Chapter 65: Duke’s Banquet – 1

Chapter 65: Duke’s Banquet – 1

The day the banquet was scheduled.

I woke up, squinting at the sunlight that relentlessly forced me awake, and got out of bed.

Normally, I’d linger in bed, enjoying the sunlight a bit… but today was a bit busy.

“Hmm… what should I wear?”

*What are you agonizing over, when the only clothes you have are the one outfit you bought to go to the Duke’s mansion, the basic going-out clothes you were given, and the pajamas you’re wearing now?*

“…Shut up. That’s because my house burned down back then.”

Anyway, the problem of what to wear was indeed real.

…Because I never even thought I’d be called to something like a banquet, I didn’t have such clothes.

If it’s a neat and tidy outfit, I do have the one I bought from the system last time, the one I wore to the Duke’s mansion, but…

That was a bit different from a banquet outfit.

So, standing in front of the mirror, I began to ponder what outfit would suit me.

“Hmm… buying several outfits from the system is too much of a rip-off. So I have to buy just one.”

*……Even I can’t say anything out of conscience.*

“If you have that much conscience, then advise me on what outfit would suit me.”

Of course, my reflection in the mirror, especially after the traits combined to create the ‘Bewitching Clear Fox’ trait, made it seem like any outfit would suit me.

However, that’s that, and my preference is my preference.

Originally, I still somewhat… disliked overly flowy or feminine clothes, should I say?

Personally, I feel like I’ll dislike them my whole life.

*Just wear whatever, right? Anyway, if you just meet the basic formalities, you’ll probably easily gather everyone’s attention at the banquet hall.*

“Still, if I’m going to spend money again, shouldn’t I spend it properly? I’m not just going to wear it once and then shove it in the closet.”

As I was deep in thought… I heard a knock on the door.

Along with Christie’s voice, which had become not just familiar, but intimate.

***

“Hmm… busy? I don’t think she’d still be sleeping.”

Current time: 10:30 AM. She might be sleeping, but it’s a time when most people would have already woken up.

Of course, I don’t fully know Lucia’s daily routine, but I came at this time thinking she’d probably be awake by now.

“I hope she likes it.”

In my hands was an outfit that I had barely managed to get made by the Empire’s tailors before the banquet deadline, by nagging them relentlessly.

Overall, it was a shirt and skirt similar to what Lucia wore last time, with a coat embroidered with the Duke’s family crest over it.

…The mint ribbon was a bonus with a *very* slight personal touch.

It was an outfit specially made by the tailors to fit Lucia, who was small and delicate, if not short.

Moreover, the coat was heavily imbued with defensive magic.

When I saw the armor I had given Lucia before get destroyed during her fight with the attacker last time, I made sure to imbue it with even stronger magic.

Of course, the magic enchanters said it was impossible within the deadline… but well, with power, money, and a slightly cold expression, the impossible could be made possible.

“Just a moment!”

After waiting for about a minute in front of the house, a reply came from upstairs.

Along with the sound of someone scurrying down the stairs.

…It sounded very much like Lucia.

“What’s up, Christie?”

“Oh, I had an outfit specially made this time. The size… it’ll probably fit, or it might be a little big.”

As I said that and handed the outfit to Lucia, she brightened up, saying it was exactly what she needed, and immediately said she’d go change and come back.

A smile naturally formed on my face at her childlike excitement over receiving a gift she really liked.

…Of course, I couldn’t say anything else and was still frozen.

‘……Was she always that sexy?’

Her body lines had subtly matured and become more defined.

And… it’s hard to describe in words, but her expression and voice stimulated a primal attraction.

Of course, that didn’t mean the cute Lucia had disappeared. It was just that this alluring charm had emerged on top of it, more than before.

…In many ways, I felt like a lot of strange flies would swarm around her at the banquet.

‘Tsk. If some bastard gets bewitched by Lucia, should I really just quietly dispose of him from behind?’

Considering Lucia’s usual behavior, Lucia herself had almost no awareness of her own appearance.

Of course, she knew she was pretty… but she didn’t seem to realize that she was unconsciously bewitching people.

……And that’s precisely why people get even more enchanted, but anyway!

The important thing was that there would be more than one or two bastards swarming around Lucia at this banquet.

“Should I teach her how to use a dagger or rapier in a pinch…”

“I’m out! Unnie!”

