Save 68 ─ Vacation's end

A few days passed since that magnificent day.

I finally said goodbye to my virginity.

It took much longer than I expected.

"So you gave Erselica a pension?"

The location was my father-in-law's duchy since the duke wanted to talk to me.

That was when we borrowed a room in Duke Bismarck's mansion to enjoy tea in an elegant way.

Doing something like this really made me feel like a nobleman. It made me let my guard down.

"... Yes."

In front of me was Alisa, whose face had become expressionless and the smiling Airi standing next to her.

"Rudel, you were also exchanging letters with the queen, weren't you? You even had us deliver your letter to her majesty once."

"I did."

I asked my fiancés to deliver a letter to a woman who fit my standards.

The result was satisfactory.

Even without giving it much thought, it was obviously a bad thing to do, wasn't it? I was having fun with teatime until halfway through.

But, I let my guard down as we talked about different topics. After learning that the reason why the two of them picked me up at Aster was because of just a misunderstanding.

Because of that, I spoke nonchalantly saying. "Haha~, I was nervous back then because I didn't know what made the two of them angry."

Stupid me!

Stupid, stupid idiot!

I sent a glare at Ixion asking for help. Which came back yesterday after eliminating a lot of pirates.

It seemed that my wish caught up with him. Ixion followed after me.

"I wish you two would not underestimate the Master. His crime doesn't end there."

After hearing that, their gazes on me became even colder.

I grabbed Ixion with both hands and pulled him close to my face.

"What's wrong with you? Hey, what's wrong with you? Do you really hate me that much? This should be a scene where the master and servant's hearts are connected and you're helping me!"

"Master, you should reflect on yourself more. How about trying to face your sins, including all the sins that are still kept in the dark ... Well, however, there are many of those sins undiscovered."

"What sins do I have!!?"

"It's a sin to not even know that. Besides, I'm being so strict for the sake of you, Master. Don't you think I'm really a loyal servant?"

Don't fuck with me.

I didn't wish for any of that from an AI. You should spoil me more.

Besides, what I desired from you was a makeshift excuse to survive in this place.

"Rudel, how about telling us everything? Tell us all the details before you go back to Aster, including everything you're hiding."

Airi hugged my arm.

"Rudel-san, we're busy too, even if it doesn't look like it."

Yes, they should be busy.

Alisa was acting as an assistant principal to improve the academy, while Airi was acting as a mediator for scholarship students and new students.

They must be busy with many matters even though it was summer vacation.

"But, we finished almost all of our work in the first half of the summer vacation to meet with you. That's why we have plenty of time, so don't worry."

"Wa~, awesome. have you finished your summer vacation homework maybe?"

I was the kind kind that would get serious almost at the end of summer vacation to finish my homework. I like to enjoy my fun.

Humans should experience testing their limit at least once. But Alisa and Airi were different from me.

"Don't worry, we already finished them, except for a small part."

Airi also nodded.

"I've also finished everything that can be finished."

Unbelievable!

Someone like me still hadn't touched the task that Aster's academy assigned me. I was waiting for Ixion to do it.

"Both are amazing. I will prepare even better tea leaves for such incredible women.

Alisa smiled."

"You don't need to worry about that. After all, we are your fiancés. If it's tea you prepared for us, we won't mind even if you use cheap tea leaves."

I was glad to hear that, but in short her words meant. "We won't let you escape." Won't not?

She showed an attitude of not letting me out of this. Airi was the same way too.

"That's right. So, tell us all about these other sins."

... What do I do now?

There were many things that I felt could be considered sins. I didn't know which one I should talk about.

◇◇◇

There were some maids observing the tea party.

There were also many people serving Alisa at Duke Bismarck's mansion in the capital.

Many of the maids came from baronet families and were educated at the academy.

There were even royal nobles from counts' houses, viscounts' houses and barons' houses among them.

Among those people, there was also a woman who had been personally taking care of Alisa since she was a little girl.

