Bonus Save 02 - Party

Once Derek had finished taking my measurements to make an outfit for before the evening, I went out to stretch my legs.

Trouble came at me in different ways.

"Excuse me viscount, where is the kitchen?"

That was the first one. The cooks.

They wanted to ask permission from the "cooks" on my aircraft to use the galley.

Seeing that there were none, they came towards me to ask where they were.

It was annoying to hide secrets that would save me a lot of unnecessary questions, so I simply said that the robots did it.

Not worry about it and leave everything to them.

They looked at me with a face like if I told a person who lives day by day his economy and heard that there is no work today.

The next problem was the sailors.

"Viscount-sama, why are there no other sailors in the cabin?"

The sailors wanted to do their job as the gentlemen in guarding the interiors in case of intruders.

I told them it is impossible for there to be intruders. The robots would take care of them as even rats have tried to sneak in.

As for the sailors, the robots moved things around so they could rest.

Just as the cooks were looking at me with a face that made me feel guilty about something.

The last of the problems were the servants.

"Viscount Bradford, what shall we do?"

When they came upstairs, they must have noticed that there were no servants. That's why they were asking me what they should do.

Since the feast hall will be used soon, they thought they should work on that so they wouldn't feel like useless.

I told them not to worry, the robots would do it. Their face made me feel remorseful and I told them to take care of it.

I will now go to the toilet as I felt a tightening in my stomach from their looks.

◇◇◇

It was night in the royal palace.

Liam was walking with a silver tray in his hands.

It was filled with snacks.

He went straight to the palace kitchen to personally order the desserts.

They were for Erselica who was in a personal room attended by maids.

Frey and Chlust were with her drinking tea.

Liam wanted to bring her the desserts to show his devotion.

For Liam had feelings for Erselica. A similar event happened in the game when he introduced his mother to Airi.

Being halfway to the room, he met someone on the road.

It was Lecia, who was dressed in a long nightgown fit for a queen.

Her huge breasts were lifted by her crossed arms and a dirty look sent to her son.

"Liam, I think I have to tell you that it is inappropriate for you to stay late in a woman's room."

Liam, who was happy so far, wiped that smile off at his mother's words.

"Mother, my private life is none of your business. Don't butt in."

"Of course I can meddle!"

"You are the next king!"

"Your relations from the moment you become king will be the most important!"

"The reason you haven't had a betrothed is because we wanted you to mature so that you could choose Alisa as your bride!"

Now his expression turned to one of anger.

"Mother, I told you many times that Alicelotte is not a woman I want to spend more than a greeting with."

Lecia gave him an evil look as well.

"Why?"

"She is a wonderful girl. I've been watching her grow up myself and raised her."

"She's almost like a daughter to me. I taught her everything she needed to know to rule one day."

"But Mayer prevented that from happening and ended up getting engaged to the Kingsfort's son."

"That's another issue mother. Leave Klein out of this!"

"He's my best friend unlike Alicelotte!"

"Liam, I'm talking to you for your own sake. I don't think anything bad of the Nightray and Arses' son, but he and that girl are definitely not company you should keep."

"At least... try to get along with the viscount."

That comment caused Liam to speak in a much louder tone.

"That guy is the one I least want to know about!"

"I don't want to know about Alicelotte or Bradford!"

Liam continued on his way, purposely bumping into his mother.

Lecia looked at him from behind with a sadness on her face.

"Liam, how much do you hate Alisa and the viscount for you to be so blind?"

"She's a good girl. If you had known her, it would have been you who would have defended her instead of the viscount."

"Please react. I am worried about what happens in this country because of those undue company you keep."

◇

"Pleased to meet you Viscount, I am Earl Regatz. If you need any help with the development of your territory, don't hesitate to consult me."

"I am the Marquis Sylford! My territory is famous for cotton production! If you want to do business, consult me!"

"In the name of Baron Diade, I know perfectly well your situation of living at the extremes of the frontier. As we both come from families of low-ranking nobles, we must be united."

"As the heir of Count Grantz, I suggest to you that there is no better way in investing than the production of airships. I hear you gathered many after the battle you had. So no doubt repairing and building ships is a good business."

"I am Viscount Halbades! A pleasure!"

"I may be an upstart nobleman, but my house has a territory rich in cereals and corn grains! If you wish to buy or sell with merchants, don't hesitate to tell us!"

"S-Sure... a pleasure."

The party started a few minutes ago.

All the guests came.

Nobles who were here and others who came from nearby airships as well.

The robots were on the deck welcoming the boats that came with the guests.

The place was full of young or old men who were harassing me.

