Chapter 25

“..? Why are you looking at me like that, Young Master?”

When I came to pick up Kyle as usual, he was staring at me with a strange look.

Louise beside him was also looking at me as if I were a strange person.

What could they have discussed during the lesson that made them both look at me this way?

“It’s nothing.”

“…?”

Without any further conversation, we left the classroom.

Louise said she had things to organize and remained in the classroom.

“Young Master, since the debutante ball is approaching, I think it would be best not to do anything dangerous for a while.”

“Yes.”

It was better to rest than risk getting injured during swordsmanship lessons.

“For the next few days, there will probably be nothing except for some light dance practice. If you feel there are any areas where you’re lacking, please let me know.”

In my opinion, he’s learned enough by now, but Kyle might feel there are still things he needs to improve.

The debutante ball was important enough that it was best to prepare as perfectly as possible.

Of course, being human, absolute perfection isn’t possible.

“Yes.”

“….”

“Young Master, what’s wrong?”

“Is this really a lesson…?”

“Of course it is.”

Of course this is a lesson.

Anyone would call it a lesson.

It’s something most noble young ladies do, and something Kyle needs to be wary of.

The reasons male nobles fall can be divided into three categories.

Mouth, hands, and lower body.

All men, including nobles, can be ruined by these three things.

Naturally, one must be careful with one’s words.

The mouth is the most important thing in all human relationships.

Then the hands—one could be ruined by using them improperly.

And finally, the lower body.

This was truly dangerous.

There have been many stories since ancient times about men being ruined after getting a woman pregnant.

Of course, it’s natural for men to be crazy about women.

It’s practically genetic.

Men are the type to fall for a woman just from eye contact, and if she smiles slightly after making eye contact, they can’t sleep that night.

When such men drink alcohol, they become even weaker to women.

And if they make a mistake for one night, it could ruin their entire life.

I didn’t want Kyle to make such mistakes.

“You shouldn’t give in easily if someone presses their body against you like this at a party.”

“I know that, but….”

Even knowing doesn’t make it less dangerous.

From my adventurer days, I’d seen many men whose relationships with their comrades became awkward after drinking together.

“Men fall victim even when they know better.”

“…But do we have to rub bodies like this…?”

“How else will you resist women who try to seduce you, Young Master?”

“….”

I spoke while pressing my chest against Kyle’s back.

It might not be as effective as with young children, but it should be enough for him to get somewhat accustomed to it.

“You need to get used to these things. It might be difficult when drinking, but you must become accustomed to it. Like this.”

I moved from behind and stood in front of Kyle.

Then, placing one of his hands against mine, I said:

“My, Young Master, your hands are larger than I expected?”

“Yes…?”

“Would you like to compare them with mine?”

“…”

“Young ladies might say things like this while subtly trying to initiate physical contact with you. What should you do when that happens?”

“…Thank you…?”

“….”

You shouldn’t give in so easily.

Men also need to put up some barriers.

“No, you should decline. Do you understand?”

“Yes….”

If he gives in so easily during lessons, how will he protect his lower body at an actual party…

It seriously concerned me.

Really….

“Young Master, and if you’re holding a glass in one hand and someone suddenly comes beside you like this.”

I stood next to Kyle.

Then I linked my arm with his.

“If someone tries to link arms with you like this, you should refuse. Do you understand?”

Women always press their breasts against men this way.

Well, since men like those breasts, it’s probably the easiest method.

“Or like this, they might lightly touch your arm while saying: ‘My, Young Master… your muscles are quite impressive. I have a body that doesn’t build muscle easily…'”

It’s not that she doesn’t build muscle, she just doesn’t exercise, but they always say it like that.

They usually touch the arm muscles.

But sometimes they might also poke the chest muscles slightly.

Of course, noble young ladies probably wouldn’t poke the chest.

“I’m so envious…..”

“…..”

“You shouldn’t be seduced by talk like this either. Do you understand?”

“Yes….”

And there’s another important matter.

Though it’s not necessarily the man’s fault, women asking men for help.

While doing so, they subtly create opportunities for future appointments.

It’s truly dangerous.

Of course, for nobles, it would become an official schedule, but it was still dangerous.

Playing in the domain together, spending time, saying thank you, having dinner afterward, and drinking a little?

