Chapter 142: It’s Heavy…
After talking, Hirbyde fell into a little deep thought.
That is only natural; the treasure that Hirbyde and the duke’s daughter are aiming for, just by possessing it, becomes obtaining absolute power in the prosperous country of Yurlal.
In free play a quest to obtain it occurs.
And I who have completed the quest once knew the procedure for obtaining the treasure.
...Though that said, it is a grand trap.
That can be explained after Hirbyde and the duke’s daughter are together.
What should be done now is calling the duke’s daughter to the Kingdom of Libertonia; if that cannot be done there is no need to say it.
In the first place the duke’s daughter only appears fleetingly even in free play, so the personality is unknown.
Looking at Hirbyde’s state, I do not think she has that cruel of a personality.
But actually going to the prosperous country of Yurlal in free play one understands... the reputation is considerably bad.
In that country, lies are also possible...
The prosperous country of Yurlal is a rich place as the name says.
But that is the impression from outside; when entering the country the inside is surprisingly messy.
Fights between nobles, assassinations, information manipulation, kidnappings; anything goes.
Just not known by other countries; the state inside is worse than the neighboring country Sajiris that started a war.
Therefore without actually meeting the duke’s daughter and talking, the true personality or true feelings cannot be known.
But it is a ducal house of the prosperous country of Yurlal; there is no way she will simply speak her true feelings.
Thinking that far I let out a small sigh.
"...Are you tired?"
"Nn? No, just thinking. So, what will you do?"
"Can I have a little time? I want to contact her."
"Ah, I don’t mind. ...But, is it all right? Being known by other nobles... or something?"
"There is no worry about that... Have you gone to Yurlal?"
"A little, from when I was an adventurer."
Hirbyde looked at me suspiciously, but breathed a small breath as if giving up and smiled.
Did I dig too deep... a little reflection.
Speaking of worry, there is one more.
I made a troubled expression, looked at Hirbyde a little hard to say; then Hirbyde tilted her head a little at my state.
To put it clearly it is considerably hard to say, but I open my mouth thinking I have no choice but to ask.
"Ah~, sorry. It’s a considerably rude question but... how are you hiding the chest?"
"...Ksu, it’s fine. Raide is interesting. I didn’t think you would ask directly. I think you understand, but I’m wrapping cloth tightly. ...It’s painful though."
Saying that Hirbyde lifted the chest with both hands and swayed it.
No, please spare me.
Being trusted is appreciated, but I am also a man, you know?
I averted my gaze from Hirbyde who was swaying the chest with yusa yusa, let out a small sigh, and spoke.
"Thank you for teaching me. To say the reason I asked, there is an acquaintance who manages a shop for undergarments. So I was thinking if something can be done?"
"Undergarments, huh..."
"But when introducing, I as a man am insufficient in power. So I want to accompany with my lover... I promise the mouth is tight."
"...Lover?"
"Ah. The age is also close, and she is skilled in handling nobles. How about it?"
Hearing my words Hirbyde stopped swaying the chest and made a slightly surprised expression.
Then when I thought the cheeks were faintly dyed red, she asked a little from below.
From me who has come to know the female Hirbyde, it is throbbing so please stop.
"Does Raide... um, prefer younger ones?"
"...It is within the range of affection."
"I-I see..."
...Why make an embarrassed face?
Rather, when did I raise such a flag.
Tilting my head and looking at Hirbyde’s face, Hirbyde made a bashful smile and shook her head.
Crossing both hands on the knees and fidgeting while intertwining fingers is completely a woman’s action.
In this state she has done well without being exposed as a woman.
It becomes considerably worrying...
For a while a strange air wrapped the room; after a little Hirbyde cleared her throat once embarrassedly and spoke.
"Understood, I’ll request the undergarment matter. Honestly I was troubled..."
"I thought so... Then it’s better to hurry."
Hearing Hirbyde’s words I nodded, smiled, and spoke.
