In a Harmonious Baron's Household (1)
After I finished cleaning up the vomit, a voice suddenly called from outside the door.
"Sis, come out already!"
Sis? It had to be my little sister, Pana.
She was twenty, a year younger than May, yet she had graduated early thanks to her excellent grades and was set to enter the academy alongside me.
"Yeah, okay."
I tidied up just enough and stepped out into the hallway.
Pana stood waiting there. She looked a little like May—like me—except her chest was smaller.
I still don't have enough information. I've only just arrived in this world…
"Dinner's ready, so hurry downstairs."
"Yeah, got it."
Pana flashed a bright smile and dashed off down the corridor.
From the memories floating up, the Blair barony was a thrifty household that kept no servants.
I should wash up first. I just threw up, after all…
May had been a girl beloved by her family. Her older brother Ian, especially, doted on her with an almost frightening intensity even though they shared no blood.
"The bathroom was this way, right?"
I rounded the second-floor hallway and found a spacious bath. I washed myself with the cold water from the pitcher, then returned to the room.
"No bras, huh?"
Bras didn't exist yet in this world. I slipped on something that seemed to be an undergarment for the upper body, then pulled on a pair of loose cotton panties. As for outer clothes… what was I supposed to wear?
I rummaged through the wardrobe, hesitated, and finally chose a simple one-piece dress. The construction was straightforward enough that even my unfamiliar hands managed it without trouble.
"This is ridiculously embarrassing…"
After a lifetime of pants, the bare feeling of bare legs under a dress refused to settle. I headed downstairs to the dining room on the first floor.
"May, you're late."
"I'm sorry. I had some things to tidy up."
"Sit down quickly."
I answered in a small voice and took my seat.
"There aren't many days left when I can still see you. Father is so sad…"
The baron, sporting a splendid mustache, blew his nose.
"Haha…"
What is this guy? What a weird old man.
"I'd love to follow you to the academy, but I can't. I'll visit often, so don't feel too lonely, my beloved little sister."
The long-haired pretty boy sitting to my right—looking a little too slick—was my older brother, Ian.
"You don't have to force yourself to come, Oppa…"
Pana shot him a mischievous look.
"Who said I was going for you? I'm going for May."
Ian laughed as he fired back. I managed an awkward smile.
Even if siblings get along well, saying "I love you" that openly… Back where I came from, a guy like this would be treated as a creep. Is this level of affection just normal here?
"Tonight's dinner is venison Ian hunted."
Mother, who looked younger than her years, set a platter heaped with roasted deer meat on the table. Ian carved off pieces and served them onto each family member's plate.
On the surface, nothing seems wrong…
"I'll give May the best cut."
Using a large fork, he transferred a generous piece onto my plate. That was when his fingers brushed lightly against mine.
Ah…
A chill ran through me. My heart pounded and my hands and feet began to tremble.
What is this uneasy feeling?
In the usual isekai story, you live happily with a loving family, enter an academy, meet like-minded companions, enjoy a bittersweet romance, defeat the obstacles in your path, and write a success story. From the very start, though, something about this one felt twisted.
I pushed the idle thoughts aside, picked up knife and fork, cut a piece of meat, and put it in my mouth.
Mmm… delicious.
The rich fat of the well-roasted venison spread across my tongue. The deep, long-missed flavor of real meat began to push the lingering unease out of my chest.
Yeah… maybe it won't be so bad. Everyone goes through a stormy adolescence, right? It might be nothing.
"Is it good, May? I caught it just for you."
Ian's words snapped me out of my reverie. He watched his little sister's reaction with a smile full of warmth.
"Yeah, it's delicious. Thanks, Oppa."
Fucking show-off… and that face of his is so goddamn punchable.
"If you ever want more, just say the word. I'll catch anything for you."
"Okay."
"It may be a bit late, but congratulations again on your admission, May, Pana. You two are the pride of House Blair."
"Thank you, Father."
From the tone of things, getting into the academy required quite good grades.
"And once you graduate, you must find a good match and marry. You may look for one yourself at the academy, of course, but a bride as pretty and kind as our May will have fine men lining up."