“Young Master…. I’m so afraid of the darkness tonight……”

They say things like this to subtly spend time alone at night.

“And then, slightly drunk from alcohol and intoxicated by the night’s unique atmosphere, you might end up slightly mixing bodies. No matter how much of a social gathering it is, never easily make appointments with women.”

“….Yes….”

“Your answer lacks conviction. Answer properly.”

“Yes.”

“Hmm….”

I’m still worried.

While it’s good if Kyle meets a nice woman, meeting just any woman isn’t a good thing.

To begin with, if she’s truly a good woman, she won’t form a relationship overnight.

Slowly, very slowly building a relationship, confirming each other’s feelings, confirming love, and then falling in love—that’s what’s good.

She’s not a loose woman—how could she fall in love in just one day?

“It would be a cause for celebration if you meet a good woman, Young Master. But I am against you meeting a woman who is loose, money-hungry, or has questionable backgrounds.”

“Yes….”

“And if a woman you’ve just been chatting with suddenly says it’s too hot and suggests going outside, don’t go. She surely has ulterior motives.”

“Yes…..”

I continued explaining to Kyle about women’s flirtatious behaviors.

Though he seemed unable to concentrate properly on the lesson today, I believed he would be strong in real situations.

Surely Kyle wouldn’t mix bodies with a woman he just met.

Surely….

“Young Master, can I trust you?”

“Yes, you can trust me.”

Right, if he says I can trust him, I should trust him.

I’ll be accompanying him anyway, and Kyle will handle it well on his own.

Probably.

Clatter, clatter….

We’re riding in a carriage, leaving Eristirol.

We’ve probably already left the Eristirol domain itself and are at the border with another region.

“Sigh….”

It’s really very uncomfortable.

I’ve ridden many carriages during my adventurer days.

Of course, the carriages from those days wouldn’t compare to this one, but discomfort seems unavoidable.

“Young Master.”

“Yes?”

“It looks like we’ll need to stay at an inn today. Is that alright with you?”

“Of course. I can endure a slightly uncomfortable bed.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

We’ve been rushing toward the capital all day, but we won’t be able to reach it.

The distance between Eristirol and the capital was far.

At this pace, it would probably take at least a week.

It took a day just to leave Eristirol, so that seems likely.

“Would it be alright if we get one room? Of course, I’ll arrange for two beds.”

Normally, many servants should have come along, but only Kyle and I are in the carriage.

That’s because Kyle refused to let other servants follow.

As a result, there was no one to guard Kyle, so I needed to stay close to protect him from any potential threats.

That’s why we’re getting one room.

“….One room?”

“Yes.”

It should be fine since there will be two beds.

With two beds, there probably won’t be any discomfort.

“I… suppose there’s no choice.”

“That’s right.”

Kyle seemed to understand the situation and didn’t get angry.

Of course, he wouldn’t get angry at me, someone who’s been with him since he was young.

“Then let’s rest in this town for now.”

I said this and told the coachman to stop here for now.

Since there was still time before the debutante ball began, it was fine to go slowly.

There was absolutely no need to wear out our bodies and the horses.

Going slowly while taking breaks was perfectly fine.

“Hmm…. not a bad inn.”

“Is that so…?”

To Kyle, who has spent his entire life in Eristirol Castle, it might not look good, but this inn scored average as far as inns go.

During my adventurer days, I’d seen worse inns.

Ones where condoms were left on the bed sheets, used condoms remained in drawers, and condoms were even left in the bathroom of the inn room.

Because of that, I was so pissed that I beat the hell out of that inn owner.

“…..”

Thinking about it suddenly made me angry.

I really never wanted to go back there.

“Young Master, today let’s bathe after dinner. Hmm….”

I thought for a moment.

Usually, Kyle bathes with the help of bath attendants.

But today, from now until after we reach the capital, there would be no attendants to help Kyle bathe.

I’ll have to do it.

“After dinner, I’ll help you with your bath.”

“Sigh….”

“Even if you don’t like it, there’s no choice. There are no other attendants, are there?”

The reason there are none is because Kyle told them not to come.

“It can’t be helped. Until we return to the castle, I’ll help you with your bath.”

I might be inferior to the real bath attendants, but I should be able to manage the act of washing him.

Probably?