Once Eliva guided us inside the mansion, I was able to take in with great astonishment all the things that surrounded us. There were paintings, vases, fine rugs on the floor, and more.
It wasn't only that. I also noticed how some of the maids had formed a line as if to receive us—or so I thought. I was certain they were there more for Eliva than for us.
It made sense, after all. She was the head housekeeper of the family.
Clara: …
Clara, for her part, remained fully aware of the situation, never setting aside her manners as a maid.
Jack: The mansion is quite beautiful, and spacious too. The maids can walk through here with complete ease.
Eliva: Yes. Here the women can walk calmly through the halls of the mansion.
When she mentioned the word "walk," a question formed in Jack's mind.
Jack: Hey, Eliva… may I ask you a somewhat unusual question?
Eliva: Of course. What is it?
Jack: Have you ever had problems with the little men who walk through the mansion?
Eliva noticed the curiosity in Jack's voice and answered with perfect calm.
Eliva: To be honest, there have been one or two problems of that sort inside the mansion.
Eliva: But those "accidents" are usually caused by the newer maids rather than the women who have worked here longer.
When Jack heard Eliva's answer, a horrible sensation ran through his entire body.
(Jack) I don't know why, but a terrible chill went through me the moment I heard the word "accident."
Clara: You have nothing to worry about, young… Master. If anything bad should happen, I swear I will protect you. –She spoke with firm confidence.
(Jack) Why was there a slight pause there?
Eliva: You have a rather… devoted maid~ –She smiled.
(Jack) Wait a second! Why did she pause there too?!
(Jack) Is this some kind of word game between women or something?!
Jack was completely confused, though in Eliva's case she was simply teasing him a little.
Eliva: If you will allow me, young Master Jack, I shall return to the matter at hand.
Jack: Oh, of course…
Eliva: The servants—or any man who works for the Romero family—are assigned an exclusive area of their own.
Eliva: It is to prevent the women from accidentally stepping on them, or from doing anything else to them.
Jack: Thinking about it carefully, that actually makes a lot of sense.
Jack: Just imagining working in a place where men and women walk side by side… I feel it would be far too complicated to coexist.
Eliva: It is simply a matter of common sense. Sometimes, because of the intense work one performs, it is easy to forget what lies in one's path or surroundings.
Eliva: Men, being so small, can go largely unnoticed.
Eliva: And just like that, they could end up crushed—by accident, or sometimes with ill intent.
Until now I had only seen the wonders of how men and women lived together without any trouble. But I also had to remain aware that there would be women who viewed men as mere nuisances or inferior creatures.
Just as there would be men who saw some women as monsters or horrible beings, and who would prefer to create their own society far away from them in order to avoid problems.
While the two of them were chatting comfortably, another maid approached. Following proper manners, she first greeted Jack and spoke to him in a respectful tone.
—Welcome to the Romero mansion, young Master. Your visit will make our young lady very happy.
(Jack) Happy? But this is the first time we'll meet. If I remember correctly, Alicia told me a little about her personality… I think she was a rather pedantic and somewhat arrogant girl. Though it's still too early to draw conclusions.
Jack: It's nice to hear that… I suppose…
—Oh, right. Before I forget.
—Miss Eliva, Lady Beatriz wishes to see you in the sitting room.
—She would like to meet her fiancé before you all go to rest.
Eliva: Very well. Thank you for informing me, Elvira.
Elvira: Well then, now that I have delivered our young lady's message, I must return to my duties.
Elvira: Young Master, I take my leave. I must get back to work.
Jack: Good luck with your work, Miss.
Elvira: Thank you.
Elvira made a slight curtsy and took her leave, departing along with the other maids.
Jack: She seems like a pleasant girl.
Eliva: She is usually very kind to her fellow maids.
Eliva: She causes no trouble and is a hard worker.
Eliva: Now, if you will excuse me, young Master, we must go to the sitting room.
Eliva: We cannot keep Lady Beatriz waiting.
Eliva guided Clara along the way.
(Meanwhile, in the sitting room)
Inside the room, three maids stood accompanying Lady Beatriz, who was drinking tea in a most relaxed and elegant manner.
She observed the female knights who had accompanied Jack throughout his journey.
Beatriz: They appear to be of a decent level, but they cannot compare to our own knights.
—You are right, my lady. One could say they are at a respectable level.
Beatriz: Ahh… I suppose you are correct.
Before she could take another sip of her tea, a knock sounded at the door.
"Knock." "Knock."
Beatriz: Enter.
Upon hearing Beatriz's voice, the door to the sitting room opened. The one who entered was a beautiful woman dressed in an elegant military uniform.
Her appearance was refined and lovely, yet at the same time she carried a firm attitude that matched her gaze.
She carried a longsword at her left hip in case of any unforeseen event.
Beatriz: Oh! Valentina.
Beatriz: What do you need?
Valentina: I apologize if I interrupted your tea time, my lady, but your fiancé has just arrived. –She made a slight bow upon seeing Beatriz.
Beatriz: It is pleasant to hear. I thought he would take a little longer to arrive.
Valentina: Before allowing him in, I had to inspect both him and his maid.
Beatriz: Alongside his maid?
Beatriz: Wasn't Eliva supposed to bring him?
Valentina: I just asked Eliva about that, and she answered that the young Master felt more comfortable beside his own maid.
Beatriz: Mmm… Very well. I see nothing wrong with that.
Beatriz: Let them enter.
Valentina: Understood, my lady.
