The Pretty and Competent Administrator (12)
"Well, if it's you, Bertrand, I don't mind you looking. You saved me, after all."
"The logic's a bit off, but... thanks anyway."
As I didn't avert my gaze, Hildeva looked a little embarrassed and buttoned her shirt back up.
Hildeva handed me the now-empty bottle of mead.
"Want more? You've already drunk a ton... You finished it all by yourself."
"I'm good. Hurry and bring more. Can't drink starting tomorrow, so might as well while I can."
"Need any snacks?"
"Nah. Snacks slow me down. Just the booze."
I shook my head and stood up from my seat. A woman who looked so prim and bookish—how does she drink like this?
When Hildeva brought the mead, she downed it like someone who'd wandered the desert for days, nonstop. Watching her pour it straight down her throat at that insane speed made even me nervous.
"Ahh, so good. Thanks, Bertrand. For opening an inn in our city."
"Yeah... But... slow down a bit..."
"Don't worry. Hehe."
Only after emptying half the large bottle did Hildeva set down her glass and let out a burp.
"Whew... Now the buzz is kicking in..."
Her tongue seemed a little loose already...
I roughly calculated what she'd drunk. That amount in such a short time would floor even Vlavand the Vengeful, famed as a booze hound.
And sure enough...
"Oh nooo! Bertrand! The table's tipping over!"
Hildeva suddenly shrieked that the table was flipping and grabbed it tight. The strong liquor was hitting her all at once now.
"Grab that side!"
"Ah, yeah, got it."
I gripped the opposite corner while steadying her arm with my other hand so she wouldn't fall.
"Uhehehe! The ground's all weird!"
"Aigoo, Administrator."
As she thrashed and nearly tumbled off the chair, I yanked her arm. She came right into my shoulder, clinging tight.
"Hng..."
With her glasses askew, Hildeva wrapped her arms around my arm and rubbed her cheek against my shoulder.
"Bertraaand..."
"Administrator. Time to head in?"
"I can drink moooore..."
Her breath reeked of alcohol. Amid her body's heat came a scent of soap.
"Up you go. Work starts tomorrow. Can't get fired."
"Won't... get fiiired... I'm the smaaart pretty offiiiicial..."
"Exactly. So get up."
Hildeva had no intention of standing and stuck to me like a cicada. I wrapped an arm around her waist to lift her, and she yelped, staggering.
"The floor's spinning!"
In the end, I had to scoop her up. Hildeva was fairly tall but slim, so surprisingly light. Cradled in my arms, she squealed and looped her arms around my neck.
"My priiiince!"
"Haha."
I carried her up the stairs into the room. Amid the chilly air without a fireplace, Hildeva mumbled.
"Cooold..."
"Blankets'll warm you up."
I sat her on the bed, but she grabbed my wrist.
"Administrator. Let go of my arm. Time for bed."
Her face flushed deep, she met my eyes with a trembling gaze.
"Still buzzed? Bed's not moving—lie down easy."
"B-Bertrand."
I gently pried her hand off and spoke kindly.
"I'll wake you early tomorrow."
But Hildeva shook off my hand and clamped onto my wrist again.
"Hey now, Administrator. Like a kid..."
"Don't go... Stay with me."
Hildeva cut me off.
"Don't go... Stay with me."
I looked down at her silently, and she averted her eyes, speaking in a wet voice.
"In this remote town... It's been so hard and lonely..."
Still holding my wrist, Hildeva continued.
"Waking up mornings... Grolluks took the livestock overnight... Someone left... 'When's the subjugation squad coming? What're you doing, Administrator?'..."
"I see."
"Scary and overwhelming... Thought of running so many times, but... then my parents..."
Hildeva trailed off, tears streaming.
Right—she'd mentioned before how supporting her had left her parents penniless.
"Then you came, Bertrand... And like a miracle, everything fixed itself..."
Looking up at me through tears, Hildeva said.
"You stepped up first to help me, took every risk to keep my position..."
"That was..."
"You're the ray of light in my dead-end life. Even if... I don't know what you did before."
Hildeva laughed through sobs.
"Maybe a secret prince from the capital."
She tugged my wrist.
"Bertrand. Save me one more time tonight."
I sighed deeply.
