Volume 4 Chapter 116: A Little Performance

Even with Sophie staring at me like usual, I managed to get dressed. From the large bathhouse, I could hear the old man humming a tune. While buttoning up my shirt, I explained last night’s events and the circumstances that led to them—well, at least the parts I could share.

I couldn’t exactly go around telling people that Master was Mina’s father, so I framed it as Kreis asking me to check in on her. Not the worst cover story.

Honestly, at this point, I could’ve just come clean. But I wasn’t about to risk cracking the already delicate father-daughter relationship. Plus, I didn’t want things between me and Master getting messy either. Not that it’d stop me from complaining the next time we met. Even if he is my Master, I have every right to chew him out.

As for Kreis, I didn’t actually lie about anything. And with Sophie, I figured there wasn’t an issue in telling her the truth—mostly because she had already pieced things together. Letto-kun had spent the night reflecting on his mistakes, so the only person who could have handed me the mansion key was Kreis. It wasn’t exactly a mystery.

“…So, you were affected by the pheromones of a female in heat, lost control, attempted to assault Lady Mina, got resisted, got punched, and then spent the rest of the night unconscious? That about sums it up?”

“…Yeah. Mina was weak, so things could’ve gotten ugly, but… It’s not like anything actually happened. Well… I did kind of lose myself a little and, uh… needed to let off some steam…”

I slumped my shoulders.

Even as I said it, I had to admire how well I could spin things. My corruption attribute was really putting in work.

Sure, I had told Sophie what I could, but the rest—the details of what actually happened in Mina’s room? Yeah, I wasn’t going there.

Thinking about it rationally, there was no need to be completely honest. All Sophie really knew was that I had come to the mansion last night. If I played it off as me losing control, doing something borderline inappropriate, and getting decked for it, it would be believable.

It’d be more natural that way. And it would protect Mina’s dignity.

I felt a little bad about deceiving Sophie, but… sometimes, these things couldn’t be helped.

“Did your injuries happen while she was resisting?”

“…Huh? Oh. Yeah. But it’s my own fault.”

She had been eyeing my body while I was getting dressed, and now I knew why.

When I gave a wry smile, Sophie closed her eyes briefly, then lowered her head slightly.

“…You’re very kind.”

“Well, yeah. I mean, Mina was kind too. Letting me off this eas—… Sophie?”

She took a step forward.

Before I could figure out what she was up to, she stood on her tiptoes—

“Pardon me.”

“…Huh?”

With a soft pat, her small hand lightly tapped my cheek.

A beat later, I realized—

I just got slapped.

I stood there, frozen, staring into her deep blue eyes. She looked… disappointed?

After a long pause, Sophie spoke.

“I apologize.”

At the same time, her other hand cupped my cheek.

A warm sensation spread through me, and I felt my injuries begin to heal.

With her hands gently cradling my face, she kept my gaze locked on hers and continued in her usual, emotionless tone.

“If Lady Mina had heard that lie just now… I believe she would have done the same.”

“…A lie—”

“The injuries on Lord Noil’s body are all in places easy for oneself to inflict. For wounds caused by resistance, they are too uniform. The fact that your face is untouched is also unnatural. Moreover, Sophie is quite familiar with wounds. Did you truly believe you could deceive me?”

“…Uh. Yeah. Sorry.”

I tried to wiggle out of it, but she shot me down with cold, hard logic. I had no choice but to surrender.

“…I can already imagine what really happened. And I understand that you were considering Lady Mina’s feelings.”

She kept her eyes locked on mine.

“But Lady Mina would never allow such a lie.”

“… …”

“Sophie… Sophie likes Lord Noil’s kind lies. But… please do not tell lies where you do not care if you are misunderstood or hated. That… is wrong.”

“Sophie…”

“…Also, Lord Noil… would you truly not care what Sophie thinks of you?”

Her expression was sad.

Her voice carried loneliness.

And just like that, reality hit me like a brick.

Why hadn’t I realized something so simple?

I wasn’t the kind of guy who cared about pride. That’s why I hadn’t given it much thought and just lied, thinking it was the right move.

