Chapter 119 The Piglet and the Ant
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The soft light of magic lamps illuminated the luxurious basement.
On the table, a warm, steaming breakfast was laid out, and a savory aroma filled the room. And on my knees sat a single girl, sprawled out as if that spot were her very throne.
”Hmm, yes~desuwa ne. Next, take that soup there.”
”…”
I took the requested bowl of golden soup, scooped it with a silver spoon, and gently brought it to her small mouth opened like a little bird’s.
Until Liliana, the cheeky little angel sitting on my lap eating, said she was satisfied, I simply repeated the task.
”Nice~ Liliana-chan. Getting Master to feed you ‘ahhn’—I’m so jealooous~”
”Nyaa, nyaa” “Gao, gao”
At Mina’s innocent, childish opinion, Kuuko and Lumia, curled up on the sofa across the table, also wagged their tails in agreement.
”Mina should just ask too~desuwa. Granting a weak girl’s request gently is a gentleman’s natural duty, after all.”
”…Don’t get cocky.”
I lightly flicked the forehead of Liliana, who was smugly puffing out her chest.
”Kyah! Moou! Using violence on a girl, you’re the wooorst~desuwa! Unbecoming of a gentleman~desuwa!”
”Don’t say something that sounds bad to others. This is discipline. Discipline. —More like, you, did your real brother, His Highness Liam, feed you like this every day?”
I tried asking a sudden question that crossed my mind.
”No way! At the Royal Palace, doing something so unseemly is unthinkable! A little thought would tell you that. You should use your head a little more~desuwa.”
”…Don’t spoil yourself on me more than your own big brother.”
* * *
Why has it come to this?
It’s because I, at a loss over Liliana’s existence and treatment, began thinking of sending her back to the Royal Palace soon, and started considering how to do so.
For that, first, I needed to investigate her current state and her impression of me in detail.
Just how much does Liliana hate me right now?
Her future handling would change greatly depending on that “degree of killing intent.”
And this morning.
When I came to this basement to check on her—
I was prompted to sit on the sofa, and when I did, she naturally climbed onto my lap and ordered me to feed her like this.
Come to think of it, before, right after I “rescued” her, she made me feed her the same way.
At that time, she showed a sulky attitude—but
It seems she took quite a liking to it.
Eventually, when she finished her meal looking satisfied, Lilia, who was waiting, gently wiped around her mouth with a wet napkin and devotedly cared for her.
It seems Liliana has taken quite a liking not only to Mina, who is around the same age, but also to the older Lilia.
”Our names are just a little similar. So I’ll specially cherish you like my real big sister.”
She apparently said that to Lilia.
Being told that by a small girl with an angelic, devilish cuteness—there’s no way one wouldn’t be happy.
Lilia also didn’t seem displeased.
With her innate, devilish cuteness—
Liliana had completely won the right to live selfishly in this mansion.
…As expected, being cute pays off.
* * *
”Very well. Then today, I shall explore this mansion’s garden and go to those dwarves’ secret hut!”
Liliana is saying such things.
Watching her so innocent, I no longer sense any dangerous air that she’s trying to kill me. Perhaps, if things continue like this, she might not say anything troublesome about this mansion after she returns to the Royal Palace.
—Would it be okay to send her back at this rate?
”Exploring is fine, but never leave this mansion’s grounds.”
Powerful security devices operate around the mansion.
I warned her just in case.
(Today, school’s off too. Maybe I’ll tag along with Liliana’s exploration game once in a while.)
As I thought that, the mansion’s front gate intercom seemed to have rung.
The small Magic Artifact in my chest gave a faint reaction.
* * *
I took out that marble-like small Magic Artifact and gently placed it on the desk.
Then, I tapped its surface with my finger.
A faint light was emitted from the Magic Artifact, and a translucent window displaying the mansion’s gate front clearly appeared in the space before my eyes.
I make Magic Artifacts as a hobby, creating new ones and making fine adjustments.
This Magic Artifact has functions like a security camera and something like a doorphone from my previous life.
While inside the mansion, I can detect visitors in advance and even check the gate’s condition.
In a world of swords and magic, it’s a plain gimmick—but surprisingly useful, and I like it.
