The Uninvited Guest
Once the subordinates gathered at the mansion had departed to carry out their assigned duties, I went to see Lucy, who had woken and was now taking her rest.
"To think my lord would come all this way..."
"I only came to check on you. Rest easy."
I waved a hand at Lucy, who was fidgeting restlessly as she tried to sit up in bed. After practically forcing her to lie back down, I settled into the chair beside her.
"You were hit with an exceptionally potent aphrodisiac, so I can't help but keep worrying. The priestess said there shouldn't be any lingering aftereffects, but how do you feel right now?"
"W-well... aside from a slight dizziness, I am fine. I apologize for causing you concern."
"Don't feel burdened about worrying me. You're mine. That said, your face is quite flushed. Are you truly all right?"
As I spoke, I studied Lucy's face. A flush still lingered on her cheeks as if the heat had yet to fade, and her lips were slightly parted.
For the usually stoic Lucy to wear an expression like that...
Worried, I laid a hand across her forehead.
"Hmm. You might have a bit of a fever."
"M-my lord... nngh."
Lucy flinched at even that light touch. It was a far cry from her usual self.
According to High Priestess Hene, the aphrodisiac's effects should have already worn off. So this wasn't some sudden bout of heat. Had her immunity dropped, and she'd caught a cold?
Even this world, it seemed, had seasonal colds that made the rounds when the weather turned. And the way she kept fidgeting with her lower abdomen suggested her stomach was bothering her as well.
I took Lucy's hand as she lay in bed and held it firmly.
"Lucy, is something hurting? Speak freely."
"Nngh...! I am... fine."
"If you hurt, I hurt. So don't be in pain."
".....My lord."
Lucy looked up at me with glistening eyes. Afraid she might start overthinking, I added one more thing.
"Focus on recovering. From now on, Liliana will help with the aide work as well, so don't worry yourself over it."
"Pardon?"
Lucy's eyes went round. Huh. I'd never seen her this surprised before.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. Liliana keeps wanting to repay me, so I intend to appoint her as my aide as well and put her to work."
"An aide besides me... I-is this because of what happened?"
In a rare display of panic, Lucy sat up in bed. Did she think I had been disappointed because of the aphrodisiac incident?
Far from it. I had actually enjoyed it.
I spoke gently, hoping to put her anxious mind at ease.
"Don't worry. I'm simply giving work to a girl who wants to repay me. That's all."
"Ah... I see."
"I want you to teach Liliana the job. You'll live up to my expectations, won't you?"
"Yes."
The answer came without a moment's hesitation. Even if Liliana's presence as a threat to her position weighed on her, she accepted my command as absolute.
Still, I am a little worried.
I hoped Lucy would get along well with the other women. After all, I planned to take several wives in the future.
This was a world where polygamy was the norm. With Raphaela and any number of other women actively making their feelings known, I had never once considered disappointing their hopes.
I wanted to make every last one of my women happy. Conflicts might arise among my wives, of course — but if I mediated well enough, they would get along just fine.
"Then, Lady Liliana—"
"You may address her casually. She's your junior now."
"Yes. Then I shall go meet Miss Liliana. I will teach her so that she becomes of use to you, my lord."
"You'd best start tomorrow. Liliana is at the church orphanage right now."
"The orphanage... my lord?"
"There are children she has a connection with, so she went to see them. She should be back by sundown."
The young girls I had rescued in the forest alongside Luke, the original novel's protagonist. For a moment, the image of them weeping in silence inside a slaver's wagon, having lost their parents, flickered through my mind.
They were probably sharing a meal together about now.
Liliana had asked me to come along, but I had gently declined. I had wanted her out of the mansion while my subordinates were gathering. I trusted her, but it was still too soon to let her overhear those conversations.
Talk of dealing with the Second Prince. Talk of founding a new nation.
How could I possibly say those things in front of other people...
In a little more time, I would be able to tell Liliana as well.
I gathered my thoughts and rose from my seat.
"Don't worry about a thing today. Just rest. Once you've recovered, you can start teaching Liliana tomorrow. Understood?"
"Yes. I understand."
Lucy nodded. Her beautiful silver hair spilled softly down over her shoulders.
Through her disheveled clothes, the deep, magnificent valley of her breasts came into view.
Yeah. She's definitely developed more of a sensual air than before.
The way her breath grew faintly heated whenever our eyes met. Those drooping eyelids that stirred every protective instinct I had. If I stayed in this room any longer, I wasn't sure I could hold myself back from pinning her down.
I gently stroked Lucy's hair, then left the room.
As I walked down the corridor, a maid with long, straight hair and a cute face approached me, fidgeting nervously.
"Y-Your Grace. A message has arrived from Her Highness the Princess."
"From Her Highness Eustia?"
"Y-yes...! She wishes to speak via video communication magic. What would you have me do?"
A call from Eustia. Welcome news.
The maid, however, was rigid with tension — as if I were the one she found intimidating. As I gazed at her face, an old memory surfaced.
