cheek.
I figured Nelly was glaring at me, but when I carelessly turned my head, I was startled.
Isella, the tea-time attendant maid, was quietly observing me.
At last, the maple-colored black tea was finished. I struggled as I poured tea for everyone.
"My, the scent is wonderful."
"Is this really the tea we usually drink?"
"I can't believe it. Did the tea leaves get switched?"
Where I stole a glance, the head chef was also savoring the tea's aroma with a kind smile. Of course, she quickly returned to her stiff expression before anyone could notice.
At that moment, Isella approached the head chef. The two women of similar age conversed closely.
"Say, Faisha. I'd like to taste the tea too."
"This is ours."
"I just want a taste, come on."
"Get Ailet's permission."
Isella looked back at me.
Through my social experience in my past life, I grasped the demand and immediately filled a cup and offered it.
Slurp. Isella held a sip of tea in her mouth with an elegant posture worthy of being a role model.
A moment later, she whirled around and yelled at me.
"You!"
"…Yes?"
"You've done a foolish thing!"
D-did I make a mistake?
I was a bit intimidated by Isella's sudden change in attitude.
Before I knew it, my shoulders were hunched up tightly, but someone stepped in front of me.
It was the head chef, Faisha.
"Isella! What kind of talk is that to a child? Did you drink the tea and go crazy? If you're going to be like this, get out of the kitchen!"
"I am perfectly sane, Faisha. Hands that should be learning to serve tea are getting ruined in the kitchen, so I have no choice but to call it foolish!"
Ah, so that was her way of expressing admiration?
I felt relieved, but the people around us had shocked faces. Nelly's reaction, in particular, was a sight to behold.
Until just a moment ago, Nelly was full of anticipation about how Isella would scold me, but now she was panicked, her jaw dropped wide open.
"Nelly is the one learning to serve tea!"
"Nelly has no talent!"
Having inadvertently received a public death sentence on her talent, Nelly trembled violently.
However, neither Isella nor Faisha had any interest in Nelly.
They each grabbed one of my left and right arms from both sides and continued their conversation.
"You said your name was Ailet Rodelain, right? Starting tomorrow, come to where I am at this exact time every day. I will teach you how to serve tea."
"No. Ailet will learn cooking in the kitchen. This child was born with the talent to become a great chef. I will raise her myself!"
"Then do both!"
My destination was decided.
"I look forward to working with you, Nelly."
"Grr!"
I smiled brightly as I looked at Nelly right in front of me.
Special privileges for the possessed