Valentina turned and went to where Jack and Clara were waiting. Eliva, meanwhile, remained keeping them company.
Valentina: Young Master, I apologize for the delay, but my lady has now given you permission to enter.
Jack: Sounds good. Thank you, Miss.
Just as they were about to step inside, Jack and Clara felt a powerful shiver run down their spines.
(Jack) What the hell is this?! It feels as if every one of my senses is on high alert!
(Jack) I haven't felt this nervous since the time my mother scolded me!
That wasn't the only thing he felt. His stomach also began to churn violently.
It was a strong dizziness, as though he were about to vomit.
Jack: God… I hope I don't end up throwing up everywhere… before I even get to meet my fiancée…
Feeling unwell, Jack looked to Clara for help. To his surprise, she was in the same state as he was.
Her breathing was clearly labored, and beads of sweat had begun to form on her forehead.
Jack: C-Clara…? –He struggled to speak.
(Jack) Even talking is difficult…
Clara: Young Master… don't worry… I'm fine…
Clara was doing everything in her power not to collapse. The only thing keeping her on her feet was her incredible willpower.
But at that very moment, Beatriz spoke in a completely relaxed tone.
Beatriz: That's enough, Valentina.
Beatriz: I don't want him fainting before I've had the chance to speak with him.
Valentina: Understood, my lady.
In an instant, both Clara and Jack felt much better. The trembling and the chills that had gripped them moments earlier had vanished.
The pain and the nausea were gone as well. All that remained was the horrible memory of having endured it.
(Jack) What the hell was that?!
Jack turned to look at Valentina, but to his surprise she continued regarding him with a calm, firm gaze—exactly like that of a soldier.
Still confused, he checked on Clara.
Jack: Are you all right, Clara?
Clara: Yes… Young Master… I'm fine… You have nothing to worry about…
Clara offered her best smile so as not to worry Jack.
Something that, of course, did not go unnoticed by Eliva. There was little she could do for the two of them; the least she could manage was to help support Clara so she wouldn't fall.
Eliva: Let me help you. –She gently took Clara's arm.
Clara: Thank you very much…
With a bit of effort, Jack and Clara managed to enter the sitting room. Beatriz simply watched them both in silence.
It wasn't long before Beatriz decided to speak first.
Beatriz: You know, you are one of the few men who endure Valentina's oppressive aura reasonably well.
Beatriz: Most of those I put to the test end up fainting or wetting themselves.
Beatriz: Pathetic behavior for a man. –She took a small sip of her tea.
Jack: Uh… Thanks, I guess…
(Jack) I don't know how I should take that. It sounds like a compliment, yet at the same time as if she expected much more from me.
But looking on the bright side (so to speak), now I know who was responsible for making Clara and me feel so awful.
Beatriz: Looking at you a little more closely, you're a moderately handsome boy.
Beatriz: When they first told me about you, I imagined you would be some mediocre-looking fellow—like one of those spoiled noble sons who barely know anything about politics.
(Jack) This woman is harsh. She doesn't hold back her contempt for other people at all.
Beatriz: Anyway, tell me a little about yourself.
(Jack) This is going to be complicated. I barely know anything about this person's life before I took control of his body.
(Jack) Another problem is that Clara is listening. If I say something out of the ordinary, even she might start to suspect me.
(Jack) But now that we're in this situation, maybe everything I say will just sound to Clara like something I made up.
(Jack) After all, we came here to break off my engagement.
Jack: Well… I'm not someone who particularly stands out, nor am I especially interesting.
Jack: I've simply focused on learning the customs and ways of various places.
Jack: While I was studying, what caught my attention the most was the subject of magic.
Beatriz: Magic… Mmm… –A hint of interest appeared in her expression.
Beatriz: This is the first time I've seen a man show interest in magic.
Jack: Is that true?
Beatriz: Magic isn't exclusive to women. It's just that very few men have ever managed to master it completely.
Beatriz: If I remember correctly, there has only been one man in the entire history of the kingdom since its founding who managed to reach the stature of a normal woman.
Jack: !!
Jack was genuinely astonished to hear that story. Perhaps if he managed to learn magic, he might have a chance to obtain a normal height and live a normal life alongside Clara and his family.
Seeing his reaction, Beatriz spoke words that quickly dampened Jack's excitement.
Beatriz: You'd better not get your hopes up. That man who supposedly achieved such a height was likely nothing more than a rumor.
Jack: A rumor?
Beatriz: In the few historical records that exist, that event supposedly took place about four hundred years ago, so there is no genuine way to confirm it.
(Jack) This is bad. I got excited for nothing.
Beatriz: Although… there is a possibility that it is neither true nor false.
Beatriz: The best course is to take this rumor with a grain of salt.
Beatriz: After all, even the greatest mages of this era do not possess the stature of a woman, so the question remains unanswered.
Beatriz: Did that man truly manage to achieve such a height?
(Jack) This is a problem. I have no idea how magic works completely, and already I want to have the stature of a woman.
(Jack) The most sensible thing is to investigate everything related to magic. Maybe I can find something the current mages don't know.
(Jack) For that, I need to start from scratch if I want to discover anything worthwhile.
Beatriz: In any case, we've had a pleasant conversation.
Beatriz: Now let's get to the point.
Beatriz handed her teacup to one of her maids and looked Jack straight in the eyes.
Beatriz: You know, I'm finding you a little interesting now.
Beatriz: But it's far too soon to draw any conclusions about you, so you'd best prepare yourself for tonight's gathering.
Beatriz: My father wishes to meet you.