Chapter 229: We Built a New Mansion (5)

"We have Sieri."

Eve grumbled. She had gotten into the carriage with Elsi and was leaning against the backrest. Intoxicated by the coziness of the carriage rolling over the bumpy unpaved road, she felt like she would lose consciousness if she closed her eyes for even a moment. As she shook her head to shake off the drowsy feeling and expressed her dissatisfaction, the knight riding on horseback alongside them spoke.

"Lady Peta Sieri doesn't have the lord's seal, so..."

"Right, fuck."

Eve belatedly realized the fact that she had brought the seal with her. It meant that from Sieri's position, it was a situation where she couldn't handle the approval on her behalf even if she wanted to. Elsi spoke.

"The mermaid is an idiot."

"...Just shut up."

Eve felt as if all the energy was draining from her body. The soldiers were running ahead on the path the carriage was taking. Eve stared at the soldiers, then raised her hand to stop the carriage and the knight, as if she had thought of something. The soldiers flinched and trembled at the sight of the carriage stopping right behind them. Eve spoke.

"You guys, come here."

Eve called the soldiers over by pointing a finger. Elsi thought she looked exactly like a band of thieves' boss. However, for the sake of their healthy relationship, she decided not to say those words out loud. Whether she knew Elsi's feelings or not, Eve was leaning diagonally against the window frame and looking down at the soldiers. Feeling fear toward the newly appeared lord, the soldiers took reluctant steps.

"W-What is the matter?"

The soldier's facial expression was saying, 'Please do not hit us.' Seeing that expression, Eve's heart softened a bit. She looked around her surroundings once and spoke.

"You guys. From now on, go around the entire territory here and tell them to send any suggestions to the Peta territory's lord's manor. Got it?"

"Yes. Understood. Is that all we need to do?"

Eve checked the number of soldiers present here right now. It was a single platoon consisting of just over ten personnel gathered together. Eve touched her chin for a moment in thought before shaking her head.

"What are your original duties?"

"It is to guard the surroundings here, the deepest part of the territory. Because it is for the safety of the lord and his family..."

"Then do this instead. Go around the entire territory once a week, collect suggestions, and deliver them over to the Peta territory. Got it? For the time being, I plan to keep the guard posts facing the Peta territory active as they are. So deliver them that way. Got it?"

"Yes! Understood!"

This was the best effort Eve could make right now. She had to continue overseeing the Peta territory's duties for one, but she couldn't neglect the other places either. Even so, it was absurd for Eve to handle her duties while alternating between the Peta territory's lord's manor and the Delmon territory's mansion. As the soldiers disappeared, Elsi spoke.

"Mermaid. You were cool just now."

"Yes. It truly felt like looking at the lord."

The knight beside her chimed in, agreeing with her. Feeling good at those words, Eve twitched the corners of her mouth and snickered. However, while doing so, she waved her hand and spoke, pretending not to be pleased.

"Oh, you don't have to go that far... Hey, don't praise me so much. Huh? I'm telling you, nothing will come out of praising me."

"Mermaid. It is written on your face that you feel good."

"Ahahaha! Fucking bitch."

Eve pinched and pulled Elsi's cheek as she laughed. Eve thought to herself. She was still doing well. It seemed she would receive praise when her husband returned. The moment she thought of that, it felt as if strength was suddenly returning to her body. Neither the issue of Rosalyn Yuba's mansion nor the issue of territory annexation frightened Eve right now.

****

"I'm back~."

Eve felt good until she returned to the mansion. She returned from her territory business trip with such a good-natured face that Sieri was actually the one who flinched. Seeing Sieri's sour face, Eve spoke.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just wondered if something good happened..."

"Nah, nothing much. Ah, Sieri."

Eve was about to pass Sieri before stopping her. As Sieri stared at her blankly, Eve smiled and spoke.

"I'm doing my job well right now, right?"

"Yes. Of course."

Sieri also nodded her head and affirmed it. Eve felt even better at those words. She was told that Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba was waiting in the reception room. As Eve entered the office, Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba tried to lift her heavy body to get up from the chair.

"Oh, oh my..."

However, her buttocks were stuck in the chair, and she couldn't get up. Eve bit her lip to hold back her laughter and found her seat to sit down as she spoke.

"Please don't get up. We will be family from now on, so there's no need to maintain such formality."

"Ah, yes... You are Lady Peta Eve, right? I've heard a lot about you from my dear."

"From Commander Robin?"

Right on time, Robin opened the door and entered. He was on his way in carrying teacups and a teapot with a goofy smile on his face. When Eve stared at him in disbelief, Robin smiled sheepishly and avoided her gaze. Rosalyn Yuba also blushed, perhaps feeling embarrassed by Robin's display, and spoke.

