Chapter~23
Lately, my superior’s eyes have been… strange.
“Fay.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t you think the Young Duke’s gaze has been a bit weird lately?”
“I don’t know? Weird how?”
“Uh, like… kind of clingy…? He keeps handing you things…”
“Well, you are lovers. Isn’t that normal?”
Even so… it feels a bit too gentle.
I recalled his behavior over the past few weeks.
‘Is there something you want to eat? You’ve been staring at that display case for a while.’
‘When should we schedule the engagement ceremony? The sooner the better, but I’ll match your schedule, so don’t worry.’
‘This suits you quite well. Since it’s a pair, it’d be nice to wear it with someone… Ah, your sister? I see…’
It felt oddly considerate.
Maybe I’m imagining things?
Well, we’ve been pretending to be lovers for quite a while now.
It would make sense for him to get better at it.
“Your engagement is in autumn, right? Less than a month left?”
“Ah, yeah. We’ve been busy preparing together.”
Since it wasn’t social season anymore, I still had to fulfill my regular duties.
‘You’re my knight. Guarding my side is also your duty. I can adjust things if you want.’
‘Uh… I’m fine. Let’s just stick to rotations, please.’
Pierre seemed like he wanted to make things easier for me, but I refused.
There were still people subtly trying to bring their daughters to the ducal house.
And when I stayed near Pierre during those times, the glares were intense.
“At least the vice-captain gave me leave during engagement week—”
“Sir Sonnet.”
At that moment, Pierre suddenly appeared and called out to me.
“I have something to discuss regarding a personal assignment. Follow me.”
“Ah, yes!”
Recently, Pierre had been using me as both a guard and for tracking black magicians.
Was it about that?
After greeting Fay, I quickly followed him.
He didn’t seem to want to talk here, so he walked slowly ahead.
As we passed through the corridor—
“Are you quite close with Sir Faygan?”
Faygan Bright.
That’s Fay’s full name.
“Uh… we’re fairly close. We’re in the same cohort.”
“You seem particularly close among your peers.”
“We run a small business together. Fay—Sir Faygan has helped me a lot.”
“A business?”
“Yes. Various small things. He’s been very helpful.”
Something about that made Pierre’s brow twitch.
“Sonnet. The ducal house also runs businesses. Large-scale ones, across many fields.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m saying I could be more helpful.”
“Ah… I’d feel bad imposing on you…”
“Aren’t we lovers? This much is fine.”
“…Is it?”
“Yes. Next time, I’ll advise you. Ah, we’ve arrived. Go in.”
We reached his office, and he naturally opened the door for me.
The interior looked much the same as before.
“Sit. I’ll prepare tea.”
…Is this going to be a long conversation?
“Ah, I can—”
“It’s fine. Just sit.”
Pierre personally set up the teacups.
Soon, he poured a reddish tea into the cup.
As I took a sip, a soft fragrance spread gently in my mouth.
“Since the incident at the auction house, it seems the black magicians have gone quiet. We released a few monster eggs into the black market, but there’s been no sign of them trying to acquire them.”
“What could they be planning?”
“Perhaps their plan involving monsters was halted… or they’ve already achieved their goal.”
Pierre frowned, as if recalling something unpleasant.
“It might have been a trap. Considering they tried to kill me and failed, then vanished.”
Black magicians trying to kill Pierre directly…
Thinking back to the auction incident, it made sense.
But something felt different from the original game.
Was it because of me?
Or…
‘Who are you?’
‘Well… a hidden character? An NPC? Think of me however you like.’
…Someone else?
“They won’t suddenly attack again, will they?”
“All we can do is tighten security.”
He was right.
At this point, all we could do was stay vigilant and wait for them to slip up.
“The engagement ceremony is the concern. With so many guests, security could weaken.”
“Ah… the engagement…”
“Yes. It’s scheduled for September, isn’t it?”
“Y-Yes…”
Still a strange word to hear.
