Chapter 56

Anyway, the duel between Kyle and Elin ended like that.

The coming-of-age ceremony ended quite well with their duel.

After that, the feast began.

There was a joyful atmosphere both inside and outside the grand temple.

Though the weather was cold, the atmosphere was already heated up.

“Kyle! How about having a drink before you go!”

“I’ll drink when I come back.”

“Aw… When I was your age, I was enthusiastically drinking and using magic stimulants.”

“Dad! Are you going to keep recommending weird things to my brother?”

“Alright…”

It wasn’t even noon yet.

Kyle was scheduled to depart in the afternoon, so there was still plenty of time.

I was eating food at the same table with Elin and Louise.

Kyle was eating with his family.

“Elin, you’re better at acting than I expected?”

“I know, right.”

“Ah…”

Elin covered her face as if embarrassed.

I don’t understand why she’s embarrassed when she acted so well during the duel.

I thought she fought well, let Kyle counterattack her well, and ended it properly like a knight at the end.

“I’m embarrassed…”

“Huh? You did well!”

“But it was so embarrassing?!”

“You were wearing a helmet and fully equipped with armor anyway, right?”

Is there any particular reason to be embarrassed?

“When the duel started, everyone was looking at me, and it was so embarrassing! You wouldn’t understand?!”

“Hmm…”

“Is that so?”

I’m not sure.

I’ve never stood in front of dozens of people.

The most exposure to people’s gazes I’ve experienced was probably at boarding school.

“I don’t know about that, but let’s drink~”

“Yay~”

“Cheers~”

We drank alcohol after a long time.

Of course, I had to mix water with my alcohol.

I’ve always drunk like this since the last time I got drunk and blacked out.

“Ahh~!”

“Now we can finally rest properly for a while!”

So we enjoyed drinking under the festive atmosphere.

When I looked at Kyle’s direction occasionally, I sometimes made eye contact with him.

Each time, I responded with a smile instead of words.

Since we had to stop by the castle before departing for the heir succession ceremony, we could talk again then.

Right now, it would be better to leave Kyle to enjoy his time with his family.

That would be much better for Kyle than spending time with me.

I was content with just borrowing a small part of his remaining time.

“Ah… That’s right. Sofia.”

“Hmm?”

While spending time eating and drinking, Louise suddenly spoke to me from the side.

I was enjoying my drink in a good mood, so I wondered why she was calling me…

“You… Are you planning to quit your job?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Quit my job…

Probably, right?

At least my job as Kyle’s tutor was already over.

And it would be beneficial for Kyle to use someone more capable than me as a servant.

“I probably will.”

Of course, not right away.

I should have one more date with Kyle as promised before leaving…

“…Then when are you going to quit?”

“Hmm? I wonder…”

I hadn’t really decided when I would quit.

I was just planning to think about it properly after Kyle became an adult and the heir succession ceremony was over.

It’s not like I have anything else to do if I quit my job now.

“I think it would be good to quit within this year? Since it would be better to use someone better than me.”

Though I was speaking in a drunken state, I wasn’t that drunk.

I had been thinking about quitting within the year anyway.

I don’t think there’s a need to drag it out.

It would be better to end it quickly.

“Haah…”

“What? It’s a bit sad to part with Kyle? But it can’t be helped…”

“I see.”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

I don’t understand why she’s suddenly asking this.

Ah, is it because Louise has to stay at the castle for several more years?

Since I’m her closest friend at the castle.

Well, I can visit the castle occasionally.

It might take some time to get there, but there’s no reason I can’t come for a friend.

“Phew… This alcohol tastes good!”

“Elin, stop her from drinking more.”

“Yes!”

“Ack…”

I was about to drink the next glass when suddenly Elin took my drink away.

And just when my lips touched the cup!

“My drink…”

It was unfair, but I couldn’t help it.

I was someone who lost to Elin in terms of strength as well.

“Sigh… What about him…”

“He’ll do well.”

“That’s true, but…”

My two friends started conversing with each other.

Not knowing what they were talking about, I just ate the food on the table.

“Hehe…”

*

“Uh….”

“Young master~”

“Miss Sofia?”

“Yes?”

After the feast, I returned to the castle and came looking for Miss Sofia.

Come to think of it, they served alcohol at the feast today.

Given the atmosphere, she would have naturally drunk too.

Considering she’s weak with alcohol and drank throughout the feast…

“Did you drink?”

“Hehe…”

Well, it’s fine because she’s cute.

It’s not like she vomited on me after drinking, she’s just doing cute things.

I actually liked seeing a side of her different from usual.

“Young master… you must come back safely.”

“Yes.”

Seeing her worry about me even in a drunken state made me think, this is truly Miss Sofia.

If Adela or Miss Louise were drunk, they would surely have made a fuss in a very strange way.

She’ll probably fall asleep soon while staying like this.

“It’s sad to think we won’t see each other for two weeks…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes…”

A desire to pat Miss Sofia’s head rose from my heart.

