Swordsmanship First-Class but Pussy Third-Class!? (4)
*Drip*! *Drip*!
"...Hic... sniff!.. R-Rian... s-sir... Th-thank you!.. R-really... th-thank you!"
"...."
The situation had gotten a lot more complicated.
The runaway youngest son bringing the 'heiress of the Necroport family' as his partner to the 'Glacia banquet'?
Honestly, he couldn't even imagine how to react.
"Lady Kidian. Please calm down. There's something I need to tell you."
"Hic!.. Y-yes!.. P-please... s-speak!"
"Actually, before the banquet, I planned to stop by the Ludwig Main Estate first."
"Th-the m-main estate?!"
*Squeeze*!
No sooner had he finished speaking than Kidian clutched her cheeks with both hands.
"L-like this... right away... to m-meet your f-family!.. To g-greet them... it's... the t-timing is... st-still!.. N-no!.. I-I'm not... h-hating it!.. I h-have to... b-but!.. N-not yet... my h-heart isn't... r-ready!!... Eeeek!!"
'...What? Did she think I meant taking her to the main estate?'
Since it seemed like Kidian was under a massive misunderstanding, he hurriedly added,
"Of course, I'll go to the main estate alone, so no need to worry."
"Ah... I-is that so?... Haaah..."
Kidian let out a sigh that mixed regret and relief as she stroked her chest—
*Jiggle*!
A glimpse of the 'mana storage' valley flashed between her buttons.
"...."
*Creak*!
At that moment, the dining room door opened, and Topaz emerged carrying the food.
Steaming soup, bread, and a simple salad.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Dinner's ready! It's rushed, so nothing fancy, but..."
*Gruuuumble*!
The moment food appeared, an enormous rumble echoed from Kidian's stomach.
'Can't blame her.'
She must have starved for days.
It was impressive she'd kept her composure this long.
"H-hic..!!... Ah... u-uw... S-sorry!!"
"It's fine. You must be hungry—eat first."
"Ah... haa... Y-yes!.. Th-thank you!"
*Scrape*! *Plop*!
As Kidian sat in her chair, Topaz set down the food.
"I-itadakimasu!.. Hic!.. F-finally... f-food!.. I'm eating..."
*Slurp*! *Slurp*!
Topaz watched Kidian tearfully spooning soup with a pitying expression.
"Eat slowly... You'll choke."
"Y-yes!.. Sniff!.. It's w-warm!.. And... r-really... d-delicious!!.. Haa... hic...!!... So good...!"
*Munch-munch*! *Sniff*! *Munch-munch*! *Sniff*!
A spoonful of soup, then tears; a bite of bread, then sobs from Kidian.
*Clink*!
"Haa... haa... Th-thank you for the meal..."
A moment later, Kidian set down her empty soup bowl.
It gleamed spotless—not a crumb left, scraped clean.
"...All done? Not still hungry?"
"Hic!.. Y-yes!.. N-now... full!.. R-really!.. It was delicious... T-Topaz... I-I'll... r-repay you... sniff!"
Kidian sniffled, nose running.
"No crying. And I said no need for repayment. Just rest easy. Here, blow your nose."
"Y-yes... *Ptoo*! "
*Wipe*.
Topaz gently wiped Kidian's nose with a handkerchief, smiling softly.
'...Topaz is being awfully sweet to her all of a sudden?'
She'd been on high alert at the mention of Necroport...
Could Kidian's out-of-spec 'mana storage' encountered during the bath have enchanted even Topaz?
'Not impossible.'
He'd experienced it himself at the Halfcliff Hotel!
Even seen over clothes, Kidian's 'mana storage' had near-'hypnotic app' power.
Face-to-face? Enough to mesmerize anyone.
"Then I'll prepare some black tea. One moment."
*Clatter*.
As Topaz cleared the empty bowls and left the dining room, only he and Kidian remained.
"...Ah... Uwuu."
With her belly full, belated embarrassment hit. Kidian kept her head down, too shy to meet eyes, fidgeting with her fingers.
"By the way, Lady Kidian."
"Y-yes?! D-did you call me?!"
Her voice had more strength now, post-meal.
"The Glacia banquet... it'll have more people than you think. You sure you're okay?"
"Ah... Th-that's..."
Not trying to dissuade her—just genuine worry.
Recalling her collapsed at the mansion gate...
*Whiiiine*!
Even reaching the venue safely was no guarantee.
And a Glacia Grand Duke banquet meant all major northern Empire families gathered.