Her name was Felicia van Arkin, the current head maid at the Duke's mansion. A girl with light green hair gathered in two braided buns behind her head, her eyes were light gray and her glasses had red rims. She looked quite the librarian.

She was currently twenty-nine years old. She had been working in the duke's household since she was a little girl to learn good manners through learning.

Her age was too far from Alisa's and she couldn't attend the academy along with her like her followers, but she was of the people who had been serving her for a long time.

Felicia was looking into the room with an expression that looked like an ogre mask.

"That man... even though he already has Miss Alisa, he not only laid his hand on women in the foreign country, but even on other women in this country."

The other maids were worried.

"Chief maid Felicia, please calm down."

Her ogre mask expression turned into an angry demon.

"How can I be calm in this situation!!! Do you know how horribly Miss Alisa was treated because of that witch Erselica? That woman almost destroyed this house and to top it off, she stole that idiot prince who was formerly the crown prince and even shamed her in front of the public eye!"

"To call the prince an idiot is too much don't you think─ I-I didn't say anything."

The maid fell silent in the face of Felicia's fury.

"Miss Alisa is really worried that her fiancé might be cheating on her. And yet, even though she understands that, to do something like that?"

"E-Err, it was mentioned that he wasn't cheating on her."

"The problem is that he's doing things that call him into question!"

Last year, Alisa's engagement to Klein, the son of the deceased Kingsfort Household, was called off.

The reason for the cancellation was something completely unforgivable. But it wasn't just that, Prince Liam spat on her and her house's name. Even the Bismarck family was unhappy with the royal family.

What upset Felicia was that Alisa's followers had also betrayed her.

"Miss Alisa was really depressed because people close to her also betrayed her. Even though that man knows about it, for him to actually dare to cheat on her when they had recently become engaged─── Unforgivable!"

All the servants knew about what happened between Alisa and Rudel. They knew about their quarrel and reconciliation. They knew about her humiliation for trying to save him from execution, they knew that they risked their lives for him

The people around her thought she was overreacting, but when they thought about how hard things were for Alisa last year, they were also irritated with Rudel.

However, after the war with the former Talis Commonwealth last year, most of the houses that betrayed the Duke's house had received their punishment.

It was also the same with the academy students who betrayed Alisa. Thanks to that, the number of upper-class maids was also very small.

Leaving aside that internal condition of the duke's household, Felicia thought that she should raise some kind of countermeasure towards Rudel.

"Someone should be placed in the Aristocratic Kingdom to keep an eye on him."

◇◇◇

Around that time, the Rudel affair was also becoming an issue at Bradford Household.

Three men were sitting around a table looking worried.

Starting with the central pillar, the head of the house, Walt van Bradford. A man who would be Rudel's future if he grew a beard.

To the right was his second son, a young man with good muscles and a serious face. Bram van Bradford.

And, staring at the table in panic, was the heir to the house, Lyle van Bradford.

Lyle and Bram, having graduated from their academies perforce, Lyle was studying with Walt to become a feudal lord. And Bram would be his right-hand man.

Lyle was worried.

"Father, is it okay to ignore this? We're talking about Rudel, we don't know what might happen."

Walt was sweating nervously.

If the story he heard from his son Rudel, about what happened in Aster was true, then it seemed that he was fighting against a great noble house.

Not only that...

"I can't face Duke Bismarck like this."

He also suspected that Rudel had deceived his betrothed. The person himself denied it, Alisa and Airi also accepted it.

But he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. After all, they were talking about Rudel. Bram was hooked.

"I don't think Rudel cheated on them. That guy is a complete coward when it comes to women, after all. He ran away from them several times."

Walt looked coldly at Bram when he said that.

"You're the same way, too. You haven't found a marriage partner even though you've graduated from the academy, have you? And what about you, heir? You keep turning down letters of possible engagements."

"I have a special circumstance!" shouted Bram.

Both sons were going through special circumstances.

