Chapter 21
“Kyaaaah!”
Mika screamed wildly when her eyes met Kae, who was pinned beneath Lloyd, with Lloyd riding on top in an inappropriate position.
I wanted to rush over and shut her mouth, but I couldn’t—because the scream had drawn people running into the barracks.
“What’s happening, Lord Lloyd?”
“This time, I will protect her!”
Knights and aides of the Helderios family, servants, Lord Dorkan from nearby, and even dispatched nobles—all crowded the scene. Total chaos.
The aide who met Lloyd’s gaze flinched at the ridiculous situation and hurriedly led the newcomers back outside. Before leaving, he added one last comment:
“Pl… please enjoy your time!”
The barracks fell silent.
Kae opened her mouth with a dazed expression.
“…They probably misunderstood, right?”
Of course. Any thinking adult would understand what the position meant: Kae in Lloyd’s large clothes, Lloyd on top, the smell of alcohol in the room, and bottles scattered across the tables.
Lloyd’s mind went completely blank.
Kae hesitated, then stood, shaking her clothes off.
“Sigh… I’ll go out and explain the situation!”
If it were only the Helderios knights, he could have silenced them. But nearby lords and nobles had seen everything. There was no guarantee that none of them would try to exploit any weakness.
Even though he had planned not to let anyone leave, the thought that someone might target Kae or his child strengthened his resolve.
“No.”
A firm hand grasped Kae’s.
“It’s fine. I can explain. It’s just a misunderstanding.”
No, he wasn’t fine at all. The woman who would one day be the Helderios heir’s mother was in no danger—yet.
Sighing, he took a scroll from the pocket dimension.
“Wait, what are you—”
Holding the struggling Kae in one arm, he read the incantation on the scroll:
“By the Helderios Duke Family…”
“W-Wait!”
A buzzing sound filled the air as a blue magic circle appeared beneath Lloyd’s feet, glowing brightly.
“No…!”
With a flash of blue aura, Lloyd vanished along with Kae.
He didn’t realize that forcibly carrying a protesting woman counted as kidnapping.
The power of the teleportation scroll was incredible. A journey that would take five days by carriage to the capital was completed in about ten minutes.
Arriving at a luxurious noble mansion, I forgot for a moment that I had been kidnapped, staring in awe.
One room alone was three times the size of my tiny apartment. Expensive decorations filled the space, giant windows opened onto a magnificent garden, and a massive, elegant desk piled with documents commanded attention.
Beside the desk, a kindly elderly man in a black suit and monocle was organizing papers, looking every bit like a butler.
Lloyd spotted him and called out joyfully:
“Alfred, you’re here after all.”
“Lord Lloyd, you’ve returned… Huh?”
The butler, Alfred, looked visibly flustered.
“Who… is this lady?”
Right. Anyone would be surprised if a man suddenly appeared holding a woman. I completely understood his reaction—until Lloyd spoke.
“She will be the future mistress of the family. She carries the Helderios heir, so treat her well.”
Mistress? Carrying the heir? I just slept, that’s all!
Alfred’s jaw dropped, as did mine. A young lord, unmarried, suddenly announcing that a woman had his child—any servant would be shocked.
I couldn’t even speak. Was this man completely ignorant about sex? Did he really think sleeping in the same bed automatically created a baby?
He might be a main character-level figure in the story, but his knowledge of sex was at a kindergarten level. I started to worry about the future of the Helderios family.
“Make her comfortable here until I return. And do not let Davien enter.”
Lloyd handed a scroll from the pocket dimension, looked at me, and continued:
“Rest comfortably. I will handle everything and return.”
Then, without hearing my answer, he vanished.
Damn Lloyd! I wanted to send him home! But in front of the scrutinizing butler, I could only mutter to myself.
The silence was broken by Alfred, bowing politely:
“Pardon my delayed greeting. I am Alfred, head butler of the Helderios Duke Family. May I know your name?”
Flustered, I bowed deeply:
“Ah! Hello… I’m Kae.”
Alfred smiled warmly, noticing me wearing Lloyd’s shirt:
“I will send the servants with clothes and tea. Please rest here for now.”
“No… that’s not necessary! Butler Alfred—no, I mean, sir! There must be a misunderstanding. I’m not involved with Lord Lloyd. And I need to go home! Ah… I do need clothes, but tea is fine…”
“You need clothes quickly. I will inform the staff immediately.”
He smiled gently, cutting me off, bowed, and left gracefully.
I tried the door to call for help—it wouldn’t budge. Windows were magically sealed as well.
This was confinement. Kidnapping plus imprisonment. This was a crime, Lloyd.
Exhausted, I sank onto the expensive sofa in the center of the room. I needed to leave immediately…
I remembered: this was the heroine’s house.
In the novel, the heroine showed no mercy. She would kill her enemies ruthlessly. If I appeared before her as the villainess…
I would be tortured to death, perhaps even burned alive.
Shivering in fear, I heard a knock. The butler entered with a bow:
“Your clothes and warm tea are ready.”
A few maids followed, carrying a partition, a bathtub, clothes, and a tray.
“It’s time for your bath,” they said.
“No! I can do it myself!”
“We will help you.”
“W-Wait!”
“Call me anytime if needed,” Alfred said, leaving.
The maids ignored my protests, helping me out of my clothes, setting up a bathtub with rose-scented water, and washing me thoroughly while constantly flattering me.
“You have such beautiful skin!”
“Your hair is soft and shiny.”
“Your eyes sparkle like gems.”
I had seen this expression many times as a commoner—it was forced, soulless flattery.
I just wanted to go home.
After the bath, they applied expensive fragrances to my body. Then, they measured me with a tape and dressed me in a flowing, soft pearl-like dress.
It seemed to say: “I am valuable.”
I thought about selling it in Zeronia for a good profit. But just then, the maids cheered excitedly:
“Wow, amazing!”
“Oh my!”