They surrounded me and asked annoying questions.

They were members of the Bismarck faction.

One after another they came to talk to me.

Servants were serving drinks and food to all the guests.

The place was crowded with people I never thought I would see in my life.

Because I was being suffocated by all these guys. I went to the wall to rest.

A maid came up to me and offered me some champagne.

But I couldn't drink alcoholic beverages.

My body rejects them, and I loved drinking alcohol.

I asked her to bring me some juice or water instead.

I watched the people talking with joy and mutual interest.

It was a conversation between adults about legal issues, politics and other things that didn´t interest me.

I am a peasant, places like this were not for me.

I prefer simple things. But I love money.

And showing off.

So I don't mind stepping into places like this, saying hello and then leaving after putting on a fancy suit.

That's the style that the old me, not the current me, a man by the name of Rudel van Bradford followed.

As I was thinking about how I enjoyed being alone in places like this, two people approached me.

They were Alisa and Airi wearing beautiful dresses the colour of their eyes.

The dress was not only beautiful. The cleavage was too visible and it also squeezed their breasts making them look bigger than they already were. Thank you.

"Rudel, our eyes are upstairs."

Alisa said with a smile as she intertwined her arm with Airi's.

As for Airi herself, she looked embarrassed.

"Don't I look weird wearing something like this?"

I replied, "Not at all. You look great."

She looked embarrassed for some reason.

Alisa looked at me as if I needed to tell her something too.

"Y-You look good too Alisa."

"Of course. I'm used to parties like this."

"We were delayed because Airi didn't know what dress to wear."

"It's just that it's the second time in my life I've worn one. The first time was at your ceremony for your appointment as Viscount Rudel-san."

I still remember how pretty she looked.

"Both on that occasion and this one you should wear dresses. They look very nice on you."

Her face turned red again. I didn't say it was strange, did I?

Alisa pinched my cheek.

"You should pay attention to what you're saying."

"Huh?"

I didn't understand what she meant. But before I could ask her what she was talking about, other people came.

There were four of them in all.

Captain Mathias, butler Derek, Vayne, and a few other men I didn't know.

He wore a suit, but his exaggerated muscles showed.

His skin was like corn wheat and his hair was bluish like his eyes.

His face gave the impression of a boxer, and his pointed beard that of a mobster.

As he stood before me, Vayne spoke.

"Good evening viscount, isn't this a good party?"

"O-Of course it is, hehe."

"Aren't you used to parties like this?"

"As a peasant, things like that are just an illusion."

"The first time I went to a party was the day I was knighted."

"Oh, that's right... wait a minute."

"Viscount, you haven't had your debut in society yet?"

In this country, the debut into society is at the age of thirteen. Up to the age of twelve, parties are held so that the young nobles know what to do and how to behave.

Alisa told me that she had hundreds of parties before her debut, but as a peasant, the first time I set foot in a ballroom and a suit was the day I was awarded for beating the prince.

But I didn't really care about that.

"No. I'm just an upstart nobleman anyway. My importance in high society or in the palace is insignificant."

(I made Liam and the others take credit for a reason.)

(I don't want to stand out. I prefer to be ignored to avoid problems.)

I laughed a little to show that like the background characters, it wasn't relevant.

"Yes, he is very funny, the viscount."

Said the big man who introduced himself.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Viscount, I am Margrave Hudson van Alvaheim. I have been serving the Bismarck Household for more than twenty years."

"Umm, nice to meet you too."

"The pleasure is mine. For, I am meeting the man who defeated the Bloody Knight."

His smile made me panic a little, I looked at Alisa as if to ask her what was wrong.

She said as she wiped Airi's mouth which was messed up with a dessert.

"It's not really a surprise. I told you beforehand that I told my family what happened that day."

"Well, that included how you saved me and single-handedly defeated that fleet and that guy."

Panic flashed across my face.

"Why did you do it?!"

"Why? What's wrong with it?"

"It was obvious I had to tell my family. My dad was very angry with you and wanted you to be punished. But I calmed him down by telling him that."

Then it was Vayne who was telling me after drinking some champagne.

"Once she told us everything. Obviously our allies found out. We needed to tell them what was in store for them in advance if they betrayed us again."

That was very serious indeed.

Hudson asked me as he tapped my shoulder.

"I'm sorry to ask this, but could you show me your armed unit? I want to see the mobile knight that defeated that monster. "

"I ask you viscount I do too."

"Please Rudel."

The Bismarck siblings were also asking me.

I couldn´t refuse.

◇

We arrived at the hangar where Battler and the robots were doing repairs on some of the boats collected that day.

