ATP 4

Chapter 4

As soon as our eyes met, Prinz let out a bright, innocent laugh.

“Master got all the test questions wrong. But today, you didn’t get beaten much. I did your homework for you, after all.”

“…….”

At this point, it might be helpful to clarify a bit about my family, the Rodeline household, as mentioned in the original story.

My father, Leonard Rodeline, was a promising alchemist from the so-called “Golden Ivory Tower,” known as a top-tier institution for alchemists. But he fell out of favor with his superiors and ended up wandering.

The Gillette family, the local counts, hired him cheaply, seeing him as a single dad with two children.

Dad… hmm, it still feels awkward to call him that. He was an alchemist clueless about the ways of the world, renewing his servitude contract again and again while devoting himself entirely to the count’s family.

The children who came along with him, Prinz and Ailette, naturally grew up as servants of the Gillette household.

Prinz became a page who took the punishment meant for the brats, while Ailette became a general maid handling odd jobs.

In the original story, only the alchemist and Prinz appeared briefly as minor characters.

After completing his knight training and returning to the Gillette estate, the brat of a noble treated his life-saving hero—me—with incredible disdain.

It was Prinz who took care of my sleeping quarters, and my father who, on the morning I left, apologetically handed me a potion.

The moment that caught my attention the most was the scene where Prinz and I appeared together.

Prinz guided me to what he called the cleanest room—the alchemist’s room.

Discovering Ailette’s belongings there, I panicked, thinking it was a woman’s room. Prinz, trying to reassure this earnest knight, smiled and said:

“Those are my younger sister’s things. She… accidentally stepped into a dungeon that had been sealed deep in the castle…”

Sigh. That was the future of Ailette Rodeline.

That cursed Gillette estate had terrible luck. Not only was there a dungeon nearby prone to bursts of monsters, but the very castle itself was built atop a dungeon.

Anyway, I looked back at Prinz.

He looked like a boy of about twelve, even though he was called my older brother.

I felt a pang thinking that, because of the brat, his hands and calves would never be safe.

Prinz, after scrubbing his hands clean, insisted on chasing me out of my seat and began working on the infusion vat.

I couldn’t stop noticing his hands.

“Why not start by putting on some ointment? Go see Dad.”

Prinz panicked.

“No! Dad would worry.”

“Dad doesn’t know?”

“No. If he knew, he wouldn’t let me. I don’t mind getting punished. I just want to attend Master’s lessons this way…”

“Still…”

“But hey, why are you pretending not to know? You promised to keep it a secret from Dad when you ate all my pudding…”

Well, that was already in my stomach, so there was nothing I could say.

Prinz beamed again and continued:

“Oh, by the way, Dad went out for an urgent matter. Something about the herb merchants that supply the estate.”

“Then let’s go to the lab later and find some ointment. I’ll help you put it on, brother.”

I said it partly because his red hands looked pitiful and partly to thank him for helping. Calling him “brother” at the end felt surprisingly natural for a body I had just possessed. My real-life older brother, after all, stopped aging in my memory around the same age as Prinz.

Suddenly, Prinz’s eyes glistened.

“Oh…”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“You… kitchen work must have been really hard. You calling me ‘brother’… it’s the first time since you were four.”

“Huh?”

“You used to say, ‘What kind of brother am I…? You’re annoying, slow-witted, I don’t even want to be around you,’ and wouldn’t talk to me…”

“……”

It seemed the personality of this body I had possessed wasn’t exactly gentle. My chest tightened slightly.

I hesitated, then spoke.

“Uh… yeah. I guess working in the kitchen today made me more mature. I’ll call you that properly from now on. Forget the past.”

Now that I was Ailette Rodeline, I’d take on the role of a considerate older brother.

“Really? No backing out!”

“Yes… brother.”

“Wow, it really feels like I have a younger sister now. Not that the old one was fake or anything! Just… happy about it.”

I was glad he thought that way.

With Prinz’s help, the task was finished. Now all that remained was cleaning the wooden infusion vat.

“Alright, everyone, finish up and come have a snack.”

The kitchen had such good benefits—it was nice.

“Brother, let’s finish quickly and have a snack too.”

“Me, me too?”

“Of course, since you helped. If not, I’ll share mine with you.”

“Oh…”

Feeling touched by the sudden rise in sibling affection, I felt a little embarrassed.

“Hmph. Kitchen work isn’t so bad, huh?”

I turned toward the sarcastic voice.

The brown-haired girl stood in the same pose as the head maid from earlier.

“Nellie.”

