Chapter 25 ─ People of the Rose and the Sword

As we entered the count's house, a girl with blue eyes, blonde hair tied in two pigtails, beautiful, tall, and with a good figure, was staring at us intently. Julie introduced us to her after her father calmed her down.

"This is the county's only daughter, Rosette Zora Hamilton-sama. Although we all call her Rose at her father's request."

Rosette, or rather Rose, looked at us deeply as she approached.

"Who are you?"

Mary greeted her with the manners she learned from Julie. She lifted the edges of her skirt and bowed slightly.

"G-Good evening, young lady Rose. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Mary, a commoner from the village—"

"I don't care. What matters to me is why strangers are in my house."

She turned her gaze back to her father.

"As I was saying, Rose, they are friends I met on my journey. Things happened, and I get along very well with them."

She approached and grabbed him by the neck.

"This is why many nobles mock you. You are a count and show weakness to everyone."

"It's not weakness, Rose. Forming bonds with different types of people is important for one's life."

"That's why you got into danger instead of fleeing!"

"No…"

"Then why did you put yourself in danger?"

"Because it's my duty as a noble to help the people who cannot defend themselves."

She got angry and left down a hallway accompanied by a maid. She stopped for a moment and said:

"What do you think would have happened to me if you had died by following grandfather's stories? Does your daughter matter less than a bunch of strangers who will live without a problem, but not you?"

I think I understand why she got angry. She is upset because her father told her how he risked his safety to help a bunch of strangers.

Seeing Mary's mother, I think I understand why someone would cry when one of their loved ones dies for strangers. I mean, this body has a family, and I don't think about them because they mean nothing to me.

The count apologized to us.

"I'm very sorry. Rose is not an aggressive girl, she is a sweet girl who cares for others, but what I told her must have affected her greatly."

"I understand, don't worry, count."

Mary responded to the count so he wouldn't worry that his daughter made a bad impression.

Julie told us we should go eat since the food was served. Then, let's eat.

◇

Julie showed me where my room was. After entering and changing, someone knocked on the door. I opened it and was surprised.

"I'm surprised you're here."

Mary's mother, a beautiful mature woman with blonde hair and green eyes, Shannon, was standing in front of me wearing light clothing.

"Good evening, Regulus-kun. Due to the hectic day, I came because I wanted to talk to you about something."

I let her in, and we sat on the bed.

"What's the matter?"

I asked when I saw her silent.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about what I told you."

Shannon and I had a very special relationship. It wasn't just because I am her daughter's boyfriend. It's more because I told her she would be my woman, and she agreed.

So now we have this relationship where mother and daughter are my women, but only one of them doesn't know about this relationship. Naturally, I want to tell Mary, but her mother said no. She said she wanted to do it, but not yet.

Again, I asked why she was like this. Without fail, she answered.

"I still can't believe it. Just a few days ago, we lived in that house for several years, and suddenly we were expelled from there. Thanks to the count, we have a place to sleep temporarily. But what worries me is where we will live next. Not having a home or a pillow to rest your head is something that terrifies me. I don't want Mary to go through something like that."

(Ah. So that was the reason, I see.)

I hugged her and reassured her.

"It's okay, even if we hadn't received help from the count, I would have made sure to use my own money so you would have a place to sleep. I'll make sure to look for a place to live starting tomorrow. The price doesn't matter since I'm an adventurer for a reason."

"Thank you. I think I just wanted to hear that."

She hugged me. Her tender face looked at me, and I slid my fingertips over her soft cheeks. She was also expecting what I would do next. I brought my lips close and kissed her. We kissed for a while, and then she removed my lips from hers.

"Thank you, I feel better now."

"It's alright."

She got up and left the room. I lay down to sleep since besides thinking about what I would do tomorrow, I had to find a place to live. I'll think about it better tomorrow.

◇◇◇

Someone knocked on the door just as I was getting up. Mary entered the room, and behind her was Julie with a bruise on her cheek. I can imagine she was groping Mary while trying to wake her up. Mary jumped on top of me and woke me up with a good morning kiss. I could hear Julie say:

"It's very obscene, thank you very much." while covering her face.

