The twins, the maid sisters Ram and Rem, and Emilia, the candidate for the forty-second generation of the Kingdom of Lugunica's king, had gone to the village to save the villagers and exterminate the magical beasts. Their mission had gone very smoothly, and they had finally returned on time, looking thoroughly disheveled, just before nightfall.
"Thank goodness!"
"Sister!"
"And Lady Emilia, you're finally back."
That's right. They were thoroughly disheveled.
Rem had been waiting at the mansion's front gate. When she saw that their faces, clothes, hair, and everything else were smeared with ash and streaks of black soot, she might have been frightened out of her wits on the spot if the two hadn't looked unharmed. She was still somewhat weak, after all.
"Yes."
"Rem, we're back."
Ram held a rather battered-looking plush bear in her hand, and managed a faint smile.
"We're fine!"
"Things went pretty smoothly. The only problem was that the fire got a little out of hand..."
"Rem, you could see it from the mansion, right?"
"It really was terrifying. I felt like it was even stronger than my Puck, or even Lord Mezas, who claims to be the kingdom's greatest magician!"
"Ha ha~!"
"Anyway, please have someone prepare bathwater for us as soon as possible. Ram and I need to wash up properly before dinner."
After a dry laugh, Emilia turned briskly and glided into the mansion's courtyard, giving a wink to Rem, the twin maid who had come out to greet them, as she urged her along.
"Ah!"
"Yes! I'll arrange it right away..."
Rem paused for a moment, then came back to herself. Without saying anything more, she bowed slightly to Emilia, who looked utterly bedraggled.
Since her sister was away and she'd rested for half the day, other servants were helping