Chapter 31: A Small Contributor
Today, I had planned to return to the dormitory early and take a bath and have dinner with Jun and the others. However, by the time I left the chapel, it was already dusk.
They’ve probably already finished their baths and dinner. But before that, I should hurry to Emma, who had stood her ground against the military police and protected Leaf’s sapling for me.
With that thought in mind, I hurried back to my room in the dormitory.
“Emma! I’m back! Are you okay?”
I knocked on the door and called out loudly to Emma, who was probably inside.
“Rachel-sama!!”
A reply came immediately from inside, and the door opened. There stood Emma, her eyes swollen from crying.
“Emma! Are you alright? Emma!”
I rushed to embrace her, and as if relieved, Emma burst into tears.
“Rachel-sama! Rachel-sama! I was so scared! The military police came, demanding to enter the room and hand over the sapling. They were shouting so loudly… But I was entrusted with your room, and I just became friends with Leaf-chan. I couldn’t hand over Leaf-chan’s sapling! So I kept arguing and somehow drove them away! But it was so scary! I was so scared!”
While Emma cried, recounting her frightening experience, I held her tight and listened in silence. This, I believe, is the responsibility of an employer and also the duty of someone older. Emma is only thirteen, yet she works so hard. In my previous world, she’d still be at an age where she should be playing. The thought of this young, small girl standing up to grown military police officers to protect this room and Leaf’s sapling for me made my chest tighten with emotion.
When Emma had cried and talked herself out and started to calm down, I pulled a handkerchief out of my skirt pocket. But as I was about to hand it to her, I realized it was Diva-sensei’s handkerchief, so I quickly searched my pocket again and took out my own.
“Thank you, Emma. I’m truly lucky to have someone like you as my maid.”
“Emma, you protected my sapling! Thank you~!”
When Leaf and I expressed our gratitude to Emma, she began crying again.
“To hear you say that… I’m the one who’s truly fortunate to serve Rachel-sama!”
As I watched Emma sob uncontrollably, the door, left open, allowed her crying to echo down the hallway, attracting people’s attention.
“Um, is everything alright?”
“Oh, Sanner? And Jun, Neese?”
Peeking nervously through the gap in the door were Sanner, Jun, and Neese, whom I’d met just yesterday.
“Wait, this is Rachel-san’s room? We heard crying all the way down the hall, so…”
Sanner was standing there, unsure whether to enter the room or stay outside.
“Sanner, Jun, and Neese, why don’t you all come in?”
Leaf, sitting on my shoulder, called out to Sanner and the others.
“Eh, is it really okay?”
Neese, who seemed quite curious about a noble’s room, poked her head in.
“Come in, come in. I’ll treat you to some tea.”
“Oh, I’d love to try noble tea!”
This time, Jun peeked in as well.
“Emma, since we’re having guests, let’s have a tea party! I’ll help, so can you prepare everything?”
“Understood, Rachel-sama! I’ll do my best!”
And so, though it was unplanned, we ended up having a tea party with six people: Sanner, Jun, Neese, Emma, Leaf, and me.
“So, why was Emma-chan crying earlier?”
While we were preparing the tea, Sanner asked about the situation.
“Well, I went to report to Diva-sensei about Leaf today. While the professor and I were talking, the military police came to confiscate Leaf’s sapling, but Emma bravely protected it, even though it was scary for her…”
“What!? That happened!?”
Upon hearing this, Sanner’s eyes widened in shock, and she immediately lowered her head to the table.
“I’m so sorry!! It’s because I mentioned it during the morning class!”
“No, no, it’s fine. The word would’ve spread eventually, and it was the academy that resorted to such measures.”
I reassured Sanner, telling her it wasn’t her fault.
“Thank you for saying that…”
Sanner finally lifted her head and let out a nervous laugh.
“But Rachel-san, you came back quite late. Was it because of something to do with Leaf-chan?”
This time, Neese inquired about my late return.
I considered it. I couldn’t talk about ‘that one’ who haunts me, but Diva-sensei did say it was okay to inform people about Martina-sama being under care in the chapel.
I considered it. I couldn’t talk about that one who haunts me, but Diva-sensei did say it was okay to inform people about Martina-sama being under care in the chapel.
“Well, you see, the other day I found Martina-sama collapsed and entrusted her to Diva-sensei, so I was visiting her and getting an update on her condition.”
“What!? The marquis’ daughter, Martina-sama!?”
Neese exclaimed in surprise. Outside of the royal family, marquis families rank among the highest nobles, so her reaction was only natural.
“Yes, she hasn’t regained consciousness yet, and she’s currently being cared for in a room at the chapel.”
“Wow… So that’s what happened.”
Sanner and Jun both seemed intrigued by the news. Martina-sama, being one of the prominent nobles, had attracted attention, so it made sense they had noticed her absence.
“Everyone, the tea is ready!”
Emma brought the tea over for everyone.
“Emma, pour yourself some tea too and join us.”
“Eh!? Is it really okay for me to sit with you?”
Emma looked surprised at my suggestion.
“Yes, you worked hard today, so it’s fine, right?”
“Then… I’d be honored…”
Emma smiled shyly as she accepted.
“Oh, by the way, I brought a little something for Leaf-chan!”
Jun raised her voice excitedly.
“For me? What is it?”
“Tadaa! It’s something made of fish meal and bone meal. Sanner told me it would be good fertilizer—what do you think?”
“Thank you~♪”
Leaf eagerly took the crunchy treat from Jun and immediately started munching on it.
“Wait, you’re going to eat it!?”
“It’s surprisingly tasty… I feel energized somehow.”
Leaf continued munching happily.
“Well, as long as Leaf-chan is happy, that’s fine.”
Jun gave a slightly stiff smile.
“Leaf-chan, you could also place that under the sapling if you like.”
Sanner, who specialized in agriculture, offered her advice, and Emma, who had poured herself some tea, sat down, still a little hesitant.
“Now then, shall we start the tea party?”
And so, we all enjoyed a lovely tea party together in my room.