But in doing so, I told a lie that suggested—

That I didn’t care if I was hated.

That I didn’t care if Sophie resented me or walked away.

It was, in a way, a form of rejection.

If our roles were reversed, if Sophie had done the same to me—

I would’ve been devastated.

I really was an idiot.

She called it a kind lie, but this was nothing more than self-satisfaction. Completely the opposite of kindness.

I really was the embodiment of corruption.

I took both of Sophie’s hands, crouched slightly, and met her gaze.

By now, my wounds had already healed.

“…I’m sorry, Sophie. That wasn’t my intention. I was completely in the wrong. Please forgive me. And… thank you.”

“This is not good… Lord Noil, if you gaze at me with such intensity—”

“… …”

Sophie, now was a serious moment.

A really serious moment.

And yet—

She turned her face away, cheeks slightly flushed, feigning an exaggerated, dramatic expression.

Her face was convincing.

Her voice? Still completely monotone.

“Ah, but I cannot contain this heart-racing feeling—”

“… …”

“What should Sophie do—”

“… …”

“At this rate, our relationship will become more entangled than a curry simmered for two days—”

“… …”

“It will be a thick, tangled mess—”

“What spice level do you prefer?”

“Sweet.”

Oh. Yeah. That is good.

The curry they make at White Road is sweet too. The manager can’t handle spicy food.

“You should come try it sometime.”

“Terelee Teree Terereree~”

While I was lost in thought, a deep, theatrical voice behind me suddenly hummed a mysterious melody.

A very bad feeling crept up my spine.

When I turned around, there he was—the old man, peeking through the slightly opened frosted glass door of the bathhouse, only the right half of his face visible.

Wait a minute. That’s the side with the eyepatch. You can’t even see me, can you?!

“Teree Teretete~ Tereree~”

—!?

Out of nowhere, Sophie picked up the melody in her usual flat tone.

I was confused.

The old man and Sophie exchanged smiles.

I was even more confused.

“Tete~”

“Te~”

—!?

“Terere~”

“Ree~”

—!?

“BABAAN!”

—!?

The deep voice and the monotone voice layered together.

I was confused.

The harmony was unnecessarily on point.

I was extremely confused.

“Father has—”

“Seeeeen iiiit~”

Someone.

Anyone.

Explain what the hell these two are doing.

Also, someone tell me why I’m this man’s son.

As I watched the old man stride confidently toward us, a towel wrapped around his waist, I wished—no, prayed—for answers.

When he reached me and Sophie (who, for some reason, looked completely satisfied), the old man furrowed his brows and scratched his head.

“Noil, so she’s the one, huh…? Well, she’s cute, and I ain’t gonna judge your taste, but… how big is the age gap? ‘Cause honestly, I’m kinda put off right now.”

It took me a second to realize—

I was still holding both of Sophie’s hands.

And judging by this old man’s reaction, he’d been watching her entire little performance.

Which meant—

His response was completely unhinged.

I didn’t even have the energy to argue anymore.

Silently, I let go of Sophie’s hands.

“No, Sophie is only using my body…”

…I should’ve kept holding her hands.

Sophie, in the flattest voice possible, dropped to her knees and dramatically collapsed into fake sobs.

Not a single tear in sight.

“We’re in a torrid, scandalous relationship~~”

“WHAT!?”

Why the hell is the old man so good at acting?!

His emotions were too convincing.

His face twisted in shock as he let out a loud exclamation. Then, his expression morphed into one of pure rage as he grabbed my collar and pulled me close.

“YOU’VE GONE TOO FAR, DAMN IT!!”

“I HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING!!”

And so, I lightly smacked the old man’s cheek.

Pechi.

◇

“…Onii-san, let’s take a bath together.”

“I just got out, though.”

I’ll turn into a prune.

After what felt like an eternity, Dad and Sophie’s bizarre little performance finally ended.

Sophie and I left the bathhouse and headed into the mansion’s lounge.

The moment we stepped inside, a blur of movement shot toward me.

