Interlude 1: Lugue: "I think lewd things are bad!" (Lily’s Perspective)

Having finished breakfast, Lecty and I were making our way toward one of the lounges in the academy building. The reason was simple: just before breakfast, Lugue had pulled us aside after stepping out of the dining hall and told us, “I have something important to discuss.”

On a day off, the school building was nearly deserted. Only the sound of our footsteps echoed through the silence of the hallways. The lounge we were heading toward was known for its excellent soundproofing, making it a favorite spot for students and staff alike whenever they needed to have a conversation that couldn't afford to be overheard.

“Lady Lugue said she had something important to tell us, right...?” Lecty asked, her voice hushed. “I wonder what it could be...”

“I wonder indeed...”

Whatever it was, it required the privacy of an academy lounge.

And, more importantly, it required Hugh’s absence.

He was currently at the Adventurer’s Guild with Idiot. Both Hugh and I had fully expected Lugue to insist on going along—something like, “I’m coming too!”—but contrary to our expectations, she’d sent him off without a fuss.

I assumed she’d done that specifically so she could talk to us... right?

A topic that couldn't be discussed in front of Hugh, yet could be shared with us. There were several possibilities that came to mind, but the key factor was that both Lecty and I knew her true identity.

Lucretia von Reese, the seventh princess of the Kingdom of Reese. A member of the royal family who, due to the succession struggle surrounding her older brother, the third prince Lucas, was attending the Royal Academy while masking both her status and her gender.

That was the truth behind his—no, her—disguise.

Lecty had received a direct explanation from Prince Lucas himself during the incident at the Great Cathedral. Aside from Hugh, we were the only students at this academy who were in on her secret.

Calling the two of us together meant she intended to speak not as "Lugue," but as "Lucretia." When I considered the fact that she chose a time when Hugh was away, and that we were the only other girls who knew her secret, the answer felt practically self-evident.

“...She’s pregnant,” I stated flatly.

“WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?” Lecty shrieked.

“Shhh! Not so loud, Lecty!”

“S-sorry... but that’s not something I can just hear and stay quiet about!”

Lecty started to apologize, then shook her head and shot me a look of pure accusation. Lately, she’d finally stopped being so reserved around me; she was starting to treat me as an equal.

Honestly, I wished she’d stop using formal honorifics with me too, but I had a feeling that change was still a long way off.

“P-pregnant... if that’s true, then the father is Master Hugh, right...?”

“There’s no doubt about that,” I replied with a nod. “The idea of her letting any man other than Hugh touch her is simply impossible.”

“B-but, I don’t think Master Hugh would ever do something like that...” Lecty stammered.

“Think about it, Lecty. Hugh is head-over-heels for her, isn't he?”

I had given him a stern warning during the entrance exam results, but at the end of the day, Hugh was still a teenage boy.

Two months had passed since then. If you live in a tiny dorm room with the girl of your dreams for that long, it wouldn't be a miracle if his reason eventually lost the war against his impulses.

“Honestly, I’m tempted to praise him for holding out this long. If it were me, I would have pounced on him within a week.”

“I think that’s just you being a slave to your own desires, Lily...” Lecty muttered.

“Regardless, a mistake made cannot be unmade. We must focus on our next move.”

If word got out that she was carrying his child, the resulting scandal would be catastrophic. It would jeopardize the succession struggle, and more importantly, Hugh and Lucretia’s lives would be in grave danger.

If they were to flee, the Pnocis territory would be the obvious choice... No, they’d be followed eventually. Seeking political asylum in another country or faking their deaths would be ideal. We couldn't rely on Prince Lucas or my father, so our list of allies was short. It would all come down to how much influence we could pull through Idiot or Rosalie.

In a perfect world, I’d convince Alyssa-san to join our side... or perhaps Hugh could simply use his 【Brainwashing】 skill to its full potential and declare the Pnocis territory an independent nation.

The Kingdom of Pnocis. Yes, that had a nice ring to it.

“Um, Lily? We’re at the lounge...”

“Oh? So we are.”

I had been so caught up in mapping out the logistics of statecraft that I hadn't realized we’d arrived. I knocked three times, and the door opened from the inside. Alyssa-san peeked out.

“Yo! Welcome, Lady Lily, Lady Lecty.”

“Good morning, Alyssa-san. Is Lugue inside?”

“She’s been waitin’ for ya. I’ll leave ya to it, then. I’ll be nearby, so if anything happens, just give a shout, okay? I’ll come runnin’.”

“We appreciate it.”

Alyssa-san stepped out as we entered.

Lucretia, currently sitting on the sofa, looked up to greet us.

