Knowing about all this is fine and all… but Miranda herself should know about her abilities—especially her Mortal Sin (Greed) skill.
If she doesn't know its effects, then she'd become a danger to everyone around her.
"Miranda, listen…" I started, voice calm and flat. "It seems like after yesterday's ordeal, your skills have all increased in level, and you got two new—"
"So I can claim the promised lap pillow now, right, Master?"
"—skills. Wait, what…?"
This girl… what did she bring up at this moment?
But well, it's true I did promise her that. If she reached level 10 in Fencing, I would let her have a lap pillow as she slept… But that was just me trying to encourage her to level up and look after her. That's why the timing matched when the sleepless potion's effects faded.
There's no need for her to sleep now, right?
By the looks of it, she already got enough sleep… wait, no!
"No, listen to me first." I raised my hand, stopping her. "I need to tell you about your two new skills. Both unique."
Slowly, making sure she didn't miss anything, I explained her new skills. I emphasized Greed in particular, since it concerned not only her but everyone around her.
"That's…" Miranda's smile faded as she went stone-faced. "Does that mean… I can't be with Master…?"
Despair trembled in her voice, her hand shaking slightly.
Just looking at her hurt my chest enough that I tried to reassure her.
"It's not forbidden. You drain mana from others at 5% per minute. Natural recovery is 1% per minute, so you can stay by my side for about 25 minutes before I run dry," I explained.
Of course, that's the general average.
For me, my mana recovers at 2% per minute—twice normal. So I should last around half an hour in her presence. As for how a kid is doing complex math in preschool age... I blame the world for it.
"S-So… I can still stay by Master's side…?"
She asked with a faint smile, tears welling in her eyes.
I smiled and reached out to pat her head… but I was too short. So I grabbed her hand instead and patted it a few times.
"Of course. You're my slave. You'll be by my side for a long time, whether you like it or not."
Miranda's smile brightened as she wiped her tears.
"T-Then, I request the lap pillow reward now!" she said excitedly.
"I can be with Master, right? There shouldn't be any problem as long as we watch the time. Or is it that… Master hates me now…?"
"Urk…"
That's cheating…
With no other choice, I knelt on the head of my bed and patted my thigh. The roles should be reversed here… what the hell am I doing?
"Excuse me then, Master."
Without hesitation, Miranda dove onto my lap, face-down.
That's… not how you do the lap pillow I know... but whatever.
"(Ahh… this guilty pleasure… the fact that the world itself tries to pull me and Master apart… I love it…)"
"Hmmm?"
She seemed to be whispering something, but her breath tickling my lap and her muffled voice made it impossible to catch clearly.
"(Master… even if the world splits us apart, you'll forever be mine…!)"
"…"
Her tone sounded happy, so I guess it's fine?
Exactly 25 minutes after she entered my range, I pushed her away.
My mana wasn't zero, but it was down to around 10%. Dizziness and sleepiness hit me at once, like staying awake for a full day and the fatigue suddenly crashing in.
Ah, just to clarify—reaching 0 mana doesn't kill you.
At most, you faint.
But that's dangerous in battle; fainting there means you'd probably end up dead.
Miranda kept exactly five meters away from me, standing like a proper maid in waiting. Her smile was bright, and her cheeks looked smooth and soft—she was practically glowing.
Did I overdo the reward...? No, it should be normal...
After a few more exchanges and reminders about keeping distance from others, she left.
This matter, of course, was reported to Father, who relayed the details to the rest of the mansion. Only Father and the knights were told the other details—her unbelievably high stats for her age.
Not that it surprised the men.
After the dungeon exploration, the knights literally couldn't touch her anymore.
To make it worse, the passive mana absorption made them sluggish, causing them to show more openings than usual. Thanks to that, Miranda dominated them in spars.
Anyway, it had been two days since then.
I had healed well enough and was finally allowed to move around. Although I had already healed when I woke up… well, I guess this was Father's way of showing he worries.
"Miranda, what's my schedule today?"
"Yes, Master. You'll have breakfast in ten minutes at the hall, then head to town with Sir Viscount to inspect the water wheels. Then have lunch in the field…"
Since then, Miranda had adjusted well to her abilities.
She kept her distance depending on the occasion, trying to stay outside the mana drain's range when she could and should.
Her level of control was impeccable. Perfect distance adjustment.
Really… I have nothing left to teach her.
Not that I'm teaching her anything, anyway.
"I see…" I nodded after hearing my unexpectedly schedule. "Then let's head to the dining room." I smiled slightly.
"Yes, Master."
As a maid, she was perfect.
It was almost as if she had been born a maid, not someone doing the job for barely a week.
She opened doors, pulled chairs, cooled food, wiped my mouth—everything. I felt like an invalid with her handling everything for me except breathing and walking…
Is this how a real maid works?
"Rex, shall I feed you like when you were a baby~?"
"Bwuther, can you peel this fow me…"
"I heard you were hurt badly… looks fine to me."
While eating, Mother sometimes appealed to me. Of course, I tried to keep my dignity intact. If I let her, she'd treat me like a baby again. That's in no way acceptable now that I'm four.
Elisha's request was easy, so I did it for her. She could ask the maids, but she asked me… Really, my sister can't be this cute!
I felt something cold on my back for a moment, but... must be my imagination.
And lastly, Lady Kristal spoke while sipping after-meal tea.
Her dignified appearance, regal presence, and teasing smile were all enticing…
Wait.
Witch of the Black Forest, Kristal Lenners?!
Why is this granny here, sharing a meal with us like it's normal?!