Chapter 138: I’m Clearly the Master of This House, So Why...!?
Chapter 138: I’m Clearly the Master of This House, So Why...!?
“Thank you for inviting me, Lord.”
Commoner 6.9 offered a very polite greeting, dressed in attire that was far from what one would expect of a commoner.
Looking at that alone, there wasn't much to find fault with. In fact, he was remarkably well-mannered for a commoner.
The problem was...
“There’s no need to bow so deeply, Mr. 6.9♡”
It was Countess Bern, who was currently clinging to the commoner’s arm.
“Khu-hu-hu-um...!!”
The moment the Head of House saw this, his mood soured.
He let out a loud, forced cough before finally speaking.
“I... It is a pleasure to meet you. However...”
The Head of House glanced back and forth between the commoner and his own wife.
“Aren’t you two a bit too close? You have been since a moment ago.”
“We are simply maintaining an informal distance, Lord.”
“Kh... Still, shouldn't one observe proper formalities in a setting like this...?”
It was a timid rebellion.
The reason a formal banquet was important was because it was overflowing with etiquette and protocols that had to be observed.
If you failed to follow even one, you’d be ridiculed for being unfit as a noble or lacking manners.
In other words, it was a place to test whether a person was worthy of standing on the same level as oneself.
No matter how much of a commoner the opponent was, there were still formalities to be kept.
The Head of House believed that if he used that as a pretext to attack, even that commoner wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
But the commoner seemed to scoff at the thought.
No, he actually laughed openly and said, “Well, isn't it fine? The Countess gave her permission. Right?”
“...Yes♡ Mr. Commoner♡”
“Khu-uu-ut...!”
The Head of House gripped his spoon tightly out of sight.
Of course, he was too weak for it to break or even bend.
The man spoke casually to his wife as if they were close, while his wife used honorifics back to him.
Of course, his wife used honorifics with the Head of House as well... but it wasn't a tone that carried any real respect.
If anything, it was closer to a commanding tone.
But his wife’s voice right now—wasn't it practically dripping with love...!
“Ma... No, Mr. Commoner. Please, take a seat over here.”
“Ah. Thanks, Angelica.”
‘Even Angelica...!’
His daughter, Angelica, dressed in that lewd outfit, pulled out the chair for the commoner.
The commoner sat down comfortably as if it were only natural.
That was a job for a maid.
To think she was serving a man as if she were a common servant.
Furthermore, she hadn't even pulled out a chair for her own mother, whom she respected so much.
Bern simply pulled out her own chair and sat down.
Her position was, naturally, right next to the commoner.
And it was... within arm's reach.
The chairs in the banquet hall were large and the spaces wide; normally, everyone sat far enough apart so as not to interfere with each other while eating.
But right now, the commoner and his wife were... sitting so unnaturally close that the placement of the plates looked awkward.
“Look at this. It’s wonderful food, Mr. Commoner. I took great care in preparing it.”
“There are many dishes I’ve never seen before. You must have worked hard to prepare this.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural if it’s for you, Mr. Commoner♡”
On the table were dishes that even the Head of House, a noble, had never seen before.
His wife, who had never served him such food in his entire life, had specially prepared this for a commoner...?
From start to finish, it was a banquet he despised.
He was clearly the one who invited the guest in his own name, and it was a banquet he had hosted...!
“K-Khem... Well then, let us begin the meal.”
With the Head of House’s word, the meal began.
Clink. Clink.
The sound of cutlery and forks echoed, and the maids moved busily, bringing out the food.
Normally, this would be where nobles discussed social affairs or politics...
But he had no idea what kind of conversation he was supposed to have with a commoner.
While cutting into his steak, the Head of House stole a glance at the commoner.
“Nom nom nom...”
He was a total thug who had tossed refinement to the dogs.
Since he had even gotten a tan from playing at the beach earlier, he looked like a textbook tanned delinquent.
If his hair had been blonde, he’d be the perfect image of an NTR thug.
‘His table manners are a total disaster.’
He wasn't a hunter, yet he hacked at the steak roughly with his knife and shoved it into his mouth.
It was a messy meal, to the point where sauce got on his cheek.
‘Hmph... A commoner is a commoner after all.’
What noblewoman would ever like a thug like that?
In noble society, manners and etiquette were the absolute basics.
These manners were so important that a young lady would be justified in standing up and walking out of a marriage meeting if the angle of a man's knife-work was slightly off.
