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The main highways of Seperion are really well maintained and resilient. That’s all thanks to the first king putting a lot of effort into building robust trading routes, making sure future generations would not struggle traveling. On top of that, they were carefully planned to avoid intruding into territories occupied by protected monster species, as they did not want to accidentally turn them into enemies.

Regardless, because of all the work that went into building the base infrastructure, the highways are really safe to travel, and there are hardly any encounters with bandits. Obviously there are altercations between travelers from time to time, but that’s unavoidable considering human nature. Security also gets tighter closer to the capital, with patrols being more frequent, thorough security checks, and stronger barriers.

Thanks to all of that, even after going from carriage to carriage and joining various caravans, we’re still on time to arrive at the capital Magici. Some people were a bit suspicious of us since we’re a bunch of monsters traveling together with Olivia, but since she was just placed as a rank D adventurer, which is considered a middle rank, she seemed trustworthy in their eyes. I really appreciate that the guild staff revised her rank before we left.

The houses on the roadside start to become more frequent, and then before I realize we’re already at the capital. It was so sudden that I barely noticed we were inside the city.

Since the area surrounding the city has been secured so thoroughly with checkpoints and barriers, the city itself has no outer wall. Apparently that was also something the first king decided.

There’s a small hill in the center of the city, at the top of which Magici Palace was built. Then at the foot of the hill are the mansions of nobles, some military installations, as well as various research institutions. Further outside are the districts where the common people live, as well as where merchants operate.

We get off the carriage, then check the map we got together with the invitation letter to see where Otis’ mansion is. Though I already knew it had to be in the inner circle with the noble mansions.

The streets are even more crowded than Ingralowe was, so Olivia and Clarissa keep staring everywhere and getting distracted by every little thing, making it obvious they came from the countryside, so I have to constantly push them forward. People would probably freak out if they saw Akane walking on the ground though, so I have her riding on my shoulder as I walk. Continuing like that for a bit, we finally arrive at our destination.

“It’s here…isn’t it?”
“It should be…”

Olivia asks with a bit of insecurity, so I also look at the map we got with the letter, just to double check. We had expected it to be a mansion, but not one this imposing.

After regaining our bearings, we approach the guards standing on the entrance.

“We’ve been awaiting you, let me guide you inside, please follow me.”

One of the guards says that and opens the gates for us, then guides us into a room inside the mansion. I’m assuming it’s some sort of drawing room, and it looks just as luxurious as the mansion did outside.

Olivia takes a seat there, and Clarissa tries to climb onto the couch next to her so I grab her neck and pull her back, making her stand with me behind Olivia. We’re her Servants, we can’t go around standing on the same level as our master, especially in formal settings like this..

“Welcome, thank you for coming.”

We wait for a few minutes until Otis and his family arrive. I recognize him since we met at the Academy’s festival before.

Olivia quickly stands up, and I also straighten my back. Clarissa…I just hope they can forgive her lack of manners.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Otis Ley Gardeland, this is my wife Lorraine and my son Oswald.”
“Thank you for inviting us to come as well. I’m Olivia Eto Gardeland.”

Surprisingly enough, Olivia manages to return a polite greeting and introduce herself. Then with Otis’ permission, she sits down again.

“Alright, so I’m sure you must have a lot of questions, but I imagine the biggest one is my connection to your mother Ophelia, right?” Otis and his family also sit down, and he jumps straight into the main topic. “I’m Ophelia’s older brother, so that’d make me your uncle.”

Otis is Ophelia’s older brother, which means that Ophelia came from noble descent. While that revelation is shocking, a part of me had already expected that as well.

The middle name Ophelia and Olivia share, Eto, is Shuma’s last name, meaning that Gardeland was Ophelia’s maiden name. Then there’s also the fact that commoners don’t have last names in this country.

Taking all of that into account, I had already expected Ophelia to have been born into a high class family.

And maybe I had been so trusting of Otis before due to the fact that I could subconsciously recognize Ophelia’s features on him.

“Did Ophelia ever tell you anything about her family in the past?”
“No… My mother never said anything.”

Olivia’s usual energy is gone from her voice as she replies to Otis.

I’m sure she must feel really conflicted. She’s lived believing none of her relatives are alive anymore for a while, so it must be a big shock to suddenly learn that she has an uncle, and he’s a noble on top of that.

