A day in the botanical garden.

　The garden is one of the most unpopular places in the castle, and most of the nobles go there to enjoy the view.

　The only other visitors are the gardeners and the attendants who are sent to help them.

　The only exception was a pimp who occasionally came to swing his sword, as if he had mistaken the place for his own dojo, since he had started to have hand-to-hand combat in the middle of the night.

　He held his sword in front of him and slowly raised it above his head and swung it down.
　The speed of his swing was such that the grass beneath his short feet would lie flat on its back as if the wind pressure were giving way.

　Exhale, and again.

　Keep your posture steady and your steps precise.
　The repetitive movements have been repeated tens or hundreds of thousands of times, and yet they are never skimped on.

　Thorough training of the basics.
　The movements are repeated day in and day out without boredom, with careful muscle training and flexibility.
　Such dedicated "body building" is the key to this man's strength.

　If there's anyone Futa can't emulate, it's simple.

　The physical strength is beyond Futa's reach.
　Movements that Futa's body cannot perform.

　Huta can't get used to it. The moves he's learned through training are instantly imitated and mastered.
　But in the unlikely event that a move is physically impossible for Futa, it can slip past his imitation.

　And Futa will spare no effort every day in order to crush that eventuality.

　After a thousand swings, Futa settled his sword on his hip and let out a breath.

　From an upright position, he turned his upper body as if he were falling on his back.

　While supporting his torso with the soles of his feet, he holds his hands behind his back - a bridge.
　But the bridge he made was awfully short.
　His back was so warped that it looked as if his spine would break, like a piece of bent paper.

Good.

　He grabbed his ankles with both hands.
　An unusually soft body.
　This is something that he has acquired through his daily exercises.

　He can even walk like this.
　One step, two steps.

　and a strange vibration that goes from my feet to my whole body.
　This slight shaking that I'm used to feeling is probably due to the fact that a cart is moving nearby. So it's time for tea, Futa thinks, and turns to the direction where he feels the tremor.

　Take a step back and turn. Turn to the right.

　There, indeed, was the blonde girl pushing the wagon.

　At the exact moment our eyes met, her two tufts of gold stood on end.

"Aaahhhhhh!　You're a ghost!

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

It's Futa. It's Futa!
You're gross!
"Haha. ......

　With a face like the end of the world, Futa fell backward without effort, threw out his legs like a bent rubber band returning to its shape memory, and lay motionless on his face.


"Yes?


　The maid tilted her head.
　The maid tilted her head, and Futa fell silent.
　Picking up a branch lying around, the maid sat down beside him and began to poke him in the side, little by little.
　He didn't move a muscle.

"Meido?

　She tilted her head back.
　Why did he fall?

I think I'll stick it up my nose.

　I think I'll just stick it up my nose," muttered Corona, staring at the end of the stick.
　And then a voice behind her.

I'll just stick it in my nose. Are you okay with ......?
It's a little bit irregular, isn't it?

　I turn to the shadow behind the wagon and smile.
　Now, I'll have to stick a branch up my nose, I thought.

"Hey, hey.
"Phew.

　Poke and poke.
　Finally, Futa reacted with a start and came to life.

"Master Futa, what are you doing?
Huh?　What?　I'm working out... oh, I must have fallen asleep. Sorry, it's already tea time.
"Yeah.

　Huta stands up, lightly brushing off her clothes.
　Corona picks up a branch and hurries back towards the wagon.

　The garden table in the corner of the lawn is a place where the three of us often share a cup of tea.

"By the way.

　Futa seems to have noticed something there.
　A figure jumped behind the wagon.

"Is anyone there?
"Oh, yes. I was told by the Princess to introduce you to Master Futa.
"Lilac-sama?



　As she ran back to the wagon, she pushed someone out of the back of the wagon with a thud.

　A shadow stumbled out, and for a moment Futa's eyes widened.

　She was dressed in the same classic maid's uniform as Corona.
　The cheeks are slightly tinged with vermilion, and the eyes are a beautiful blue, reminiscent of lilac.
　The head with the white brim on it is also a beautiful silver color, and her hair is tied up in a chignon. From either side of the white brim, two pretty, ball-like buns peek out.

"--

　Futa is speechless.
　Corona poked the maid. 　
　For some reason, she muttered half-heartedly, her gaze swimming. I'm not sure what to do.

