The summer sun is getting stronger.
Today, Jan and I are weeding the front entrance. There is a large area of lawn with well-formed dogtooth vines growing in many places, so we have a good view of the area. However, if you look closely, you can see weeds growing in between the grass.
From early summer to early autumn, when it is easy to work on weeding, I mow the lawn at a height of more than 25 centimeters to prevent the growth of short sparrows' mail. This is possible because there are few visitors during the hot season.
Wiping the sweat from his face with the hand towel around his neck, Yang muttered an idea.

"Hey, I was just thinking, if we squeezed it tightly, wouldn't the weeds stop growing?

That's not going to look good. The current density is the limit.

"I see.

Jan is right, if we increase the density of the grass, there will be no space for weeds to grow. In fact, we could do it if we wanted to. But that would make the lawn too dense, and the view would not be as refreshing as a lawn can be. It is better to have the grass swaying softly when the wind blows through.
Landscaping is all about landscape, or appearance. In flowerbeds, weed control is prioritized over herbs because it enhances the flowers that are the main attraction.
When I explained the reason for not increasing the density of the lawn, Jan looked around and nodded in agreement.

We'll have to work hard, then!

"Yeah.

Perhaps inspired by the need to protect and maintain this landscape, Jan smiled under his straw hat as brightly as the summer sun. I nodded back at him, trying to keep up with his motivation.
There was no shade around the lawn, so Jan and I both wore straw hats and wiped our necks with hand towels as we worked. We make it a point to call out to each other when we've reached a certain point, so that we don't forget to take a short break to rehydrate.
My father goes to check with his master, Mr. Heinz, to see how to shape the dogtooth. At the moment, he has decided on a round shape to match the image of spring. In the off-season, we can let the toothpicks grow and re-shape them.
The Ernst family, unusually for a noble family, entrusted the design of their landscaping to the exclusive Baumgartner family. However, it is not possible for them not to listen to our wishes at all. If possible, it would be better to make the Ernsts happy. The best way to do this is to ask a master who knows the tastes of the Ernsts.
While I was weeding, there was a little noise around the main entrance. A few servants came out of the front door.
As Jan and I turned our heads to see what it was, the gate opened and a carriage came in. I wonder if we had any visitors scheduled. It was unusual for my father to work on the front side of the house on a day when he had visitors. He must have consulted with his master and arranged his schedule to avoid days when he had visitors.

A sudden visitor?

The horses and carriages are white and not overly decorated. However, there are doors with gilded emblems and decorations in the shape of spirits on the four corners of the roof. The main attributes are fire, water, wind, and earth. In terms of scarcity of attributes, light, dark and lightning are the most common, and the aptitudes of the other four attributes are similar in proportion.
That is why royal chariots have spirits of the major attributes that are common among the people. I remembered this from my memory when I was trained to be a squire by my master. So it must belong to the royal family.
Just as I thought of this, the carriage stopped far before the main entrance. The master lowered the scaffolding and opened the carriage door.

"Good work, Isak.

The first boy to step out of the carriage had golden hair that reflected the summer sun in an unusually bright way. The first boy to step out of the carriage had golden hair that reflected the summer sun, and I clamped my mouth shut to hold in the name that was about to come out.

"Your Highness.

"So, you're a prince?　Your Highness?

I bowed, and Yang hurried to follow suit.
Before Leo could even clear his throat in amusement, an unknown voice fell.

"Which one, Your Highness?

Don't get ahead of him!

"Don't get ahead of him." The voice sounded brave, and the voice stopped him. But he didn't seem to heed the warning, and hurried footsteps approached us.
I looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps, even though I hadn't asked permission from Leo, the prince.
A moment later, I heard the sound of a lull in the wind and saw the shadow of a line in my vision. I stepped back from where the shadow was falling and took a protective stance with Yang at my back.
The sword, still sheathed where I had been, swung down and stopped just short of the grass. The wind pressure from the sword caused the grass to sway as if to avoid the sword.
The Lord who had lowered the sword raised the corner of his mouth in recognition of my appearance.

"It's you.

"Lemmias, come on.

A thick book with a hard binding hit the back of the head of the boy in front of me with a thud. There was a muffled scream from the person it hit.
The book landed on the grass so that it could be caught by the grass without getting dirty. Calm footsteps walked over to the book and picked it up, patting it to make sure it was intact.

