200 Years Seeking Revenge on Humans, Unknowingly the Young Master's Affection Level Reached MAX
A little time had passed since that day. In the meantime, I'd been receiving all sorts of lessons from the skeleton. Things like the etiquette nobles absolutely had to follow, taboo words you couldn't utter aloud, what hand gestures to use, how to approach someone, where to direct your gaze—and how even a single mistake could lead to misunderstandings...
But come to think of it, the skeleton was a monster, right? How did she know so much about human noble culture?
Of course, there were plenty of reasons. Even during the war between monsters and humans, she'd probably infiltrated noble circles disguised as a human spy. And though I couldn't feel it myself, the world had already been at peace for over ten years. If she'd been employed by the nobility for at least that long, she'd have no choice but to be well-versed and sensitive to that kind of information...?
"When placing utensils on a plate. If you cross them, it means you've stopped eating. Placing them in an eleven shape means you're continuing the meal, and furthermore—"
"Got it! How many times do I have to tell you!"
I threw my hands up and shouted.
"This is the twentieth time already!"
"...I'm just worried, young master. Of course, I know full well that your memorization skills are exceptional. Even so, as your instructor, I can't help but fret."
"You're the one teaching me yourself—how could I forget...?"
"...Hearing you say that moves me deeply."
The skeleton froze at my words, her mouth gaping open. Then she roughly rubbed the corner of her skull's eye socket with a bony finger. It almost looked like she was wiping away tears.
"Tch. As if you could even cry."
"If I had human flesh instead of these bones, tears would surely flow."
"Then just turn human! You always do it when you hug me anyway."
"...That's because you dislike my skeletal form, young master. Of course, I can always do this for you."
Click.
She gazed down at my reaction for a moment, let out a long sigh, and lightly snapped her fingers. A cool, clean soap scent seemed to waft through the mana, spreading cleanly around us. Skin materialized over her bones in the air, and a soft, faint warmth began to emanate from her form.
"There, is this better?"
Now fully transformed into her human guise, she casually swept her hair behind her ear. Her skin was a bit too pale for a human, carrying an artificial air, but it was still a person's form—not bones.
"See? Doesn't this look so cool and pretty!"
I cried out, eyes sparkling.
"I love it tons!"
"Ahem... I'm at a loss for words with you liking it so much..."
I nodded vigorously, and she averted her gaze, coughing awkwardly. A faint pink tint colored her snowy cheeks, and her fingertips trembled as she scratched at them.
See? She likes it too—why doesn't she do it more?
Or maybe it's because I said that...
"Anyway, I like your skeleton form just fine, but this human version is way better! You're so tall and pretty... and you smell nice too!"
"...Is that so."
"So hug me! Hehe."
Seeing her like this stirred up the urge again. Guess I just can't quit being spoiled. My arms spread wide on instinct, and I started bouncing in place. Her lips twitched for a moment.
"...Hnn."
She squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled softly. Then her hands slipped under my armpits, lifting me carefully.
"Come here, young master."
She stroked my hair gently while cradling my bottom, holding me close. Her touch had started out awkward and fumbling, but now it felt completely natural, like second nature. Well, yeah—I've been begging for hugs and pets every spare moment, acting all cutesy. It'd be weirder if she wasn't used to it by now.
Lately, Mom's been too busy for me to cling to her, and my sisters aren't even at the estate, so I can't even talk to them. There's hardly anyone to spoil me. I can't exactly throw tantrums at the head butler or the other monsters—they're not that close.
I wrapped my arms around her neck and rubbed my cheek against hers. Her cool, refreshing touch made my body shiver. I nuzzled my nose into her neck, inhaling deeply, then pressed myself fully against her ample chest. She chuckled softly and patted my back.
"You've been with me all the time lately... so I like you even more nowww..."
"Khk... Ahem... H-how many times have I taught you not to say such things so casually..."
"Nng...!"
I hugged her tighter.
"But I really, really like you!"
I added casually.
"I'll marry someone like Mom... but marrying someone like you would be awesome too!"
"...?!"
I grinned wide and squeezed her neck tight. Rubbing my cheek against hers furiously, I kept up the spoiling.
"You're so kind and gentle... I wanna marry you!"
"P-please... d-don't say such things... I beg you... My, my head..."