On that screen, the Grimlock family’s steward, Oscar Blackwell, and what must be his luxurious carriage were shown.
So he rang the bell.
Then, the carriage door opened, and a single unknown brat, about ten years old, got out.
”Waaai! This big, cool mansion is all gonna be miiine! Alright, I’ll do my best!”
This Magic Artifact is made to pick up not just video but also clear audio.
…What is this brat?
”Aka Horus-sama. It is dangerous, so please stay inside the carriage.”
”Whatever~ Jeez. I can just walk from here. It’s right in front of my eyes. More importantly, aah, I can’t wait! If I beat that incompetent Zero Mana, Xenos, this becomes my territory starting today, right? Killing weaklings feels so goood~ Ahaha!”
Oscar calls him with ‘-sama’, and he calls this mansion “my territory.” He’s probably a relative of the Grimlock bloodline—a cousin’s child or something.
While listening to that brat’s piercing, ear-grating voice—
I felt a clear, visceral disgust.
I knew that scheming old man would pull something soon.
Receiving reports about me from Oscar, he wouldn’t do nothing. And it seems this clearly stupid-looking brat is the next “move.”
(But still…)
I let out a small sigh and muttered.
”That’s a bad move, old man.”
Notes:
• Liliana – Known as the “Angel of the Asgard Kingdom” for her golden hair and sky-blue eyes, this princess is the younger sister of Prince Liam and Elenor. While maintaining a refined, angelic public facade, she is a manipulative mastermind who wields explosion magic. As Serena’s liege and the true culprit behind recent assassination attempts, she carefully hides her dark nature behind whispered, noble asides.
• Lilia – Xenos’s fiercely loyal, trauma-resilient Head Maid is a lovely, pale, busty woman with long dark hair, a chest tattoo, and a nullified crest. Dressed in a black uniform, she maintains refined, icy elegance when disciplining others, especially Elenor. While formal and efficient with guests, she masks deep, jealous anxiety for Xenos, finding her greatest joy in serving him and sleeping by his side.
• Kuuko – Beastkin staying at the theater. Already asleep in the staff quarters.
• Lumia – Beastkin staying at the theater. Already asleep in the staff quarters.
• Mina – A personal maid for the Grimlock estate, serves Xenos with childlike devotion. With soft brown hair and a playful bunny kigurumi over dancer’s attire, she uses cheerful gyaru speech and remains oblivious to tension. She shares a loving bond with her brother Kai, cares for Lumiá, Kuuko, and the estate kitten, and holds a deep affection for Cecilia, recently announcing Serena’s arrival.
• Liam – Liam Asgard, the golden-haired, emerald-eyed First Prince of Asgard, is Liliana’s older brother and the liege of Elliot and Aldrick. Betrothed to Elisabeth, he is an arrogant yet fundamentally kind man who speaks with elegant grace. Though he underestimates his rival Xenos’s Zero Mana status, he shows consideration toward him, even as his obsessive pursuit of Cecilia threatens his political standing.
• Blackwell – Oscar’s last name. The Head butler of Grimlock family.
• Grimlock – Xenos’s family name.
• Oscar – Head butler of the Grimlock family and Gaius’s most trusted confidant. A tall, lean man in his late forties with impeccably groomed gray hair, silver-rimmed glasses, and a perfectly tailored black tailcoat, he is known for his expressionless face and piercing azure eyes. Beyond managing the family’s servants, he serves as the Grimlocks’ strategist and spymaster, overseeing finances, intelligence, covert operations, and rebellion funding.
• Xenos – Job: Heir to a high-ranking noble house; Relationship: Owner of Lilia; Has romantic connections with Elenor, Cecilia, and Lizel; Item/Magic: Summoning magic, [Substitution Collars]; Note: Was caught up in a Royal Palace explosion and missed three days of school. Pragmatic and calculating personality. Job: Noble of Grimlock family, protagonist; Relationship: Manipulator of Princess Liliana, pursuing Serena; Item/Magic: [Ring of Transformation]; Note: Reincarnated villain with game knowledge, calculating and arrogant. Job: Theater Owner and noble of Grimlock family; Relationship: Fiancé to Cecilia; Item/Magic: Game knowledge/metaknowledge; Note: Reincarnated villain protagonist who knows the original game script.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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