Bell, what are you doing?　What are you going to do if it gets dented?

What if it gets dented? I'm more worried about my book.

The boy's fiery red hair bounces outward in long strands, like a lion's. He has the eyes of a wild beast. The boy with the cool eyes has straight blue hair that is cropped and neatly trimmed at the collar.
Their contrasting appearances were also contrasting inside.
I watch them interact with each other in a daze. I don't know how to react to the sense of discomfort I feel from them.

"If it's such an important book, don't throw it.



The boy's eyebrows lifted in anger, his hair blue.

The boy's hair is red as he calmly replies, "That's because I didn't stop you.

The boy calmly replies, his hair red.
The boy's hair is red. That's how opposite the impression of his appearance was to the personality conveyed by the way he spoke.
It's as if Red and Blue were swapped.

"Blue Red and Red Blue.

I remembered the exact expression from my previous life and muttered to myself.

"What's up, dude?

Jan tilted her head at my inexplicable muttering. I smiled, not knowing how to explain.

"I just remembered something. When are you going to stop at ......?

You'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the future.

I'm sorry, it's just the usual.

Leo apologized and interrupted them. Apparently Leo was used to seeing this.

"Jeremias, Bernhard, that's enough.

At Leo's calm words, the two men stopped arguing immediately.

What is the meaning of ...... this, Master Roy?

At the same time, the young lady who came from the front door was puzzled, unable to understand the situation. I don't understand it either, so please explain it to me. At this moment, only Leo was smiling calmly.

"Miss Ludia, I apologize for the short notice. One of my subjects has been rude to a servant in your house. I want to apologize to him.

Did Leo leave these two alone so he could have an excuse to call me, his servant?
I was disgusted when I realized that I had fallen for Leo's scheme. There was a brief pause before she gave her approval, so perhaps the lady was feeling the same way.
She led Leo and his friends to the drawing room, and I asked the maid to take care of my straw hat and hand towel, and then I went to the drawing room to clean myself up. I asked Jan to go and tell my father what had happened.
When I entered the drawing room, I found Leo, who had already had a cup of tea and looked relaxed, sitting on a sofa for one person, two boys on a sofa for two or three people, and a young lady sitting alone on the sofa across from him. The only empty seat is next to the young lady.
Leo glanced at the chairman, who was sitting in the corner with Matheus' brother, and then at the young lady.

Emilia will be fine.

"Is she?

The young lady seemed to understand Leo's question with only a look and replied. Satisfied with her answer, Leo now turned to her.

That's it. Don't worry about it.

...... I'm not sure what that means, but I get it.

For now, you don't have to act like a public figure in this situation. The maid who prepared the tea has left to replace me, so the only people in this room are the lady, Leo, the two boys Leo brought, and the chairman and brother Mateus. Except for the two of them, the only people who know me.
I don't want to just stand there, so I sit down next to the vacant lady. A teacup of tea has already been placed in the empty seat, so I guess it fits. As I sat down on the couch, I felt the girl slightly twitch from the vibration.

So. Why did I get attacked out of the blue?

"To find out!

When I asked Leo for an explanation, I got a straightforward answer from the master of the ambush. As soon as he answered, the articulate boy began to munch on the tea cakes that had been offered to him.

"This is Jeremias. He's one of my direct subjects. He's one of my direct retainers. He's interested in the story of our little game of knights the other day.

"I heard that!　I heard you're strong enough to take on his highness.

What?　No, I lose every time.

What's with all the knightly banter during Leo's visits to the city? Moreover, I've never been able to beat Leo, who's a serious student of swordsmanship. Why would Leo himself, who knows this, spread misinformation?
When I looked at Leo, I was met with an indifferent smile.

I was just saying that it would be easier for Isak to do without his weapon.

Besides, he dodged my attack earlier.

In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.

I'm sorry," he said, "but Remius, who heard your story, took an interest in you and forced me to come. I apologize.

Because of Leo's misleading statement that I'm stronger in physical arts than in swordsmanship, Remius, or whatever he's called, has requested to see what I can do, and here I am.
This is Leo's fiancée's house, it's not a place for a man to come alone. Well, with the exception of Nico. But that doesn't stop him from asking his fiancée Leo himself to come with him, a bold idea.

You want to ask him something tricky, don't you?

It's .......

Come on, guys. Don't ignore the lady.

Zak.

