Chapter 3: The Type of Protagonist Who Goes Blank and Says Something Stupid When Flustered
A heavy atmosphere permeated the carriage ride home.
Unlike on the way over, Lily and I sat facing each other, each resting our chin on a hand and gazing out of separate windows.
"... I expected this to happen eventually."
Lily spoke quietly, as if in a monologue.
"The moment I learned she had the 〈Saintess〉 Skill, I thought it was unavoidable that she'd get dragged into the Royal Succession Conflict."
"You did look troubled then."
I remember I was in the bathroom using the 〈Brainwash〉 Skill for the first time to switch my skill when that happened. When I returned, it was revealed Lecty had the 〈Saintess〉 Skill, and the place was in an uproar. Amidst that chaos, Lily was already worried about Lecty's future.
"Coincidence is terrifying, isn't it? Trying to save a girl who was being harassed by Idiot led me to meet you, and that girl I tried to save possessed the 〈Saintess〉 Skill."
"Now that I think about it, that was a crazy situation..."
If Lily hadn't been there, I probably would have ignored Lecty being harassed by Idiot and walked away.
In that case, I wouldn't have had the chance to hear about the Skill crystal from Lily, and there's a good chance my 〈Brainwash〉 Skill would have been exposed, leading me straight to the guillotine.
"My initial thought to help Lecty was on a whim."
"You said something about a diamond in the rough, didn't you? You approached Lecty quite aggressively, too. How serious were you about that?"
"Hmm... I'd say about forty percent."
"That was pretty serious..."
I had thought she was just acting to protect Lecty. Because, well, if she was romantically interested in me, she couldn't possibly be interested in girls, too...
"Even I found Lecty charming, and I'm a girl. I wasn't entirely without the thought of seeing where it went. I quickly gave up when I realized Lecty had no such feelings, though."
"I-I see..."
If Lecty had responded, how far would she have pushed it? ... No, I should stop thinking about it. I feel like it's compromising my own position.
"Aside from the forty percent, the other sixty percent was for protecting Lecty under your wing, right?"
"Yes, well... The moment I laid eyes on Lecty, I thought she would appeal to the nobility. Her beauty is paired with a sense of fragility, and her personality seems quiet and modest. A noble who only views his wife as a collector's item would desperately covet her."
"Ah... I can sort of see that..."
"So, regardless of my personal desires, I thought if a rumor spread that she was my lover, it would offer her some protection. Idiot immediately crushed that plan, but having you there helped a great deal."
"So that was the meaning behind asking me and Lecty to pretend to be a couple, too."
"It's a little late, but I should have consulted with you first. I'm sorry."
"I don't think you need to apologize. Besides, we were in a mess that day, weren't we?"
Lecherie barged into the café where we were having lunch and dragged Lily away—that was the day it happened. We've been busy with one thing after another since then, so I understand not being able to talk about it.
"Thank you. That makes me feel better."
"... Even so, the heavens bestowed two unbelievable gifts upon Lecty."
"Even without the 〈Saintess〉 Skill, Lecty would have been targeted by the nobility. The fact that she possesses the 〈Saintess〉 Skill has only exponentially increased her value. It wouldn't be surprising now if even royalty wanted to marry Lecty."
"Is it possible for royalty to marry a commoner?"
"It would be an aggressive route, but not impossible. They could have her adopted into some noble house. Then she would instantaneously become one of the nobility."
"That's seriously aggressive..."
"Well, maybe that's a bit of a leap in logic. ... To be honest, the current situation is worse than I predicted. Lecty's value has soared too high."
"If Lecty's 〈Saintess〉 Skill has the same power as the fairy tale, she might be able to cure His Majesty's illness..."
Lecty, already beautiful and possessing a rare Skill, now has the added possibility of curing the King's illness. At this point, it's not just a problem for nobles and royalty. Everyone would want to possess Lecty.
"Just as Prince Lucas said, we have no choice but to pull Lecty into our faction before the other Princes make a move. As soon as the carriage arrives at the Academy, we'll try to persuade Lecty."
"Right..."
Prince Lucas also requested that we tell Alyssa-san the result tomorrow morning. If possible, he wanted us to bring Lecty to the Royal Capital tomorrow afternoon. That's how desperate the King's condition is.
I was planning to go out with Lugue tomorrow, but... this can't be helped.