Surely, his wife would lose all interest once she saw such a display—
“Mr. Commoner. You have some sauce on your cheek.”
As expected. She must be looking at him with contempt, right?
Or so he thought, but he was wrong.
Swipe, swipe.
His wife, a noblewoman, was carefully wiping the commoner’s cheek with a napkin.
“Ah. Thanks.”
“You’re very welcome. Hehe...”
“.......”
What the hell are you doing in front of me!
He desperately wanted to scream it out, but he endured and endured again.
He couldn't lose his temper in such an important setting.
He turned his gaze toward his daughter instead.
His lovely daughter would surely be eating gracefully while observing noble etiquette... where did she go?
Angelica was nowhere to be seen in her seat.
He whipped his head around to look for her and found her standing right next to the commoner.
“Mr. Commoner. Please try this as well. I will scoop some for you.”
Before he knew it, Angelica was standing beside the commoner with a bowl of soup.
She was scooping the food with a spoon and feeding it to him.
“Say ahh~”
“H-How... does it taste?”
“It tastes excellent.”
“Really...? I... cooked it myself for you, Mr. Commoner.”
“Oh. Seriously?”
...Angelica. Cooked...!?
The Head of House couldn't believe his ears.
Cooking.
His Angelica, who had been raised and trained as a female knight her entire life. Cooking...!
And to think she was acting like a submissive female, feeding a man food she had made herself...!!
Tremble, tremble...
The Head of House’s arms shook; he could no longer contain his rage.
“Dear. Could you stop shaking your arm? The table has been vibrating for a while now.”
His wife’s voice reached him.
From beside the commoner, she glared at him like a parent asking, ‘Did you hit my kid?’
“What are you doing, being so rude? Hmm?”
“I-I’m sorry...”
Son of a bitch...!
That commoner was stuffing his face without a shred of etiquette.
And he was doing it with the man's own wife and daughter flanking him on both sides...!
Yet he was the one who had to strictly follow the rules and eat with solemnity...!
He ate while barely holding back the curses and the urge to flip the table.
He couldn't even tell if the steak entering his mouth was meat or filth.
“Lord Pedeia.”
“Hmm?”
When he looked up, Lisa was speaking to him.
His daughter’s close friend who had grown up with her since childhood, the young lady of House Sver.
The Head of House was moved.
‘Yes... At least you are looking out for me!’
“Please stop smacking your lips and eat quietly. It’s noisy.”
“.........”
*
“Belch. That was a good meal.”
I’m full. Now all that’s left is the sex.
But that bastard Head of House is still glaring at me while he eats.
Bern put him in his place a few times to break his spirit, but he’s still lingering on his regrets and paying way too much attention to me.
Honestly, at this point, he should have read the room.
I can see him thinking, ‘It can’t be. It can’t be,’ over and over.
I want to send him away soon so I can have some fun with my onaholes...
I glanced over at the butler.
“...!?”
The moment our eyes met, he looked away in a startle.
That butler bastard. He’s been acting suspicious as hell since earlier.
He has a strange look in his eyes—the face of a perverted old man.
Even though I gave him a few warnings with my eyes, he couldn't take his gaze off Angelica’s breasts.
Don't tell me. That bastard wants Angelica...?
Crazy old man. How dare he lust after my top-tier onahole, Angelica?
Of course, Angelica isn't the type to just take it from a weakling butler like him.
She was a confirmed virgin when she met me, so there shouldn't be any issues.
However, I can't forgive him for looking at my female with those lecherous eyes.
And the butler wasn't the only one sending dirty looks.
The Head of House. Count Pedeia.
That bastard kept staring at my Bern-chan, too.
Is it because the dress Bern-chan is wearing is so damn hot?
I mean, it’s hot to me too... but lusting after someone else’s wife? That’s crossing the line.
Bern-chan is my wife, so a loser like the Head of House shouldn't even dare lay eyes on her.
What should I do with these two men?
I pondered for a moment and came up with a good idea.
“Lord?”
“...Yes? Yes. Mr... Commoner.”
The Head of House spoke while watching my reaction.
His spirit is already broken.
I sat with my legs spread comfortably and said, “Since the banquet is winding down, I’d like to move on to the next step.”
“The next... step?”
“Yes. I need to wash up and get ready for bed.”
As I said that, I draped my arms over the shoulders of both the mother and the daughter.
“.......”
The Head of House’s hands began to tremble once again.
“...I will give the order to prepare the baths.”