Chapter 589: The Butler's True Feelings
Chapter 589: The Butler's True Feelings
“No…!”
“Lady Diana. My apologies. Would it be alright if I retired a little early today? I am not feeling well.”
Before I could even make an excuse, Vanessa looked at Diana with emotionless eyes and said as much.
I suppose it was just like Vanessa to ask for Diana's permission instead of just storming out, even in a situation like this.
“Ah, erm. If you're not feeling well, it can't be helped. Yes. Go on to your room and get some rest for the day.”
“Thank you.”
The moment Diana nodded reflexively, Vanessa gave a slight bow and quickly disappeared from the dining hall.
“What are you doing?! Go after her!”
While I was racking my brain, Vanessa vanished completely.
And at the same time, Diana pushed my back, shouting loudly as if there was no longer any need to whisper.
The only reason we were whispering in the first place was out of consideration for the others.
Even if they'd accepted my relationship with Vanessa after Diana's persuasion, having them meticulously help me through the process of winning Vanessa's heart completely would be unpleasant, even for my kind-hearted girls.
That's why Diana and I had been whispering, so the others wouldn't have to worry about it. But now that we've been caught, there's no need to hide it anymore.
In any case, Diana's urging was giving me a headache.
Even if I go after her… what am I supposed to say to explain this situation?
Apologize? Should I just go and bow my head unconditionally? Would that be enough?
But for what? What exactly am I supposed to apologize to Vanessa for?
For planning to slowly develop our relationship to the point of having sex? Or for saying I'd make her unable to live without me?
No. Wait a minute. Is there really any need to make excuses or apologize for that?
When I think about it, both of those things are my true feelings. It's not like I said anything I need to apologize for, right?
“…No. I'm not going after her.”
Resisting the push of Diana's hands on my back, I sat still and organized my thoughts for a moment, ultimately deciding not to chase after Vanessa.
“You?!”
“Sob… I-I'm sorry…”
Naturally, Diana looked shocked by my decision, and for some reason, Leia, who was sitting across from me, looked like she was about to cry as she apologized.
Come to think of it, her foot was no longer on my crotch. Moreover, her triangular ears were completely folded down, a clear sign of how dejected she was.
Ah, I see. Leia must think she ruined everything.
And that guilt must have sobered her right up.
She doesn't need to feel that guilty, though.
“No. Leia, you don't have to be sorry.”
“But because of me…”
“No, it's not like that. I didn't stop you, either. And it felt good.”
As I said that, I extended my own foot and stroked Leia's leg. Gently, as if to comfort her.
Of course, that didn't make her dejected expression improve.
But the feeling of Leia's leg against my foot… it's truly the best…
“…What are you two talking about right now?”
“Uh, huh?! N-Nothing! Nothing at all!”
That was close. I almost got distracted again.
If Sara hadn't pointed it out, I would have been in trouble.
I collected myself and continued speaking to comfort Leia.
“Anyway, don't worry too much. I actually enjoyed seeing a different side of you, Leia. And as for Vanessa, this is fine.”
“What do you mean, it's fine?! Do you have any idea what I… what I went through to…!”
But I don't know how she interpreted my words, because this time, Diana lunged at me.
It was as if she was about to grab me by the collar.
“Calm down, Diana. That's not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?!”
“I mean that this might actually be a good thing for my relationship with Vanessa to progress.”
“…Hmm?”
“I have a plan. I'll tell you the details later.”
I said to the puzzled Diana, gesturing toward the others with my eyes.
We were caught planning to win Vanessa over completely, but that doesn't mean the girls would be happy to hear the details of that plan.
I might have blurted some things out to control the situation, but there's no need to explain everything right here and now.
“So trust me, and for now, just leave it to me.”
“…But… are you truly confident?”
Diana must have understood my intentions, as she asked in a slightly calmer voice.
“To be honest, I'm not that confi—just kidding. Kidding. I'm confident. Trust me. So for now, let's all stop worrying about Vanessa and just eat. Okay?”
“…I understand.”
“…Okay.”
I finally managed to settle the situation and resumed the meal.
Diana had a somewhat complicated expression, and Leia still looked wracked with guilt, but they both seemed to accept my words for the time being.
“…I still don't get what's going on.”
However, Sara, at least, was still looking at Leia and me with suspicious eyes.
This is bad. I have to change the subject, fast!
“By the way, Leia, why did you get so drunk in the first place? I don't think I've ever seen you drink that much.”
“W-What?! I-It was nothing special!”
I had only asked Leia to change the subject, but for some reason, her reaction was extremely suspicious.
Just a moment ago she was looking dejected, but now her face was bright red and she was starting to panic.
Acting like that is as good as announcing that something happened.
“Why? What is it? If you drank that much, it can't have been 'nothing special,' right?”
“I-It's true. Cardinal Matilda said she couldn't sleep, so we thought having a little wine might help, and… that's why we drank a little.”
Huh? What's this about? Can't sleep? It's still too early to go to bed.
Ah, come to think of it, Matilda did say she didn't sleep yesterday.
But if she was trying to sleep because of that, there's no reason she shouldn't have been able to.
Besides, if they were just drinking for that reason, there's no way Leia would have reacted with such embarrassment just now.
But Leia would never lie to me.
“The two of you drank together?”
“Y-Yes…”
“What did you talk about?”
