Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: There Is No Pre-Study Prohibition Law in the Empire
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There is no pre-study prohibition law in the Empire.
"Eek?!"
The moment I habitually went to tear open the letter handed to me by the familiar postman, I stopped my hand.
The sender was Eclair Dreitna. But the recipient of this letter wasn't me—it was Rike.
'...What is this?'
Have the two of them gotten that close already?
Rike and Eclair.
I nearly doubted it given their respective levels of sociability, but it wasn't as if they had no connection.
Plus, I'd asked her to look after Rike in my absence, so this was a positive sign.
And it wasn't some headache-inducing imperial commission that I had to refuse—just that alone made it good news.
"Rike~ You've got a letter."
Rike, who had been training in the yard, set down her water glass—apparently on a break—and approached while wiping away her sweat.
Rike grinned the moment she saw the name Eclair, without even opening the letter.
"Hmm~ Faster than I expected."
She didn't use any fancy letter opener.
Riiip—
Right there, she boldly tore it open with her hands and scanned the contents with her violet eyes.
I was curious about what the two of them might discuss, but I figured she'd tell me herself, so I waited. Sure enough, Rike hurried over.
"She's inviting me to the mansion for dinner? And she says you've been staying cooped up at home lately... Is it okay if I go?"
It wasn't far off from what I'd guessed. As expected, her sisterly love was ferocious.
"Of course. Ask her to make something delicious."
"Hmm~ Then what should I make for your dinner, bro? Anything you want?"
"Just eat what I prepped for lunch. Go have fun—no, really, that's fine."
I gave Rike's pouting butt a couple light pats, and she nodded.
"There's fruit I bought if you're still hungry! Don't fill up on chocolate like last time."
I'd skipped lunch once with the leftover chocolate from the booze, and it must've stuck with her.
I had no intention of doing that when there was food ready for me.
"I won't, don't worry~ For dinner... let's walk together as far as we can. When you come back, make sure Eclair brings you home. Or should I come wait?"
"Hehe... You're really... such an overprotective brother."
Rike laughed with a troubled expression, but there was nothing for it.
Steady training. Waves of talent.
She was charging ahead like mad using both, but in my eyes, she was still a warrior lacking real combat experience—a naive girl.
Bums or vagrants swarming her would just piss me off to look at...
"What can I do about how I feel? I'll worry less once you're stronger than me."
"Hmm~ Guess I can't help that? I'll tell the knight on the way back, so don't worry. I need to train a bit more and get ready~"
Despite her peppy words, she seemed pleased—her steps back to the yard were light as if she might float away.
Walking through the capital, facing the cool breeze.
Heat flowed in through my brother's firmly gripping large hand, making me feel like I didn't need such thick clothes.
Glug—
"This drink's kinda unique, huh? Not sure if it's good or bad..."
Just looking to my side.
There was my lover, face utterly serious as he evaluated the new menu item. Watching him made laughter bubble up naturally—what a thing, this happiness.
"Bro~ Let me try some."
"Just sip a little. It's an acquired taste—might not be for you."
We strolled to Eclair's mansion, flaunting this everyday happiness straight out of a novel singing praises of peace—nothing different from any other couple around us.
From my brother's place on the outskirts, it was quite a distance at a leisurely pace. Thinking of it as a relaxed walk made it just right.
As her grand mansion, befitting her status, came into view, my brother stopped walking.
"You know what to do on the way back, right?"
"I do. I'll make sure she brings me home."
After a light kiss, I watched him disappear into the alley, then headed to the mansion.
—
The servant who had guided Seria and me last time was at the entrance, so I entered without any tedious procedures.
"Waaah—!! It's been so long! Have you been well?"
Looking at Chloe greeting me, there was none of the old fluttering tension.
She welcomed me with pure, spotless joy.
"Yeah. Doing great? Let's see Seria next time."
Chloe, still habitually polite, nodded eagerly with an excited face.
"Can't today. I heard she has family matters to discuss. Even being the eldest daughter like Sis is tough, but... being an only child like you must be hard too."
