The Horny Knight Craves a Real Lesson (1)
Today's lesson: When enjoying happy time, lock the door thoroughly.
"……cough."
Senya cleared her throat awkwardly, her face flushed as if she couldn't forget the embarrassing spectacle she'd witnessed because of my oversight. We'd already seen everything there was to see—what was there to be so shy about? Just as an inexplicable guilt started nagging at me, Martina patted my shoulder and spoke up.
"No need to feel too down about it, A. I wouldn't care even if it was someone else. Knowing you're still healthy is all I need~"
Ah, yes. What a tear-jerkingly gracious consolation.
Feeling a bit relieved by her words, I casually asked the two of them, "Anyway, what brings you here?"
"What kind of reason do you need to come see your man's face? We just heard you got a new place and came to celebrate the housewarming."
"I-I was worried about you after the match ended, so I stopped by to check on you. I ran into Lady Martina on the way……."
Was Martina's presence weighing on her that much? Senya stiffened up, glancing around nervously. Noticing it, Martina grilled her like an interrogator.
"What's with you? Why do you keep sneaking peeks at me?"
"N-No, it's not that. I just feel honored to be in the presence of one of Lady Renes's favored Three Knights……."
"Aha, so you're tense because I'm such a high-and-mighty figure?"
Martina smirked, her lips curling up wickedly. Realizing her usual mischief had kicked in, she scrutinized Senya's face point by point as she continued.
"Come to think of it, you've been the talk of the knight order too. Top talent among the newbies—they say with some experience, you'll be a candidate for the next Three Knights or something."
"Y-You're too kind. How could someone like me ever stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lady Martina……."
"Aw, don't hype me up like that~ We're not that far apart in age, and even if our ranks differ, we're both girls who fell for the same guy, right?"
With that, Martina slung an arm around Senya's shoulders, closing the distance. Her attitude carried a friendliness laced with clear affection toward me.
"You want to build a good relationship with A from now on too, don't you?"
"Th-That's……."
"Don't worry~ I'm not thinking of eliminating any competition. It's only natural for a charming guy like A to attract a crowd of women, and if we can't just give up our feelings that easily, wouldn't it be better to get along as friends than fight?"
Her words showcased a magnanimity as vast as her chest. Sensing something in them, Senya held her breath and stole a glance at me. After a moment, she turned back to Martina cautiously.
"Lady Martina…… do you truly care for Aid?"
"……."
Martina met Senya's trembling gaze in silence. As the quiet tension thickened and Senya shrank back, Martina chuckled and shared her thoughts.
"Yeah, I do. No matter how it happened, he's a man who won my heart in the end."
It might have been a bit embarrassing to say in front of the man himself. But Martina was bold. She openly expressed her feelings for me and, at the same time, affirmed the heart of the woman before her.
"What about you? It's only been a few days since you met A…… Can you confidently say your feelings aren't just a fling?"
"That's……."
Senya lowered her gaze, holding her breath. After sorting through her thoughts for a while, she finally responded to Martina.
"I thought it from the first moment I saw Aid. That he's a truly amazing man…… And if possible, I wanted to make him happy myself."
"Oho, love at first sight? Damn, you fell faster than I did—impressive!"
"F-Fell? That's…… urgh."
Senya clutched her burning-red face. Finding the reaction adorable, Martina laughed heartily, then turned her grin toward me.
"Not to brag, but you're something else. Seducing every woman you meet…… You're not some demon or anything, are you?"
"Demon?"
"They exist. Among them, there are these incubus types that seduce women and drain their essence……."
Martina narrowed her eyes, sizing me up. As her gaze started feeling a tad heavy, she chuckled and shook her head.
"Nah, couldn't be. Incubi are all scrawny, withered frauds anyway."
"Ah, I see."
I didn't know the details, but at least I hadn't been pegged as suspicious. What a relief. Just as I let out a light sigh, Martina glanced around the room in admiration.
"Speaking of which, this new place is seriously luxurious~ Bigger than where I live, and all these servants…… Wow, our A's climbing the ladder hard despite being a man~ Bet you'll outrank me someday."
"Who knows. Technically, everything here was given by the lord, so it's a stretch to call it truly mine."
Yeah, all this luxury was only possible under her wing. If I left her service or she decided I had no more use, she could snatch it away anytime. Naturally, I couldn't claim full ownership.
"……Yeah, true."
Martina muttered bitterly, as if realizing the same thing.
"Receiving the lord's attention isn't always a good thing."
"……Martina?"
"……."
