Thanks to making a reservation in advance, we successfully entered our target restaurant.
The colorful terrine appetizer has been served, and we’re about to start eating… but.
“Knife on the right… fork on the left… Oh, was it the other way around?”
Because she’s flustered, Alice is in an amusing state.
Originally, she wasn’t good with these kinds of manners, but through the thorough education of Head Maid Morina, she had grown to the point of passing as my maid.
However, now all that knowledge seems to have flown out of her head.
It would be interesting to keep watching Alice panic, but as she’s starting to look teary-eyed, I decide it’s time to throw her a lifeline.
“Alice. Look at my hands.”
If she thinks calmly, she should realize she just needs to do the same as me.
Realizing this, her face turns even redder, and she ends up hiding it with both hands.
“…I wish the ground would swallow me up.”
“Kukukuku. I’m happy to see a new side of Alice.”
“Ugh… I’m so sorry. I’m making you worry during our precious time together, Lord Ouga…”
Alice seems to be full of remorse and won’t show her face, keeping it covered with her hands.
While such mistakes are cute, Alice originally has the mindset of a maid rather than a lover, so her feelings of inadequacy for causing trouble to her master, me, are probably stronger.
If this continues, I won’t be able to see Alice’s face.
So, I decided to cast a spell to remove her hands from her face.
“Alice. Aah~”
I cut a small, bite-sized piece of the terrine and bring it to her mouth.
“…!”
Alice’s movement stops abruptly, and the gap between her fingers visibly widens a little.
“If Alice won’t eat it, I guess there’s no helping it.”
“Uuu…”
“Hm? Are you going to eat it after all, Alice?”
“…! …!”
After making a reluctant sound, she suddenly starts shaking her head vigorously from side to side.
How should I put this… It’s interesting, like a delayed puberty has finally arrived.
Alice’s expression is hidden behind her hands, but I can tell she’s shocked from how her shoulders have slumped.
While I respect Alice’s desire to maintain our usual relationship, if I don’t take a step forward here, we’ll never achieve the kind of relationship she wants.
So this time, I’ll support her as she moves forward.
“Alice, we’re on a date right now. You’re not here as a maid, but as Alice who sent me that letter, right?”
“W-well, that’s true, but…”
“Then you can act however you want. Don’t worry about what’s appropriate for me or anything like that.”
“Lord Ouga…”
“You know what… why don’t we drop the ‘Lord’ too?”
“I-impossible! Lord Ouga is Lord Ouga!”
…She shakes her head so fast I almost think it’s going to spin right off. I guess I’ll let that one slide.
I offer her another slice of the terrine.
“Alice.”
“Y-yes… I’ll have some!”
Alice glares at the terrine on the fork as if it were her mortal enemy before steeling herself and taking a bite.
“…It’s delicious.”
“Heh heh, I see. Then it was the right choice to come here.”
“Yes…! Thank you, Lord Ouga!”
Once she overcomes her initial nervousness, she seems much more relaxed and starts eating her own food.
Relieved that she’s back to her usual self, I resume eating too—but the moment I put the terrine in my mouth, I hear something clatter to the floor.
I look over to see that Alice has dropped her fork and knife.
“D-d-did we just indirectly k-kiss…?”
…Indeed. I only realize it after Alice points it out.
But surely she wouldn’t be this flustered over an indirect kiss… No, there’s no way…
With a bad feeling, I quickly check on Alice’s condition.
Her cheeks, which had been bright red, seem to overflow and gradually turn white.
…Deathly pale, as if all the blood has drained from her face.
“…Lord Ouga… I’m sorry. I can’t take any more of this…”
“Alice! Alice!?”
On this day, I witnessed her being knocked out for the first time.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
The day after the incident where Alice fainted from the shock of an indirect kiss.
When I explained the situation, all three of them seemed oddly relieved, saying, “So even Alice has a weakness…”
Today, I’m visiting the Luludahn Workshop with Karen.
Just like yesterday, we’re shown to a private room to wait for Yueri’s arrival.
