Court physicians' days off are, in principle, once every ten days. The schedule may shift depending on whether it's a busy period or not.
It's the same for apprentice physicians.
And therein lies the problem.
For En'en, it was a most serious problem.
If you're wondering what that means— "Why is it that only you, my lady, have to go to work?"
"Because it's a rotation system."
"I would happily go to work."
"
Yō the court physician told you not to, so just accept it."
"
Maomao whose side are you on?"
"En'en's enthusiasm toward Yao is on a completely different level. More to the point—why am I being dragged here by En'en on my day off? Is this just so you can gripe at me?"
Maomao wore a puzzled expression. The place where En'en and Maomao were right now was Rahan's detached house.
Yō and En'en were renting a room there.
Since Maomao's day off happened to coincide, she had been summoned to the room. Or rather, she'd been dragged from the dormitory since early morning.
"I really don't want to stay at this house very much."
"Please rest assured. Lord Rakan has an unavoidable meeting scheduled for this afternoon. His aides will work hard to drag him to it, so he won't return until evening."
"How does En'en know a weirdo's schedule?"
"I've built a reasonably good relationship with the servants of this household."
Otherwise, she would have been thrown out of the estate long ago.
Maomao nibbled at the rice crackers served with tea, looking thoroughly annoyed. En'en knew that Maomao preferred salty things over sweets and liked a crisp texture. For tea as well, she favored the common, full-bodied variety over fine, high-grade leaves.
"So what reason did you have for calling me here?"
Maomao slouched back in her chair and crossed her legs. She'd be more careful doing this in front of Yao, but since Yao wasn't here today, she let herself sit however she pleased.
"I imagine someone as perceptive as Maomao can more or less guess."
"You picked a time when Yao isn't here, so it must involve Yao. And it's also related to moving out of the dormitory and into that weirdo's place."
"You understand quite well."
En'en took a sip of tea. The leaves were surprisingly flavorful for the price, lightly roasted with a pleasant, nutty aroma.
"Please save the young lady from"
Rahan's "evil clutches!"
"..."
Maomao's eyes were half-lidded and her mouth hung open like a fool.
"What's with that face?"
"Nothing at all..."
"In any case, the young lady is still young. She must be being led astray by Rahan in some way."
"Oh... yeah."
"Why do you look so distant?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Well, I hope so."
Maomao might not have much interest in the matter, but as Rahan's adopted sister, En'en wanted her to take responsibility anyway.
En'en was having regrets. She had always believed Rahan only had eyes for older widows. His appearance—curly hair and fox-like eyes—wasn't exactly ugly, but you couldn't call him handsome either. And on top of all that, he was shorter than Yao.
"Why on earth does my lady have feelings for a man like that?!"
"…So let me get this straight. Because of Yao's wishes, you keep coming up with excuses to stay in this mansion. You'd rather leave and put some distance between yourself and Rahan, but you can't defy Yao herself. So you're asking me to do something about it."
"That's exactly right!"
Maomao pulled a bothered expression.
"My lady is still young. It seems like some sort of passing infatuation."
"Doesn't it?"
"Otherwise, why would she fall for a short, curly-haired, fox-eyed man like that?"
En'en clenched her fists tight. Maomao appeared to be mulling something over.
"What is it? Do you have something to say?"
"No, if it's just a passing fancy then there's nothing to be done. But I've gathered that Yao isn't someone who judges people by their appearance."
"Of course not! My lady would never stoop to something as shallow as judging people by their looks!"
"…"
"What's with that pitying look?"
"Nothing at all. But then, if this is because she's seen Rahan's inner qualities, that does change things."
That was, admittedly, a fair point.
"To be honest, I think Rahan's inner self is a complete mess, though."
"I know, right? I can't imagine what my lady sees in him. And what's more, he's the type who coldly tries to kick me out, saying it isn't proper for an unmarried woman to live in this mansion. What a terrible person!"
"…"
"Maomao. What's with that look?"
"Nothing really. I was just thinking that when it comes to my lady, En'en will overlook any contradiction."
"The world revolves around my lady—there's nothing to be done about it. Just as the stars in the sky orbit the Big Dipper, so too do all people in this world revolve around my lady."
"En'en, that sort of talk would earn you a charge of lèse-majesté in the palace, so please keep it to yourself."
Maomao reached for another rice cracker.
"Still, Rahan really has nothing going on inside, does he?"
Maomao crunched on rice crackers while she thought.
"Because he only thinks about numbers. As long as he gets good results, it doesn't matter who the person is. But he does have a tendency to be picky about whether the path to get there is clean or messy."
"That's right. Rather than who the person is, he chooses based on results. In that respect, he may be similar to Rakan."
"Please don't bring up that eccentric's name so much? That said, he is certainly a meritocrat. He doesn't factor in connections to important people, seniority, or gender..."
Maomao made a slightly complicated face.
"In a sense, that might be close to Yao's ideal thinking."
"That's... that's not true at all!"
En'en denied it emphatically.
"There are far more suitable gentlemen for my lady, and for it to happen to be Rahan of all people—"
"So you at least intend to marry her off, then."
"We'll find her a husband. If he meets my standards."
"That'll never happen in a million years."
"That's not true at all!"
Just as En'en was about to explain her ideal image of Yao's future husband to Maomao, someone knocked on the door.
"Sorry, excuse me."
The one who came in was Number Four —a child who worked at the Rahan residence, very sharp and observant. Since Rahan didn't collect rent, Maomao gave the money to Number Four instead. He knew better than to try swindling Maomao, so he never embezzled.
"What is it? We have a guest, you know."
"I'm aware of that. I just thought now, while Lady Yao is away, would be the right time to speak with you."
"Now, while my lady is away, is the right time? What do you mean?"
"Lady En'en, Number Three wishes to see you."
"...Understood."
Enyen swallowed hard with a gulp.
Maomao picked up yet another senbei and, deciding that was just right, turned to leave. Enyen gripped her wrist tightly.
"Please tell them that both Enyen and Maomao wish to pay a visit."
Enyen beamed with a sweet smile, while Maomao bared her gums in an irritated grin.