As soon as the carriage arrived at the Academy, Lily and I headed for the girls' dormitory. Built a short distance from the boys' dorm, the three-story girls' dorm shared an identical exterior with ours. The internal structure was likely the same.
As I stood in front of the girls' dorm, looking up at the building, Lily nudged me from behind.
"What are you doing? Let's go quickly."
"W-Wait, go where...? Am I going into the girls' dorm too?"
"Of course you are. It's alright; if we get caught, I'll say I lured you in."
"That's not exactly protecting me at all, you know."
On the contrary, that would ensure Lugue hates me, and I'll be guaranteed to end up as grind for Marquis Puridy's sword!
... That said, it's probably not right to push the job of persuasion entirely onto Lily, either.
"Couldn't we take Lecty outside or something? Isn't there another way...?"
"We could try, but... I barely manage to sneak out alone, constantly using my Skill. I'm not confident I can bring Lecty out with me without being seen. In that regard, you're good at infiltrating, aren't you?"
"Don't talk like I'm a chronic trespasser..."
If I had to answer whether I'm good at it or not, the answer is yes, but...
"It's easier to ask you to come in than it is for us to leave together. Please, can't you do it?"
"... Well, that is less risky. But are you sure about letting me into your room?"
"There's not much there that I'd be embarrassed for you to see. I suppose... only the laundry that's been hung up to dry, including my underwear."
"That's definitely something to be worried about!"
"Seeing them won't make them vanish, and since we'll get married eventually, is it really a problem?"
Lily said this matter-of-factly. Well, you might be fine, but Lecty's laundry is hung up there, too.
Wait, ... speaking of which. How does Lugue do her laundry? I've never seen her underwear hanging anywhere...
... Nope, I'm not thinking about this any further.
I set my resolve and decided to infiltrate the girls' dorm with Lily. We snuck in through the window of the vacant room that Lily used to exit and headed for Lily and Lecty's room.
With Lily's 〈Strategist〉 Skill and my 〈Ninja〉 Skill, it was easy to move through the girls' dorm without being noticed. My enhanced vision could see even in the complete darkness, and with 〈Stealthy Walk〉, I could move quickly without making a sound, even while carrying Lily in a bridal carry.
My 〈Ninja〉 Skill-enhanced hearing and smell could pick up the patrols, but Lily's 〈Strategist〉 could pinpoint their exact locations. We avoided the patrols easily and arrived at Lily and Lecty's room.
"I never thought we could get here so easily... We could definitely make a living as thieves."
"Say 'treasure hunters,' or something."
"Treasure hunter and underwear thief?"
"Stop with the ridiculous labels. Just open the lock quickly."
I put Lily down. For me, getting caught means immediate suspension and the loss of Lugue's and everyone else's trust, so I don't have the composure for playful banter.
Besides, the entire girls' dorm, or at least this hallway, has been smelling faintly sweet, making me feel strangely unsettled. It's not that the boys' dorm smells bad, but the unfamiliar scent makes me anxious.
"I wanted to enjoy this thrill a little longer, but I suppose it can't be helped."
"Seriously, you..."
Try to consider my position here...
"Welcome to Lecty's and my secret flower garden."
Lily joked as she opened the door and ushered me in.
The room's layout was identical to the one Lugue and I shared in the boys' dorm.
However, the details were subtly different. A vase of flowers sat on the shelf right inside, and a rug covered the walkway. This must be Lily's arrangement—a tasteful touch of smart elegance.
"I'm home, Lecty. I just got back... Oh?"
Lily stopped at the end of the walkway and tilted her head. Lecty was nowhere to be seen inside the room. The light was on, and the door was securely locked, so it was unlikely she had gone out at this late hour...
Just then, my 〈Ninja〉 Skill-enhanced hearing picked up the sound of a door opening somewhere. It came from right next to where I was standing, behind the door connecting to the shower and dressing room.
Ah, bad.
"Welcome back, Lily-chan. I'm sorry, I was taking a shower first—... Eh?"
My eyes, which instinctively turned toward the source of the sound—the door—met Lecty's amethyst eyes, which appeared in the doorway.
Water droplets dripped from her light-blue hair, tracing down her faintly pink, porcelain-white skin, falling from her neck onto her collarbone.
"W-What the— Hugh-sa—..."
