Ch.44True Colors (4)

“D-Duke!?”

“Lady Ines… that cheek…!?”

“Doctor, call a doctor!!”

The castle was in complete chaos.

It was only natural, considering the Duke, who had suddenly disappeared, was now being dragged in unconscious by two women.

Moreover, both Chloe and Ines had ugly red handprints on their cheeks, causing rumors to spread at an uncontrollable pace.

At first glance, there seemed to be no connection between the Duke’s unconsciousness and the handprints on the two women’s cheeks, but rumors are rarely rational.

Based on the Duke’s condition and the handprints, not only the castle residents but even the common folk outside began whispering and creating a wide variety of stories.

“So what I’m saying is, the two women were fighting over the Duke—mmph…”

“…What are you doing?”

“N-nothing at all… Lady Ines.”

The rumors blazed even more fiercely because neither Chloe nor Ines said anything about the incident.

Had the two main subjects of the gossip clarified their positions, the rumors might have centered around their statements. But since they didn’t, scandalous and even potentially insulting stories ran rampant.

Furthermore, since both Chloe and Ines possessed beauty that would inspire awe in anyone who saw them, people stretched their creativity to the limit, creating rumors that could almost be considered fiction.

“…Haaa.”

“Who told you to lose control and slap someone?”

“You did the same thing.”

“That’s because you were standing there like an idiot, and I needed to snap you out of it.”

“Ugh…”

Chloe and Ines, now in Claude’s bedroom where he was sleeping, had dismissed all other servants and were speaking informally to each other.

They were completely unrecognizable from just a few hours ago when they had been addressing each other with the utmost respect. It was like witnessing a decades-long bitter relationship.

“Well, that’s true, but—what are you doing!?”

Unable to refute Ines’s words, Chloe was blushing with embarrassment when she suddenly let out a cute scream upon seeing Ines touching and massaging Claude’s body.

We clearly agreed to pause our fight until my brother wakes up, but this woman is cheating—

“What am I doing? I’m checking the master’s condition. His stiffened muscles have relaxed considerably, so he should return to normal after a good rest.”

“Ah, I see…”

Only then did Chloe properly see what Ines was doing.

Ines was simply checking Claude’s health by pressing on his joints and areas where muscles had been tense.

“…I want to check too.”

Even though it was perfectly legitimate, Chloe couldn’t help feeling envious of Ines.

She hurriedly ran to the opposite side of the bed and began massaging Claude’s muscles to check his condition, just as Ines had done.

“I already did that. Is there any need for you to do it again?”

“It’s, it’s better to be thorough…”

“…Tsk.”

This woman is two years older than me and very intelligent, but when it comes to the master, she becomes as simple-minded as a child.

Of course, I also want to indulge and be pampered by the master, but I wouldn’t be reduced to such a state… would I?

“Huh?”

While mentally criticizing Chloe, Ines suddenly reached a conclusion.

Chloe acts childishly and seeks attention from the master to the point of losing her intelligence, but I don’t.

That means her love for the master is greater than mine—

“No way!”

“Eek!?”

“Ugh…”

Startled by the sudden outburst, Chloe, who had been examining Claude’s body, shrieked and cowered in surprise. Seeing this, Ines quickly regained her composure.

‘Tch…’

To think I’d have such useless thoughts—clearly, I must be unconsciously worried about the master’s collapse, even if I don’t show it outwardly.

Yes, there’s no way my love is less than hers. I’m just being mature, while she’s…

“Wh-what’s wrong…?”

“…”

Ines’s eyes fell on Chloe.

Chloe, who didn’t hide her pure affection and concern for the master, was freely caressing his body without deceiving her own feelings.

Compared to her, what am I? Is staying still like this truly the right thing to do?

Ines, who had just moments ago considered herself mature, immediately felt both envy and jealousy upon seeing this.

“…No.”

*Rustle*

Ines, who had received aristocratic education bordering on brainwashing that emotions should not be displayed, decided to no longer hide her feelings.

Having made her decision, Ines took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and burrowed under the blanket covering Claude.

“Wh-what are you… doing?”

Chloe spoke in an incredulous voice from the side, but Ines didn’t even bother to respond.

Sharing the same pillow and blanket with Claude, Ines simply smiled and embraced his body.