“Sorry for calling you both out so suddenly, Lily, Lecty. Please, take a seat.”

Following her lead, Lecty and I sat on the opposite sofa.

“Thanks for coming,” Lucretia said softly.

“Don’t mention it. More importantly, you said you had something critical to discuss.”

“Did something happen with Master Hugh...?” Lecty asked tentatively.

“U-um, yeah. Well, you see...”

Lucretia looked distressed, her eyes wavering with anxiety.

She really is pregnant...!

I swallowed hard, my fists clenching tight.

I searched for the right words to say—as a friend, as a childhood companion. The first thing that came to my mind was a message of support. After all, a new life was a blessing. No matter how much hardship awaited them, I had to start by offering my support.

“Congratulations, Tia.”

I deliberately used her childhood nickname to show my sincerity.

“Huh?”

Lucretia let out a confused little chirp, tilting her head.

“Um... Lily? My birthday isn’t until next month...?”

“I know that. You don’t have to hide it, Tia. No matter what happens, we’ll always be on your side.”

“Right. Thanks...? Out of curiosity, what exactly do you think is going on?”

“You’re having Hugh’s baby, aren't you?”

“NO, I’M NOT?!”

So, she wasn't pregnant. Well, naturally. This was Hugh we were talking about.

I felt a wave of relief, though a small part of me felt a tiny spark of concern for their future family planning...

Lucretia’s face turned bright red as she let out an exasperated sigh.

“Lily, what do you take me for? I have some self-control, you know!”

“My apologies. That was half-joking.”

“The other half was serious?!”

“In any case, if you aren't pregnant, then what is this 'important business'?” I asked, leaning in.

She wouldn't have called us to a soundproof lounge just for small talk. Her expression was far too serious for that.

“Well...”

Lucretia clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, as if trying to crush her own anxiety. Finally, as if reaching a desperate resolve, she leaned forward.

“How can I make myself more attractive to Hugh?!”

““....................Come again?””

Both Lecty and I froze as our brains failed to process the question.

How to make herself more attractive? What was she planning to do—make him love her even more than he already did?

Hugh’s affection for Lucretia was blindingly obvious to anyone with eyes. It was at a level that made me feel more resigned than jealous. Love for her was the bedrock of every action he took; there was no doubt that he cherished her more than anyone else in the world.

There was no way Lucretia hadn't noticed that... and yet...

“I’m not as pretty as Lecty, and I don’t have a great figure or big... assets like you, Lily. I’m worried Hugh finds girls like you two more attractive. I was hoping you could give me some advice...”

“I... see...”

According to my analysis, Hugh actually preferred the "cute" type over the "beauty" type, liked petite women over those with mature figures, and definitely leaned toward the smaller side of the chest spectrum. I wanted to scream that I was the one who needed advice, but I suppressed the urge when I saw how genuinely distressed she looked.

“Something happened between you and Hugh, didn't it?”

“Yeah...” Lucretia nodded slowly.

I knew it. She wouldn't just blurt this out unless there was a specific catalyst. She looked down at her lap and began to recount the story.

“So, the other night... Hugh actually invited me to sleep in his bed for the first time.”

“Can I go home now?” I asked, half-rising.

“Wha—?! No! Wait! Please just listen to me!”

I thought this was a serious consultation, but it was just a boast about her love life. Lucretia frantically held me down as I tried to leave the sofa.

Lecty gave a wry smile. “Let’s just hear her out a little longer, shall we?”

...Well, I suppose if we all became a family in the future, I’d be hearing stories like this every day. As the "Second Wife," it was important to cultivate a generous heart.

“And then?” I prompted, sitting back down. “How was it, sleeping with Hugh?”

“Nothing happened.”

““Oh...””

Both Lecty and I spoke in unison, immediately understanding the source of her depression as her shoulders slumped.

“I-it’s not like I was expecting anything, okay?! But... well, I’d braced myself, you know? I thought maybe he’d at least hold me, or... or k-kiss me... or something. But...”

“But because he didn't do a thing, you’re worried he doesn't find you attractive as a woman,” I finished for her.

“Y-yeah! Exactly! That!”

Lucretia nodded vigorously at my assessment.

I see. This was actually a rather profound problem.

If Hugh invited me to sleep with him and didn't do anything, I’d just steal his lips by force and take things as far as they could go... but I only had the luxury of doing that because I didn't have any complicated baggage.

My father had already met Hugh, and I’d more or less hinted to my mother in my letters that I intended to marry him. My father seemed to like him, so even if we ended up with a child, we could just get married and that would be that.

But for Lucretia, it wasn't that simple.

She was well aware of her own position. If Hugh had made a move, she likely would have felt obligated to refuse him for the sake of his safety.

