Atelier Tanaka Volume 4 Chapter 5 part12

FitzClarence Family

[Sophichan's point of view]

The only way for this maid to spend the afternoon after a long hard day of work is with tea and snacks.

I was away from my usual place at the desk and was instead at the small kitchenette attached to the office. I bought a bucket of oysters on the way home and was waiting for a pot to boil on the stove.

Just as the water was beginning to bubble, I grabbed my cup off a nearby shelf when Tanaksan's cup that was right next to it suddenly cracked.

"Ah…."

The crack slowly spread across the face of the cup before splitting into two as it made its way towards the lip.

"…."

What happened?

It just cracked out of nowhere.

"…o-oh no!"

I knocked it off the shelf.

I hit it with the back of my hand as I lifted my own cup from the shelf. It fell to the ground and shattered.

W-W-W-What am I going to do?

I'm going to be in trouble. He always used this cup; it must have held some meaning to him. Or maybe it's really expensive.

"…."

Could I find a replacement at a shop? He's not here and I don't know when he'll be back, but I'll hopefully have a few days to find one. If I give it my all, I should be able to find it.

Plans to hide my mistake started flowing through my mind.

Then, an all too familiar voice erupted in laughter behind me.

"Oooooooohohohohooo~!"

"Who –!?"

Her shrill laugh echoed throughout the kitchen.

I turned around to see Doris-sama standing at the entrance.

Her drills bounced around as she threw her head back in laughter. Visiting me in the office has  become a habit of hers over the last few days.

"Sophia, did you think you'd get away without anyone seeing!? I saw everything!"

"D-D-Do-Doris-sama!"

"Did you think I wouldn't recognize it? That's your master's favourite cup! I wonder how he'll react when he finds out his clumsy maid shattered it into pieces?"

"…."

There was a sinister smile on her face.

That's right. This is the type of person she is.

 A complete sadist.

A sadist capable of controlling a demon.

"If you wish for me to remain silent, you'll accompany me at my tea party."

"B-But…."

"I also believe I possess an identical cup to the one you broke."

"T-That's…."

It's a very attractive proposal.

This must be how people fall into depravity.

"What do you say~? Or do you plan on refusing my simple request?"

"T-That's absurd! I-I-I'll be in your care!"

This is the first I've heard about Doris-sama's tea party.

Knowing her, it must be a sadistic party indeed.

"Ufufu~, I love honest girls like you."

"…."

A commoner like me will surely be maid to strip in front of the rest of the nobility attending her party. They'll take their time and have fun humiliating me all night.

I'll enter as an innocent maid, but the party will continue. As I'm forced to do things I never thought me capable of, the party will continue. Before the end, I'll no longer resemble the woman I once was, but the party will still continue.

Aa~h, just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.

***

The explosion was deafening. The fireball exploded at the centre of the table, obliterating anything near it and sending everything else flying towards the walls.

Still, Richard and the muscular grandpa were alive. The room itself still remained intact but the table was gone and a black scorch mark was left on the ceiling and floor where Richard was seated.

The smoke and dust caused by the explosion lingered in the air for some time and took nearly a minute before it started to clear. Just like I had experienced previously, my healing magic began forming a new head on my shoulders. The attack Richard had launched at me was enough to cut through most of my neck but my head still remained attached by a thin strand of muscle. As my new head formed, my old one fell to the floor with a thud.

"…."

Magic is dangerous.

I can understand why the United States has such a problem with guns.

This entire room was destroyed by only two people possessing the ability to destroy everything in sight within a few seconds. The table and chairs were completely obliterated or shattered into splinters. The fine plates we were eating off of had been shattered or blackened to the point of being unrecognizable.

After the smoke cleared, I took a quick survey of the room. Mamsan had been knocked to the floor, but Richard was on top of her and protected her from the worst of the explosion. Both appeared to be alive as I could see them breathing and hear groans coming from them.

The muscular grandpa was standing at the epicentre of the blast protecting Ester-chan. A strange aura surrounded him that resembled the protection magic the noble mage used while fighting the dragon. What a cool pose. I could fall in love.

This must be his way of confirming his love for his family.

While secret lover number two Allen is…oi, oi, didn't he do something incredible? He used a section of the table that had broken off as a shield to protect himself and the maids. The wood was scorched and splintered but he and the maids were safe.

Today's MVP is number two.

"Thank you, Allen. I knew I could count on you."

"N-No, you've done more than me, Tanaksan."

"Don't you all ready know, Allen? It will take a lot more than this to kill me."

"Y-Your as amazing as ever…."

That look of astonishment on his face when he first entered the dining room returned.

It doesn't feel bad seeing him so impressed with me.

But my heart was actually racing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep everyone alive through another attack. The only reason I let things come to this was in order to protect Allen. If it were anyone else sitting next to me, I would've already ran away.

Ester-chan's attack was also unexpected.

"But I-I'm lucky I had this…."

With a bang, Allen dropped his makeshift shield.

He let out a big sigh as he did so.

"Don't say that. That was a clever use of a table."

"But it was just –!"

Secret lover number two still tried to remain humble.

As number one, I wonder what our future will hold.

This is all a result of Ester-chan doing whatever she wants, after all. Well, I can't say it's all bad. It's because of her doing whatever she wants that I was awarded the title of baron in the first place.

"…Baron Tanaka."

Someone suddenly called out my name.

I looked toward the voice and saw Richard was beginning to move and as he got up on one knee. The suit he wore was covered in dust and soot while several holes had formed where his clothing had caught fire. Recovery magic can't fix clothing after all.

"Sorry if I've caused you any inconvenience, Duke FitzClarence."

"…."

There was a clear look of confusion on his face after I bowed.

And, with a more subdued tone than usual, he spoke,

"You are human, aren't you?"

"Your child can attest to at least one human side of me."

"…."

I wasn't sure how effective an attack like that would be against a Duke considering I was holding back.

But I had no other cards left to play.

Maybe regrowing my head was enough to scare him.

"Duke FitzClarence, I have a request."

"…please, ask it."

"Allen is a good person."

"…."

"Please, as a favour to me, consider him a member of the family."

He should be able to understand what I really want.

No matter how furious he may be, he has to realize he stands to gain nothing by continuing this fight. Sophie-chan described him as a monster but he's not an idiot. There's also one key difference between the dinner from Sophie-chan's past and this one, Richard is the one kneeling.

Given our positions, this makes my request more of a threat.

"…I'm certain I cut clean through your neck, Tanaksan."

"It will take more than that to have my head, Hegel-san."

"…."

I held my index finger up.

It's time for the mysterious Asian busamen to make his getaway.

"Now then, if you'll excuse me for today."

"W-Wait a moment! We aren't finished yet…."

Both sides need some time to cool their heads.

I ignored Richard's words as I floated into the air using my flight magic. I took a quick glance around the room and saw that a nearby window facing out to the garden had been shattered. What a perfect place to make a cool escape.

The cool wind whipped against my cheeks as I floated out of the window.

"…."

The view of the cityscape from this vantage point was breathtaking.

No, no, there's no time to regret my actions.

The only place I can go is Dragon City.

Farewell Kalis. It would be best if I stayed away from the capital for a while.

***

Chapter end