“What do you think you’re doing? Can’t you hear me?”

“You’ll wake the master if you’re too loud.”

“Y-you…!”

Chloe felt both confusion and humiliation at Ines’s suddenly changed demeanor.

How dare she do this to my brother right in front of me?

If she stayed still, she would be the only fool, but if she protested, she would disturb her brother, just as Ines had said.

What should I… what should I do… Ugh, for now, I’ll also…!

*Rustle*

“…What do you think you’re doing?”

The bed, blanket, and pillow were all singular, but now three people were using them.

Though everything was large, being the Duke’s possessions, they were still designed for one person, making them insufficient for three.

Chloe and Ines’s arms and legs poked out from under the blanket, and their heads rested on the edges of the pillow.

“It’s cramped because of you…! It was just right until now.”

“If you’re uncomfortable, you can leave.”

“…”

*Squeeze*

Not wanting to leave, both Chloe and Ines pressed themselves even closer to Claude.

They placed their arms and legs over his body, tucked their limbs under him, and brought their lips close enough to touch his ears as they embraced him.

……….

*Breathe… Breathe…*

‘What… is this?’

Breathing sounds were coming from all directions.

Not only that, something was pressing tightly on his chest, making it difficult to breathe, and his body was not just warm but almost hot.

It felt like being wrapped tightly in ropes and thrown into a sauna. His head was so dizzy that he kept feeling dazed.

‘Ugh… what is—Ah!’

“Girls!?”

Claude, trying to assess the situation with his foggy mind, woke up with a start.

He remembered Chloe and Ines about to fight viciously just before he passed out, now that the poison had been sufficiently neutralized for him to endure.

“First, stop… fighting…?”

‘Huh?’

He couldn’t get up.

It wasn’t that he was paralyzed and unable to move. His muscles were trying to move, but something was physically blocking him.

Moreover, this slightly musty smell…

“Mmm… M-Master!?”

“Brother…!”

“…Huh??”

Only then did Claude discover Chloe and Ines.

Both had slightly reddened faces, were sweating profusely, and were holding onto him tightly with their entire bodies, like koalas hugging a tree.

“What are you two doing?”

………

If three people share the same blanket and embrace each other in the hot summer, they would naturally feel extremely hot. Normal people would pant and run away.

But Chloe and Ines were not normal people.

Unwilling to lose to each other, they had endured through sheer stubbornness, resulting in this situation.

*Whoosh*

“Ugh…”

Even with no one inside, the space under the blanket was still filled with heat and humidity.

Claude lifted the blanket briefly but quickly let go, slightly frowning as he was hit directly by the smell of sweat and heat that assaulted his nose.

Seeing this, Chloe and Ines turned even redder with extreme embarrassment.

“Th—Haaa…”

Claude, who was about to scold them, just sighed instead.

There was no need to say anything; they clearly knew they had done wrong.

“W-well…”

“We’re sorry…”

“It’s okay, these things happen. No, actually, I prefer this.”

Their faces became puzzled at my response.

They had made me uncomfortably hot and squeezed me tightly, yet I wasn’t angry at all. They probably thought I had every right to be upset.

“I never knew you two, who rarely show your emotions, had such rich feelings.”

Chloe and Ines had always been reserved with their emotions.

The fact that they had been hiding such intense affection for me means they must have been living under extreme stress all this time.

There’s no need to hide emotions to such an extent unless they disrupt daily life.

“So, from now on, you don’t have to hide your feelings.”

“Brother…”

“Master…”

Until just moments ago, their faces had been red with embarrassment, but now they were flushed with gratitude toward me.

‘…This is much better to see.’

Whatever the reason, they are both “women” I must take responsibility for. So I’d prefer if they didn’t hide their emotions anymore.

Regarding Chloe, it feels somewhat bitter, as if I’m betraying mother… but what’s done is done.

“”Yes…! From now on, I won’t hide anything anymore.””

“…Huh?”

At that moment, Chloe and Ines, with tears welling in their eyes, simultaneously gave the exact same response in moved tones.

It was a perfectly normal answer, but hearing it sent chills down my spine and made the back of my neck suddenly feel cold.

Why do I feel like I’ve made a grave mistake? As if I’ve said something wrong.

…Nah, it must be my imagination. How could telling them not to hide their emotions be a mistake?