Swordsmanship First-Class but Pussy Third-Class!? (2)
“...Hic!... R-R-Rian... sir?”
I can't believe my eyes!
One of the Empire's five great families, the Necroport heir, had collapsed in front of my mansion's main gate looking like a total beggar.
Swoosh—!
At a glance, Kidian's condition looked dire. “Hic!... Hnngh, hnngh!” Her lips were cracked, her hair a tangled mess clumped with leaves and dirt.
Well, whether I should call this a relief or not... she didn't seem on the verge of death, at least.
“...R-Rian... sir!.. Hic!... I-I... r-really... w-w-waited... s-so... l-long!”
A pitiful whimper leaked from Kidian's lips.
Flinch—!
No way... did she seriously wait here the whole time I was gone?
Considering the time it took to return from the imperial palace... even at the minimum, it was three days.
But looking at Kidian's state, it seemed that impossible guess was spot on.
Swoosh—
“Lady Kidian, what are you doing out here?”
I knelt on one knee, meeting her eyes as I asked.
“W-Well... I... s-sent... a l-letter... b-before... b-but... sob!... n-no... r-reply...! Hic!... s-so I... c-came... m-myself...”
Stagger—!
“...!”
Kidian tried to rise, but her legs gave out, and I caught her before she could fall.
“Wh-What are you doing!! Rian sir!! It's d-dangerous! Get away!!”
Topaz's frantic voice rang out—she'd caught up a moment later.
It is dangerous...
Just not in the way Topaz thought.
Leaving her like this could spell real trouble. If word spread that the Necroport heir collapsed in front of my mansion?
...Better get her inside first and figure it out there.
I needed to hide her from prying eyes as quickly as possible.
“Topaz, she needs a bath right away. Head back to the mansion and draw some warm water in the bathroom.”
“Y-Yes!? Rian sir, you're really bringing this suspicious person inside the mansion?”
Oh, right—Topaz had never actually seen Kidian's face in person.
“She's not suspicious... it's Lady Kidian Necroport.”
“.......Whaaaat?!? Wh-Wh-What?! N-No way! Th-This is Lady Kidian?! F-For real?!"
Topaz tilted her head for a second before letting out a shriek.
It was understandable.
Who could imagine the heir to possibly the Empire's wealthiest family looking like this?
“It's her. I'll explain later. Just hurry and prepare the bath. She probably can't walk on her own, so I'll carry her inside.”
“Y-Yes! Got it!! Rian sir!”
Clatter—!!
Topaz bolted into the mansion at full speed.
Haa...
I sighed inwardly and draped my overcoat over Kidian's shoulders.
“...Hic!... R-Rian... sir.”
“Let's get you inside first. Can you walk on your own?”
“Hngh... Y-Yes... I c-can... w-walk...”
“....”
She said that, but...
“Ha... Haa!..! Ngh...!” Her legs trembled violently; even one step looked agonizing.
Splat— Swoosh—
“...Lady Kidian, if you'll excuse me for a moment.”
I couldn't just stand there watching. I extended both arms toward her.
“...H-Huh.... Haaah!!... Hic... Aaah!!.. P-Princess... c-carry!?!... Haa!... Haa!... I-I'm... f-fine!!... I-If I'm... h-heavy!... Ah!.... I-I... s-smell... t-too... hic?!”
“....”
Whoosh—!
Honestly, the smell wafting from Kidian right now wasn't exactly pleasant...
But considering she'd spent days outdoors, this was actually pretty decent.
“You'll collapse if you try walking like that. And you don't smell, you're not heavy, so no need to worry.”
“Ahh!... Uuu...!... Nghh...”
Squeeze—!
Kidian mumbled something incoherent for a moment, then seemed to give up and clutched at my collar.
Step—! Step—! Clank—!
I carried her into the mansion and all the way to the bathroom door. Just then, Topaz emerged, having finished filling the tub.
“Rian sir! Lady Kidian!”
“Yeah, Topaz. She's totally exhausted, so I might need your help washing her...”
“O-Of course. That's fine. Lady Kidian, is that okay with you?”
“...Hic!... Y-Yes.... S-Sorry... f-for... th-this... sniff...”
“N-No! No need to apologize... Come on, Lady Kidian. Let's head inside.”
Swoosh—
I carefully set Kidian down, and Topaz supported her into the bathroom.
“Bring her to the dining hall once the bath's done. I'll change and meet you there.”
“Yes, Rian sir. See you soon.”