"Let's get back to the subject. I think if it's Rudel, then he won't cheat on them. I believe in him, but... that boy, I should tell him that he is strangely loved by women... he is rarely popular with some types of women."

It wasn't just Alisa and Airi.

Rudel was also close to different noble ladies like Eleonora and Lecia. Walt covered his face with both hands.

"Don't say it. I don't want to remember it. My stomach felt like it was being sawed. Someone like Count Frazer asked me, ´My daughter is a little older than he is, but as a father I must say her beauty is unrelenting and her breasts very lush.´ You know how embarrassed I was, you know, not just him, others more. Even Minister Redgrave invited me over for drinks to talk about the future, I was so scared!"

Even Walt would be worried if someone who was much taller than him, as if above the clouds, brought a discussion about marriage to him.

Bradford Household were just a family of barons located in the countryside. They were ordinary, common people who never dreamed of such a thing as being part of a larger household.

"Father, what are we going to do if the same thing happens to Aster, don't you think it will become really troublesome if a noblewoman approaches him? Besides, that guy is also a man, the possibility of him cheating on his betrothed is not zero."

If that happened, they didn't know what Bismarck Household would do to them.

The only thing the male members of the house could do in that case would be to apologize for their relative's misconduct.

Rudel's mother, Sonia, arrived while the three of them were looking grumpy.

"It's pathetic that two men look so depressed."

"Even if you say that, this is a big problem."

"In that case, we should also prepare someone like a chaperone to accompany him there."

"Chaperone?"

Walt bowed his head, a maid entered the room.

Her appearance was very beautiful, her hair was long dark brown gathered in a ponytail that almost reached the floor, her eyes were scarlet, her name was Ada, a commoner living in the territory of House Bradford, and she was the older sister of Allen, Erselica's exclusive servant.

The most noticeable feature was not her doll-like face, but large objects hanging from her chest. She was about to turn twenty.

"Excuse me. I'd like to volunteer."

Her attitude was very serious, but she had a problem.

"Ada-chan, you're addressing a plant."

She was very clumsy.

"Huh! I'm so sorry! I was so into my role that I didn't see properly!"

As she apologized, her huge attributes jumped up and down at high speed.

The males looked at those attributes with their eyes wide.

Sonia gave them a angry look.

They all averted their faces, the only one who looked embarrassed was Bram.

Lyle noticed his embarrassed look. He decided to tease him.

"Huh? But what have we here. My dear Bram, could it be that you are embarrassed to see Ada-san?"

Everyone knew Ada for two reasons, the first was because her parents, Ada's parents, left the territory when Allen was four years old.

She worked hard ever since.

The second reason was because of Bram.

Years ago, when Rudel was ten years old, Bram did something in town that surprised everyone.

"Ada, I like you!"

"Sorry, I like manly men."

She rejected the son of the feudal lord. That would be enough to execute her, but Bram's parents just laughed.

Since then, Bram decided to train his muscles.

A few years later he went to confession again.

The result was the same.

Everyone knew his feelings for her.

They even believed that the reason he didn't have a wife yet was because of that.

Lyle laughed, but then his smile disappeared.

He looked worried.

"No, I know Ada is a hard worker, but being a chaperone means keeping an eye on Rudel over there. I don't think Ada can─ Ouch!"

Sonia smacked Lyle's head. She explained quietly.

"You're stupid. This girl's little brother is in Aster, isn't he? She's always worried about him, so let's let them get together while she takes care of Rudel too."

Lyle understood after hearing that. Ada hadn't heard from Allen for a long time.

Right now, that little brother of hers was taking care of Erselica. He lived far away from here.

"I-I understand. So that's the way it is. Then I guess we should let Ada board Rudel's airship."

Walt nodded as well.

Bram was still embarrassed.

This decision was simply the parents' good intention to let Ada work near their son.

Yes, this decision was good intention.

