Chloe and the Super Luxury Steamer (1)
The group enjoying tea time together all turned their attention to Chloe.
I raised one hand in response to Chloe's formal greeting.
"Pleased to meet you, Chloe."
It wasn't a sudden visit. Earlier, I'd asked her to introduce me to some promising cadets from the Pantheon social club.
'If I build rapport with them, I can get my hands on the midterm theory exam study guides.'
I'd been steadily studying theory on my own, but the sheer volume was overwhelming. To completely dismantle Cardinal Grious's schemes, I needed to be fully prepared.
"This is my first time visiting Count Yulian von Reinhardt's estate. It's an honor."
Chloe said this while subtly taking in my mansion.
My residence in the affluent district of the imperial capital wasn't far from Chloe's own mansion in the same neighborhood.
But this was her first visit, so her red eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Northerners do tend to be frugal. Hehe. For the heir to a grand duke, this place seems... a bit small, don't you think? Practical enough, I suppose. Though it's still not quite up to the luxury inns run by our Aiterne Merchant Group."
It was the kind of arrogant remark befitting the daughter of the empire's wealthiest merchant house.
Chloe's mansion in the capital was exceptionally lavish and grand, but mine was hardly modest—befitting the heir to a grand duke. Even Lucia, a baron's daughter, had been astonished by its size.
'Cheeky as ever.'
But as usual, I didn't call out Chloe's rudeness. There were others present besides me.
"Oh my. You already have a guest. And that lady is... hmm..."
Chloe glanced at Lucia, who nodded in greeting.
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Chloe de Aiterne. Lucia Mei of the Mei Baronetcy offers her regards."
"Ah, right. I blanked on the name for a moment. Though I've seen your face a few times before. Nice to meet you, Miss Lucia. Your family's territory was famous as a resort, wasn't it?"
In response to Lucia's relatively polite greeting, Chloe lightly fanned herself. As a marquis's daughter, Chloe outranked the baron's daughter, so by imperial noble custom, it was proper for Lucia to show deference first.
'In truth, Lucia is the daughter of the renowned Duke Pedro.'
But even Duke Pedro himself was unaware—or rather, indifferent—to that fact.
Seeing them side by side like this reminded me anew that Chloe was a highborn lady. And that her notoriously prickly personality marked her as the story's villainess, enough to chill the once-warm tea time atmosphere.
'I avoided her at first too.'
Back when I played Demon King Slayer, Chloe had caused my game overs more than once or twice.
Of course, now that I'd tamed her well, she was more like an obedient pet that followed my every word.
'Though calling her a pet... might be a stretch.'
A pet that secretly spiked her master's drink? Well, some dogs had nasty tempers, so it wasn't entirely off.
Chloe turned to Eirin, who had nodded from beside Lucia, and spoke up.
"Oh my. Tea time, I see. If it wouldn't be a bother, might I have a cup as well, Miss Eirin?"
I subtly observed Eirin's expression. It had been impassive around Lucia—a natural look for her.
But now, facing someone she disliked, her true feelings were plain as day.
"Of course, Lady Chloe de Aiterne. I'll bring it right away."
She lifted the hem of her maid skirt slightly, replying with a radiant smile. Even I found that expression a bit intimidating.
'Women are something else.'
Lucia, perhaps feeling awkward alone with Chloe, hurriedly said her goodbyes and rose to leave.
"Well then, Count Yulian! I'll be off!"
"Thanks for your help, Lucia. We'll spar again next time. Roberto! Tell Hans to see her home."
"Right away, young master."
With Lucia gone, Chloe and I were briefly alone. She sat across from me at the reception table.
"Sharing tea on a weekend morning like this... you and that baron's daughter must be quite close, Count."
"We bonded during Roia Hall training."
"I see. That explains it. You mentioned sparring just now as she left. Among Roia Hall's skilled cadets, there are Rip, the hall representative, or Fabian of the Rot baronetcy... hmm."
I gave Chloe a meaningful smile.
"I don't know much about that Miss Lucia since she doesn't mingle well with nobles. But that striking pink hair and looks stuck in my mind. With her beauty, she'd make a fine match for you, Count."
Chloe seemed to be misunderstanding something—looking like she'd uncovered a hidden lover.
Lucia's beauty was exceptional, but her swordsmanship had only recently come into the spotlight, so it was understandable she didn't know much yet.
'Things will get interesting after midterms.'
By then, Lucia would join the gold ranks too. That meant one more cadet for Chloe to watch out for, besides Rozette.
If rivalry among the heroines spurred them on, it was all to my benefit.
Moments later, Chloe finished the tea Eirin had served.
"Shall we get going then? I'll escort you, Count. Today is all about you. Care to ride in my carriage?"
"Very well."
I left the mansion with Chloe.
Chloe rode in her carriage with Count Yulian von Reinhardt.
They sat facing each other. She'd tried slyly to sit beside him, but he'd refused.
'He's shy.'
They'd already shared intimate moments. In private like this, sitting side by side to foster high-noble camaraderie wouldn't be improper at all.
'Though his tsundere act is cute too.'
Chloe licked the corner of her lips. From the moment they'd entered the carriage alone, her secret place had twitched wildly, but she held back for now.
'Plenty of opportunities ahead.'
She'd come fully prepared today. Confident she could seduce him.
'Unlike the past few weeks. Today, I'll make it happen.'
She'd met Count Yulian sporadically during that time.
They'd crafted the ice crystal statue he presented to the emperor together, and she'd run into him again at Cecilia's workshop.
'But no chance for more than that... I can't hold back anymore. I want him so badly it's driving me mad.'
She'd once dismissed men as worthless. But this count was different.
The sole heir to a grand duke—noble blood. Skilled in worldly arts, disguising himself as a scoundrel at just the right moment.
Plus swordsmanship worthy of the Reinhardt name. Striking looks. He lacked nothing—overflowed, in fact. That was Yulian von Reinhardt.
'I want him. Such a priceless treasure... no, a priceless count. If I don't claim him, who will?'
Moreover, the mood among the feudal lords had grown tense lately.
At the emperor's recent birthday banquet, the count's ice crystal statue had demonstrated unwavering loyalty, swaying several neutral lords to the emperor's side.
The emperor's faction was led by Margrave Wilhelm, of course. With his heir reaffirming the unbreakable bond between the emperor and Essemont before the lords' envoys, it had solidified their resolve.
'Our Aiterne remains neutral in the central region, for now.'
Even within House Aiterne, opinions were divided.
Align with the rising southern faction under Duke Pedro? Or the steadfast imperial faction under the margrave? Her family was deliberating.
'My brothers have been busy lately. Probably scheming as shadow dukes.'
The heirs to the Aiterne Merchant Group were equally occupied, weighing which connections to leverage for the succession.
No official heir had been named yet.
Chloe was the frontrunner, but her brothers were desperate for the position too.
Teaming up with Count Yulian could give her the ultimate weapon to end the competition.
Every circumstance and condition screamed for her to claim the count.
And the cool, calculating Chloe was confident she could seduce him by any means.
'That said...'
This time felt different from seducing other men.
She wanted to possess and dominate him, yes. But deep down, she craved being dominated by him even more.
'Is this what they call love... no, affection?'
She scoffed inwardly. Chloe refused to admit she was that sentimental.
But she couldn't suppress the thought that kept surfacing unconsciously. One she'd been mulling over lately.
'Even if Count Yulian has a fiancée, imperial law allows a grand duke to take concubines.'
The Holy Ramir Empire upheld monogamy in principle, even for nobles. Though countless lords openly kept concubines.
As future grand duke, Yulian could have Lilia as his wife—and Chloe could still stand beside him.
'No. If I bear his heir, I could even steal the principal wife's seat.'
That princess was all bust and no brains—a sheltered flower ignorant of the world's harshness. Chloe was certain she wouldn't lose to such a fool. Nor to the count's other beauties; her own looks surpassed them.
As Chloe plotted her future inwardly, the carriage arrived at its destination.
"We're here. You're awfully quiet for you, Chloe. Something not agreeing with you?"
"Of course not. I was just mentally reviewing a complex alchemy formula. Shall we?"
She couldn't admit she'd been fantasizing about his child.
Chloe checked her makeup in her hand mirror and alighted with Yulian.
Chloe had been quiet the entire carriage ride.
When we first boarded, she'd made sticky nasal sounds and kept trying to scoot next to me, so I'd swatted her hand and shooed her to the opposite seat.
'Sulking?'
Her expression seemed fine, though. She'd claimed to be pondering alchemy formulas, but that rang false.
The carriage reached our destination—a luxury steamer docked ahead.
"What do you think, Count Yulian? Our merchant group's pride: the super luxury Daern River cruise ship, Emelia!"
As Chloe said, the steamer was extravagantly opulent. Boarding revealed the Daern River's scenery at a glance.
The massive river bisecting the capital. And upon it, this premier cruise liner.
Chloe had rented out an entire floor today at my request.
'A hidden spot even in Demon King Slayer. Getting in so easily.'
True to its elite status, it featured casinos, auction houses, and more—all members-only.
In the game, snagging a ticket took serious effort. But Chloe made it effortless.
'I planned to visit eventually. Perfect timing.'
Chloe continued.
"I've also invited the social club president and executives. Under your name, not mine, Count Yulian!"
That would make getting the study guides even easier. Not bad.
'Inviting them in my name. Chloe has good instincts.'
Chloe unfurled her fan with haughty flair, clearly fishing for praise.
"Then let's head to where the social club cadets are."
But I'd provided her with talents like Eirin and Cecilia in return. Ignoring her, I proceeded into the steamer.