Chapter 2. Baron's Daughter (2)
Chapter 2. Baron's Daughter (2)
Bedding a pretty girl.
No reason to refuse that.
But today's a different story.
The partner's none other than the Baron's Noblewoman.
Can I handle the aftermath?
If this got back to Baron Kargon's ears, I wouldn't die pretty.
"Um.. miss maid?"
"Just call me Clara."
Clara, leading the way up the stairs, replied curtly.
"Ah, yes. Clara-ssi."
"Got something to say?"
"If the lord finds out.."
Clara's footsteps halted.
She whipped around, looking down at me.
"The lord's away on a trip. Won't be back for three days. So as long as you keep your mouth shut properly, nothing'll happen."
"...Got it."
Refusing wasn't even an option anyway.
If I dodged the bedding.
Anna's pride would get bruised.
That'd be dangerous in its own way.
I had to know my place.
My status is serf.
No choice but to do as told.
Soon, we arrived in front of the Noblewoman's room.
Clara knocked, then opened the door.
"Hmm.. you wash up properly? I can't stand the pig stink if you don't."
Anna approached, mocking me.
Such an arrogant tone.
But what can you do.
She'd been pampered her whole life.
No wonder she grew up so wild and spoiled.
Anna pressed her nose to my body.
Then sniffed, sniffs.
"Good, that's enough."
I entered the room.
It wasn't huge.
But it was neat and stylish.
Every furnishing looked expensive.
The only daughter who hogged all the cute.
Her father, the Baron, must've spared no expense on her.
Anna pointed to a chair.
I plopped down quick.
The fluffy cushion under my butt.
I'd only ever sat on hard wooden chairs, so it felt weird.
"Clara. Bring dinner."
"Understood, miss. I'll have it out soon."
Anna and I sat facing each other.
I kept my eyes on the table.
No telling if I'd catch hell again if our gazes met.
"Commit a crime or something? Chin up."
Fuck, which tune am I supposed to dance to?
I felt like swearing.
Of course, I didn't actually.
That'd really get me killed.
"Yes, miss."
"You're handsome, huh?"
Anna smirked.
She reached out a pale hand, stroking my cheek.
"You know why I called you here today?"
I knew damn well.
Baron's away.
She's seizing the lax surveillance to satisfy her sexual curiosity.
"Dunno.."
But I played dumb on purpose.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Anna said that, then grinned like an idiot for a good while, clearly amused.
Dinner came after a long wait.
Anna grumbled.
About why it was so late.
But to me, it just looked like childish whining.
Still, the meal was fantastic.
Main course: tenderloin steak.
Rich meat aroma wafting up from the sizzling surface.
My mouth watered on its own.
Beef steak, for fuck's sake.
A food I hadn't even glimpsed since reincarnating into this shitty world.
Cows aren't eaten much to begin with.
They're needed for farming.
All serfs can eat is poultry or pork at best.
The sides were plentiful too.
Roasted potatoes.
Sour cream on top.
Perfectly cooked asparagus.
Just looking at it was pure bliss.
Steak wasn't all.
A basket overflowed with soft wheat bread piled high like rice.
Pepper-dusted potato-mushroom soup on the side.
The class gap hit hard.
I eat oat porridge every day.
While nobles feast like this.
So fucking unfair.
Who chooses to be born a serf?
I wanted to be born noble too.
A handsome young lord from an earldom.
Rich, great family.
If so.
I'd have been banging every girl around.
And this food.
Devouring delicious shit like this every meal.
No use regretting now.
Already born a serf.
Gotta live lowly as lowly does.
I picked up fork and knife.
Sliced into the steak.
The tenderloin parted smoothly at the blade, juices spilling out like it'd been waiting.
Insane, for real..
Speared a piece with the fork.
Popped it in my mouth and chewed.
Fuck.. this is..
So goddamn good it brings tears.
Juices coating my tongue.
Chewy yet tender meat.
Subtle meaty aroma.
All blending to corrupt my taste buds.
"You know how to use fork and knife?"
Anna tilted her head.
"Ah, yeah.."
"Where'd a lowly fucker like you learn that?"
Lowly fucker..
This girl's mouth is foul.
Wanted to flip the table right then.
But no way I could.
I shut up and ate quietly.
If I can eat tasty food.
Fuck pride, I'll ditch it.
Potato with sour cream.
Melts like cotton candy the second it hits my mouth.
Roasted asparagus.
Cooked just right.
Still crisp.
Perfect with the steak.
Wheat bread was soft and delicious too.
Since reincarnating into this medieval world.
I'd only had black bread.
And even that was rare.
Mostly just oat porridge.
Oat porridge. Oat porridge. Oat porridge.
Fuck, that shit's not even human food.