Ah. This maid. She's the one who wet herself in front of me on the day I first transmigrated.
Come to think of it, as my stay at the capital mansion had grown longer, Alfred had mentioned sending additional maids. She must have been among them.
If Alfred assigned her to the capital residence, she must actually be decent at her job.
I patted her shoulder so she could relax.
"I'll take it immediately. No need to escort me. Go on and attend to your duties. You work hard, as always."
"Yesh. Th-thank you very mush!"
Oof, her tongue got tangled.
The maid, who showed no sign of actually relaxing, scurried away. I glanced at her thighs, just in case she had wet herself again this time.
Fortunately, they were clean.
"It's been a while, Grand Duke. Have you been well?"
Inside the study that by now felt as comfortable as my own room, I faced Eustia through the communication crystal.
Features as if sculpted by a god, and golden hair that shone like the sun. The beauty visible beyond the crystal was still so radiant that words failed to do it justice. Even the costly ornaments I had seen today could not compare to Eustia.
I returned the greeting of the girl smiling so warmly at me.
"I have been quite well, with nothing of note. I trust Your Highness has been in good health as well."
"I've been a little busy, juggling my studies with imperial duties, but I'm all right. Oh — and are you aware that quite a few people have been looking to join our faction lately? Just a few days ago, a tremendous donation came in from the Goldman Trading Company."
"Oh. That's excellent news. All of it is thanks to Your Highness, the Treasure of the Empire."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Your Highness is someone special. It seems people are beginning to recognize that more and more."
"Hehe. Thank you."
Eustia squirmed bashfully, the corners of her mouth twitching. The sight was so endearing that I had to fight to keep my own smile from breaking loose.
Cute.
Eustia's smile really was the best. I would have to praise Goldman later for helping make it happen.
We were in the middle of a thoroughly pleasant conversation when Eustia spoke up, as if something had just occurred to her.
"Come to think of it, the Sword and Magic Festival is only a month away. We need to decide who will represent the Magic Faculty, but Miss Liliana — one of the strongest candidates alongside me — hasn't been attending classes, and the professor is terribly worried."
"Ah. Miss Liliana Mayflower is currently staying at my mansion."
"............What?"
After a long silence, Eustia's voice trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
Has the crystal's connection gone bad?
The flow of mana didn't seem unstable at all. While I was still wondering, Eustia stammered a question.
"W-what do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. She is currently living with me at the Divelion family mansion."
"I... that can't be..."
Eustia's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open, so deeply shaken that for a moment I thought the crystal had frozen into a still image. I wasn't sure what was going on, but she seemed to be laboring under some enormous misunderstanding.
She hasn't been attending the Imperial Academy, so... don't tell me she thinks I've kidnapped Liliana, locked her up, and am putting her through some twisted training-and-pure-love rape scenario?
Sadly, that was not the case at all. I hurried to explain.
"I rescued Miss Liliana when she was in danger, and she has been staying at the mansion to assist me as a matter of that connection. Elves are quite particular about debts of gratitude, you see."
"Ahh. So that's what it is?"
"Yes. That's all it is."
"Phew. That's such a relief... ahem. I see. All right. Thank you for the kind explanation, Grand Duke."
At my answer, Eustia's expression eased considerably. I had finally been growing closer to her; I could not afford a misunderstanding now.
I was just letting out a breath of relief when Eustia spoke again, her voice markedly brighter.
"I want to show everyone through this Sword and Magic Festival. That I am not inferior to my brothers."
"Your Highness will surely succeed. I will always be cheering for you."
"Always cheering for me... is that because I am someone special to you, Grand Duke?"
Eustia asked the question with a cautious look. A faint unease lingered in those golden eyes.
I conveyed my true feelings without a moment's hesitation.
"It is."
"Hehe. That's what I wanted to hear."
The shadow that had fallen across her face vanished, and Eustia was once again her usual bright self, smiling shyly.
"Um, if it's all right with you, this Sunday in the capital—"
A knock sounded at the door.
"Your Grace! There is urgent news I must report!"
Eustia had been speaking with a faint flush rising on her cheeks when Head Maid Vanessa's voice came through the door, accompanied by a frantic knock. Interrupting a conversation with a princess was outright rudeness, and I furrowed my brow as far as it would go.
"Head Maid. Are you unaware that I am speaking with Her Highness?"
"Th-that's..."
Vanessa hemmed and hawed, unable to continue. I first asked Eustia for her understanding.
"My apologies, Your Highness. It seems my head maid has committed a discourtesy."
"Ah, it's all right. It must be something urgent."
Eustia looked startled as well, but she nodded a moment later. Cutting off a member of the imperial family mid-sentence was a serious crime in its own right. Eustia really was an angel.
That said, there was no way Vanessa didn't know I was speaking with Eustia. Why would she interrupt?
...Was the news that important?
Countless question marks crowded my mind as Vanessa spoke, her voice trembling.
"H-His Highness Albireo has come to the mansion."