This story’s perspective is Catherine’s.
“Fuuko, it’s morning.”
“Ugh, I was sleeping so comfortably. Who’s waking me up?!”
On the same morning that Kent spent a loving holiday with Marie, Catherine gently woke Fuuko, who was sleeping comfortably next to her.
“It’s ‘me’.”
“Gyaah! Don’t make that disgusting voice right next to my ear.”
“I’m hurt you think it’s disgusting. It’s rarely that a kind Saintess wakes you up!”
“Hmph, so? If you’re waking me up, you must have a reason, right? If it’s a stupid reason, I’ll blast you.”
To Fuuko, who was complaining but showed no sign of waking up, Catherine, who had anticipated this, gently whispered in her ear. Fuuko then jumped up in surprise. Protesting, Fuuko asked Catherine what the reason for waking her was.
“Actually, I want to introduce you to the people I interact with as a Saintess. You’re supposed to help Kent with his work, right?”
“Gah! You can’t say no when you put it like that. Fine. I’ll do it. Is that okay?”
“You’re so honest and cute. I’ll give you a hug.”
“Why does everyone here try to hug me?!”
When Catherine stated her reason, Fuuko reluctantly agreed since Kent had instructed her to help.
“Alright, now that it’s decided, let’s get ready and go for greetings!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Catherine shed her pajamas and began preparing to go out, and Fuuko, unable to do otherwise, also started getting ready.
“Mom and Kent seem to still be sleeping.”
“They were up late enjoying themselves last night, so I don’t think they’ll wake up yet.”
“That’s true. I think the same as you, Fuuko.”
When Catherine and Fuuko left the bedroom for the living room, there were no signs of anyone else. Kent and Marie appeared to still be asleep.
“Al seems to have gone out. Well then, I’ll quickly make breakfast, so Fuuko, you can relax in the Kotatsu.”
“In that case, you could have just woken me up when breakfast was ready.”
Catherine shut herself in the kitchen and began preparing breakfast.
“Fuuko, I’m ready.”
“Whoa, it’s rice and miso soup.”
“You know it well. Oh, you learned that when you made a contract with Kent, didn’t you?”
A little time passed, and when Catherine announced that breakfast was ready, Fuuko moved to the kitchen. On the table, rice, miso soup, a fried egg, and a vegetable salad were prepared.
“The rice and miso would spoil if we don’t use them.”
Previously, the purely Japanese-style breakfast was prepared frequently. However, due to the difficulty in obtaining ingredients, its frequency at Kent’s house has decreased. But since they would spoil if unused, Catherine calculated this and used the ingredients accordingly.
“Mom and Kent won’t wake up anytime soon, so let’s prepare it so they can eat anytime, and let’s eat first.”
“Hmph, I can’t help it. I’ll eat it then.”
““Itadakimasu.””
“Munch, munch. I knew it from my knowledge, but it’s delicious when I actually eat it. You’re quite good.”
“Thank you, Fuuko. I also struggled until I reached a level where I could please others.”
The breakfast made by Catherine was well-received by Fuuko, and the two of them enjoyed their breakfast time together.
“Well then, I’m ready, so let’s head to the Sanctuary.”
“I’ve been there once, so I know the place. It’s a building very close from here, right?”
“That’s right. Let’s go.”
Catherine and Fuuko left the house and decided to head to the Sanctuary.
“Didn’t you say we were going to the Sanctuary?”
“I did. This is a shortcut. Ah, Al, you were here after all.”
“I thought you might be lonely by yourself, so I was keeping you company.”
Catherine and Fuuko stopped by Marie’s Bakery. To their surprise, Al was there, and it seemed she was keeping Emily, who couldn’t leave the shop, company.
“Catherine, the shop is closed, but what’s up?”
“I’m going to the Sanctuary now to introduce Fuuko.”
“I see. Have a good day.”
“Al, Emily, I’m off.”
After a brief chat with Emily, Catherine took Fuuko and went outside through the back entrance.
“Fuuko, this way.”
“This is where the shop’s supplies are kept, but what’s here?”
“Actually, you can enter the Sanctuary from here.”
“Wow, there’s a secret entrance here? But I’m a fairy of the Duchy. Is it okay to show me such important confidential information?”
At the back entrance of Marie’s Bakery, there is a secret back entrance that only Saintesses can use. This route is not only a shortcut but also bypasses unnecessary procedures for entry. Therefore, Catherine decided to use this route, but Fuuko could easily imagine that this entrance was confidential, and asked Catherine if it was okay to be told about it so easily.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Fuuko, you’ve contracted with Kent, so it’s okay. There’s absolutely no problem.”
“The Saintess trusts Master a lot, doesn’t she?”
“Kent did so many things for me and Mom. We’re like a close family now.”
Fuuko, concerned about Catherine, who so casually disclosed confidential information, asked her. Catherine replied that she trusted Kent, with whom she shared a bond like family.
“Alright, this is the Sanctuary. Though, Fuuko, you’ve been here before.”
“Well, yes.”
“This time, we’ll enter through the back. Fuuko, this way.”
Opening the back door, Catherine and Fuuko entered the Sanctuary grounds. Catherine proceeded through the grounds and led Fuuko to the back entrance of the Sanctuary.
“Ah, excuse me for a moment?”
“Huh? Ah, Saintess. Is something wrong?”
As Catherine proceeded through the Sanctuary with Fuuko, they encountered a Holy Knight on patrol. Catherine called out to the Holy Knight.
“Sorry to bother you during your mission. I have something I’d like to discuss, so please gather any available Holy Knights in my office.”
“Yes! Understood. I will issue an urgent summons.”
“Ah, you don’t have to run in the corridors.”
When Catherine instructed the Holy Knight to gather in her office, he quickly went to inform the other Holy Knights.
“The knight in the white armor was a Holy Knight. I felt a faint magic from him. It seems true that the Kingdom has started researching magic-based combat.”
“As expected of you, Fuuko. Holy Knights are a special unit of the Kingdom Knights composed of individuals with magical abilities. Right now, we’re focusing on training defenses against magic, but in the future, it would be nice if we could also conduct magical attacks.”
“This is confidential information too, isn’t it? You’re talking so freely, I’m worried if this country’s Saintess is alright.”
Fuuko worried about Catherine, who was so openly sharing the Kingdom’s confidential matters.
“For now, there’s no replacement for the Saintess, so I think it’ll be fine. Well then, we’ve arrived at my office.”
Catherine and Fuuko walked down the corridor while talking, arriving in front of the Saintess’s office.
“Hiya, Yuria.”
“Ah, Catherine. Um, is this person a customer?”
“Yes. This is Fuuko. And this is my Personal maid, Yuria. Please take care of her. I’m going to change, so please get some tea ready.”
When Catherine and Fuuko entered the Saintess’s office, Yuria was cleaning the room. Noticing Catherine, she stopped cleaning and rushed over. Fuuko was behind her, so after introductions, Catherine went into the back room to change.
“Please have a seat on the sofa. I’ll prepare some tea right away.”
“Hmph, do as you see fit.”
(She looks younger than us, but she’s very haughty. Since Catherine went to change, this must be a guest related to the Saintess.)
Seeing Fuuko’s arrogant attitude towards the Saintess, Yuria didn’t have a very good impression of her. However, since she was Catherine’s guest, she didn’t show it and began preparing tea as a servant.
