The Maid Only for You (3)
The next morning, in Rian’s bedroom.
“...Mmm. Huh?”
As soon as I opened my eyes, Topaz’s face filled my vision.
“...Hehe. Are you awake, Master Rian?”
Topaz leaned in close, her voice playful and teasing.
“What? When did you wake up? You must be exhausted. You should have slept longer.”
“I don’t want to~. Didn’t I tell you yesterday?”
Topaz rested her chin on my chest and beamed a bright smile.
The words she had whispered right before passing out after our third round came floating back.
‘...She woke up first just because of that?’
I was genuinely surprised.
She had climaxed well into the double digits, yet here she was, awake before me and waiting patiently.
“Haa… Topaz, how did you even know when I’d wake up? You can’t tell me you’re not tired after waiting like that.”
“Well, I do know. I figured you’d be up soon. Besides, watching your sleeping face doesn’t tire me at all, you know?”
“...If you say so. What time is it now?”
“Don’t worry. You didn’t sleep in. There’s still plenty of time even if you start getting ready now.”
Chuu—!
Topaz gave me a light kiss, then began straightening the blankets.
“But we don’t have time to dawdle! Come on! Up you get! You have to meet Lord Istvan today, remember? I’ll tidy the room while you wash up!”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m counting on you.”
As expected of the perfect all-purpose maid.
Every trace of the way she had melted and trembled last night was gone without a trace.
Of course, that didn’t mean she was completely unaffected…
Still, waking up to Topaz’s smiling face first thing in the morning felt incredibly pleasant.
Splash—! Splash—!
‘Strong and powerful morning! I am Rian!’
When I returned from washing my face, Topaz had already changed the sheets and opened the windows to air out the room.
“Just a moment, please! I’m almost finished… There! Master Rian, shall we go eat?”
“Yeah. Let’s go, Topaz.”
Step, step.
As we headed to the dining hall together for breakfast…
“Oh! It’s Rian! You’re finally up!”
Thump-thump-thump—!!
With a hearty laugh, Sister Coralline came sprinting down the corridor.
“Aha hang! Rian! Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I slept very well. Did you sleep well too, Sister?”
“Me? Aha hang!! Who knows~? The room next door was a little noisy last night, or so it seemed~?”
Poke, poke—!
Sister Coralline jabbed me in the side with her elbow.
“...I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Aha hang! Why are you pretending to be so innocent? Your big sister already caught you and Topaz in the act ages ago!”
“T-T-Topaz!! That time was…!!”
“Look how red Topaz’s face is! Yeah, yeah. Topaz dear, it’s fine to play those games with Rian, but you are being careful about contraception, right?”
“...Sister. What exactly did you come here for?”
Swoosh—
I stepped forward, gently hiding Topaz behind me.
If I let her keep teasing, Topaz looked like she might actually cry.
“Wow~. So Rian’s taking Topaz’s side over his own sister? That hurts my feelings.”
“Sister.”
“Aha hang! Fine, fine. I’ll stop~!”
Sister Coralline shrugged theatrically and continued.
“It’s nothing important~. Yesterday, since it was Rian’s first time home in a while, the marriage talk came up and I felt bad that you couldn’t even eat comfortably! Then I happened to spot you, so I came running!”
“That was Father who brought it up. It wasn’t your fault, Sister.”
“Still! I did feel sorry about it! Anyway…”
Ziiiing—!
The mischievous sparkle faded from Sister Coralline’s eyes.
“Rian. You’re on your way to see Istvan now, right?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
Hearing my answer, Sister Coralline snorted and clapped me on the shoulder.
“Hmph! No matter how sweetly that Istvan bastard talks, don’t you dare fall for it. Well, the fact that you came to me first tells me you won’t. Of course you’re on my side!”
Pat! Pat!
“Sister, I’d like to remain neutral…”
“Aha hang! Neutral, he says! Yeah, yeah! Just brush off whatever Istvan tells you!”
“....”
It was clear Sister Coralline had zero intention of listening to anything I said.
Snap—!
“Ah! That’s right! I was on my way to inspect the hunting grounds! I’m not late, am I?!!”
Sister Coralline snapped her fingers as if she had just remembered.
“Aha hang!! See you later then! Rian! Topaz, keep up the good work!”
Thump-thump-thump—!
She dashed down the corridor and vanished in the blink of an eye.
“Haa…”
“Ugh… L-Lady Coralline… never changes, does she…”
“Well, no. Still… she doesn’t mean any harm.”
“I know that… They’re all good people… But… ughhh!”
Topaz covered her scarlet face with both hands and mumbled. She still hadn’t recovered from Coralline’s contraception comment.
Pat, pat—!
“Let’s go eat, Topaz.”
“...Yes, Master Rian.”
****
Step, step.
After a simple breakfast, I arrived in front of the study.
Topaz had declared, “From today I’ll work like the other maids,” and headed to the kitchen, so I ended up meeting Brother Istvan alone.
“....”
Before knocking, I checked my clothes one last time.
I could relax a little with Sister Coralline, but Brother Istvan was another matter entirely.