"What? I'm still…"
Ah, right. This world has the feel of Europe around the 1500s. At twenty-one, a woman would naturally be expected to marry. But even if the outside is an attractive girl, the inside is a middle-aged guy. Marrying a man? I can't even imagine it.
"Father, she still has a long time until graduation. Please don't pressure her already. I feel sorry for May."
Ian's words gave me strength.
So you can be useful sometimes, Ian…
"Yes, please just give me a little more time."
I answered in a coaxing tone that still felt unfamiliar.
"Hmm… very well, then. But if you wait too long it becomes urgent, so I worry…"
The baron let his words trail off.
My first day in this world was drawing to a close.
I snuffed out the lamp and sank into the soft bed.
"Ah, I'm exhausted…"
Without thinking, I slipped both hands inside my nightgown and cupped the soft breasts. Warm, yielding flesh… truly a blessed body. Fingertips exploring the generous curves, I began sorting through my thoughts.
When a finger brushed the dainty, protruding tip of a nipple, a tingling current raced down my spine.
Judging by the fragmentary memories and everything that had happened today, May had no reason to take her own life. Though she was an adopted daughter, the entire family had loved her; nothing justified despair. A romantic problem between a man and a woman, perhaps? Yet no matter how hard I searched, I found not a single trace of a boyfriend—past or present. May was almost certainly a virgin.
"What on earth happened? Why would she… haaah…"
I could not fight the heavy drowsiness any longer and sank into deep sleep.
"…"
"…..?"
"What…?"
May woke to a stifling weight pressing down on her body. The sun had already set; the world beyond the window was dark. Inside the room it was so black she could see nothing at all.
She hurriedly reached out and groped across her own body. What her fingertips found was someone's long hair.
"No way…"
Whoever had climbed on top of her had already stripped off her nightgown top. Her large, defenseless breasts lay bare and white.
Slurp… suck…
A mouth closed over one breast and began to suckle the nipple. The moment she realized an unknown someone was assaulting her, terror locked her body solid. She tried to calm herself, yet her hands and feet started trembling.
What flashed through her mind was the exact sensation she had felt at dinner when Ian's fingertip brushed her hand.
Slurp… suck…
Hiding any hesitation, he buried his face between her breasts and nursed like a child.
"Ian… Oppa?"
"Hah! What? You were awake?"
May felt confusion at the words, yet she had no idea what to do. Knowing what to do would have been stranger still.
"What are you doing right now?"
She asked carefully.
"Usually even when you're awake you pretend to sleep. Tonight you actually speak up? That's unexpected."
So this isn't the first time?
What kind of insane bastard puts his hands on his little sister?
Now I understand why May's body felt pure terror the moment Ian's fingers touched mine.
The reason May swallowed rat poison has to be this bastard.
I need to kick him off and punish him right now—
"…"
"…"
What the hell is happening…?
Her mind screamed, yet the body frozen by fear refused to move. She was terrified of what would happen if she resisted Ian. She was terrified that this shameful secret would become known to the whole family and shatter their harmonious home.
If I just endure it, if I squeeze my eyes shut and act as if nothing happened, we'll still be the same happy family. Oppa isn't a bad person at heart—he's only overcome by desire right now… I have to bear it.
Fragments of memory rose unbidden. Tears spilled down her cheeks without her noticing.
Poor May…
Slurp… suck…
Ian freely violated her pale white breasts and pink nipples. Lewd wet sounds filled the quiet room. Saliva from his mouth ran down the valley of her chest and toward her navel. Fear, humiliation, and shame tangled together.
"Stop… please…"
"It's your fault. You go around giving off that female scent…"
Ian forcibly yanked down her nightgown bottoms.
"I love you, May…"
She had only been a woman for a single day. Even so, having her panties exposed was unbearably shameful. He bit the ear that had flushed red with mortification.
"No matter where you go, I will find you. I swear it."
Whispering against her ear, Ian gently parted May's legs. He slipped his cock between her thighs and began to rock his hips in silence.
"Ugh… kh…"
I'm going to kill this son of a bitch.
She screamed the words inside while feeling the hot length rubbing against her inner thighs. Her panties were already growing damp from the pre-cum dripping from Ian's cock.
"Please stop… how long are you going to keep doing this?"
"I just got started."
Ian whispered in a satisfied, laughing voice.