Scale incomparable to ordinary events.
"I-it's f-fine!! I can do it!"
Kidian clenched her fists, shouting.
"...I... w-want to... h-help Rian sir too!"
*Tremble*!
Her fisted hands shook.
Countless stares, endless whispers.
Normal at banquets, but...
For agoraphobic Kidian, like leaping into hellfire willingly.
'Haa...'
Bearing that just to help him...
"Lady Kidian, be honest. I'm just thinking about how to act. If people approach at the banquet, can you respond properly?"
"Uh... Th-that's..."
*Glance*.
Her eyes dropped low.
"...D-don't know... Pr-probably... not?... B-but!.. If R-Rian sir is... beside me!!.. I-I think... I can... m-manage a bit! Hic... sniff!"
"Got it. Then I'll stay by your side—no overdoing it."
*Bloom*!
"Ah! Y-yes! I'll stick right to Rian sir!"
Until now, only tearful, scared, flustered faces... but this beaming smile? Foul play.
'Haa... She's pretty.'
Talking with Kidian made keeping distance harder by the minute.
****
Next morning. Mansion entrance.
"Th-then... s-see you... at the b-b-banquet... Rian sir!"
*Wave-wave-wave*!
Kidian leaned out the carriage window he'd called, waving.
Topaz's care had erased all traces of her three-day campout—spotless.
"Yes, see you then."
"Eek!.. Ah!.. A-and... Uu..."
*Squeeze*!
Something more to say? Her lips twitched, but she said nothing, retreating inside.
*Clop-clop*! *Clop-clop*!
Only after the carriage vanished did Topaz sigh.
"Haa... Young master, what now?"
Not jealousy—pure question of plans.
"...Yeah, what indeed."
*Fizzle*.
Social column headlines flashed in his mind.
Social circles would explode over this for a while.
Just because Kidian ignored them didn't mean they ignored her.
'Can't back out now...'
Bluntly, he'd grown fond of her.
The storm from Necroport paled against the hurt rejection would cause Kidian.
*Step-step*.
"...But Topaz, it's not all bad, right?"
"For example?"
"For starters, Rebeccaite won't take me lightly knowing I'm close enough to partner with Kidian."
"Young master... Balancing between the five great families? The two most dangerous ones?"
"Not balancing, just..."
Thrashing to survive.
'...Weird.'
Until recently, it was 'I Reincarnated as a Count's Youngest Son, Gonna Live the Erotic Life Sucking Honey?!' vibes...
Now suddenly 'Surviving the Empire' genre shift.
*Click*.
Entering the study, he asked Topaz,
"So, what do you think of Kidian as banquet partner?"
"Hmm... Honestly?"
Topaz crossed arms, replying.
"Just her personally... She's not bad. Felt it bathing her last night—she was genuinely grateful."
"...But?"
The caveat mattered.
"...Still Necroport."
Topaz reached the same conclusion.
"I get she's nice... but the family behind her is the issue. And how others at the banquet will react."
"Mm..."
"And young master. I know it's overstepping, but..."
Pausing, Topaz said,
"Lady Kidian... seems to really like you."
"...Why?"
"Woman's intuition. Bathing her yesterday, her voice changed whenever your name came up."
"I see..."
Topaz eyed him bittersweetly.
"Yes, that's why I'm more worried. I know you're trying to keep distance... but it won't work on her."
"...."
"Well, if you coldly cut her off... maybe. But can you?"
Not easy.
Kidian wasn't flawless in actions, but...
No malice—just fondness. Hard to ice someone like that.
Without Necroport, he'd have reciprocated her goodwill ages ago.
He wasn't blind.
Her looks, personality, how she acted toward him...
Impossible not to be drawn.
"Survive the banquet first, think later. No point agonizing now."
"Yes, makes sense. Letters to Ishtvan and Corelline sent... I'll let you know when replies come."
"Thanks, Topaz."
"Hmph! Back to prep then. I'll handle most, but check just in case."
"Got it."
*Stretch*.
Topaz left; he stretched, thinking.
'Must-brings... next work for the carriage ride?'
Ludwig Main Estate in the northern Empire meant a long trip.
Asbestos's patience for the next novel unknown—better prepare.
*Slide*.
He pulled drafts and plots from the drawer.
"100 Days Until the Gloomy Lady Falls"
"Swordsmanship First-Class but Pussy Third-Class!?"
*Rustle-rustle*.
Honestly, unsure which to write...
'Take both then.'
He packed them anyway.