A Serendipitous Reunion

“Lord Claude!”

The moment I saw him, I called out his name.

This uninvited guest gave me a sliver of hope to break the deadlock.

Though unfounded, from long ago, he had always been a very capable man. Whenever the Young Miss and I found ourselves in an awkward situation, he would always offer just the right help.

“Long time no see, Eileen.”

“…Long time no see.”

‘Damn, I forgot to greet him.’

Even though he was the head of our household, I neglected the most basic maid etiquette.

Fortunately, Claude was not someone so bound by rules. He didn’t mind at all.

“The ducal manor has been quite busy lately. Olivia and I both returned there, so we haven’t seen you all for a while. Just after coming back, I heard the academy was attacked by demons, and Katerina is lying in the infirmary.”

“…I’m sorry. I failed to protect the Young Miss.”

I bowed my head deeply.

Rather than failing to protect her, it was actually my fault that she was in this state…

“Lift your head, Eileen. It’s not your fault. Anyway, Olivia and I just saw her. She looked lively and bouncing around, so no big deal. No problem at all.

Also, I heard that you defeated the invading demon? Well done!”

It felt like being praised by the duke, and it even made me a little nostalgic.

Well, Claude is indeed the duke now.

“By the way, you look troubled?”

As expected, Claude is always sharp.

“Yes! Lord Claude, it’s like this…”

I quickly explained the situation.

“I see… So you are the maid of the new transfer student pair? When I got back, Olivia told me about it. She said you were recommended by the church?”

As expected of the Student Council, the news travels fast.

“Yes!”

When the topic turned to Caro, she immediately nodded emphatically.

“Bishop Donix, in order for the Young Miss to learn more and see the world, specially sent Miss Teresa into this academy!”

“I see…”

Claude nodded with a smile… but I felt his smile carried a deeper meaning.

“In any case, this maid named Caro has forgotten her dormitory room number and is troubled? That’s easy. The Student Council room has files on all students. Just ask Olivia.”

‘The Student Council room…?’

Although the Student Council room was closer than the faculty office, it would still take time to get there.

If I hurried, I might just make it?

While I was still considering the feasibility, Claude spoke with a smile:

“No need to worry, we don’t have to go there.”

With that, he pressed the ring on his ring finger.

Immediately, a translucent window floated out from his ring, displaying the words “Dialing” in large letters.

It looked like a video call.

‘What is this high-tech thing!?’

As if seeing my—no, our confusion, Claude explained:

“This is a gift Margaret gave Olivia for her birthday a while ago. After infusing magic, it allows Olivia and me to communicate remotely.”

So it was Margaret’s work… That explains it.

Come to think of it, she had given the Young Miss an old-fashioned phone a few years ago… In just a few years, it had upgraded to video calling.

“Wow! Miss Margaret is that amazing!” Caro, who was unfamiliar with Margaret, exclaimed in admiration.

But the rest of us were used to it.

As we chatted idly, the call connected.

“Oh, there’s an image.”

Olivia’s grinning face appeared on the window.

“What is it, Claude? We just parted, and you already miss me so quickly?”

“Yes, indeed. Look who I have beside me.”

“Oh my, isn’t this little Eileen and little Elizabeth? Long time no see!”

Elizabeth and I nodded in greeting.

“Long time no see.”

“Oh my, so many people miss me. I’m so—

Terri—Oh right, who’s the beautiful lady beside you?”

“Beautiful lady… hehe…” Caro was fooled by Olivia’s flattery and giggled.

But soon, she began a energetic self-introduction:

“Nice to meet you! I’m Caro! No surname!”

“I see~ So you’re one of the two transfer students today~ I’m Olivia Windsor, a member of the Student Council~ If you have any difficulties in your academy life, come find me anytime!”

“Mhm!”

“About that, they actually have a problem right now. You see…” Claude explained.

“Oh, I see~ Coincidentally, I’m back in the Student Council room. Let me check…”

The blue-haired girl in the screen started rummaging through a stack of files.

Soon, she pulled out a file folder.

“Here it is! Let me see… Caro… Dormitory room number is… 217.”

217…

“That’s Elizabeth’s and my room!”

Come to think of it, I had heard earlier that a new person would be assigned to our room… I didn’t expect it to be Caro.

“So I’m in the same room as Miss Eileen and Miss Elizabeth? That’s great!”

“Am I supposed to say good or bad?”

“What a coincidence~” Olivia on the other side was also cheering.

“Well then, the problem is solved. I’ll hang up now.”

“What! I finally saw little Eileen, and I haven’t teased—I mean, talked enough!”

“You definitely meant ‘tease’! You definitely meant ‘tease’!”

“These past few days you’ve been at the ducal manor with me. Now you must have a lot of Student Council work piled up, right? Go back and work. I’ll come to the Student Council room to help you later.”

“Eh—Sadistic Duke!”

“Pfft…! Who’s a sadistic duke!”

“Hehe~ Then I’ll hang up~”

As soon as she spoke, the screen disappeared.

“Sigh… That girl…”

Claude let out a deep sigh, but his face showed no sign of displeasure.

‘As expected, they get along well.’

Although Claude usually doesn’t care about others’ etiquette, he maintains elegance himself. It’s only when with Olivia that he drops his noble airs.

“Ahem, since the problem is solved, I’ll take my leave… You’re in a hurry, right?”

“Yes… Thank you.”

After seeing Claude off, I immediately led Caro into our dormitory.

“Leave the luggage arrangement to you, Elizabeth!”

Although she couldn’t hear me clearly, she roughly understood my intention and gave me a thumbs up.

I clasped my hands, then hurried to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Time was tight. The original menu couldn’t be made… I had to choose simpler foods.

I hope the Young Miss likes it…!

Because I was too rushed, I don’t remember much of the in-between.

However, the smile on the Young Miss’s face when she ate my cooking left a deep impression on me.