Chapter 3-4 : My Overprotective Maid
「Thea!? What are you doing here!?」(Kako)
The woman who sat next to me was actually the maid I’ve known very well.
Unlike me, who was surprised to see her here, she looked calm as usual. She put her index finger on her lips and hushed.
「Kako ojou-sama, keep your voice down. You’re bothering other passengers.」(Thea)
「Aa! I’m sorry!」(Kako)
「Arara~ don’t worry about it. Children being noisy means they’re healthy.」(passenger)
When I apologized, the gentle-looking old woman sitting in front of me gave me a smile.
I wanted to correct her that I wasn’t a child, but I was more concerned about Thea.
I returned my gaze to her and talked in a low voice.
「You still haven’t answered my question!」(Kako)
「I will explain to you later, but for now, you should hold thight because it will be shaking really hard.」(Thea)
「Eh?」(Kako)
As soon as Thea warned me, the stagecoach began to shake even more violently.
BRRRRRRRRRRーー
「Waaa! Why is it shaking so much?」(Kako)
「Fufu. You’ll see. You can hold my hand.」(Thea)
「Un.」(Thea)
I held Thea’s hand with one hand while holding Nyat’s paw with the other hand.
Not long after, the stagecoach stopped shaking, but it began to tilt in exchange, and at the same time, I felt a strange feeling, especially in my stomach. It was a similar feeling when you were using an elevator to go up.
「Kako ojou-sama, look outside.」(Thea)
「Hm?」(Kako)
Prompted by Thea, I turned my head around and looked through the window.
「ーWhoooaaaa!!」(Kako)
The first thing I saw was the clouds and the blue sky.
That’s right. This stagecoach is flying!
It was quite a rough start, but now I know why it was shaking so much. This stagecoach was shaking because it was trying to gain speed to take off.
Now that I think about it, the creature that’s pulling this stagecoach is a giant bird. Of course, we’ll be flying!
「Kako ojou-sama, if you look down, you can see the entire city.」(Thea)
「You’re right! It’s so beautiful!」(Kako)
I shifted my gaze downward and saw the beautiful city of the eastern capital.
Looking at the entire city from up here made me realize how great Father was for governing such a big city.
「This is amazing! I feel like I’m on an airplane!」(Kako)
「Air… plane…?」(Thea)
「Ah, it’s nothing. I was just talking to myself. More importantly, why are you here? I thought you were on some kind of mission from Father somewhere.」(Kako)
「Actually, you’re not entirely wrong. I am on a mission from Lord Elvent. A mission to take care of you during your trip.」(Thea)
「So, Father told you to keep an eye on me, huh?」(Kako)
「Exactly.」(Thea)
「Hahh… He worries too much. He knew I had Nyat with me but he still sent you. Hm? Wait…」(Kako)
Now that I’ve mentioned his name, my attention shifted to the big white catto sitting next to me.
Noticing my gaze, he looked away from me for some reason.
「Nyat, you knew about this, didn’t you?」(Kako)
「Nya!? I had no idea-nya! I heard nothing-nya! I didn’t know she was here either-nya!」(Nyat)
「Really…? You look suspicious-nya. Are you really telling me the truth-nya?」(Kako)
「I am-nya! So stop copying my talking habit-nya!」(Nyat)
「Kako ojou-sama, Nyat-sama is telling the truth. Lord Elvent didn’t tell him about me. You may think you don’t need me, but I will try my best to be useful to you. I will take care of you like I normally do, from waking you up in the morning, helping you change clothes, preparing your meals, washing your clothes, helping you with bathingー」(Thea)
「ーHo, hold on! I don’t think I need that much assistance! First of all, we’re not in the mansion. Also, I’m traveling as a merchant, not as a lady from a noble family.」(Kako)
「Hmm, in that case, I will try to be useful in different ways then. For example, helping you negotiate with other merchants.」(Thea)
「Help me with negotiation? How?」(Kako)
「Your appearance and status are important when you negotiate with merchants. It’s over once they look down on you. However, if I’m with you, they may think you are a rich merchant who is rich enough to hire a loyal servant. That way, they won’t look down on you even though you’re still very young.」(Thea)
「Hmmm…..」(Kako)
I folded my arms and thought.
Honestly, what she said totally makes sense. She can be useful to me that way.
However, that’s not what I’m worrying about. I’m worried that I won’t be able to use my Synthesis Skill anytime I want. I can only use it while she’s not around.
While I was thinking, Nyat bent down and whispered to me.
「Kako, I understand your concern, but it’s too late-nya. We’re already flying in the sky, so we can’t just send her back home-nya.」(Nyat)
「You’re right.」(Kako)
Looks like I have no choice but to let her accompany me.
「Umm… Alright, I understand. Thea, you can go with me.」(Kako)
「Thank you, Kako ojou-sama. I promise I won’t disappoint you.」(Thea)
I couldn’t help but sigh.
But, as expected from Father. He’s so clever. Knowing I would refuse, he told Thea to go ahead and wait for me here. Thea is also clever. She didn’t reveal her face until this stagecoach started to move.
Well, I got unexpected company with me, but I would be lying if I said I’m not looking forward to having fun with Thea on this trip.
◆◆◆
Enjoying traveling on this flying stagecoach in the sky, I couldn’t take my eyes off the beautiful scenery through the window. After all, this was the first time I had seen this world from a bird’s-eye view.
There were so many strange places that I had never seen before on earth such as six lakes of different colors that formed a hexagonal shape, a giant pillar of shiny crystal sticking out of the top of a mountain, a volcano that spew lava high into the sky from its peak like a fountain, and many more.
