The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated into a Count Family
Creeeak.
The steel door swung open, yet no light from the outside world spilled in. They stood inside an underground storeroom. Neatly arranged objects filled the space—most of them old and worn.
“This is the warehouse where they keep things too good to throw away but never actually use. Strange… almost nothing here differs from my memories.”
“So we just walk out from here?”
“Wait a moment. Servants will be moving about outside. There’s a high chance one of them is a spy, so wandering around carelessly would be unwise. Why do you think we came through a secret passage in the first place?”
“Then what do we do?”
“Simple. I’ll spread my mana. A knight who senses the family’s mana breathing technique will notice something amiss and come looking.”
“And we can trust the knights?”
“More than the servants, at least.”
Melissa stood before the storeroom door and quietly focused on her breathing. Waves of mana radiated outward from her in every direction.
The response came within ten seconds. Urgent footsteps pounded closer as three knights rushed toward them.
The storeroom door burst open and three armored knights stormed in. The middle-aged knight in the center twisted his face and bellowed,
“Which bastard is practicing mana breathing in the underground warehouse— Young Lady?!”
“It’s been a while, Harmel. You haven’t changed a bit. How is the knight commander?”
“The commander retired two years ago. I am now the commander of the Telphinia Knights. …No, never mind that. Why are you here, Young Lady? And that shameless outfit—what in the world…?”
The middle-aged knight’s eyes darted wildly. The situation had clearly shaken him. The two younger knights beside him tried to look stern while openly scanning Melissa’s body.
I stepped up beside Melissa, slung an arm over her shoulder, and squeezed one of the breasts wrapped in her clothes.
“Ahn!”
Melissa let out a cute little cry at the sudden contact.
“You bastard!”
Harmel roared and drew his sword from his waist.
“C-Calm down, Harmel. My Master and I have come to see Father.”
“…Master? W-What are you talking about, Young Lady?!”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I am Master’s maid. Body and soul—I’ve given him everything, as you can see.”
“This can’t be…. Why would the Young Lady….”
“The explanation would take too long. Harmel, I wish to speak with Father.”
“You have no intention of returning to the family… I see.”
“Correct. The one with business for Father is not me, but Master. I’m counting on you, Harmel.”
“…Haa. Understood. I will inform the Duke. But first… get away from the Young Lady, you scoundrel!”
“And if I refuse? Melissa is mine. What I do with her is none of your concern.”
“You dare…!”
“Harmel! I belong to Master. I’m sorry, but let this go. No matter what you say to him, he won’t listen.”
“Kugh, Young Lady…! I will speak to the Duke and free you without fail.”
“You seem to be under some misunderstanding. I’m not being held against my will.”
Harmel looked at Melissa with pitying eyes before shifting his gaze to me. He was clearly laboring under a serious misconception. I kneaded Melissa’s breast. Every time I worked the soft flesh that overflowed my palm, her body twitched.
“You! What’s your name?!”
“Eugene Frucus. Go tell your master that I’ve come calling.”
“Eugene Frucus…!!”
Harmel’s face went blank with shock. Then the hostility in his eyes sharpened.
A natural reaction. I was the enemy commander who had declared war on the Cobalt Kingdom he served.
“…I will report this to the Duke. You two, keep watch on Count Frucus.”
“Yes, Commander!”
Gritting his teeth, Harmel spun around and hurried off somewhere.
Melissa let out a sigh.
“Haa. Master. Can’t you stay still for even a moment? You suddenly groped my chest and nearly ruined everything from the start… Hup?”
I kissed her. The knights’ eyes went round as they stared. I pulled her body tight against mine, one hand cupping her ass while I deepened the kiss.
When I activated Sensitivity Amplification as well, Melissa began restlessly shifting her feet. After a long kiss I finally pulled away.
A thin strand of saliva still connected our lips. Melissa’s cheeks had flushed a deep red.
“Master. You’re far too reckless….”
“I couldn’t hold back. One more kiss.”
“No, wait just a— Hah, nngh….”
I kissed her again. This time it was rougher than before. The wet sounds of tongues and saliva mixing were loud enough to carry outside. While the knights stared blankly, I made a show of sucking on Melissa’s tongue with loud, wet pulls.
“Nngh…. Nnh!”
Melissa’s eyes went unfocused. She was enjoying the kiss too. Her pussy was probably already wet. I wanted to slip a finger in and check, but there were eyes watching, so I held back.
Or rather, I tried to. I couldn’t suppress the rising urge. I turned so my back shielded her from view. The hand that had been kneading her ass slid under her skirt. I nudged her panties aside and thrust my middle finger deep into her pussy.
Squelch.
The sound was louder than expected; I flinched. She was far wetter than I’d anticipated. Only then did I remember that one of her sexual quirks was exhibitionism. We hadn’t done any exposure play recently, so I’d forgotten.
I pulled my finger free and raised it to eye level. The middle finger was coated in her juices.
I broke the kiss and cupped her cheek. Her expression had almost completely melted. I pressed the slick finger to her lips. Reflexively she began sucking it clean with lewd little pulls of her tongue—an utterly obscene face and filthy tongue-work.
My cock was about to escape my control and stiffen on its own when heavy footsteps announced Harmel’s return.
“Young Lady! The Duke has granted an audience! I will escort you! Eugene Frucus! Get away from the Young Lady this instant!!”
Harmel shouted. Of course I didn’t step away from her.