“…Onii-san, let’s take a bath together.”

That was the first thing Sierra said.

I say “probably” because she moved so fast that I barely saw it happen.

I only knew she had dashed over because I felt a pleasant breeze rush past me.

Not teleportation—her heavy breathing gave that away.

As I patted Sierra’s head to calm her down, I glanced around the lounge.

The others were already sitting on the sofas surrounding the table.

At the head seat, Elle was perched on a single-seater, while the long couch across the table had enough space for three.

Manager, Tesea, Noel, and Fiona were all seated comfortably.

Sierra had likely been sitting beside Tesea, but now, while the others smiled or waved at us, Tesea alone wore a face of complete confusion.

Stay that way, buddy.

Never change.

“Dad, play with Sierra.”

“Alright, leave it to me.”

I left Dad in charge of Sierra—

“No.”

“Got it. Then Sierra, you keep Dad entertained.”

“…If it’s Onii-san’s request, I suppose I have no choice.”

And with that, I successfully pawned my father off on my little sister.

Now free, Sophie and I walked over to the others.

“Welcome back, Senpai.”

“Did you get to relax, Noil?”

“Did you swim to your heart’s content?”

“I didn’t swim.”

Manager was saying some weird stuff.

Well… okay, fine. I did swim when I was alone.

Meanwhile, Sophie was whispering something to Elle.

Probably about my clothes.

She had taken them somewhere earlier.

She had also taken my towel.

For reasons beyond my understanding.

“Onii-chan… how did Sierra just move like that?”

Tesea still looked baffled.

I wanted to explain it to him.

I really did.

But the truth was, I had no idea either.

It was probably some kind of magic trick.

“Huh? Noil, when did you buy new clothes?”

“…Eh?”

Noel tilted her head, eyes locked on my outfit.

How did she even know these were new?

Sure, they were new, but they were my usual clothes.

“Indeed… this is the first time I’ve seen them.”

Fiona’s words weren’t technically wrong.

But they felt wrong.

Because again—these are my usual clothes.

“…I bought them yesterday. While you guys were inside My Garden.”

I lied.

If I told the truth, things would get complicated.

I had just been scolded by Sophie for lying earlier, but this one was definitely safe.

Elle, ever so naturally, threw me a playful wink.

Sophie, meanwhile, flashed a small peace sign at waist level.

Not that they had coordinated or anything.

“Ahh, then we just didn’t get a chance to check them yet.”

…Check?

“The timing wasn’t right.”

…Timing?

Hold on.

There was a “timing” for checking my clothes?

Without me knowing?

“…Onii-chan, I have no idea what they’re talking about.”

Neither do I.

Before the strange conversation could spiral further, Elle clapped her hands together with a crisp pat.

“Alright, then! Now it’s our turn to bathe. We’ll go in the order we decided earlier, okay?”

I tilted my head.

“…Why not just go in together?”

The bath was huge.

It was literally a large public bath.

Splitting up just seemed inefficient.

“Noil, the only people I let see my body are you, Mina, and Sophie.”

“…Ah, okay.”

“Even among the same gender, I don’t want anyone but Senpai to see me naked.”

“…Ah, okay.”

“As long as I can swim, I care not.”

“…Ah, okay.”

“I don’t really care either, so I’ll just go with Milis. Doesn’t matter to me.”

“…Ah, okay.”

Got it.

So, separate baths it is.

I placed a hand on Tesea’s shoulder.

“I’m counting on you to look after Sierra.”

“…She keeps saying she wants to bathe with you, though…”

“I’m going out with Dad after this.”

“…Where?”

“I wasn’t told about this.”

…Magic trick?

Somehow, Sierra had appeared behind me.

Tesea was rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

As for Dad—

Sierra was dragging him across the floor.

I had no idea how or why this had happened.

But despite being hauled by the scruff of his neck, Dad sat there with his arms crossed, looking extremely dignified.

“Sorry, guys. We’re gonna head out for a little father-son drinking time.”

Then he flashed a wide grin at everyone.