◇

I stopped at home before returning to Aster. I was going to separate from Airi and Alisa there.

I was going to return to the foreign student life once again.

"Most of my precious summer vacation was gone in reunions."

I thought I would be able to relax in the Kingdom, but I never thought it would take me so many days to discuss the plan ahead.

Ixion admonished my optimistic attitude.

"Master, did you seriously think that you could do nothing but have fun on your vacation with your position? Currently on the surface it is a turning point for diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and the Aristocratic Kingdom. The Kingdom and Aster have their hands full. Behind the scenes, it is also an extremely important period in the game aspect with its romance theme that you mentioned."

"I know. Still, I want more vacation."

"Haven't you had enough rest, Master?"

I understood that this time was an important period. We had to find a lover for Lucy.

Otherwise, the world would be in danger.

The world is in danger if a pair of amorous young people do not establish a relationship, how grotesque it all was.

And the last boss of this game's content was Randolf, who controlled the sacred tree, right?

They said the sacred tree would turn into a monster and rage. Spare me that please.

At worst, Ixion might be able to deal with that, but it would be hell for Aster after they lost the sacred tree.

The sacred tree had been providing them with immense wealth until now.

If they lost that, Aster would be placed in a difficult situation after that.

I don't want that, I'm not a monster to destroy a country... again.

In this second game, according to Erselica. ─The sapling will become the new sacred tree for Aster.

The sapling─ the Sacred Tree Sapling, it was unclear if it would be able to do the same as the adult sacred tree.

And then the sacred tree sapling─ I'll call it the little sapling for short. The little sapling needed a priestess to showcase its ability.

Lucy would become the priestess, and then, after she chooses a guardian who would protect the little sapling, it would become a happy ending, but...

I looked at my right hand.

"More importantly, can't this emblem disappear? This belongs to the guardian, right, why did it appear on me then?"

It also bothered me why the little sapling chose me as the guardian.

Normally there was the order that the sapling would choose the priestess and then the priestess would choose the guardian.

But it seemed that Ixion had a different thought.

"Master, do you know the reason why the sacred tree chooses a guardian?"

"If it is as the name suggests, then it is for that person to protect it, right?"

"Yes."

"And then, who was the one who secured and protected that sapling until now?"

"... I, uh─"

"I don't think it's strange that the sapling would decide that you are suitable to be its guardian.

"But the priestess─"

"First of all, I can't understand that point. Is there really any need to choose a priestess? It is logical for the sacred tree to choose a priestess first to understand humans. But, the sapling would prioritize its own survival first.

For some reason, the sacred tree's saplings would wither if left alone.

They would still wither even if they were uprooted and then subjected to rigorous care.

They simply could not grow anyway.

The reason that happened was interesting.

"Even though they were born from the sacred tree, it was that sacred tree that was trying to kill them."

"I got the feeling that it was mistaken for a plant."

The source of nutrients for the sacred tree was the magic element, the source of magic power in the air.

The sapling could not be grown with normal nutrients from the soil and water.

But, it was not as if the sacred tree was absorbing all the magic element in the air.

And yet, it would not share the magic element with the other saplings. It was as if it was trying to destroy itself.

Very strange all this. A plant trying to kill its children. How terrifying it was.

"The important thing for the sapling is the existence you who can guarantee its survival. There will be no problem, even if you put the existence of the priestess as a secondary priority."

"So it is different from the game. More importantly, what are we going to do from now on? The priestess and the guardian will become lovers, right? I already have fiancés. Ah, maybe the priestess position can be given to Alisa or Airi?"

That thought crossed my mind, so I said so, but Ixion immediately twitched his eye in denial.

"The two of them don't have the necessary attribute for one of them to be the priestess."

"Have you looked into it?"

"Yes. Because it is information that may be necessary depending on future development."

It was certainly necessary, but it was somewhat unsatisfactory.

"... Tell me first before you're investigating. It makes me feel bad that you are investigating on your own."

