If Two Are Possible, Why Not Three or Four?
...Just how long were they planning to keep this up.
"Master, please focus. Raise your arms a little higher."
"...Yes."
Fuck, I'd focus if I could. Who the hell holds a swordsmanship lesson while wearing a maid outfit that puts their cleavage on full display right in front of me!?
Celine, who had been watching my training, snapped at Lady Elena as she poured tea beside her.
"...What kind of training is this!?"
"My lady, you mustn't interrupt."
"What do you mean 'my lady,' Lady Elena... If anyone hears that, I'll be in trouble!"
"Don't worry. Hardly anyone ever comes to the training grounds."
"You said 'hardly'!"
Lady Elena laughed as if she found Celine's reaction amusing.
"It's fine. As long as Father doesn't catch us."
"That's exactly what's scary...."
"Father never sets foot near the training grounds, so relax."
"...Haa."
Celine gave up on persuading Lady Elena and looked at me. The look in her eyes seemed to say: Don't enjoy this too much.
...I'd love not to.
"Elfride."
"Focus."
"...Yes."
Fuck, save me. This is torture! Torturing someone who hasn't done anything wrong—where did this country's human rights go!!!
"Master, your posture has fallen apart."
"...How long are you going to keep talking like that?"
"Do you dislike it?"
...Dislike it?
I sneaked a glance at Celine. When our eyes met, she slightly furrowed her brow. That was a clear warning. I quickly answered.
"...It's a bit awkward, yeah?"
"Hmm...."
Elfride suddenly approached Lady Elena. The two lookalikes chattered among themselves for a bit before coming back to me. Then Elfride quietly asked me,
"...I've heard that men like this sort of thing."
"Uh...."
I do. I like it, sure.
"Elena said Master is just playing coy."
"...What?"
"Do you truly dislike it? If you say you dislike it, I'll stop."
"......."
Would there ever be another day when a lofty and noble lady like Elfride Bathory called me 'Master,' wore a maid outfit, and waited on me?
This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The only chance for someone of vastly higher status than me to follow my words. An opportunity to satisfy a man's natural desire for conquest.
But....
"I'd prefer if Elfride treated me as usual."
Elfride and Elena were probably doing this out of gratitude toward me. I'd cured Lady Elena's illness simply because I felt sorry for her situation. I had no intention of putting the Bathory family in my debt and then using that to satisfy my selfish desires or receive favors.
Hearing my words, Elfride smiled softly.
"You really are...."
"Oh, now you sound like your usual self. That's better."
Elfride snorted a laugh and said,
"You're always so consistent. Having a friend like you is one of the great fortunes of my life."
"Hearing you say that makes me a bit embarrassed."
When I scratched my head, Elfride grinned. Then she pointed at her clothes and said,
"Still, it suits me rather well, doesn't it?"
"Huh?"
"I thought it looked quite good on me even as I put it on, but maybe not? How does it look to you?"
...It looks insanely good. I thought she was a character straight out of a manga. A blonde, blue-eyed maid—how does that even exist in real life?
"It does suit you well... but isn't it rude to tell a noble lady that a maid outfit suits her?"
"...Well, that's true. Still, I'm glad it suits me. I was worried you might not like it."
Me? From my perspective, I should be bowing in gratitude. Thanks to this, I got a proper feast for the eyes.
After that, Elfride instructed me in swordsmanship in her usual manner of speech. But since the outfit stayed the same, I suffered quite a bit before finishing the training.
Elfride handed me a towel.
"Good work, Abel."
"Haa, thank you."
"The banquet starts at six, so just be ready by then."
"Ah, yes."
"Sister, how can you speak casually to Master?"
Seeing that our training was over, Lady Elena and Celine approached. Lady Elena asked Elfride why she wasn't sticking to the role, and Elfride answered simply.
"...Abel told me to go back to normal soon, so that's why."
Lady Elena looked at me after hearing Elfride's words. I nodded, confirming she was right.
"...Unexpected. I thought a Hero would enjoy it."
...I did enjoy it.
Celine let out a deep sigh and came up to me.
"I was struggling, wondering how long I'd have to endure this uncomfortable hospitality...."
"Haha...."
"And yet the Hero is just standing there with a goofy grin...."
"When did I!?"
"Pfft, I'm kidding."
This woman....
I turned to Lady Elena and said,
"Lady Elena."
"Just Elena is fine, Hero."
"...What?"
"You call my sister by her name, so there's no need to use honorifics with me, her younger sister, right?"
...Is that okay? Well, it's more convenient for me if so.
"Then I'll do that. Elena, I have something to say."