Knock. Knock.
“Enter.”
A low, heavy voice resonated from within.
“...Excuse me.”
Creeeeak—!
A red-haired man sat at the desk in the center of the study, reading through documents.
Istvan Ludwig
Eldest son of the Ludwig County family and first in line to inherit the title of Count.
A man with no flaws in appearance, reputation, or martial prowess.
“Hm… You’re here.”
Swoosh—
‘...He really does look just like him.’
No matter how many times I saw it, Brother Istvan resembled Father far too closely.
Mother herself said he was the spitting image of Father in his youth.
If Sister Coralline had been even slightly less talented, Brother Istvan would have already taken over as head of the family.
“Sit, Rian.”
“Yes, Brother… Ah! Before that, I have a gift for you.”
“...A gift?”
Swoosh—
I handed him the neatly wrapped box.
“...Hm. May I open it now?”
“Of course.”
Rip—!
“Hm… A fountain pen. Topaz chose it, I assume.”
“...Yes, Brother.”
He saw through it instantly, as expected.
“She is a good child. Treat her well.”
“I will.”
“Good. Then sit.”
Once I took the seat across from his desk, Istvan spoke first.
“It has been some time since you became independent. Are you getting by?”
“Yes. The publishing house is doing reasonably well… I’ve had no major problems. I’m glad to see you looking healthy too, Brother.”
“Publishing house… Yes. I am aware.”
Tap, tap—
Istvan lightly drummed his fingers on the desk.
“The author’s name was Nakadashi, correct? Raping My Childhood Friend, Blackmailing and Training the Church Sister… They have become quite popular even in the north.”
Watching Brother Istvan recite the titles of erotic novels with a completely straight face…
was both hilarious and slightly terrifying.
“Fortunately the response has been very good.”
“It amounts to nothing.”
Thud—!
Istvan set the fountain pen down and continued.
“Even if it does well, it is only eleven or twelve times better at most. Profits are merely fourteen or fifteen times higher. That publishing house holds no value that surpasses the Ludwig County family in any regard. What you are doing is ultimately a waste of your talent, Rian.”
“....”
“How long do you intend to waste your talent playing around with a single publishing house?”
“Brother…”
“Enough of this childish game. Return to the family as soon as possible. If you and I work together, we can elevate the Ludwig name to even greater heights.”
As you can see, Brother Istvan was a young stick-in-the-mud.
In some ways, even more so than Father.
The greatness of the family, the value of blood, the proper use of talent…
Istvan’s entire life existed for the sole purpose of advancing the family’s prosperity.
‘...But he isn’t a bad person.’
In fact, he was one of the good ones.
Though he appeared brusque on the surface, he quietly looked after the family.
He never forgot to send letters and gifts on his siblings’ birthdays…
And it was actually Brother Istvan who had secretly provided the funds when I first became independent.
‘...Though I suspect he’s regretting that now.’
Still, he wasn’t the type to boast about favors given, so hardly anyone knew.
“...Thank you for your concern, Brother.”
“Hm… It was not concern. It was frustration that made me speak.”
“Ah, now that I think of it—have you met Sister Coralline?”
There was nothing to gain from clashing heads, so I changed the subject outright.
“...Haa.”
A long sigh escaped Istvan.
Just hearing Coralline’s name seemed to exhaust him.
“As expected, that child Coralline must have said something pointless again.”
“....”
“Yes, Coralline does possess talent. I will not deny it.”
Squeeze—
Istvan pressed his temple as he spoke.
“However, the seat of family head is not claimed by talent alone. If that were the case, you would have inherited it instead of me.”
“...You overestimate me far too much, Brother.”
“Hm…”
Istvan lightly ignored my words and continued.
“Everything aside from talent—judgment, patience, political sense, understanding of family management. Coralline is severely lacking in all of them. Her vessel is simply too small. I wonder when that child will finally realize it…”
Shake, shake—
The way Brother Istvan spoke made it clear he saw Coralline less as a rival and more as an immature little sister.
‘It’s probably this attitude that makes Sister dislike him even more…’
While Coralline viewed Istvan as a rival, Istvan didn’t even consider her competition.
Thud—!
“That aside, Rian.”
Istvan straightened his posture and changed the subject.
“Have you chosen a partner for the Glacia Banquet?”
—It’s finally here.
Since Father had asked the same thing, I was able to answer more naturally this time.
“Yes, I have decided.”
“...Surprising. I did not expect you to have prepared a partner already.”
Istvan declared it “surprising” with an expression that showed zero actual surprise.
“If you had not yet chosen, I intended to provide a suitable young lady from my side.”
Tap—!
Istvan set down the document he had been reading.
A quick glance revealed page after page filled with details on various noble daughters—their family backgrounds, appearances, assets, personalities, and more.
‘How exactly is this “suitable”…’
He had clearly said “suitable,” yet the sheer quality of the candidates made it obvious he had poured his utmost effort into the selection.
With this level of preparation, he had clearly meant to assign one of them as my partner no matter what.