23 - Panties Not in My Memories

"Piarot... um, do you have any money by chance?"

"Money?"

"Yeah... There are some things I need to buy, and some investments for the future. So..."

I made my excuse in a voice that trailed off weakly. Asking my girlfriend for money bruised my male pride just a little. But her reaction was nothing like I'd expected.

"Of course."

She nodded without a second's hesitation.

"You saved my life, Evan. Money's no object. I could even give you the key to the family vault. Or write you a blank check in the marquisate's name?"

"...That'd be too much."

I pulled a crumpled sheet of paper from my pocket with trembling hands and held it out.

"For now... take a look at this."

"Huh? What's this?"

She took the paper and narrowed her eyes.

"Evan... this is?"

"I'm a regressor, remember? I jotted down stocks that skyrocket in value in the future."

I cleared my throat and continued my explanation.

"Could you use the marquisate's wealth to buy up as much of these as possible? They're guaranteed to rise. Massive corporate flows like these don't shift easily."

"Yeah!! Got it. I'll write to the butler right away today."

She answered with pure, unclouded cheer, not a shred of doubt.

"You're trusting me too blindly, aren't you? What if I'm a con artist?"

"It's you, Evan."

Her boundless faith made my chest tighten with emotion. Yeah, embarrassment is fleeting, but profits are forever.

"Thanks for believing in me. I'll make sure you live like a queen later... even if it feels shameless using your money..."

"No way! I'm a regressor too. If I don't believe in you, who will?"

"Piarot..."

I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. She nuzzled into my chest and melted against me. A warm silence settled in for a moment.

...

After lunch, as I got ready to head out, I said to Piarot,

"Piarot, I've got somewhere to go for a bit. Mind waiting here at home?"

"I'll come too!!"

She sprang up from the sofa on reflex.

"I'm fine now. People aren't scared of me anymore."

"No, I have to meet someone one-on-one."

I said it firmly, and she pouted her lips.

"Who? A girl?"

"Nope, some drab guy."

"......When will you be back?"

"Two or three hours? I'll hurry."

"Two hours? Can't you make it quicker?"

"Hmm... probably not. Please?"

"Two hours... hmmm... Fine."

She trotted after me all the way to the entrance, seeing me off with big, abandoned-puppy eyes. It was hard to leave with her staring like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that, but for the future, I had no choice. I threw on my coat and stepped out of the old annex.

After stopping by my room to tidy up, my footsteps led me to the 2nd Noble Dormitory. Specifically, the exclusive wing for single rooms reserved for the elite upper crust.

Polished marble floors gleamed under sparkling chandeliers. Even the entrance was guarded by sentries—an imposing sight.

'Damn, it's worlds apart from my pigsty dorm.'

I clicked my tongue at the wealth gap and approached the guard.

"What business do you have?"

"I'm here to see second-year Nil Laventir. Tell him Evan is waiting downstairs."

"Understood."

The guard picked up the intercom. Moments later, the dormitory gate opened, and out walked a pumpkin-haired guy in fine clothes. A pricey gold-rimmed glasses guy. Nil Laventir. Heir to the empire's top magic engineering firm, 'Laventia,' and my second-year classmate.

"What do you want... you."

He eyed me up and down, arms crossed.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Evan."

"I know. You're the hottest guy at school right now. So, what does the famous 'loyal slave' want with me?"

He smirked mockingly.

"A penniless commoner like you, daring to interrupt my rest?"

Just as expected—rude as hell. He drew a hard line based on status, despite being a classmate. But I fired back coolly.

"It's an important story that makes money. Let's move somewhere first."

"Money?"

Nil's eyebrow twitched. He pondered for a second, then nodded toward a quiet bench outside.

"Fine. Let's hear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it."

...

We sat facing each other on a deserted bench.

"Get to the point. My time's expensive."

"A noble like you must know—the marquisate's lady wouldn't fall for a mere commoner that easily."

"......"

Nil's eyes narrowed.

"What are you getting at?"

"That I've got the brains for it."

I grinned, provoking him.

"Your Laventia intel division must've dug into my background. But nothing turned up, right? No motive, no approach method, no trail of how I earned her trust. To the world, I'm just your average work-study kid."

"Hoo..."

The sneer faded from Nil's face. He looked intrigued now.

"Fine, say you're not just a slave but some ambitious schemer. So?"

I pulled another crumpled paper from my pocket and held it out.

Rustle.

"What's this?"

"Stocks set to surge in the next few months."

Nil scanned the paper. His brow furrowed.

"Venter Magic Engineering? That's a sinking ship. You nuts?"

"Your call."

I turned to leave without regret.

"See you next semester."

"W-wait! Hey!!"

Nil called out in a panic.

"What're you trying to say? You can't just drop this and bail!"

