The Eye of the Storm
Hans let out a long, deep breath as he straightened his clothes in the first-floor hallway of Viscount Ludel's manor. The lingering heat from the intense service he'd just performed in the empty room still clung to his fingertips and lower back. The sensation of kneading Mari's firm backside, the scorching pressure of her mouth around him. Once he'd expelled every last drop of desire, his mind felt strangely, almost unnaturally clear. This was the so-called sage time. A state of absolute calm, liberated from all worldly worries and lust.
"Shall we?"
Mari walked ahead, leading the way. She had returned to her flawless, perfectly composed maid persona as if nothing had happened. She's a real pro. Hans thought with quiet admiration as he opened the drawing room door.
...
"Your Grace!"
Elise came running toward him with a bright smile. But then she paused.
"Oh my...?"
She stared at Hans's face. His eyes were calm and deep like a still lake, and his expression carried a weary detachment, as though he had seen through every trivial matter in the world. In truth, he was simply dazed from having every ounce of energy sucked out of him. But to Elise, whose vision was completely clouded by infatuation, it looked entirely different.
"Good heavens... that gaze..."
Elise clasped her hands together, trembling with excitement.
"It looks so cold, yet so lonely! Just like the eternal snows of the north... I knew I had chosen the right person! This is truly Your Grace's real self!"
Hearts practically floated in her eyes. Hans sat down on the sofa with an indifferent expression.
"Could I have another cup of tea, please?"
Even his voice was calm and measured.
"Yes, of course! Mari! What are you doing? Hurry and bring fresh tea!"
Elise fussed about in a fluster. Mari approached and poured tea into the cup. The fragrant steam rose gently from the red tea. As she tilted the teapot, Mari briefly met Hans's eyes. On her otherwise expressionless face, the corner of her mouth curved up by the tiniest fraction—just a single millimeter.
Feeling refreshed?
Her mocking little smile seemed to ask. After having thoroughly groped her ass and emptied his lust into her mouth just moments ago, the sight of him sitting there pretending to be refined was apparently quite amusing to her.
Hans flinched slightly as he picked up his teacup. She's terrifying... But strangely, he didn't dislike it. In fact, that duplicitous attitude of hers was oddly arousing.
"Now then, Your Grace. Shall we get serious about forming our contract?"
Elise once again thrust the scroll labeled Contract Romance Clauses toward him.
"Please sign here. A blood oath would be even better!"
"My lady," Hans set down his teacup and spoke with careful politeness. Thanks to the sage time buff, he was far more rational and decisive than usual. "I am not worthy of such a thing. My status and abilities are far too humble..."
"Oh my! Even playing hard to get is so attractive!"
Elise wasn't listening at all. Her perception was like a pair of glasses that changed the entire scenery every time the lenses were swapped. The fact that Hans was a commoner had long since become irrelevant. In her eyes, there was only the tragic Northern Grand Duke. Who knew what new persona she would slap onto him next.
"Then let me make you an offer you can't refuse! I'll buy the entire inn where Your Grace is staying and present it to you as a gift!"
"No, I just want to live a quiet, peaceful life..."
"As expected! The noble hermit who turns his back on all wealth and glory to enjoy a simple life! It's incredibly sexy!"
The conversation was going nowhere. Hans was just about to rub his forehead and sigh when—
Crash!
The sound of something shattering came from the entrance hall outside the drawing room.
"Out of the way! My man is in here!"
"I am on official duty! Clear the path!"
A chill ran down Hans's spine. Those familiar voices. The harpies from hell had arrived.
Thirty minutes earlier, in front of the Moonlight Shelter inn.
"Miss Masa, where has Hans gone?"
Karen, clad in her silver armor, asked Masa who was standing behind the counter. Beside her, Yuria—wearing an outrageously revealing outfit—looked around the inn with curious eyes.
Masa wiped a cup with a dishcloth and answered nonchalantly.
"I'm not sure. He left a while ago."
At that moment, the inn door opened and another woman entered.
"Hans is here, isn't he?"
It was Eila, dressed in her Adventurer's Guild uniform. After seeing Yuria's shamelessly provocative clothing, she had boldly flipped the Closed Today sign and followed along. The moment she stepped inside, she shot Masa a glare and snorted.
"Hmph. This place reeks of a cheap inn."
"Oh my, if it isn't the guild lady. What brings you to someone else's business in the middle of the day?"
