Life in Another World as a Maid Mage

The snow falling high on the roof is melted with the gentle warm magic of Shiori, and the wet cobbles are dried. The rooftop is made to be easy to walk. While the magical warmth remained, Annelier took a step toward the rooftop, prompted by "please". Under the stepped down foot, the heel of the boot makes a soft and pleasant sound. Dennis turned a strange gaze at Annelier, who had stopped.

"... what's wrong?

His red hair, like the sky at sunset, which he tilted his head to show, shook sharply.

Don't forget to look at these grass eyes. Those unfamiliar with the sharp cutouts said they were afraid, but Annelier loved her grass-colored eyes, which were gentle and soft and had been watching her for more than 15 years.

--Of course, the owner of those eyes.

"... nothing. I was just a little nervous."

"It's a view I've been wanting to see for years."

He laughed slightly at what he said, but it wasn't really the only purpose. If you just look at the view, you won't be so nervous.

For me, this is a ritual to settle my thoughts on Dennis.

Five years after I decided to separate myself by coming to this tower.

Success or failure. I didn't know which outcome would end. So, to be honest, I was grateful for the postponement that we couldn't allow it until we found a way to make sure it was safe.

Unless we start this trial, which may end in failure, we'll keep it the way it is - because he'll be there forever.

But at last - this is the time.

A few weeks ago, Dennis came to say excitedly, 'We finally have an adventurer who can keep us safe up to the tower.' When I heard the words, I was happy and complicated. The time has finally come to separate them. To be honest, I didn't want to stay a little longer.

However, in just two days to this place, I had several difficult experiences.

I was able to see up close the severity of the adventurer's world, the knowledge and experience to survive it, and the skilled adventurer's skills and manners.

The more scary and life-threatening the beast was encountered, the more precious it was - it was decayed, but I could also see the paintings of the mastermind Lucien Sarajev and the sculptures of the Bazarova dynasty.

Anyway, it was huge to meet an Oriental woman named Shiori Izumi.

Because I was able to break the walls of Dennis's heart, which made him reluctant to emigrate from the abominable experience of the past. It would take time for the "bad habit" to heal, but I think it was really good that it came to relieve the disgust of the dark-haired immigrant woman who was still bad at it.

(Dennis was able to go one step further, so I have to be prepared.)

--While knowing that they have feelings for each other, tell him again that he feels inferior in his bloodline but therefore did not step in ---and be prepared to see if he will accompany us.

I never took my mind forward. As you approach the narrow chest wall, the view on the other side gradually becomes visible.

"Wow...."

Someone cheered.

― ― A white, uninterrupted world spreading before your eyes.

"... is this the view you wanted to see, Annelier?"

"... yeah, that's right."

The surrounding forest, and the city area that should look small far away, are even covered in snow and hidden in the sky, and even sound and heat have been taken away.

"A world of pure innocence"

"Pure and innocent....."

I wondered if there was anything wrong with it, but there was a slight wrinkle between Dennis' eyebrows.

"I wanted to show you this view."

"... to me?

"Yeah. I guess I wanted to show you... I wanted to see it with you. It's been around for centuries, but it's like a" ritual "passed down to the Rovnells."

When I glanced at Balt, the servant nodded and showed that it seemed to be a complicated story.

"Could you excuse me for a moment?

When Balt called out to the adventurers, they seemed to understand. Alec thinks a little and then comes up with a suggestion.

"It's too far away for anything to happen. Forgive me for standing in a place where I can't hear you. And then, if you're going to stay here tonight, do you mind if I start camping?

"Yeah, I don't mind. Please."

They leave with Balt. After seeing them scattered all over the roof to fulfill their respective roles, Annelier turned to Dennis with a suspicious expression.

"... Dear Annelier"

I was called by my name to encourage you to tell me what it was like.

"Now, with Annie. Call me that. Nobody's listening."

"... is this personal, Annie?"

Dennis glanced at Balt and the adventurers who were doing each other's work, but he couldn't help it.