I stopped, glancing back over my shoulder.

"You judge everyone's worth by money, don't you?"

"......"

"If my info really pays off, that'll prove my value. Then you'll come crawling to me on your own."

I added meaningfully,

"That's when we'll talk real business. Bye-bye."

I waved and strode out of the dormitory. Behind me, I heard Nil's ragged breathing—but no crumpling of paper.

'He's hooked.'

If investments bordering on foresight pan out... he'll reevaluate me. With that, I'd planted the seed for securing a future backer.

* * *

I turned the master key with familiar ease and opened the front door.

"Piarot, I'm home."

"......"

Quiet. No sign of her rushing out barefoot like usual.

In the bathroom? I stepped into the living room, glancing around. Then instinct kicked in.

That bedroom door—open the tiniest crack, enough for a fingertip. A single red eye glinting from the darkness, peeking at me.

'Hide-and-seek? Cute.'

I pretended not to notice and crossed the living room. That's when—

"Hm?"

Dead center on the living room table, prime real estate: a scrap of black fabric.

'She's been cleaning well lately—what's this doing here?'

I picked it up absentmindedly. Smooth silk against my fingertips.

"......This is?"

Piarot's panties.

"......"

"......"

Silence. A prickling gaze from behind.

This... a trap? It's a trap!! What woman leaves her underwear smack in the middle of the living room like that?!

'A sting operation? Testing my reaction?'

Reason screamed warnings, but manly instinct was faster.

Sniff—

I'd brought the panties to my nose and inhaled deeply before I knew it.

'Oh shit!! I did it without thinking!! She's watching!! You idiot!!'

Too late to snap out of it. But...

'Hm? The smell?'

No trace of her scent—instead, that stiff, chemical whiff of new clothes.

'Brand new?'

Puzzled, I unfolded the panties fully.

"!!!!!!"

Black lace all over, sheer enough to show everything underneath. The back was just straps... the ultimate "victory panties." Super aggressive, slutty lingerie design.

'Her wearing... this...'

I pictured it. Black lace over pale skin. Secret spots barely hidden. My ears burned like they might explode.

"Piarot..."

"......"

"Piarot, I just got back from heading out?"

A flinch from behind the door.

"These... weren't here before. You bought them just now?"

Bang!!

"Aaaahhh!!! How do you even know that!!!"

Piarot kicked the door open and snatched the panties from my hand. Her face was redder than a ripe apple.

"Evan!! Pervert!!"

Slam!!

The door shut hard again. Hey, calling me that when she set the panty trap... But even that reaction was too adorable—I couldn't help laughing.

I approached the closed door and called softly,

"Piarot... you've recovered enough to go buy stuff like that alone?"

"That's..."

"Impressive. You were brave."

A meek voice leaked from the other side.

"Ugh... it was scary..."

For me... I felt like crying.

"Everyone was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠staring... my heart felt like bursting, but I toughed it out."

"But why push yourself that far?"

Silence, then a teary shout burst out.

"But!! Evan doesn't see me as a woman!!"

"......Huh?"

"I thought maybe I wasn't attractive enough..."

Ah. This silly girl.

I couldn't hold back anymore—I opened the door and went in. Piarot, standing right there, looked up startled, then whipped around.

I strode up and hugged her fiercely from behind.

"Ah..."

"Silly. How could I not see how attractive Piarot is? You have no idea how hard I'm holding back."

I rested my chin on her crown, inhaling her sweet hair scent.

"I'm worried, that's all. Because I treasure you."

I lowered my head, lips to her nape, hugging tighter. Through her thin clothes, I felt her slender body and pounding heartbeat.

"Ah... Evan..."

'Ugh...'

And I couldn't hide my body's reaction. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠My crotch stiffened rock-hard, like it might burst my pants, pressing against her waist.

"Feel that?"

"Y-yeah... it's hot..."

Her body went rigid. I could see her face flushing crimson.

"Truth is, I don't trust myself to hold back. You drive me crazy just looking at you."

Poke, poke.

My little brother jabbed her waist in time with my heartbeat.

"I'm desperately fighting the urge to pin you down right now."

"Hah..."

Piarot's legs buckled; she leaned fully into my arms.

"I don't trust myself to hold back. And it's my first time... yours too, right, Piarot? I don't want our first to be rushed and anxious."

"Evan..."

"I want our time together worry-free, perfect and happy. So... don't doubt my feelings. Got it?"

She nodded slowly.

"Y-yeah... got it... sorry."

She stroked my arm shyly. But her waist was subtly grinding back against my center.

'......You vixen.'

I barely managed to let her go. Any longer, and reason would've snapped.

"Now sort your clothes and come out. Let's eat."

I fled the room. From behind came her triumphant "Heehee..." giggle.

Damn. Sage Time tonight for sure.