"I-I was the one who was unreasonable, saying I wanted to drink tea that he made himself."

"...I see."

Eve decided to believe her desperate excuse. Robin cleared his throat, put down the teapot and teacups, then went to sit on the opposite side. And naturally, he placed his hand on the back of Yuba's hand and began to stroke it. Eve spoke to Yuba.

"So, I heard my husband promised to build a separate mansion for you, but since he's currently on a business trip, the related budget hasn't been allocated at all. Therefore, I think it would be best if you could consider staying in this mansion for a while, and then moving out once your mansion is completed."

Rosalyn Yuba nodded her head at Eve's words. She had a very docile and affable personality, showing no repugnance even though Eve was fully exposing her scaly legs and sharp teeth, which were characteristics of a mermaid half-blood.

"I express my gratitude to you for showing me such consideration. Actually, I had heard that the mansion hadn't been built yet, but I was unreasonable and came here because I wanted to be with my dear."

"Wow, I envy you, Commander Robin."

As Eve made a sarcastic remark, Robin blushed and spoke.

"N-No! I mean, uh! I mean! I'm, uh!"

"Then, please enjoy your conversation. Take a look around the rooms and choose the one you want."

Eve rose from her seat again. Seeing the lovebirds made her want to see Lucius's face even more. Whether they knew Eve's feelings or not, the sweet whispers of love could be heard from behind.

"Fufu, Robin~."

"Fufu. My flower pig~."

Eve fell into thought as she closed the reception room door. She would have to start processing her duties in earnest from tomorrow, but just how much would the workload increase? And if they were to start construction on a new mansion, just how much of the budget would be drained?

"I'd like it if my husband called me by a pet name too."

Eve muttered like that. Hearing the term 'flower pig' made her want to hear a pet name of her own. It didn't even have to be anything that grand. Eve opened the door toward the swimming pool and went out. Cellu was floating leisurely on the water again today. Seeing her slouched over completely devoid of strength like a buoy or a rowboat, Eve was unconsciously swept up by the impulse to jump into the swimming pool with her and enjoy the leisure.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"Lying down."

"I can see that."

Eve grumbled unconsciously at Cellu's insensitive answer. Cellu turned her body and looked at Eve. Splash, splash, ripples formed in the swimming pool from the splashing sound.

"Is there something hard going on?"

"There's just too much work these days."

Eve grabbed the hand Cellu held out and pulled her out of the swimming pool. Cellu clung tightly next to Eve and spoke.

"But you look happy."

"Because my husband will praise me when he returns."

"Heh. I like that."

"You should praise me too, Mom. Tell me your daughter is the best."

"My daughter is the best-."

"Wow, zero sincerity."

Eve stroked Cellu's head as she clung tightly to her. As Eve pulled the strands of hair stuck to her cheek away, Cellu spoke.

"Still, you shouldn't overwork yourself. Everyone is worrying about you."

"I'm not overworking myself, Mom. More importantly, have you ever wanted to be called by a pet name?"

"A pet name?"

"Yeah. Like how I call my husband 'husband', a pet name."

Eve blushed as she said that. It was because this was an unfamiliar topic of discussion for her. Cellu stared at Eve without a word. At her strange expression, Eve grew flustered and asked.

"W-What's wrong?"

"Come to think of it. I've never thought about such a thing. A pet name."

"Robin calls Young Lady Rosalyn Yuba his flower pig. Something like that."

"Goldfish?"

"What the hell is that."

"Koi."

"Tsk, it's a good word, but it feels weird somehow. You want to be called a koi, Mom?"

"Heuk, that kind of nickname is terrible."

"Ah, what! Even you hate it, Mom. You wanna get scolded?"

Cellu avoided Eve's hand gestures and escaped into the swimming pool. Eve was about to follow Cellu into the swimming pool, but paused. Since she was in the middle of working, it would be a hassle to get her clothes wet. Cellu was looking at Eve from inside the water. Eve stood above the swimming pool.

At that moment, Eve felt a strange sense of loss. A strange sensation as if an invisible line had been drawn between the two of them. Eve shook her head to shake off that feeling. Then she clicked her tongue and spoke.

"...I'm letting you off just this once. Okay?"

"Heh."

Cellu grinned and submerged into the water. Eve threw a stone onto the water surface, which had grown still again. The stone sank into the water and did not resurface. Eve wished for Cellu to pop out and pull her in while asking why she threw it. However, she did not. She was just floating on the water and laughing pleasantly like usual. Watching that sight, Eve felt a strange emotion tightly constricting her chest for some reason.

"I'll come again."

"Yeah."