"I just did it in parallel while also performing the periodic health checkup. Your pills are ready, by the way. More importantly, I have just one question."

After what happened with the commonwealth, I started taking pills for anxiety, the shock of killing many hit me very hard, but for some reason that anxiety feels like it's gone.

Will I have recovered by now?

"There are a lot of questions, huh. So what is this question?"

"Master, as a fundamental rule, the emblems granted by the sacred tree differs with the classification. The guardian's emblem has the highest ranking and the priestess' emblem is below it."

"Yes."

"The third in the ranking are the emblems that are held by the six great nobles, but, the sacred tree would prioritize the protection of the one with the highest ranking emblem. If that is the case, there is something strange in the story."

"Which one?"

"Haven't you noticed, Master?"

Looking at my puzzled expression, Ixion showed an exasperated gesture with his spherical body.

What do I do... that gesture was terribly irritating.

"I don't know, just tell me already!"

"Geez... Vermillion Household had the emblems of the guardian and priestess. So why did they lose to Rosenberg Household, who only has a lower ranked emblem?"

I finally understood after hearing that. That's right.

How was Vermillion Household destroyed?

Even Erselica and Diana's story didn't explain that.

A plot hole in a lousy game? No doubt.

But, that question was only addressed as. "That's the game's setting."

"Maybe Rosenberg Household developed a weapon that doesn't rely on the power of the sacred tree?"

"The Aristocratic Kingdom doesn't have such advanced technology. I came to the conclusion that they have no weapon or countermeasure that can counter the emblem."

There were many weapons that worked by receiving the energy from the sacred tree in Aster.

If the lower rank opposed the higher rank, the sacred tree would stop the energy supply to protect the higher rank without worrying about making an excuse.

Furthermore, even Vermillion Household should also have weapons that made use of the power of the sacred tree.

Even if they were attacked by surprise and caught completely off guard, was it really possible for them to lose one-sidedly?

From what I gathered from Diana's story, it seemed that they were unilaterally destroyed.

"Master, this is just my hypothesis, but... maybe Vermillion Household lost their emblems at that time."

The story was getting complicated.

If Vermillion Household didn't have the emblems... was it because they were stolen?

Or did they simply lose them? No, maybe─

"Derrick did whatever he wanted using the power of the sacred tree, right? Is there any chance that Rosenberg Household used a similar trick like that to destroy Vermillion Household?"

"I can't say there isn't one. But isn't that possibility low? If there is such a trick, the six great nobles should know something. Besides, this is also something that is bothering me. It is impossible to completely erase the fact that Rosenberg Household has destroyed Vermillion Household. And yet Randolf is sitting in the Acting Chairman's seat."

Were the other five houses okay with Rosenberg Household destroying Vermillion Household?"

This became even more confusing.

"Ixion, why didn't you tell me something like that faster?"

"I had planned to discuss this with you, but I couldn't find a good time. Besides, there is no urgency to discuss about this problem. After all, it's a past matter."

"No, this is really important!"

"It won't cause any big change whether you know about it or not. You are aiming to reach the end of this ´game´, aren't you?"

Certainly, even if I knew about this before, it was unthinkable that there would be a big change about our plan going forward.

"You should still tell me this kind of thing! I want to know if there's a reason for something like this!"

That's right.

There was also a possibility that we had a misunderstanding. Last year we had a lot of problems because of that too.

"Do you really want to know about all the details, Master? If you sympathize with the Rosenberg Household even more, it will be you who suffers. Randolf will die in the end. And then the Rosenberg Household will also perish. That is the outcome that Master and the others wish for, isn't it?"

I remembered the time when I dined at the Rosenberg Household mansion. I looked down. Ixion then expressed his concern for me.

"Master, it is not necessary for you to take responsibility for another country as well. You must not confuse what to prioritize."

I sat down on the spot.

What was it that I should do?

◇

Inside Schwert, who was returning to Bradford Household territory.