Masa narrowed her eyes in response. The faint lavender scent coming from Eila was exactly the same one that had clung to Hans's neck earlier. Masa's eyes grew even sharper. Eila wrinkled her nose as well. The heavy, seductive rose perfume wafting from Masa was the exact unpleasant fragrance that had soaked into Hans's clothes.
"I heard there was a beast leaving bite marks all over someone else's property, so I came to see for myself," Eila said sharply, glaring at Masa.
"How vulgar to cover up the careful marks left by the owner with such sloppy perfume. You really have no class at all."
Masa curled her lips into a mocking smile and replied with perfect composure.
"Well, light scribbles like that tend to fade quickly. After all, males will run off unless you carve your name deep into their bones."
"That's obsession, not love. I doubt biting someone by force will ever let you possess their heart."
Crackle.
Invisible sparks flew between the two women. In the middle of that deadly atmosphere, the utterly clueless Karen stepped in.
"Ladies, please stop fighting and just tell me where Hans is. My friend needs to see him urgently."
"Oh my, Lady Knight."
Masa's eyes sparkled. Her mind spun quickly. Hans was currently at the lord's manor. But with her status, she couldn't enter freely. However, if she used this rigid knight woman... The daughter of the Winster ducal family and Chief of Security. With her leading the way, it would be a free pass.
"If you're looking for Hans... he went to the lord's residence. I believe Lady Elise called for him."
"The lord's manor?"
Karen nodded.
"Oh! Perfect timing. The lord asked me to strengthen security patrols. I'll go give my report while I'm there!"
"Then I'll come along as well," Eila said abruptly. "In the interest of guild cooperation... I'd like to meet with the lord."
"I'll guide you there too."
Masa tossed aside her apron and stepped out from behind the counter.
"It'll be less boring on the way."
And so, with Karen at the lead, followed by Yuria, Eila, and Masa, a bizarre procession of four women set off toward the manor in search of Hans.
...
On the way to the manor, Yuria observed this strange combination with great interest.
How amusing. Are the females establishing a pecking order over a single male?
Masa and Eila continued bickering nonstop as they walked.
"My goodness, Miss Eila. Isn't your skirt a bit too short? Your entire backside is practically on display."
"You should worry about those wrinkles, Miss Masa. Your makeup is cracking and it's all showing."
"Why you little—!"
Yuria chuckled and poked Karen in the side.
"Hey, that Hans guy. He must be pretty impressive, huh? Look at how these women are throwing themselves at him."
"Hm? Hans is an excellent warrior. He's an authority on turbid energy emission. It's only natural he'd be popular."
Karen nodded, interpreting her friend's words in a completely different sense.
At the manor's main gate, the guards took one look at Yuria's scandalous outfit and crossed their spears in alarm.
"Halt! Such attire that disrupts the dignity of the manor is not permi—"
"Stand aside!"
Karen thrust forward her Security Chief badge and barked.
"I am on official duty! This is a special patrol team for the lord's safety!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
The guards, overwhelmed by Karen's aura, quickly opened the way. Masa smiled with satisfaction as she naturally slipped in with the group.
Just as I thought. Thanks to the dense knight lady, we cleared the first hurdle.
Back in the present, inside the manor's drawing room.
The door burst open with a bang, and four women stormed in.
"Hans!"
At Karen's shout, Hans nearly dropped his teacup. Eila and Masa had arrived together—and with Karen, no less. And who was that provocative woman standing beside them? The gates of hell had clearly opened.
Yuria stepped forward gracefully. She lifted the hem of her skirt slightly and gave a refined noble greeting.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Yuria, from the Magic Tower's Third Research Lab."
Her crimson eyes scanned Hans like a hawk. Sunken eyes. Pale complexion. And the countless bite marks and kiss marks peeking out from above his shirt collar.
Bingo.
Yuria was certain.
That's him. The one who turned Karen into that state.
She approached Hans and politely extended her hand.
"So you're the rumored expert I've heard so much about?"
When Hans reflexively took her hand, Yuria lightly scratched his palm with her index finger.
Zap.
"Could we speak privately for a moment? I'd like to request some very personal research consultation."
Yuria winked and whispered. At that exact moment—
"No way!" (Eila)
"Who do you think you are?" (Masa)
"This man is my guest!" (Elise)
The three women's voices exploded simultaneously. In an instant, Hans was surrounded.
