Swordsmanship First-Class but Pussy Third-Class!? (5)
One week later, inside the carriage heading to the Ludwig main estate.
Clack-clack-clack—
Whoosh—
“...It's cold.”
White breath misted from his mouth.
The temperature had dropped sharply the farther north they went. Even this fairly expensive carriage let in a chill through the cracks that pierced straight to the bone.
“We're fully in the north now, so of course it's cold.”
Topaz, her nose red as she rubbed her hands together, pulled the blanket higher and replied.
“That's why, Topaz—come a little closer.”
“Ugh... Is that why you said it?”
Topaz shot him a glare but still stuck right to his side...
Swoosh—
Rian naturally pulled her shoulder into an embrace.
“Nice and warm. I just can't get used to the north.”
“Young master Rian, have you forgotten...? You were born in the north and raised there.”
“Even if I was born there, maybe I just can't adapt? You're a masochist by birth, but you still haven't gotten used to getting your butt spanked every time.”
“Ugh... Fine, whatever. You always say the weirdest things.”
Shake-shake—
Topaz sighed with a look that said here we go again and shook her head.
But since she didn't pull away, she must really be feeling the cold.
“By the way, Young master Rian. You remember the order of meetings, right? No mix-ups allowed.”
“As if I'd forget that. Sister Corelline on arrival day, and Brother Ishtvan in the study the next morning?”
“Good, you remember. Oh, and take gifts when you go. I've prepared them in advance.”
“As expected of Topaz. What are they, by the way?”
“Hmph! Obviously! A high-end fountain pen for Master Ishtvan, and the latest perfume for Lady Corelline!”
Puff—!
Topaz blew out her chest with a confident expression, nostrils flaring.
Even in these little details, she showed her competence—truly the perfect maid.
“How did you manage to get them to clear separate times, though? I figured they'd both insist on seeing me first.”
“Yes, I made sure the letters I sent to both sides had slightly different wording from the start, so their schedules wouldn't overlap.”
This was news to him.
“What did you write?”
Topaz grinned slyly and replied.
“Hehe... To Lady Corelline, 'Young master Rian wants to greet you first and foremost.' And to Master Ishtvan, 'Young master Rian especially wants to set aside special time just for you two.'”
“...So you made both feel like they were getting special treatment?”
“Yep~ They won't compare letters anyway. Technically, Master Ishtvan comes first, but with Lady Corelline's personality, she might barge in otherwise.”
If Rian had a talent for writing erotic novels, Topaz had a talent for politics.
Scary... She's dead serious about this side of her.
No matter how he thought about it, bringing Topaz along was the best decision of his life.
He'd often felt she was too good to just be a maid...
Well, if she wants to be a maid, what can I do?
He'd actually asked her once.
“Topaz, don't you want to do something besides being a maid?”
“No. I like being Young master Rian's maid.”
Her expression had been so resolute back then that he hadn't pressed further.
Nod-nod—
As they bantered a bit more, Topaz started dozing off.
“Topaz, if you're sleepy, just rest.”
“...A maid... can't sleep... when her master... isn't... Yawwwn...!”
She tried to hold it back but ended up yawning hugely.
“Just sleep comfortably. You'll have plenty to do once we get to the main estate.”
“...Okay... just a bit then. Wake me... if it's too long...”
Slump—
Her words trailed off, and she fully leaned her head on his shoulder.
Cute.
Rian kissed her forehead.
“Mm...”
In her sleep, the corner of Topaz's mouth curved up, and she snuggled even closer.
Whoosh—!
A faint linen scent wafted from Topaz, tickling his nose.
Honestly, his hands were itching a bit, but...
...Gotta hold back.
“If you do anything weird in the carriage on the way, I'll really jump out this time.”
That was what Topaz had said before they left. Normally she'd go “Ughhh! Fine!” and let it slide, but her eyes had been dead serious.
No helping it...
Rian carefully turned his head so as not to wake her and peered out the window.
Sniff—
The familiar cold scent unique to the north after so long.
Besides the chill, another hallmark of the north was...
Twitch-twitch—
The beastkin, perhaps?
Wolf ears and fox tails were naturally mixed in among the passersby.
Sure, you'd see beastkin down south occasionally, but here they dominated the ratio.
The Glacia Grand Duke's Banquet happening this time was hosted by a family full of beastkin, after all.
...I wonder how Elisha is doing.
