MPBAGS Chapter 87

Gabriel sent urgent news. Even if he's a commander, making a knight deliver letters? That's impressive.

Raphaela looked extremely exhausted from how fast he had rushed over. No, wait. It was the horse that ran. By the way, the horse Raphaela rode was skillfully coaxed by Melech and taken to the stables. Why is that cow beastman more friendly with horses than anything else?

"Huff, gasp..."

"Sir Raphaela, please have some water."

"Thank you, thank you."

When Henna handed him water, Raphaela gulped it down. Wow, how can someone drink water so deliciously? He could do a mukbang.

While Raphaela was calming down, I finished reading the letter Gabriel sent. I was worried since we parted on bad terms last time, but if he's looking out for me this much, Gabriel must like me quite a bit. Phew. Now I feel a bit relieved.

I returned the letter to Raphaela after reading it. It's scary to keep it, so handle it yourself.

"Is Bishop Marik a dangerous person?"

"She's very kind to the faithful, but naturally she's dangerous to you, Young Lady."

Could she be an exorcist? So if she finds out I'm possessed, she'll try to perform exorcism - which is written as exorcism but reads as torture? I really need to be careful. If I'm caught being possessed, I'm finished. Gabriel wasn't making a fuss for nothing. But looking at the letter contents now... am I in big trouble?

"Such a person is supposed to be my chaperone?"

"It's not confirmed yet. There's also Marchioness Totten..."

"The crown prince's birthday is in two days. Will we hear from Lady Totten by then?"

Raphaela must have never experienced someone going radio silent. Let this life senior give you some advice, Raphaela. Whether it's lovers or team projects, people who go silent never show up again. That's why it's called going silent.

"Or there's my mother. If the opponent is a duchess, even Bishop Marik can't do anything about it."

"Didn't you say you were estranged?"

"No! That's just talk - in reality, she's very worried about me. I'll grab onto her pant leg and beg her to be the Young Lady's chaperone!"

Raphaela shouted desperately. Is he worried I might be in danger? He does have some loyalty after all. I'm a bit moved.

"And it seems surveillance has been attached."

What? That wasn't in the letter. Could they be following me because of the rumors? But I don't even leave the house, so how are they planning to surveil me?

At those words, Jelly, who had been eating grapes in the back, responded dismissively.

"Ah, that guy who kept lurking around the house? I already took care of him."

Took care of? No, Jelly. Were you secretly patrolling and playing dark hero without me knowing? I thought you just lazed around all day and gave you grief for it!

"How could you take care of that! Now that the eyes placed on the mansion are gone, they'll find it even more suspicious!"

But that seems to have been wrong. It was indeed something worth getting grief for. Raphaela burst out angrily without knowing who was speaking, then belatedly looked at Jelly with an uncomfortable expression.

"Young Lady... Who is that person, by the way?"

Is this their first time meeting?

"Me? Jelly?"

"I asked the Young Lady."

A subtle war of nerves continued. Gasp, did they realize they're love rivals over Daisy? Since Daisy likes Raphaela now, I should take Raphaela's side too.

"Jelly is... my dog?"

Oops. While trying to explain our relationship in a way that has no connection to Daisy, I unconsciously just said 'dog'. This will get me criticized for beastman discrimination again.

"Ah, I mean, a subordinate I work like a dog."

I quickly added. But isn't this something only a tyrannical employer would say? Raphaela smacked his ears as if he'd heard nonsense. I'm, I'm sorry.

Meanwhile, Jelly didn't seem displeased at being called a dog and obediently wagged his tail. What? Am I mistaken? He's in human form now, so I must be seeing things.

No. It wasn't a mistake. A tail popped out from Jelly. There are even ears. When the ears on top of Jelly's head perked up, my hand twitched involuntarily. So I wasn't seeing things earlier! Why are they popping out when he usually hides them well?

Fortunately, Raphaela was busy smacking his own ears and hadn't noticed yet. Put those away! Quickly! I frantically sent signals with my eyes, and Jelly retracted his ears and tail.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, this? Don't you like this sort of thing, Master?"

"I like that sort of thing?"

What nonsense is he talking about? Why would I like that?

"Yes. That's why you only dote on Pu... Pudding all the time, isn't it?"

Ah. It wasn't about preferences, just that I'm more fond of animals. I thought it was something else. Jelly must be burning with competitive spirit against Pudding, so he keeps calling me master. But you should compare comparable things. Pudding is still young. Of course I need to take more care of him.

