Chapter 232: A little forceful is just right…
After stopping by Flower Garden we sent the students to their homes and Filea Dormitory. Now I was walking the main street toward Nifa Inn with Erika, the twins, and Rinelle. As for the design-plan results, Diene-san and Marika-san had things they thought were good, and Erika would invest. Only I told them not to include me in this time’s split, so the time spent persuading them was even longer. Think about it carefully. The ones who put out the plans this time were the students, not me. Getting a share coming to me was strange. I explained that again and again and Diene-san and Marika-san finally gave in. Erika walking on my right still seemed unconvinced. She had her arms folded and was huffing.
“This way Raide-san only spent money on the students.”
“In exchange we can secure safety, right?”
“And my assets increase. Why are you reserved when it comes to yourself. I cannot believe it.”
“I don’t think I’m that reserved…”
To begin with, if shoes and clothes the students designed themselves started selling, the students and their parents would be happy to buy them. And this time Erika invested, but once they built a record there was a chance Diene-san and Marika-san would adopt them without investment. Using the design plans meant a share would go to the students, and income would come into Bell House in a cycle. I did not think it would go that well, but you could not make light of young people’s ideas. That was the result of thinking based on my own experience cultivated in my previous life and since reincarnating. I explained it to Erika while hiding the previous-life and reincarnation talk. She pressed her forehead with one hand and sighed with a tired face.
“I am saying Raide-san has no reward. Is there nothing you want?”
“Something I want, huh…”
While I was looking at Erika’s profile she seemed to notice the meaning of my gaze. Her cheeks went a little red. She muttered “Geez…” and leaned her body closer. I wrapped my right arm around Erika’s waist and smiled. She faced forward, pursed her lips, and said in a small voice, “That’s unfair.” I murmured “I know” by her ear. She tapped my stomach lightly as a reply, but it was cute so I would call it fine. I glanced at Rinelle and the twins walking behind, then pulled my body away from Erika and held her hand.
Students who looked up to me, lovers who stayed beside me, the contract with Sharle and the others. If I wished for more I would get punished. Erika talked as if I had no desire, but I prided myself that that was not quite true. I was the type to try to get what I unexpectedly wanted, you know? A good example was the system we used at Rude Tavern to chill drinks… I said that to Erika while squeezing our joined hands, and she finally smiled in a troubled way.
“So this is how I get diverted?”
“Hahaha. The moment you notice, I’ve already failed.”
“Fufu. You are a helpless person.”
I smiled back at Erika’s calm, glossy smile and laced my fingers with the joined hand. Erika’s rose scent rode the wind and tickled my nose, and I wanted to hug her. It was late to think it, but my lovers’ scents were all comfortable to me. Counting what I already had put me in a happier mood.
When we arrived at Nifa Inn, Elysia was in front of Erika’s house with Melaine standing behind her, talking with a woman giving off a noble atmosphere. Erika beside me whispered, “That’s the person who said she was moving in next door,” so I thanked her and walked over. Elysia noticed me approaching and smiled happily. The woman she had been talking with seemed to notice me too. She put on an elegant smile and tilted her head a little. When I got close I was surprised. Was this not Viscount Dobo’s wife?
Her name was Fenley, if I remembered right. The wife of Viscount Dobo, who I had been wary of. Well, needless to say I was surprised when I heard Viscount Dobo had been captured at some point. Her height was about the same as Elysia’s. Her face and build were slim. She grew blue hair longer than her shoulders, and the pretty glossy hair swayed in the wind. She gave off an elegant atmosphere, but I could feel that she was kind. More than anything she bore breasts larger than melons. She bowed while wearing a simple, unshowy dress that still emphasized her chest, which put me in a spot. Did noblewomen not feel settled unless they seduced men? The stimulation was too strong… I made sure my eyes did not go to her chest, smiled, bowed back, and said,
“Forgive me, are you Lady Fenley, the viscountess?”
“My. Just as Elysia-san said, you noticed. I am no longer a viscountess. I am only one woman. I would like you not to stand on formality.”
“…Please call me Raide, Fenley-san.”
“Fufufu. How nice. Words getting through with a look. I am a little jealous.”
Elysia had told me with her eyes not to stand on formality, so I dropped the wording. Fenley hid her mouth with her fingertips and laughed happily. I smiled in a troubled way and rubbed the back of my neck with one hand. She laughed even more and I tilted my head. I had heard what happened to Viscount Dobo as a rumor on the wind, so I did not bring up tactless talk. I told her “If something happens I want you to say so” and got “You’re kind” in return, which made me smile wryly. Whether it was unconscious or conscious, I felt like I was being seduced and braced myself.
She smiled and explained that the move was finally finished, and she had come to see Elysia to report and greet her. …I had heard they were hiring maids, but I had not thought they were maids of a former viscount house. While thinking that I looked at Erika. She had her face turned away and her shoulders shaking with laughter. Elysia was smiling happily too. They had probably noticed I was surprised inside.
After chatting about housekeeping for a while we exchanged greetings and I parted from Elysia and Erika as well. I went into Rude Tavern and told Pafa on the floor I was home. Hiero apparently had not come home yet, but she was with Croana and the others so she should be fine. I did not forget. I hugged Pafa and murmured “Tiburiera” by her ear. She glowed faintly for an instant. Pafa blinked adorably, smiled softly, and was happy saying “Thank you.” I was relieved.
Next I went into the kitchen, told Nimi I was home, hugged her gently, then turned my body to start helping. But Nimi grabbed the edge of my clothes. I tilted my head and turned my face. She smiled gently, looked at Sharle who had come into the kitchen with me, then looked at me again and said,
“Fufufu. ’You made her wait too long,’ you know?”
“Eh…”
“In nine days you head to Santony, right? I think there is only time now.”
“…That’s true.”
“Lady Nimi…”
Nimi walked up to Sharle, hugged her gently from the side, put on a maternal smile, and looked at me. Sharle’s cheeks were red. She looked up at me and tightly gripped with both hands the arms hugging her. Nimi was right, but me inviting… I had only been hesitating because I did not want it thought I was after her body.
Nimi read that from my expression, puffed her cheeks in a troubled way, and said to Sharle,
“If you want Raide-san to do it, a little forceful is just right. If we pull back we will not get loved, you know?”
“Yes, Lady Nimi.”
“Helping here is fine. Scon-san and Micon-san are helping too, and Pafa and Hiero-san are here. Fufu. I felt like if I did not say it no one would. A small bit of meddling.”
“Um… sorry.”
“Please do not apologize. We are happy. But if you seek us we can become even happier, you know?”
Smiling, Nimi pulled her body away from Sharle, whispered something, and they looked at each other and laughed. I was curious what she said, but I reflected on making Nimi go this far. Was it all right to seek a little more? I had been being considerate after looking at how they were after it ended… While I was thinking that Nimi kissed me and murmured, “The annex bath is ready.” I smiled at Nimi in a troubled way, thanked her and kissed her, then took Sharle’s hand. Her cheeks were red and her eyes wet. We started walking toward the annex. For the record, until we reached the annex bath Sharle was apparently so embarrassed she did not say a single word. Instead she fidgeted with the fingers laced through our joined hands.