Tensei Reijou wa Shomin no Aji ni Uete Iru

Promptly returning home.
After passing through the gates of the academy, we were able to move at a leisurely pace without worrying about being seen.
All the way from the time I left the dormitory to the time I left the gate, I was getting a lot of stares from students and staff…
Sometimes they would say, “Oh! It’s the Sacred Beasts!” and sometimes, there would be students pointing at me.
And then, people who weren’t looking at us would start paying attention to the carriage, so we had to be careful.

“Fuu…”
“You have it hard, Tea.”

As I unconsciously exhaled, Oniisama, who was sitting opposite me, spoke to me with concern.
Even though the carriage was large because it was Duke’s carriage, it was a bit cramped since we all rode in it. That’s why we had the Byakko-sama and Suzaku-samaa miniaturized in their Sacred Beast forms, and sat in a line of men and women: Kurogane, Oniisama, Sei with the Byakko-sama on his lap, Suzaku-samas across from him, me with Mashiro in my arms, and Miria.

“Yeah… but, Oniisama must had it difficult today as well.”
“Ahh, yes… This morning, I was suddenly asked to make arrangements with the student council to prevent students from running amok in the venue.”

Ahhh… I’m really sorry for the inconvenienceeee!

“Oniisama, I really apologize for this…”
“Tea. It was you guys who truly had it difficult, so I don’t want you to keep apologizing. I don’t want to see your saddened face either.”

Oniisama grinned. Ugh, so kind.

“Oniisama… thank you so much.”

I said with a smile.
Even if apologies are not wanted, gratitude must be voiced out properly.

“Yep. Your smile is my best reward.”

Oniisama laughed happily.
Ugh, he reached the point of saying cringy lines.
Yeah. I should make something delicious for him to thank him when we return.

“Also, this time His Highness took the unusual initiative to make sure nothing happened to Tea. So it wasn’t too difficult.”

… Maybe I should give something to His Highness as well.

“Umm, you really helped us out as well. Thank you very much.”

Sei, who sat next to Oniisama, lowered his head.

“No, it’s nothing. I would like you to help out Tea, as a fellow Sacred Beast contractor, when I’m not around. In return, feel free to ask me for help if you need it.”
“Yes. Understood.”

As expected! Oniisama is so dependable!
But, I cannot depend on him all the time.
After all, he’s also taking care… no, he’s assisting His Highness Raymond as well.
I shouldn’t put more burden on him than this.
First of all, after the break, the classes will begin after being divided into classes, so I should be able to avoid the public eye for a bit.
Mariel-chan will be also there, which is reassuring.
Okay, I’m going to do my best!

“… Tea, are you listening?”
“Eh?”
“It appears you have been thinking about something, but don’t go off on your own. You better consult with me or someone else. Okay?”
“Y, yeah…”

Promptly returning home.
Oniisama gave me a warning.
It seems that both he and Otousama are worried that I might do something wrong.
But I didn’t do anything wrong at the academy, though… Mashiro and Kurogane were exposed because of force majeure.
This time, it’s the outburst of the people because of the debut.
See? I didn’t do anything, did I?
And yet, isn’t it strange that you assume that I’m the one who is at fault?
I don’t want to say anything because if I do, I’m sure I’ll get a lot of admonishments and then a lecture. I have learned my lesson.

“Good. Let’s continue talking, then. The day after tomorrow, we will pick you guys up when we go back to the academy, okay, Sei?”
“Of course. Right, Sei?”
“No, as I said, no need to trouble yourselves…”
“No, you can’t refuse. Don’t worry, it’s on our way. We’d be worried otherwise.”
“… I will take you up on your offer, then.”

Yes, yes. He shouldn’t take a stagecoach back to the dormitory and get into trouble on the way back.
After that, we talked about the lessons we took this week, the part-time job of reserving seats, and many other things.
In the meantime, the carriage seemed to have entered the merchant district, and stopped in front of a familiar building of the Bastea Company.

“’Thank you very much, Senior Norman. Miss Cristea, if there’s any food you want to have in the dormitory, I will have it ready for you, just let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you. I would really like to stop by the store and look around, but it’s late… so I will send you a list if I need anything. Have a good weekend.”
“Yeah, have a good weekend.”

