Chapter 34

“Sofia, you don’t remember the debutante ball from the other day.”

“…Yes…”

During the meal, Kyle called me outside and we were talking like this.

He asked me if I knew that I had blacked out, as though he already knew.

“Lady White’s name is Lily, and you didn’t do anything specific, so you don’t need to feel uncomfortable.”

“Yes…”

Fortunately, I didn’t do anything strange while drunk, despite being a personal servant.

If I had done something weird to the young lady named Lily who was sitting next to me…

“….”

If Kyle hadn’t told me, it would have continued to be an uncomfortable situation.

It was so uncomfortable having someone I didn’t know keep talking to me as if they knew me.

Thanks to him, I could relax.

“Then let’s go back now.”

“Yes.”

I returned to the table with Kyle.

By the way, it’s enviable to have three women sitting at one table like this.

In my past life, I could only have imagined such a situation, but for Kyle, it’s normal.

Having a date with such pretty noble young ladies.

Wow…

Is this what they call the life of an alpha male?

Having women on both sides, no, not just on both sides but also in front…

“….”

I don’t like it.

The kid who used to say he had no interest in women is now having a dinner date with three women…

“Lord Kyle, do you plan to return to Eristirol?”

“Yes. Since there are no more special schedules, I will return.”

“Hmm… I see?”

“Lord Kyle, would it be alright if I spoke with your servant for a moment?”

“…?”

Me?

Why?

With so many people around, why me specifically?

I didn’t understand.

To begin with, she’s someone I don’t remember.

Of course, that’s just because I blacked out from drinking.

“I don’t mind.”

“Thank you.”

Lily started looking at me again.

Her eyes were different from Catherine’s, rather resembling Kyle’s gaze at me.

Well, since they look similar, that’s possible.

“Hmm… You’re Sofia, right?”

“Yes, that’s right, my lady.”

“Oh…?”

Lily suddenly looked slightly surprised.

Did I make some verbal mistake?

“Last time, you certainly didn’t speak formally like this…”

“Pardon…?”

“Didn’t you call me ‘pretty one’ back then?”

“….”

D-Did I do that?

According to Kyle, I definitely didn’t do anything strange when I was drunk.

Definitely.

“D-Did I do that…?”

My voice was definitely trembling right now.

I could feel my throat trembling as I spoke.

“Yes, you did.”

I called Lily White “pretty one”?

Yes, she is pretty, but… to say such a thing to the heir of the White Ducal Family…

“…Please forgive me… it was a mistake made while I was drunk…”

“Pardon?”

“That day, the Young Master permitted me to drink…”

What an extremely unsightly excuse.

“It’s alright. It’s true that I am pretty.”

“…”

She is pretty, but… do people normally talk about themselves like that…?

How high is her confidence in her appearance?

Is this the average for young ladies?

To naturally say without hesitation that one is pretty.

Come to think of it, I was like that when I was young too.

It’s not a characteristic of young ladies, but of girls that age.

“Hmm… Then I’ll call you ‘pretty one’ too, Sofia. Wouldn’t that make us even?”

“W-What…?”

“Hehe… I think it’s fine because you’re sufficiently beautiful too, Sofia. It’s different to call an ugly person beautiful versus calling a beautiful person beautiful.”

“…”

Even so, “pretty one” for someone in their early twenties is a bit…

We’re not girls in their early to mid-teens.

Isn’t it a title that doesn’t match our age at all?

“Don’t you like it? Then what should I call you?”

“Sofia is enough…”

Please call me that.

I would like to be called by the good name my mother gave me.

Please…

“Hmph… Fine, Sofia.”

“Phew…”

Fortunately, Lady Lily wasn’t mischievous.

If she had been a young lady with a bad personality, she would surely have pressed me on that topic.

Of course, if that were the case, Kyle would have protected me somehow.

“By the way, Sofia, how long have you been with Lord Kyle?”

“I’ve been with the Young Master since he was 12 years old.”

“Wow… So you’ve been together for 5 years. You two must be extremely close?”

“Yes.”

If you’re asking if we’re close, of course we are.

Except for his embarrassment every time he bathes, there’s no reason to say we’re not close.

“I’m envious. To have spent a long time with a pretty person like Sofia.”

“Thank you… for the compliment.”

She keeps bringing up my appearance.

It might be revenge for me calling her “pretty one.”

She would surely have been more severe if Kyle wasn’t nearby.

“By the way… may I ask you a question that might be sensitive?”

“Pardon?”

A sensitive question?

