She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner!

was no mistaking it, Dor-sama was right in front of me.
I was so nervous that I couldn’t hold back the sweat now covering my palms.
Rei didn’t seem nervous at all, but Relaire, who sat on her head, did appear a little stiff.

“Good day, father.
Is something the matter? I am currently out to purchase supplies for the Order of the Academy.”
“Mm? It’s nothing urgent.
I simply saw you among the crowds and sent for you, is there any reason that I shouldn’t have?”
“Father… despite what you may think, I’m busy.”
“Be that as it may, I don’t believe any of your tasks should take a higher priority than myself.”

Dor-sama tilted his head as though he had just spoken the obvious.
For nobles, it was more or less natural for them to interpret the world around them in a self-centered way, but was the Dor-sama I heard so much about from my father really that sort? Something about this felt off to me.

“If you’re headed toward the shops, come, I’ll give you a ride.
The commoners too, I’ll give you special permission this once.”
“Our destination isn’t anywhere close to the nobles district though?”
“It’s fine every now and again.
Though I’d rather not, taking a proper look at the commoner’s lifestyle is yet another duty for us nobles.”

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To think that I’d receive the chance to share the same carriage as Dor-sama! Even as my nerves seized up causing my body to stiffen, I felt grateful that I was lucky enough to receive a close-up view of the noble I so admired.

The carriage, pulled by three horses, was large enough that the five of us could ride in it without any discomfort.
Perhaps to be expected of the House François carriage, the ride itself was also surprisingly smooth.

For a while, no one talked.
My own situation aside, it appeared Lene too was quite nervous.

To avoid the awkwardness that began to settle, I looked out of the window to find a group of commoners raising their voices within the crowds.

“The nobles are just exploiting us commoners!”
“They won’t do anything to support us in our poverty!”
“In that case, what choice do we commoners have left but to stand for ourselves!”

I had no doubts that these people represented the commoner’s movement.
When I looked, I found Claire-sama with a scowl while Dor-sama simply paid them no heed.

“How have things been at the academy Claire?”

The one to break the silence was Dor-sama.
Perhaps happy to have the opportunity to catch up with his daughter who he hadn’t seen much since she began her lifestyle at the dorms, he appeared to be in a very good mood.

“It’s not as though anything out of the ordinary has happened.
Though the commoner’s movement or whatever has been slightly troublesome.”

Claire-sama gave a curt response.
Perhaps at our age, all girls felt that their own fathers were a nuisance.
Even if that father may be someone as upstanding as Dor-sama.

“The commoner’s movement… A motion started by foolish commoners who have gravely misunderstood His Majesty’s intentions in implementing policies favoring a meritocracy.
I opposed the policies precisely because I knew that this would happen, but…”

Dor-sama massaged his temple as though to say, “Good Grief”.
It was said that Dor-sama stood at the forefront of the movement opposing the aforementioned policies, so it stood to reason that he did not look positively on the commoner’s movement which, in many ways, was born as a direct result.

“What are your thoughts on it, Rei Taylor?”

That same Dor-sama suddenly directed his attention to Rei, causing Claire-sama to open her eyes wide in surprise.

“Father, what suddenly brought that on? Not to mention the fact that you’ve remembered a mere commoner’s name, to think that you’d go on to directly address her!”

It appeared that even Claire-sama, who should have known Dor-sama the best out of all of us, was surprised by his actions.

“What, it’s nothing but a whim.
I heard that she stands at the very top of all of the students who transferred into the academy this year, so I was simply curious what such an individual thought of the situation, that’s all.”

Dor-sama emphasized that his question didn’t have any deeper significance to it.

“Hm, well… Claire-sama once asked me the same thing, but I really don’t feel particularly strongly about it.
So long as I can spend my days with Claire-sama, everything else is frankly insignificant.”
“I see, that is a splendid response as her servant.
However, the fact remains that you are a commoner.
Have you never felt drawn to the lifestyle that nobles live?”

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“Rather than seek my own luxury, I’d prefer to see Claire-sama live happily.
I don’t particularly feel any attachment towards the noble lifestyle, so long as I have enough to get by day to day, that is more than enough for me.”
“Is that how you really feel?”
“Absolutely.”

Dor-sama’s blue eyes stared directly at Rei.
If I were in her position, I would certainly flinch and avert my gaze, but Rei showed no signs of that and returned his gaze with confidence.

“Hmph.
Much unlike the majority of the commoners in this day and age, you seem to know your place.
Our society could do to have more individuals such as yourself.”
“It’s an honor.”

In response to Dor-sama’s satisfied smile, Rei gave a light bow.

Something really felt out of place.
There was definitely something strange about Dor-sama.
As he was now, he was the same as all of the other nobles that I had already lost faith in.
The Dor François-sama that I heard about from my father stood for justice, was disciplined in his ways, and showed deep affection toward the kingdom’s people.
He was meant to be the ideal noble, and yet, I didn’t see a trace of that Dor-sama as he was now.
Perhaps just as House Yule had met its ruin, had the flow of time had changed Dor-sama as well?

“I’m in a good mood, I’ll buy you all sweets.
Head maid, direct the carriage toward Blume.”
“By your command.”

The carriage changed directions.

“Just wait, father, don’t just decide that on your own.
As I’ve said, we’re in the middle of something!”
“Come now, surely you don’t mind a short detour? If someone should complain, just mention my name.”
“That’s not the problem here!”
“In that case, what is the problem?”

Dor-sama ultimately chose to maintain his self-centered attitude, and refused to budge.
It became increasingly clear that something was out of place.
I wanted to ask him… Are you really Dor-sama?

“Have you ever tried the sweets from Blume? As a commoner, I doubt that you would have ever tasted chocolate.”
“I have not.”

The moment the thought crossed my mind though, Dor-sama suddenly graced me with his attention, and I unwittingly gave that response.
I could be overthinking it, but I felt as though he intentionally chose that timing to prevent me from saying anything unnecessary.

“Just as I thought.
It really is quite the innovative sweet, Blume must have good staff dedicated to their culinary research―”

After that, Dor-sama spoke merrily the rest of the way to Blume, bought us chocolate, and accompanied us for the rest of our purchases.
I continued to observe Dor-sama for the remainder of our time together.

(Dor-sama… What in the world could have happened to you?)

All the while unable to voice the doubts I held deep within.

Translator Comment: Misha has a very sharp intuition, but Dor’s is sharper.
He’s been playing the act for a while, and he knows what he needs to do…!