37 Daily Suspicions as a Sign of Respect

(Oh, please. As if she actually harbored any personal feelings for you. How shameless.)

Diluc stood with his arms crossed, his expression cold as he watched the performance in silence. He was grateful that he had long since accustomed himself to self-restraint; otherwise, his face would surely be twisted in disgust by now. Or perhaps he would have grabbed the blond by his hair and slammed his head into the ground, forcing him to spit out the truth.

Listening to him weave fabricated nonsense while holding the truth in his own hands felt like an insult to his intelligence. The poor traveler had no idea that Diluc already knew the reality of the situation and was still attempting to hoodwink him.

Once the lies started flowing, they only became easier to tell. Aether continued his story without a change in expression. "I saved her from a blockade of hilichurls. She said she had nowhere to go and wanted to stay by my side."

"She must have been terrified by the monsters. Because I rescued her from the swarm, she developed a certain attachment and reliance on me. You’ve seen it yourself—she’s as frail as foam on water, and as sensitive and suspicious as a startled bird... I couldn't bring myself to give her a harsh refusal."

Glancing at the broom near Diluc’s hand and the glimpse of his sturdy, muscular forearm, Aether added with a meaningful tone, "Master Diluc, you found it hard to refuse her as well, didn't you?"

Could it be that Master Diluc was the type of common man who would do chores for others? He certainly wouldn't claim it was out of respect for him; even if Aether himself were in her position, he wouldn't deserve such treatment.

Master Diluc was undoubtedly a good man, but his acts of aid were subtle, aloof, and left no traces. He could issue a single command from the shadows to save someone from ruin, but he would never be seen publicly helping an old lady across the street.

There were only two possibilities. First, Diluc had taken a fancy to Pei Nana. She was a delicate and beautiful flower, so it wouldn't be strange for someone to be attracted to her. However, her health was too poor; she was ill-suited to be a wife, let alone the matriarch of a noble house. Diluc was a rational man; even if he felt a spark, he would likely abandon it after weighing the pros and cons.

Second, it was his sense of justice. It was precisely because of her weakness that she had left such a deep impression on Master Diluc over the past week, stirring his compassionate heart and causing him to unconsciously lean toward favoritism and care in their daily life.

Aether felt the second possibility was far more likely than the first.

"Guilty" Diluc: "..."

Master Diluc did not seem to care for the look in his eyes. He curled his lips in a joyless smirk, clapped his hands together without a hint of emotion, and asked, "So you’re just going to let her cling to you? How long do you intend to keep her? You know that I have my own ways of gathering intelligence. If you need, I can help you locate this Miss Nana's family."

"That won't be necessary." Aether refused immediately, fearing that being too adamant would arouse Diluc's suspicion. He then continued with a facade of benevolent pity, "Right now, she is clinging to me like a drowning person clutching a piece of driftwood. She may believe I am indispensable to her life now, but once she reaches the shore... perhaps she will no longer need me."

He looked up toward the second floor, where the sounds of clattering and the occasional dragging of furniture could be heard. It seemed Pei Nana was busy. This filled him with a touch of worry.

The furniture Diluc had provided was not only complete but also made of solid materials, making the larger pieces quite heavy. He had told her before leaving that she could wait for him to return before moving things; surely Pei Nana hadn't pushed herself too hard?

Thinking of this, Aether continued the conversation, somewhat distracted. "For now, she is still in the phase of swimming toward the shore. I am simply waiting for the moment she no longer needs me."

"How saintly," Diluc said, his tone cryptic, wearing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "And how do you plan to tell the others? Are you going to tell them the 'truth' directly?"

"Of course not. I’ve said before, I hope she can leave her past behind." Aether stroked his chin and laughed. "What do you think of me bringing her into my adventure team?"

"?" Master Diluc stared at him strangely for a long moment before retorting, "Do you honestly think that young lady is cut out to be an adventurer?"

How much fake wine had he drunk to spout such nonsense? Using a beer bottle to crack a walnut—he certainly had some creative ideas.

Diluc drew out his tone, using an arrogant, aristocratic affectation. "I believe the threshold for the Adventurers' Guild isn't quite that low."

"Don't say that." Aether spread his hands and laughed. "Logistics are very important, too. Regardless, from today on, Nana is a member of the Traveler's Adventure Team! I think she’ll agree."

"Yay! That means there are three of us now!" Above them, Paimon cheered and scattered imaginary flower petals, like an oblivious bystander.

Diluc glanced at her expressionlessly, and she immediately shrank back, quietly shutting her mouth. She turned back to wiping a lampshade, pretending she had been busy all along.

Aether was amused, and not wanting to dwell on the topic, he seized the opportunity of Paimon's interruption to say, "I brought back some food. I'll go up and call her now, let's have something to eat before we finish tidying up!"

With that, he rushed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and let out a quiet sigh of relief once he was out of Diluc's sight.

(Thankfully, he didn't press further. Come to think of it, I wonder if Nana managed to pull it off? Looking at Diluc's reaction, it doesn't seem like he found out.)

He wasn't particularly worried about Pei Nana, either. She wasn't a fool; even if she spoke, she would likely only say that he had saved her. If he kept questioning her, it would be hard for him to squeeze anything else out.

Unlike him, she had two trump cards: "weakness" and "tears."

As long as she wasn't under any major suspicion, these two weapons should work perfectly on an upright gentleman like Master Diluc. Who would be crazy enough to view a frail, helpless young girl as a high-risk individual? A few tears and a feigned bout of breathlessness would be enough to hoodwink him.

And based on his experience from last night, Nana was definitely someone who knew how to cry.

...

Aether reached the upper floor and pushed open the bedroom door. He saw a familiar-looking young maid, her sleeves rolled up and an apron tied around her waist, chatting and laughing while she stitched the corner of a quilt.

And Pei Nana, whom he had imagined to be sweating profusely from labor, was sitting beside her with a radiant smile. In one hand, she held a half-eaten sunsettia; in the other, a small fan. She was fanning the maid while occasionally feeding her bits of fruit.

The atmosphere was harmonious, and undeniably intimate.

Aether: "..."

Aether was rendered speechless by the sight. After a long silence, he asked softly, "...Nana, what are you doing?"

Pei Nana was startled, then guiltily tucked the fruit and the fan behind her back, offering a fawning smile. "Oh! Aether, you're back? How was it? Did you manage to buy everything?"

Aether asked in shock, "—How could you let a guest do all the work??"

She was here to help! Even if her primary job was that of a maid, there was no reason for her to watch while the guest did all the labor! She wasn't a maid they had hired for the house!

Aether didn't know what to say. He knew that if Pei Nana wasn't lying and really was just an ordinary person, she must have been raised in a pampered environment. It was normal for a pampered young girl to act spoiled, be lazy, and push her luck with those who doted on her. He had even prepared himself for the possibility of her becoming "spoiled by affection" in the future.

Why wouldn't he? Only those who are pampered think to act spoiled or lazy. Acting spoiled with you already implies trust and reliance. She relies on you, which also means you have control over her.

It was a form of compensation, care, and control—a mutually beneficial arrangement they were both willing to accept.

But...!

But regardless, pushing all the work onto someone else was too much! Even if the other person was willing, it wasn't right!

Pei Nana didn't seem like someone who lacked such a sense of propriety. Or was it that she trusted others far too easily?

As long as someone could help her, was anyone acceptable?

Aether's expression darkened uncontrollably.

He wanted Pei Nana to trust and rely on him, to be innocent and unguarded with him—not to be like a runaway husky, acting close to everyone she met!

...Could he truly trust her ability to keep secrets?