“Just a moment…. Give me a moment.”
Melissa covered her face with both hands. Her voice trembled. Ten seconds later the hands came down. Her usual expression was back—though her cheeks were still faintly pink.
We followed Harmel to Duke Arhen’s study. We met no servants along the way; they had probably been sent elsewhere.
The moment we entered the study, the atmosphere shifted completely. The presence of Duke Arhen seated behind the desk pressed down on us. Melissa’s face hardened for an instant before smoothing back into its usual calm.
Grauss Arhen, Duke.
A middle-aged man with slicked-back white hair. Handsome, as befitting Melissa’s father. He regarded me with a cold expression.
“What business does the enemy commander have here?”
He didn’t even glance at Melissa standing beside me. I pulled her into my arms and grinned.
“I’ve come with a proposal, Duke Arhen. I’d prefer the knights leave. This isn’t a conversation for their ears.”
“You think I’ll listen to any proposal of yours?”
“You’ll regret it if you don’t.”
“…Harmel. Leave and ensure no one approaches the study.”
“My Lord! It’s dangerous!”
“Harmel. I am not weak.”
Duke Arhen spoke firmly. Harmel had no choice but to lead the knights out.
Duke Arhen was far from weak. He was one of the strongest men in the Cobalt Kingdom. Just as Melissa had trained in both sword and magic as the heir, he too had mastered both. Moreover, he had long since reached the realm of Aura Master. His magic, however, still remained at the advanced level.
As expected of a great hero’s bloodline. Neither Melissa nor this man is ordinary.
If we fought one-on-one fairly, I might actually lose.
I openly groped Melissa’s breasts and ass.
“Haaahn….”
Melissa deliberately let out a lewd moan.
“….”
Duke Arhen fixed us with terrifying eyes. The killing intent I felt was no illusion.
“Count Frucus…. Have you come to insult me?”
“Melissa needs to be touched at least once a day. As for the proposal… she’ll tell you.”
“…Father. It’s been a long time.”
“Do not call me Father. You are the one who left this house. ……You’ve grown vulgar in the time I haven’t seen you.”
“Heh. Allow me to present Master’s proposal. Master wants House Arhen to raise a rebellion. We know the relationship between House Arhen and the Cobalt royal family is poor. Once the war ends, the Cobalt royals will purge House Arhen first.”
“And whose fault do you think that is? All of it is because of you. If you hadn’t caused that incident and run off after Count Frucus, we could have managed somehow.”
“If I hadn’t left, I would have lived as Your Grace’s puppet, tossed about at everyone’s whim. I detest that kind of life.”
“What does House Arhen gain by cooperating with you?”
“We have already opened a path of survival for House Arhen. If you do nothing, House Arhen will ultimately be purged.”
“We will weather this crisis without your help. We always have.”
“This crisis is different from the previous ones. You know that.”
“….”
“Our goal is not the occupation or destruction of the Cobalt Kingdom. The fall of the Cobalt royal family alone will satisfy us. Afterward… let House Arhen rule the kingdom. Is that enough for you? Of course, we cannot leave empty-handed, so you will need to prepare reparations.”
“Not bad. I have one additional condition.”
Melissa frowned.
“What is it?”
“Melissa. Return to the family.”
For a moment Melissa’s face went blank. Her lips twitched, then she couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.
“Pfft.”
She hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands.
A deep crease formed between Duke Arhen’s brows.
“…Forgive me. That condition was far too unexpected. Is Beido not satisfactory?”
“…This has nothing to do with Beido. Your answer?”
“Why bring me back to the family? Do you intend to marry me off to some old man?”
“I will marry you to Count Frucus. I know Count Frucus is a power broker in the Rapheli Kingdom. After this succeeds, we will need a safety measure.”
“…Master already has a woman to whom he has promised marriage.”
“Count Frucus. You answer.”
Duke Arhen looked straight at me.
I fell into thought. Even if I married Melissa, our relationship would not change. The position of principal wife would still belong to Yuria; Melissa would simply become the second wife.
“Very well. However, I have a condition of my own.”
“What is it?”
“Pass the ducal title to Melissa. She will lead the rebellion. After the war ends, she will return the title.”
“….”
Duke Arhen sank into contemplation.
While waiting for his reply, I toyed with Melissa—kneading her breasts, stroking her thighs, and sucking on her lips with wet little smacks.
“Hnnngh, ahn!”
The corner of Duke Arhen’s eye twitched.
“Enough. Count Frucus. I accept your proposal. Melissa. Return to your room at once and change out of those vulgar clothes. Melissa, I will say this in advance: do nothing that brings shame upon House Arhen’s honor.”
“I didn’t expect you to accept so easily. Father. Ah—I may call you Father again, yes?”
“…Do as you like. The succession ceremony will be held in simplified form this evening. Tomorrow we will immediately begin mustering the army.”
“They will notice the rebellion… but if we raise the army and revolt first thing tomorrow… there should be no problem.”
I gave a short laugh. The plan had accelerated far too quickly. The reason was probably… Duke Arhen had already been preparing a rebellion before we ever arrived.
“I will say it again. Return to Melissa’s room and change clothes first.”
“Father. Did you leave my room intact? How unexpected. I thought someone like you would have already cleared it out.”
“….”
Duke Arhen made no reply and simply began reading the documents on his desk. Melissa shrugged, took my arm, and walked out of the study.