I was about to tell him to act more mature when Raphaela looked at Jelly with a face that didn't know what to say. Wait, did he see Jelly's ears and tail? Unlike before, Raphaela spoke to Jelly in a much softer voice.

"Um, excuse me..."

"Are you calling me?"

"If there's any unfair pressure, please be sure to report it."

"What?"

What are you saying! Unfair pressure? Are you thinking of me as some perverted beastman slave collector? Another line is about to be added to the numerous rumors. How do I explain this? I don't like beastmen? No! That would look more suspicious! It would seem like I'm trying to hide my preferences, making me look even more perverted!

Jelly also seemed dumbfounded and was bewildered, then soon burst into laughter.

"Hey, you're really funny. Are you telling me to report my master right now?"

Don't call me master! You've never called me that before, so don't suddenly raise suspicions!

"If I report it, can anyone actually catch her?"

Jelly giggled while continuing to eat grapes. He even threw some to Pudding to catch, as if wanting to show off tricks. Of course, our proud Pudding caught the grape and threw it back at Jelly's face with full force.

Jelly got hit by fruit from a cat and laughed even more. Where does that look like someone suffering from unfair labor? To my eyes, he just looks like an unemployed person who found a good guardian. Feeling wronged, I glared at him, and Raphaela avoided my eyes.

"Haha. It's a joke, of course. You know that, right?"

No, I don't know? Right now I said I'd support your romance with Daisy, but you're seeing me as a tyrannical employer? When I glared, Raphaela hurriedly packed his things.

"Then I'll go find my mother to prepare for any possible situation."

Raphaela attempted to flee. Where are you trying to escape to?

"It's fine."

"Pardon?"

Realistically, would begging at the last minute work?

If I were in that situation —if my son who cut ties with the secular world and entered a monastery came to me after several years whining about needing me to be a chaperone for some girl he's interested in— I'd kick his butt and throw him out for being shameless. The duchess is regrettable, but let's give up.

"Would Bishop Marik readily volunteer to be an unknown young lady's chaperone?"

"No. She's kind but has clear boundaries. Even if asked, she wouldn't agree."

Such a person volunteering means she finds me extremely suspicious. Looking at the rumors about Evangeline, they're so vicious that no civilian would believe them, so it's reasonable to think I'm possessed by an evil spirit.

"If Lady Totten doesn't come, I'll accept Bishop Marik's recommendation."

"But Bishop Marik is dangerous..."

"If I desperately refuse, it will only look more suspicious."

Regardless of genre, when there's someone running away, it's the habit of characters chasing suspicious things to catch them first. The more you hide and avoid, the more suspicious they become and the more they cling to you.

They'll dig around everywhere, investigate thoroughly to the point of being called a nuisance and cancerous, and interfere with everything. I bet my hair that Bishop Marik will do the same. So rather than running away, wouldn't a frontal breakthrough be better?

Above all, I'm not the same as before! The days when I was a terrible actor and got caught being possessed everywhere are over. I didn't just learn etiquette and dancing all this time. Let me introduce the new and improved 'Evangeline' — perfected by Dolly's delicate instruction and Daisy's injection of Evangeline's memories!

Now I'm confident I can even fool Count Rohanson. I wonder what's gotten into the count. He suddenly asked to have lunch on the day of the ball. I should test myself then. By the way, isn't fasting standard on ball days? He has no consideration. Well, that's why his daughter became a villainess and he's still neglecting her whether someone's possessed her or not.

"Please let Lady Totten come..."

This guy. Raphaela seems to find me disagreeable. Or maybe Bishop Marik is a very scary person. She's not really going to beat me with world tree branches for exorcism, right? That would be a bit scary.

I tried to handle it with dignity, but seeing Raphaela's state made me think it would be good if Lady Totten came too. But it's shameless to beg someone to come when they have a sick child. Then I should have told Raphaela to use this opportunity to reconcile with his estranged mother. Raphaela looked at me with eyes that had become moist.

"Looking at how there's no contact yet, she won't come, will she?"

Seeing Raphaela so frightened suddenly made me feel mischievous.

"Want to make a bet?"

"Pardon?"

As expected, Raphaela narrowed his brow as if asking what nonsense I was talking about.

"I'll bet that Lady Totten comes."

Raphaela looked puzzled. It's probably because I, who was certain she wouldn't come, bet on the opposite side.

"Won't she not come? I heard the child is sick."

"Well. The situation might change."

Tsk. That's why they're rookies. Don't you know about reverse betting when making bets? Gambling is about that thrill.

Of course, my true feelings were different. I don't want to get hit with a stick made from world tree branches! Please come!