Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Chapter 2038: Super Secret Agent

Back inside with the front door closed after the trio’s departure, Quinlan let Synchra withdraw from his face and returned to the dining room.

His family had gathered around the table, though Nessa was still finding things to do. She collected a stray napkin beside Alexios, straightened a chair, then hurried toward the kitchen with a happy tune on her lips.

"> <Are you sure we should have her here?>

Feng’s voice reached Quinlan through [Master’s Link] as he settled onto the cushioned bench beside the windows.

"> <We can fold our own laundry for a while if it means we don’t have a liability wandering around our home.>

Beside her father, Felicity rested her chin on her hand.

"> <Jiai speaks at least some sense for once. Quinlan, letting a possible spy live with us... That doesn’t sound like you.>

Nessa returned with a cloth, beaming at Lucille when the woman moved her cup out of the maid’s way. Within moments, she was happily polishing a spot on the table that Quinlan couldn’t distinguish from the clean wood around it.

Sera replied. "> <She’s quite the opposite of a liability,> Sera replied. <We need to become part of this city. People should grow accustomed to us living here, buying things, receiving guests... Being an ordinary household.>

Her blue eyes found Quinlan, and a giggle escaped her.

"> <As ordinary as possible, anyway.>

Serika agreed. "> <That’s right,> Serika agreed. <We’ve got adventurer friends who’ll vouch for us, and a maid whose neighbors have known her all her life. When she goes shopping and tells them how much she likes working here, that matters. It gives this household legitimacy.>

Ayame spoke up. "> <Clearing dangerous quests will give us fame but only distance us further from the locals,> Ayame spoke up. <Having ordinary people behave like we’re a good, ordinary family will give us the people’s trust.>

Feng watched Nessa move on to the sideboard.

"> <I understand all that. It’s mostly why we invited those three horny chicks over. Though they spent half the visit eating Quinlan with their eyes.>

Vex turned toward her.

"> <Excuse me?>

"> <Psycho wife, please stop pretending you didn’t notice. We all know you did.>

The witch held Feng’s gaze for a moment. Then she smiled and lifted both slender shoulders in a shrug.

"> <I have appearances to maintain~>

Lucille hid a giggle behind her cup as she watched Nessa stand on her toes to reach the back of the sideboard. The maid was humming with such enthusiasm that she’d begun supplying the words too.

"> <Yes, Nessa could be a liability. But you wouldn’t believe how sweet and oblivious she is. She’s an airhead like Blossom, just without good intuition or sense of smell.>

At her name, Blossom turned toward Lucille, ears pricking in alarm.

"> <Is Lucille going to mock Blossom too?!>

The caramel-haired beauty set her cup down and turned in her chair to face her, her expression overflowing with love.

"> <I love you dearly, Blossom. But you are an airhead. I mean no mockery by it. In fact, I utterly adore how much of an airhead you are.>

The dogkin’s tail began wagging immediately. Blossom continued studying her for a few seconds, until her suspicion gave way to a delighted smile.

"Blossom loves Lucille!!"

She sprang from her chair and bent to throw both arms around Lucille, squeezing her with such enthusiasm that the older woman burst out laughing. Lucille hugged her back, resting her cheek against the blonde head tucked beside hers.

Across the table, Kitsara was outraged.

"> <Excuse me?! When I tease you, I get hunted down and spanked! Lucille calls you an airhead, and she gets a hug?!>

Still holding Lucille, Blossom turned her head toward the foxkin.

"> <Blossom owes no explanations to bad girls.>

Laughter broke out in the harem chat. Lucille’s embrace tightened while Kitsara pressed a hand to her chest, looking mortally wounded by the injustice.

She tried to hold the expression, but her own laughter escaped, and soon the foxkin was grinning from ear to ear. Lucille kept an arm around Blossom as the dogkin settled back into the chair beside her.

Nessa was smiling at them from the sideboard, her cloth forgotten in her hand. Once Blossom sat down, the maid resumed her happy tune and gave the wood a final wipe.