"Oh my! This gentleman is my fiancé—no, my contract romance partner! How rude to try and steal him without even waiting your turn!"
Elise snapped her fan shut with a sharp click and glared at Yuria.
"Hans and I already have plans for this evening," Masa said coldly, linking her arm tightly with Hans's right side. Her nails dug into his forearm.
"There's a backlog of guild work. I'll have to take him with me."
Eila slid up to Hans's left side and linked arms with him as well. Her generous chest pressed firmly against his arm.
Hans felt like he was suffocating. Trapped right in the middle of these terrifying women, cold sweat poured down his back.
"Um... everyone, please calm down..."
Clap, clap, clap.
At that moment, cold applause rang through the room.
"Just a moment. There seem to be far too many uninvited guests."
It was Maid Mari. With an icy expression that could freeze the air, she stepped forward and blocked Karen's group.
"What business do you have with my lady's tea party? You came without any prior appointment."
"Ah, I am here as Security Chief to deliver a patrol report to the lord..."
"Then please proceed to the office for official business."
Mari cut her off firmly.
"The lady is currently handling the lord's duties in his stead. If this is official business, that would be the appropriate place to go, wouldn't it?"
Karen fell silent like a mute who had swallowed honey.
"Ahem... understood. I'll be on my way then."
As Karen scratched her head and left, the other women who had lost their justification became visibly awkward. Mari glared at Yuria, Eila, and Masa in turn with a murderous look.
Get out.
Her eyes said everything.
"Tch. Don't forget about that research consultation."
Yuria winked at Hans before making her exit. Masa and Eila left lingering, devouring stares behind them as they reluctantly walked away.
Once the door closed, an uneasy sort of peace(?) returned to the drawing room.
"Kyaaaaah!"
Elise grabbed Hans's hand and screamed.
"Did you see that, Your Grace? The wicked, evil looks in those women's eyes!"
She trembled with overwhelming emotion.
"If I hadn't been here, those harpies would have torn Your Grace to shreds! I truly am your destined savior!"
"My lady, they were simply townspeople," Mari interjected coldly.
"No! They were clearly foreign spies targeting the Grand Duke! Mari, your vigilance is far too lacking!"
Elise shouted. She pressed her body against Hans, practically shoving her chest into him.
"This won't do, Your Grace! Those wicked women might be lying in ambush outside! Starting today, I will provide you with 24-hour close surveillance—no, protection!"
Jiggle.
Elise's breasts pressed against Hans's arm. But Hans felt absolutely nothing. Perhaps because Mari had just "handled" him so thoroughly, the defensive wall of sage time was ironclad.
"There, there, my lady. Why don't you sit down and calm yourself first?"
Thanks to Mari's mediation, the two returned to their seats facing each other on the sofa. Elise continued chattering excitedly without any sign of calming down, but Hans's gaze kept drifting elsewhere.
It was drawn to Mari's backside as she bent over the tea table to tidy up. The tight, perfectly rounded curve of her hips visible beneath the taut fabric of her maid uniform skirt.
Wow... that elasticity...
The firm, bouncy sensation he'd gripped with his hands earlier seemed to revive in his palms. As Hans unconsciously swallowed hard, Mari would instantly appear like a ghost whenever Elise leaned forward and threatened to reveal her cleavage, perfectly blocking the view with the teapot. Yet when she noticed that Hans's eyes were actually fixed on her own rear instead of her lady's, a faint smile spread across her lips.
If he's looking at me instead of the young lady... then I suppose this much is acceptable.
At that silent signal, Hans's face grew even hotter. Elise, mistaking his stiff silence for suppressed passion, cupped her own cheeks with both hands and stomped her feet in delight.
"This simply won't do, Your Grace! There are far too many watchful eyes here! To perfectly complete our contract, we need a more private location!"
Elise tugged desperately at Hans's sleeve.
"My bedroom has perfect magical wards. Let's go there!"
"My lady," Mari gently but firmly removed Elise's hand. "It seems your chastity is in far greater danger than any magical barrier. Besides, this gentleman is not your personal collectible."
"Mari! You just don't understand His Grace's value! This man is a precious being who will save the world..."
"Yes, yes. The world can be saved tomorrow. For today, why don't you just go to sleep?"
Mari gave Hans a push from behind.
"Dear guest, please leave before it gets any later. Before my lady says anything even more ridiculous."
Leaving behind Elise's disappointed cries, Hans followed Mari's guidance and escaped the drawing room.