Airi was talking to me, who was currently feeling depressed.

"Rudel-san, we are going to arrive soon."

She, who came to notify me, looked a little dejected.

"We're going to be separated again for a while. But instead, what's wrong, you don't look well for some reason."

Airi was worried to see me depressed.

"Ah, you noticed? Actually, I don't want to go back there. As I thought, my own birthplace is the best."

I flashed her a smile, but hesitated in the face of Airi's serious look. Then Ella looked down.

"Did something happen there?"

"Huh? How did you know!!?"

I never told Airi anything about this annoying game.

That's why she should have no way of knowing what I was doing. She lifted her face and looked at me.

"Rudel-san, didn't you go to Aster because there's something there?"

"T-That's not all. You know, I was going to take care of Liam and the others.

I threw in a lie right away."

The palace was pressuring Liam and the others about me after I decided to study abroad.

"I heard it from Alisa. His Highness Liam and the others were pressured about you after you decided to study abroad... Rudel-san, aren't you hiding something from us?

I turned my face away.

(I'm a reincarnate!) What a relief it would be if I could say that.

This world is an otome game world, and you are its main character.

Airi was the most important character in the game, she was the only one of all who possessed the power to heal people.

... If there was someone who said that, it would put them at some distance from me. But Airi wasn't angry.

"I don't know what you do, Rudel-san. But, I think it must be something important."

"Airi?"

"Because, I know you're a kind person."

When she said that to me with a smile, it felt like my heart became really light.

Airi continued.

"I'm thinking that maybe, you have something that you can't tell us at all. But please just be careful not to act recklessly."

While I didn't know how to respond, she hugged me gently.

"We will also do our best so that someday you can also trust us. So please wait for us until then."

"Airi."

He was happy to be hugged kindly like this, but then Airi's arms strengthened his embrace a little.

"Alisa won't tell, but unlike me, she is sensitive to being cheated on."

"Huh? A-Aah, yeah."

I was worried even if you told me.

Although I didn't do something like cheating on them at all.

... That I won't tell them for now.

"Alisa is worried. That's why, please don't make her sad."

"I know."

Alisa was sensitive about being cheated on because of Klein.

She must be unable to calm down if I stayed in a place near Erselica, who tried to kill me and ruin her family. I should be more considerate.

She let go of me.

"We will meet you again in the next vacation. Let's see each other quietly at that time."

Airi smiled. I beat my chest saying. "Leave it to me. I'm going to research any good tourist spots to prepare for that time."

Also to take Lecia.

"I'll look forward to it then."

◇◇◇

Alisa and Felicia were in another room inside Schwert. Alisa sighed and made an irritated expression.

The reason, it was her older brother's words.

"Sorry if it's just one or two lovers, right?"

She said she wanted to send someone because she was uncomfortable after hearing that Rudel lived in Erselica's mansion.

Her father and older brother also thought such a thing was certainly bad. And so they suggested sending someone from Bismarck Household there.

But at the same time, Alisa's older brother Vayne also said. "It's fine for you to reject Erselica no matter what, but it would be better if you didn't meddle too much in other things."

While Siegwald, her father said to her. "Don't meddle in the count's private life. Your mother taught you that before she became ill."

His father and older brother were also men.

They could also understand Rudel's feelings if he was cheating on them.

The two of them were also indirectly advising Rudel about it, but Rudel himself did not realize it.

Alisa was also the daughter of a nobleman, it wasn't a problem even if her husband had a lover─

... Or so he thought before.

However, when it was actually happening in reality, there was a gloomy feeling in her heart.

Her previous fiancé, Klein, physically abused her and spat on her family. The feeling of suffering because of her "beloved's" infidelity was planted in her heart. Alisa would not stand for something like that to happen again.

Even more so after last year, when she had a fight with Rudel. That day she met a side she never thought she would see, she never wanted to see him angry with either of them again.

So in her heart, the feeling of cheating was the same as having a rifle pointed at her head.

