Puck grinned mischievously from Emilia's shoulder.
"But it calls you Master, so Grin-kun is obviously the real mastermind."
Emilia froze.
Then, the moment she realized it was her stockings that had been stolen, shame and indignation rose all at once.
"Grin… y-you… you were a pervert? That's awful…"
With that, Emilia turned and stormed off, each step striking the floor with a sharp series of clacks.
The footsteps faded into the distance.
Then, less than ten seconds later—
Tap tap tap.
Emilia came back, snatched up her stockings, and turned right around again, disappearing down the corridor without another word.
Silence dropped over the hall.
You could have heard a pin fall.
"Master, I happen to have urgent business elsewhere, so I'll be taking my leave now. No need to wait for me at lunch—"
"Prepare to die!"
Grin sprang into the air and launched a flying kick straight at the magic mirror.
"Ah! Help!"
The mirror scrambled away with both sides of its face covered, fleeing while crying loudly.
"Waaaaah! Of all the misfortunes in the world, why did I have to end up with a super-male Master like you?!"
"Stop right there! I, Grin, swear I'll carve the word 'dog' across your face!"
Grin accelerated after it, chasing the mirror through the corridor without mercy.
"I was wrong! I know I was wrong, Master!"
"You know nothing! You only know you're dead!"
One man and one mirror tore through the hallway at astonishing speed.
But after about ten minutes of pursuit, Grin's body began to give out.
He had only just recovered, and even a little strenuous movement left him weak.
Bent over with both hands on his knees, he panted heavily, feeling the strain all through his body.
"You little bastard… you fly pretty fast, huh… whew…"
The magic mirror hid around the corner, only half its body peeking out as it secretly watched him.
"Master, you really must take care of your health. Otherwise, it may lead to the death of both mother and child."
"Oh? And why should I care?"
Grin straightened slowly.
Then he realized something.
This magic mirror seemed to be bound to him.
He raised his right hand and silently invoked the mirror's summoning.
Buzz—
A ripple of mana spread out, and the magic mirror's body distorted before flashing straight into Grin's hand.
The mirror blinked and immediately changed its tone.
"M-Master… if I told you everything just now was actually my cousin's doing, would you believe me?"
Grin was furious.
Today, no matter what, he was going to teach this troublemaker a lesson.
"I've tolerated you for long enough, magic mirror. Just wait until I find a carving knife."
"Master, give me one more chance! Just one last chance! Did you take a liking to that girl from earlier? I still have another trick—I can hypnotize her!"
"I've decided I'm adding the word 'bitch' next to 'dog' on your face!"
Grin felt as though he had been handed more wood for the fire.
This mirror truly deserved its role as a villain's prop.
He was usually the one who drove other people mad.
But this thing managed to push him halfway there every single time.
Just as Grin was searching around for something sharp, Ram and Rem appeared from around the bend in the corridor.
Before they even reached him, Ram's unimpressed voice arrived first.
"Grin, please try not to wander the mansion at random, alright? Ram was starting to think you had fled after committing your crimes."
Rem gave a slight bow.
"It is time for lunch, honored guest. Roswaal-sama wishes to see you at the table."
Grin glanced at the trembling magic mirror in his hand and said viciously,
"Count yourself lucky. I'm remembering this debt."
Then he put the mirror away and followed Ram and Rem toward the dining hall.
The dining room in Roswaal's mansion was both the most public and the most restrained space in the entire noble residence.
It was on the first floor of the main building.
And the moment one entered, the first thing that drew the eye was the enormous walnut dining table stretching across nearly two-thirds of the room.
At the head sat Roswaal L. Mathers, still dressed in that unmistakable clown-like makeup.
Emilia sat in the first seat to Roswaal's right.
Because of what had happened earlier, she refused to look at Grin and instead lowered her head, drinking tea beside Puck.
Her chair back was half a hand taller than the others, but it had no armrests, symbolizing that she was a prospective master of the house, but not yet its true owner.
Beneath the edge of the tablecloth in front of her, silver embroidery spread into the shape of a snowflake.
And whenever she reached for her cup, it looked almost as if a crown of silver thread were rising toward her forehead.
"Oh my~ I've been looking forward to meeting you for quite some time, Lord Grin Andersen!"
The banquet began with Roswaal's eerie, lilting accent.
"I have long admired you as well, Roswaal."
Grin's expression turned serious.
From the moment he woke up in the Mathers mansion, he had already expected this scene.
Once Elsa the Bowel Hunter returned, she would almost certainly pass all the information she had gathered to Roswaal.
The clown was unlikely to strike openly for now.
But covert methods were another matter entirely.
Otto was there too, sitting at the far end with knife and fork in hand, already looking eagerly at the meal.
"Grin, over here, over here! Count Roswaal is such a kind man. We're having a feast today!"
"What a kind man…"
Grin was speechless.
For the time being, he had no better options.
And more importantly, he needed to find some way to get Otto out of Mathers territory as soon as possible, or that idiot really might die young.
"Please, take a seat, Grin-kun."
Roswaal gestured for him to sit beside Emilia.
Tap tap tap.
The sound of little leather shoes rang across the floor, and the proud Lady Beatrice made her entrance.
"Even Beatrice, the Great Spirit who rarely appears before ordinary guests, has come to dine today~ After so long, does this mean she finally wishes to accompany me at table~?"
Roswaal greeted her with a smile and gestured for Ram to pull out Beatrice's usual chair enough for her to climb up comfortably.
"You delusional fool. The stupidity in this room is practically spilling out through the windowsill. Betty only came here to keep Brother company, I suppose."
Beatrice's seat lay first to Roswaal's left, directly mirroring Emilia's place on the opposite side.
But unlike Emilia's, Beatrice's was a child-sized high stool, with two thick padded books stacked beneath her as boosters.
Puck soon floated over to her side as well, sharing in the quiet little comfort of the moment.
"Well now~ Betty really is clingy with her elder brother. As her older brother, I am delighted, though I still hope you will grow up a little more."
Once all the guests were seated, Roswaal clapped his hands and instructed the two maids to begin serving.
Under the rising aroma of the dishes, even the tense air in the room gradually eased.
Thin slices of venison seasoned with forest mint.
Golden potato cream soup rich with the scent of milk wine.
And as the main course, deep-fried trout with a crisp crust, its aroma from dragon-breath oil seizing control of the entire table the moment it appeared.
Dish after dish was laid out until the whole spread became dazzling to look at.
Grin could barely take it all in.
He drew a deep breath, and the scents of the feast rushed straight into his chest with almost heroic force.
At that point, who cared about hidden schemes or looming danger?
Grin casually adjusted his collar and said with solemn seriousness,
"Since it's come to this… let's eat first."