"Today is a great day, that's why I needed to wake you up."

"A great day? Why?"

"Go outside and you'll see."

I changed my clothes, and when I went out, I saw Rose with a totally different expression than yesterday. Her cheeks expressed embarrassment.

"G-Good morning."

"Good morning."

She was still shy, but she spoke after looking at me intently for a while.

"I apologize for yesterday. I'm not like that."

"That's what your father said."

"I can imagine. I came to apologize to both of you for how I treated you."

"No problem."

"No. I insist on apologizing to both of you, it was very embarrassing what I did. You must think I'm a horrible girl, but I'm not. But I hope you understand how angry and scared I was thinking something might happen to my father. That's why I came to ask if you will be free today."

Mary was happy for some reason; she must already know the reason, so it's just me left.

"I'm free, I had something to do, but I'll do it later."

"Good. I wanted to ask if you would like to come with me to the academy."

"The academy?"

I was surprised by the place she mentioned. I have little information about what an academy is.

"Yes. We are on winter break, so there are hardly any people, and I wanted to show you since you are the same age as me."

I looked at Mary waiting for her confirmation, although it was unnecessary.

"Sure, I have no problem."

"Yes! We will go to the academy, I've never been to a school. I'm sure it will be exciting."

Rose was surprised to hear Mary say those words.

"Have you really never gone to school, even in your village?"

"There was nothing like that in the village. It was a place for adventurers to hang out and then leave." she said, then it was my turn, and I obviously lied.

"My village was a place without luxuries and far from other villages; we barely had enough to till the fields."

Rose was briefly thoughtful, then returned to normal.

"I understand. So, please be ready by noon, and we will leave."

"Yes!"

Mary pounced on Rose, fervently thanking her for the opportunity to visit the academy.

"Thank you so much, Rose-san."

"Please, you exaggerate and call me Rose. We are the same age, and I don't like being treated with respect by people equal to me."

"I understand, then… can I call you Rose-chan?"

Mary was looking at the ground very embarrassed. Rose and I were surprised. Except for Julie, who was watching everything with a strange expression while panting behind the door.

"What am I seeing? Is this the birth of a new chapter in the young lady's life? The best part is that I feel like they are stealing Mary-san from me, and for some reason, that makes me feel happy. Uhh, it feels so pleasurable."

I ignored what she said and turned my gaze to the girls. Rose, a little embarrassed, said:

"I know I told you to treat me informally, but that level would be very personal, and I…"

She stopped finishing her sentence when she saw Mary. Naturally, no one can resist those puppy eyes she makes. Is this the power of cuteness? That weird book I found was right with its message.

"Cuteness is justice! Cuteness is life!"

Then just by being cute, Mary can conquer the world. (Women really have terrifying weapons.)

Rose was wandering her gaze until she sighed.

"Mary-san."

"No, I don't want to."

"Call me like I call you, or I won't let go."

Rose, embarrassed, said the words that made Julie faint on the spot.

"Mary-chan."

"Yes, Rose-chan."

"Woohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

Julie fell faint to the floor while blood gushed from her nose. I heard her say something strange.

"Thank you, goddess Noel. I can die in peace after seeing the birth of a new world, one of a forbidden love between two completely opposite social classes. Long live the secret same-sex love!"

I closed the door and locked it to avoid hearing her any further.

"Shall we go have breakfast?"

"Please."

"Hehehe."

Mary was still hugging Rose. It seems she made a new friend, and that makes her happy.

◇◇◇

Sometime after Regulus and company left.

"Please, Regulus-san, open the door! I lost the keys. Let me out; I want to have breakfast too. Please, let me out!"

Everyone forgot about Julie's existence until noon when a maid heard some strange wails coming from the room.

_______________

The fanservice is for Rosette who I hope you like since she is based on Eli from the otome novel.

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/7909212