"Maybe it was a mistake to consult with my father and brother about this?"

She asked Felicia, who was her housemaid. Felicia was an upper-class servant. She was also educated.

"Maybe they are not wrong as nobles, but personally as a woman, it is natural not to be able to accept it."

The reason Alisa was talking to Felicia was because she was the servant who would be sent to Rudel's house.

Both her father and older brother planned to choose a young and beautiful maid.

The reason was to place someone who would not be troublesome, even if Rudel laid his hand on her.

Alisa looked at Felicia.

"Still, I didn't expect you to volunteer."

When they were talking about who they should send, they gathered several people from the mansion who met the standards.

Felicia volunteered at that time. Although her chest was larger than Erselica's, but it was nowhere near the shadow of the chest that was Alisa's.

"Miss Alisa, leave it to me. This Felicia, I will strictly control Count Bradford."

"Y-Yes, I see."

Alisa was a little relieved to see the enthusiastic Felicia.

(I-I thought about asking her to indirectly investigate what Rudel is doing there, but I didn't expect her to be so motivated.)

Alisa also had faith in Felicia. I didn't think it was a bad choice to send her to Rudel's house.

"To be honest, I don't plan to restrict Rudel. For that matter, I intend to forgive him if it's just about flirting with girls."

"Is that okay?"

"That's fine. I won't ask for anything more if he only comes back in the end."

"If it's just flirting and showing off, it's fine. Yes. Flirting is fine."

Alisa looked at the floor with her hands shaking as she wished it was just her imagination playing a bad joke on her.

To be honest, she couldn't forgive any of that, but Alisa was afraid that Rudel would hate her if she seriously restrained him.

However.

"However, pay attention to Erselica. She is a woman who caught five people in a very short time. Worst case scenario, Rudel falling into her hands... I don't think such a thing will happen, but it still weighs on my mind."

Alisa also thought they had to be on guard against Erselica no matter what.

Felicia put her hand on her chest.

"I'll keep that in mind."

◇

When I returned home, I was told to take one person with me to Aster. She was Allen's sister, Ada.

I hadn't seen her in a long time.

She was carrying a large travel bag and was standing in front of me nervously.

"... Huh? Ada, are you coming too?"

"P-Please take care of me─! I bit my tongue..."

She couldn't speak properly and her eyes filled with tears. No, was it painful because she bit her tongue?

Well, it didn't matter. Still, this person was very cute even though she was the person my older brother liked. My mother spoke to me.

"She will take care of you so you won't do anything wrong there. Besides, I won't forgive you if you lay your hand on her, did you hear? Ada-chan is a good girl and I wouldn't want you to behave the way everyone thinks. Be thankful that your mother still sees you as a boy who is ashamed to see underwear."

My family didn't trust me. That hurt me.

"I won't do any of that. I already have fiancés."

"That's why we worry like this. Don't you dare do anything that will make those two cry. I wouldn't want Alisa-chan and Airi-chan to tell me that you were unfaithful to them. The same thing that happened to your father will happen to you."

"... I understand."

When I said that, my mother made a doubtful face that said. "Do you really understand?"

Then my father spoke to me.

"Well, her performance as a chaperone is only half the reason. Look, Ada-chan has been working hard in our household, so this is like a reward for her."

"Reward? Ah, that."

Her younger brother worked with Erselica, I'd like to see the face he makes when he meets her again. Since he was in Aster. She wished to be next to him.

"All right. I understand."

"Do you really understand? We're also serious about her being your chaperone."

"So even my father suspects that I'm cheating on my fiancées!?"

"Yes. The Bradford blood was always adventurous whether on islands or in dungeons. It's all because of our ancestor Leopold. Or so said what my father told me."

There was something I felt was important to mention beforehand.

"Dad, you had an older brother who escaped didn't you?"

"Huh? Yes, why?"

"What was his name?"

"Does that matter? Well, his name was Stewart and I never saw him again."