"It's a personal story, and I can say it's not."

"What is that?"

"I want to talk about your future and mine. I'm 25 years old, and I don't think I'm ready to succeed anymore, not just in my role as Lord."

"... is that what you're talking about right now in this place?"

His grass-colored eyes, which he loved so much, added to his ruggedness.

I wonder if you came all the way to this place to tell such a story while watching this scenery. Because of the new painting of the beloved mistress, it took years to gather information and finally arrive at this place - the real reason was to "discuss" with myself.

It's not just my husband's word, I can't accept that he came to this place for "that's all" he can say if he needs to.

"I told you. It's like a ritual passed down to the Rovnells. No, I think we should call it a challenge... it's very important to me and to the house. That's why I wanted to come here."

"The Ritual of the Rovnells? I've never heard of it....."

"That's right."

Annelier smiled.

"Rituals and trials are just what we call them for convenience, and they've only been done twice in hundreds of decades. Last time it was on my great-grandmother's behalf, I didn't do it when I was grandfather or father, so it's no wonder I didn't know."

It's my great-grandmother's. Like Annelier, she succeeded the governor as a woman, four generations ago.

The Rovnells are accustomed to the eldest son inheriting the house from generation to generation, regardless of gender. Her great-grandmother, who died before Annelier was born, and the first person to perform the ritual were also women.

"... that is, a ritual performed when we were women?

"That's how it's gonna be for now."

"Was it still done at the time of the winter snow in this tower in Silveria?"

"Yes, it seems so. She was the first woman to perform the ceremony, the Reese Bet, but she was a very brave woman... and she visited here twice in the winter and almost every summer as if she liked the view."

I happened to have the chance to come in winter, and that's how I saw this white world. I saw this scenery and thought of a "ritual".

A ritual to convey false thoughts, persuade, and welcome as a companion to a person of one's choice. If we cannot overcome this, we cannot accompany those we have chosen to love from the bottom of our hearts and to be worthy as partners.

This was, so to speak, a test for the female lead.

"--Annie... you..."

Cousin, one of those words made Dennis so upset that he could swim his gaze.

"... some of the female protagonists didn't perform rituals. At that time, there were all the conditions for not having to do so. The identity of myself and the opponent were proportionate, so we were able to be together almost without any problems. My great-grandmother and Reese bets... didn't fit. He was a low-status opponent. So no matter how much they thought of each other, they didn't really understand."

Although it was a stridium that had emerged into other countries and women's social advancement had progressed, the trend of male superiority and female inferiority still persisted. Especially if he was a high-ranking man.

It is not a problem if there is a difference as much as the title, but it is basically not very good to think that a woman who marries has a higher status. Because women should obey men.

A woman with a weak heir to a noble family is licked. So shouldn't I let my son-in-law do the work by welcoming someone of the right status to my partner?

Even the Rovnells, who for centuries have been defending the idea of the eldest son succeeding the governor regardless of gender, continue to say so from inside and outside, so I don't know if a man who is required to be his son-in-law will succumb. Even if we were together, we would rather be criticized on the side of the Countess, who had a lowly son-in-law - who would not want to hurt the woman she loved, but would rather pull herself away.

Just like Dennis was.

But you've always been there because Annelier wanted it so bad. Not only because I love him, but also because he excels as a servant and secretary, and fully understands the image of the Rovnell family that the current lord has been protecting for generations. He is the only person with no extra ambition except Balt.

But it was time for the tide. Although the inheritance is comfortable regardless of gender, I am 25 years old. If you think it is one of your duties as a lady of nobility to have several children, it will be physically tough if you make a decision here.

Besides, I didn't want to keep Dennis single forever. If I hadn't kept it, I might have gotten a lovely companion and had one or two children.

That's why we're done.

--even if they didn't accept my thoughts.

Dennis looked at herself silently from the front.

The white one that spreads behind him - the beautiful red-haired, sunset that contrasts beautifully with pure, innocent white.