Enjoy~

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After dinner, Eric spared some time for Bernard to talk to. Agnes was grateful and went to the office.

She felt sorry to make him spent his time with her like this twice in one day. But Gigille suggested that it's better to make her decision sooner, and so she followed suit.

She brought Miel with her so he could see its growth.

"That cat really becomes so plump. I can't see it's the same cat I picked up before."

"Yes. It grows very well."

Its once thin body now had became that of normal size, its half opened eyes were completely cured and now opened beautifully. Now, the clear blue eyes were s.h.i.+ning.

The curious kitten struggled to get out of the basket. Agnes smiled softly and moved Miel to the bottom of the basket and covered it with cloth.

Miel who had been mewling until now became quiet, and the room was enveloped with silence.

Bernard, feeling a bit uncomfortable, spoke to Agnes.

"--Then, what do you want to talk?"

"It's about the move out."

Agnes spoke out with courage. She wanted to continue living as a servant here.

Hearing that, Bernard frowned.

"I want to hear the reason."

"That is--"

She couldn't simply say she wanted to be Bernard's side as her reason.

She thought of different reason, and said that the life here was fit for her.

"You're serious, right?"

"Yes."

Bernard asked Agnes with a harsh voice. Did she understand the problem surrounding her?

Her blue eyes looked down with a sad expression,

"I know about it well. I admit my father has sinned, and my house has collapsed--"

If he was found out hiding Agnes, Bernard's position will be in danger too. And so, she told him she was also prepared if she was ordered to never leave the mansion.

"Well, that opinion is both correct and incorrect."

"?"

The issues surrounding Agnes had changed greatly from when she lived in the city. Bernard asked her if she was prepared to hear about it.

"Just, what is happening--"

"To be honest, it's a disgusting story. I think it's better for you to not know about it. I've been silent until now, but if you insist on staying here, then it's important for you to know how dangerous your situation is."

She was already scared hearing the beginning of it.

However, Agnes decided to listen, thinking that it wouldn't be as shocking as the talk about moving away she heard before.

"Is it alright?"

"Yes."

Agnes's eyes didn't waver.

Sitting in front of Bernard was no longer someone who looked like a kitten on a rainy day, she was now determined.

"Alright, I'll talk. However, it will be a long talk--"

About Ernest Barthelemon who was searching for Agnes whereabouts, about the spread of bad rumors in the news, and about the fake Agnes and how that issue cleared up.

"Thing has changed and now you are treated as a saint."

She lost her words as things gone far from what she imagined.

And Agnes felt s.h.i.+ver down her spine as she heard that many of the people living in the royal capital was looking for her.

That was some surprising stories, but it was not as surprising as Bernard's recommendation for her to move away.

"So, what do you think?"

"Yes. That's really surprising. And if I was discovered living here, I will be a trouble for Master and everyone else."

"I'll say it no matter how many times. It's too late to say you're troubling now."

"Ye, yes."

The rumor from the royal capital couldn't reach the southwestern village, but instead there were a lot people who liked to gossip. Bernard said that even if she went there, it would take some times to settle down.

"No matter where you go, there will be some struggles."

"You are right."

"I take it your decision didn't change?"

"Yes. I want to work here."

"Understood. Then, we will need to prepare on the countermeasure."

"Countermeasure?"

"To be specific, a disguise."

Bernard proposal was making her to not stand out as much as possible. In her current state, she would be found out as Agnes at a glance.

"How exactly I must do?"

"First of all, change your hairstyle. No servant did their hair like that."

"Y-yes."

Agnes did as she was ordered right at that spot.

She pulled out all the pins on her hair and untied the string that held her hair together. Lastly, she took off the ribbon.

Her smooth golden hair was let loose, and flowed down from her shoulder to her chest.

Bernard was startled by that series of change.

It was his first time seeing a young woman with her hair down, and in all his knowledge it was unforgivable to look at that if that person was not his own wife.

He was angry that she was such an ignorant lady that would untie her hair in front of someone who was not her husband. But it was himself who ordered her to change her hairstyle, she was just responding to it.