I'm Rilla, by order of the princess.

　The silence hurt.

　The maid, Rilla, who couldn't take it any longer, tied her lips together tightly and kept silent.
　I'm not sure why it's so serious, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　A cool breeze, changing from cherry blossom season to natsu season, blew like it was scooping up the grass.

　Futa blinked his eyes as if he had finally come back to himself and stared at the maid, Lila.
　From the top to the bottom.

　Rilla hugged her arms as if she were nowhere to be found and turned her face away from Futa.

　And then.

"Oh, okay. If Lilac-sama says so, I have no problem with it. Nice to meet you, Lilac.
"What?
...... As expected, ...... this.

　This is the one that I expected." Huta extended her hand with a fresh smile.
　I'm not sure if it's a handshake or not. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'll just say hello.

　You can find a lot more than just a handful of things to do.

　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.

I don't know. What is it, you're not good with men?
I'm not sure.　...... Master Futa! ......
What's a futa-sama? ......
Yah.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea. I'm not sure what's so funny, but there are even tears in her eyes.

You look just like her, don't you, Princess?
"Oh, you think so too, Corona?　I think so too.
"Pfft. ......

　Huta nodded, saying that she did indeed look a lot like her.
　But even if it was just for fun, there is no way that the beloved princess would dress like that.

What did you think?　Were you surprised?　Surprised?
"I was surprised and shocked. You're a beautiful maid.

　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.

"............
What is it?　What is it, Corona?
I'm not sure what to do.
What?　Why?
Why?

　She raised her fist in the air, her gaze burning with anger as if to protest.
　I'm not sure what to say.

I'm sure you'll agree with me.
I forgive .......

　This is a great way to make sure you are getting the most out of your investment.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that the princess has a new maid.
What?　Yes.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　In the first place, it should have been a surprise to Futa that Lilac would allow a "stranger" into this botanical garden (tea time).

　When she glanced at him, her expression was thoughtful.
　But as if he had an answer, he made a move.

"Isn't that it, by any chance?
"What do you mean?
"Well, maybe she found someone to take her place in case she was stuck in the princess's position.
Do you have any idea what that means?

　It means she's a double.
　That girl Lila might sacrifice herself for Lilac at a moment's notice.

　Even Futa knows that.
　Emergencies-- good times, bad times, many patterns apply.

　But...

I know. I don't know what Rilla-san's intentions are in serving Lilac-sama, so I can't say.



　I'm sure you're not the only one.

The maid can't understand why Futa-sama, who thinks like that, loves the princess so much.
No, because...

　"No, because..." The look in her eyes is her strong trust in Lilac.

I don't know why you love her so much.














Why don't they know? ......!　Why didn't they find out about ......! Futa's holes in ......!

　That night.
　I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

I'm not sure what to do.
I'm sure Futa would ...... recognize me no matter what I looked like.
No. Noodles might, but the princess is not like that.
Are you implying that I should erase her from my life by referring to her every time?
That's the point.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.
　I usually do this when Lilac is not around, but today I dared to visit her while she was working.
　Of course, it was to talk about this.

"Futa-sama, you always think of the princess as the most powerful, beautiful and powerful princess in the world.
Of course.
That's why they don't know.
"......
By the way, Noodle and I are completely honest with each other, so they'll probably find out.
I don't know why you keep bringing up that woman.
Hey, can you please not take the fun out of maids?

　That's the maid's job. ？？？？？　I'm not sure what to make of that.

It's a good thing, though. You can hear about the princess from the real Futa-sama. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.
I'm sure that's what ...... you were thinking, but ......

　As a matter of fact.
　I'm not sure what to make of that.
　You can find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier.

　If they were discovered today, that would be the end of it.
　If, by any chance, they don't find out.
　In that case, the plan was to occasionally contact Futa as the maid Lila.
　As long as she can't get Futa's feelings out of his response to Lilac, she can pretend to be someone else.

　But...

Why would someone who looks exactly like you not suspect that it could be you? ......　
Futa-sama, the princess said she thought he brought her to be a double.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.
　Lilac looked up and said.

I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that if I had someone who looked so much like me.
"I understand you, Master Futa.

　"Master Futa, I understand you very well." The maid was no longer so careless about everything.