VBFSOCL 07

Episode 7: A New Life and New Encounters

The carriage finally arrived at the Ertze Duke’s estate.

“Please.”

“Thank you very much.”

Even as she stepped down from the carriage, Oz remained the one to escort Fiene. By now, her initial tension had eased considerably—once she realized that the man beside her was the familiar “Oz,” rather than some distant, intimidating noble.

When they approached the front entrance, a woman who appeared to be a maid was already waiting there.

“Welcome home, my lord.”

“I’m back, Rin.”

Oz replied smoothly—but then pouted slightly, directing a silent complaint toward Rin as if displeased. Feeling that unspoken pressure, Rin let out a small sigh and corrected herself.

“Welcome home, Lord Oswald.”

“Yes, I’m back. And this is Fiene—my wife from today onward. Take good care of her.”

Startled, Fiene quickly bowed. Rin responded in kind, bowing even deeper than she had.

Her long, lustrous black hair flowed forward with the motion, making the gesture strangely elegant—almost refined to the point of beauty.

(Wow… black hair is rare. It’s so beautiful…)

“This is Rin. She’s the head maid of this household, and she’ll be taking care of you personally.”

“Fiene-sama, I will do my utmost to serve you. I look forward to working with you.”

“P-please take care of me!”

The introductions seemed to have concluded—yet what followed was something Oz could not possibly have predicted.

Fiene and Rin, both seemingly determined to show greater courtesy than the other, began bowing again and again—each time a little deeper than before, as if competing in their sincerity.

Before long, the entrance hall was filled with two women repeatedly bowing to one another in an increasingly excessive display of politeness.

Oz tilted his head, genuinely perplexed.

“Is… this what it means to ‘show respect’?”

His murmur never reached either of them.

Oz soon returned to his room and immediately had to resume work.

“Fiene, let’s have dinner together.”

“Yes! I’d love that!”

After exchanging those words, Oz accepted a stack of documents from his attendant and stepped into his room, already reading as he walked in.

“Fiene-sama, shall we go?”

“Yes, Rin.”

Following Rin’s guidance, Fiene’s eyes wandered through the corridor, taking in everything around her.

“This painting… we had one just like it at home.”

“This was something Lord Oz—Lord Oswald purchased after seeing it at your estate and taking a liking to it.”

“I did like it. Especially that cute little cat playing with a ball of yarn—it’s so adorable!”

“Yes… I quite like it as well.”

As they chatted happily, Rin opened the door to a room.

Guided by her hand, Fiene stepped inside slowly.

“…It’s amazing.”

“This will be your room, Fiene-sama. Everything has been arranged according to Lord Oz’s instructions. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask.”

“Th-this is more than enough! It’s such a beautiful room… May I touch it?”

“Of course.”

Fiene was too moved to find more words.

When she touched the pure white sheets, they were soft and warm, carrying a faint, pleasant scent.

The sunlight poured in generously through the window. Outside, she saw a gardener tending to the estate grounds—and even he paused to bow politely toward her.

On the bookshelf stood more books than she had ever seen, far exceeding anything she had owned in her life as a baron’s daughter.

“Fiene-sama, does it please you?”

“Yes! Thank you so much, Rin!”

“Just Rin is fine.”

“…Huh?”

“I am merely a servant in your service. Being addressed so formally would be far too presumptuous of me.”

Rin bowed again.

Fiene blinked, thinking for a moment—then clapped her hands as if she had just come up with something brilliant. Smiling, she gently took Rin’s hands.

“Then how about this? Since we’re friends, I’ll call you ‘Rin.’”

“F-friends…”

“Yes! Not master and servant—just friends. Can we talk like that?”

Rin looked a little flustered, her eyes darting uncertainly as she took a breath.

“…Is that what you truly desire, Fiene-sama?”

“W-well, you don’t have to decide right away! I’m just… not used to being treated so specially, so it feels a bit… overwhelming.”

Fiene fidgeted awkwardly, visibly unsure of herself.

Seeing this, Rin straightened—and bowed deeply once more.

“From the bottom of my heart, I understand now what a wonderful person you are, Fiene-sama. I will serve you with utmost sincerity.”

“Eh?! N-no, I’m completely normal!!”

Unbeknownst to Oz, yet another intense “bowing duel” had begun once again somewhere in his home.

Thank you very much for reading!

Author’s Note:

Rin has finally made her appearance!

I’ve been so excited to introduce her for a while now.

I’ll do my best to make her a character you’ll come to love in the chapters ahead.