Suddenly, her breathing grew ragged.
"My c-core's beating too fast... My thoughts are stuttering, and, and..."
"It's okay! I'll stay with you forever, so I'll be right here until you feel better!"
"...Khk... Y-you're too... v-violent with your affection..."
"Huh?"
She clutched her chest and bowed her head at my words. For a second, it looked like blood trickled from her mouth, but it was probably my imagination, so I let it slide.
"I-I can't... hold on any longer..."
"What're you talking about?"
"...Hoo. Aah! Khk... Please get dressed at once! D-don't you know the Debutante is soon?!"
"Uh, wha? Y-yeah, I know?"
"Th-then hurry...! Get out of my arms!!"
"Huh? Uh, o-okay...?"
What the heck? This wasn't her usual cool voice from etiquette lessons. Why was she getting so heated? Sure, skeletons can't really get heated, but...
Her frantic hands pushed me away clumsily, and I stumbled out of her embrace in a daze. I didn't know what was up, but I sure knew the Debutante was right around the corner.
"Hoo... Hurry... Hnng... I-I'm attending the Debutante too..."
She caught her breath, clutching her core directly to calm it. The sight of her ripping open her massive chest and gripping the core embedded deep in her ribs was pretty grotesque. She massaged the pulsing purple core a few times until it settled, then bowed her head with a shaky exhale.
"It won't be an issue for you, young master."
"Huh? Why not?"
"I'll be attending as your guardian. I'll go in this form, of course... but my lich shape is more famous. Not many will recognize me."
With that, she briefly switched her face to skeletal, then back to human, shrugging lightly.
Come to think of it, she'd said she died pretty young, in her early twenties? Her death... a witch hunt. Burned at the stake, impaled on a stake through her body, left to wither for days...
Thinking about it like that, it wasn't hard to understand why she'd sought revenge on humans even after becoming a monster.
"...Hey, Bellatrix."
"Why call me by name all of a sudden? Not 'skeleton'?"
"Uh, no... just curious."
I hesitated, then spoke up.
"I'm human, right? But you... you don't have good memories of humans. So why do you follow Mom so obediently?"
"...Simply put, she's the most inhuman human there is."
"...?"
"That's why I respect and acknowledge her. She's worth bowing my head to."
"But you fought her to the death."
"Yes, and I lost. Miserably. I was certain I'd die, but her face as she spared me still haunts me sometimes."
I knew that. In the game, Mom had once battled the skeleton in a life-or-death fight. As one of the powerful Four Heavenly Kings, the skeleton was tough in the story, but by then the protagonist had outgrown her, making the subjugation straightforward. Depending on player choice, you could kill or spare Bellatrix.
I...
Spared her. I'd learned her backstory through an Easter egg, and I didn't want to kill someone who'd only known suffering. ...More than that, her life kinda mirrored mine, so I felt oddly sympathetic...
So my choice back then was why Bellatrix—the skeleton—was alive now, teaching me like this.
"...Hehe."
"...Why that face? You look ridiculously proud and happy..."
"Nah, nothing. Heehee, I just like you even more now!"
"......"
Squeeze—
I grinned innocently, and her expression hardened as she pulled me into a tight embrace. Fiercely, like she'd never let go. Burying her face in my hair, breathing heavily, pressing our bodies close as if she never wanted to release me, like this moment was everything.
"Hehe... Weren't you not gonna hug me? Weren't you busy~?"
"...It's all your fault, young master. Why do you keep making me like you more... Why have I felt like I'm meeting my savior since the moment I first saw you..."
"Huh? What~?"
"...Nothing. Just mumbling to myself. Please, just... stay exactly like this forever. That's my one wish."
"Okay! I'll stay by your side forever! So when I die, you gotta hold my hand, okay?"
"Yes, absolutely. Even if it kills me."
"Ahaha... You can't die, silly?"
Something felt forgotten, but it was still a harmonious lesson time anyway.
......
We were in the middle of me soaking up her affection when—
BAM!
"What do you mean 'when,' young master Kael!"
"Huh?"
"Uh, uh..."
"...When are you getting dressed! I told you the Debutante is almost here!"
"Ah...!"
The Dullahan head butler burst into the classroom, yelling.
Right. I was supposed to be getting ready for the Debutante?
Ehehe. Screwed up.