Chapter 13: ① The Gathering is Elegant, the Battle Silent

“Greetings to Lord Karou. May the blessings of the stars and glory be upon you.”

The harmonized voices rang beautifully through the Houga Chamber.

It was as if the sound itself possessed nobility.

Six Flower Consort Cecily and Leticia.

And Twelve Star Consorts Eleanor, Clarisse, and Miledi.

The sight of all five consorts gazing at him was like a painting come to life.

(Celine and Lieselotte are amazing too, but… these five have this ‘refinement’ that just oozes from the air…)
(Maybe nobles in this world are born with different aura density or something?)
(Ah, no good. I’m completely out of place here…!)

“H-Hello. Um, th-thank you very much… for inviting me…!”

Right hand to the chest—no, was it the left?

(Wait…?)

While he hesitated, his left hand reflexively went to his chest and his right hand extended outward.

(Ah, that’s the ‘salute of affection’!!)

But it was too late.

In the suddenly still air, the consorts’ gazes converged on him all at once.

For just an instant—just a fleeting moment—their expressions seemed to shift slightly.

Surprise? Confusion? Or maybe… repulsion…?

(But my dominant hand just moves on its own…! I can’t help it!!)

Cecily, wearing a soft, gentle smile, called out to him.

“Fufufu… please be at ease, Lord Karou.”
“Only your ‘consorts’ have gathered in this harem.”
“So the ‘salute of affection’… is truly an honor for us.”

Her expression was calm, even exuding a sense of composure.

(Whoa, Cecily’s being kind!! She was so prickly in the game!!)

“Indeed… Lord Karou, you were guided to this world by the Star Spirit, were you not?”
“If so—would you teach us the etiquette and customs of your world?”
“…As your consort, I wish to draw closer to ‘your origins,’ even if only a little.”

(Huh? No way, Leticia just called herself my consort…!?)

He found himself looking back and forth between Cecily and Leticia’s faces.

Warm gazes he’d never seen in the game.

Cecily and Leticia’s eyes alone were already too much, but the moment Eleanor, Clarisse, and Miledi joined in—

His chest clenched tight, his breath caught, and sweat poured down his back.

“Please be at ease, Lord Karou.”

Still smiling, Cecily spoke quietly.

Her voice was gentle and somehow sounded as if she shared the same tension.

“…We are just as nervous as you are.”

She lowered her eyes slightly, adjusting her breath with a small gesture.

As if reassuring herself—there was that kind of pause.

“To meet you like this today… we have all been looking forward to it with our whole hearts.”

Those words carried no unnecessary embellishment, no ulterior motives.

Only straightforward warmth, gently caressing the depths of his chest.

“Now then, please—come this way. Your seat has already been prepared.”

As if inviting the lead actor onto the stage, Cecily stepped back to open the path.

At her gesture, the consorts’ gazes naturally gathered, and even their quiet breathing aligned.

The center of the round table.

A particularly ornate seat of honor.

Standing beside it, Cecily raised one hand gracefully and continued.

“The ‘welcoming tea.’ …Let us begin the gathering.”

At her quietly commanded signal, the maids all moved at once.

Soundlessly, with steps like a dance, steaming tea vessels and plates of sweets were arranged one after another.

Gently urged by Cecily, Yuuri hesitantly lowered himself into the chair.

(…Huh, I go first? No, this is totally the king’s position…)

Following his lead, the consorts seated themselves with flawless coordination.

(Ladies first…? No, wait—I’m completely the one being ‘hosted’ here)

He thought this because everything revolved around him—quietly, gently.

The scent of fruit and flowers wafted up softly.

The sound of tea poured from a silver pot seemed to caress his ears gently.

(…This is dangerous. What is this. It’s heaven…)

(Ah, goddess…)
(Thank you so much for this world that’s so kind, warm, careful, and comfortable…)

(To think there’s a seat ‘just for me’ in a place like this—)

He carefully brought the tea to his lips.

That instant—

“Ow, hot…!”

Scorching heat assaulted the tip of his tongue, and his hand jerked reflexively.

The cup clattered against the saucer.

A moment of silence flowed—and the air trembled.

(Agh, I screwed up!! Wait, is tea always this hot!?)
(I’m too scared to look up!!)
(…Is someone… laughing? No, am I imagining it? Doesn’t the air hurt?)
(Kokuyou, help!!)

