She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner!

y distant.

“What perfect timing, we were just thinking of taking a break.”

I responded as I wiped myself off with the towel Mel-san offered.
Relaire too, who had returned from her oceanic playtime, shook excess water off of herself back on shore.

“Oh, wonderful.
So? How far are you able to swim now? This is Claire-sama we’re talking about, after all, so a hundred meters should be easy, right?”

I knew that Mel-san wasn’t speaking out of spite.
After all, her smile contained not even a shred of malice.

“Y-Yes… That’s about right.”

When I tried to gloss the situation over, Rei gave me the cold shoulder.
Hey…! If she figures it out, I won’t forgive you, okay!?

“Fufu, just as I’d expect.
Ah, here’s your lunch, I made sandwiches.”

Mel-san removed the cloth covering the basket, revealing canteens and sandwiches.
Uhm…

“… Thank you.”

Though I had been able to say thanks, my expression may have been a little stiff.
Though I appreciated she went out of her way to make them for us, I was concerned that they wouldn’t suit my tastes.
I wasn’t at all upset, I just felt bad that I thought that way.

“It’ll be fine, Claire-sama.”
“?”

Rei gave me a reassuring whisper.

“Today’s sandwiches use mayonnaise, mustard, and the like.
I gave her some suggestions.”
“! Very nicely done!”

To think that I’d be able to have mayonnaise even while staying in the house of a commoner.
My Rei really was so attentive.

“Please, take a bite!”

Mel-san said that as she offered me one of the sandwiches.
Still a little wary, I took my first bite.

“! It’s delicious!”
“My, oh my, I’m so glad to hear!”

The mellow taste of mayonnaise and a tinge of mustard to accent the flavors.
I would certainly have no trouble eating this.

“This condiment, mayonnaise, it really is delicious isn’t it.
Rei-chan, is this what’s popular right now in the capital?”
“Yup.
A shop called Blume was the first one to use it.
Since then it’s become really popular among the nobles.”
“Is that so! To think you’d know of this condiment used in such high class cooking, Rei-chan, Claire-sama must have taken you to some pretty nice places.”
“Yup.”
“…? Have I?”

I had the feeling that Rei knew about mayonnaise far before I could’ve influenced her… Even as I pondered, I offered Relaire one of the sandwiches.
Perhaps this child too had developed a refined taste of her own.

“But wow, Claire-sama, you’re so adorable.
Is the swimsuit you’re wearing popular back in the capital too?”
“My swimsuit was made-to-order.
The cloth wrapped around my waist is called a pareo, and is at the forefront of the trends this year.”
“Ooh… Wonderful.”
“Mom, calm down.
If you let your bad habit get the better of you here, Claire-sama will be in big trouble.”

I panicked, embracing myself before carefully backing away.
Mel-san had a habit of unconsciously stripping the clothes right off of someone’s back.
Right now, I was only wearing a swimsuit.
If it was pulled off of me now, I would find myself in quite the situation.

“I know that… You’re so mean, Rei-chan.
That aside, Rei-chan, your swimsuit is… sigh…”
“Hey, could I ask that you refrain from sighing like that?”

When Mel-san sighed, Rei raised her voice in protest.

“The swimsuit aside, even though your mother is so well endowed, Rei, you’re…”
“Don’t say it, please, for the love of the Spirit.”

Despite what I said, my heart was actually beating so fast that I couldn’t look directly at Rei.
The only reason I said that was to hide my embarrassment.

“I’m still growing, I’m sure they’ll get bigger.”
“Well, do your best then.”
“Could you stop looking at me with that look of pity!?”

As we shared that playful exchange―

“Oh?”

Clouds suddenly covered the sun as a chill crept through the area.
Before I could realize it, the area around us was enveloped in a thick fog.
I could sense traces of magic within the mist.
Relaire wobbled and shook, as though afraid of something.

“!? Rei, look!”

I shouted to direct Rei’s attention.
Beyond the fog, just a little ways offshore, I could see a battered boat making its way toward us.

“Is that a… ghost… ship…?”

The words that Mel-san spilled in her surprise described the situation just as I saw it.