"That, Raini? Welcome back?"

"... I'm back now"

Returning to the outhouse, Master Anis finds me and leans his neck in wonder. I speak with a bitter smile at Master Anise's specs.

You perceived something in my bitter smile, Dear Annis, leaking an unspoken voice like looking for words.

"Er... good day? You want me to make you some tea?

"No, you can't let Lady Anise do that."

"Then go with the tea. I was just about to take a breath."

If you ask me out like that, I can't say no either. I feel sorry but nod and walk with Master Anis.

When he enters the salon of the outhouse, Master Anis makes tea using magic props in a way he is accustomed to. I'm making them ready. I don't know what I'm saying, but I wonder if it's a good idea to make them royal over and over again.

"What about Ilia?

"I happened to meet him, so he took my place."

"Oh well."

A short conversation. Until I'm done preparing my tea, I drop my shoulders with a heavy heart.

I feel heavy without interruption. Maybe that's all mental fatigue. Recent calls from men are likely to evoke the trauma of the past and cause me to catch my breath.

I noticed that I was stunned because I heard the sound of Anis putting away tea made for me.

Excuse me.

"Go ahead, not as good as the two of you, though."

"What will the royals do with the tea in the first place?"

Take a sip of the tea that Master Anis brewed for me. So I was finally able to exhale, and I lost extra power from my body.

Master Anis is also sitting in the opposite seat drinking tea. After putting the cup back in the saucer, Master Anis turned his gaze to me.

"Looks like I've been feeling pretty down, okay?

"It's okay...... I just wanted to say, it's a little hard......"

"Maybe again?

"Again."

Aha, and Master Anis puts his hand on his forehead with a bitter face as he leaks his voice.

"Now who?

"Count Mallow's Paulette, right?"

"Oh...... I wrote a reply I declined. You're getting more and more persistent."

"Sorry for the inconvenience…"

I smiled bitterly and could only answer that.

When I feel down, I have thoughts that come to mind. I know I should never say that, but I've spoken that word out of a loose feeling.

"... me, you just annoy me wherever I am"

"Raini"

Master Anis looks a little angry at my whining and stares at me.

"Raini is causing trouble. Sorry about the guy who annoys you."

"But..."

"But nothing. I don't think Raini is annoying. There are many things that helped Raini. So you don't have to be sick."

Master Anis's words are a little stronger, but very sweet. The back of my eye gets twitchy and hot.

I don't like it when I'm weak, but I realize it. I want the words I want. So I said something weak.

I can't do this, I shake my head left or right. Lift the cup with both hands so you can get your mind back together and have tea.

"But I guess I'll have to think about it in a bit of a hurry"

"Huh?"

"You can't leave Raini in all this state, can you? Have you heard anything from Ilaria about the future of the outhouse?

"Uh, are we talking about more personnel in the outhouse?

What I had in mind was a conversation I had with Master Ilia before coming to the outhouse. When I mouth my thoughts, Master Anis makes me snort.

"Yes, I'm not thinking about letting the boulders live out of the palace like Ilia or Raini, but I think it's time to increase the number of people who can take care of us and stuff around us. For Yufi, for me, we're going to be busier. There will be more inspections and other actions if you put your back in."

"That's... right"

I live out of the palace now, and Mr. Anis has not participated in government affairs to the point of being aggressive. But I know it's only a matter of time.

Expectations of Dear Annis, both civilian and aristocratic, are great. As the founder of magic, it is not difficult to imagine that Anis will be asked to play a major role in the future.

"What's the matter? We're going to need manpower, and more people are going to be close to us. I don't think we can all get along, but I want to crush any element of anxiety. I'm sure not all the people who understand the situation are told by Raini's man."

"That's right."

In fact, some of the samurai who work for the royal castle hate me too. I try not to get too involved with those people, but sometimes I get novels.

Even though I don't know what else to do with all this, I'm not convinced either because I don't want you to speak up. I just want to work for the Anis...

"The quick thing is you make someone. Halfis hastened his marriage."

"Well... after all, I want to be close to Anis and Uphilia, because there's a connection, and I can't help but be kind to me."

"That's why you're bad at dictating Raini. You forgot one thing about Al? I think so."

"haha......"

I do wonder if you really want to marry me for causing such a training ground. I have that suspicion that you can really like me myself.

I don't think I want to get married, and I don't think I want a lover. I want to serve the Anis quietly as they are. Because I want to repay you for rescuing me from that helpless hell.

"I guess you don't know who he doesn't... because Uffi was quietly pretty before this too"

"Huh? Is Master Uphilia there?

"I don't care if you're a mistress, shouldn't you think about inheritance? They said something like that."

"Wow..."

