Belverk's third daughter, having barely escaped Lilien's threat, Kairen and Schwarz slowly left the corridor thick with killing intent.
"...You saw that, right."
"Yeah, I saw."
"Wow, what a show."
And just a few seconds later, the maids who had been hiding in the rooms around the site of the fight all poked their heads out the windows at once and began whispering among themselves.
"I was really curious about the Duke's hidden youngest son. He's kind of unexpected."
"Yeah, I thought another monster had shown up this time... but it was a little monster."
"...Yeah, isn't he too small and cute for a monster?"
"Did you see him bare his teeth and growl like he was trying to scare her? Heh heh..."
To the maids who were already fed up with Belverk's three monsters, the scene from moments ago felt incredibly fresh.
It was like seeing a kitten, thinking itself a ferocious beast, puffing up its body and growling at a monster that even they could barely meet eye-to-eye with.
"Is the personal maid position still open? I'd be happy to take it for that kid."
"You're crazy. You don't know when you'd scream your last breath."
"...And the personal maid spot's already taken by Schwarz."
"Argh, that crazy bitch. Always so quick when it counts."
And that fresh shock quickly spread as rumors among the maids in the mansion.
"Damn, I couldn't even get a good look at his face."
"Hey, let's sneak out tonight with the girls to get a peek."
"Yeah, we can't let Schwarz hog him all to herself."
"Come to think of it, it's not like only personal maids have to clean the rooms, right? Maybe we can lend a hand?"
They had encountered something new that couldn't be found in the mansion's previously bleak and murderous atmosphere, so it was only natural.
"...Hey, hey, you better not. The retainers' moods aren't good right now."
"Yeah, I just came from there, and the family head's office is already buzzing. One wrong move and a bloodbath might ensue..."
"And I heard from the maids dispatched outside that the eldest and second daughters are acting strange too. They might all return to the mansion soon."
However, separate from the maids gaining a new plaything called the 'little monster,' the mansion's atmosphere was growing increasingly tense.
"Will the Duke just remain an observer again this time...?"
"Shh! Are you insane?"
"...But given her personality, it's not unreasonable. Even if a real fight had broken out just now, she probably wouldn't have intervened."
In such a situation, as the maids' conversation deepened,
"Why, even on that day ten years ago when all of Belverk was shaken to its core, she just stayed silent..."
The chattiest maid unwittingly let the words slip out, then turned pale and hurriedly covered her mouth.
"..."
And silence fell over the corridor.
"...I didn't hear anything?"
"You'd better watch your mouth."
Even if Belverk's 'maids' had more privileges than those in other families and were in a league of their own, there were still a few things they must not do.
For instance, non-personal maids interfering in the heirs' competition.
Or mentioning 'that incident' from ten years ago.
"Oh, I still haven't finished cleaning upstairs."
"I, I forgot about the garden maintenance."
"I, I need to check on the retainers."
Just like that, the impromptu gathering in the corridor ended in an instant, and the place fell silent as if no one had been there to begin with.
"..."
And at that very moment, the door at the far end quietly opened, revealing someone who had been holding their breath inside.
"...An observer."
Surprisingly, the figure was Belverk's family head, Duke Astridje, who had supposedly gone to her office moments earlier.
'Yes, that is my vow. Even for my own son, there are no exceptions.'
Mulling over the maids' words quietly, she recalled the earlier incident in the corridor and spoke softly.
"...But."
As the maids who had served her for a long time said, Duke Astridje had observed everything impassively since the incident ten years ago.
No matter what happened, she always maintained her signature cold, expressionless demeanor, responding with emotionless detachment as if her heart had died.
"The me from just now..."
But unlike her usual impassive face, Astridje's complexion had slightly changed as she carefully wiped her forehead with her hand.
"...Would I really have stayed still if something had happened?"
The cold sweat beading on her forehead silently affirmed the doubt that had just arisen in her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
About three days after I finally became Belverk's youngest son amid all the twists and turns.
"Now, Young Master Kairen."
"...Mm."
"Please wake up."
Rubbing my sleepy eyes as I rose from the bed, I turned my bleary face toward the familiar voice beside me.
"Good morning."
Schwarz, who had become my personal maid three days ago and hadn't left my side even once, greeted me with a smile as always.