(So, it's true that story.) Actually my uncle came to Aster and was taken in by the Rosenberg Household.

My father seemed to remember something else.

"That's true, did you know that originally your name was going to be something else? Well, we named you Rudel because my brother really liked that name, I don't know where he got it from, and he wanted to name his son like that. That's why we named you Rudel, in memory of him. And my father's name was Rugel. Very similar names, aren't they?"

"No doubt."

My family has very strange things, like mysteries of unknown dead relatives. But, for some reason I feel like I saw that name somewhere. It doesn't interest.

"Next time I come, I will bring many gifts, also for the palace and the Queen."

Suddenly, his smile was erased.

"Hey, what's this about bringing gifts for the queen? I know about the harassment you did to her, you want to get us killed don't you? Stop harassing a married woman!"

He replied instantly. I was trembling as I sent my gaze to Lyle, who had been silent for a moment now.

Bram gave me a condescending smile.

"You think you won't be called into question when there's precedent? You're really happy-go-lucky. Or rather, I'm really jealous. Although I don't have any girl who is close to me."

I couldn't say anything after my background came out.

(C-Certainly, I stalked her, but now it's not necessary anymore.)

But was I really cheating on my fiancés? I mean, I'll tell them one day, lies are supposed to be bad because they're hidden forever.

There was something I remembered.

"I heard that now girls are coming on to you without you."

"It's problematic because I have you as a younger brother."

Bram put his hand to his face with a complicated expression.

◇◇◇

It was time to leave, it was at that moment that Alisa introduced me to the maid named Felicia.

"My name is Felicia van Arkin. Call me Felicia without any reservations, my lord."

She gave me a polite greeting, but there seemed to be a wall between me and her.

Ada was also a servant in our house, but her eyes sparkled when she saw Felicia.

"My lord, she's a real servant. Amazing!"

"Ada, you are a servant too, you know, but certainly this person seems to be really formal and polite."

Of course, her behavior was orderly, but for her to have "van" as a middle name meant that she came from a noble feudal lord background.

She was a daughter of a good family.

When a house reaches the level of a duke's household, even the people working there would have relatively high status.

Not all of them.

The Queen told me that the palace wants to eliminate that name in the next few years. The newly accepted nobles have already been "von" as barons.

Still, there were also people like this. Alisa told me about Felicia.

"I also have full confidence in Felicia. I intend to have her take care of you there, Rudel."

"Huh? But there's already Ada."

Then Ada timidly raised her hand.

"E-Excuse me, I was also ordered to take care of young master Rudel, yet there will be two of us?"

Airi made a worried grimace and looked at Alisa.

"We should have discussed it with our father-in-law beforehand."

Alisa also nodded, but said this was not a problem.

"Two will be better than one. There is nothing better than having many helpers. It would be a problem to have too many employees, but with two people it should be fine."

Felicia looked at me sternly.

"Please treat me well, my lord." Ada also imitated her and bowed her head.

"P-Please treat me well! My lord."

I asked the two in front of me to stop calling me "my lord."

"Just call me Rudel. I'm not used to being called with such respect."

Then Ixion approached me and stopped around my right shoulder. It looked like Schwert had finished his preparations.

"Master, the preparations are finished. No problem with the luggage either."

"I see."

I looked towards Alisa and Airi and said goodbye once more.

"Then, I'll be going."

Airi placed her hands behind her and showed her chest with a smile.

"Please stay healthy there."

Alisa didn't know what to say, but her expression immediately returned to her usual confident expression.

"Go. Let's meet you again on the next vacation."

We hugged each other, Airi was still happy, but Alisa had a face full of hesitation about letting me go.

We parted and then I walked to the boat.

I waved my hand goodbye to both of them before boarding Schwert with Ada and Felicia in tow.

I was heading back to the Aristocratic Kingdom of Aster, where a lot of problems were piling up. To be honest, I didn't want to go back.