Chapter 13: ② The Gathering is Elegant, the Battle Silent

“Ara, ara… Lord Karou, diving in without even knowing how hot the tea is.”

Miledi lifted the pale pink handkerchief resting on her lap, picking it up as delicately as plucking a flower.

Rising with smooth, elegant movements, she knelt without hesitation beside Yuuri.

“…Please open your mouth just a little.”

Whispering softly, she gently pressed the soft cloth to the tip of Yuuri’s tongue.

Rather than cooling, it was more of a caressing gesture.

Her fingertips faintly traced the contours of his lips.

(Wh-what… so close…!? And her fingers are so soft…!?)

“Fufufu… are you feeling a bit better now?”

“Fank you, Miledhi-shan… I’m okay now…”

“My, Lord Karou… to melt so completely from just hot tea.”

Miledi ran her finger along Yuuri’s lips.

“Could it be you’re also weak to ‘hotter experiences’?”

As if there were no hidden meaning, her eyes carried a faint glimmer.

“…For example, nighttime mana bestowal. I wonder if you could teach me how much contact is needed to heighten one’s power…”

“Huh?”

(Uh… this is a tea party, right? Is this normal tea party conversation?)

Just then.

A cool, refreshing fragrance wafted over.

“…Lord Karou. A cold sweet—shall we share just a little?”

Her voice was as quiet as always, yet somehow carried a sweet resonance.

“C-Cecily-san!?”

What she offered was a translucent confection.

Like droplets of melting snow, it carried a faint fragrance and slight chill.

“I’ve infused it with just a touch of mana to cool it.”
“If you have this after your tea, both your tongue and your heart… should settle a little.”

As she presented the silver dish to Yuuri, her fingertips momentarily overlaid his hand holding the cup.

Still in contact, she slid her hand smoothly as if guiding him to the sweet plate, then Cecily smiled softly.

Then, wearing a gentle smile, Miledi smoothly spoke up.

“My… Cecily-sama. That is the perfect chilled sweet for Lord Karou right now. Allow me to bring it to his lips.”

(Same impeccable timing as always. Like rationality wrapped in frost—the perfect ‘model’ aristocrat.)
(But that’s exactly what makes it unfair…)
(Acting so ‘pure and righteous’…)
(To steal everything with just the heat infused in your fingertips for one instant—isn’t that a bit too against the rules?)

“Fufufu, I am not so helpless as to trouble Miledi-sama with such a task.”

(Fufufu… Jade Dancer. I may not be able to act as freely as you due to my position, but ‘temperature’ can cause burns if mishandled)

“…There. Has it cooled down a bit now?”

Speaking with a faint breath mixed in, Cecily looked away for just an instant.

But immediately, she brought her gaze back directly and continued quietly.

“I also… want to be able to help you, Lord Karou, even just a little.”
“If my mana could reach just a bit further… I might be able to draw closer by that much.”

(As a representative of the Queen’s faction, I must protect the kingdom’s order. I cannot afford to lose for that purpose)

In the lingering echo of those words, Cecily’s eyes suddenly captured Yuuri’s gaze.

Those eyes that should have been calm held just the faintest heat—quiet, yet certain, as they locked together.

…Several seconds.

Or perhaps it was only an instant.

But in that time, Yuuri’s thoughts froze magnificently.

(Cecily-san… is incredibly erotic!?)
(What is this quiet eroticism! Wait, what is this… What? I keep saying it, but this is a tea party, right!!)

Reflexively, he looked away sharply.

He felt something hotter than steam rising from inside his body.

…And then, the third goddess appeared.

Suddenly, a presence wrapped in alluring fragrance materialized right before Yuuri’s face.

“My, my, my—if you look at me with such heated eyes—won’t that ruin the perfectly good chilled sweet?”

Leticia von Orpheus.

Her smile was soft as silk, yet sharp as a blade if you let your guard down.

She picked up the chilled sweet Cecily had prepared as if it were her own.

And without hesitation, she brought it to Yuuri’s lips—

“Mmph…!”

The cold, sweet morsel slipped in and melted softly on his tongue.

Faster than the sweetness could spread, a shock pierced straight to the core of his brain.

As if the frozen treat’s sweetness and her intent had invaded simultaneously.

