CH 121

I came home in a good mood and threw myself on the bed and spread out.

“Fufufu…”

Thinking about this evening brings a smile to my face again. I think that eating crepes with Christa, or rather the Marquis’s daughter, Christiane von Rheingen, a member of the quintet who is bullying me, has improved the relationship between us two.

Since she is one of the people who are bullying me, I have some thoughts about her. But even Christa doesn’t want to do it. If Helene, the effective Faction Head, forces Christa to do something she doesn’t like, she has to. Disobeying Helene is an important issue that could even lead to a crisis in her House, and a child would not be able to manage that on her own.

Christa always surrounds herself with the quintet, and it’s almost impossible for her to do anything just for herself. The main ones who are bullying me are Sophie and Emma. And I don’t know if those two really wanted to do it, either. Even those two wouldn’t be able to resist if Helen ordered them.

I was convinced by talking with Christa while eating crepes. At least Christa didn’t want to do this. This is the only thing I can confirm.

And that’s why Christa and I were able to secretly become comrades. Comrades sneak out to town to eat sweets and see the sights. At school, we have to show the people around us that we’re bullies and bullied as before. However, once school is over, the two of us will be able to go out to eat new sweets in private.

“Fufufu…! Ah~, geeze…!”

I’m rolling around my bed and thumping my pillow. I finally got a decent female school friend! From now on, it would be nice if we could talk, go shopping, and do things like this and that as friends.

“You’re certainly in a good mood, Miss Flora…”

“UKYAAA…!!!” I screamed.

That-That was surprising… when I was suddenly called out to, I turned my gaze to find Katharina crouching by my bedside… what is she doing…?

“Ka-Katharina? What are you doing?” I asked.

“I was about to make your bed and clean your room?”

Hu? Is that what she wants to do now? Isn’t it something to do while I’m at school and the job should be finished while I’m away? Isn’t that what you do when you know your master will be back soon? I can’t be wrong.

I came back from school today, changed my clothes, and went to the crepe cafe. Normally, she would probably finish making my bed and cleaning my room while I was at school. Even if it’s not finished at that point, she’ll finish it while I’m at the crepe cafe, right? Isn’t that something she wouldn’t do after I come back?

“Should you be doing that right now?” I asked.

“My apologies,” Katharina said. “I should have finished everything before Lady Flora returned. It’s my fault that I was not able to do so. I will accept any punishment you see fit,” she said, suddenly frightened and lowering her head.

“Hey, wait a minute,” I said. “Sometimes there are circumstances that stop you. I have no intention of punishing you, Katharina. Please raise your head.”

“Thank you for your generosity,” Katharina said.

It seems to have come full circle. Good, good.

“So, Miss Flora… you were with a new woman, weren’t you?” Katharina asked.

“Huh?”

Apparently not full circle just yet. I thought that this was the end, but Katharina suddenly interrogated me.

“You met a new woman again today, didn’t you?” Katharina said.

“Wait. Christa and I are not in that kind of relationship!?” I yelled. “Ah…”

I hurriedly protested and realized that I had been caught in a trap. But it’s too late.

“Is that so? This woman is named Christa… so, you’re surrounding yourself with the 5 of us and yet are still getting your hands on other women?” Katharina said.

“That’s why I need you to please listen to me!” I yelled. “Christa is only on good terms with me for today. It’s different from you and the others, Katharina. This is the first time I’ve made friends with a female classmate!”

I feel like I’m going to be misunderstood for some reason, so I stop her in a panic. I never saw Christa as a partner. Well, she’s been a bully to me up until now, so there’s no way I could feel that way, and today was the first time I’ve actually talked to her.

“Everyone has their firsts,” Katharina said. “Even if it’s the first time you’ve had a serious conversation today, you’ll become acquaintances, then friends, and then progress to a more physical relationship…”

“Hey, hey, hey…!” I yelled.

I physically hold Katharina’s mouth shut. What does she mean, “a more physical relationship”…? I don’t know what to say if she goes any further.

“I can’t have that kind of relationship with Christa! How can I get you to believe me?” I said.

I’ve never wanted to be like that with anyone other than the current 5. As for these 5 people, I thought that each of my relationships with each of them was over, so it wasn’t like I was trying to flirt with another person just because we got close to each other. Some people say I’m a flirt or a cheat, but that’s not true.

“Then let me hug you, please,” Katharina said.

“………… Okay?” I said.

What?

“As I said, please let me hug you,” Katharina said. “You don’t need to do anything, Miss Flora. Just surrender yourself to me and I’ll take care of everything.”

Su-Surrender myself?! I’m getting scared for some reason?!

“Katharina… calm down… I’m sure you’ll understand if I explain it to you,” I said.

“In other words, you’ll admit that you’ve been having an affair with this woman called Crista, Miss Flora…” Katharina said.

“How’d you think that?!” I yelled.

I don’t understand what Katharina is saying anymore. What am I supposed to do?

“So surrender yourself to me to prove it. I won’t hurt you. Right?” Katharina said.

“Huh? Even if you say that… ah!”

I was pushed down on my bed by Katharina, and we were stuck there hugging for a while.

I had a bad experience yesterday. I was pushed down by Katharina and she hugged me tightly, buried her face in my chest, and made some excited sniffing noises while she was at it… huh? What’s the problem with that, I thought she was welcome to. It’s to prove she had no reason to hate me, right?