“…I don't know.”
So the topic of conversation was the problem.
After giving only that answer, Leia ducked her head and focused solely on her meal, as if to say, ‘I'm concentrating on eating now, so don't talk to me.’
Leia. That just makes me more curious.
But looking at her, it didn't seem like she'd answer even if I pressed her further.
What on earth did they talk about?
Seeing as she doesn't want to tell me, it seems like they must have been talking about me.
There's no way the two of them were having a sexual conversation. Not Leia and Matilda, of all people—a duo of clerics. No way.
The mystery only deepened.
“Well then. I'll trust you.”
“Yeah. Leave it to me.”
Anyway, after we finished eating, Diana, who had been quiet the whole time, said just that to me.
Since I'd asked her to trust me with such conviction, she wouldn't interfere for now, but she still looked a little anxious.
Well, of course she would.
Diana, too, probably isn't thrilled about me adding any more women to my life.
And yet, she was the one who took the initiative to try and make Vanessa mine.
That alone must give her complicated feelings, so the sense that things are getting twisted must be making her head spin even more.
If there's anything I can do for Diana, it's to repay her by making Vanessa mine for sure.
I don't have to wait long. Let's just see how things are by tomorrow.
Before Diana left the dining hall, I gave her head a gentle pat.
“G-Guwon… I'm so sorry about today…”
And after Diana left, Leia came up to me with an apologetic look on her face.
“No. Like I said before, I think this might have been for the best. You have nothing to be sorry for, Leia.”
“…Okay. You have to make sure you properly console Miss Vanessa, okay? Otherwise, I don't think I'll be able to face her.”
Even as I spoke comfortingly, Leia pressed her body against mine as if leaning on me and said it again.
It seemed Leia felt sorry not just for me, but also for Vanessa, who must have been shocked by my words.
Even so, for her to tell me to comfort another woman…
Leia really is an angel.
Well, her current actions are a little questionable, though.
“Yeah. But, Leia.”
I grabbed Leia by both shoulders, pulled her tight against my body, and brought my lips to her ear to whisper softly.
In a voice so quiet that not even Sara could hear.
“Yes?”
“Don't you think you should take your hand away?”
That's right. Leia had been gently stroking my package over my pants for a while now.
Seeing her do that with an apologetic expression rather than a seductive one, she probably meant to say something like, ‘I'm sorry for bothering this part of you earlier…’
I let my guard down because she seemed more sober than before. As I thought, Leia is still drunk.
“…Hk! I-I'll be going now!”
As expected, she must have been doing it unconsciously while drunk. Hearing my comment, Leia jumped in surprise, instantly pulled away from me, and fled the dining hall.
Leia! I went to the trouble of pulling you close so the others wouldn't see, but now you're just going to cause a misunderstanding!
“…Guwon. What were you just talking…”
“Silvia!”
“Y-Yes?!”
Sara, who had already been suspicious of us, naturally reacted to Leia's behavior.
But before Sara could finish her sentence, I hurriedly called out to Silvia, who was still in the corner.
Silvia, who had been watching our chaotic scene without getting swept up in it, stiffened as if her time had finally come when I called her name.
“As you can see, I've been through a lot today.”
“Y-Yes. I saw.”
“So, honestly, my head hurts a little.”
“A-Are you alright?!”
When I lightly touched my head and pretended to have a headache, Silvia rushed over to me in alarm.
And the moment Silvia got close, I spread my arms wide.
“Hyaah!”
Of course, Silvia looked shocked and betrayed and tried to run, but before she could, I grabbed her by the shoulders to keep her from getting away.
“I think I'd feel a little better if a certain cute someone gave me a hug. When I'm holding someone, I feel calmer…”
“…This good enough?”
But before I could even finish, someone hugged me from behind.
Though when I say ‘someone,’ there was only one person it could be.
“Ah, yeah.”
“What's with that reaction? Are you saying I'm not good enough?”
“No. Of course not. Of course not.”
“Saying it twice makes it more suspicious.”
But… but Silvia therapy!
No, Sara. It's not that you're not enough. But Silvia therapy is!
“Hk!”
The moment I thought that, Silvia hugged me from the front.
And as expected, she started trembling, but she held on tight and didn't try to let go.
As expected of someone who's received the Apostle's Seal, a mere hug is no longer…
“Uu… H-How long do I have to stay like this?”
Correction. It still seems to be difficult for her.
“Thanks. I think I'm feeling a little better now.”
“Hwaah! Haah! Haah! Th-Then! Have a good night!”
The instant my words were out, Silvia pulled away from me, panting heavily. She gave a quick bow and fled the dining hall.
“Haa… Hey. Idiot.”
And once we were finally alone, Sara suddenly insulted me without any warning.
“What's with you all of a…”
“You should really be grateful you managed to get a woman like me.”
“H-Huh? What's that supposed to… I mean, of course I'm grateful. I bow to the Goddess once a day and thank her for our meeting.”
“Really?”
“…I only do the bowing in my head.”
“Haa. Anyway, if you're going to go, now's the only time. I'm not letting you go once we're in my room.”
In response to my answer, Sara, whose arms were still around me, lightly pinched my side, then spun me around halfway to face her and spoke.
“Huh? Go where?”
“Where do you think? To Vanessa. Are you sure you don't need to go see her?”