"Hmm~ Yeah."
It wasn't entirely unrelated to family matters. For a half-baked excuse, it seemed Chloe bought it without suspicion.
"Sis is just finishing some work in the study... She'll be down soon... Ah!"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Eclair appeared descending the stairs. Chloe said she'd tell the servants to prepare dinner and headed off in another direction.
'Has she gotten a bit worn out in that short time?'
I understood that feeling all too well, so I smiled faintly. Eclair, looking tired, rubbed her eyes.
"You must be tired from the trip. I would've sent a carriage if you'd replied."
"Someone escorted me here."
Eclair's eye twitched as her gaze flicked to the window and back. Embarrassed at unconsciously looking outside, she subtly avoided my eyes.
"..."
"Bro's already gone home. Shall we talk about the important stuff after dinner? Chloe's waiting."
—
Chloe, thrilled to see me after so long, radiated warmth as she asked after me.
I mentioned contacting Seria to meet up before the academy starts, emptying my plate amid the talk.
The only one holding her breath at the dinner table was Eclair Dreitna.
No time to enjoy a leisurely tea afterward. As I headed to the reception room, Chloe waved with a regretful expression.
I sat, picking up the teacup the servants had prepared. Eclair let out a sigh without even drinking, catching my eye.
"Chloe didn't say it, but she seemed really worried about you."
"She did ask if I had that much work... Does it show that much?"
"You look exhausted."
An honest impression. Unable to deny it, she lifted one corner of her mouth.
"Is that so... It's been a while since my body was fine but my mind was eaten away like this."
I set down my cup and deliberately skirted the obvious answer.
"I came to hear your decision. Have you decided to be friends with my brother? Like occasional drinks or meals."
"I'm sorry for what I said so hastily then... It pains me as a knight to go back on my word before a young lady, but... being friends seems difficult."
Eclair smiled bitterly, fidgeting with her fingers as she cast her gaze downward.
"I'd like to hear honestly what made you feel that way. Is that okay?"
Eclair picked up her teacup for the first time, moistened her lips, and spoke with a face as red as her gaze.
"I feel like I'm dying... Roman won't leave my head all day..."
A simple but certain answer. Even as a woman, that shy demeanor was charming.
"I understand. The heart has limits no matter the will."
Especially relatable, Eclair nodded.
"Just in passing, but there was a noble girl asking me to find Roman a concubine. Just imagining him accepting if I told him... it felt like my bones would snap."
Absurd—I snorted involuntarily.
"Bro would never accept that."
"Hehe, you're right..."
"When we talked polygamy, he said, 'Only a woman I wouldn't regret taking responsibility for.' He wouldn't just pick up some stranger."
Eclair's eyes shook greatly at the story. Then she drew a warm smile.
"That's... so like Roman."
I emptied my teacup. Now for the real topic.
"Seems you've set your course properly. I'll arrange a meeting soon."
"S-Soon...?"
Eclair was a bit flustered at the near future, but I couldn't worry about such details.
"Knight. I told you I'd share what my brother likes, right?"
"Ah— I remember. I'm all ears."
Leaning forward, Eclair shone with scholarly zeal and serious eyes.
"Not fully set yet, so I can't explain everything, but... even if he ejaculates inside during sex, no pregnancy worries. Don't stress—the volume will be huge, though."
"...Huh?"
"First time for you, so he'll adjust. If oral, be careful not to let teeth touch—stimulate the base with your tongue—"
"W-Wait a second!!!"
Her face might've never been this red. She shot up from her seat, eyes spinning like whirlpools.
"What's wrong?"
"...I thought since it's a chance to convey your heart... you'd tell me his favorite foods or habits...?"
"Exactly. And after conveying it? You plan to stop if he accepts?"
Eclair averted her eyes to the door and muttered.
"D-Depending on the mood... a k-kiss maybe...?"
Crack—!
The teacup in Rike's hand cracked, and the reception room's temperature plummeted.
"Knight. Didn't I say I won't yield to such half-hearted attitudes?"
"..."
"Sit down."