"Ark-sama, why did you go through the trouble of asking me to come here?"
"I want to ask something of you. This will be related to the answer I will give to your request from a while ago."
"I want to make a new book that tells about the contents of this entire world, and I cannot possibly do it alone."
"If I go alone, I might end up disappearing quickly. I also need a companion so that I won't feel lonely."
"That's why, Vina, I want you to come with me! Will you come with me to explore this world we have never seen before?!"
"Your life will be more secure if you accept my offer! We will travel around the world together while enjoying the world itself. Isn't that a good idea?!"
——
I already told her that yesterday, and I still haven't received her answer until today.
She said... she asked me for time to give her answer, because the offer I gave her might become a precious moment in her life.
Ark Vicolent, the son of a Baron of a large village not far from the capital of this continent, whose people are very kind and happy to be led by our family.
However, our family's relationship with all of them is very close, as if we are all one big family who will protect one another.
My father himself, who leads this village, asked me something a few months ago—
"Ark, do you want to keep enjoying that hobby of yours? If so, I want you to do something that can bring change to this world," he said.
The hobby he meant was my great love for reading and writing books, which I have enjoyed since I was little.
And the turning point came a week ago, when my mother said to me—
"Ark, this world is very vast, and I think you would feel comfortable traveling to many places and writing a book," she said.
And two days ago, I finally decided to travel around this entire world while searching for ideas and writing a book about it.
As for money, I will earn it through work at the Adventurer's Guild, so that will not be a problem.
They both have already agreed to my wish, so now I am free to do whatever I want and leave whenever I wish.
To travel to many places, I cannot possibly go alone. That is why I invited Vina, the only girl who serves as a maid in our residence.
...Most of the maids here are already grown women. Vina is the youngest and the least experienced among them.
But! When it comes to work and discipline, Vina surpasses them all. She works extremely hard, as if she were destined to become a maid.
When I was little, my father and I were shopping in one of the major cities, and I found a little girl with silver hair sitting in a narrow alley.
She was crouching there, staring at the small road in front of her while spacing out with empty eyes.
There were many people living on the fringes there, and for some reason, when I first met her gaze, it made me want to save that little girl.
In the end, my father allowed me to bring the girl with us, and she accepted.
Even though I had only asked him on a whim, perhaps he had already had a premonition that the girl might be useful to him.
My father asked the other maids to teach that little girl household work in exchange for allowing her to live in our residence.
Vina had been abandoned by her parents in that narrow alley when she was only five years old.
Huh, she's only two years younger than me? At that time, I didn't know why I wanted that girl to come with me.
But I think I will get the answer today when Vina comes to my room this afternoon.
However, will she accept it? Even though I am indeed her master in terms of status.
Vina is not someone who likes to go outside often. I have learned this from observing her daily habits.
She prefers to speak honestly to others, whether to me or to my parents.
Rather than seeing it as rude or anything like that, my parents are actually happy to have a servant like her.
Although she rarely smiles, I can say she is a kind girl. Sometimes she also looks happy, with her cheeks slightly flushed.
She also scolds me very often when I cause trouble, so I don't feel that she is a quiet and cold maid.
In fact, she has changed greatly since the first time we met. She has now grown into a beautiful girl who often chats with the other maids.
The atmosphere became livelier when she started working here, which is why everyone in this residence loves her—except when it comes to me.
I... hope she will accept my offer.
——
My eyebrows kept twitching, and my arms were still folded in front of my chest. I could not stop closing my eyes while thinking about Vina.
Last night, I couldn't sleep peacefully. I repeatedly got out of bed and did various activities to stimulate my mind, but in the end, I only managed to fall asleep after midnight had passed.
I still remember how restless I was last night. Truly like someone in despair over the situation before him.
I can't calm down!
Crack.
I stood up from my chair and pushed it under the desk so that it would look neat.
My heart and mind could not calm down when thinking about the answer Vina would give me later. I truly wanted to hear it.
I paced around my room for several minutes, filled with anxiety and curiosity.
I glanced at the clock above my bed. There were still about twenty minutes left before breakfast time.
Usually, Vina would knock on my door and come in to inform me that it was time to fill my stomach.
But... I really couldn't wait that long! I had to act!
—
Tap, tap.
I left my room and walked down the hallway to approach Vina, who might still be in her room.
Oops, I forgot.
I must not look too excited or anxious. I must behave as I usually do in front of her.
