Translator: Nonon
Proofreader: Silavin
“Gray, are you done with preparations for tomorrow?”
“Yes, it’s all done.”
Early afternoon with Sun high in the sky. We were at home making preparations to go to the capital.
This will be my first return to the capital in several years. For Gray it’ll be his first time in the capital. For Lady Violet, it’ll be her first homecoming in several months.
To be honest, I feel dispirited.
I wanted to show Gray around in the capital on another occasion, but since our goal this time is to ‘attend Azalea Academy’s school festival’, I hate that Lady Violet and I will most likely end up with nothing but bad experience.
“~♪”
“You look happy, Gray”
“Yes, I am going to see the capital for the first time, after all. I’ve heard that it has many things that Shiki doesn’t, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Well, Gray also seems to be looking forward to it, so there’s no point in continuing to complain about it. Thanks to a certain noble in the capital, there’s a chance that if I’m discovered, I’ll be immediately detained by the military police, so I’m glad that that danger is legally gone this time.
… I’ll be able to eat Mr. Orange’s stew at a road-side stall for the first time in a while. I’ll be happy if Lady Violet and Gray enjoyed themselves too.
“If I remember right, in the capital, you can be recognized as a full-fledged man after winning at a gambling den, going out on the night streets with women and enjoying Night Fever, right?”
“No. Where did you even hear that from?”
“Uh, Mr. Yellow said that along with Fever, drinking-buying-hitting is the most fun thing to do in the capital.”
“I already told you to stop taking that person’s words seriously.”
It’s true that as a prosperous city, it has places like that too, but all of them are too early for Gray. At any rate, I’ll have to warn Mr. Yellow, the self-proclaimed progenitor of heroic tales, later.
…Come to think of it, Gray has been happily talking about his trip to the capital recently. I wonder if he’s learned anything else strange from anyone other than Mr. Yellow. I’ll ask him just in case.
“I was told that if a strange woman talked to me, it’s best to say ‘I got lost and I have to go to my daddy quickly’ with an upturned look and teary eyes and leave.”
“No.”
“I was also told that if a man with shota-crazy eyes invited me, I should decline them by saying that ‘I’m not that easy.’”
“Don’t do it.”
“If someone told me to buy a vase because I was possessed by an evil spirit, I should reply with ‘forget that, why don’t you start real estate instead?’ and show off Shiki’s appeal.”
“Stop it.”
Please stop teaching him how to tread the line between what’s an actual countermeasure and what’s not.
Though it’s also true that Gray is gullible, so rather than telling him to not believe what the other person said carelessly, it might be better to make him say the right words and leave the place.
I’ll have to make sure to keep an eye on Gray when we’re outside. I must make sure that either Lady Violet, I, Mr. Burnt or Ms. Amber, who are here as watchdogs of the Valentine family, are always with him.
“Lord Clo, preparations for tomorrow are done.”
“Thank you very much, Ms. Amber.”
As I was explaining to Gray about the three threats of drinking, hitting, and buying, and trying to deal with his blushing face at what he had said, Ms. Amber came over with luggage in her hand.
I say ‘luggage’, but we’ll only be staying there for a week. If we pack too much, it would only make it harder to move around, and since we only need a minimum amount of luggage, the amount itself isn’t much.
“If you would like to thank me, a hug would be fine.”
“I have a wife so I’ll refrain.”
Also, Ms. Amber has become more honest about her desire to smell fragrances. I think it’s because I’m the one who made them aware of their preferences, but I didn’t think that they would start to deal with it in this manner. Since she doesn’t try to do it by force or put laundry in her mouth, I think it’s fine as long as she’s not bothering anybody.
In addition, she acts the same way as she always has towards Lady Violet, so the latter doesn’t seem to have noticed anything.
“Then, Gray, please come here.”
“Yes ma’am. …However, would hugging me really count as a thank you?”
“It will— fuu.”
When I refused, Ms. Amber opened her arms in a beckoning way and asked Gray to come to her. Gray approached Ms. Amber without a question and was taken into her arms.
Well… this much should be okay. I’d stop them if Gray was a little more grown up and had different thoughts, but right now he only looks confused.
By the way, Mr. Burnt prefers to have words whispered in his ear. When they fulfill their desires, their skin starts glowing (or so it seems) and they start to work harder. I just hope they don’t go off the rails in a weird way when they return to the Valentine house.
“By the way, where’s Lady Violet?”
“Milady has gone with my brother to make the final confirmation regarding the management of Shiki starting tomorrow.”
“I see. Then I have to check the documents next…”
“In that case, I have packed the necessary documents in this luggage. The issuance procedures and arrangements have already been completed. Therefore all you need is your family crest to prove your identity and the lord certification, Lord Clo.”
“… Thank you very much.”
“No, it’s part of my job.”
Ms. Amber was quicker and more precise about finishing the information regarding my question and preparation. … Those siblings are really good enough at their work to continue being servants at a ducal family. It doesn’t feel that way though because she’s hugging Gray and her face is relaxed.
“Then, I’ll get going to see the Father. Lady Violet might have gone to him too, but since I’m going to leave him in charge for a while, I’d like to greet him directly again.”
“Yes sir. In that case, here is your coat. It still hasn’t started snowing yet, but it’s still cold outside.”
“… Thank you very much.”
Ms. Amber quickly reacted to my words, stepped away from Gray, then she came to me with my coat, which she had prepared out of nowhere, over her arm and opened it up for me to put on… these two are really excellent at their work. Gray was also looking at her with eyes full of admiration for her agility.
Hoping that she wasn’t holding it to just smell its smell, I obediently let her help me into the coat.
“Then, if visitors come, please tell them that I’ll be back by the evening. If it’s an urgent matter, either of you can come to the church to notify me. You don’t have to see me off, so please feel free to spend the time as you see fit.”
“Yes sir.”
“Have a good day, Lord Clo.”
I bowed slightly and left the room as Gray and Ms. Amber saw me off.
Well then, the days are getting shorter, so I should go to see the Father soon. It’ll get dark if I dilly-dally.
“By the— Lady Amber, may I–?
“What’s —, Gray–?”
“In— the last day of— is actually—“
“—Oh, is that—I–”
“Yes—that’s why—need–help—-“
After leaving the room, I could hear Gray and Amber’s conversation in the distance. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make out the actual content.