(Nghh…!? Wh-what is this taste violence…)

It should be cold, yet somehow he felt flushed.

Just one bite, yet his heart thumped hard.

“L-Leticia-san, you startled me—”

Leticia took the hand she’d used to feed Yuuri the sweet and—as if searching for something forgotten—

Slowly licked it with her own tongue, as if entwining it.

The movement was sensual yet somehow ceremonial, as natural as a choreographed dance step.

“Fufufu… this tastes exquisite. Could it be… Lord Karou’s flavor?”

Her tone was far too light, far too deep.

(You’re not the only stars of the show. I’ll display the pride of a Duke’s daughter)

The moment the meaning of those words reached his brain, Yuuri’s brain activated its safety mechanism and shut down.

(M-my… flavor…?)

Just a few seconds ago, it had definitely been “just a sweet”—

(Wh-what… what’s with that phrasing!? Wait, did she just… eat me!? Not metaphorically, but physically!?)

As Leticia wore a bewitching smile, Miledi and Cecily smiled as well.

(Th-thank goodness… they don’t seem angry…)

As Yuuri felt relieved, Miledi’s smile had frozen slightly.

(…My, what an unscrupulous woman)

Without breaking her smile, Miledi lightly bit the inside of her lip.

Her gaze seemed directed at Leticia, yet didn’t capture her at all.

(If you’re going to speak of Lord Karou’s ‘flavor,’ at least use your own sweet.)
(To light a fire using someone else’s ice… as expected of the Ruby Rose Princess)

Maintaining utmost elegance, she kept her smile of concern for Yuuri’s burn.

Yet within, jade-colored flames flickered secretly.

Meanwhile, Cecily—

Never looking away, as if she couldn’t feel Leticia’s presence at all,

Directed her perfect smile straight at Yuuri, unwavering.

(…This is why the Noble faction…)

Those words didn’t surface.

But within her heart, anger colder than ice quietly accumulated.

(Grace is not something obtained through indirect feeding.)
(It naturally emanates from one’s upbringing and pride. I… believe that)

Yet her fingertips trembled for just an instant—something she alone secretly noticed.

—Breaking that silence,

A voice fell—one that made you catch your breath slightly, yet was utterly clear.

“…Um… Lord Karou. Excuse me.”

With a gesture like offering prayer, Clarisse von Lumière stepped forward gently.

Her pale vestments swayed, and gold embroidery reflected light softly.

“You see… your body seemed a bit tired…”
“So if it’s all right… shall we synchronize our breathing?”

She hesitantly yet with clear intent guided Yuuri’s “free hand” gently to her chest.

“…Huh?”

Soft warmth.

There, certainly, was her heartbeat.

“Here… if you can feel my heartbeat, you’ll surely calm down.”

“C-Clarisse-san, that’s your chest, your chest it’s touching”

Clarisse’s eyes were utterly sincere.

“I’m placing it there deliberately. Match my breathing—inhale—exhale, inhale—exhale”

(I can’t fall behind either. The hero is the Star Spirit’s Apostle. I must serve and guide him to the righteous path. This too… is part of that)

Clarisse’s faintly flushed cheeks were alluring, and the heartbeat transmitted from her chest had definitely quickened.

Whether it was hers or Yuuri’s own—the boundary was already blurred.

Even so, Clarisse showed no embarrassment, and like a priestess delivering a divine message, she quietly layered her words.

—And as if responding to her.

Yuuri’s expression had already lost most of the function called thought.

His eyes remained half-open in a melted state, wandering through space as if glimpsing a heaven called bliss, his mouth slightly parted with only his breathing barely trying to catch up to her rhythm.

(Am I… going to die today…)

That thought was genuine.

If he could ascend from happiness overdose, that wouldn’t be an accident—it would be his heart’s desire.

Seeing Yuuri’s slovenly expression, Eleanor stood up abruptly with a clatter.

“I-I too…!”

Those words burst out forcefully.

But no action followed.

—There was no available spot anywhere.

Yuuri’s hands were occupied, his gaze melted, his heart entrusted to someone else.

What unfolded before her was a “distance” so sweet, soft, close, and deep she couldn’t comprehend it.

She simply stood there, frozen.

(How terrible… I’m the only one… who can’t get in)