However, that thought was cut short by a voice from inside the house.

At the same time, a laugh escaped me.

…Anyway, if I treat her well, I’m ‘Unnie’, otherwise I’m ‘Christie’.

And in Lucia’s hand, who had already changed and come out… was a… greatsword?

Of course, aside from that, the outfit suited her very well, and Lucia herself looked quite satisfied, with a subtly confident expression.

“Uh… but what’s with the greatsword?”

“You said you’d teach me swordsmanship, Unnie, so I bought a sword in advance, right?”

“……Isn’t that too unfitting a sword? Wouldn’t a light sword like a dagger be more appropriate…”

However, at that moment, I realized that Lucia had ‘carried’ that sword out of the house.

Of course, merely carrying a greatsword is different from wielding it, but the fact that she carried it out so casually meant… she had at least a minimum amount of strength.

“Isn’t your main sword a greatsword, Unnie? So I bought a greatsword. The blacksmith even modified the length and everything to fit my body.”

“…I have a lot to say, but yes. First, when we arrive at the Duke’s mansion, I’ll quickly teach you the basics.”

“……Really? You’re not going to test my strength or stamina or anything?”

“I will later, but for today… I think I need to teach you some self-defense to fend off the flies that will swarm around you.”

At that, Lucia let out a small giggle.

Whether she agreed, or just thought I was overreacting.

I don’t know which it was……

“What is it, Unnie? Are you worried? Like I’ll get entangled with some weird guy and drift away from you?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that!”

“Don’t worry. The most precious person around me right now is you, Unnie. Why else would I have risked my life to stop those who attacked the Duke?

It’s because I want you to be happy. So… even if some weird guy comes along, there’s no way I’ll drift away from you. Understand?”

…I should have argued that I never thought such a thing, but my mouth wouldn’t move.

To be precise, both corners of my mouth refused any command other than to move upwards.

……Oh, whatever. For now, if Lucia is smiling like that and saying such things to me, that’s enough.

“Then, shall we go to the Duke’s mansion right away?”

“Huh? You want to? It doesn’t really matter.”

“Anyway, I have nothing to do today, so I’ll go a little early. It’s nice to have someone to talk to when I’m with you, Unnie.”

…Does Lucia herself truly know?

That even as she says that, her face blushes slightly as if embarrassed,

And yet she smiles brightly,

And… whatever happened, that appearance of hers, which has grown beyond cuteness to also possess sex appeal…

Is perfect for bewitching many people.

“…You sly mint fox.”

“……Excuse me?”

“Just saying. With that face and expression, anyone would be flustered if you said something like that.”

Hmm, I guess I should first teach Lucia where to strike with a greatsword to knock someone out.

If some crazy bastard really gets entangled with her… well, what can you do?

They’ll be cut in half the next day. Be it their territory, their title, their lifespan, whatever.

***

‘…Why are her eyes so murderous?’

*Are you really asking that because you don’t know?*

‘Actually, I think I know now, but really? No, if you’re worried about weirdos swarming at the banquet, then don’t hold a banquet in the first place!’

Of course, aside from that, I really liked the clothes Christie gave me as a gift.

The skirt… was a little awkward, but I’ve gotten used to skirts a lot now.

At the same time, I somewhat empathize with Christie’s feelings.

Even I think this body is pretty. And it’s a given that weirdos will swarm around such a person at a banquet.

It’s not self-flattery or narcissism; this body genuinely has the looks for it.

‘…But she’s so readily agreed to teach me greatswordmanship?’

Given Christie’s personality, I expected her to put me through basic training first, but for some reason, she immediately said she’d teach me swordsmanship.

Even when she first met the protagonist of the original work and the protagonist asked Christie for advice on swordsmanship, she told him to start with the basics.

……Well, it’s a good thing anyway, so it doesn’t matter, I guess.

Thinking that, I put the sword into the scabbard, which was made diagonally on my back.

…I really disliked that because of my small stature, the scabbard had to be positioned diagonally across my back.

Since my body has changed anyway, couldn’t it have made me a bit taller too?

‘Ah, no. If my body develops aesthetically again, then I might really get dragged off by Christie to live in the Duke’s mansion.’

……Though I didn’t say it, Christie’s gaze when she first saw my face was quite dangerous.