I, Reincarnate as the Leader of the Villainous Knight Order - Chapter 162: New Residence

Chapter 162: New Residence  

Three intense months have passed since the subjugation of the Evil God.  

It was officially announced to the public that Ernest had abdicated his position as Crown Prince. And his younger brother, the Second Prince Lancelot, had undergone the Crown Prince’s Investiture Ceremony, formally assuming the role.  

Representatives from allied nations attended the ceremony. And during that time, arrangements were also finalized for the marriage of Clarisse, the Third Princess and Ernest’s younger sister.  

The destination of her marriage is the Kingdom of Eldrasia. It was a country known for its flourishing magic, warmer climate compared to here, and as a source of imported spices.  

Before the wedding, she would enter the country to learn about their culture and etiquette. Preparations for this were progressing steadily.  

As part of these preparations, I was given a mansion in the royal capital.  

—

“Justiiiiiiin! Annabella is here!”  

“I’ll be right there. Thanks, Jest.”  

“Okay! I’ll go tell Annabella that you’re coming right away!”  

Although the mansion was granted to me by His Majesty, since my destination had not been determined due to divine prophecy, I was assigned as one of the escorts for the Third Princess’s marriage procession.  

Because of this, to avoid having the residence remain without a master, Annabella would be living here as the lady of the house starting today—before our wedding.  

Since the entourage would be leaving for the marriage procession tomorrow, we were practically switching places.  

Fortunately, the royal family had arranged for servants. So the transition should go smoothly.  

When I moved from the dormitory to this mansion about two and a half months ago, Jest and Jeanne also joined me via teleportation.  

They are highly capable individuals who wouldn’t be fazed by working in a mansion that houses a dragon. So I have no concerns.  

As I made my way from my room to the entrance, Jest, Jeanne, the steward, and the head maid were already welcoming Annabella.  

“I never expected the chief chamberlain to be here! But this is very reassuring.”  

“Hehe, that won’t do, Lady Annabella. From now on, you will be the mistress of this house. You must address me as Head Maid or simply Manuela.”  

“Ugh… You’re right… No, I mean, yes, you’re right. Oh—Lord Justin!”  

Noticing me, Annabella’s face lit up with a joyful smile.  

“Welcome, Annabella. I look forward to working with you. By the way, do you know the Head Maid?”  

“Yes! She was the chief chamberlain when I was an apprentice. She retired when I became a full-fledged maid, but she took great care of me.”  

“I see. I’m sorry to leave the mansion’s management to you so suddenly. But having a familiar face should make things easier. Knowing Their Majesties, they probably considered that when selecting the staff.”  

I glanced at the steward and the head maid, and their amused smiles suggested my guess was correct.  

It turns out they are husband and wife. And it seems arrangements were made so they could stay together.  

They’re both in their late fifties. So as long as the workplace isn’t as demanding as the royal castle, they can still serve actively.  

“I’ve set up a basic management system for the mansion, but feel free to adjust it as needed. For now, let me show you to your room.”  

“I’m coming too~!”  

“I shall return to Kuro’s domain now. If anything arises, summon me through telepathic communication.”  

“Understood.”  

Over the past two and a half months, Jeanne and Jest have occasionally returned to the nest near the Dwarven settlement.  

Apparently, the ancient dragon Kuro had settled there. He demanded they visit from time to time.  

Despite having always lived freely and capriciously, during the time he was being drained by the Evil God, he realized just how important Jeanne and Jest were to him.  

Because of that, while he is grateful to me, he also resents me for being the reason they are away from him.  

However, since their occasional visits seem to keep him in good spirits, I suppose it’s fine.  

After Jeanne left, Jest and I guided Annabella to her room.  

“Wow… It’s beautiful…!”  

“I’m glad you like it. All the furniture was a gift from Lord Ernest and Lady Diane. *Ahem*… The master bedroom is also prepared. But for now, since we are only engaged… we will… uh, not use the same room…”  

“Eh!? Ah, y-yes, that’s right…!”  

She agreed. But her gaze was cast downward, avoiding eye contact.  

Ugh, this is awkward…!  

But if we do end up getting married, naturally, that means… well…  

“Justin, what’s wrong? Your face is all red!”

Jest peered into my face and tilted his head. 

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” 

As Jest continued to stare at me, I covered his eyes with one hand and lifted my gaze—only to lock eyes with Annabella, whose face was just as red as mine. 

This is a fake engagement. This is just a fake engagement… 

I kept repeating it to myself, trying to calm my shaken heart. 

“How should I put it… When people around us make a fuss, it gets a little embarrassing. I’m sure your friends have been saying things to you as well, right, Annabella?” 

“Y-Yes! Just yesterday, my close maid friends gave me a nightg—h-huh!? N-Never mind, it’s nothing!” 

“……” 

“……” 

Just as the awkwardness peaked, a knock echoed through the room. 

“Pardon the interruption. May we bring in your belongings?” 

“P-Please do!” 

Clearly flustered, Annabella’s voice rose slightly as she answered the steward’s words from the other side of the door. 

Tadeus, the steward, glanced at our still slightly flushed faces. He gave us a knowing, amused smile. 

What’s with that nod!? 

“Then, please bring the items in. Lord Jest, I apologize, but some of the luggage is rather heavy. Would you mind lending a hand?” 

“Sure! Got it!” 

After giving instructions to the servants carrying the luggage, Tadeus led Jest away. He knew full well how strong he was as a dragon. 

As he left the room, he even winked at me. 

You really didn’t need to be that considerate, okay!?