It was obvious who was in the wrong.

"Master, um, what kind of hairstyle.....?"

Hearing Agnes's voice, he was surprised and regained his composure.

He didn't notice that he was fascinated by her appearance, and he decided the hairstyle.

"Right, that hairstyle will do. The same as Carol and Celi-"

The pigtail braid.

Agnes braided both side of her hair as ordered.

"Is this alright?"

"....."

He gazed at Agnes's braided appearance with a frown.

That hairstyle made her looked a bit younger. But unfortunately, just braiding her hair like that didn't put off her n.o.bility aura.

"Well, if you put on a new attire, maybe somehow....."

He heard from Eric that the new uniform will come tomorrow.

It was a plain dress usually worn by old woman that was in the store's catalog.

If she wore that, he thought that Agnes's good point would disappear.

"For hairstyle, that is good."

"Yes."

"And,"

"Yes?"

He warned her not to let down her hair in front of a man who is not her husband.

When she heard that, Agnes remembered the common sense she learned in her younger days, and her face became red.

"P, please pardon me."

"Just be careful."

"Yes."

Agnes, who was told to leave, bowed down deeply and left the room with Miel.

Finally alone in the room, Bernard let out a deep sigh.

***

The next day.

Bernard reported to Lazare about Agnes's settlement.

"I see. So she will stay."

"Yes. It's hard for her to leave the place she's accustomed to."

"That's true. Alright. It's going to be hard, but I'll help you if you are in trouble."

"Thank you."

Bernard thought the talk was over but he was stopped.

Lazare asked with a serious face.

"Orlellian, do you mind taking in Lady Agnes?"

".....Yes?"

"I'm asking if you want to take her as a wife."

"Why, did you say that?"

"No, it's just I thought that if you're going this far to protect her, why not just marry her as well?"

"I won't marry her."

"Then, are you going to always keep her at home?"

"That--"

He didn't think of Agnes's situation from now on.

It was said once that happiness is not all about marriage, but she also needed a place to relax.

"I also have several male employees--"

He frowned as he said that.

There was a feeling he couldn't describe in his heart, but he shook his head to get rid of it.

Lazare pretended to not look at Bernard's complicated expression, and moved to the next topic.

"Speaking of marriage, I must ask for the Orlellian's preference."

Many knights got married after being introduced by the captain of their unit.

In order to find a compatible woman for his unit members, it was important to obtain such personal information.

".....Isn't it too early?"

"No, it's neither too early or too late to keep my eyes on it."

That being said, Bernard thought of her ideal woman.

".....So, a woman with big breast is good after all?"

"Not really."

"So anything will do?"

"I guess."

Lazare wrote it down in his notebook.

"Then do you prefer a pretty one?"

"No, that kind of woman has high maintenance fee."

"Don't say it like that....."

Lazare, who knew Bernard's home situation, was not surprised.

"It doesn't have to be a n.o.ble woman?"

"Yes. I don't mind about that."

"Then what about the personality?"

".....I'm not good at handling a girl who talks too much."

"Do you prefer a quiet girl?"

"Well, yes."

"Any other preferences?"

"I don't really understand woman's thought so I prefer someone who can express their opinion well."

"I see."

Lazare asked in detail of Bernard's type of girl.

To sum it up, a quiet and modest girl, spoke clearly of her thought, and didn't mind living a plain simple life.

"Too bad, Orlellian."

"What is it?"

"That kind of old fas.h.i.+oned woman doesn't exist."

"Is that so....."

He hoped in his heart that he would try his best to search.

======================

Actually, Lazare, there is one woman who fits those criteria, it's Agnes ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I'm glad that Bernard didn't force Agnes to go. He listened to her and accepted her decision without complaining. It was one of his good traits that I like, honestly. And I'm also glad he let Agnes knows what is actually happening to her around the society. He didn't just blindly protecting her.

Well, he's still oblivious to love and all, but he will certainly improved, seeing how he was so fl.u.s.tered when Agnes let loose her hair ≧ω≦