Vol. 1 - Ch. 321 - School Festival (3)

"Oh dear, it appears Milady is interested in this servant’s name, eh?"

The maid giggled as she pinched the hem of her skirt and slightly lifted them up in courtesy, introducing herself. Her blonde hair, held by the red hairband, rustled faintly. 

"I'm Jeuri Leverance. It's my pleasure that your esteemed self recognizes me, Milady, Young Master."

Jeanna and Ford's faces turned pale as paper the instant that name fall into their ears.

"I-I apologise for our late introduction, Lady Jeuri. I am Jeanna Yunivast. I've had the honor to have a short conversation with you in the party hosted by Duke Graustar—"

Drowning in panic, Jeanna laid out her introduction almost instantly, but to met with a shake of head from Jeu.

"It's my pleasure you remember me, Milady. However, I am nothing more than a maid of this Maid Tea House. As such, it makes you my masters. Please, just call me Jeu. I would prefer it that way, alright?"

Jeu softly explained, but belying in her tone was an unmistakable pressure that demanded only an affirmative. While the two had yet to comprehend the entirety of the situation at all, they nodded as asked.

They were just so overwhelmed. Jeu, despite carrying herself like a maid, had the pressure around her on par with head maids of a noble family.

Ascertaining they'd understand, Jeuri slipped a giggle.

"Now then, allow me to lead you to your table. Today's weather is such sunshine, I think the terrace would be perfect."

"Y-yes, please. Thank you for the arrangement."

"You may cut your formal speech."

Jeu then led them beyond the building, and toward the backyard of the dormitory where a seating arrangement had been laid.

"This is the menu. Once you've decided your order, please ring this bell, dear masters."

She performed a deep bow before leaving the two alone.

"H-hey...Jeanna... is this some sort of prank, or what...?

"Y-your guess is as good as mine, Ford...... But, Lady Jeuri herself has asked us to call her with no honorifics, and she's so friendly too. It would be a dream come true if we were able to befriend her, however... I don't know, it sounds too good to be true. I feel as if we might be in trouble."

Jeanna and Ford's apprehension-laced gaze followed Jeu as she twirled around the tables alongside other maids and butlers. 

"W-what else could it be? I have no idea what's going on, but it's just too absurd to force Jeuri Leverance, the heiress of the Leverance family—even hailed as the reincarnation of Saintess lately—to force into maid uniform of all things! Even if the preparators fear no gods, do they not know of the purge from Neo-Starlight teaching?"

Ford's words met with a nod from Jeanna.

"I-I know, right. Anyway, w-we should decide on the order first. Ah, what do you think of this? The sour fruit pancakes. The sour fruits are my favourit—"

Alas, the two had barely managed to regain their bearings when they're startled by a loud shout coming from behind on their left. They're a pair of boy and girl, their expressions bearing the touch of their delinquent personality. They're wearing uniforms unfamiliar to any of the institutes from Royal Capital.

"Hey, you there! Are you deaf or what? I have been ringing my bell for so long now! I don't care if you're a genius or whatever, but you're a maid at present, no? You should've been strutting to your master at one call, or do you forget this?!"

Hearing the voice, Jeu turned in the direction of the source, her face pulling a repulsive expression—or not, she had still retained a bright smile.

"Indeed, I apologise for the wait, What is your command, dear master?"

Jeu's obedient compliance deepened the sleazy grin on the faces of two delinquents. 

"Just apologising doesn't cut it, damn it! Tch, what a flippant attitude when your dear masters are displeased!"

The boy berated, and *thud* placed his legs on the table.

"......Have they eaten leopard's guts or what... Maybe they're from some hinterland? If they learn her true identity, I feel they would faint on the spot..."

Jeanna and Ford watched the situation unfolding from their seat, their facial muscles twitching wildly at the sheer trepidation. 

The surrounding visitors were engulfed in murmur when they saw the brazen act. But, from their attitude, it  doesn't seem like they've realised Jeu's identity yet. 

Jeu's expression unperturbed, no matter the attention converged at her, and calmly touched the thick tabletop. 

"—You shouldn't do this, dear master. The tables are meant for food, not food."

Then, as if performing a magic trick, she effortlessly lifted the heavy metal table—it was made of a certain junk alloy that an artificer had created during their experiments—above her head. 

"Gaah!"

This had the delinquent boy fall on his back alongside the chair, his head slamming against the ground.

Jeu, however, had stayed on her spot, the table still quietly lifted up in the air. There was no doubt the boy would receive more than just simply injury if she decided to bring that bulky table against him.

"W-w-w-what the hell are you doing?! I am your dear master, have you forgotten that?!"

The other person, a girl, promptly intervened in panic. And as ever, Jeu only offer a nod with a soft smile.

"You're indeed right. However, it's also the duty of dignified maid to instill manners on their master lest they embarrassed their good name before the eyes of society. So far, this is the tradition of Leverance family."

"L-Leverance......?"

"N-no way... you're Jeuri Leverance?!"

"Eeek!"

The chatter broke the mould of murmur and became a loud buzz as soon the onlookers realised who Jeu was. 

Just as the nervous ran among the public, a boy appeared riding on a two-wheeler vehicle, stopping it just outside of the backyard.

"I-isn't he..."

"Ssh! Quiet, Jeanna."

Jeanna and Ford promptly hide themselves behind the menu card when they see the boy they'd seen at riverside a while back. They knew him, after all. 

"What're you doing, Jeu?"

"You're here, Allen-san! Are you here on inspection? It must be tough as Committee President. Thank you very much for your effort."

Jeu's expression blossomed into profound joy when she heard him, and promptly followed with a polite appreciation.

"H, he......"

"It must be him..."

The buzz like cracker's pattering noise died as if someone had doused water on them. The gaze that'd been centralised on Jeu until now suddenly darted away, and they all held their breath as if they'd feared awakening the slumbering beast. 

The words about Allen's prowess in detection range, something that's on par with Yuglia's top knights, had already been spread around since the Rising Dragon Cup. 

As a fact, he'd even be referred to as 'He Who Must Not be Named' due to his insane detection. 

"......It's alright, and besides, I volunteered myself so it's truly not a problem... that aside, our dear guest isn't an academy student. I fear the table would leave grave injuries on him if you followed with the swing."

Allen pointed at the table in Jeu's head as he displayed an astounded expression. As if she had only recalled her current situation, Jeu gave a curt glance at the boy before smiling broadly.

"Of course...... I know. And even if he does sustain injury, I will immediately heal him."

"Eeeek!"

Allen's cheeks twitched hearing Jeu's remark, the latter's face still smiling.

"And I am saying our dear customer isn't a student here...! You can't just break him and then brush all of it just because you can heal him! ...It isn't how you should be thinking everyday... probably."

Allen remarked in exasperation. Jeu shrugged at his words, and put down the table. 

Heaving a sigh, Allen reached out for the fallen boy, and helped him get up.

"I apologise for startling you. She might have hundreds of maids at her call, but she's still a rookie as a maid. Please ignore this in your magnanimous heart and enjoy the festival. Oh, and I would definitely suggest 'Special Menu' if you've yet to order it!"

The boy nodded tearfully while Allen winked and suggested with a smile.

"T-thank you very much! We both will have this special menu!"

"......Special menu, is it? I have noted your order. It should be available soon, so please wait just a few moments."

Jeu nodded and ventured into the direction of the kitchen. Allen, too, strided his bike coolly and left the scene.