"Go ahead."
"You don't need to repay any favor or anything like that to me."
Elena tilted her head. She looked so much like a mini Elfride tilting her head that I almost laughed.
"...Why? I believe the miracle you performed for me is something I could never repay no matter what."
"I didn't do it expecting anything like that in the first place. I had no intention of creating a debt with the Bathory family over this, or of receiving favors. So it's fine."
Hearing my words, Elena went "Hmm," as if pondering something, then spoke.
"I already knew that much."
"What?"
"This is just me wanting to repay you, so I did."
"Uh...."
Elena grinned. Even though they looked alike, she was still a different person—her smile gave a slightly different impression from Elfride's.
"I was trying to stimulate gentlemen's fantasies in my own way, but was it not to your taste? I had some confidence in how I looked in a maid outfit too."
"It's not that it wasn't... it's just that it could get a bit awkward...."
"Of course, compared to my sister my development is a bit lacking, but I still think I have my own charms. Don't you agree?"
"No, that's...."
How am I supposed to answer this.
Is she originally this shameless? Someone suddenly comes to mind. Ah, Cloe. This is reminding me of when she comes on strong.
...In the first place, is this okay with Celine right next to me? I whipped around to Celine and said,
"Celine, I wasn't thinking anything."
"...I didn't say a word, Hero?"
"Just in case you misunderstand...."
"Misunderstand? You're a man too, Hero. It's only natural you'd like it when pretty ladies are showing off their cleavage."
...I'm already screwed.
To keep the already slightly sulky Celine from getting even sulkier, I looked at Elena and said,
"Elena, um... since you might not know, I should tell you I already have someone I'm dating. So you really don't need to do this kind of repayment."
"I know. You have two lovers, don't you?"
"Yes, so... wait, you knew?"
She knew and she's still doing this?
"I heard from my sister."
"I did tell her, but was that not okay?"
"No, that's fine. Then if you knew, why...."
"Hmm?"
Elena tilted her head. Then she slightly raised one corner of her mouth.
"If two are possible, then wouldn't three or four also be fine?"
"...What?"
"What are you saying, Lady Elena!?"
"That's how I see it. Heroes are naturally inclined to be fond of women. And there's even a system in place for it, so what does the number matter?"
...I-Is that so?... No, what am I agreeing with.
She said it so matter-of-factly that I almost accepted it naturally for a moment.
I sneaked a glance at Elfride. When I looked at her with a Is she always like this? expression, Elfride shook her head and said,
"...I don't know either."
"Haha."
After returning from the training grounds, I washed up right away and came out. Celine, who had been sitting on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling, flushed bright red when I emerged.
"H-Hero. Um...."
"Yes?... Ah."
I'd forgotten and come out with just a towel wrapped around me even though there was a robe. It was because I'd gotten used to inn life. Of course, when we shared a room I'd usually change inside the bathroom before coming out, but when we used separate rooms I'd just come out like this.
I'd momentarily forgotten that Celine was in my room with me. But well... it shouldn't matter. We've already seen everything there is to see of each other.
"I forgot and just came out. It's fine, right?"
"...I-It's fine, but... gulp."
...Why are you swallowing?
Celine couldn't take her eyes off me at all. Isn't this full-on pervert behavior.
"I think this is the first time I've looked at the Hero's body this closely."
"Staring so openly is sexual harassment."
"...Who says that when I want to look at my man's body?"
"Huh? Then I'll just stare at Celine's chest too."
"Go ahead. I don't mind."
...She's so cool about it I have nothing to say.
Celine quietly gazed at my body. With her staring so intently, I was the one starting to feel embarrassed.
"May I touch it once?"
"...What?"
You've touched it plenty at night. When I pointed that out, Celine's face flushed slightly as she said,
"Th-That time I was focused on other things so I don't really remember the feeling."
"...Do as you like."
Celine lightly got up from the bed and approached me. Then she carefully reached out. Her pure white fingers touched my abdomen.
"Oh my...."
"...That's a pretty honest reaction."
"You weren't like this from the start, right?"
"I had some to begin with... but it naturally became like this from training."
Whether this body had done physical labor or was just a country boy who ran around all day, it had a fair amount of residual muscle from the start. Of course, it wasn't to this extent. Getting this far was thanks to Estelle's grueling training. Getting hurt and swinging an unfamiliar sword....
"...It was tough."
"Hmm?"
"Just talking to myself. So how long are you going to keep touching? We need to get ready."
Squeeze, squeeze. Celine lightly ignored my words and caressed my abs.
