Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Anna's Family Circumstances
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After arriving at the academy,
I couldn't focus on my classes at all. I was lost in thought.
The subject weighing on my mind was none other than Anna.
It was about her sudden change in attitude that morning.
I'd been so shocked by her abrupt words that even when I tried to ask for the reason...
"Anna? What the hell are you talking about!?"
"Ah, I'll explain everything once you're back! Now, now, off to the academy you go!"
Anna hurriedly sent me off to the academy with Rize in tow.
What on earth could be the reason she needed to explain?
It was bothering me so much.
Yesterday, she'd responded playfully, but with thoughts of her family...
And her married husband in mind, she'd conveyed her true feelings beyond her duties as a maid.
And yet, the very next morning, she comes back and suddenly says let's have sex?
I couldn't even begin to guess the reason.
And the person in question was Anna, no less.
Even with her playful side, when she needed to be sharp, she handled things perfectly. I couldn't fathom why she'd suddenly changed her mind.
"Rubelt? Hey, Rubelt?"
"Yeah? Oh. What's up, Isihoon?"
"You got something... bothering you?"
"Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
"Well... you've been brooding like a statue lost in thought all morning."
Ah.
When I snapped out of it, lunchtime was already here.
I must have lost track of time worrying about Anna.
"Rize seems kinda off today too."
Just like me, Rize hadn't been able to focus on classes either.
It was because I'd brought up Anna on the way in the limo.
Not just Isihoon—even Chisaki came over to ask me.
"Hey, Rubelt~ You were totally spaced out during class? What's up? Still riding the high from that one-on-one with Strenzer? Fights with the strong leave echoes for days!"
"It's not that."
I'm not a battle maniac like Chisaki.
"Huh? It's not?"
"Young Master Rubelt? Is something... troubling you?"
"If I can help in any way, just tell me."
"Y-yeah. Rubelt. You can't keep worries to yourself."
Maybe because Chisaki spoke up first.
Eli, Kagura, and Yume—who probably hesitated because I looked so serious—also voiced their concern.
"I'm fine. It's just... uh, something about the Eldra family, so I've got some things to think over. Nothing serious, so don't worry."
Since Anna was part of the Eldra household's retainers, calling it a family matter fit.
Once I said it was about the Eldra family, no one pressed further.
"Let's go grab some food."
After lunch, during the remaining break time,
Still unable to figure out why Anna said what she did, I decided to seek help.
I went up to the rooftop alone and called someone I could consult.
[Hello?]
"Hubuuuuunkun!"
[Young Master! What's going on?]
"I've got a question!"
[For the Young Master's question! Furuta Yoichi here! I'll answer anything I know!]
"Well, it's like this."
I gave him a condensed version of what happened with Anna.
"Any idea why Anna changed her mind, Hubunkun?"
[Hmm... She politely refused your kind offer to attend you at night, then suddenly flipped the next day... I've got two possibilities!]
"Two of them...!"
Hubunkun, as expected!
His brain that invented all those gadgets wasn't for show!
"Tell me, Hubunkun!"
[Then, starting with the first possibility! Number one... maybe she's curious about your thing!]
"My thing?"
[Yes. Anna must know how big the Young Master's is, right?]
"Yeah."
[So maybe after thinking it over, she suddenly got a strong urge to taste the Young Master's thing!]
"Hmm~ Thanks for the thought, but that's not it, Hubunkun."
If that were the case, she would've accepted from the start.
[Then I've only got one other idea.]
"What is it?"
[It's... she found out about her husband's affair and hit a point of despair.]
"H-her husband's affair...!"
Meaning Anna's husband cheated?
But Anna's... Anna's husband!
The other possibility Hubunkun mentioned.
One I'd dismissed all morning despite wondering if it could be true.
But hearing it from Hubunkun's mouth made it all the more shocking.
If I'd been alone, I'd have dismissed it as impossible and moved on.
Instead, I dug deeper into this possibility that Hubunkun had brought up—one I'd vaguely considered.
What I'd rejected wasn't so much her husband's character.
It was the fact that he was Anna's husband.
Because Anna was the ideal wife material.
With her honed skills as an Eldra maid, she'd handle housework and support flawlessly.
Plus, financially, her salary was higher than most big corp employees.
Working as an Eldra maid didn't mean neglecting the kids for work.
Her adopted daughter Jena spent a lot of time before elementary school at the daycare the Eldras run, conveniently close by, so Anna could visit anytime she had a moment.