Came to and the meal was done.
Clara, attending beside Anna, brought dessert.
Egg tart and coffee.
Coffee?
This world has coffee?
I stared at the coffee, and Anna snickered.
"Bought it from a heathen merchant recently. Coffee, they say. Makes your mind sharp as hell."
"I see.."
Slurp.
Took a sip.
No big difference from my past life.
Like Americano.
But it tasted insanely good.
Makes sense—over 19 years without a drop.
Booze came out too.
Strong distilled liquor.
Like soju but smoother going down.
Buzz starting to hit.
Anna's cheeks flushed red.
She spat her mouth-rinsing water into a bowl.
"You too. Rinse."
"Got it."
I rinsed my mouth clean too.
If I really end up belly-to-belly with Anna, there'll be kissing.
"Clara. Give us the room?"
"Miss, please think again. Spending your first night with a lowly fucker like this.."
Clara tried to dissuade Anna.
But a stubborn miss like her wasn't gonna listen.
"I said it's decided. One more backtalk and I'll spank your ass."
"Sorry, miss."
Soon the table was cleared neat.
Clara left the room and locked the door.
Candle flickering softly on the table.
Atmosphere super awkward.
Silence dragged on a bit.
Then Anna spoke up.
"Hans. Name's Hans, right?"
"Yes, miss."
"My name's Anna. Anna von Kargon."
Anna lifted her chin a tad.
Looked haughty.
But haughty's forgivable.
Not just high status.
Face is pretty too.
"I investigated you thoroughly."
"Did you?"
Slurp.
Anna downed a shot of distillate, nodding.
"James's son. Hogging all the village girls' love and attention."
"..."
Spot on.
But couldn't answer.
Sounded like bragging.
"From now on, answer my questions honestly. Got it?"
"Got it."
Anna stood slowly.
Glided lightly to the window.
Leaned against the frame.
"Fucked a girl before?"
"No."
"I said honestly."
"Really."
Swear to the heavens.
Never once gone belly-to-belly with a girl.
Plenty of chances.
But no girl I liked.
And crucially, scared of pregnancy.
If I knocked someone up, the kid'd be a serf too.
Rigid class system.
Parents serfs, kids serfs.
Poverty and humiliation passed down.
Fucking grim reality.
Serfs are like beasts.
Men exploited for labor with corvée and shit.
Women?
Unluckier in some ways.
Especially the pretty ones.
Lustful lords never leave a pretty, voluptuous virgin alone.
Sure, some score lightning promotions bedding the lord.
But odds are shit.
Most settle as mistresses.
Wife's separate.
Mistress just handles the lord's lust.
Bad luck, and the wife's jealousy gets you assassinated quietly.
That's why I planned to never have kids.
Didn't wanna pass on a wretched life.
Marriage and kids basically mandatory.
But pull out, done.
Claim infertility, maybe get sympathy.
"Hmm.. okay, second question."
Anna peering out the window.
She spun around.
Her tits jiggled.
Damn, they're huge.
H-cup maybe?
Skin so translucent.
Blue veins visible.
"Wanna do it with me?"
What to answer?
Honestly, fuck yeah I do.
If Anna gets pregnant.
At least my kid won't live as a serf.
But can I say I wanna?
What if hidden soldiers burst out?
'You dare covet the miss's body? Die!'
'A lowly beast like you wants to fuck the miss? I'll rip your tongue out.'
Spouting lines like that.
Public execution maybe.
But even if I die, whatever.
Life of eating oat slop like livestock every day.
Ending it here ain't bad.
Booze got me bold?
Or reckless.
Let me spill my true feelings.
"Yes, miss. I wanna drag you to bed, strip naked, and roll around."
"Ho.. how insolent!"
Anna crossed arms, furrowing brows.
Fuck, you told me to be honest.
"Ahem.."
Anna cleared her throat.
Shifted gaze back to the window.
Uncomfortable silence again.
"Hans."
"Yes, miss."
"I'm getting married next month."
Married? News to me.
Makes sense—noble lady's betrothal wouldn't reach a serf like me.
"Opponent's the eldest son of Count Abilark. Saw his face last year."
Count's eldest son..
Yeah, their league.
No doubt.
Marrying into the earldom means even cushier life than now.
"But that guy's ugly as sin. Fat rolls everywhere, eyes creeped me out."
Anna's venting began.
I listened quietly.
After this feast of a meal, I could play emotional trash bin.
"Don't wanna get pregnant with that guy's kid. You get what I'm saying?"
No way.. no fucking way?!
Booze wore off instant.
This girl.
Sounds like she's asking me to be the baby daddy.
"You want my seed?"
"Bingo."
Anna nodded emphatically, grinning wickedly.