Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

"Back already?" Ursula asked when she greeted Zach and Derot at the entrance to her annex. Zach nodded. Derot bowed until his upper body was parallel to the ground.

Zach's status might have been enough for Derot to enter the palace grounds without so much as a pat down. But it was not enough for him to dare think about acting without utmost respect in front of the Empress Dowager.

Ursula glanced at Derot and then looked at Zach and his cheeky smile. She sighed. Had he really dropped all formality just because she let slip her mask and acted friendly? She shook her head.

"It's getting late." Ursula turned around and started walking to the door of her palatial mansion.

Zach's smile faded, and his shoulders slumped in disappointment. It wasn't that late, and as a powerful summoner, the Empress Dowager shouldn't need to go to bed before the sun did, even if she were old. With a sigh, he and Derot, who didn't dare show any disappointment, turned around.

"...Where are you going?" Ursula asked, confused.

"Didn't you say it was getting late…?" Zach asked, also confused.

"Yes. So, come inside and have dinner with me. Rienne left, and I don't want to eat alone. Keep me company, and I'll hear you out." Ursula didn't waste another word as she turned around and entered her palace.

Zach gave Derot an excited look before hurrying after the lonely Empress Dowager. This time, Derot sighed, even if only to try and find the energy to handle the stress of sharing a personal meal with one of the most powerful people in the Empire.

He had mentally prepared himself for it, considering he had found Zach here earlier, but his preparations weren't enough. He had not expected Zach and the Empress Dowager to be on such friendly terms.

Derot did his best to recall as much of his etiquette lessons as possible while he trailed after Zach and the Empress Dowager to the dining room, where steaming hot food was already waiting for them.

This was the perfect opportunity to make a connection with the Imperial Palace for Derot and their guild. The only person more influential would be the Emperor and perhaps the Empress since they were still active in managing the capital, the Imperial Palace, and the Empire.

However, Derot couldn't relax enough to even taste the food he was eating, much less make idle conversation.

Just like it was a perfect opportunity to connect with the Imperial Palace, it was also the perfect place to get help with assisted suicide. One mistake and he might be sent to the dungeons or the afterlife for offending the Imperial Family and tarnishing their reputation or something, which would be tantamount to treason.

Derot did not have the confidence in himself or his etiquette to act at ease within the Empress Dowager's mansion.

Zach, on the other hand, had heard Ursula say there was no need for such formalities once earlier in the day. He took that literally. It would have been one thing if another member of the imperial family were present or if it were an official setting.

But right now, he was just chatting during dinner with someone who felt like an old friend from a past life with how much they had in common. Well, they had summoning and being born with the greatest of diamond spoons in common.

That was about it. However, their great love and enthusiasm for summoning was enough to triumph over any differences they might have. So, they talked about anything and everything related to summoning.

Like a young kid visiting his grandmother for the first time in a while, Zach told Ursula stories about his time at the Academy. He told her about how he had been the first-year representative and made an impact on his classmates and seniors at the time with a speech so moving that even the heartless principal was moved to tears.

He told her about how he had saved all of his classmates with excellent decision-making, tactics, resourcefulness, and strength during their first field trip. He told her about he guided his classmates to love and deepen their connections with their familiars and become better summoners as they worked together to overcome any of the hurdles the principal threw in their path.

Ursula didn't believe a word of it. Still, she listened attentively and smiled.

Listening to this rascal was a lot more entertaining than eating dinner alone. Her familiars could keep her company, but much like the principal's familiars, they weren't home that much. They were out in the world suppressing dangers to the Empire and farming levels. The maids and servants would never be comfortable enough to share an idle conversation with her, and Ursula didn't feel right making her grandchildren come to her annex just to keep her company.

In that way, Zach was perfect. He wasn't bothered by formality, he wasn't otherwise busy, and he was here because he wanted to. Like that, he naturally dragged her into conversation, and she ended up telling him about her time at the Academy and how the principal had been almost the exact same for as long as she had known him.

The only time he wasn't a heartless bitch wanting to stir up trouble for his students was during the breaks. During them, he disappeared into the depths of the Academy, letting the school and the Empire relax for a few months.

Zach was curious about what the principal did during that time, but Ursula didn't know any more than that.

After that, Ursula took the opportunity to introduce the various members of the Imperial Family to Zach so that he would have an easier time the next time he met one. She specifically made sure to bring up all of Rienne's good points. Derot's eyes flashed wide open during that conversation, but he didn't dare say anything in case he misunderstood.

But there could be only one reason why a member of the older generation would talk so highly of one of their descendants to a handsome, well-performing member of the younger generation of the opposite gender to said descendant. Continue your adventure at empire

Zach was oblivious.

And eventually, the food ran out.