House Belmore's Good Fortune -2
A few days earlier, at the House of Nobles.
Elevating a family to the nobility always demanded the strictest scrutiny.
Even an emperor could not simply raise a single citizen into the ranks of the aristocracy without, in the end, issuing a challenge to the entire class structure itself.
And so, as always, only a recognized handful of nobles and the Imperial House itself attended matters of this kind.
"That may be so, but I don't expect much opposition to this one."
The agenda today concerned the elevation of a single house.
House Belmore.
"Indeed. No one will object."
"Still — doesn't the timing strike anyone as odd?"
At that, several heads nodded.
"I always assumed it would happen eventually. I simply never imagined it would be now."
"And why is that?"
A noble from farther afield, less familiar with the situation, asked the question.
How the hell did a bastard who doesn't even know that end up in this chamber?
One of the others cursed him with his eyes alone. A different noble supplied the answer in his place.
"Elin Belmore."
"W-why are you suddenly saying that name?"
There were houses that flinched the moment they heard it.
"Well, as you know, she was the one who personally dismantled a family that had been doing rather well for itself."
"Yes, yes — but why bring up her name?"
"If House Belmore becomes nobility this time, what becomes of that woman?"
"Ah?"
"That's right."
House Belmore had been raised to the peerage.
Which meant that Elin Belmore, a daughter of that house, would also…
"She'll have to become someone's wife as a noblewoman, won't she?"
"Exactly."
"Hold on — wasn't she one of Her Majesty's most useful women? Once she's a noble, Her Majesty won't be able to use her anymore. So why…?"
— Her Majesty the Empress enters.
The nobles were unsettled. They simply could not grasp the Empress's intent.
Whether she knew that or not, the Empress entered with perfect composure.
"I cannot imagine why you all wear such faces. Is the new noble house not to your liking?"
"It isn't that, Your Majesty. Wasn't Elin Belmore a woman Your Majesty made excellent use of? Why elevate her house to the nobility now?"
"A reward was owed. The family desired this. I intend only to grant it."
"But such a useful talent—"
"Is there any reason to withhold a reward over a single talent?"
The Empress's voice was absolute.
"However useful she may be, for the Empire as a whole, making House Belmore noble is the more useful course."
She regarded the assembled peers.
"That is my judgment."
"…Understood, Your Majesty."
"If you understand, then shall we not adjourn?"
"…."
Is there even any need for the pretense of asking this ceremonial House of Nobles?
Everything rested on the Empress's judgment alone. Objection, even if voiced, meant nothing.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Everyone else present was nothing more than an instrument for casting a vote of assent.
"Young Master."
"What is it? Am I being executed?"
"No, sir. It seems you're still alive."
Lately, everything felt precarious.
"It's about that inspector business."
"Go on."
"The house that woman belongs to has been elevated to the nobility."
And?
"And, according to noble custom, Elin Belmore — being of age — has been entered into the Noble Marriage Market."
"What?"
Too much was hitting me at once.
"Wait, wait — House Belmore, over this one thing alone?"
"No."
Carna cut in from the side.
"House Belmore already had something of a name for itself. Their elevation was expected. People just didn't think it would be now."
"Fine — but what does that have to do with throwing that woman straight into the marriage market?"
Couldn't they have allowed a little time, at least? What about her work as an inspector?
"They became nobles. Of course a woman of age gets handed off to another house. That's how it works."
"I… guess?"
"Ordinarily they'd make private offers to a few houses first. Failing that, they open the Noble Marriage Market, just like this."
Right, right…
What the hell even is a Noble Marriage Market?
"You really don't know anything about it, do you?"
"I'm not familiar with the capital."
"Anyway, that's how it is."
So — was this something one could go and watch?
"Master, are you going to come spectate too?"
"No."
And then she seemed to sink into herself.
"I failed at the marriage market, after all…"
Ah. Right — Master had been forced to go as far as proposing herself. Hardly a store of fond memories.
"Come on, Master. You're plenty attractive. You'll be fine."
"Th-that sounds weird when you put it like that."
In any case, that was the situation.
The Noble Marriage Market.
The rules, at least, were simple.
It was an evaluation of the bride one might take home.
And so—
"So you're telling me I have to stand here naked?"
Elin was stunned.
She had spent a great deal of time in proximity to the nobility. She had believed she understood them well enough.
But what one saw from the outside and what things actually were turned out to be very different indeed.
"Yes. And when questions come, you answer them."
