Chapter Eighteen: Hope and Despair! Scratch That… There’s Only Despair

“W-What’s wrong with this woman?! What in the world is she thinking, hitting me?!”

“I-I apologize.”

When Reinhard awoke, he cast a scornful glance at Lili before turning to yell angrily at Alice. Alice, on the other hand, simply apologized.

“Lady Alice, you shouldn’t bow your head! I am the one at fault!”

Lili said as she watched Alice bow her head.

It’s true that you’re the one at fault but…

“A master is responsible for his followers’ behavior. Even more so in your case, because you’ll be my maid in the future. It’s only natural for me to bow my head.”

The superior bears responsibility for the carelessness of a subordinate. I think it was called vicarious liability. Yea, that’s it.

“B-But Lady Alice! You are a duke’s daughter!”

“I’ll bow my head whether I’m a duke’s daughter or the king’s daughter if I believe I’m in the wrong.”

Even though I say so, a member of the royal family should not bow their head so casually. That probably goes for a duke as well, but oh well. I was an office worked in my past life, after all. Bowing my head has become a habit by this point.

“Alice is right.”

“His Highness…”

“I personally want to use these study sessions to learn more about people. So, while I’m here, I’ve decided to ignore any and all status. If I believe I am wrong, I will bow my head. I would be thankful if you could all do the same.”

“Hmph? Is that to say that if I’m disrespectful to you, you’ll overlook it?”

Reinhard asked, a provocative smirk on his face. His grin resembled that of a beast stalking its prey.

“Sir Reinhard, even after taking one of my hits, you’re quite audacious, don’t you think?”

However, he wasn’t the only ferocious beast in the room.

Lili!

“Lili!”

“Lady Alice, I apologize; but, I am simply doing as His Highness has requested and am choosing to disregard status. That is why you don’t need to bow your head for my sake anymore, Lady Alice.”

He may have said that, but still… Reinhard’s face is bright red, you know?!

“I-I was just careless at that time! To begin with, where have you ever seen a noble lady suddenly bust out a lariat?!!!”

“Right here.”

“Don’t ‘right here’ me!”

“To begin with, Sir Reinhard, you were the one who suggested I hit you. I just took you up on your offer.”

“I told you to hit me! Not to perform a lariat on me!”

“I see. So you’re dissatisfied with my lariat, is that it?”

“Of course! You hit my neck! My neck! Don’t you usually hit the chest or stomach in these cases?! It’s dangerous to go for the neck!”

He’s right. The neck is definitely risky.

“You’re nodding in agreement, Alice, but you don’t also normally drop kick people in the stomach, do you?”

“Be quiet, Sir Zeke.”

“……”

“Is there something wrong, Sir Zeke?”

“Didn’t I just say that we’re overlooking status? Could you drop the sir?”

“But…”

“Of course, you should attach it or address me as His Highness while we’re in public. However, for as long as we’re here, could you simply call me Zeke?”

With his eyes nearly begging, Zeke said.

Urgh. He’s so cute.

“Okay, Zeke.”

“! W-What is it Alice?!”

Huh? What’s he so gung-ho about all of a sudden?!

“I just tried saying it…”

“O-Oh! You just tried saying it. I see, I see! That’s good! That’s great!”

What is?

“What are you doing over there, getting all riled up by yourself! Listen to us, would you?!”

Reinhard yelled violently, his gaze falling on both Alice and Zeke.

Getting all riled up is a bit of an overstatement…

“Good grief. So, Sir Reinhard, what shall I do to ensure your satisfaction? You’re upset that I performed a lariat on you, isn’t that right? I am so sowyy about that. I won’t do it anymowe… Is this fine?”

“Like hell it is! Do you seriously believe I’ll forgive you with just that?! If that’s the case, you’re a truly remarkable one!”

“You’ll make me blush.”

“That wasn’t a compliment!!!”

“I’m aware.”

“Are you taking me for a fool?!”

“Of course I am not. I’m simply interacting with you in the same way that I would with an idiot.”

“A-A mere viscount’s daughter dares to…”

“Oh my? So it’s okay for you to be disrespectful to His Highness, but it irritates you when someone else is disrespectful to you?”

“T-That’s not what this is about!”

“Isn’t it? You truly are a pitiful man.”

Lili spoke up and took out a folding fan to cover her mouth.

Wait a minute! Where in the world did that folding fan come from?!

“A maid’s love for her master can sometimes transcend space.”

“No it can’t! And stop reading my thoughts, would you, Mary?!”

Love has nothing to do with this!

“Maids must be ready to use the necessary weapons to humiliate an opponent who is attempting to exert his power over me. If they submit to Lady Lili, who is your subordinate, that means they have also submitted to you, Lady Alice. The day where everyone kneels before you is not that far off, Lady Alice.”

“Are you trying to take over the world or something?!”

I haven’t wished for this…

“Fine then.” Reinhard said.

Oh? 　

It seems the Lili VS Reinhard match is continuing.

“Let’s fight! I only lost the first time because I looked down on you since you were a woman. This time, I’m going all out. Let’s see who’s better once and for all!”

“Oh my? To think that a knight candidate, and a gentleman to boot would go all out against a lady. The knights appear to follow a peculiar code of honor.”

“D-Don’t spout nonsense!”

“How is it nonsense? Rather, it’s a valid complaint. Lady Alice. This person is about to raise his hand against a weak lady! I’m scared!”

“Your ability to express that without shame is scary! Weak ladies don’t perform lariats on people!”

Reinhard spoke up, his voice hushed.

He’s completely right.

“Good grief. Okay then. Let’s fight fair and square then. Despite the fact that I believe that this stopped being fair the moment you decided to raise your hand against a lady…”

“Fine then! I’ll give you a handicap! You may use weapons if you’d like! I’ll go bare handed!”

This is bad… You better not do this, Reinhard.

“Um… Excuse me, Sir Reinhard.”

“What is it?!”

“It’s probably best if you don’t let Lili use weapons.”

“Is she not used to them? Even so I think this is a pretty good handi…”

“She can take down a bear with her bow, you know?”

“Excuse me?”

“She can also take down a wild boar bare handed.”

“……”

Alice’s statements left Reinhard totally speechless. Lili instantly clapped her hands with a smile as she watched it all unfold.

“Let’s make me go bare handed for the handicap. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I’m at my weakest while fighting barehanded.”

Lili, please stop! Only despair can be seen on Reinhard’s face!

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