Chapter 136: Topic of Attendants

Yona had received all sorts of gifts: robes, a small magic wand, water magic stones, and embroidered handkerchiefs, among other things. While she showed them to Ren one by one, servants brought over drinks and food.

“Please have some as well, Young Master.”

At the servant’s urging, Ren accepted a pewter cup. He took a sip and tasted something sweet and tart. He sometimes drank fruit water, but this had a stronger berry flavour.

“Would you care for a bite-sized pie?”

He accepted a plate from another servant’s tray. A small pie sat on the small plate. Ren had never eaten pie before, so he’d accepted it without thinking. Now he had the pewter cup in one hand and the plate in the other, leaving both hands occupied and him at a loss.

(Huh? How am I supposed to eat this…?)

He looked around for somewhere to set down his cup.

“Ren-kun, you can put your plate and cup on that table.”

Noticing his confusion, Eugene pointed out a table. Sylvie had just set her own cup there, so Ren followed her example.

With one hand finally free, he bit into the little pie. He was slightly surprised when a paste of finely chopped, stewed meat emerged from between its many layers of pastry.

“Delicious…”

As Ren munched on the pie, Marcus and Frank approached him.

“Hey, don’t you have that acorn thing?”

“……Huh?”

Caught off guard, Ren reached for his cup, washed down his mouthful of pie, and asked him to repeat himself.

“The one with feathers on the acorn. Can’t we play it here?”

“Oh…”

It hadn’t occurred to Ren to bring the Acorn Feather Drop to the celebration, so he hadn’t prepared one.

“Um, I didn’t bring it…”

Even if he had, he wasn’t sure whether it would be proper to take it out at the celebration. Ren answered uncertainly and looked at Eugene. Eugene gave a small nod.

“Those were personal gifts for everyone. They weren’t planned as part of today’s celebration.”

“Aw. I thought it’d be nice if we could play.”

Marcus shrugged.

“Oh, that reminds me. They were talking about whether our family should take you in.”

“Huh?”

“It seems Grandmother approached Father about it. He turned her down. He said there was no point making a child without a combat skill an attendant.”

Ren froze at Marcus’s words.

(An attendant again…)

He had only just overheard Grandmother and the Vanille Count discussing making him an attendant. Learning that she had also approached House Noisette made it feel as though something were driving deeper and deeper into his chest.

(Does Grandmother want to send me away somewhere…?)

He watched Marcus and Frank walk off, his spirits sinking. Eugene lightly patted him on the back.

“Ren-kun.”

“…Eugene-san…”

“Why don’t we talk for a bit?”

Eugene gestured towards the entrance to the hall.