Chapter 16

It was nighttime at House Clivus.

Uros was there, as usual, taking care of her work… along with one other visitor.

“Thank you very much for taking the time to visit House Clivus today.”

“Not at all. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to visit the esteemed residence of the distinguished House Clivus.”

Sumiya, Uros’s maid, brought out the tea she had presumably prepared in advance and placed it in front of her guest… Lilina.

After thanking Sumiya, Lilina elegantly took a sip of her tea.

“Now then, Miss Lilina, the Poster Girl Receptionist of Miltia herself. What business brings you to House Clivus?”

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

Her attitude wasn’t as cold as it was when she interacted with Rex. However, neither was she wearing the familiar image of the cheerful young woman known as Miltia’s poster girl.

“Would you please stop putting up requests for someone to take care of your daughter, Lady Marie?”

“…And why is that?”

Uros was momentarily taken aback by her words, but she quickly recovered and asked for an explanation.

Lilina proceeded to explain.

“Recently, adventurers have been leaving the Miltia Guild because of Lady Marie.”

“Isn’t that only natural? Adventurers may belong to the guild, but that doesn’t mean they belong to a guild directly under Miltia’s jurisdiction.”

“That is certainly true. However, the number of adventurers operating in Miltia has been steadily declining. This is a problem that neither the guild nor the city itself can afford to ignore.”

What she said was true.

Since Miltia had never been a particularly famous city to begin with, many adventurers had already been heading elsewhere, such as the royal capital of Hecantia, the center of the kingdom.

“Adventurers are indispensable to our daily lives. They are an essential part of society. Yet they are leaving this city, and Lady Marie’s outrageous behavior has only made the situation worse. Therefore, I ask that you refrain from putting up any more requests for adventurers.”

“…I see.”

Uros understood what Lilina was saying. However, there was a reason she couldn’t back down now.

“…At the moment, an adventurer is taking care of Marie.”

“I am aware. Rex Altena… He’s one of the promising adventurers staying in this city.”

“So you think so, too, Miss Lilina. That’s right. I have high hopes for him. I believe he might be able to change Marie… my daughter.”

“What makes you say that?”

“…It’s a woman’s intuition. A head of the household’s intuition, if you will.”

Uros said this with a smile, the corners of her mouth curling upward.

Her intuition was usually right.

Lilina, who had spent so much time in Miltia, knew that very well. And precisely because she knew… she was afraid.

“…As I said earlier, he is an adventurer and one of our hopes for the future. If you intend to snuff out that possibility, we will have no choice but to sue your family for obstructing the guild’s operations.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course. I have high hopes for that boy, too.”

“…I see.”

So she wouldn’t be convinced after all…

Uros intuitively sensed Lilina’s determination.

It was unheard of for a receptionist to go out of her way to act on behalf of an adventurer. At least, there had never been such a precedent in Miltia.

And yet, right before her eyes was someone willing to do exactly that for the sake of a single adventurer.

There was something more than a receptionist’s professional concern behind her actions. Personal feelings were clearly involved… And that only strengthened Uros’s conviction.

He was the one who could open the doors to her daughter Marie’s heart.

“…Even so, I don’t mind. I’ll take full responsibility.”

“—! But it might be too late by then!!”

Lilina raised her voice, something she rarely did. Yet Uros remained unfazed and continued speaking.

“I believe in Mr. Rex. I won’t change my position, not when I still remember what I felt when I first saw him. Or… are you saying that you don’t believe in him, Miss Lilina?”

“Th-That’s…”

Lilina couldn’t find the words.

That wasn’t true. She had always watched Rex closely. His earnest and straightforward nature, the way he sometimes pushed himself too far, and above all… his kindness, which made it impossible for him to turn away from someone in need.

She had fallen for him because of those qualities… and at the same time, she was terrified that Rex might leave Miltia.

Could that really be called believing in him?

At that moment, she no longer knew.

A long silence filled the room.

Then, suddenly, someone burst into the room with a loud bang.

“M-Marie?”

It was Marie, Uros’s daughter.

As soon as she sat down beside her mother, she began speaking to Lilina.

“Fine.”

“…Huh? W-What do you mean?”

“Just what I said. I’ll accept your request.”

The two women were left speechless, utterly astonished by her response.

“W-Wait, Marie! You can’t make that decision on your own!”

“It’s about me, isn’t it? Then I’ll decide for myself… Mother, don’t decide things for me.”

After saying that, she glared at her mother.

(W-What on earth is she thinking…?)

“…Well, that’s what you came here for, isn’t it? If that’s all, then hurry up and leave.”

“Y-Yes…”

Lilina was so taken aback by the completely unexpected answer that she could only stare in bewilderment.

A few minutes later, she finally left House Clivus.