It is already a well-known fact that Master Uphilia is drowning Master Anis. So welcome my son-in-law, even though no one says so. I don't have to be my son-in-law. I don't have the idea of a mistress or anything. Maybe I can think of this because I treat it like I'm in my body.

I do think inheritance is important. But Master Uphilia is questioning whether the next king is even a child born of a spiritual contractor. I recall talking to Lady Anis that the issue of inheritance should be considered after the situation in the country has been put in place.

"I haven't been invited to a boulder by my mistress."

"I'm going to look into your heart, Master Ufiria..."

"Maybe that's how chaotic things are. It's all unprecedented, so I'm desperate to keep myself safe. Maybe I can't see underfoot.... That's why I can't save you."

At the end of the day, I grin bitterly at Master Anis, who squeals and drops.

It certainly doesn't seem like that Master Uphilia would have a lover besides Master Anis.

I don't know who suggested the mistress, but I just think it's getting dark ahead.

"Anyway! Maybe it's time to try to flush it passively. If you can't stand it in silence, it's a shame. Raini can't stand it in silence, can she?

"Right......"

"But you also tell Raini to look out for him..."

"That's... hey..."

"That's right..."

Political marriage may be something I can't help but have a little bit of a ride for me that I still can't get out of feeling when I was a civilian.

Master Anis and I sigh overlapping and spit out. I don't even think I know what to do.

"Go ahead... use the power of vampires already..."

"Don't do that..."

In the end, I tried talking to Master Anis as it was, but the solution didn't come up.

My work as a samurai will be over by night. I was heading for the bath to sweat in the outhouse baths. It has become a habit to soak in the water completely since I started living in the outhouse, and I want to take a bath at my parents' house.

It was quite a while ago that I had a bathhouse built in my parents' mansion with a salary that wasn't meant to be used thoughtfully. Now my mother-in-law totally likes it and is very happy with it. When I think it was because of the magic props developed by Anis, I think Anis is amazing after all.

"Raini, are you going to take a bath?

There were signs that people were approaching me as I was taking off my clothes. It was Master Ilia who came in while avoiding the partition cloth at the entrance by hand.

"Dear Ilia! Good job. Um, thank you so much for taking turns today..."

"No, I don't mind"

Master Ilia keeps her baggage on the shelf and begins to take off her clothes. It's not the first time I've seen Ilia's body because we sometimes go into the bathroom together, but I fall in love with it more than once.

You noticed my gaze, and Ilaria turned her gaze, so I hurriedly took off my clothes, which I was about to take off, and headed ahead to the bathroom to delude myself.

Clean your body first. The precautions for taking a bath are taught by Anis, who seems to have various restraints. I don't think Anise is very interested in fashion or anything, but she is keen on washing her hair and skin. Is that all you like to bathe in?

"Phew..."

Why, when I go into hot water, I exhale naturally.

Soaking it up to your shoulders in hot water that warms you up pompously feels like fatigue falling out of your core.

I think it's a really great invention to be soaked in relaxing water because using magic props keeps the temperature constant.

"Neighbor, excuse me"

"Ah, go ahead."

A little later than me, Ilaria can dip her body in the water. It won't take long because I haven't stretched my hair that far, but Master Ilia is quite long when she unties the hair she's knitting. So washing my hair seems to take a while.

Although the longest out-of-house is Master Uphilia. The Uphilia does not seem to like long baths, but rather has cleansed her hair and body for a long time. He's restless to keep soaking it in hot water, and when it's the temperature that Anis prefers, he puts it right up.

Master Anis seems to like being a little soaked in hot water. As much as I'm going to put it up when I'm dating you, I often take the most baths if you care about it.

I think it's a little funny that there are fine preference differences in the same bath. By the way, I like to be soaked in a little lukewarm water.

Speaking of which, you don't talk like that with Master Ilia. When I looked at Ilia sitting next to me, not knowing it, I closed my eyes and saw Ilia pulling out her shoulder strength.

…… Something? "

"Oh, no. This is how I use the bath, but I thought each one had a fine preference."

"Ah... Master Anisphere prefers a long bath with hot water, but Master Uphilia is easy to put up."

"Yes. I like to relax in warm water. You never talked to Ilaria like that..."

"Is that me?... If you insist, you could heat it up a little bit. I think you prefer long baths."

"Haha, looks like it's just Master Uphilia that doesn't take long baths"

"If we talk like that, Master Uphilia will be stubborn."

That's what Ilia squeals as she lifts her mouth just a little and smiles. I nod to agree, too.

"Master Uphilia, if you're out of the palace, you'll see it all the time, but I'm only going to do that here."

"Yep. It's good to have a place where you can breathe."

"I really do. Master Uphilia will have a real hard time..."