Lecty's eyes were wide as saucers. She choked on her cry of surprise, and,
"Ah—!"
—Hiding her was no more, the bath towel spiraled down from her hand.
Revealed was Lecty in her natural state. Her flawless, creamy skin was adorned with tiny droplets of water. Her slender frame and somewhat modest twin mounds. Her delicate ribs were visible. Her flat stomach and the vertical cat-scratch navel. All of it was scorched deeply onto my retinas.
I knew in my mind that I shouldn't look, but I absolutely couldn't tear my eyes away.
"Hiiiii—!!!???"
Lecty's body turned crimson like a boiled octopus, and she screamed a muffled cry, slamming the door shut with all her might.
The paralysis was finally broken, and I sank to my knees right there.
"Ah... I apologize. My consideration was lacking. I should have definitely told Lecty before bringing you in. I got a little too carried away myself, I think..."
Lily, who had witnessed the whole thing, averted her gaze awkwardly and offered her apologies. I was so shaken by the incident that I was speechless, and my hand unconsciously reached for my chest pocket.
For now, I'll erase everything that just happened and everything I just saw from my memory. The 〈Brainwash〉 Skill should be able to erase memories, too.
"Stop."
"Ah...!"
Lily took the mirror from my hand and sighed.
"I know you're planning to erase this from your memory, but apologizing must come before forgetting. I'll apologize right now, so wait a moment."
Lily handed the mirror back to me, opened the dressing room door slightly, and slipped inside.
... Lily is right.
Even if I could erase my memory, the fact that I saw her wouldn't change. Pretending it didn't happen before apologizing would be extremely rude to Lecty.
After a short wait, the dressing room door opened, and Lily and Lecty appeared. Lecty was completely hiding behind Lily's back.
Is Lecty angry? Or maybe sad. I have to apologize sincerely, whatever it takes...
"Lecty, about a moment ago, I'm sorry. Please forgive me!"
"N-No! I am the one who is sorry for showing you something so poor... I apologize!"
"... Eh? Poor...?"
I raised my head, questioning Lecty's word, which hung in the air above my bowed head. Lecty was half-hidden behind Lily's back, her face red, a fist over her mouth, looking down.
Poor, meaning... what exactly?
"I'm just skin and bones, like a skeleton; I'm not feminine like Lily-chan, so I figured Hugh-san wouldn't have wanted to see that... That's why I'm sorry!"
"E-Ehhh..."
I was why am I the one being apologized to...? Confused, I looked toward Lily, who also wore a puzzled expression.
Deciphering Lecty's words, it seemed she lacked confidence in her nude body. To the point where she felt she had to apologize for showing it to me, not for me seeing it. Why is her self-assessment so low?
It was true she looked a bit too thin, but it was certainly not a disappointing sight. If anything, it was beautiful; even a touch divine. I couldn't understand why she needed to humble herself like that.
Struggling for a good response, I noticed Lily's mouth opening and closing. Not mimicking a goldfish... she was trying to tell me something.
"Praise her."
Praise her...? What about her? The nudity!?
N-No, I can't do that.
But, I can't just let Lecty continue to apologize... Ugh... Oh, hell. Nothing is coming to mind.
In that case, I'll just blurt out exactly what I'm thinking. Here goes nothing!
"Lecty!"
"Y-Yes!"
"I like them even if they are small!"
—Immediately after, Lily punched me squarely.
◇
Although I received an earful from Lily afterward, I managed to fulfill my initial purpose. Lecty, after hearing the situation from us, readily agreed to treat His Majesty the King, saying, "If there is anything I can do."
I thought Lecty wouldn't refuse in her current state, but I didn't expect her to agree without hesitation...
We decided to tell Alyssa-san our answer the following morning, and for today, we decided to call it a night.
"U-Um, Hugh-san."
Lecty called out to me as I was heading to leave through the window.
"Is that... was what you said just now true...?"
"Just now...? Ah, the part about big or small?"
Lecty nodded quickly.
I didn't really want to discuss this, especially after getting hit by Lily... Lily was sitting on the bed, watching us. She was far enough away not to hear the conversation.
"Well... it might be a bit different from general consensus, but I find both sizes attractive in their own way. So, please don't belittle yourself like that. Lecty, you're a perfectly attractive girl."
"~~~!!! Th-Thank you very mush..."