“Somehow, being alone like this… it feels a bit ticklish, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. We used to be together all the time, and now…”
“That’s true. We’ve grown up, our positions have changed… Is it because I’ve become Ouga’s fiancée?”
There’s no need to confirm it again, but she is indeed my fiancée. And she’s the girl who willingly chose this relationship.
Thinking back, there was the Academy Magic Competition, then the incident with Flone. Before we could catch our breath, we had to rescue Alice, and then there was my appointment as the [Saint]. So many big events happened one after another that I hadn’t had the chance to really face her.
Of course, my own cowardice played a big part too, but I’m different now.
I have both the time and the resolve to face her properly. I wanted to interact with Karen today with honest feelings, to make up for all the times I’ve neglected her before.
“I’m sorry. Even though this is supposed to be a date, I’ve brought you here right away.”
“No, it’s fine. The planetarium show I want to see with you doesn’t start until evening, and I thought it would be good to greet the person in charge here first.”
As she says this, Karen takes hold of my right hand.
“Come to think of it, all you told me was that Mr. Dude-Luludahn’s daughter would be in charge.”
And having learned from past mistakes, I had informed her beforehand that the person in charge was a woman.
It’s when you hide these things that people start to suspect there’s something shameful going on.
If you explain things clearly with proper reasons, everyone will understand. They’re all kind-hearted girls.
“A series of coincidences led to her being in charge. Of course, her skills are top-notch, so you can rest easy.”
“If you say so, Ouga, then I’m sure it’s fine. What kind of person is she?”
“Sorry to keep you waiting! I’m here and energetic as ever, boy!”
“This kind of person.”
“Ah… I see…”
I thought it would be quicker to see for herself than to explain, and Yueri arrived at the perfect moment.
Is she alright? Her energy seems to be increasing day by day.
Looking closely, I notice she hasn’t even changed her clothes.
I hope she hasn’t stayed up all night and gotten over-excited…
“Oh? Have you brought your girlfriend, boy?”
“No, she’s not my girlfriend.”
“Ouga…?”
“She’s my fiancée.”
“Ouga…!”
“It’s hot enough already without you two showing off such warm scenes!”
Yueri complains, but this is important.
Karen, having regained her spirits, stands up and greets Yueri politely as befits the daughter of a duke’s family.
“I’m Karen Levezenka, his fiancée. Thank you for always taking care of my husband.”
“Congratulations on your marriage in less than a minute! I’m Yueri Luludahn. As you can see, I’m the mechanical engineer in charge of making the boy’s prosthetic arm.”
“Wait, Yueri. Don’t just let that slide, you should react more strongly.”
“I’m single, but don’t worry, I’m not having an affair with the boy!”
“That’s a relief. If there were any more potential brides, I’d be at my wit’s end.”
“By the way, how many are there now?”
“Including me, there are four.”
“…Maybe I should start calling you playboy instead of boy from now on.”
“…Please absolutely do not do that.”
I immediately refuse, imagining being called a playboy at every turn.
“So, where’s Dragon Banisher Mk. II?”
“Ah, about that… Could you come to the workshop today? When it comes to magical tools using magic stones, it’s difficult to transport them.”
Magic stones are precious resources. The value of magical tools made with them skyrockets, and it’s said that only a select few can obtain them.
I’m having magical tools made with magic stones by throwing around a vast amount of money, but that’s only possible because of Yueri’s special circumstances.
“Is it okay for outsiders like us to enter? We might steal your techniques.”
“No need to worry about that. My damn old man will be watching.”
“I see. So if we make any suspicious moves, it’s game over.”
Dude Luludahn is the top dog in this town.
If he gives permission, no one will complain, and if he says to catch us, we won’t be able to escape from the town.
However, to think he’d agree to be our watchdog and let us in, even after kicking out his daughter like that…
This parent-child quarrel might just be an incredible misunderstanding.
Of course, I won’t interfere in their relationship.
It’s never good for outsiders to meddle.
They need to face each other properly on their own.
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