"Um, Schwarz."
"Yes?"
"...Do I really have to sleep right next to you like this?"
That was fine, but the problem was that this was on the bed.
It was already the third day of sleeping next to a girl (and I'd even hugged her in my sleep once), and for some reason, my conscience was starting to waver.
"I'm also in charge of your protection, Young Master Kairen."
"Still..."
"Did you know? In Belverk, being attacked in your sleep is as common as getting a poisoned sandwich at breakfast."
But Schwarz's concern was understandable. In a family where my sister threw knives at me in the hallway in broad daylight, it was plausible for assassins to sneak into the room at night.
"Even so, we don't need to be pressed up against each..."
"Young Master Kairen."
"...Eek."
Even so, I thought there was no need to be skin-to-skin constantly and tried to persuade Schwarz.
"If I say so, then that's how it is."
But after she leaned in close with a somewhat stern whisper, I muttered with a sulky expression.
"...Yes, Big Sister."
And silence ensued.
"Big Sister... you say."
"...?"
"...Haha, I'm your maid, you know? That doesn't suit a term for an inferior."
Schwarz's face went blank for a moment, then she tried to compose herself and gently scolded me.
"Can't I just call you Big Sister?"
"..."
"...Yes? Big Sister Schwarz."
But I put on the most innocent expression I could muster and whispered softly to her.
'Looks like this one's weak to being called Big Sister.'
From the past three days together, Schwarz was quite a dangerous person, but whenever I called her 'Big Sister,' she'd get flustered and snap back to normal.
So, calling her Big Sister might control her dangerous tendencies?
"Ha..."
My hypothesis was somewhat proven when Schwarz, gripping my shoulder with a dangerous look, suddenly covered her face with her hands and bowed her head.
"Ah, seriously. I can't take it."
I couldn't hear her mutter, but she was probably flustered by this new type of human and didn't know what to do.
The maids in this mansion seemed to find me refreshingly novel anyway.
Well, this was exactly the cliché of a romance fantasy child-rearing story—and the privilege of its protagonist—which I knew well.
So even if Schwarz had antisocial tendencies, I figured I could correct her with the clichés from the romance fantasy child-rearing stories I knew.
"Um, Young Master Kairen."
"What's wrong?"
"Would you mind taking a short walk in the garden? I'll catch up right away."
"Huh? But today you're supposed to tell me about my ability..."
As I was thinking that, Schwarz suddenly pushed my back and suggested a walk.
In the past three days, I'd learned Belverk's history and rules, and now it was time for the most important part: my abilities. A walk all of a sudden?
And hadn't she been stuck to my side 24/7 for protection?
"Young Master Kairen. You should listen to me right now."
"Huh."
As I tilted my head in confusion, Schwarz muttered softly, still covering her face with her hands.
"I'm all switched on right now in various ways. I might do something bad... no, something weird."
I didn't know what she meant, but it sent a chill down my spine, so I obediently left the room as she said.
It felt a bit uneasy going out alone, but the maids were friendly toward me, and since the incident three days ago, Lilien had shut herself in her room, so no one posed an immediate threat.
Besides, I couldn't rely only on Schwarz forever while living here. I needed to walk alone sometimes to earn recognition as a true Belverk.
"See you later, Big Sister Schwarz."
With that thought, I waved cheerfully at Schwarz, closed the door, and toddled off.
"I did well, right, Big Sister System?"
Saying that to praise myself to Big Sister System, who had chosen me, a message appeared before my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙This system respects the user's independent judgment. Well, good luck with everything.
Not quite the praise I expected, but whatever.
- Rattle, rattle...
For some reason, it sounded like something in the room was shaking?
'...Schwarz really is a weird one.'
I tilted my head for a moment, then remembered something more urgent and turned my steps.
'...Before the garden, I should go see Mom's face.'
To raise the maternal love stat to 50 within a month, it was time to start the charm offensive.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Mother!"
I boldly opened the door to the office and stepped inside, but...
"Kairen has come to pay his respects..."
After just a few steps, I froze in place.
"...Kairen?"
It was because the gazes of Mother, sitting grim-faced at the family head's desk, and the similarly grim-faced adults all turned to me at once.
"...Ah."
It didn't take long to realize those adults were Belverk retainers, clearly displeased by my appearance.