Eyes Opened
I opened my eyes. It was a pleasurably refreshing awakening. My body felt refreshingly light, almost unnaturally so. I could have dashed straight to the academy training grounds and swung my sword around right then and there.
The time was 6 a.m. Early morning. I rose from bed. It was about time for the mansion's servants to start arriving and bustling about.
I slipped out of bed and stretched my stiff neck. I had to quickly erase the traces from last night. I yanked back the white silk curtains and flung open the large glass window. Rosalía's distinctive sweet rose body scent, thick in the room, mixed with the pungent, fishy smell of semen that hit like a wave, dissipating into the morning air beyond the window.
"......? What's this now."
I was in the middle of roughly straightening the rumpled bedsheets when I spotted it. Tucked into the corner of the bed, in the gap between the pillows, was a small, thin scrap of fabric.
A lace panty adorned with a cute blue ribbon. From the circumstances, it was obvious Rosalía had left it there on purpose.
I reached out and picked up the panty. As I lightly unfolded the fabric, I saw that the inner lining—the part that would touch her pussy directly—was crusted with sticky, dried semen. A trace of her, soaked full of Descartes's cock juices.
"Haa...."
A dry sigh escaped me involuntarily. That's when it happened.
The door burst open with a cheerful voice.
"Ack!"
I hurriedly balled up the panty in my hand and chucked it into the luxurious engraved wardrobe behind me with a thunk.
Scratching my cheek, I turned around.
"Haa... Miel. Is the knock just for show?"
Instead of answering my complaint, she gave a faint smile. The early morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her refined face. My maid, like a pure flower blooming early every day.
"Oh my."
Miel covered her mouth with her dainty hands in exaggerated surprise. Her green eyes widened round.
"The young master who always sleeps in till late, up at this early hour......"
"What."
"Maybe a wyvern pack is about to attack the central square today. I should prepare for evacuation."
Hehe. She quietly pressed her clenched fist to her mouth and giggled. Teasing full of mischief from the morning.
I flopped straight onto the bed and rolled around. Propping my chin on the pillow, I smirked slyly at her.
"Can't you leave me alone on weekends? I could've sworn I told you not to wake me."
"Oh my."
"You get paid way more than the other servants around here, too. My words don't mean anything to you right now, huh?"
Miel clasped her hands neatly and approached with light steps.
"The one who hired me and pays me isn't you, young master—it's your father back home. Baron Mercié."
"Hitting me with the main family excuse, huh?"
"Besides, I run this Mercié Baron Mansion in the imperial capital. There's no corner of this place my hands don't touch. Hehe."
She was on fire with comebacks today.
"Considering you rolled around in your room all day yesterday, I came to wake you extra early today as a special service?"
Miel put her hands on her hips and let out a deep sigh.
"Please, get out of the house already! I'm worried you'll turn into a lazy slob if you keep this up... This Miel swallows her tears in secret, fretting over your future."
She even pretended to dab at her eyes with a pitiful gesture. It was all a ploy to chase me out of the room. Mom-level nagging about going outside, meeting people, getting some sun.
"I'm scared you'll end up like that troublemaking tyrant miss back home...... Sniff."
Kaile. Even bringing up that shortstack psycho little sister's name. Time to change the subject fast.
"Agh, fine. I surrender. Just bring breakfast, Miel."
"Ah, ahem. Yes. I'll prepare it right away."
She dropped the teasing as if it had never happened, switching back to her professional maid face.
A moment later, she wheeled in a silver tray from outside and set breakfast on the side table.
"For this morning's breakfast, fresh herbs just picked from the garden..."
I munched on bread while half-listening to her usual pre-meal briefing. My thoughts wandered.
This place, the Mercié Baron Mansion. Truth be told, this house was a villa and branch office my father bought for expanding the underwear business in the capital. It was modestly sized, with Miel as the head maid and manager overseeing everything. It should have been for the heir to the merchant house, but right now, I—a Rugria Academy student—had pretty much taken it over.
Inherit the family business or not, it's our house anyway.
Just attending the academy meant I could return to the territory in glory later. My parents' allowance and support were generous. Plus, I'd already cleared pretty much all the strict conditions they set.
Join an official imperial knight order? Vice-captain position? With my skills, direct promotion to vice-captain after graduation wouldn't be impossible. I was the guy who smashed that 'Ice Rose' prodigy knight from the original story. My strength was the real deal. Worst case, I could kneel to Rosalía's brother and cash in on connections.
Marry an earl-rank or higher lady as the official wife? Already solved. The lady I'd bring home was the daughter of a border count. The legendary Bloomhardt house, who single-handedly repelled the Rahman Empire. Even my haughty, cold mother back home would jump for joy at the news.
The only headache was that psycho sister holed up at the main house, Kaile. Word was, the little nutjob was still refusing merchant heir classes, throwing tantrums daily. Apparently calling my name in protests all the time.
If she held out like that, the incompetent lump would automatically inherit by default. Barely an adult, still chomping candy and rolling on the floor—low-IQ vibes. That thing coming to the capital to live with me?
A headache was already brewing. I'd gotten letters saying she was hitting puberty, acting like a horny stud, sexually harassing the maids back home and causing endless trouble.
Yeah, Kaile. Let's see how long you can hold out.
Once she sees the family troublemaker gnaw through the merchant finances, even that nut would tuck tail and crawl to the capital on her own.
If she's got the guts, she should grind swordsmanship like me and get into the academy. Oh wait, her head's pretty good. Magic academy entrance exams got way harder, though. Whatever.
I scarfed down breakfast and sprawled out starfish-style on the bed again. Miel, clearing the plates, looked like she was about to nag but clamped her mouth shut.
As she went to wheel out the tray, she glanced at me sidelong, hesitantly speaking up.
"Um, young master......"
"What."
"What about your morning bath assistance today......?"
Her refined cheeks flushed red as an apple. Eyes downcast modestly, peeking at me as she asked.
"Nah... I'll wash alone again today."
"Ah......"
At my answer, Miel's face visibly fell. Like a joy in life had vanished. Her shoulders slumped obviously.
"Yes. Alone again today...... Understood."
She forced a bitter smile and left the room. Watching her dejected back, a slight pang hit my chest, but it couldn't be helped.
Haa... How do I even show her this.
Explaining why my dick was ruined was a headache, and it'd hurt my pride. Better to just skip it. At first, bath assistance embarrassed me when I possessed this body, but I got used to it and kept it up. Lately, it felt like my quality of life had tanked.
Once Miel was fully gone, I buried my head deep in the pillow. Then quietly reached into empty air. I opened Rosalía's status window.
Ding. A translucent hologram window floated in the air.