I don't know why, but I know these two are interested in me in some way. I don't like the fact that they used my daughter as an excuse, let alone Leo, who took advantage of her for fun.

You guys followed the prince who came to see the girl, right? Then at least greet her properly.



"You're not mad at me, are you?

Leo rolls his eyes curiously.

"You've already apologized and been scolded by the lady.

"I'm not going to scold you, Roy!　I was just asking ...... for a little more time.

I've been here for a while, but I'm not that far behind because I'm only wiping off my sweat and not changing my clothes. In that short time, Leo was calmly waiting for me, so I'm sure he's already apologized to the lady.
What she said, which was meant to be a rebuttal, was an affirmation.

You're right. I'm sorry, Master Ludia!

I'm really sorry to have disturbed you and me.

The blue hair apologized gracefully, and the red hair bowed deeply and politely. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

I'm going to give him a sword. It is enough for me to apologize for pointing my sword at him. He's only a gardener.

I felt a pang of lightning on my skin, which was unusual. I looked at the girl next to me and saw a powerful smile on her face with the presence of a thunder spirit. Miss, you're angry.
Come to think of it, she's not very good at violence. I remember she was very angry when the chairperson pointed a stiletto at me when we first met.
She is implicitly telling the blue-haired girl to apologize to me before she apologizes to herself.
The blue-haired man was momentarily stunned by the lady's unexpected spirit, but he nodded lightly and turned his body towards me.

'Master Ludia is right. I am Jeremias von Staden. It was not fair to surprise you. I'm sorry.

"No, not anymore. I am Isak Baumgartner, apprentice gardener in this house.

Next time, I'll take you on fair and square.

"What?

The young lady and I, who hadn't anticipated what would happen next, froze, unable to catch up with what the blue-haired man had said. On the other hand, the blue-haired man had a nice, lively smile on his face.

I've got to try my hand at something that looks strong.

The blue hair says excitedly like a hero of a shounen manga. The gap between what he says and what he does is huge because he looks so smart. And that's something you should say to a powerful opponent. I'm just a commoner.

I suggest you give up, Isak. Once this guy gets like this, he's unstoppable. Oh, I'm Bernhard von Reckebusch.

The red-haired one lets out a tired sigh and offers me a word of sympathy. I thought this guy was following Leo because he wanted me too.

"Bern, ......, um...

If you don't want to call me that, you can call me Bell.

As if she was used to dealing with people like me, she immediately gave me the abbreviation.

"Bell wants to ask you something, too, about this .......

You can call me Remias.

Lemmias told me.

What does Mr. Bernhard want with the Zaku?

That's .......

The young lady, who hadn't seen the whole thing, looked at Bell, the red-haired one, with surprise. I'm not sure what to make of it. She closed her mouth and muttered in a reluctant manner.

"Your Highness told me you use magic without chanting. I've never seen a commoner use magic without a spell, so I wanted to ask how you do it. ...... If you could, I'd like to see it in action. ......

That's about right. But only if you can wait until after work.

Really?

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

I've heard that commoners don't have a lot of magic power, so they don't get to use it on a daily basis. But you actively use magic, and you use attributes other than the ones you're suited for, don't you?　I'd like to know more about that. I also have the same water attribute, so I tried to compare and verify the difference in magic power.

"Tamma, Tamma!

It's a good idea to take a look at the information that's available. I only nodded because it was better than the blue-haired Remius, but you wouldn't expect such a passionate response from me.
When I stopped her, she seemed to come to her senses and sat back down on the sofa, holding her book as if in shame. She sat back down on the sofa with her book in her arms, embarrassed. Her red hair, which had grown when she was making her impassioned speech, now seemed to have shrunk a little.

"I'm sorry, .......

I've heard that you are very studious, but when it comes to magic, you talk so much .......

The lady muttered as if she was taken aback. She's never seen a bell like this before.

I'm not sure if you've heard of them before.

From the exchange, I thought they hadn't met before. The lady nodded her head yes.

I'm meeting her at a tea party that I'm going to accompanied by Master Roy. I've only ever met her to say hello, so this is the first time we've spoken at length.

"Oh, sorry. I said it was okay. ......

I nodded easily enough to show her my magic, but even though it was only an hour or two until I finished work in the evening, she was going to be entertaining me for the rest of the day. If you're not that close to the two of them, you're putting a burden on your daughter.


I was about to correct her on her refusal, but she shook her head to stop me.