No, no, yesterday’s situation was that I was being attacked. That’s not good. Unless I, the former male, am the one taking the initiative… that means I should take the first step with Katharina this time. That’s it! That’s good. If Katharina also wants that kind of contact, why not have me take the offensive this time?!

“What’s wrong, Flora? You’re grinning…” Mikoto warned me.

“Huh? Nothing’s the matter?” I said.

Apparently, I was grinning. I steeled my face. I became friends with Christa and enjoyed a little skinship with Katharina. Some good things keep happening to me.

Well, nothing has happened with the matters involving Ludwig, Helene, Simon, and most importantly, Alexandra…

There aren’t many days left for Alexandra’s case to come to a head. Preparations should be progressing steadily, but there is also anxiety about whether it will really be fine. No matter how hard I try, this anxiety will not go away. With Alexandra’s life at stake, I can’t be too sure.

“Hey, Flora… did something happen with Katharina?” Mikoto asked sharply.

“…Huh? Nothing in particular. It’s the same as usual,” I said, pretending to be calm.

It’s like confessing something did happen if I panicked here.

“Huh? It’s the same as usual? Then you always do that kind of thing with Katharina, right?” Mikoto asked.

“I don’t know what you mean by that, but nothing in particular happened,” I said.

I was shocked, but I won’t be fooled. This is a trap. Mikoto doesn’t really know anything, but she pretends to know. So I just stick with it.

“I can smell Katharina from your body though, Flora?” Mikoto said, bringing her face close to me and sniffing.

Don’t panic. This is another trap. There’s nothing strange about my body smelling like Katharina’s.

“Do you know what Katharina smells like?” I said. “Quite amazing, Mikoto. Katharina helps me with my person and even changing my clothes, so there are times when our clothes will come into close contact and rub off their smells to the other.”

Just keep calm… don’t get upset, don’t panic, and carry on with dignity.

“Hm~mnn~? Well, it’s fine,” Mikoto said. “Either way, Katharina is going to have too much of an advantage, so we’re going to have a discussion next time. Until then, don’t agree to anything that will allow Katharina to get away with her unfair advantage.”

“…… Okay,” I said.

I managed to deceive her somehow…, maybe? Or, even if she doesn’t know the specifics, she may be able to see that Katharina and I had a little skinship. On top of that, if it’s overlooked now, I’ll be a little more careful from now on.

The next day, after school, 5 girls are sitting in front of me at the Carruthers Residence. Katharina, Louisa, Claudia, and Mikoto are the usual faces. And one more person today… for some reason Christa was sitting surrounded by those 4.

The origin of the matter is nothing. Today I was supposed to have a new sweets-tasting party with Christa. Not long after we became comrades at the crepe cafe, I promised to invite Christa to my house. The reason is that I wanted her to taste the new sweets I made…

But for some reason, when Christa came today, the other 3 people also came along and we ended up in this situation. Katharina was probably the one who contacted the other 3. Katharina must have called out to them when she found out that I was inviting Christa to my house today.

“Hm~nn? … You’re a classmate of mine at school, aren’t you? I’m sure you’re bullying Flora…” Mikoto said.

Screech! The remaining three kicked back their chairs and stood up. They were now all surrounding Christa.

“Wait, wait wait! Wait a minute,” I said. “Everyone, calm down! It’s true that Christa and I are in different factions at school. But, if Katharina were ordered by me, wouldn’t she have already gone after someone I want to persecute? This is the same thing. This isn’t the kind of relationship where we have to force ourselves to our usual appearances when school is over and no one else can see.”

“Well, in that case…” Mikoto muttered.

Everyone who heard my words looked at each other and then took their seats. I panicked because Mikoto suddenly threw a bomb into the middle of things. Mikoto may have said it for my sake, but if she carelessly said something unnecessary, it could suddenly develop into a hostile relationship.

Or should I say, Christa was afraid of being surrounded by the 4 and completely withered away… she usually crowds around her opponents she knows are in a weak position and where her companions are present. On the contrary, she can’t help but feel scared when she’s alone and surrounded by a crowd of hostiles.

“Anyway, let’s all introduce ourselves first. Okay?” I said.

We all introduced each other to everyone as I said, but it was still awkward. From Christa’s point of view, Mikoto is the only one she knows is of higher rank than her, and the others are overwhelmingly lower. And from the other 4’s points of view, Christa is a member of the group that bullies me, so since they’re on my side, they guess they should also be hostile.

“Christa and I have become comrades who like sweets. That’s why I invited her to a tasting party for a new product today. Please don’t be rude to my guests.”

“Okay……” Katharina said.

She was looking at Christa with the most frightening face I’d seen, so I’m paying special attention to Katharina. The other 3 will be guests as well, but since Katharina is a member of our family servants, if she is rude to our guests, she will disgrace her master. I just have to hammer that nail in here.

I just wanted to have a fun tasting party for a new product with my friend and classmate, Christa, but why did this happen…? I wonder if I can still have a tasting party with this mess…?

Well, even if I worry about it here, it won’t be solved. Since it has already started in this situation, I decided to go ahead with it. If everyone eats sweets, they will calm down a little.

“Then let’s try the new product right away,” I said.

This new release is imperfect. From my point of view, there is something fatally lacking. That’s why I haven’t made it until now, even though it wasn’t that difficult to make otherwise. While I was talking with Christa about making a new sweet, this was what I remembered.

It’s not difficult to make, but at present, we don’t have that critical ingredient. I held a tasting party wondering if this would satisfy Christa’s taste, but I wonder how everyone else will react…

T/N: