Chapter 173-4

Chapter 173-4

[Part 4/4]

"I wish he would sing instead."

Those were the princess's words after she was told to leave and disappeared, along with Kakitsugi's guard.

"Tomobe-san doesn't sing, does he?"

Kayo nodded in agreement, letting out a sigh. It was a rustic, commoner-like, 5-7-5 format song, without any elegance, something she'd seen the servants singing before. However, the two of them had never seen a refined Fuso song like this being sung in the palace before.

"That pig. It's like they only learned etiquette, not actual skills. Useless."

Back when he was a laborer's apprentice, he was taught etiquette, but it was only the bare minimum, focusing on arithmetic, reading, and writing as a government official, as well as commercial law and other such things. It was frustrating that Aoi couldn't even hear his song because of that.

"Ah, how enviable... to be a noble lady, exchanging love songs behind a folding screen... it's a scene straight out of a picture scroll!"

That was exactly the kind of scene one'd find in a picture scroll. Kayo imagined him singing sweetly to her, like a shining prince, and her heart skipped a beat. It would be perfect if she could even get him to tear down the folding screen and push her down in response.

"Hehehe. Yeah... maybe it's better if I teach him a little something now?"

"Is that a rehearsal? If so, I can teach him at my place."

"By yourself?"

"No way, I'll use my maids."

Kayo suggested using the trained maids to test his reactions. It was a chance to offer him a taste of their skills, and also a treat for the maids. By observing his reactions, she could decide what kind of goods to prepare for him in the future.

"Hehehe. That sounds like fun!"

Aoi giggled, a sadistic glint in her eye. She had heard about his reactions after visiting his mansion before. The maids, driven mad by him... she imagined how they would react when he came back, and how they would respond after he left, and it was all so thrilling.

And then, she would make the maids go crazy. She was the best, after all.

"How about it? Why don't you come visit on your way back?"

"Yeah... hearing something a hundred times isn't the same as seeing it for yourself, so it's better to check the quality for myself, don't you think? I'll teach him all sorts of things myself."

She would teach him etiquette through the maids. She would even teach him the proper order of things and help him develop his skills.

...For Aoi, it was a rare thought born of goodwill and kindness. Điscover new chapters at novelhall.com

"That's a great idea. Those girls still don't know about the Princess, after all."

The recognition of the hierarchy among the women he had trained was, above all, that he was the absolute top, followed by herself (Aoi), and then the rest. Polygamy was a man's romance, but managing it was a hassle. Kayo had a role to play in mediating that. She would pretend to be submissive to him, flattering him, and keeping the other women in line. However, it was about time the legitimate wife, the princess, was also incorporated into this system.

"Yes. Days off. I think it might be an inconvenience..."

Suzune's voice was really, really hesitant. Her head hung down deeply.

"No need to be so polite? And is it really just for a few days?"

If a maid said they were going home, it usually meant there was a family funeral. Normally, if you served a good household, you could take time off for events like weddings, funerals, and festivals. Filial piety was important, after all. A generous household might even cover travel expenses. But this was the capital. Suzune's hometown was on the outskirts of the Northern region, so it wouldn't be for a funeral or anything like that if it was just for a few days.

"If you're going home, I'll cover the expenses..."

"No. I don't plan on going that far. It's really close by."

Suzune clearly stated that she didn't need her master's kindness. But a few days...?

(Does she want to play?)

It wasn't just Suzune. For Tamaki, this was her first time living in the capital, and it was the same for her. As a sheltered lady who had only known the narrow world of Hotoya village, every place she saw was new and exciting, and the capital was the most exciting of all. Her friends would probably feel the same. It wouldn't be strange to want to play and have fun for a few days.

"Is there something you need? Should I prepare it?"

"No. It's not something that grand. If I need something, I can prepare it myself."

"!? Ah, I see..."

Tamaki was quietly, secretly shocked. It's not that her friend was bad with money, but rather, she was frugal and liked to save. She hated unnecessary expenses and was careful with her spending. You could even say she was a bit stingy. Unlike Iruka, she wasn't extremely tightfisted, but she made sure to keep her expenses in check. So, for someone like that to splurge on her own...

"...Something?"

"Ah, no... yeah, I get it."

It was unclear how much Tamaki had seen through Suzune's inner thoughts. Tamaki, who was trying to cover up her surprise, looked at Suzune with a slightly suspicious expression. As she did, she finally realized something.

"...A comb?"

Yes. The existence of a brand-new comb, decorated on her friend's head, was something she hadn't noticed until now. The presence of a man's shadow...

Tamaki felt a sense of foreboding...

Fan art:

By the way, the child with the lizard-like features has more arm strength than the main character of the first chapter of this volume!

URL: [Link]