Chapter 69: Why does it feel like the relationship is getting more and more complicated... (Patreon)

"M-my god..."

Amid the puzzled stares of the other attendants, the woman walked up to Louliana.

Louliana managed a strained smile. "Sister Naila, I'm... alive..."

Watching the woman press a hand to Louliana's cheek, Pandora felt her feelings turn strangely complicated. So who was this one, then?

Judging by her reaction, this woman clearly had a good relationship with Louliana — that much was obvious — but beyond that, Pandora honestly couldn't tell much else.

"Sister thought..." Naila trailed off.

From the haggard look on the face of the woman Louliana called "Sister Naila," it wasn't hard to guess that things hadn't been going well for her lately — or that her spirits had been low, at least.

"This is Sister Naila, who looked after me back in those days..." Louliana said, smiling, before turning to Pandora. "And this is the one who saved me — Lady Pandora, the mistress I've decided to serve from now on."

At that, Naila froze for a moment.

"...-dora... miss..." So gorgeous... ahem, ahem...

When she came back to her senses, Naila ignored the stares of the other attendants and bowed sharply. "Thank you so much, Miss Pandora!"

Then she stopped short, a look of horror crossing her face. "But if you're alive, Anya, why on earth did you come back here?!"

Naila couldn't make sense of what the two of them were doing — didn't Pandora realize what kind of place this was?

"What are you two still standing around for? Get moving! If the lord sees you..."

With that, Naila also called out to a few attendants who had stopped to stare.

In an instant, everyone scattered, hurrying off to their own business.

Pandora noticed something just then — Naila had referred to that person only as "the lord," never once using his actual name.

So whoever this so-called lord was, it seemed no one was allowed to speak his name aloud. That was her first impression of him.

"Whew..." Relieved, Naila let out a breath. "Miss Pandora, how... how did you get in here? Did the lord invite you?"

Now that she'd calmed down, she'd also noticed something didn't add up.

Pandora just shook her head, then nodded. "More or less."

"M-more or less?"

What kind of answer was that? Could someone really stay so noncommittal about a question like this?

"Mm. That's exactly what I told the gate guards."

She still remembered it clearly, back at the gate—

—"I'm here to talk business with your lord."

Pandora had said it before the guards even had a chance to speak.

And then... then she'd simply walked right in. That was all there was to it.

Pandora figured it was probably thanks to what that man had said earlier about "recruiting a maid." Of course, her Divine Protection had likely played a part too — by the time the guards even registered what was happening, she was already inside.

"Well, that's really something..."

Naila blinked, caught off guard by Pandora's words.

Pandora went on. "The main reason I came was to bring the lord a little necessary surprise."

That nearly left Naila at a total loss.

"I suppose I might count as part of the surprise?"

Seeing Naila's confused expression, Louliana spoke up.

At that, Naila nodded. "I see. Well, then..."

But just then—

"You two... rascals..."

A voice drifted to the three of them, broken up and gasping for breath.

"Mister Merchant, you finally made it." Pandora smiled at the sight of him. "We were just fretting over where to find the lord."

Judging by "Mister Merchant's" disheveled state, he looked like he'd been searching for quite some time.

"Huff... huff..."

He could only focus on catching his breath — Pandora and Louliana's disappearance had thrown him into an absolute panic.

If the two of them had simply vanished, there'd be no way he could find a replacement within the deadline the lord had set. And what awaited him then would be...

"That... woman... my lady... where is she now?"

[Author's Note: Please give some flowers!]

Of course, now that he'd found them and brought them here, there was nothing left to worry about.

Naila merely bowed slightly. "I'm afraid the lord has already retired for the night..."

No way — even a lord wouldn't turn in this early, would he?!

And even if he hadn't gone to sleep, there was no way to go disturb him — so did that mean he'd just have to wait here until dawn?!

Pandora only smiled. "Miss Naila, would you mind taking Louliana somewhere to rest?"

Even with the boost from Pandora's Authority, going without sleep or food like this was still a first for Louliana.

Naila nodded. "Of course. Please, follow me."

With that, Naila picked up the iron basin she'd dropped earlier, set it aside, and the three of them left.

As for "Mister Merchant"...

"Damn it..." Terrified as he was that Pandora might slip away, he couldn't very well follow them. Instead, he turned to an attendant sweeping nearby. "Hey — are there any rooms left?"

At his words, the attendant turned around. "My apologies, sir, but that's not something I handle, so..."

Rebuffed, "Mister Merchant" could only scowl. "Tch... useless bunch..."

He glanced around.

"Whoever's in charge of the rooms — where are they?!"

But though his voice carried for a good while, no answer ever came.

Was he really going to have to sleep on a couch?!

"Miss Pandora, here we are." Standing before a door, Naila bowed slightly, gesturing with her hand.

"Mm."

From its outward appearance, this was probably just an ordinary room.

Then, under Pandora's watchful gaze, Naila took out a key and unlocked the door.

Much as Pandora had guessed, it was an extremely sparse little room.

Having shut the door, Naila said with a smile, "If you don't mind, Miss Pandora, you're welcome to my bed. Anya and I will just sleep on the floor."

[Author's Note: Please give flowers! Please share! Please subscribe!]