Chapter 101: Cassandra
My fourth visit to the royal palace in this life. It came about in an unexpected way.
“Princess Claudia, I heard you summoned me, so I have come.”
“Thank you for coming, Dee, Ria. Is that child with you?”
“Yes, please allow me to introduce my younger sister.”
“You have my permission.”
“This is my younger sister, one year my junior, Lily.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Princess Claudia. My name is Lily Baumgarten.”
I had been worried, but I was relieved to see Lily perfectly playing the part of a noble young lady, rather than her usual blunt demeanor. However, the drawback is that Lily’s face is as expressionless as ever. She’d be cute if she smiled…
“I’m surprised that Dee and Ria have such an adorable younger sister. Now, all three of you, please have a seat.”
“Excuse us.”
Claudia guided us to a luxurious-looking white sofa.
This room seems to be Claudia’s private reception room. The sofa, table, and other furniture, all based on a white color scheme, have a girlish and cute design. Cornelia was looking around the room enviously.
Since the mansion in the Baumgarten Territory has been newly rebuilt, I hope it will be to Cornelia’s satisfaction.
“Please.”
As soon as we sat on the sofa, tea and sweets were immediately served. Such swift and refined movements. Perhaps I can incorporate this into the training in the Baumgarten Territory.
Thinking that, I looked at the maid-san who had prepared the tea and sweets, and saw she was still a young woman. I recognized her. She was the girl who served as Claudia’s attendant maid at the academy. And she’s the beautiful girl who was by Claudia’s side as a maid when I first met Claudia.
Is she around eighteen? She’s more beautiful than cute. Her figure is also very good. Especially her chest, it’s amazing. My eyes are inadvertently drawn to them.
Thwack!
“Kuh!?”
While I was casually looking at the maid-san’s chest, a sharp pain shot through my sides from both directions. Cornelia and Lily had elbowed me. It hurts. However, thanks to that, I was able to tear my eyes away from the maid-san’s chest.
It would be pathetic to get a bad reputation for staring at a maid’s chest. If I were to say I was saved, I guess I was… saved?
“Are you curious too, Dee?”
“Eh?”
No way, did Claudia also notice I was looking at the maid-san’s chest!? They say women are sensitive to gazes, and it’s true… Scary…
“You know her too, don’t you, Dee? This girl is Cassandra Altmeier. You must have at least heard the rumors about her, Dee?”
Rumors? What are you talking about?
“Don’t tell me you don’t know!?”
Claudia showed an expression of extreme surprise. Apparently, it’s quite a famous rumor…?
Lately, I’ve been busy gathering personnel to take to the Baumgarten Territory. Not having looked into the nobles’ rumors much has come back to bite me. I should try to keep my antennas up more consistently.
“That’s truly pitiful for Dora. Or perhaps he’s intentionally keeping it quiet?”
“Grandfather does have a mischievous side…”
Dora must be her nickname. Cassandra furrowed her brows in a troubled manner.
I’ve thought this before, but Claudia and Cassandra seem to be quite close. It’s like they have their own world, or something that only the two of them understand. When Claudia was saved from the Curse of the Evil God, Cassandra was crying tears of joy.
However, I don’t know Cassandra’s Grandfather, do I? Did I meet him somewhere?
No, wait a minute. What did she say Cassandra’s surname was?
“Altmeier…?”
Could that be General Altmeier’s family? It’s not a branch family or anything, right?
“Have you finally realized? Dee can be terribly dense at times, can’t he? That’s right. Dora is General Altmeier’s granddaughter.”
“Thank you for your help regarding my grandfather.”
“No, I’m glad if I was of any help…”
That was too unexpected. How can the granddaughter of that rock-like muscle-bound daruma be such a beautiful girl!? This is fraud! Genes, do your job!
“It seems General Altmeier also intended for Dee not to be informed, so I shall keep my lips sealed, alright?”
“Ehh…?”
What’s that? That sounds kind of scary, though? Come to think of it, that muscle-bound old man did say something about a reward for me, didn’t he? I thought it was over since I received a congratulatory gift when I became a Count… Don’t tell me there’s still more?
“By the way, Dee, are you returning to your territory? Such rumors are being whispered about.”
“Yes. I must take command of the territory’s development.”
“Is that so… That’s right. Let’s do that.”
Claudia, who had shown a fleetingly lonely expression, suddenly brightened up as if she had thought of something.
“What is it?”
“Ufufu. It’s still a secret from Dee. I’m sure Father will permit it as well. I’ve come up with a good idea, if I do say so myself.”
“(Gulp…!)”
A King-related matter? Is it something serious enough to involve the King? If possible, I’d like you to tell me soon, though? Since I don’t have the right to refuse, I at least want time to mentally prepare myself…