“…Ah.”
I made it to the front of Kyle’s Room, but I’m getting cold feet about going in.
I need to wake him up, but…
Not an easy task.
Still… I decided to go in anyway.
After all, standing here until Kyle wakes up and opens the door would be even more problematic.
How would Kyle look at me then!
Clearly, he’d think I was too embarrassed to knock.
He would see me as a shy girl who can’t do anything because of a confession!
But that’s absolutely not true.
“Come on, what’s the big deal? I’ve explored dungeons before.”
-Knock, knock
“Young Master, I’m coming in.”
As always, I knocked on the door and entered the room.
And then I halted.
“…”
Usually, he was still asleep when I entered.
Always snoozing until I woke him up.
Just like right now.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“…Yeah.”
“Your expression doesn’t look good.”
“…Thanks…. I mean, no.”
I almost let out a “Thanks” there.
Still, I shouldn’t say that.
Even if I’m struggling because of Kyle, that’s not something to say.
After all… he likes me doing this.
Right, I shouldn’t be saying whatever I want just because.
But I am older than him.
So I decided to show a little lenience.
“How about you get dressed?”
“Are you trying to rush things already?”
“…Young Master.”
“Fine.”
With a smile, Kyle casually took off the clothes he was wearing.
Just like always, I helped him get dressed, and he wore them as usual.
As long as he didn’t speak up, it was nothing out of the ordinary.
“Young Master, breakfast with Princess is scheduled as usual this morning.”
“And is there another schedule after that?”
“Um… Elin has invited you for some sword training for the first time in a while, but there’s nothing overlapping.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, the Duke sent a few documents to you, Young Master, but they aren’t complicated, so if I help you, we can finish them quickly.”
It’s just preparing for things Kyle will have to do when he becomes the Duke.
Well, in the end, it would just be a matter of Kyle’s signature.
After all the review is done down below, it’s just Kyle making the final decision.
“Then, your afternoon schedule is completely free.”
“That’s right.”
Yesterday’s actions were yesterday’s actions.
For now, I decided to focus on what I needed to do.
Since Kyle wasn’t doing anything special, there was no problem.
“Then how about we go on a date in the afternoon?”
“….”
How does she read my mind, saying something like that right after I thought it?
Can she do telepathy among magics?
“Well, there’s no need for a date. Handling paperwork is kind of like a date anyway.”
“Ha….”
“Right?”
“Young Master, please don’t act like this in front of the Princess. We should maintain decorum, at least in front of Her Highness.”
My biggest concern was whether he would seriously say such things anywhere.
When it’s just the two of us, it would only be troublesome for me, but what if he says that in front of someone else?
Especially if it were the Princess or the Duke?
Depending on the situation, I could end up in a tricky spot.
“Please… just act accordingly.”
“Got it.”
I’m relieved he understands.
At least as long as he doesn’t show this side to others, that would be enough.
As we passed through the hallway, we arrived at the dining hall where the Princess was already seated.
As always, the Princess in her splendid dress from morning showed what true luxury should look like.
Yeah, a girl like this deserves to be in such a position.
The position of the Duke’s wife should be filled by someone like the Princess, or perhaps just slightly beneath her.
Someone like me, a weird anomaly, was not what should be brought here; a true noble lady should have been.
“Did you do well yesterday, Duke’s Son Kyle?”
“Um…. I think it went decently.”
“Fufufu… that’s a relief.”
The Princess covered her mouth as she smiled.
I couldn’t hear what they were discussing, but the atmosphere between them was pleasant.
If this amiable atmosphere continues, it wouldn’t be a problem for their relationship to flow in that direction.
If I keep dismissing Kyle’s weird remarks, wouldn’t it actually draw him closer to the Princess instead of me?
Not too bad, actually.
“Sophia?”
“Yes.”
While we were eating, Kyle suddenly called me over, pulling me closer.
The Princess was looking at me with eyes full of curiosity as I approached.
What could be so fascinating about this?
“The Princess says she has something to say.”
“Yes?”
“I mean exactly that. Sophia?”
“Yes, Princess.”
Suddenly she has something to say to me?
While we’re eating abruptly?
Why?
“Sophia, when will the wedding be?”
“….”
Kyle….
Didn’t I tell you to behave appropriately in front of the Princess?
Why on earth did you bring that up in front of her?!