Of course, I understood Miss Sofia’s feelings.

Since Miss Sofia and I have never gone a day without seeing each other since the day we first met.

Roughly calculated, we’ve met every day for about 2500 days.

“You have to come back safely…?”

“Yes.”

I reassured Miss Sofia who was worrying about me in her drunken state.

Though all I did was answer, so it’s hardly reassurance.

“Miss Sofia, you remember that we agreed to go on a date when I return, right?”

“Of course. I remember… almost everything I’ve said with the young master?”

“So, stay healthy until I return.”

I was honestly embarrassed saying these words.

The fact that I’m saying such things when we’ll only be apart for two weeks.

Someone might think we wouldn’t see each other for months.

Of course, no one would know since we were in Miss Sofia’s room.

“I think I have to go soon.”

“… Really?”

“Yes, I think I need to pack my things now.”

“I see…”

It seemed like we had only exchanged a few words, but time was already up.

To be honest, I wanted to spend more time with Miss Sofia.

I wanted to be together even for a few more minutes, no, even a few more seconds before leaving.

It was greedy.

But isn’t this the kind of greed one can indulge in?

“Miss Sofia.”

“Yes?”

“Would it be okay if I hugged you just once?”

Before leaving, this much greed…

I think it would be fine.

I know it’s not good to say such things to someone who’s drunk, but still, I won’t see her for two weeks.

Isn’t this much okay?

Of course, if Miss Sofia says no, I won’t do it.

“Hmm…”

Miss Sofia contemplating, her face flushed from alcohol, looked cute.

She was cute normally too, so it was natural.

How can one person be pure, cute, and sexy all at once?

That’s the woman called Miss Sofia.

“Fufu… Did you want encouragement from your big sister that much?”

“… Yes.”

“If that’s what the young master wants, hugging you once? That’s not even an issue!”

Miss Sofia with a triumphant look.

She seemed to want to give the impression of a dependable older sister, but rather than dependable, she was just cute.

“Then I’ll hug you just once.”

“Yes, here. Give me a hug?”

“…”

I silently hugged Miss Sofia.

Due to our height difference, I felt her large breasts touching around my solar plexus.

But right now, more than that, just the fact that I was hugging Miss Sofia felt good.

I was hugging Miss Sofia, but I didn’t hug her tightly.

She might have felt pain.

I just ended it by hugging Miss Sofia moderately.

There’s plenty of time left anyway.

From the next date, I can slowly take the steps again, right?

“Phew! Now, young master? You need to leave, right?”

“Yes. I’ll finish quickly and come back.”

“Yes.”

So I left Miss Sofia’s room.

I was about 5 minutes later than the time I had originally planned to pack my things, but it wasn’t a problem.

I could just run.

“Haah…”

I was running to the castle gate with my luggage.

But there were no thoughts related to heir succession in my mind at all.

Only thoughts of Miss Sofia remained.

That one hug from a moment ago had beaten my heart so strongly.

It was just a hug.

If I ever do other things with Miss Sofia, how much faster will my heart beat?

I don’t know.

The only physical contact I’ve had with Miss Sofia so far is holding hands and hugging.

“Haha…”

For someone who thought about taking it slow, I’m going too slowly.

“Brother!”

“What is it, Adela?”

“Come back safely, okay?”

“Yes.”

Just before reaching the castle gate, I had a brief conversation with Adela.

Father would probably forgive this much.

I was only about 2 minutes late.

Anyway, I arrived at the castle gate while thinking about Miss Sofia.

When I arrived at the gate, only Father was there.

No other servants were present.

“Father.”

“You’re a bit late.”

“I had someone to talk to.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Father answered with a slight smile while looking at me.

He must have guessed who it was.

After all, he’s someone who knew who I liked from the beginning.

“Phew… To think you’re already doing this, honestly, I still can’t believe it.”

“Really?”

Miss Sofia also found it hard to believe that I was becoming an adult.

“Still, I believe you will do well.”

“Of course. Whose son am I?”

“Hmm… During the coming-of-age ceremony, you didn’t even mention me.”

“Ah.”

Was he slightly upset about my answer during the coming-of-age ceremony?

I had no such intention.

I had only said it to make Miss Sofia feel good.

“I’m kidding. It’s true that the person who raised you is that tutor.”

“Haha…”

It was a statement mixed with some self-deprecation.

I never harbored such feelings towards Father, but Father clearly did.

“It’s okay, Father.”

“Then that’s a relief. Now let’s talk about the heir succession ceremony.”

“Yes.”

After that, Father continued speaking.

Since I had already heard about it before, it wasn’t that difficult.

Going down from the castle and enduring in a snow field away from the domain for the heir succession ceremony.

That’s all.

I had already heard it several times.

“Father, I’ll be going now.”

“Come back safely.”

I moved my feet while answering Father with a smile.

Two weeks.

Two weeks without seeing Miss Sofia…

“It’s going to feel extremely long.”