The Young Master Keeps Staring at My Chest
The next morning, the courtyard in front of the Lord's Castle was a total disaster.
"Wh-what in the world is this...!"
Dad, who'd spent the night wrestling with a backlog of petitions and had dark circles under his eyes, came rushing out in his pajamas, utterly speechless in shock. At the end of his gaze lay a house-sized Shadow Owl Bear, bound tight with ropes, foaming at the mouth and sprawled out helplessly.
"My lord! It's a m-monster! A mutant one, at that!"
Sir Mason, the guard captain out on patrol, came sprinting over with his sword drawn. But the beast had been steam-rolled by Seria's all-nighter sauna treatment—its soul utterly drained—and couldn't even twitch a finger.
"Morning, Dad."
I adjusted my wide-brimmed detective hat at a jaunty angle and waved from where I was perched on the Shadow Owl Bear's belly. Beside me stood Seria, still rocking our couple's look with her trench coat.
"Ka-Kalian?! Seria?! Why are you two on top of that monster... No, what are you even wearing?!"
Dad turned pale and shouted.
"Ta-da! Martel Detective Agency—first case solved perfectly!"
I crowed triumphantly, giving the beast's feathers a couple of pats.
"This guy's the culprit behind the 'black ghost' rumors. A Shadow Owl Bear—specializes in stealth and sleep gas. Last night, we caught it red-handed trying to raid the western sheep pastures."
"Y-you two took down this monster by yourselves!?"
Sir Mason gaped, his jaw practically on the floor.
"Yep. Seria smashed its skull, and I bound it with magic. We even returned all the stolen sheep safe and sound."
At my casual reply, Dad's legs gave out, and he plopped right down on the spot.
"Haa... You kids never listen. What if you'd gotten hurt?!"
"Aw, come on, Dad. You know how capable we are. And this thing? It's a walking money bag."
I grinned and pointed at its feathers.
"These feathers are top-grade material for stealth magic tools, the hide's super tough, and that mana stone in its heart? Worth a fortune. Sell it to the Gold Wheel merchants, and we'll compensate the farmers handsomely and fill the territory's coffers to bursting."
"...A money bag?"
A spark of life flickered in Dad's hollow eyes. Classic response from the guy in charge of the barony's finances.
"Ahem! I-is that so? Sir Mason! Prep this thing for handover to the Gold Wheel guild right away! Make sure they pay top dollar!"
"As you command, my lord!"
Sir Mason saluted smartly and started directing the soldiers to drag the beast away. Only then did Dad let out a sigh of relief, coming over to ruffle my hair.
"Whew, you rascal. Next time, tell your dad first before you go off. I nearly had a heart attack."
"Got it. But it was urgent this time."
"Yeah, yeah. Glad Seria's safe too. Thanks for always watching over Kalian."
"Not at all. It's my duty."
"Haha, good job, detectives. Get some rest."
Dad patted Seria's shoulder too, then headed back to his office with a spring in his step. No doubt he was already calculating prices for monster hide and mana stones, lost in happy thoughts.
With things more or less sorted, I stretched my stiff neck and yawned.
"Ugh, pulling an all-nighter's rough."
I tossed off the detective hat and flung away the hot, heavy coat. Seria shrugged off her own cumbersome trench coat, draping it over her arm with a light exhale.
"Good work, Seria. We make a pretty solid detective duo, huh?"
I flashed her a grin, and she brushed the dirt off her uniform sleeves with a smirk.
"Next time, just leave it to the guards like a good boy. Once is enough for detective play."
"Boo, no fun. You looked thrilled smashing that guy's skull yesterday."
"That was righteous fury against a beast tormenting your subjects. I wasn't thrilled."
"Heh, sure, sure. Got it. Oh, right! We gotta give Luke a fat bonus too. Without his intel network, we'd have suffered for days."
"Good idea. Throw in a meat party, and he'd love it."
"Sweet! Barbecue in the courtyard tonight!"
We headed into the Lord's Castle side by side. Our bodies ached from the stakeout and fight, but solving the territory's headache filled us with pride, lightening our steps.
"Seria."
"Yes, young master?"
"If trouble hits the barony again, Martel Detective Agency deploys once more?"
"...If that's what you want, I'll lead the charge. It's my mission."
"Deal. Time to get proper detective outfits tailored!"
"Don't you dare."
"Aw, why not!"
