Yuto walked out of his room in the Mattoo mansion and down a long hallway. There were no servants to be seen in the corridor, and Yuto thought it would be a good idea to visit the kitchen to get a drink, so he walked down the wide spiral staircase to get down to the first floor.
　The sun was starting to set, and it was generally dim, but it was probably due to the fact that the lighting in the Mattoo mansion was set at a low level, except for the rooms.
　When Yuto came downstairs to where he could see downstairs to the floor below, just in time, the butler, Aroucaune, was having a conversation with the other servants.
　Yuto had just come to the floor that stretched out in front of the main entrance to speak to Arokoune when Arokoune noticed Yuto first.

'What can I do for you?　Err, uh, sir?

Oh, this is Du Du.

"Yes, Mr. Du Du.

　By the way, Yuto thought that he was sorry that we didn't say his name and asked Aroucaune for a drink.

''I'm awed, Mr. Du Du. It's almost time to eat, so let's have something light and refreshing to drink instead of something sweet. Shall I have it brought to your room?　Or would you like to have a drink in this reception room, which is empty?

Well, I'm sorry, but could you please bring it up to my room?

　At the same time as Yuto responded, a dignified voice emanated from the spiral staircase he had just come down.

''Aroucaune, there you are. I want to go out for a bit tomorrow. Could you please get your car ready for me?　Oh?　Are you ... a guest over there?

　When Yuto turned his head toward the voice, a girl with a pale brown skin and an appearance that could best be called intelligent was standing on the way to the stairs. Despite her slender body, she has a straight spine and her good posture gives her an air of refinement. She was dressed in what appeared to be the formal attire of a millenarian, or perhaps a very long, large sash wrapped around her body, like a folk costume.
Aroucaune turned to face the girl in front of her and lightly walked up to her and bowed her head.

''Yes, Miss Nina. Yes, this is our guest from Japan, escorted by Mathew-sama.

'What?　Hey!　It's Du Du!

'Oh, sorry. Master Du.

　Yuto glares at Arokoune, who doesn't remember his name, even though he said his name just now.

(We didn't even meet, you remembered Mizuho and Marion!　This old man is.........Miss Nina?　(Then this is the guy Gaston was talking about...)

　Yuto looks at Nina to make sure she's okay. Nina descends the stairs and stands beside Aroucaune and bids him a light bow.

''I'm very sorry, Mr. Doudou. I had intended to sit with you later at dinner and greet you, but my name is Nina. My father, Mathew, has been a great help to me, thank you very much.

'No!　It's outrageous. We're just doing our job here, so we're not doing anything that would be appreciated.

'No, my father has told me. He has a calmness to him that befits his age.

'What?　No, no - that's not true. Did you really do that?　Oh, my God.

　Masato, who is not usually accustomed to being praised, responds with a sullen face.

''Yes, that's right!　 You look like a cholo, that's not what you said...

What?

'No, by the way, what were you doing here, Mr. Du Du?　No way, I'm sorry if you're at work.

'What?　Yes!　Of course!　After all, as an escort, I have to understand the structure of this mansion!

　When Yuto responded, Aroucaune turned her body to Nina with a blank expression and lowered her head.

You will find that you will be able to get a drink in the room that you were just resting in, and now he is thirsty and has come to ask for a drink. Mr. Du Du also asked me to bring him some drinks for him to drink in the room where he has just been resting. The other guards, Master Shurian was in a meeting with Master Mathew, and Master Shitenji was in his room working on reports and other matters.

..........

Oh, no, I'll be working too, after that, right?　

　As Yuto's skin was tingling from Nina's zit-eyes and he was smiling thirstily, Nina smiled and made an unexpected suggestion.

'Oh, you're thirsty, aren't you?　The sun and the temperature are hotter in Miremar than in Japan, so it must be hard to get used to it. In that case, why don't you have it with me in your room?　I'm also more comfortable greeting people I've never met before, because I'm more comfortable with someone I've talked to for a bit than I am with people I've never met before.

'What?　No, no I just thought I'd get some work done now.

''Then, while you're at it, I'll explain the floor plan of the mansion to you. If you do so, you can kill two birds with one stone, don't you think?　Even if you're going to see it in person later, it's more convenient to know the structure of the mansion first, right?

　To be honest, Yuto had been thinking of taking the day off to quench his throat, but Nina's offer seemed like a good one. Other than that, though, he felt bad about letting Mizuho and Marion do the work and feeling bad about resting on his own.

''Well yes, I will do so then. Thank you, Miss Nina........

Nina will be fine.

Oh, so, Nina.

'Yes, right this way, then. 'Alokoune, then I'd like two drinks in the parlor here, please.'

Very well, my lady. Then I'll bring it up.

　Nina nodded and led Masato to the reception room next to the floor in front of the large entrance and urged him to go inside.
　It was a magnificent reception room, lined with massive bookshelves and other items, with a large cowhide sofa in the center. Nina made Yuto sit on the sofa first and took out a quadruple folded diagram of the mansion from the bookcase and spread it out in front of the table.

''Mr. Du Du, here's a floor plan of the mansion. You are free to look at it as you wish. Also, you can ask me anything you want.

Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me.

　Yuto said, turning the floor plan around to make it easier for him to see and match the top and bottom.
　The large mansion was three stories high, and other than that, it didn't have any features and didn't look like it had been devised in any way. For now, I guess I'd rather look at its surroundings than the building, Yuto thought.
　The other important thing would be to figure out where Mattoo was.

