“…This is the worst. I thought I could beat this woman this time. And I was planning to put a paper that said ‘serves you right!’ in the drawer!”
“If you’re scared, don’t do it. The culprit would be easily identified, you know? Probably a famous detective would come flying on the first page of the victim.”
“…Sleeping together.”
“You were shocked enough to be depressed about not getting to sleep with a man!?”
After that, the three had boarded the carriage again and returned to the mansion.
In the end, the sparring that started from Ilya’s selfishness ended with Phil’s solo victory. After all, once confined in the binding space, it was impossible for the two of them to escape with their power.
It was an obvious case of reaping the fisherman’s profit, but that’s what battle is. The moment Kahlua targeted Ilya, it was clear the result would benefit Phil.
The penalty game Ilya had proposed settled into a form where Phil would give orders to both of them since Ilya and Kahlua had become unable to fight simultaneously.
While walking down the hallway, he turned sparkling eyes toward the depressed Kahlua.
“So anyway, Kahlua-san? Since I won, can I please get permission to go distribute some offerings to the onee-san’s and have a fun time with them—”
Squelch☆
“MY EYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!?!?!?”
“I’ll gouge out your eyes if you say you want to go.”
“Shouldn’t you say that BEFORE gouging them out!?”
Illya retorted as she watched Phil writhing on the floor.
What a maiden with a severe disconnect between words and actions, Illya thought, treating it entirely like someone else’s problem.
“I-I haven’t been there recently… I really, really haven’t been thereee!”
“Why don’t you just let him go? When someone’s clenching their fists this desperately, giving off vibes like they just got cut from the athletic tournament, it goes beyond pathetic and embarrassing to just plain pitiful.”
“…Because I’m here.”
“Say that louder, you troublesome woman.”
This master-servant pair is truly troublesome. Illya, caught in the middle, felt sorry for herself.
On top of that, realizing these were the women who defeated her and the [Hero of the Shadow] made her think what a strange world it had become.
“Phil-sama, my apologies.”
Just then, a servant appeared from down the hallway, approaching the three of them with quick steps.
“Sorry, if it’s not urgent, can you wait… I can’t even see what’s under your skirt through these tears.”
“Actually, it’s somewhat urgent.”
“G-got it… I’ll listen if you’re okay with me like this.”
“From an outsider’s perspective, that’s quite the uncool pose. Even modern comedians don’t stick their butt in the air with their face pressed to the floor covered by both hands.”
“Right now you look pretty pathetic, Phil-Salemabart. Definitely not media-worthy.”
Phil received these merciless words, but his eyes really did hurt—please cut him some slack.
“Nicola-Lilac, the Second Princess, has arrived.”
“…Seriously? When did our mansion become a long-established restaurant frequented by big-name celebrities?”
“It seems she wishes to meet with Lily-sama…”
I see, both Phil and Kahlua understood.
During her previous visit, it had been under the pretense of [an invitation to a party].
Though back then, Nicola had come in person because Phil had ignored the letter—normally, royalty wouldn’t bother visiting a count’s household.
If it had been like Lily’s case, wanting to discuss an engagement, that would be understandable, but two royals proposing engagement to the same person was unthinkable, leaving the purpose unclear.
However, if she came to see Lily, that was a different story.
Coming out of concern—such a reason would be perfectly plausible and understandable as a purpose for visiting.
“Where are they now?”
“They’re in the reception room.”
“Got it, I’ll go right away.”
Phil wiped his eyes and immediately stood up, heading down the hallway.
Having royalty visit was nothing but troublesome. If Milis had been here, he’d have lined up excuses right away and started entertaining the saint, but this time he had no choice but to go immediately whether he liked it or not.
After all, Lily and Nicola were already meeting somewhere without Phil present.
“…Lily, you didn’t say anything weird, right? Nicola-sama still thinks I’m a playboy NEET.”
“How nice for you, you don’t need to worry.”
“Really!?”
“She figured it out ages ago.”
“Tell me it’s a lie!”
Unable to accept reality, Phil walked as Kahlua came up beside him. Illya, perhaps having nothing better to do, followed behind them.
The reception room was located on the first floor near the entrance so guests could be guided there immediately.
They descended the stairs they’d just climbed, walked a bit, and quickly arrived at the reception room, where Phil knocked several times on the door.
A voice from inside said, “Please come in.”
“I-I feel like I might get an upset stomach from nervousness. Yeah, I think Lily wouldn’t have said anything weird. So if I do an about-face, Nicola-sama won’t get angry—”
“Here, stomach medicine.”
“And water too.”
“Our maids are so competent I can’t hide the tears I just shed…!”
Nicola was inside. An opponent you couldn’t let your guard down around who’d casually probe your intentions.