There they could all see a large, jet black, red-eyed robot.

Hudson and Vayne reached out to touch it.

"Viscount, could you show us inside?"

At Vayne's suggestion, I told Ixion who was hidden to do so.

The front cover was opened and the inside of the cabin was visible.

They approached and looked around.

Vayne commented to me.

"It's amazing. Everything is so different from the interior of an armed unit I know. No doubt the lost item is beyond our understanding."

I, too, had once seen the inside of an armed unit during a repair shop class.

If I use a joystick to move Battler, they use something similar to a lever at each end of the arms to send their magic power.

The legs moving them is identical. Therefore, Battler is better than an armed unit created by humans.

Ixion must be rejoicing at this moment.

Hudson came down from inside to tell me something crazy.

"I beg you viscount. Have a duel with me tomorrow."

"Eh? Why!"

He turned to look at Battler as he said to me.

"It's amazing everything. I want to fight something similar at least once in my life. Please."

I looked at Alisa again.

She was now playing with Airi with a robot as they looked inside.

These girls were very curious indeed.

The robot seemed to be asking for help as they went around touching its brain.

I sighed and said.

"Fine. Whatever. But it'll just be one round, okay?"

"Sounds perfect to me."

Now that there's no more discomfort, I'll go back to eating.

Or so I assumed until Vayne grabbed my shoulder.

"I'm sorry to ask this of you viscount, but I'd like to ask you for a personal favour."

I looked at him with a face that showed I had had enough of this. "...May I ask what it is?"

Vayne said-

◇◇◇

The party was over.

Alisa and Airi were in the same room to sleep together.

There was a maid in the room until they fell asleep.

Both of them were in a nightgown.

Airi was brushing Alisa's long silky hair as they talked.

"Is that okay with you?"

"About what?"

"About your brother and Rudel-san."

Alisa was looking at a Rudel-shaped doll on her nightstand.

"It's fine. In fact, it's fine for me."

"It was good that with this, Bismarck Household and Rudel have a good, close relationship."

Alisa muttered to herself, so Airi wouldn't hear her.

"It would also be good if I could spend more time with Rudel from now on."

"Ready!"

Airi finished brushing her friend's hair.

Then they both went to bed and Alisa said goodbye to her maid.

"Good night Felicia."

"Good night my lady."

"Good night Miss Airi."

"Good night too."

The two held hands as they turned out the lights.

The happy face as they returned to being friends even though they were enemies in the game, showed that the game plot in this world no longer made sense.

◇

It was time to go to sleep.

The problem was that I couldn't do it because of a certain guest.

"This is the first time I've experienced this."

"I-is that so? ... Me too."

Alisa's older brother was sleeping in my room.

No. We weren't doing anything weird.

He was in a bed made quickly by the robots so he wouldn't sleep on the floor.

I offered him my bed, but he didn't want it.

I still don't understand why he wanted to talk to me like that.

But... I can't sleep.

"When I was in the academy, I heard from my followers that things like that were done to build up the relationship between young people."

(I-I think they're a bit wrong. It's usually with girls, but it was also done with boys in my previous life. But it's still weird because I never thought I'd see this).

It really makes me uncomfortable to have the heir of a ducal house in my room.

"I-I see..."

(I have no idea what to talk to him about... please go to sleep already.)

"By the way, Viscount."

"Y-Yes?"

"What do you think of Alisa?"

Eh? What's the point of that question?

"Well... she's my friend."

"I know. But I mean as a woman. What do you think about it?"

This gets awkward.

"W-Well, she's very pretty."

"No doubt. But that's something you'd say to any girl as a compliment."

"Oh right, how's it going on the engagement search?"

Now he was touching on that subject.

"It's going badly... no girl wants to have a meeting with me since am a country nobleman."

"Well, they are horrendous women, I still have two years to get one."

If I didn't manage to get a fiancée by the end of school, the horrible society I live in will look at me ugly.

Not that I care, but it's really a horrible situation for poor men like me to get a girl.

Personally... I'd rather stay alone as women are horrible. Even if I have to stay a virgin forever.

"..."

"Is something wrong?"

"Not really. I was just curious about you."

"Huh? Which one?"

"Have you ever seen Alisa as a woman?"

"Huh! That's it!"

"Like his brother, I recognize that she is beautiful and, unlike the women I know, she has a large chest. Just like her friend."

"..."

"So, it doesn't matter if you look at her as a woman. I just ask you not to lay a hand on her since you are not his crush."

"Well, with that said, good night."

Vayne said he was going to sleep, but instead I couldn't sleep a wink all night because of that strange comment.