Published: September 2, 2025
This is from the perspective of my colleague, Lirio, not Zena-san.
Correction made on 8/16.
I could hear the clinking sound of equipment being prepared.
Ugh, is the break already over?
Since the meticulous Iona hasn't woken me up yet, it seems I still have some time. I'll enjoy this drowsiness a little longer.
“Ugh! Ah!”
What are you doing to an innocent, beautiful girl?
I pushed away the chain mail that was suddenly placed on my stomach and sat up.
“Hey, Luu. Could you wake me up a little more gently?”
I complained, assuming the culprit was Luu.
There’s no way Iona or Zena would do such a thing.
“Just get up quickly. If you don’t, we’ll have no time left to eat.”
What!? That’s unacceptable!
I quickly got up and went to wash my face. Using a ladle was a hassle, so I scooped water directly from the water jar into the basin. If Iona or Zena caught me, I’d get a scolding.
“What’s on the menu today?”
“Rye bread and stew.”
“Eh~, sometimes I wish they’d add some goat meat steak or something.”
“What are you being so spoiled for? Even captain-level soldiers don’t get that.”
While wiping my face with my favorite towel, we chatted.
“Maybe if I became a noble lord’s concubine, I could eat that every day~?”
“Nowadays, noble lords are tough to deal with, so even if you become a concubine, I doubt there’d be much benefit.”
Iona’s so pessimistic—even though she’s a branch of the baron family. If that’s her opinion, then marrying into wealth loses its charm.
I threw off the knee-length nightshirt on the bed and took out my underwear and armor undergarments from my shelf.
“Hey, Lirio. Don’t show your dirty butt.”
“How rude~ It’s such a cute butt.”
Luu really shouldn’t be looking.
I’m not some exhibitionist, so I put on my underwear. The top is a short shirt. Luu and Iona wear chest bands. Unfortunately, those aren’t really necessary for me or Zena.
Of course, for dates, I wear a chest band with cute embroidery—but that’s meant to be untied by my lover. Wearing one under armor that I layer on top would just twist and hurt.
I finally finished putting on the chain mail and was slipping into my sturdy leather boots reinforced with metal when Zena came in.
Oh, so cute.
If I’m not mistaken, she’s wearing Iona’s clothes, but it’s a glamorous outfit with abundant frills as its charm point. I think she bragged about saving for over half a year to buy that special outfit.
Seriously, everyone is so indulgent with Zena.
I thought she’d finished changing long ago and was already saving a seat at the dining hall, but maybe not.
“Zena, were you on a date with that boy?”
“D-Don't say that! I just went to talk with him because I was worried.”
I think that counts as a date.
Still, considering her working conditions that could lead to death from overwork, going to see her lover barely sleeping is admirable, or perhaps just earnest.
“Lirio, you’re stalling. If you don’t finish changing soon, you might really miss the meal.”
“All right, all right.”
Iona scolded me as I continued changing.
Zena carefully folded her pink stole and placed it on the bed.
Oh? Isn’t that the new color from the Pinen clothing shop on Central Road?
Zena is a noble, but daughters from the warrior clan like her can’t afford such luxuries.
“Zena, where did that stole come from? Is it a gift from the boy?”
“Ehehe~”
Whoa, Zena’s face is all lovestruck.
“Satou-san bought it for me. It’s from Pinen’s shop, like Lirio mentioned before.”
Wow, that boy is impressive. I think even the cheapest ones there cost two or three silver coins.
Is he the foolish son of some big merchant family? I hope Zena isn’t being played.
I let her slide the chest padding off quietly when she took off her clothes. It’s a date, after all, so a little vanity as a woman is necessary.
“Zena-san, you should get changed quickly too. You probably won’t make it in time for the meal, so should we have them prepare something to put inside the bread for you?”