"... what about you? Raini."

"Huh?"

Not anticipating Ilia's inquiry, I turn my gaze to Ilia.

As usual, the faceless Ilia noticed her gaze on me as if she was complaining that she was worried only by her gaze.

"Don't you think it's a burden, too? To the obstinate invitation of His Highness."

"... it is, though. But that's all I am."

"You may not think so, but we believe that the wounds you receive are not inferior to those received by Master Uphilia. It's just a difference in standing position. The scratches and burdens you suffered in that engagement break-up riot must be very heavy, right?

Unexpectedly I pulled my lips hard and tied them. Bring your knees in by bending your back so that you sink straight into the water to your neck.

"So much so that Master Uphilia suffers from male phobia."

"... after all, is that so"

"It seems to have calmed down recently, but it must have been Lady Anis. It seems easier to have distrust as soon as you get romantic feelings from a man. Even that Uphilia."

"... I don't think so, do I?

Dark as it sounds to me, I answer vaguely. Maybe if they say yes, maybe they do, or if they say they think too much. I'm not sure it's me there.

Because I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to touch on stories involving romantic matters in the first place. Because I have long been swayed by problems involving the opposite sex. Maybe that's why I'm rejecting you more about romance than about men.

"I can't firmly say no. It's my fault. I'm giving Anise and the others a lot of trouble..."

"Even if you say no clearly, depending on the person's response, it doesn't make it right either."

"So what do I do..."

I get my lips pointed like I'm obstinate. If that were the case, nothing would remain to be solved forever.

Even I know. He said if you can really get engaged, it's easy to make someone. I also have the trust that if I talk to the Anis, they will look for the right person with me.

But I don't feel like I can be happy when I'm engaged or married. If I were to be happy, I would serve Anis and Uphilia as a samurai.

"... it's not like I don't have a hand."

"Huh?"

"I will take the same approach as Master Ennis."

"With Master Anis...?

"I'm going to go around publicly saying that my paedophile is a woman.

Oh, and I accidentally leaked my voice. Speaking of which, Master Anis escaped the engagement story by saying that women were better off originally.

"Then there will be fewer men to speak to."

"... that may be so"

"Don't you like that, too?

"... I, I can't be in love in the first place. I'm scared to fall in love with people or like them..."

Losing my mother, being put in an orphanage and then being mean to boys, obsessed, they all went crazy.

It was then that I began to live to lurk my breath so that no one would notice me. That hasn't changed since your father picked you up and made you a courtier.

"I'm scared. The fact that I like me makes me crazy. I just like it, or friendship is fine. But love is scary. I can't stand people going crazy. No matter how much vampire power you can contain, that's what I'm afraid of..."

Maybe I was desperate to gain control of my power in the end to escape that fear. I'm not lying about my desire to repay you because that came true.

But I want to turn away. From love itself, because people like it. Because I don't want to drive anyone's life crazy anymore.

"... Raini. One day, I told you. Do you remember telling a similar story then?

"Huh?"

"You decided to go home, back then."

"... Oh, yes. You inspired Ilya back then."

I remember. Even then, I did become mentally anxious and show my weakness to Master Ilia.

I was worried if I could stay here, and I was afraid that the happiness of being able to stay in this warm place would be lost. Master Ilia encouraged me to do that. I can remember that day right away.

"I think you've grown very much compared to those days. You've been so enthusiastic about your job that you think you can leave it to me. I'm glad you're here."

"Uh. Oh, thank you......"

"If I could serve Anisphere and Uphilia with you like this, it would make me happy."

"... I'm so glad you said that"

That's why I can't stand situations where you can't work well.

My heart is distracted by the words of Iliah, which are more feverish than usual. It is very unsettling to have such delightful, dreadful emotions on your mind.

Master Ilia is to me a work boss, a senior, a man of respect and goal. I'm really glad you said that from such an Illia...

"- So why don't you do it to me?

So I didn't anticipate any of those next words.

Uh. There are zero meaningless words out of my mouth. Although Ilaria is faceless, it is not natural as usual, but looks like a look she made somewhere.

"Dear Ilia...? What is that...?

"I am loving you. As a junior, as a colleague, as a person. You talked about it one day. I'm a lot of missing people. He was a man who knew only as much as he loved."

Master Ilia's hand reaches out to my cheek. I can't move with my back, and I just accept that Ilaria's hand touches my cheek.

"It would hurt you to say something like this, knowing that you were once fascinated. Even so, I don't think I can do anything for you just by looking at it anymore. That doesn't seem to hold up to me anymore."

Is it because my body was warmed by soaking in water? As I dyed my cheeks pearly, Master Ilia told me slowly, staring straight at me with a serious look.

"Can't I be the other guy? Raini."