I enjoy talking with you, Roy, and Bernhard has a lot of knowledge about books, so I wanted to ask you about it.

I could tell by the look on the young lady's face that she really meant it. The reason why she didn't mention the blue-haired Remius was probably because it was simply too difficult to talk to him. Remius, who is already eating half of the tea cakes on the table by himself, seems to be living by the three principles of eating, playing and sleeping. I don't think he would be a good match for a young lady who takes her lessons seriously.

"Mmm, I'm not good at sitting still. May I run around the perimeter of the mansion until it's over?

"No. You're also His Highness' bodyguard, so you'll have to learn to sit still.

Remius's insistence was quickly rebuked by Bell. It seems that Bel is used to dealing with Remias. Remius was scolded, and he clamped his mouth shut as if to hold back.
I knew that Remias would be fine with Bell, so I asked the young lady.

I asked the lady, "Well, can you bring Bell to the pond later?

Yes, ma'am.

When the work was finished, I asked her to lead me to the pond where I could use my magic more easily, and she agreed. The pond in the corridor leading to the annex is a good place for me to cast spells, even if I have little magic power. It's just the time when the water lilies in the pond are in their last bloom.

Thank you, sweetheart.

You'd better get back to work.

Yeah, I'll go.

Have a good day at .......

The lady asks me to go back to work, and I sit up. I don't know why she reacted as if she was scared for a moment, but I don't know what it was.

In the meantime, I'll leave you in charge of Miss Lydia.

No, you're here to see her, aren't you?

Leo, who until now had been smiling and looking after her, said something out of focus. Leo, the first prince of this country, and the duchess are engaged to each other. Roy, the prince, is supposed to be the star of the show, and bringing them together with me is probably just a coincidence.
To my point, Leo replied with a sparkling smile, "That's right. I didn't expect to be blindsided on my way out, so I closed the door and covered my eyelids with my hands until I calmed down. He seems to be getting more dazzling every year.
I was careless because I usually see him with a brown wig on. Leo's blond hair is the most dazzling, and I don't like it.
But if Leo is Leo, then his subordinates must be very colorful and conspicuous. Remius and Bel both had blue and red hair, almost primary colors. I thought for a moment that if they just wanted to get me to meet them, they could do it during the inspection of the downtown area, not through the lady, but I realized that it was impossible with their appearance. Besides, with their personalities, they would look out of place in the downtown area. No, Leo would stand out, or rather, he would stand out.
In the downtown area, Leo is treated like an idol who comes around once in a while. The older sisters and aunts are kind to Leo, who has a good face and good manners, and thanks to his youthful personality, he is surprisingly well liked by the grandfathers. Leo is even more favored by the grandfathers because there is an austere board game like Go in Japan in this country, and it is rare to find a child who is willing to play with him. I'm impressed that he can keep up with them, since I also find them difficult to play and run away even when he asks me to play.
The girl must be very smart, because she enjoys talking with Leo. When the three of us talk together with Belle, who seems to be a voracious reader, I'm sure they'll talk about smart things that I can't understand. It must be hard for Remius to be in the middle of all that.
I had just met them, but they made such a strong impression on me that it was easy to imagine them. Feeling somewhat amused by this, I returned to my work.


Just as the sky began to turn orange with the setting sun, I finished my work and headed for the west pond. I told my father that I would be back before the meeting time of the wagon that I would be sharing with him.
When I arrived at the pond, I could already see the four of them in the pavilion between the corridors, and I turned to run.

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting?

No, we just got here.

No, I just got here," Leo replies, sitting comfortably. I'm sure he's not lying, but when he says it like that, it doesn't sound like he means it. He's the calmest and the most graceful one. I wonder if he's ever in a hurry to get things done.
I was sitting down, but the lady sat up and welcomed me to the entrance of the pavilion.

"Zak, ......, welcome back.

I'm home.　I'm home.

I'm back." For some reason, she said hesitantly, her cheeks red from the setting sun. I wondered about the pause, but replied.
Then I heard a chuckling sound. I turned toward the sound and saw Leo, his blond hair glistening in the setting sun, covering his mouth with his fist, looking amused.

No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but Miss Ludia is just too adorable.

"Master Roy?

What?　What the hell are you talking about?

Zak!

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

"So, what kind of magic are you going to show me?