“After graduating from the Magic Academy, she worked at the palace as a court sorceress for a while, but eventually she got fed up with that sedentary life and desired to travel the world and broaden her horizons. But then my father, or from your point of view, your grandfather, disapproved of her idea and they got into a big fight, which ended with her running away from home. Many years later she returned together with Shuma, wanting to introduce him to the family, but my father never forgave her, so she ended up cutting all ties with us. It was a pretty ugly falling out, so I can understand why she never told you the story.”

“I see…”
“You’re all that remains of her now, and it’d be too painful to have you staying away as well. So what do you say, would you like to join back into our family?”
“Ah, umm… Marquis Gardeland?”
“Please, don’t talk like we’re strangers. I’m your uncle.”

“Ah, right, Uncle Otis…sir?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Would that mean I’ll become a noble as well?”
“Well, technically it’s not impossible, but also not a simple task. Ophelia essentially stripped herself of her name and heritage when she left, but her legacy is so impressive that I’d still be optimistic about it. I’m sure it’s possible for you to reintegrate yourself. And my father is quite old now, so I really wish he could let go of his grudge already and try to build a relationship with you as well.”
“…”

Olivia remains silent. I can’t see her face from where I’m standing, but I can easily imagine she’s filled with confusion.

“I’m not asking you to answer right away, I realize how sudden all of this is. You can stay at the mansion for a while and think about it. Regardless, the party the day after tomorrow should be a good experience for you.”

Saying that, Otis stands up and leaves together with his family, just like how he first arrived.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Olivia. I’m Vance, the butler of the mansion.” A man wearing a monocle then speaks to Olivia.

He has some gray strands peppered amongst his hair, so he probably already has a decent number of years under his belt, but he wears his butler uniform with immaculate style, and his posture is perfect with nicely developed muscles, so it’s fair to say he’s still in the prime of his life.

“There’s a room ready for you, let me take you to it.”
“Okay…”

Olivia gives a quick reply and stands up, but her voice still sounds flat. The room they’ve prepared for her is also nicely built, but it’s not furnished with as much luxury as I had thought. I’m almost surprised it looks so tame.

“Feel free to use this room as your own. I took the liberty of assuming you’d like to keep your Servants in the same room, but I can prepare a separate room for them if you so desire.”
“No, I want them here. Thank you, sir.”

Olivia thanks him, and Vance smiles as his eyes narrow slightly.

“Please call me Vance. As Lady Ophelia’s daughter, you’re essentially my master as well.” Hearing that, Olivia raises her head with a bit of surprise.

“I still remember Lady Ophelia as this rowdy tomboy who did as she pleased, and now I’m in the presence of her daughter who she raised with so much care, it really shows how quickly time passes. Many of Lady Ophelia’s belongings from her time in this mansion are still here, so feel free to look at them if you wish.”
“Umm…thank you, Vance.”

Olivia smiles slightly as she says that, and the aged butler bows with a smile, before turning around elegantly and leaving.

“Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I was so tenseeeeeeeeeee.”
“Awoooooooo…”

Olivia throws herself on the couch in the center of the room, sprawling her limbs out in exhaustion. Clarissa tries to imitate her as well, rubbing her body against the carpet on the floor.

I really don’t think that’s how a lady should behave, but I can’t really blame her. If I was her, I’d want to curl up into a ball and cry myself to sleep too.

“I never imagined that Lord Otis could be my Mistress’ older brother.”
“I know. And Oz is his son, so wouldn’t that mean that he’s my cousin?”

I’m sure Otis and Oswald knew that the entire time and didn’t say anything until now. Ophelia was always kinda crafty, but I guess it comes from her family.

I sit down on a chair and take Akane off my shoulder and place her on my lap. I channel some mana onto my fingertip and bring it to Akane’s mouth, who starts sapping out my mana, without using her mandibles obviously.

“Natalia, what do you think I should do..?”
“Well…”

That’s not something I can decide. I’m just a maid, and a magic automaton. I’m not someone who should intervene on how my master lives her life. But is that really for the best?

I’ve meddled with a lot of things in the past already, so I can’t really say that as a way to cope out the moment things get tricky, can I?

“Mm, sorry. I know it’s something I should decide on my own. I’m already 15 years old and a proper adult, I can’t keep relying on you for everything.”
“Young Lady…”

A mix of desolation and joy washes over me as I realize how little I did to help Olivia, while also realizing she’s maturing.

Eventually someone knocks on the door, as if trying to interrupt my conflicting feelings.