The three of them got out of the carriage, led by Byakko-sama who had reverted to human form, and the carriage began to slowly move away.
At a turn, I looked out the window and saw that Sei and the others had not entered the building, but had seen us off.

After passing through the merchant district, we entered the noble district, and after a while, we saw the long fence that marked the grounds of Duke Ellisfeed’s residence.
As the carriage approached the gate, the gatekeeper immediately opened it, and the carriage slid straight into the premises as if it had been sucked in.
After a while, the house came into view.
As soon as the front door opened, the servants began to line up, and Otousama came out.

“Cristea!”

As soon as the carriage arrived, bang! the door opened and Father peeked out.

“Otousama, I have returned.”
“Umu, you have worked hard. I’m sure you are tired. I had them prepare tea, let’s go inside.”
He held out his hand and I took it, and he was about to escort me to the living room when Oniisama stopped me.

“Father. We are still in our uniforms, so why don’t we change and get settled first? Tea, you need to leave the luggage with Miria, don’t you?”

Ah, that’s right. All of Miria’s stuff was stored in my inventory, too. I have to go back to my room and take it out.

“Ah. Yes, that’s right… then, go change first.”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t we go together then, Tea.”

Oniisama then took over escorting me from Otousama, and we went to the floor where my room was.
I went to my room, took my stuff out of my inventory, asked Miria to clean up, and then
I quickly changed into my loungewear and left the room with Mashiro and Kurogane, and found Oniisama standing in front of the door.

Promptly returning home.
“Hey, you were quick. Let’s go then.”
“Y, yeah…”

You were quick too, Oniisama, you know?
You walked me to my room and then went to your room.
Seeing that I was slightly taken aback, Oniisama chuckled.

“Fufu, I didn’t get to see you much at the academy. I hope you’ll let me escort you like this at home.”
“Ha, haah…”

I don’t know what to say, I feel like he has been blatantly showing his attitude since then. No, was he like this before that, too…?
Is it just me being self-conscious?
I was in agony as Oniisama escorted me to the living room.
Because Oniisama was all over me, Mashiro and Kurogane were in a bad mood.
I wonder if they will be in a better mood if I brush them later…

When I entered the living room, I found Otousama and Okaasama already sitting there waiting for us

“Norman, Cristea, welcome home. Things must have been difficult for you.”
“”Mother (Okaasama), I’m back.””

After greeting her, we sat down on the sofa facing each other.
Mashiro changed from his human form to his Sacred Beast form and started climbing up on me, so I picked him up and put him on my lap.
Kurogane glared at Mashiro, but sat down on the sofa next to me in the human form.
Gilbert, the steward, Theresa, the head maid, and Alisa, the head maid’s daughter and my chambermaid, served the tea.
Miria left to deal with the luggage, so she is absent.
Here, was a group of people who have known from the beginning that I am a contractor of Sacred Beasts.

“Let’s take a breather first. I heard that the head chef made a special effort to feed you.”

What was placed before me was a small pancake with ice cream on the side.

“Wow… that looks so delicious! Thank you.”

I cut it into bite-sized pieces and ate it along with the ice cream. The fluffy pancake and ice cream were very delicious in harmony.

“It’s delicious!”
“Yes, this is delicious.”
“The chefs have been working hard to make sure you don’t think they have lost their touch while you were gone. They want you to look forward to the dinner as well.”
“I’m looking forward to it!”

I said to Otousama as I was eating in a good mood.

“Ahem, ah~ as for me personally, I’m already missing the food made by my beloved daughter…”
“Geez, Dear. Tea must be tired, so let her rest, will you?”
“Eh, ahh, umu, right… I know.”

Otousama’s dejection after being shot down by Okaasama was kind of amusing, I nearly did not manage to hold back my laughter before talking.

“No, it’s okay. I will swing my arms tomorrow.”
“I, is that so!”
“Dear!”

When Okaasama scolded the delighted-looking Otousama, Oniisama and I turned to each other and ended up laughing.