I do not think there are enemies of Hirbyde in the kingdom, but there is no loss in acting immediately.
Or rather, thinking if something happens while training and it is exposed... is scary.
If trusted then I must return with trust.
Hearing my words Hirbyde tilted her head and furrowed her brows; to such Hirbyde I grinned.
Time passed; around noon.
I was visiting Hirbyde’s hospital room again bringing one of my lovers.
Thinking to give a word to Roy, when I headed to the bathhouse she was there.
Thinking the place gathered by being called by Win was just right, the result of bringing her without much explanation is...
"When I thought you were relying on me... it’s heavy..."
"Ah~... sorry."
I seated Erika on the chair in front of the bed; the result of explaining the circumstances is this.
Erika made distant eyes with the light gone and ended up staring beyond the window while half-smiling.
Hirbyde rather than being cautious at Erika’s state ended up smiling wryly.
"Wasn’t there a lighter one?"
"No, really, sorry."
Please don’t give dead-eyed jito eyes with the light gone; it’s scary...
Certainly a case of lending a hand to a person who has come for inspection from another country, the prosperous country of Yurlal, is heavy.
Perhaps because in front of Hirbyde, Erika breathed a small breath and immediately returned to her usual expression.
Then looking at Hirbyde’s chest and thinking a little, she opened her mouth with a difficult-looking face.
"I do not think it is impossible. There are also ladies who want to cross-dress as men. But... I think you will feel the pain, you know?"
"I’ll endure that. From what I heard of Raide’s talk, it seems better than wrapping with cloth."
"Cloth...?"
At Hirbyde’s words Erika glanced at me with jito eyes.
What she was appealing with her eyes seemed like "I didn’t hear the talk of cloth though?"
I smiled wryly and spoke the method of hiding that I heard from Hirbyde.
Erika heard my talk, placed one hand on her forehead tiredly, let out a sigh, and spoke.
"Normally don’t you explain that first?"
"...It seems I hurried too much."
"Haa... It is one of your good points, but please explain."
"Ah, understood."
"Ksu, completely under the thumb."
"...I am aware that I am at fault."
Hirbyde heard my words and laughed enjoyably; Erika was letting out a tired sigh.
Looking at those two I smiled wryly and rubbed the back of my neck with one hand.
If saying under the thumb, I have confidence that I am under not only Erika but all the lovers.
Normally one would have to do something about it, but there is a me who thinks being under the thumb is also a good thing.
For me whose body moves first, the lovers are the brakes.
Well... there will probably be times when I absolutely have to shake free, but at that time I’ll apologize a lot.
Because Erika said she would take Hirbyde’s measurements, I temporarily went outside the room.
In front of the door crossing my arms, rubbing my chin with one hand, and thinking.
In the negotiation with Hirbyde, I can think the event avoidance has been done.
Next what I must do is making it so that Hirbyde can stay long in the kingdom.
Changing a person who has visited from another country for the purpose of inspection into a long-term stay is not simple.
Knowing that, Hirbyde is trying to contact the duke’s daughter.
Making her wait is true, but actually it becomes talk between countries, so the power of the duke’s daughter becomes necessary.
From the Kingdom of Libertonia’s perspective it is like keeping a spy at hand so they would dislike it.
Conversely from the prosperous country of Yurlal’s perspective, if something happens in the Kingdom of Libertonia they might be made to take responsibility so they would dislike it.
The scale is too large, and if done poorly a crack could be born in the friendly relations.
Wondering what to do I groaned a little then spoke as if murmuring.
"Sharle, you’re there, right?"
"...Fufu, as expected you noticed."
"Somehow... what do you think I should do?"
"Let’s see... How about making the period clear? Year units are difficult, but if month units."
"Period, huh..."
While making a difficult face and falling into deep thought, Sharle gently stroked my cheek.
Then in an enjoyable voice she spoke concerning words.
"If you go to the royal castle on the promised day, perhaps some answer can be found?"