First, To My Own Manor

A few days after I returned to my manor, I received a message from Shia through the magical stationery.

She seemed to have been rather busy, but she had finally found some free time and said she wanted to see me.

Naturally, I replied that I would be happy to, and after exchanging a few messages, we settled on a day to meet.

On the day of my appointment with Shia, I waited for her in a back street of a nearby town.

Tanya was standing beside me as well, remaining slightly behind as an attendant.

According to the message, Shia had apparently visited this town before and had already established a location for her Gate spell here.

After traveling all the way north to Norzampshon by carriage and back, I had come to appreciate just how incredible Gate magic really was.

Being able to cross in an instant a distance that would otherwise take dozens of days for a round trip was simply amazing. There was no other way to put it.

“Ah, Nova-sama, this is a little late, but thank you for what you did the other day. Just before we left the main residence, I checked on Sonia, and perhaps because Rowen-san took care of things, it seemed the other maids had stopped dumping menial chores on her.”

“That’s good to hear.”

It seemed Rowen-san had acted immediately.

I had my own thoughts about the maids at that manor making such a small child do so much work, so this was a relief.

“Sonia herself seemed rather confused by it, though.”

“Well, of course. If all the work people had been forcing on her suddenly disappeared, she’d wonder what happened.”

As Tanya and I chatted about such trivial things, a golden light entered my field of vision. When I looked toward it, a golden oval had appeared before us.

It was the Gate spell, capable of transporting someone across a great distance in an instant.

From within the light that brightly illuminated the surroundings, Shia emerged at a leisurely pace.

It had only been a little over ten days, yet somehow it felt as though I hadn’t seen her in a very long time.

After passing through the Gate, Shia noticed me and smiled brightly.

“Good afternoon, Nova-san. I’m sorry, it seems I’ve kept you waiting…”

“No, not at all.”

I smiled back.

Whenever I was with Shia, I found myself smiling more naturally.

“By the way… if you don’t mind, would you like to come to my home today?”

Shia suddenly made a suggestion about our plans for the day.

If I remembered correctly, when we exchanged messages, we had planned to spend the day relaxing and talking at my manor.

“My younger sister told me the other day that she met you recently… Thank you for looking after her.”

“Ah, no, it was nothing…”

“She said she wanted to see you again as well, so would you perhaps like to come?”

“Hmm…”

I had gotten along well with Aurora-chan, and meeting Shia’s family might help me learn more about Shia herself.

It wasn’t a bad suggestion.

Though if they introduced me to the former family head, who had presumably neglected Shia, I wasn’t entirely sure what I might do.

“Yeah, I think I’d like that. Ah, but before we go, should we stop by my manor and connect a Gate there? It’s not very far.”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

“Understood.”

The three of us began walking together.

Shia walked beside me, while Tanya followed just a little behind.

“How far is it from here to your territory, Nova-san?”

“It’s right nearby, so it shouldn’t take long.”

Shia and Tanya conversed with each other naturally, as though they were already accustomed to it.

They had only met recently—or rather, today was probably just the second time they had met—but it seemed they had already become comfortable around each other.

“My, then we’ll have plenty of time to talk about all sorts of things along the way, Nova-san.”

“That’s true… I could tell you about how I recently went to Norzampshon… Though I guess Aurora-chan already told you about that.”

“I’d still very much like to hear it from you, Nova-san.”

“Yes, I would like to hear it too.”

“Oh, really? Then I’ll tell you.”

I almost thought, Tanya, I already told you about it, but I immediately realized she was reading the mood and playing along, so I thanked her silently.

During the short walk to my manor, I told them in detail about my trip to Norzampshon.

Shia, being from Norzampshon herself, added various details and explanations, while Tanya asked questions whenever something caught her interest.

As we talked, we arrived at my manor before I knew it.