"Th-that's absurd!"
Elin was flustered. The maids who had served noble households from the beginning, by contrast, remained perfectly unmoved. Their expressions said it for them.
Isn't this only natural?
"You know this is noble culture, don't you?"
"I-I didn't know it went into this kind of detail…"
Elin prized principles and rules above all. She had never imagined that the rules she was supposed to revere would look like this.
"Well — the other nobles will already know House Belmore's circumstances, so let's begin at once."
"W-wait just a moment…?"
"But Young Master, weren't you originally uninterested in taking a wife?"
"Well. I was."
"So why have you come here like this?"
My reason for attending House Belmore's marriage market?
Nothing complicated.
"She went from citizen to noble, didn't she?"
"Yes."
"She won't be used to noble culture yet, will she?"
"I… suppose not?"
"I just want to watch her squirm, completely unprepared and embarrassed."
The subordinate who had come along chimed in at once.
"True enough — that would be a rare sight."
I tossed him a silver coin.
"Go amuse yourself however you like."
"Yes, sir!"
"And…"
I leaned in and murmured by his ear.
"Find out how that business involving our house is progressing."
"Understood."
He would play during the day and gather information by night.
As for me — time to go enjoy myself.
They said it was starting soon…
I only needed to go and watch.
House Belmore.
They may have been common citizens once, but…
It was plain at a glance that imperial favor had already made them a considerably wealthy household.
"Very well! Those with an interest in Lady Elin Belmore of House Belmore may freely put their questions to her!"
Click. Click.
And at last, that woman appeared.
She was still dressed in that same uniform as before. But the inspector's insignia she had once worn was gone. In the place where medals and badges were customarily fixed, the newly noble seal of House Belmore had been set instead.
She was still wearing that distinctive monocle of hers, though.
"……."
I wondered if she would recognize me — but she seemed too preoccupied with her own thoughts to notice. Her face was already flushed red.
Rustle.
And slowly, she began to remove her clothes.
Come to think of it, if this is the marriage market of the noble world…
I didn't even need to look to know what came next.
Even her underthings were black — giving off an impression of neat, severe propriety.
"Lady Elin, you must undress properly."
"I-I know…"
She squeezed her eyes shut. Removing what covered her chest, she somehow managed.
— Ooh.
— Small frame, but splendid breasts.
I had to agree with that assessment.
But when it came to stripping away the last scrap of cloth that covered a woman's most precious place, she hesitated.
"…You seem unused to this, so allow me to assist."
A maid stepped up behind Elin, who had frozen with her fingers still gripping the waistband of her panties — and pulled them straight down.
Whoosh!
"Nnh…"
Everyone else was fully clothed. She alone stood naked. If she could be said to be wearing anything at all, it was only the monocle.
"This can't be…"
However much Elin prized the rules, this was clearly beyond her. The instant she was bare, she scrambled to cover her breasts and sex with both hands.
"If you cover yourself, evaluation becomes difficult."
"……."
"My lady?"
She was a noble now, no longer a common citizen — but the mind did not change so quickly.
"I-I understand."
With great effort, she lowered her arms.
Her tightly closed sex and a frankly impressive pair of breasts were laid bare with nothing left to hide them.
— Not a bad body at all.
Simply standing naked before strangers was already near her limit.
Ugh…♡
But what came next was harder still to endure. There were quite a lot of people looking at her.
— I've been curious what a Belmore woman looked like. Not bad.
— She made quite a name for herself in the capital, after all.
The severe, highly capable imperial inspector. That very reputation was now drawing far too many spectators.
"Well then — now that you've had a little time to adjust, please proceed with whatever questions and examinations you desire."
Already?
They had waited a fair while. For a naked Elin, it was nowhere near enough.
"As you know, touching is forbidden — but if there is anything you wish of us, simply say so."
W-wish for what…?
"First, allow me to provide the basic description once more."
One of the maids produced a slender rod and began pointing out each part of Elin's body in turn.
Softly♡
"Nnh…♡"
The tip of the rod pressed against her breast.
"The breasts, first of all, are large. Even a nobleman with big hands would struggle to contain them in one palm — most satisfactory."
Then she set the rod against the inside of Elin's thigh.
"And she has no sexual experience. A virgin, naturally."
She went on indicating place after place with the rod as if handling the merchandise, pointing out every feature. When the introduction was finished, it was time for what came next.
"I'll ask the first question."
Now it was the nobles' turn — for questions, and for demands.