Aurora said. "> <Lucille isn’t exaggerating about Nessa being a Blossom caliber airhead,> Aurora said. <Isolde was helping me with some adjustments to my room this morning when Nessa came in.>

Isolde was the interior designer who worked alongside Ronan back in Iskaris, and he’d brought her here through his gate, just as he had the other craftsmen.

None of them had arrived through the front entrance, which meant Isolde being here should make Nessa wonder where she came from.

Aurora continued. "> <For a moment, I thought we’d have to enslave Nessa,> Aurora continued. <Then she bowed to Isolde and thanked her for making sure ’Lady Aurora has a comfortable stay.’ She even asked whether she could bring us something to drink and when she thought I wasn’t listening she asked Isolde to be patient with her ladies because we’re new to the city and might not know everything there is to know about local customs and might have a few strange requests.>

Felicity asked."> <...She didn’t ask who Isolde was?> Felicity asked.

"> <Or where she’d come from. An unfamiliar woman was standing in my room, helping me, so she was apparently a lovely person who deserved refreshments and a request for kind treatment so I don’t think badly of the locals.>

Lucille’s shoulders shook with another giggle.

"> <She’s like a puppy. Happy to see everyone.>

Nessa tucked the cloth into her apron and set off toward the kitchen, still humming.

Felicity asked. "> <Are you absolutely sure she isn’t some super-secret, incredibly well-trained spy?> Felicity asked. <Maybe she’s doing all of this on purpose.>

The maid glanced back to admire her work as she walked.

*Thock!*

"Ow!"

Her forehead met the kitchen doorframe. Nessa clapped both hands over it and crouched, her happy song ending in a miserable little whimper.

"..."

After a moment, she peeked between her fingers to see if her blunder had gone unnoticed. With some luck, it had.

Everyone was looking at her.

Scarlet spread across her face. She lowered one hand, then seemed to regret having so much of herself visible.

"It’s... a good door, my ladies. Very sturdy..."

Quinlan brought a hand to his nose.

Even her ears went red. Nessa covered her face again while Felicity quietly folded her hands in her lap.

"> <I take back my theory.>

Sera’s giggle escaped before she could contain it. Rising from her chair, the elf crossed the room and knelt beside their mortified maid.

"May I see?"

Nessa reluctantly lowered her hands. Gentle fingers brushed the hair from her forehead, and Sera leaned closer to examine the spot she’d struck.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, my lady!"

The maid shook her head at Sera so quickly that the elf had to draw her hand back.

"Please, healing magic would be wasted on this! I’m perfectly fine!"

"My spells are never wasted on such an adorable maid."

"Lady Seraphiel..."

Nessa’s protest dwindled beneath the warmth in the elf’s smile. She sat back on her heels, looking hopelessly pleased despite the hands twisting in her apron.

Sera touched her forehead once more.

"But you’re right. The only thing hurt here is your pride. And our opinion of your clumsiness."

"Lady Seraphiel!!"

The maid’s grateful expression collapsed into an enormous pout. Laughing, Sera took her hands and helped her to her feet, then smoothed the hair she’d disturbed with an affectionate pat.

"Now, I have an important mission for you."

Nessa straightened and saluted her.

"Yes, my lady!"

"All that work in the garden has left me terribly tired, and I’d love some fresh fruit. Could you fetch some for me?"

The maid nodded eagerly to Sera.

"Of course! There’s a seller just along the avenue. I’ll see what she has!"

Sera placed a crown in her hand, closing the girl’s fingers around it.

"Thank you."

"I’ll be right back!"

With a final, vigorous nod to the elf, Nessa hurried into the hall. Her footsteps paused by the entrance while she collected her basket, then the front door opened and closed.

Sera watched her leave with a fond smile.

"Your concern is well placed, Feng. Yours too, Feli," she said aloud, no longer having to use [Master’s Link]. "But I believe having her here will be worth it. We can send her on errands when it’s time for serious discussions. Once the other maids arrive, they’ll help keep an eye on her."