My footsteps stopped in front of a door, which was none other than her room.
I couldn't hear anything from here. Perhaps she was still asleep or had already left earlier than me.
I clenched my hand while swallowing hard. I forgot when the last time was that I personally visited her in her room.
Honestly, I don't have much time to leave my own room. I am busy thinking of new ideas to write books that I will submit to the capital's library, which they will later publish, allowing me to earn money from them.
I stood more upright than usual before using my right hand to knock on her door several times.
"Vina, are you inside?"
.....
No response could be heard. Perhaps she had already gone out and started working first?
As her superior, I also have the right to enter the rooms of all the servants in this residence. I am not taking advantage of that... Ah, there it is!
I used the ability from the status I currently possess. Hmm, that's right.
I grabbed the doorknob and slowly opened Vina's door before entering her room.
As usual, I was immediately focused on her room, which was so well arranged as if it were a brand-new room that had never been used by anyone.
It was completely different from my room, which was filled with hundreds of books scattered across the floor.
Beside the bed, I saw Vina there. Oh, she was still inside? Why didn't she answer me then—
My cheeks turned slightly red, and I quickly looked away after realizing that she was also looking at me.
Vina was still tying the white apron that would be attached to the front of her skirt, with the strap for tying her hair held between her teeth.
"You were still getting ready, huh? No wonder you didn't answer me earlier," I said while scratching my cheek.
Not long after, she tied her hair and was ready to work as usual.
"I didn't expect you to enter my room. I was quite surprised. Especially when a girl is still getting ready, Ark-sama, please don't do that again next time, alright?" she said while placing both her palms in front of her skirt, showing a polite posture.
Feeling that it was safe, I immediately looked at her.
"I-I thought you had already gone out, so I came in to check directly. I will try not to do that again," I said after hearing her advice.
"Besides, why did you enter my room? There are still a few minutes before breakfast. Could it be that you are already hungry?" Vina asked while walking slowly toward me.
"I want to hear your answer regarding my offer yesterday," I said.
Vina looked slightly startled. Her eyes widened when I asked her, but instead of replying, she lowered her head and walked past me.
She headed toward the door. Perhaps she wanted to leave.
"Don't try to avoid it! I will punish you if you do that," I said.
She immediately froze in place. Perhaps the threat I gave earlier was enough to make her give her answer now.
"It would be better if we both went outside. Ilna-san and the other maids need my help in the kitchen to prepare breakfast," she said while opening the door and walking out first.
Geh, this is not the time to stay silent.
I hurried out of her room and did not forget to close the door. Usually Vina is the one who does this—why have our roles become reversed like this?
She walked in front of me without any intention of letting me walk ahead or beside her.
"Vina, that's enough. I did ask you, but I have no intention of forcing you."
"If you are reluctant, I don't mind letting you stay here. But I will still leave. I don't want to make you feel forced by me, because that would mean I do not respect your feelings as a human being."
She turned around and looked at me with a fairly expressionless face, almost the same as usual.
"I cannot allow Ark-sama to travel without a guard. It would be very dangerous for you, who cannot fight monsters or evil people at all."
Hah... I admit my magic ability is indeed weak, but I could still feel her sharp gaze when she said that.
"Of course, as a maid I should have immediately accepted your offer as proof of my loyalty to the one who saved me."
"But... I realized that I asked for time to think about what answer I would give. This is truly a mistake for a maid."
"Now, I have decided. I will accept the offer. Of course, I am doing this to protect you as a maid."
I could no longer show any expression. My body froze, and only my thoughts received everything she had just said.
My heart was truly pounding. I felt extremely relieved when she accepted my offer. I... was truly happy!
I smiled in satisfaction before walking toward her.
"Yosh, let's go! We must fill our stomachs so that we won't be exhausted later. Oh right, I want you and the cooks to eat together with us," I said while walking ahead of her.
She hurriedly caught up with me so that she could walk beside me.
She was surprised when she heard that I wanted to eat together with the servants in this residence. For her, this must be excessive.
"W-what are you saying? We cannot allow your father and mother to eat with us! It would be an insult to sit at the same table as servants who are supposed to serve them," she said, looking slightly panicked.
"Relax, I will make sure they won't complain. Besides, I am already happy now... Vina, how about we leave this afternoon?" I asked.
"It's not a problem. I can quickly prepare the things I will bring, and then help you," she replied.
Alright, if that's the case, then it's settled, right? Vina and I will travel together and write a book!!!