The remaining three gang enforcers arrived, glanced at their two companions on the ground, and wisely turned around and left.
Simon and the others made their way out of the East District without further trouble.
Elisa walked at the rear, staring at her male servant’s back and, beside him, the back of the red-haired flat-chested young lady.
The red-haired, flat-chested young lady chattered away:
“Have you trained in boxing?”
“How did you knock them down just now? I couldn’t even see what happened.”
“Are you hurt? Let me check you over.”
Elisa was devastated. I was supposed to be the one Mabel was clinging to!
I was supposed to be the one who grew closer to Mabel after this attack!
And Mabel, have you forgotten that you said you didn’t like male servants?! You were the one who didn’t want Simon to come along!
How did things turn out like this? My first time going shopping with a noble young lady, my first chance to deepen our relationship… We were supposed to have a future of growing intimacy ahead of us!
Why did you, you bastard of a male servant, have to jump in and steal my scene?!
Mabel, my Mabel…
Elisa let out a deep sigh and pulled herself together.
Actually, it was a good thing that my male servant stepped in. My ultimate goal isn’t Mabel, but those executioners from fifteen years ago. I should do my best to conceal myself and play the part of an ordinary wealthy merchant’s daughter from the archipelago.
A merchant’s daughter who knows how to fight isn’t unusual, but it would attract too much attention in the royal capital.
After weighing the pros and cons, Elisa’s mood settled down.
What belongs to the servant belongs to the master. If you round it off, she successfully carried out her plan without revealing her trump card of [Combat]. She’s the one who came out ahead!
Elisa smiled, put her worries aside, and glanced at [Simon’s Log].
[Simon and Miss Mabel are enjoying a lively conversation. Miss Mabel asked Simon about his annual salary and seems to be plotting something. The probability of Simon changing employers has increased.]
Her smile vanished. Elisa glared fiercely at her male servant’s back.
What are you two planning?! Your master is still right behind you!
[Simon felt a pang of guilt, and his intimacy with Miss Elisa increased.]
[Intimacy +2]
Don’t increase your intimacy at a time like this!
It feels like a wife coming home late at night reeking of alcohol, kissing her husband on the cheek, and saying, “I love you.” That kind of love is far too heavy to bear!
An increase in [Intimacy] is supposed to be a happy occasion! Don’t turn it into a nightmare!
No, this can’t go on!
I have to increase my male servant’s loyalty! A powerful sense of crisis rose in Elisa’s heart.
After leaving the East District, they had just arrived at the shop where they had left their carriage when they encountered the servants from the baron’s estate.
The housekeeper Julia hurried over to Mabel and looked her young lady up and down before letting out a sigh of relief.
She curtsied to Elisa. “Miss Elisa, thank you for protecting Miss Mabel.”
Elisa smiled. “I thought you would blame me.”
Julia firmly shook her head. “We know that this was all Miss Mabel’s idea. Bringing her back safely was no easy task.”
Elisa couldn’t help admiring the servants of Baron Percy’s household. They were so reasonable.
“You should thank Simon too!” Mabel reminded the housekeeper loudly, while her personal maid wiped the dust from her hands.
A flicker of surprise passed through Julia’s eyes. Without asking what had happened, she bowed respectfully to Simon, who returned the courtesy.
[Simon sighed in admiration. Baron Percy’s household has such a wholesome and upright atmosphere. Working in an environment like this would be a cleansing experience for both body and mind.]
[He then thought of his own Miss Elisa. He had bravely rescued Miss Elisa, yet not only had she failed to reward him with gold pounds, she had even glared at him. He had no idea what was wrong with Miss Elisa.]
[The probability of Simon changing employers has increased.]
You are not allowed to leave!
If you want to jump ship, the only places you’re allowed to jump from are the Empire Building and into the Searl River!
Miss Elisa was thinking like a gang boss.
The housekeeper Julia bowed to them once more and forcibly led Mabel away. Mabel reluctantly said goodbye to Elisa and Simon.
Simon retrieved the carriage and brought it to the roadside. Elisa boarded with her maid Eve.
“You did very well, Simon.” Elisa forced herself to offer praise.
“It was my duty,” Simon replied.
[Simon felt relieved. It seemed Miss Elisa had no complaints about him. At the same time, he marveled that the combat techniques he had learned in his dreams had actually proved useful and were so powerful.]
Elisa froze.
Does this male servant not even know how strong [Combat LV3] is?
Well, that makes sense. After all, he was taught in his dreams, and he couldn’t clearly remember what had happened in them. He hadn’t had a chance to test his abilities in reality, either.
Come to think of it, when he rushed at those gang enforcers, he had no real certainty that he could win. He truly was risking his life to do the right thing!
My male servant was putting his life on the line, and I was still upset that he stole my scene.
Elisa, oh Elisa, just look at yourself! How could you be so awful?!
If I were the male servant, I’d be heartbroken!
A reward. I absolutely have to reward him!
Two pounds… No, one pound will do. And I’ll have a new servant’s outfit made for him, one suitable for combat.
Although she wanted to be generous for once, Elisa couldn’t bear to part with her gold pounds.
She had also lost some pennies and shillings this time, which she had given to that little girl. The pennies would definitely be stolen by someone else. She wondered whether the shillings hidden in the girl’s clothes would remain safe.
Elisa took out her purse to tally up her losses.
Along with the purse came a pearl necklace.
Elisa’s eyes lit up. A wild pearl necklace!
Thank heaven for this bless….wait, this looks like Mabel’s.
When she had pulled Mabel away earlier, she had reflexively tucked the pearl necklace into her own clothes.
As expected of LV7 [Theft]. Not only had Mabel failed to notice that she was missing a necklace, even I failed to notice that I’d gained one! My movements were far too discreet!
Where should I fence this stolen property… Pah! Elisa, how could you think that way? This is Mabel’s necklace!
Besides, Eve has already seen it. Haah.
Elisa handed the necklace to her personal maid, Eve. “When we get back, have someone return this to Miss Mabel.”
“Yes.” Eve accepted the necklace.
The East District was very close to Elisa’s estate. In fact, that had been one of the reasons she chose to rent it. Property near the slums was cheaper!
The carriage soon entered the estate. Elisa got out and, with the help of her maids, enjoyed a long, comfortable bath.
Ah, that felt good.
Elisa opened [Simon’s Log]. Bathing relaxed the body, while secretly spying on her male servant relaxed the mind.
[Simon received the cash reward delivered by Maria and was pleasantly surprised.]
[Intimacy +2]
This intimacy is getting more and more expensive. Now one pound only buys two points.
You’re a male servant! The estate provides your food, drinks, lodging, and daily necessities. What do you need so much money for?
Should I think of a way to harvest some of it back?
No, no, no! Elisa, how could you do that? Have you forgotten how your male servant risked his life and charged at those gang enforcers?!
[Simon told Maria what had happened. Maria sternly ordered Simon to lie down so she could examine his body and check for hidden injuries.]
[The personal maid Eve joined them as well.]
[The relationship between the three of them improved.]
The bathroom lights shone on the water, reflecting onto Elisa’s face. As the water rippled, light and shadow flickered across her features.
Amid the shifting light and darkness, Elisa revealed a terrifying smile.
Hehe. I’ve heard that men are willing to spend their entire fortunes on that sort of thing. If I use a blood spell to seal off that part of him, then sell him aphrodisiacs, I should be able to recover all my money… including everything that bastard embezzled!
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