What could that be…?

I’m not sure.

Is she going to ask about some secret of my birth?

“Is it a strange… question…? Anyway, may I ask just one question?”

“Yes… you may.”

I don’t know what it is, but it’s just a question from a young lady.

How strange could it be?

Especially in this setting where other nobles are listening.

“Um… what do you usually eat?”

“Usually? I just eat normally…”

Why is she suddenly asking about my diet?

It’s just a servant’s everyday diet.

Is there a reason to ask?

Is this even a sensitive or strange question to begin with?

“…Then is it hereditary…?”

“Pardon?”

“Those large breasts. Are they genetically that large?”

“Ah…”

So that’s what she meant.

That’s certainly a topic Lily might worry about and ask about.

Though it’s not particularly a thought-provoking question for me.

“They just grew large. My mother’s are average.”

“That’s talent….”

Why call it talent?

They just happened to grow.

I was normal until I entered boarding school.

They suddenly grew enormously just before graduation, which was uncomfortable.

If they were going to be normal, they should have stayed that way.

I had to buy new underwear every time because they suddenly grew.

“Lady White, yours will grow someday too.”

Currently, Lily’s chest was… how should I put it… smaller than average.

She had a body type that could be described as “sexy slender.”

Well, isn’t that better anyway?

It’s more comfortable for moving around, and clothes look more stylish.

It’s clearly several times better than these useless lumps of fat.

“I envy Lord Kyle who gets to have such breasts beside him every day.”

“Pffft!?!”

“Young Master, are you alright?”

Kyle suddenly spat out the water he was drinking.

Did he choke?

I gathered the napkins around and wiped Kyle’s face, shirt, and pants.

Even someone as healthy as Kyle could catch a cold if wet clothes were left unattended.

“Sofia, not there!”

“It’s fine. Stay still.”

Kyle kept covering with his hands as I tried to wipe.

As a result, the innocent napkin just tore.

“Sigh… Young Master, please stay still.”

“No, no matter what, for someone who isn’t even married yet to touch like this…!”

“I won’t be marrying anyone anyway. Quickly show me your pants. I need to wipe them.”

I’m the one with a strange mentality for marriage anyway.

How could I, a woman with 65 percent male sensibility, manage?

I’ve never liked men.

Nor have I ever loved women.

I never felt anything beyond thinking “they’re pretty.”

Ah, I guess I had thoughts like “if this were my past life, I would have confessed” sometimes.

Anyway, in that sense, what Kyle said wasn’t a problem at all.

In an era that values female chastity, it makes sense, but it doesn’t apply to me.

To begin with, I’m not someone who values chastity.

“….”

“…..”

Kyle finally removed his covering hands.

I wiped the water on Kyle’s pants with a dry napkin.

“Phew… Finally cleaned it all up.”

It would have been better if he had just stayed still while I wiped.

Because of that, I just sweated.

On my chest, back, and various other places.

But Catherine and Karin on both sides were looking at me with strange eyes.

“…?”

Why are they looking at me like that?

What I just did was normal.

Wiping off your master’s wet clothes is a very ordinary thing.

So why are they looking at me strangely…?

“Is there a problem?”

“N-No!”

“No. It’s fine.”

The two finally took their eyes off my face.

And the meal resumed.

Since there weren’t many people to begin with, it ended quietly.

After eating adequately, we left the place.

“We had good food today. How was it for you, Young Master?”

“…It was good.”

“Was it?”

Well, that’s natural.

With pretty young ladies like Catherine, Karin, and Lily sitting at the table, of course it would be good.

Speaking of which, the White family was said to practice homosexuality…

Well, one person could still be heterosexual.

“So which lady did you like the most?”

I became curious.

Among the young ladies sitting there, who had moved Kyle’s heart the most?

Who might be a candidate to become Kyle’s wife in the future?

“Pardon?”

“Among the young ladies who were enjoying the meal at the table, which one did you like the most? Even if it’s just a slight attraction, that’s fine.”

“…”

Kyle remained silent without answering.

He must be embarrassed.

I suddenly asked a question with the nuance of whether he liked someone, as a family member would.

“It’s alright. I won’t make an issue of whoever you mention.”

“Sofia.”

“Are you… talking about me?”

Kyle, no matter what, mentioning me is too much of an evasive answer.

You should answer like a man.

Yes, today was the first proper gathering after greeting each other.

There probably isn’t any connection to speak of yet.

“Haha, thank you. I hope you make progress with other young ladies at the next gathering.”

“….”