Nellie scrutinized me from head to toe. The moment she found something to tease me about, her small lips curled in mockery.

“Oh, you’re on dish duty now? Poor thing. I’m preparing tea and snacks for Lady Ailette.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“If you keep doing dishes like that, your hands are going to crack and peel soon. Pitiful.”

Her tone was annoyingly smug.

Ignoring the incessantly chattering Nellie, I finished all the work.

[<System> Mission ‘Butter Production and Cleanup’ completed. Skill points awarded.]

[<System> ‘Blessing of Rapid Growth’ activated: 400% bonus skill points awarded.]

[<System> Congratulations! Cooking Level 2 awakened. You can now use ‘Sweet Fruit Dishes,’ ‘Basic Snack Preparation,’ and ‘Aromatic Tea Brewing.’]

“Oh, quick level-up!”

I was delighted at becoming stronger, but one word in the message caught my eye.

“Hmm… tea brewing?”

Meanwhile, Nellie kept chattering.

“Well, you’ve got no talent, so your body has to suffer. Jobs like this are perfect for ignorant siblings like you.”

“……”

“Hey, are you listening? Why are you staring off…? Aaah!”

Bang!

In my sudden movement, I accidentally struck Nellie’s chin with my head.

“Hey! What was that for?!”

“Ouch, that hurts too!”

“Funny! You blockhead!”

While I touched the bump on my head, Prinz worrying over me, Nellie yelled at the top of her lungs.

The commotion drew attention.

“Nellie, behave yourself. How can a girl serve Lady Ailette if you’re so unruly?”

“I-Isella…”

The stern middle-aged maid was measuring tea leaves. She seemed to be the estate lady’s tea attendant.

Perfect. I grinned at Nellie.

“What? Why are you smiling like that?”

Animals always sense danger. Nellie shrank back at my question.

“You said your dream was to be a tea-serving maid, right?”

“Huh?”

“I’m watching right here.”

I left Nellie’s stunned expression behind and strode forward. She might look brave, but she was just a little girl.

“Ailette Rodeline?”

The head cook, giving orders to the maids, finally looked back at me. Feeling all eyes on me, I spoke with determination.

“Head cook, may I brew tea for snack time?”

“You, Ailette?”

“Yes. I want to make tea for those who worked hard with me.”

The other maids supported me.

“Oh, Ailette?”

“Shall we taste the tea Ailette made?”

“Yes! I’ll make delicious tea for you all. Leave it to me.”

The head cook, expressionless, allowed it.

I measured black tea leaves for the servants while heating water in a large kettle. Standing on a stool, reaching the shelf, I felt a sharp gaze on my cheek.

Nellie was glaring, but when I turned, I was surprised.

Isella, the tea attendant, was quietly observing me.

Finally, the autumn-colored black tea was ready. I struggled to serve it to everyone.

“Oh, the aroma is amazing.”

“This is the tea we usually drink?”

“Unbelievable. The leaves haven’t changed, right?”

Even the head cook stole a gentle sniff of the aroma, though quickly returned to her stern face.

Then Isella approached the head cook. They, being peers, spoke casually.

“Hey, Feisha. I want to taste some too.”

“This is ours.”

“I just want a sip.”

“Ask Ailette for permission.”

Isella looked at me. From my previous life’s social experience, I understood her request immediately and poured tea for her.

Slurping elegantly, she tasted the tea.

After a moment, she spun around and snapped:

“You!”

“……Yes?”

“You’ve done something foolish!”

Wh-what did I do wrong?

Startled, I hunched my shoulders. Someone stepped in front of me.

It was the head cook, Feisha.

“Isella! What are you saying to a child? Did you taste the tea properly? If not, get out of the kitchen!”

“I’m perfectly sane, Feisha. Her hands are learning tea service here in the kitchen, so I can’t help but call her foolish!”

Ah, it was a compliment.

I relaxed, but those around me were stunned. Nellie, in particular, was hilarious. She had been anticipating how Isella would scold me, but now she stood open-mouthed in shock.

“Isn’t Nellie learning tea service too?”

“She has no talent!”

Nellie, publicly sentenced to a lack of skill, trembled.

But neither Isella nor Feisha paid her any attention. They each took one of my arms and continued the conversation.

“You are Ailette Rodeline, right? From tomorrow, come to me at this time every day. I’ll teach you tea service.”

“No, Ailette will learn cooking in the kitchen. She’s born to be a great chef. I’ll nurture her!”

“Then do both!”

My fate was decided.

“Please take care of me from now on, Nellie.”

“Yay!”

I smiled brightly at Nellie across from me.