After work, she could care for her husband perfectly too.
Cheating on an Anna like that?
Honestly, I couldn't believe it.
But if.
If really.
Her husband cheated, and in her despair, Anna accepted doing it with me...
Then I'd bury that unqualified bastard thoroughly.
Just for saddening Anna, who'd looked after me in so many ways since I was little—that was reason enough.
If it came to that... I'd take responsibility for Anna.
I'd make sure Jena could be happy in the future too.
Of course, this was just a possibility. I couldn't conclude he cheated for sure.
For now... I'd keep it in mind and wait for Anna to tell the truth after school.
"If he really cheated, I'll bury him for good..."
[Young Master?]
"Huh? Sorry, Hubunkun. What'd you say?"
[No, it's just... you've been saying some really scary stuff since earlier...]
"Have I?"
I must've muttered burial methods without realizing.
"Phew, thanks anyway for the advice, Hubunkun."
[No, I'm sorry I couldn't give a definite answer.]
"Class is about to start. I'll hang up."
[Yes, Young Master.]
I ended the call with Hubunkun and opened the rooftop door to head down.
"Rize."
The moment I opened the door, Rize was standing there as if she'd been waiting.
"Are you done talking with Dr. Furuta, Young Master?"
"Yeah. Feels better after venting a bit."
"I'm glad."
"...You heard our conversation just now, Rize?"
"Yes. Dr. Furuta suggested during your consultation that Anna's husband might have cheated. I overheard. Honestly, it was hard to imagine."
"Same here."
"But if it turns out to be true..."
Rize's cold gaze—usually reserved for outsiders—lost all warmth, sending chills down my spine.
"I won't forgive her husband. I'll torture him myself—something I've only studied, never done."
"Rize."
"Even if you try to stop me, I can't hold back..."
"In that case, I'll watch."
"Yes."
Rize felt the same as me.
She treasured Anna, to whom we'd owed so much since childhood.
"Anna."
"Anna."
The moment the academy let out, Rize and I returned to the mansion and brought Anna to my room.
"So, will you explain now?"
"Tell me too. What on earth happened?"
"Huh? You didn't tell Rize...?"
"I did. You refused yesterday but accepted this morning out of nowhere. It felt off, so I told her."
"If it's serious, consult me too, Anna. I want to help you."
"Uh... um..."
Anna scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.
"I guess I didn't explain enough, making you and Rize misunderstand..."
"Misunderstand?"
"What misunderstanding?"
"Well~ Actually, it was yesterday~."
Anna started explaining yesterday's events with an embarrassed look.
Excited by my early dismissal, Anna headed home.
Jena wouldn't be out of school yet, so only her husband was home.
But when she got back, no one was in the living room.
Anna didn't think much of it and went to the bedroom—her husband wasn't there either.
That left only his workshop.
The room he often used for work from home.
Anna headed straight there to let him know she'd finished early and spend some intimate time together.
When she opened the workshop door, she saw her husband dozing off in a chair, looking exhausted.
Seeing that, Anna assumed he'd worn himself out working even on the weekend.
But there was something odd.
Her husband's lower half was completely naked.
Quick on the uptake, Anna realized he'd masturbated in his fatigue and passed out.
An extremely awkward situation.
And on closer look, his work laptop was still powered on.
Anna thought she'd quietly slip out and pretend she saw nothing.
But then,
Her eyes caught the screen on the laptop.
It was something utterly baffling and shocking to her at the time.
The screen showed... a convincingly edited porn video where an AV actress's face had been swapped with Anna's.
Anna yelped in shock, "Kyaa! What is this!?"
Her dozing husband woke up, saw her, grasped the situation, and immediately dropped to his knees on the floor, bowing his head in abject apology.
Anna said even putting on pants first would've made the bow look more dignified.
Anna had him get dressed first.
Then, calmly asking what this was all about... her husband confessed his secret to her.
Hearing the secret, Rize and I stared wide-eyed at the unexpected turn and echoed back to Anna.
"Y-your... netorase fetish?"
"Yes. My husband... has quite the maniacal kink. Ahahahaha!"
It was so utterly unforeseen that my mind went blank for a moment.
I mean, who could've guessed a netorase fetish?
Not even Hubunkun saw that coming!
"Actually... there's more to the backstory... Want to hear?"
"Of course!"
"I won't forgive you if you stop here, Anna!"
"Got it. Then I'll continue. My husband confessed even more..."
Anna continued her story.