Even though he didn’t want to meet her, he resented the maids who wouldn’t let him turn around.
Phil took a deep breath and slowly opened the door.
And then—
“Phil-oniichan!”
Lily immediately clung to Phil’s waist.
“Wh-what’s wrong, Lily? It’s fine to be affectionate, but with this many onlookers… wait.”
Though surprised by the suddenness, before Phil could make a quip, Lily started moving around to hide behind his back.
What kind of situation is this? As he was thinking that, Nicola, who had been sitting in the room, slowly stood up.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
“I apologize for the sudden visit, Phil-sama.”
She’s beautiful as always.
An elegant, beautiful face, an aura overflowing with grace and refinement. Her pink hair gathered to the side swayed slightly, seeming to shine as it caught the sunlight streaming through the window.
Genetics are frightening. Both Lily and Nicola. What kind of bloodlines do you need to combine for such beautiful and adorable girls to be born into one family?
As he found himself staring a bit, Kahlua puffed out her cheeks and elbowed him, sending eye signals.
“(…Jealous.)”
“(Is that your current catchphrase, Kahlua? Your calculated cuteness is skyrocketing, but are you aiming to be an idol center or something?)”
Phil shrugged his shoulders with a “Yes, yes, sorry” to Kahlua, who was simply jealous.
Apparently his partner wouldn’t forgive him even for staring a little.
(You’re pretty enough to stare at too, you know.)
He’d never actually say that to her, though. He patted the sulking Kahlua’s head just a bit and turned back to face Nicola.
“You two get along as well as ever. Even viewers would be jealous.”
“How embarrassing. However, what brings you here so suddenly? Though I can pretty much guess.”
“To put it simply, I came to bring back Lily, who left the castle without permission.”
So she’d run away without telling anyone.
Phil looked at Lily hiding behind his back.
“You came without saying anything, Lily?”
“Ugh…”
Lily averted her eyes guiltily.
Judging from that reaction, it seemed to be true.
“We knew where she was because she left a note saying [Going to Phil-Salemabart-sama’s place]…”
“How conscientious of a runaway, Lily.”
“B-but… if I didn’t, everyone would worry.”
“Your onee-chan seems worried though?”
Even receiving Illya’s words, Lily kept her face turned away.
She understood people were worried. Yet there was a sense of stubbornly refusing to yield on something.
“(Did I just step into a troublesome situation? I wasn’t running around collecting flags…)”
“(Seems like an automatically collected flag. Well, it was a flag you’d have to collect eventually the moment Lily-sama showed up.)”
“(I kind of had that feeling. Seriously… why does the world expect a mere noble to collect royal family flags?)”
“(A glamorous future? Or explosive laughter from the living room audience.)”
“(Don’t tell me the world saw comedian elements in me instead of Zan? Give me a break, I’m supposed to be on the living room side, living freely.)”
That said, whether he’d be completely dragged in would depend on how things developed from here.
Still, sensing his free lifestyle drifting further away, Phil felt a bit fed up.
“I had planned to visit much earlier, but unavoidable matters kept coming up and it ended up being at this timing. Fortunately, Kahlua proved that Lily’s note was correct, so I was at least relieved about that.”
“Were you doing something?”
“I was reporting to Nicola just in case. Better safe than sorry.”
Though she understood Lily’s circumstances, Kahlua had been slightly worried about whether a child of that age… or rather, a royal, had come with official permission. Right after Lily arrived, Kahlua had sent a report letter to Nicola.
If it had been an unauthorized runaway, some responsibility might fall on the Salemabart household for housing her.
She didn’t seem to be lying, but it was truly being extra careful.
“I’m truly sorry for the trouble our Lily has caused this time.”
“No, it’s nothing like that…”
Phil felt somewhat bewildered as Nicola bowed her head.
Then, raising her head, Nicola immediately turned her gaze to Lily hiding behind him.
“Now then, let’s go home, Lily.”
“No!”
Lily showed clear rejection.
Her grip on his clothes tightened, and she buried her face in Phil’s back to avoid eye contact.
“If you’re too selfish, you’ll trouble Phil-sama. Don’t be stubborn, let’s go home together, okay?”
“No! I’m not going back! I’m going to marry Phil-oniichan!”
“Lily…”
Nicola’s expression changed as if troubled.
It was a rare expression for Nicola, who usually never showed what she was thinking.
Phil remembered her always showing a leisurely face with constant composure, but the current Nicola displayed worries about “how to handle this.”
That was because the other party was family.
The current Nicola truly appeared like an older sister.
“Lily doesn’t need to force herself into an engagement yet, you know? For now, it’s enough for just me and Onee-sama to think about the royal family. Besides, you’re staying here, which means Phil-sama refused you, right?”
Nicola spoke gently, as if admonishing.
But—
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