"W-W-Well, um, sorry. Let me apologize properly one more time. I was wrong to look at everything. I'm willing to take responsibility in any way I can."
"R-Responsibility...? W-Well, I'll think about it!"
Lecty's face turned completely red, and she looked down as if deep in thought. I said goodbye to her and Lily, then left the girls' dorm.
Using the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, I ran full speed, stopping near the boys' dorm to crouch down.
"Aaaahhh, I completely screwed up!"
I can't believe I saw Lecty naked...!
I should have insisted more on not being led into the girls' dorm by Lily. Or, since I had switched to the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, I should have been more aware of my surroundings.
I think the unconscious reserve—It would be creepy to sense a girl's private space—caused my 〈Ninja〉 Skill to hold back. That's why I didn't realize Lecty was taking a shower until the very last moment.
First Lucretia, and now Lecty... You need to learn, me!
Fortunately, Lecty didn't seem too bothered; in fact, she seemed to feel sorry for me. But that only means it's better than her hating me or being sad; it doesn't absolve my guilt.
I need to make it up to Lecty somehow, eventually.
I slowly walked back to my room in the dorm. Turning the key and entering the room, I saw the lights were off. Lugue seemed to be sleeping soundly alone.
... In my bed.
Pondering where to sleep tonight, I turned around to go shower first, when—
"…No."
I heard a faint girl's voice.
"Don't leave... Don't leave me... alone..."
"Lugue...?"
Was she awake...? No, she's having a nightmare. Worried, I leaned in to check on her. Lugue was profusely sweating and clutching Nokonoko-san tightly with a distressed look on her face.
Is she having a nightmare about her mild insomnia...?
"No, Mother... Wait..."
She might be dreaming of being abandoned by her mother... But the sense of dread seemed palpable. Tears streamed from her closed eyes, and her right hand wandered in the air as if searching for someone.
"Don't go anywhere... Don't abandon me..."
"... I'm here, Lucretia."
I gently grasped Lucretia's right hand with my left, wrapping my hand around hers. While I was sorry I wasn't her mother, I simply couldn't leave her to go shower.
I wiped the sweat from her forehead with my sleeve and scooped up the tears that escaped her eyelids with my fingertip. Perhaps because I was holding her hand, Lucretia's sleeping face seemed to calm down.
She pulled my hand, which she was clutching, to her chest and held it tightly there.
............ Ah, this is bad. I'm stuck.
If I tried to stealthily pull my arm out, Lucretia might be tormented by nightmares again. And even if I didn't worry about that, she was holding on so tight that I couldn't pull my arm free without waking her.
It can't be helped. I'll shower tomorrow morning, and for tonight, I'll just go to sleep like this...
I nudged Lucretia's body slightly toward the wall and lay down in the tiny space created. I feel like I'm going to fall if I move even a little, but my arm is trapped, so I should be fine.
"Good night, Lucretia."
As soon as I closed my eyes, sleep overtook me.
◇
And then, the next morning.
"H-HUGH~~~!!!???"
"Nngh..."
A shrieking sound made me slowly open my eyelids. The sight before me was Lugue's face, dyed beet-red like a boiled octopus. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth trembled.
What in the world is wrong...? My head wasn't spinning clearly right after waking up.
"Good morning, Lugue. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Ah, yes. Strangely well—NO! Hugh, you pervert! What are you touching!?"
"Eh... huh?"
Now that she mentioned it, I felt a soft cushion of an elastic shape in my left hand. What is this...?
"Fumyaaah...!? D-Don't fondle them—!"
Tears welled in Lugue's eyes, and her head shook rapidly.
What the hell am I touching... Ah.
My brain finally started turning, and my memory of last night came flooding back. That's right, I fell asleep with Lugue clutching my left hand to her chest, and I couldn't pull it out.
Looking down slightly, my left hand was still at Lugue's chest. Or rather, I was actively fondling Lugue's chest hard.
Oh, so there actually is a mound even though it’s not prominent normally... This is my first time touching a girl's chest... such trivial thoughts flowed left to right across my mind.
"Hugh, you idiot...!"
"N-N-N-No! T-This is because Lugue—"
—That's not right!
This is no time for excuses; I need to say something!
A word that will soothe Lugue, who is on the verge of tears. Um, ummm!
"Lugue! I like them even if they are small!"
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