I was expecting the red-faced girl to start lecturing me, but Belle intervened, her eyes glowing with interest. The young lady, who had missed her chance to get angry, fell silent.
I remember what I came here for and turn to Bell.

I'd rather see it!

"I'd rather see that!

"I'd rather see that!" Bell replied immediately, and I couldn't help but burst out laughing.



It's funny that he wants to see the magic of the common people.

Unable to hide the amusement in my voice, I held out my hands to the pond where the water lilies had begun to sleep. I let the water droplets on the leaves of the water lilies and the water on the surface of the pond float a little in the air and turn them into fine mist-like particles.
Just let it drift in the air and adjust it so that the setting sun reflects it well. That's really all there is to magic. The amount of water used is also small.
Even so, a small rainbow appears, reflecting the setting sun.

All I can do is make the little rainbow last a little longer. ......

When I turned to Belle next to me, her eyes were even brighter, and she was holding a book in her hand with a strong grip. It's a good idea to take a look at the actual information on the web, as well as the information on the internet.
Belle muttered something, and when I tilted my head, I couldn't hear her, she said louder this time.

You can really use it without chanting!　And the less magic you have, the more precise your control. And the fact that you can maintain the rainbow means that you can keep the particles intact for a long time.

With Bell's commentary, it sounds like a hell of a thing to do. Bell also said that he was water-based and had a lot of magic power, so he could do the same or even better. What I can do, anyone with the same water attribute can do. That's about all I can do.

"This is so normal, it's amazing. ......

No, it's not!

Yes, it is!

I tried to say no, but Bell and the lady argued back strongly. Why is the lady so pissed off?

I'm not sure what to make of this.

It's with the help of spirits .......

I'm sure you're not the only one.　How?

No, I mean, I've shown you the magic, and I've got to go home. ......

I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea. How can I escape from this?

By all means, tell me more!

I'd love to know more!

Remius, who was apparently bored, started to assert himself. Even though he was at an early age when he could be playful and articulate about his needs, he was still too young to settle down. One of them, Leo, is smiling and watching our interaction, but you must be the same age as these two. I realized once again how strange Leo is.

"Bernhard, Jeremias.

When Leo called their names, they reflexively fell silent. The two men are very assertive, but they seem to think of Leo as their boss, even though they are the same age.
After confirming that they were silent, Leo turned to the lady.

"Miss Ludia, I came here today because I have something to tell you.

"Yes, ......, what is it?

"I'm going to be a little busy. I'm going to be a little busy, so I'll probably visit less often after the season.

I see.

The young lady, who was abruptly introduced to the conversation, was puzzled, but tried to gauge Leo's intentions.

"So, you two. I'm a very busy man and I need you to deliver a gift for me.

"Huh?

Leo turned to the two of them and made such a request with a smile. The young lady and I were both baffled by his intentions, and Remius and Bel tilted their heads.

If you accept the request, you can come to Ernst's house regularly after the season is over.

When they heard Leo's complementary smile, they opened their eyes in understanding, and the young lady and I wanted to hold our heads in our hands because we understood his intentions.
In other words, in order to prevent Leo from seeing his fiancée less often when he's busy with political matters or something, he wants the two of you to be his operatives.
Since the season is coming to an end, there is no reason for them to come to Ernst's house anymore. That's why I thought it would never happen again. I'm sure that's what you thought when you went out with them today. But Leo has given them an excuse to visit the Ernsts alone.

"Yes!

"By all means!

Leo's smile deepened as Remius and Belle replied. Leo's smile deepened as Remius and Belle replied, "This is the moment when I know that the future will be noisy in autumn.
I let out a long, tired sigh.

I let out a long, tired sigh. "...... Leo, you're not only sweet on your sister, but on your friends as well.

He's Leo's friend, so he's probably not such a bad guy. I can understand why you would want to help your friend, and I can understand why you would be happy to have a friend your own age. I was happy to be friends with Nico too. But I'm worried that she's getting involved.
When I looked at her, she was staring curiously ahead. When I followed her gaze, I saw Leo freeze, as if he had been caught off guard.

"Leo?

"......, yeah.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not.

I know. You two are good friends of mine.

Leo's smile was even brighter than the reflection on the surface of the water, and he looked really happy.
In response to this smile, the young lady smiled bitterly, as if she had no choice. I, too, made up my mind that I had no choice.
And I shuddered as if my eyesight, one of my work tools, would be destroyed.