'Excuse me, Nina-san, but could you tell me where General Matou is in his bedroom or where he is often when he is here?

Yeah, that's fine.

　Nina got up from the sofa in front of Masato and sat down beside him and began to explain in detail.

'This room on the third floor is my father's bedroom. So the meetings that are taking place right now are in this room on the first floor, and yes, my father is usually in his study on the third floor?

I see...

　Nina gets close enough to Yuto to touch his shoulders and explains in detail.
　Yuto listens intently to the explanation and looks at the floor plan as if he is thinking.
　Then there is a knock on the door of the reception room where Masato and the others are staying.

''Excuse me. I've brought you some drinks........Ha!　Miss!

　As soon as Alokaune opened the door of the room to prepare the drinks he had asked for, he let out a loud, startled voice, which caused Yuto to stutter and turn away from the floor plan to look at Alokaune.

'Miss!　I will not be made to feel friendly with strange lords like that!　Come on, get out of there.

'It's okay. Mr. Du Du is the one who came to escort my father?　It's not polite to call me a stranger, Arokoune.

'What?　Oh, I'm sorry!

　Then, Masato noticed that Nina was closer than he thought, so he hurriedly distanced himself from Nina. Nina sighed boringly at Yuto's attitude and got up and sat down on the couch facing Yuto.
　Aroucaune put down his coaster and straightened his posture as he presented the two glasses in front of both Yuto and Nina.

''Lady Nina doesn't know the true nature of your lordship. Your Highness is a creature that can become like a wild beast at any time when there is an opening. Master Dou Dou also has a harmless look on his face, but you don't know what kind of evil thoughts he has inside of him. And even more so, when faced with a dainty, untainted lady like Miss Nina, her restraint is uncontrollable...

Ha ha ha, restraint...

　As Yuto froze with an indescribable smile on his face, Nina draped one elbow over the sofa, crossed her legs, and made a cumbersome face, a change from her classy appearance from earlier.

(Huh?)　(You seem to have changed a lot in your attitude...)

'Oh, all right, all right, all right. Aroucaune is too bothered by this sort of thing. This is the one who doesn't notice anything when I'm so much closer to him than I should be?　How could someone like this wooden stone dare to do anything to me in my father's house? Just go away now, just go away.

　Nina said and waved her free right hand to leave.

(Wood and stone?)　What's a rock?　(Yeah, I'll check it out later... and somehow that doesn't sound like a good way to go about it)

'And, Aroucaune, your remarks were rude to our guest. Apologize now. Isn't it your job to entertain guests?

No, Nina-san is just as rude as you are.

No.

(Oh, this old man said goofy!　(I've never heard of a real goofball before!

　When Nina pointed out his rudeness and instructed him to apologize to Yuto, Aroucaune exhaled heavily and turned his body to Yuto. Then he bows his head deeply. However, the lowered head and Yuto's face are unusually close to each other.

''Master Dou Dou, I am truly sorry. It was an uncharacteristic statement for a guest. This Aroucaune, you will be punished in any way. And when the time comes, I'm prepared to use this old body to fight against each other...

'Oh, don't worry about it, Mr. Arokoune, I don't mind at all...........counterpart?

　Aroucaune gave a smile, a smile that was quite forced, to Yuto at close quarters, raised his body and left the room.



　Nina exhales in a huff as Alokoune leaves and turns to look at Yuto.

''I'm sorry, Dou Dou Dou. Arokoune is always like this! When it comes to me, really!　I've been surrounded by adults since I was little, and I know they all care about me, but they're all so strange...

'Ha, but Nina has changed enough...'

What is it?

It's nothing.

''Well, I see your point.

Ah, it's Masato.

''Then it's just Yuto. I'm not really good at being formal, so let's talk to each other and not worry about each other.

'What?　

'Of course, you can call me Nina,'

... (I sense a difference in the way I stand.)

Do you get it?

I understand!

　Nina nodded in response to Yuto's reply and sipped on the glass of cold tea that Aroucaune had brought with her. Her mannerisms in those areas looked as elegant as ever, and her upbringing was palpable.

''Yuto, I actually thought it was just as well. I've been wanting to talk to you.

Me?　Why?　We haven't met before, though.

'Well, I've never met you before, but I've heard stories about you from people other than my father.

'Really?　Who is it?

This is your friend, Mr. Gaston.

'What?　Oh, that guy~!

　Yuto had heard a lot of things from Gaston, including about Nina, but he hadn't heard that Gaston had been in contact with Nina. I wanted those important things to be said first. Also, the fact that Gaston has a "san" in his name doesn't explain anything.

Is it true what Mr. Gaston said about you being the most reliable and trustworthy person he's ever met?　As far as I can tell, it doesn't look like it. Well, I think Mr. Gaston is a trustworthy man, so we'll have to agree on that. Even my father praised him....

'Haha ... an assessment of Gaston's credentials? So you wanted to talk to me?

'Yes. There's that too, but...

What is it?

Well, uh, well, actually, I mean...

　Nina, who had been smooth until now, suddenly became sluggish, and Yuto tilted his head. At any rate, as he waited for the moping Nina to speak up for some reason, Nina looked like she had made up her mind.

''Wow, I've hardly ever talked to anyone my own age!　So I wanted to talk to you!