However, being asked and refusing is very different from not being asked at all...

I could sympathize with her insecurity. A girl’s heart is a complex thing—she knows she has to say no if he asks, but she feels lonely if he doesn't ask. Hugh, being Hugh, likely didn't understand that duality at all.

Which meant he had no idea Lucretia was even worried about this.

...Then again, I couldn't exactly blame him. I was the one who told him not to touch her, after all.

Back on the day of the entrance exams, I had warned him that if he laid a finger on Lucretia, it would bring misery to everyone involved. Hugh was simply being loyal to that warning. In a way, I was the indirect cause of her current anxiety.

“I think Master Hugh finds you more than attractive enough, Lady Lucretia...” Lecty offered.

“True. That’s the problem,” I added.

As Lecty said, Hugh was already head-over-heels for her. Making him "more" attracted was nearly impossible. And even if she did, would he actually make a move? Hmm.

His self-control—or perhaps his mental fortitude—was far stronger than I’d imagined. I suppose that’s why he could possess a god-like power like the 【Brainwashing】 skill without ever succumbing to temptation or abusing it.

It was one of his better qualities, but from another perspective, it made him incredibly timid and passive when it came to romance.

“Rather than making yourself more 'attractive,' maybe we should focus on breaking down his self-control,” I suggested.

“Breaking his self-control...?”

“Yes. For example, you could try crawling into his bed completely naked.”

“N-No way! That’s just being a degenerate!”

I thought it was a solid plan, but a beet-red Lucretia rejected it with everything she had. If she wanted him to make a move, that’s about what it would take.

“U-um, I think that might break his self-control a bit too much, wouldn't it?” Lecty asked nervously.

“I suppose you're right...”

That really would lead to a baby. Finding the right balance was tricky.

“Nothing perverted! Okay?! I... I mean, eventually, I hope we... but not right now!”

“In that case,” Lecty said softly, “I think you should just tell him how you feel with words.”

“She’s right,” I agreed. “I’m sure Hugh would respond to that.”

Hugh was timid, but he wasn't dense. He surely knew Lucretia liked him, and if she confronted him face-to-face, he’d have no choice but to be honest with her.

“B-but... telling him I want him to hold me or k-k-kiss me... it’s too embarrassing!”

Lucretia shook her head, her face still crimson. It seemed she was just as timid as he was.

Now that I thought about it, she hadn't been as clingy with him lately as she was at the start of the year. I didn't see her glomping onto him in public as much, and even during the dress fitting the other day, she wasn't her usual "Look at me! Look at me!" self.

Had she become so conscious of him as a romantic interest that she was too embarrassed to be spoiled? To think that "Tia" was growing up and learning about love... her mother would have been so delighted to tease her about it.

“Could you two... could you tell Hugh you wanted him to kiss you?” Lucretia asked shyly.

“I-I don't think I could say it! Um... but I could just do it myself, like... bam!” Lecty admitted.

“I could say it, but I’d probably just steal his lips before he had a chance to answer,” I said.

“I see... So I really do need to be more aggressive.”

“Hugh is a bit of a passive player,” I noted. “You definitely need to take the lead.”

“I agree!” Lecty chirped. “I think that’s best for Master Hugh!”

“I see, I see... Wait. Why do both of you sound like you’re speaking from personal experience?”

Lucretia tilted her head, a sudden look of suspicion crossing her face.

“Hey, you two. Hugh saved both of you, right? Did anything... happen... back then?”

““Ugh...!””

S-she’s sharper than she looks! Lecty and I both choked on our words, and Lucretia’s eyes narrowed into a piercing, dead-eyed stare.

“N-nothing happened, of course...?” I stammered.

“Th-that’s right! Nothing at all...!” Lecty added, looking everywhere but at Lucretia.

“Then why are you both avoiding my eyes? As the Seventh Princess of the Kingdom of Reese, I find myself becoming very curious.”

Using your royal status like that is cheating!

...Well, I suppose stealing Hugh’s lips was also "cheating" in a way. But I only did it because I felt like he was going to disappear somewhere, so it was an act of necessity! Or something like that.

Judging by her reaction, Lecty probably kissed him under similar circumstances. There was no way Hugh would have initiated it himself.

We could keep playing dumb.

But that would be incredibly insincere. They weren't dating or engaged yet, but we had kissed him knowing full well how he and Lucretia felt. The fault was ours.

And more importantly, I didn't want to keep lying to someone I planned to call "family" one day.

I made eye contact with Lecty and we both nodded.

““WE ARE TRULY SORRY!””

We lowered our heads in unison, sincerely begging Lucretia for her forgiveness.