Though I couldn’t voice it, looking at Kyle’s expression, he seemed to have a good guess about my thoughts.
What should I even say to the Princess?
My brain stopped.
Wait, wedding?
No way that was happening.
“There is absolutely no way I will marry the Young Master.”
“Hmm…. Is that so?”
“Yes. The Young Master would be better suited to a more noble lady than a commoner like me.”
I responded to the Princess with a seriously sincere face.
Surely that would have been enough for her to let it go.
I trust she wouldn’t be like someone we know who keeps saying weird things.
“Kyle, but you said Sophia is the one you like very much. What should we do?”
“…Young Master.”
“It’s fine. I’ve shared such discussions with the Princess long ago.”
So that means…
My reminder about showing decorum led to this kind of situation, huh.
“Fufu….”
“Young Master, I have absolutely no intention of dating you, or becoming a couple, or getting married, so please stop pushing it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Sure, that’s how I should continue responding to Kyle’s strange comments.
Maintaining this level of composure seems right.
After all, no matter how many confessions he makes or how much affection he shows, my stance wouldn’t budge.
“Well, I think you’ll eventually give in if this continues.”
“…Why is the Princess saying that….”
With one person already causing me trouble, here’s another noble lady who’s adding fuel to the fire.
Is Louise my only ally?
“Then, no matter what I do, you won’t feel your heart racing or anything right?”
“Correct.”
Of course.
I’m not some girl who would get flustered because of Kyle’s actions.
That’s absolutely out of the question.
I’ve never had such a reaction towards any guy in my life, so how could I possibly feel something just because of Kyle?
No way.
“Kuh… hah… hehe….”
“Your Highness, please eat without laughing like that. You might choke.”
“But Duke, what can I do? Sophia is just too funny!”
“….”
What could I have said that’s so funny?
That was a sincere statement…
Does the Princess really see me as some girl who’s about to swoon over Kyle, getting all fluttered and flustered?
Me?!
The one who’s never had such experiences in my life?
I don’t understand why she would think that about me.
It’s so unfair.
I just feel so unjustly accused.
It hasn’t even been that long since I met the Princess.
Our conversations have been even shorter.
So why did she get such a misunderstanding?
“Please don’t go overboard. Sophia will definitely not be swayed by the Young Master. Right?”
“That’s correct. So Young Master should seek out another lady.”
After that, for reasons unknown, a hilarious misunderstanding farce continued between the Princess and Kyle, who kept teasing me.
Watching those two makes me realize how unjust my situation is.
I’m not the kind of person who easily bends.
Truth is, I have no interest in men at all.
It’s just downright unfair.
“Young Master, you don’t have to take your time with those documents like you’re reading a book. Most of the paperwork has already been reviewed by the servants and Head Butler. Any documents that have not been cleared will be brought to you separately, so it’s okay to move quickly.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
After breakfast, when Miss Elin and Kyle had finished some casual exercise, I was letting Kyle know about handling the paperwork.
Shouldn’t that be something the Duke does? But since he does such a poor job at it, I ended up doing it.
Well, it wasn’t difficult. I was just giving him reminders and tips for the paperwork.
We were in the library.
I just thought it suited the atmosphere to do it here since it’s where I spent a lot of time teaching Kyle in the past.
Ah, memories.
“Sophia, come sit here.”
“…?”
Just as I was lost in thought, suddenly Kyle told me to sit next to him.
I didn’t know what he was up to, but I followed his lead and sat down beside him.
Sitting next to him, I could smell the unique scent of someone who just bathed after exercising.
It was quite fragrant.
“…”
“It’s nothing special; I just wanted to sit together. You’ve always been standing, and I’ve always been seated.”
“Really?”
“Yes, honestly, it was uncomfortable to see you standing beside me all this time.”
I don’t think I needed to feel uncomfortable.
After all, we’re in totally different social statuses, so what’s the big deal?
It’s weirder for a servant to sit beside their lord during work.
“Do you know how difficult it is to see the girl I like standing all the time?”
“Younger Master… is that why you wanted to sit me down? Do you really think I’m that easy to sway with your words?”
“No, it’s because you’re not an easy person that I’m doing this.”
“….”
I covered my face with both hands, hiding my expression.
I was honestly about to lose it.
Anytime he opens his mouth, he says something that throws me off.
Really.
-Thud….
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