"You don't even know me well and you're this easy..."
"I'm not that kind of girl. Even if it's my first time... with you, Bertrand..."
"No, it's not about first time or whatever... Uh..."
Hildeva undid her ponytail with one hand. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders. Already pretty, with it down she was stunningly beautiful—like one of the goddesses from a cathedral mural.
As I stared blankly, Hildeva slowly unbuttoned her shirt. Fully undone, she breathed shallowly and pulled my wrist toward her chest.
I let her guide me, pushing her shoulders to lay her on the bed.
"Bertrand..."
Her frail, excited voice melted into my lips. Rough breaths mingled with saliva, nails raking my back, legs coiling my waist. In the room heated by our bodies, Hildeva gave herself to me—a virgin.
Once Hildeva passed out, I tucked her in. Naked, she might catch a cold. Looking at her sleeping face stirred pity. Probably younger than me... Thrust into running a whole city right after appointment—who knows how tough it'd been.
I'd been chosen by the Goddess ten years ago, thrust into hero status cluelessly, but my situation differed vastly from hers. I had the Goddess's near-cheat blessings and powerful comrades. Hildeva had shouldered it all alone.
It'd only get harder ahead, so I'd help as much as I could.
Opening the room door, I heard noisy footsteps on the stairs to the third floor. Della awake? Up there, Della was struggling in front of her door.
"Della? What're you doing?"
"M-Master...?!"
Della looked mortified, avoiding my eyes while yanking the door with one hand. Her other clutched the inside of her thigh under her skirt. Bluntly put, she looked about to burst needing the bathroom...
"Wh-why won't this... open...? Haha..."
Della stomped and rattled the door. I stepped up, turned the knob, and it opened easily.
"Huh? Weird... It definitely... wouldn't open..."
"What're you on about. Go to bed."
"G-good night..."
Della slammed the door in my face.
What the hell was that about in the middle of the night?
Next morning, I woke early, roused the sleeping Hildeva, and headed to the kitchen. Heated the griddle, whisked eggs quick for an omelet. Finely chopped veggies and ham, stir-fried, spread over the wide egg, folded half. Drizzled leftover lasagna sauce from yesterday and took it up alone.
Della, fresh from milking, met my eyes and quickly looked away.
"Sleep well...?"
"Set that down and come eat."
"Okay..."
Lighting the fireplace and setting the table, I heard groaning from the stairs.
"Ow ow... My back..."
Hildeva descended limping, hand on her waist.
"Back hurts..."
Grimacing nonstop, she eased into a chair.
"Ow ow..."
"Administrator. You okay?"
Della, just from the kitchen, asked worriedly. Hildeva patted her waist.
"My back hurts."
"Ah! Oh, uh... yeah..."
Della flushed and bowed her head.
We sat and ate omelets. Hildeva grimaced about her back but kept exclaiming in delight. Della seemed off, barely eating, dropping her fork, spilling food, fumbling.
"You sick?"
"Huh? No, nothing like that... Sorry..."
Della apologized meekly, picking up her fork from the floor.
After breakfast, Hildeva headed to City Hall. Della and I prepped, expecting guests today. Best route: leave Bue early morning, arrive Rosens evening, overnight here, then Fribourg. Guests should trickle in at dusk.
All morning, Della subtly avoided me. No clue why... Did she figure out what Hildeva and I did last night? But that's not an issue—we're not adulterers... Shocked maybe. Eh, it'll pass. Can't just ask outright.
Hildeva didn't return even for lunch after City Hall—swamped enough to skip meals. Della, back from field deliveries, reported the town buzz: hope reviving, streets excited. Outsiders heading to City Hall, some officials. Might eat here, she guessed.
Sure enough, a group soon entered.
"Welcome!"
Della greeted warmly. By their clothes, Bue officials for site checks. They sat, ordered, chatted among themselves: when back to Bue, bigger town than thought, tough for solo administrator, etc.
"But that administrator here's smoking hot, right? Mole under her lip, tiny waist... No joke."
"Yeah. Wish I'd been assigned here."
Della startled, glancing between me and them.
"Why? What?"
"Y-you're... okay...?"
"What about?"
"N-nothing..."
Della mumbled faintly and hurried food to their table.