Summer had arrived.
"Hoo..."
I sat in the shade of the training ground, wiping sweat and sighing. My lighter clothes made moving easier, but lately, one thing had been nagging at me oddly.
The young master's gaze...
These days, when chatting with him, I'd catch his eyes lingering on my face before slyly drifting downward. He wasn't staring outright, of course—just a split-second glance, then he'd flinch, look away, or fake a cough. But a knight's sharp senses don't miss a thing.
I knew exactly where those eyes were headed.
I glanced down at my chest. Beneath the thinner shirt, curves swelled far more prominently than before.
"..."
Honestly, I wasn't thrilled with my breasts. They threw off my balance swinging a sword, got in the way running. I'd seriously considered binding them tight with bandages for training—not just once or twice.
Why does he keep looking?
Since we were kids, he'd treated me like just a neighborhood buddy.
Does he think they're ugly or something?
Maybe he saw me as un-knightly, too oblivious? All sorts of thoughts swirled.
They snowballed, muddling my mind. I wrung out my sweat-soaked towel and stood.
No point brooding alone. Time to ask the maids for advice.
I headed inside the Lord's Castle and spotted a gaggle of maid aunties gossiping in a hallway corner.
"Um, aunties."
I approached cautiously, and the Head Maid auntie and others greeted me warmly.
"Oh, Seria! Training over? You look beat."
"Y-yeah. Um... I have a question."
I glanced around, swallowed hard. It was embarrassing, but curiosity won.
"D-do... do men like breasts?"
"...Oh my?"
Their eyes lit up at my blunt question. They exchanged knowing looks, then circled me like hyenas spotting prey.
"Seria, this is about young master Kalian, right?"
"Wha?! N-no! Just curious about guys in general..."
"It's fine, it's fine. And yeah, that boy's gaze has been anything but innocent lately."
The Head Maid auntie patted my shoulder with a chuckle.
"Listen up, Seria. Men are visual creatures. Breasts? A woman's ultimate weapon!"
"W-weapon?"
"You bet! Even the gruffest guy can't resist a sexy curve."
"R-really...?"
"Yep. Young master's at that hot-blooded age, and with a pretty, curvy girl like you stuck to his side? No wonder."
"I-I'm not..."
I ducked my head, blushing. So he wasn't seeing me as grotesque—he was attracted to me as a woman? The thought made my chest tingle oddly.
"But Seria, you always wear that navy uniform."
A younger maid sister pointed at my outfit.
"Fine for daytime knight duty, but at night? Try something cute like pajamas."
"C-cute pajamas?"
"Yeah! He'd love it. Guys melt for that. Cool knight by day, adorable girl by night! Perfect!"
"N-no, the young master doesn't care..."
I waved my hands frantically, but the Head Maid had already hooked her arm in mine.
"We get it, you're shy. Come on, this way."
"Wha?! A-auntie!"
They dragged me to a back room in the laundry before I could resist.
A moment later, the Head Maid auntie pulled a sheer pink silk slip from the depths of a wardrobe and shoved it into my hands.
"Try this on. Nice deep neckline, hem hits above the knees—shows off your legs beautifully."
"...!!"
I stared at it, eyes spinning. This wasn't pajamas—it was a scrap of fabric! Spaghetti straps thin as thread, lace-trimmed bust giving off a seductive vibe.
"N-no way! I can't wear something this indecent...!"
I snapped to and tried handing it back, but the aunties scattered at light speed.
"Oh, look at the time! Laundry to hang!"
"Gotta clean the halls! Fighting, Seria!"
"Aunties!!"
My cry echoed futilely in the empty laundry room. Left alone, I clutched the flimsy silk tight.
Night deepened. Standing before my room's mirror, I alternated glances between the pink slip and my reflection.
"...I'm insane."
No matter how I looked, it was way too revealing. Show up like this, and he'd think I was a total perv.
Just wear my usual cotton tee.
I went to stuff it in the wardrobe, but the maids' words echoed.
Guys melt for that. Young master would love it.
...Would he like it on me? Would he see me differently—not just as a friend?
"..."
I bit my lip. My heart pounded.
I recalled his teasing grin, full of mischief. And that cute way his ears flushed when he snuck peeks at my chest.
"W-would he really like it?"
I whispered to my mirror self. No answer came, but my fingers were already undoing my uniform shirt buttons.