Martina fell silent, lost in thought while eyeing the mansion's ornaments. The cheerfulness from before had vanished from her face, as if some unpleasant memory had surfaced. And it happened right when we'd mentioned Renes.
"Martina."
"Huh? Y-Yeah. What?"
Only responding after I called her again did she snap out of it. I asked her carefully.
"You got something bothering you?"
"B-Bothering me?"
"Your vibe's different from yesterday."
She'd given me her heart, and I'd given her mine. So if I could help, I wanted to. Her worries as one of the Three Knights probably weren't light, but if my strength could aid her even a little…….
"……No need to worry."
Maybe my concern touched her? Her expression softened, and she patted my shoulder encouragingly.
"Even if there's something, it's my problem to handle. Don't worry about me, A—just focus on prepping for your next match."
"……Alright then."
Yeah, if she didn't want to talk, better not to pry. As I thought that, Martina turned her back to me and headed for the door.
"Well, I've confirmed you're fine, so I'll head out."
"Already?"
"I'd love to spend another sticky night, but hilariously, I got an assignment with Helia. So I'll be out of the city for a bit."
"……That's a shame."
"Yeah, a real shame. Puts off our cozy time with Master until way later. Be-cause. Of. You!"
-Smack!!
Martina swung hard at Senya's ass as she passed by. Senya let out a yelp, and Martina laughed boisterously, shoving her back with force.
"Take good care of our A while Helia and I are gone. Got it?"
"Y-Yes, understood……."
Senya stammered a dazed reply to the sudden request. Satisfied, Martina grinned and slipped out the door into the mansion beyond.
The silence that followed her departure felt like the aftermath of a storm.
"……U-Um."
The heavy quiet seemed to weigh on Senya; she glanced at me with a flushed face and hesitantly spoke.
"I-I'll do my best. I don't know if someone like me can fill in for both of you……."
"No need to take it so seriously."
Anyone hearing her would think it was some grave duty. I gave a wry smile, feeling a pang of regret at the void Martina left behind.
"Kinda disappointing. Ideally, I'd have wanted to hang out with you both together, including you."
"Th-That's impossible! Just getting her approval for us is making my heart race—h-how could a lowly knight like me ever join her……."
"Lowly? Aren't you undervaluing yourself too much?"
"Undervaluing? No way. The feats the Three Knights have accomplished in this city are the stuff of history books."
Heroes of history, huh. If she put it like that, all three must be absolute legends by this world's standards. Ironic, considering I'd taken their virginities.
"By the way, she mentioned heading out on a mission with Lady Helia…… What could be so dangerous that two of the Three Knights are deploying?"
"……Who knows. They'll handle it fine."
What could we non-involved parties do by worrying? Putting aside concerns for her, I figured it was about time and got to the point with Senya.
"Anyway, Senya. Now that you're here, you're not just gonna leave like Martina, right?"
"U-Uh…… yeah."
Senya had come with our relationship in mind, no doubt. Realizing the moment for the main event had arrived, she placed a hand on her armor and asked timidly.
"Sh-Should I take it off now?"
"Yeah, I'll get ready too."
At least tonight wouldn't be lonely—small mercies. Of course, to avoid more interruptions from outsiders, I'd lock the door tight this time.
As I headed for the exit, a face suddenly poked through the door crack.
"Master, got a moment?"
"Gah?!"
Ekaterina's abrupt visit startled me into a yelp. Remembering I'd used her daughter juice before, guilt stirred in my chest. Surely she wasn't here to make an issue of that?
"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you……."
"No, it's fine. These things happen."
Good, she hadn't caught on about the daughter juice. Relieved, I asked her straight up.
"So, what's up?"
"After Lady Martina left, a new guest arrived. But this one……."
"……This one?"
This one? Using such a formal title—another VIP visitor?
"Found you."
I learned who it was when the intruder entered the room. Pink hair in twin tails. A childish animal onesie hugging her body, and a bear plush clutched in her arms…….
"L-Lady Petunia!?"
Senya gasped and bowed her head, but Petunia ignored her, striding right up to my face.
What the hell? Why was she here in pajamas? Was this revenge for yesterday's loss?
"You."
She growled menacingly at my wary expression.
"What did you do to my body?"
"……What?"
"Because of you……."
Petunia gripped her bear plush tightly amid my confusion. Then, her face flushing crimson, she cried out in resentment.
"Ever since our fight, my body's been heating up nonstop—I can't even sleep. What the hell did you do? How do I fix this?"
Hm, body heating up constantly. Did that mean she'd gone into heat after our intense clash yesterday?