It Seems That the Slave Girl Is Actually a Count's Daughter. - Episode 17: The New Wife Declaration

Episode 17: The New Wife Declaration 

This was my one and only encounter with Pamela. After that, I had no further connection with Count Reinach. 

And yet, how did things end up like this? 

Did Pamela see me as some kind of prince on a white horse? That’s a common trope in stories. But could it actually happen in real life? Well, technically speaking, I *am* a real prince. So it wouldn’t be entirely wrong……..… but surely, she couldn’t have figured that out… right? 

There were plenty of problems with Pamela’s statements. But one thing was clear—she was serious about wanting to belong to me. Even so, for a noble young lady of her age to say, “I want you to hold me,” was a bit much. Could this be a cultural difference? 

Unsure of how to respond, I decided to pat Pamela’s head for the time being. A temporary solution. The perfect example of a useless man. 

Sensing my cowardice, Shiro shot me a look that all but screamed, “Pathetic.” 

Still, my head-patting attack seemed to satisfy Pamela. And the rest of breakfast passed without further incident. 

Wait… but nothing actually got resolved, did it? 

She’s still planning to sleep in my bed, right? 

Don’t tell me… I was the one who got outmaneuvered here?! You tricked me, Pamela! 

With that thought lingering in my mind, I headed to the forest once again today, just like yesterday. It was for combat training and summoning magic practice. Unlike yesterday, Pamela didn’t throw up. Having already seen corpses, she was at least getting used to it—though she still looked queasy. 

It would take time to fully adapt. That was inevitable. 

After finishing some attack magic training, I decided to move on to summoning magic practice. But first, lunch. A simple meal of bread stuffed with meat and vegetables. 

After eating, we moved to a nearby meadow. Tiny white flowers bloomed all around. It created a small but soothing sanctuary. This seemed like a good place to focus on training. 

“I never imagined such a beautiful place existed within the forest,” 

Pamela said in wonder. 

“In a spot like this, we’d notice immediately if a monster appeared. So don’t worry, you can practice your magic here. Summoning magic requires focus and imagination.” 

“Focus and imagination…” 

Pamela repeated my words. Her brows were tightening with determination, lips pressed into a firm line. She was completely motivated. 

However, summoning magic isn’t something that works easily. It’s actually common for people to give up halfway. Even though it’s a magic anyone can use, few actually do. 

Despite that, I believed summoning magic was essential for Pamela. 

She had a slightly yandere side. But at her core, she was a kind girl. Even when attacking monsters with magic, I noticed that she always hesitated for a brief moment. She probably thought she was hiding it, but I didn’t miss it. 

She only needed enough self-defense ability to protect herself. After that, she could just ride a summoned beast and escape. If she could summon a Fenrir, not only would it be a great escape method, but its ferocity would also allow it to fight in her place. 

Even if Pamela hesitated to take a life, a Fenrir would have no such reservations when it came to protecting its master. 

While I harbored these calculating thoughts, Pamela earnestly practiced summoning magic over and over again. It was just as I had taught her. 

Perhaps that unwavering persistence was also necessary for mastering summoning magic. 

I taught Pamela every trick I knew. But as expected, she couldn’t master it in a single day. She slumped her shoulders, looking small and defeated. 

“You did well today. As a reward, let’s go out for dinner tonight.” 

“El-sama… I’d be happy with a home-cooked meal.” 

Pamela looked up at me with slightly clouded eyes. I wasn’t dense—I knew exactly what that meant. 

She was asking, in her own way, to cook together like always. 

“I see. Then let’s make dinner together. What should we cook tonight?” 

Pamela’s expression instantly brightened, like a flower blooming. Shiro nodded in agreement at our feet. 

Then, like a bouncing Horned Rabbit, Pamela leaped forward and clung to my arm. 

“Let’s have curry tonight!” 

“Got it. For the meat… let’s go with Wild Ox. Might as well make it special.” 

Wild Ox meat was considered a high-end ingredient among the affordable meats available to commoners. Because of that, hunting requests for Wild Ox were constantly posted at the Adventurers’ Guild. Recently, their numbers had declined so much that some groups were trying to breed them. That’s how rare and delicious their meat was. 

By the time we reached the market, the streetlights were already lit. But the bustling crowd showed no signs of slowing down. 

Hand in hand, Pamela and I walked through the streets. It was lined with fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and other foods.

There were so many people around. 

The official reason was, “If I were to get separated from Pamela, it would be a problem.” 

But in reality, I just wanted to hold her hand legally. 

Her small, soft, and warm hand firmly grasped mine. It was as if it was refusing to let go. 

“That store is where I always buy meat. They have a good selection.” 

“So, this is how meat is sold in commoner stores.” 

Various types of meat hung from the ceiling inside the shop. And Pamela watched with fascination. 

The last time we went shopping, it was at an upscale store catering to the wealthy. There, the meat was neatly arranged in small portions inside display cases. 

Maybe this was her first time seeing a store used by common folk up close. 

A valuable social experience, perhaps? Not many nobles get the chance to observe commoners’ lives firsthand. 

“I’ll take some Wild Ox meat.” 

“Oh! Mr. Ernest! Huh? Could it be… is the lady next to you your wife?” 

“Huh? No, it’s not like tha—” 

“Yes! Thank you for always taking care of my husband.” 

Before I could deny it, Pamela cut me off and gracefully performed a lady’s bow. 

Oi… so you’re not even trying to hide it anymore? 

“Well, well! A fine wife you have there, Mr. Ernest. You sure are lucky.” 

The shopkeeper smirked. He was stroking his chin as he eyed us. 

I had a bad feeling about this. By the time I came back here again, the whole neighborhood would probably be buzzing with gossip. 

To think she would secure her position in such an unexpected place… should I say as expected of her? 

The shopkeeper, saying it was a “wedding gift”, gave me a generous portion. It was much more than usual. 

It seemed, in his mind, our marriage was already a done deal. 

Hearing that, Pamela beamed with joy and let out an elegant, “Oh-hohohoho!” 

…Well, whatever.