Step— Step—
“Lady Kidian, are you alright? Can you undress on your own?”
“Ngh... Y-Yes...”
Kidian nodded at Topaz's question.
Slip—! Slip—!
But her trembling fingers kept fumbling the buttons.
“If it's okay, I can help. Could you raise your arms?”
“...Hnnngh!... S-Sorry...! I'm... s-such... a b-burden... sob!”
“No, really, it's fine. No need to apologize.”
Click— Click— Click—
Topaz deftly stripped off Kidian's clothes one by one.
“Sh-Should I remove your undergarments too?”
“Hic!... N-No... I-I'll... d-do... my... u-underwear... m-myself!”
Kidian bowed her head and reached for her bra clasp.
Snap— Spillll—!
The moment her bra came undone, the breasts sealed within poured out—
“...Hnngh.”
“...!!”
Topaz's jaw dropped.
Wh-Wh-What the hell!?... That size?!
Swoosh—
Topaz's gaze naturally drifted to her own chest.
“....”
For some reason, it looked especially pathetic today.
Of course, Topaz's breasts were far from unimpressive...
But Kidian's were on another level.
Not just the size—the shape defied logic!
Breasts that huge should sag at least a little...
Boing—! Boing—!
Were they enchanted with anti-gravity magic or something? Kidian's breasts maintained a flawless form that sparked such suspicions.
A-And... did all her nutrients go straight to her chest?! Everything else is so scrawny, but those tits are massive—that's cheating!
Chomp—!
Overwhelmed by a profound sense of injustice, Topaz bit her lip...
N-No! This isn't the time for that—what am I thinking?!
Even Topaz, who always kept work and personal matters separate, lost herself for a moment to Kidian's overwhelmingly dominant mana storage.
Shake—! Shake—!
She shook her head to clear it and guided Kidian to the tub.
“Here, Lady Kidian. This way. I'll help you in.”
“...Hic... Th-Thank... you...”
Splash—! Splash—! Pour—
“Haaaah!.... Ngh!.... W-Warm... s-so... warm!... Hic!”
As her body sank into the warm water, the tension from days of roughing it outdoors began to melt away from Kidian.
“Alright, just relax. I'll wash your hair first. Tilt your head back a bit.”
“Haaah... Y-Yes...”
Rustle— Rustle—
Washing Kidian's hair, Topaz marveled.
What kind of hair texture is this... How is this the hair of someone who camped out?! Great family... huge breasts... amazing hair... She has everything!
...And at her age, a 6-star talent to boot.
Was someone like Kidian what they called 'chosen by the world'?
“Um... T-Topaz... ma'am...”
“Ah! Y-Yes! What is it? Was I too rough...?”
“Hic... N-No!... Y-You're... t-too... k-kind... hnngh!... Th-Thank... you... s-so... much...”
Drip—!
Topaz's hands paused at Kidian's teary gratitude.
...This girl.
She was a crazy obsessive fan fixated on Rian, and the heir to the infamous Necroport family...
But seeing her like this, Topaz couldn't bring herself to dislike her.
No, honestly, it went beyond that—she wanted to take care of her.
“Hoo... It's okay, Lady Kidian. I told you already—no need to apologize.”
“St-Still... sorry.... Hic...! I-I'll... r-repay... y-you... s-somehow.”
“If you're repaying anyone, make it Rian sir, not me. I'm just his maid.”
“Ah... Th-Then... I'll... repay... Rian... sir...!”
“Y-Yeah... Alright, let's keep washing. Tell me if it hurts.”
Swoosh— Swoosh—
Topaz's voice softened even more as she began scrubbing Kidian's back.
****
A short while later, in the dining hall of Rian's mansion.
After the bath, while Topaz prepared the meal...
Kidian and I sat facing each other across the dining table.
“....”
“....Uuu.”
Topaz's clothes were too tight in certain unspeakable areas, so I'd lent her some of mine...
What can I say.
The dangling sleeves were adorably oversized.
I knew I shouldn't think that way... but hey, even with my shirt on, those buttons looked ready to pop from her mana storage!
Swoosh—
“So, Lady Kidian.”
“...Yes?”
“What brings you all the way here? I didn't quite catch it earlier.”
I knew the answer already, of course.
With all those letters piled in my study drawer, it was obvious.
Still, better to hear it straight from her.
“W-Well... I...”
Kidian fidgeted with the sleeve ends for a long moment before finally speaking.
“...I missed you.”
“....”
“....”
Her unexpected straight ball left me speechless.