When I woke up, the maid told me ‘I did it this time’.

I could definitely not cope with that….

“M…morning. What did you do?”

Without moving even an inch, that question was all I could muster.

“Good morning, Zest-sama. Urm, well……I am expecting a child. And then……”

With a face like a tomato, she hesitantly explained me the circumstances.

According to the maid’s story, she was Meril, a daughter from a baron’s household……and was working in the imperial palace as a maid, in order to learn the good manners.

One of the black knights seduced her and forcefully brought her to his room to do naughty stuff.

With a basic light magic, I checked her body and it seemed she was indeed pregnant.

She didn’t know what to do, so she came to me, since I was in charge of the black knights.

It was like that.

……………..Who was it? Who’s the idiot guilty of something like this?

“That’s…….I’ll immediately search for the perpetrator and I’ll take the proper measures. Are you engaged or anything?”

“No, before I finish my training here, I can’t…….”

It was pretty normal for nobles’ children to go work as maids in the imperial palace in order to learn the good manners.

Once they become palace maids, they’ll never have to worry about finding a good wedding partner.

“I see. Then, what do you want to do about that guy?”

“If he marries me and takes responsibility, then…..”

She doesn’t want this to become a too serious matter.

Hmm, it can’t be helped then.

“Understood. I’ll make the preparations right away, so you can just relax and wait here.”

However, was it really against her will? I actually do trust the black knights, so I wonder……

At a quick pace, I went towards the room where the black knights were in attendance.

I asked for another room to be prepared next to theirs.

“Oi! Who’s the idiot who raped the maid called Meril!?”

The door opened and Albert let himself sit in a seiza position.

………………..It was you?…………….

I sat down on a chair.

“So? What actually happened?”

The other black knights turned away their heads.

Well, they didn’t want to see how their colleague was about to get scolded for causing a scandal.

“Yes. I have no recollection of what happened yesterday, after we returned to the palace…….When I came to my senses, I was sleeping next to the maid……I am truly sorry…..”

…………..You idiot! Someone set you up!

When I glanced at the other black knights, their shoulders were trembling lightly.

You were accomplices to this!

I let Albert step back for a moment.

He looked too pitiful, with his tail and ears limp.

“You lot, you set him up, didn’t you?

According to the grinning black knights’ explanation, it was something like this…

That maid was the daughter of a baron’s household from the Frontier Count’s domain, and she was in love with Albert for a long time.

However, the baron didn’t approve of his daughter marrying a simple knight, so he sent her to the imperial capital’s palace to serve as a maid.

They finally met again, and the black knights decided to work together with the maid.

They devised a plan in order to ‘attach’ Albert to her.

“You lot……Then, what about Albert?”

“Yes, he’s actually in love with Miss Meril too, so there’s no problem there. We’re in your care now.”

They all together bowed their heads.

Oh dear!

“Understood. I’ll turn this into a happy story. Tell this to Albert too.”

“ “ “ “Thank you!” “ “ “

Really now, you sure know how to cause a lot of trouble…..However, that maid was really cute.

Damn you Albert…..and that handsome face of yours.

With my flames of jealousy fully burning, I returned to my room.

Meril and Bea were there.

“Bea, you came? Meril, I heard about your story. Leave it to me.”

“Zest-sama, I also heard about it from Meril. However, deceiving Zest-sama is a bit……”

“Zest-sama, I am truly sorry.”

Ah, that?

I laughed and brushed Bea’s hair.

Yes, it feels as good as ever.

“It doesn’t matter. Besides, I’ve already decided on the punishment.”

Really now, I had to do meticulous arrangements.

“Anyway, the suggestion came from my master or mother-in-law, am I correct?”

Startled, Meril jumped up.

“As for the punishment this time, I’m planning to assign Albert as those guys’ leader and make them all work directly under me.”

This was indeed their punishment, making them work directly under me.

In reality, I’ll be something like their overseer.

“Therefore, there’s no need to be worried, Meril, I won’t scold you. You can relax.”

She constantly apologized to me; as for her pregnancy, it was actually real.

I confirmed it with my observation magic……That rascal was damn fast…….

For the time being, I gave some orders to make Meril Bea’s exclusive maid.

They both know each other, and Albert would feel at ease knowing that she’d work under Bea.

After I finished with these preparations, it was already the time for the big announcement on the palace’s terrace.

A maid came to guide me to the waiting room.

Bea and I were drinking some tea, while waiting for our turn.

Toto, you really like cookies, don’t you……? How many did you eat already? You’ll get fat, you know?

Once Toto finished her 4th cookie, the maid called us out.

Well, shall we go?

We arrived in front of the terrace’s opened door and heard that the Emperor’s speech has already begun.

The maid knelt down and approached his Majesty, who was giving his speech in front of the population, and touched his leg a few times.

I see, that was the signal.

“…………………..to be. Well, as everyone already knows, a hero who managed to achieve spiritification appeared in our empire. It is a brilliant achievement we haven’t seen in 300 years!”

Waaaaaaaaa…

I surveyed the crowd, breaking out in shouts of joy.

His Majesty did the same, then raised his right hand, at which point the crowd started to slowly settle down; the Emperor continued.

“For this joyous achievement, I prepared two rewards. First, I will bestow them with the duke rank, and second, I will offer Princess Tsubaki in marriage! Everyone, offer your blessings and shouts of joy to our heroes, Duke Zest and Duchess Beatrice!!”

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

The cheers this time were even greater than before.

The maid gestured us to hurry on the terrace.

Bea and I looked at each other and nodded, then started walking slowly.

(Dad, Mom, I need to pee. It’ll come out.)

At this excessively clear telepathic message, we both turned around in shock……..

Toto, try to endure it……Ha? It seems she won’t be able to……..