I smiled awkwardly and asked,
“But are you really okay with leaving everything to the ducal house?”
“It’s fine. If there’s anything to discuss with you, I will. That’s partly why I called you today.”
As if waiting for this moment, Pierre showed me two documents.
“What’s this?”
“The chef hasn’t been finalized yet. The desserts are decided, but there’s debate over the main course.”
He pointed at each document.
“The first is someone experienced with noble events, but they were recently injured and are recovering. They recommended a second chef instead.”
“They must be capable.”
“They are. But their career is short. They only recently started gaining recognition. Kore, was it? They use Eastern-style cuisine to create unique dishes.”
“Eastern-style…”
Even though this world’s ‘East’ is different from Earth’s, it still caught my interest.
“In terms of skill, there’s no issue. The complaints are about their experience. Some say their promotion has been too fast, so we should consider someone else.”
“As long as they’re skilled, that’s what matters. Experience will come with time.”
“Then we’ll go with this one. And…”
Pierre frowned again, recalling something unpleasant.
“The Princess is also attending. She’s coming to represent the imperial family.”
“The Princess?”
“Yes. I don’t know why she is coming. Perhaps to interfere?”
That seemed unlikely.
I recalled my previous conversation with her.
‘You really like the Young Duke, don’t you?’
‘It’s not like that.’
‘Sure, sure. Let’s go with that.’
…Ah.
Is she still misunderstanding?
If anything, seeing us act like lovers might have made it worse.
Still, as long as she believed that, she wouldn’t harm Pierre.
We were allies, after all.
“So, we should act more like a passionate couple.”
“Uh… should I pretend to be jealous or something?”
“Aren’t you actually jealous?”
“Not at all.”
“…I see.”
For some reason, Pierre’s voice sank slightly.
After that, until I left the room, he seemed to be in a bad mood.
Why?
He was fine just a moment ago.
* * *
After Sonnet left,
Pierre, sitting on the sofa in his office, let out a deep sigh.
“…So she really has no feelings at all.”
He muttered gloomily as he slowly cleaned up the teacups.
“What am I doing wrong?”
Since that day, he had changed.
If he could receive her affection, even romantic love would be acceptable.
So he had tried, in his own way, to court her.
But she didn’t seem to notice at all.
‘You can speak comfortably. We’re lovers, after all.’
‘Y-You’re still my superior, so… I’m fine.’
→ Attempt at casual intimacy: failed
‘This would suit you well.’
‘It’d suit Mabel better! I’ll give it to her!’
→ Attempt to gain favor through gifts: failed
‘Your family seems kind. It wouldn’t be bad to become family.’
‘Right? They’re all great! Especially Mabel! My angel!’
→ Subtle hint about marriage: failed
“This is strange… usually this works.”
Even with those who didn’t truly like him—those who approached him with calculation—his actions were generally well received.
Aren’t appealing behaviors all similar?
“Then why is Sonnet still the same?”
Pierre was puzzled.
They had grown somewhat closer over the past weeks, but not enough for him.
Without the excuse of being lovers, she seemed to want to keep her distance.
“I was arrogant.”
He had been confident.
Many women had shown interest in him.
He knew most of it was because of his wealth and status.
A handsome man without those would be a fleeting lover—not someone to marry.
“I need to find a method that works on her.”
Still, he had assumed that even someone like her would grow interested with a little effort.
Instead, she seemed burdened by it.
Calling him her superior… pushing him away.
“She’s pressured by status… and her interest in money seems to be for Mabel’s sake.”
If she liked money itself, he could have easily bound her with wealth.
But that didn’t seem to be the case.
Every time he tried to give her something, she thought of her sister first.
Targeting that angle was actually counterproductive.
“…The only usable asset I have… might be my face.”
He looked at himself in the mirror and nodded.
At this level, he wouldn’t lose to anyone.
If anything, he was worthy of praise.
“I’ll just have to stay close… and slowly fill her surroundings.”
He smiled faintly, planning his next move.
