“Sorry, but Shun and the others should go in first. We’ll wait and see what happens, then we’ll make a move afterwards.”
“I understand.”
The lord likely wants to see how the assistant manager will react.
With Shiro and the others at the front, we entered the cottage management facility once again.
Ao sits on Shiro’s head, considering herself their guardian.
“Oi, so you brats came back, huh?”
“Don’t call us brats!”
Shiro and the others shouted in unison.
I winced. So much for a calm start.
Apparently, the deputy manager was at the counter when Shiro and the others entered the facility first. His mockery started before Sue and I even got inside.
I glanced back at the lord. He still wore a smile, but it was cold, and laced with quiet fury. The kind of smile that spelled doom. The deputy manager had no idea his fate had already been sealed.
Then, as if digging his own grave deeper, the man leaned forward and jeered,
“You brats should go back to drink your mother’s milk! Oh, right. I guess that flat-chested girl couldn’t manage that though. Hahaha!”
Oops, now the assistant manager has started to say something bad about Sue.
Sue was no longer hiding her anger.
But uhm, there was no need to bring out the mace now Sue.
This had to be handled carefully. I held up a hand to stop her, then I stepped into the lodge’s office myself.
“Hey, poor guy. You are here again?”
“Deputy Manager, that’s not something you should say to a child.”
“““That’s right, that’s right!”””
“Why are you acting all high and mighty, you poor guy? I’m in charge of this cottage more than the lord. That’s why I’m the most important person here!”
Oh no, he even used the lord’s name.
This is definitely not okay. The deputy manager was clearly in a state of frenzy, his temper boiling over. Not that he was the only one though. The children were bristling with anger too—and even Ao is waving her tentacles in irritation.
The staff were utterly flustered by the deputy manager’s reckless outburst.
Then, with sharp footsteps and a sudden heaviness in the air, the lord himself strode in.
Sue beside him, has fury burning openly in her eyes. The squad of armed soldiers following close behind them.
“Sigh. I never imagined you could be this much of a fool.”
The lord spoke, his voice low but stern.
“Ah? Eh? M-my lord? Why… why are you here at the cottage?”
As the lord glared at the deputy manager with a sharp glare, he stammered and his voice cracking as he turned pale.
The assistant manager seemed to have calmed down only just now, but it was probably too late now.
“Your outrageous behavior has already reached my manor in the form of a formal complaint!”
The lord yelled at the deputy manager.
“Eeeek!”
And as expected, the deputy manager screamed and cowered in fear.
“There’s a lot that I want to say. You were using my name without permission earlier and saying whatever you wanted. I heard it clearly too.”
“Uh, uh, t-that’s…”
Mm, I thought that was bad too.
No matter what, using the lord’s name without permission and saying whatever you want is a bit dangerous. Furthermore, this cottage is run directly by the viscount’s family, so the deputy manager’s behavior would be even more unacceptable.
“Also, this girl you were yelling at is currently disguised as an adventurer, but she’s actually the daughter of a baron from the Royal Capital.”
“Eh, eeh!?”
He’d been so abusive towards Sue, it was impossible for a normal person to do something like that.
The deputy manager’s eyes widened in shock, but it was probably too late now. Then, as if he didn’t want to see the deputy manager anymore, the lord ordered his soldiers.
“I can’t stand you staying here any longer. Soldiers, capture the deputy manager and interrogate him thoroughly.”
“““Yes!”””
“Uuu…”
The deputy manager, realizing resistance was futile, submitted quietly as the soldiers bound him and led him away. His heavy footsteps faded, leaving only the faint echo of shame in the air.
Once he was gone, the lord turned back to us and bowed deeply.
“I owe you a deep apology for what you’ve endured. Please, accept my remorse.”
“N-no, My lord, please raise your head.”
I said quickly.
“It’s all right now. The deputy manager has been taken into custody.”
Sue stepped forward as well, her voice softer now.
“And thank you for your concern for me as well. Truly… I’m fine.”
The lord exhaled, a trace of relief easing his stern features.
“Thank you. Hearing that lifts a great weight from my shoulders.”
With the apology made and accepted, Sue seemed to have finally let go of her lingering anger. Still, what an incredibly troublesome deputy manager he had been.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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