Silver hair, sharp eyes, and a plump spotted tail.
“Spar with me...”
She'd show up occasionally with a serious face asking to spar, oblivious to her tail wagging on its own—it had been pretty cute.
Well, Elisha's probably forgotten all about me by now?
They'd talked casually as fellow northerners and gotten fairly close, but even if the Ludwig count family had some pull, why would the grand duke's eldest daughter keep interest in a count's youngest son?
To Elisha, he was probably just one of many academy classmates.
They lived in different worlds now.
More importantly...
Rian pulled out a bundle of manuscripts from his bag.
He still hadn't decided between "100 Days Until the Gloomy Lady Falls" and "Swordsmanship First-Class but Pussy Third-Class!?" for his next work.
Scribble-scribble—
So he'd been writing both on and off while Topaz slept, and surprisingly, quite a bit had piled up.
It's going better than expected. Good call bringing both.
With nothing else to do, the carriage ride was prime writing time.
Especially "100 Days Until the Gloomy Lady Falls"—he'd worried Kidian's face would distract him, but once he started, his occupational habit kicked in. Emotions be damned, the pen just moved.
Like muscle memory?
Habits from his past life, chugging coffee at 4 a.m. to meet deadlines on erotic novels, must still linger.
Scribble-scribble—
[Beastkin females rarely engage in sexual activity except during their heat cycles, which come every two or three months.]
[Heat increases libido, but the main reason is the vast difference in pleasure between sex during heat and normal times.]
[However... exceptions exist from time to time.]
...
..
.
[“Kyaaang!!♥...♥Kyaah?!♥...Ha..♥Eek..!♥...Kyaaang..!!♥♥”]
[Her vision flashed white as Ninael's fox ears shot straight up.]
Scribble-scribble—
Phew... Guess I've got the basic skeleton done?
Congratulations!
The 'plot' of "Swordsmanship First-Class but Pussy Third-Class!?" has evolved into a 'first draft'!
Of course, it was just notes for his own reference—not a proper first draft...
But now he just needed to flesh it out and revise.
Clack! Clack-clack!
He'd been writing for a good while; familiar buildings were now visible outside.
Unlike the ornate central style, these were practical yet dignified northern structures.
The Ludwig count family's main estate.
“Topaz, wake up. We're here.”
Rian gently shook her shoulder.
“...Mm... Y-Young master Rian... five more minutes...”
“In five minutes, we'll be at the Ludwig family gates.”
“Wha?... Already?... Yawwwn!!”
Rub-rub—
Topaz rubbed her eyes and barely sat up; Rian peeled the stray hair from her cheek.
“Ah... Th-thank you.”
“Hold on. Let me wipe that drool mark.”
“Huh!? D-did I drool? Wh-where?! I-I'll do it!”
Topaz frantically rubbed her cheek.
There was, of course, no drool.
“Liar!... I didn't drool!!!”
“Sorry. Your reaction was cute.”
“Ughhh! Young master Rian!”
Well, at least she was fully awake now—mission accomplished.
While Topaz fixed her hair and clothes...
Screech—!
The carriage stopped in front of the main gates.
“Young master Rian, we're here. ...Isn't there a lot of people for this hour?”
“...Yeah? Kinda.”
Rian and Topaz blinked out the window.
The front gate was bustling for sure.
Servants lined up preparing something, and ornate decorations hung at the mansion entrance.
...What's this? Some event?
He hadn't heard anything beforehand.
“Maybe Master Ishtvan or Lady Corelline prepared something?”
“Doubt it...”
He didn't think so, but he couldn't be sure.
Click—!
The carriage door opened, and a blast of northern wind rushed in.
Step-step—
As Rian stepped down, the servants bowed in unison.
“Welcome home, Young master Rian!!”
“....”
What was this welcome?
He'd never gotten treatment like this even before going independent.
As he stood there puzzled—
Patpatpat—!
Red hair flying, someone charged from inside the gates at an unnatural speed.
“Riiiiaaaaan!!! You're here! Come here! Let me hug you! Let me touch! Let me lick more!!”
Squeeze—!!
The eldest daughter of the Ludwig count family and next family head candidate.
“....”
“....”
“Aah! My baby brother! You've grown taller, your shoulders are broader! Wow!! You were handsome before, but even more now!”
Sniff-sniff! Sniff-sniff!
Corelline Ludwig hugged him tight, rubbing her cheek against his and sniffing wildly.