Episode 12: Eleanore’s “Childhood Friend”

After that, when we returned to the mansion… or rather, what greeted me were enthusiastic offers from the nobles.

Apparently, word had spread that there was a child servant who was friendly with Eleanore, calmly pacified the aggressive Razer, and dealt with being attacked and punched with composure! They seemed to have come to get in early, thinking he might become a notable figure someday.

One or two would have been manageable, but when more than ten people came at me, I was honestly bewildered.

If I engaged with one, it seemed like I’d end up listening to lengthy talks from all of them, so I politely declined them all at once.

Eleanore’s expression wasn’t bright either.

She also received such politically motivated social approaches and dance invitations.

However, she declined them all with her usual business smile… or rather, her gentle, soft smile.

Since she’d already had her first dance with me, I thought it would be fine for her to accept, but… well, she probably didn’t feel quite right about it either.

I didn’t particularly press her about it and helped ward off any persistent ones.

Though it was somewhat unsettling that when they invited her, the nobles would look at me and their smiles would stiffen slightly. Most likely it was because of the earlier example with Razer, but I’m not going to put just anyone to sleep or restrain them!

Well, with various things happening like that, time passed.

The birthday party, which had been long including the preparation period, came to an end.

***

Let me correct that.

In several senses, the birthday party wasn’t over yet.

Parties come with both preparation and cleanup.

As a servant who mysteriously also held a leader-like position, I was being chased around with the cleanup of this fairly large-scale party.

It was indeed laborious, and it was quite a dizzying affair, running around the mansion to give various instructions to each team about dealing with leftover food, disposing of entertainment items provided for performances, cleaning the venue, storing equipment, and so on.

I felt acutely several times that I’d had enough of this kind of management.

Next time I want a somewhat easier position.

However, well, as a result of tackling it with desperate effort, it seemed like we could somehow finish without crossing into the next day.

The time it took was about 4 hours, I suppose. I think it’s finishing fairly quickly. It’s thanks to all the servants working hard.

With this, I won’t be… too late for my promised time.

I added “too” because I’m probably already running over.

This promise was the other reason why the party wasn’t over yet.

When we were dancing by the pond outside, Eleanore had told me to come to her room after the party ended.

Even when I asked what it was about, she only smiled and didn’t answer. It was probably like, wait and see when you get there.

Well, I don’t know if it’s actually something to “look forward to.”

It might be a work request, like “I’m tired so massage my shoulders,” or “I can’t sleep so sing me a lullaby.”

While thinking about such things, I was filling out a report about the cleaning.

“Arcs-sama. Good work. The venue cleaning team has finished. The checklist items have all been checked off.”

Nanai-san came over carrying the cleaning checklist paper.

So the venue’s done too. That’s the most difficult part and takes the most time, but finishing already is quite commendable.

“Ah, Nanai-san. Good work. You’re already done? That was fast work.”

“Fufu, yes it was.”

Hearing my words, she showed a smile.

Was there something funny?

“What is it?”

“Ah, no. Um, everyone saw Arcs-sama’s efforts in preparing for the party, and they were all enthusiastic, thinking that if such a small child is working so hard, then they should at least do the cleanup…”

She narrowed her eyes as if recalling the sight of those enthusiastic servants once more, gazing into space.

We finished this early, so I can imagine they worked quite hard.

If it was because of seeing me, well, how should I say it, it’s gratifying.

“That’s somewhat embarrassing.”

“Arcs-sama really put in so much effort in being involved with this party. To the point where we almost feel inadequate.”

“Not at all. It was everyone’s hard work that completed it. I could never have accomplished it alone.”

“But I’m certain it became something wonderful precisely because Arcs-sama was here.”

O-oh.

Being told that much is rather embarrassing.

Come to think of it, no one had praised my efforts themselves up until now, so it almost brings tears to my eyes.

“Eleanore-sama seemed to enjoy it too, so I guess the hard work was worth it.”

“I think you can say that with confidence.”

Nanai-san and I laughed together. We both probably had fatigue showing on our faces, but we still had one more push to go.

“…Somehow, looking at Arcs-sama reminds me of the past.”

“The past?”

She sat down in the seat across from me and began speaking quietly.

“Yes. Around 10… 1 or 2 years ago, I suppose. There was a younger childhood friend who lived in the same village, and that child was 10 years old, the same as Arcs-sama and the others now.”

As if reminiscing, she closed her eyes.

“Around that child’s birthday, I thought I’d hold a party for her too. Neither she nor I had parents, so when I turned 10, I couldn’t have a party and felt lonely… I didn’t want her to feel that way.”

“That’s a very admirable sentiment.”

“Thank you. But it wasn’t nearly as much effort as Arcs-sama put in. I just told everyone in the village about it and did it while being helped by the adults.”

Even so, the fact that she strived for a friend is itself admirable.

Planning something to prevent someone from feeling the loneliness she herself felt probably isn’t easy to do either.

“My own figure from that time, presumptuously overlaps with Arcs-sama. You see,”

While looking at me, she continued speaking.

“Eleanore-sama and Arcs-sama are the same age, and it’s like you’re childhood friends, isn’t it?”

Those words strangely caught in my heart.

“Childhood friends?”

“Yes. So I found myself feeling a bit nostalgic.”

The words “childhood friend” somehow remained lodged in my brain, and Nanai-san’s words went in one ear and out the other.

Rather than the words themselves, those words in the sense of “Eleanore’s childhood friend” kept echoing in my mind.

…Why?

Her childhood friend… was there such a person?

Well, since I myself am an irregularity in the world of Celestia Kingdom, it makes sense that there would be something off.

But somehow I can’t just let it go.

The existence of a childhood friend feels somehow very important…

“Arcs-sama?”

Nanai-san’s words suddenly brought me back to my senses.

“Are you alright? You were spacing out.”

With a curious expression, she peered into my face.

Her face was closer than I expected, and I reflexively pulled my body back.

“N-no. I was just… thinking about something.”

“I see… You must be tired, so please go to bed early, okay?”

“…Yes.”

Perhaps understanding my strange behavior as being due to fatigue, she spoke worriedly.

While answering weakly, I rubbed my brow.

“Nanai-san, about this part here…”

“Ah, yes! I’m coming now!! …Well then, I must go. Let’s both give it one more push!”

“Y-yes. Indeed…”

Before saying “let’s both do our best,” she had already returned to her station.

What remained there was only my figure, sitting with a strange expression while gripping a quill pen.