...No matter how firm the muscles were, it was all my skin. Naturally I could feel every delicate sensation of her caressing.
I finally grabbed Celine's hand firmly. We needed to prepare for the banquet—I couldn't get in that kind of mood.
"Celine. If you keep touching...."
"Abel♥"
"...What?"
"The banquet starts at six, right? So we have about four hours left."
"...Yeah?"
But why suddenly call me by name....
Celine rose onto her tiptoes.
"Mmph?"
"Haah... slurp...."
Suddenly Celine kissed me and tangled her tongue with mine. For a moment our tongues mixed, and I gently pushed her shoulders away.
"...Celine, we don't have much time."
"We can finish quickly."
"I just washed...."
...Even so, not now.
Even if I took my time here I could prepare plenty, but Celine might be cutting it close. Women take much longer, after all.
I firmly grabbed the wrist of Celine, who was secretly trying to approach my lower half.
"...Tch."
"Come on, let's save this for tonight. We need to get ready now."
"......Tonight?"
...Looking at her, Celine seems to have quite a strong sex drive. As expected of the Saint of the most open Ludria Church?
"Yes, so get ready now."
"You promised~♥"
"Yes, yes."
...I almost got swept away there.
"Hero, which dress do you think would suit me?"
"...Celine, let's put that one away first."
"Why? Don't you think it'd look good?"
"No! You only pulled that out to tease me!"
"Aha, you caught me."
The dress Celine was holding was... no, honestly, how do you even call that a dress. Do people actually wear dresses like that?
It was a dress with so much exposure that such thoughts crossed my mind. No matter how much nobles were a showy bunch, would there be a young lady flaunting her figure to that extent... at least I hadn't seen any at the banquets I'd attended.
"Please pick one for me, Hero."
"...Me?"
"You picked for me last time too. Your choices were pretty good."
"Hmm."
I'm grateful she's rating my aesthetic sense so highly. I looked over the displayed dresses. I think Celine's long brown hair is charming. What color would bring out that feature well.
Looking this way and that, I picked one up. It was a bright yellow dress. The waist was cinched in a way that seemed to emphasize that line.
"How about this?"
"I'll try it on and come out. Take a look."
Saying that, Celine went into the dressing room attached to the dress room. By the way, a dress room inside the room—as expected of a ducal mansion.
The clothes had been brought by the ducal house's maids. Just pick the clothes you need, put them on, and leave them. Convenient, so convenient.
While I was waiting in front of the dressing room like that, someone knocked on the door.
"Yes, who is it?"
When I asked loudly, a voice came from outside. Oh, Elfride?
I flung the door open. And as expected, she was standing in front of the door.
"Elfride?"
"Ah, Abel. Are you almost ready?"
"I'm here too~."
Not just Elfride but Elena was with her as well. Elfride was beautifully dressed up befitting the star of today's banquet.
She wore a red dress that exposed her entire shoulder line, covered it with a thin shawl, and wore red gloves matching the dress on her hands. Her hair had curls at the ends, with some strands braided for accent. It suited her well.
"You look beautiful today, Elfride."
"...I-Is that so? Thank you."
"You look dashing too, Hero. The tailcoat really suits you."
"Ah, thank you. Elena, you look beautiful as well."
Unlike Elfride, Elena was wearing a sky-blue dress. The color contrasting with her sister's dress made Elfride, the main character, stand out even more.
"Hehe, thank you. I'm glad I looked pretty to the Hero."
"...Haha."
Did you really need to single me out like that?
"...Hero, where did you go?"
"Ah."
Celine had come out. I asked Elfride and Elena to wait a moment and returned to the dress room. And I came to a sudden stop.
"How is it?"
Celine in the bright yellow dress brushed aside a stray lock of hair and smiled. Whether it was the makeup or the dress, Celine looked far more beautiful than usual.
...My girlfriend is truly the best.
I answered the charmingly smiling Celine with a smile of my own.
"You're so beautiful. I'm proud to call you my girlfriend."
"I like it too since it's the clothes you picked, Hero."
Celine looked up at me slightly. Eyes that seemed to want something. I shrewdly held out my hand to Celine and said,
"May I escort you?"
"I'd love that, handsome gentleman."
Celine lightly linked her arm with mine, and I went straight outside. Then Elfride and Elena, waiting in front of the door, looked at us with slightly surprised eyes.
Why are they like that?
"Elfride, Celine's ready too so we can go right away."
"Ah... mm, right. Then let's go."
"Yes."
I packed the gift too... I don't think I forgot anything.
"Let's go, Celine."
"Yes, Hero."