「Whoaaa! Nyat, look, that mountain looks so weird! And that huge tree! What tree is that?」(Kako)
「I know you’re excited-nya, but keep it down-nya.」(Nyat)
Seeing the wondrous view from up here, I couldn’t help but act like a child.
ーNo, I’m not a child.
「Kako ojou-sama, aren’t you hungry? It’s time for lunch.」(Thea)
「Is it that time already? Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit hungry.」(Kako)
I was so engrossed by the scenery that I didn’t realize that a few hours had passed since we took off.
I don’t think they will serve passengers in-flight meals like Japan Airlines did, so I guess we have to prepare our own food.
I was thinking of taking out three lunch boxes for the three of us from my magic bag, but Thea beat me to it.
「Before I left the mansion, the head chef prepared lunch for us.」(Thea)
Saying that, Thea took out a large lunchbox from her pocket.
Wait… Her pocket…?
「Ehhh!? Thea, how did youー」(Kako)
The lunchbox was as large as a stacked box used for an ‘osechi’ you usually eat on New Year’s Eve.
*/TL : Osechi box
Just how in the world could such a big lunchbox fit in her pocket!?
Looking at my confused face, Thea explained.
「This is not just an ordinary pocket. It’s a magic bag.」(Thea)
「A magic bag? But, won’t magic bags break if you modify them?」(Kako)
「Not, if you’re careful enough. I attach a magic bag to this dress as a pocket and sew them together really carefully so as not to damage the bag.」(Thea)
「You can do that? I knew you were good at sewing, butー as expected from a super maid! Can you do it to my dress?」(Kako)
「Yes, but it will be much easier if we make the dress from scratch.」(Thea)
「I see. Then, can you design and make a new dress with a magic bag pocket for me?」(Kako)
「M, me… designing a dress for… Kako ojou-sama…?」(Thea)
Thea suddenly opened her eyes wider and muttered to herself. She then clenched her fist and answered my question with a loud, energetic voice.
「Of course! It will be my pleasure! I will get to work as soon as we arrive at the town!」(Thea)
「U, un…」(Kako)
I don’t know why she’s so excited, but I hope she will make the dress simple. I don’t want to stand out too much.
「Ahem! Pardon me… Shall we eat now, Ojou-sama?」(Thea)
「Yeah.」(Kako)
「Am I getting a lunchbox too-nya? I’m hungry-nya.」(Nyat)
「Yes. The head chef prepared one for Nyat-sama too.」(Thea)
Thea took out another big lunchbox and a fork and then handed them to Nyat.
Unlike mine, what was inside Nyat’s lunchbox was mostly meat.
「Nyaaa~! Praise the head chef-nya! He really knows what I love-nya! *Munch munch*!」(Nyat)
Seeing Nyat eating his lunch deliciously somehow made me feel more hungry.
Thea took out another fork from her magic pocket. I thought she was going to give it to me, but she kept it for herself.
「Umm, Thea, can I have a fork too?」(Kako)
「You don’t need it.」(Thea)
「Huh?」(Kako)
I was confused.
Ignoring my reaction, Thea stabbed a piece of meat with the fork andー
「Kako ojou-sama, open your mouth. Say aaaaann~」(Thea)
ーbrought it toward my face…
「Whaー Wait, wait, wait! So I don’t need a fork because you will feed me!?」(Kako)
「Yes.」(Thea)
「I’m not a child! I can eat by myself!」(Kako)
While yelling at Thea, I quickly snatched the fork from her hand and ate the meat.
「Uuu… I’ve been dreaming of feeding Kako ojou-sama… I couldn’t do it in the mansion because My Lord always watched over her… I thought I could do it here… Uuu…」(Thea)
She muttered to herself again.
Does she want to feed me that badly? But, no, I can’t let her!
「Nyaaa nya nya nya!!」(Nyat)
Watching me being treated like a child, Nyat laughed annoyingly.
This cat…!
「Oops, my hand slipped!」(Kako)
Venting my annoyance, I thrust my fork toward Nyat’s lunchbox, trying to steal his grilled meat, butー
「Too slow-nya!」(Nyat)
ーCLANK!
He quickly yet elegantly blocked my fork with his.
「Dang it! But I won’t give up! HYAAAAAAAAA!!」(Kako)
「Challenge accepted-nya! NYANYAAAAAA!!」(Nyat)
Nyat and I started fencing with our forks.
ーCLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
However, Thea immediately stopped our duel.
「Stop it, both of you! You’re bothering other passengers again!」(Thea)
「ーAa…」(Kako)
「Nya…」(Nyat)
We were too carried away and started acting childishly. This is so embarrassing…
「Kako ojou-sama, you’re not behaving well. And for that, you will be punished.」(Thea)
「Eeehhh…」(Kako)
「Don’t “Eehhh” me. As the daughter of a marquis, you can’t behave in such a vulgar way in front of other people. And as your punishmentー」(Thea)
While talking, Thea swiftly snatched back the fork from me.
「ーyou have to stay still and let me feed you.」(Thea)
「What!?」(Kako)
「Now open your mouth. Say aaaaannn~」(Thea)
「Ugh…」(Kako)
Seems like I have no other choice.
「A… Aa……. Aaaaaannnn…」(Kako)
As soon as I reluctantly opened my mouth, Thea put a piece of meat in it using the fork.
「Good. Is it delicious?」(Thea)
「Un…」(Kako)
I couldn’t believe I would be fed by someone at this age…
But, honestly… It doesn’t feel that bad… Instead… It feels kinda… good…?
ーNo, no, no! What am I thinking!? I’m not a child!
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