In a World of Reversed Chastity, I Strive to Become an Honorable Male Knight, but Lustful Women Keep Targeting My Body - 272

Chapter 272: The Peeping Pervert Adjutant and the Stepsister Knight

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I, Sonia Suolahti, was uneasy. Of all people, Al-sama had started a drinking party with the elves, along with that Fiorenza. There was no need to elaborate on the danger posed by that gnat of a woman, and that elderly brat called Dalaiya, who looked like a little girl, was also clearly eyeing Al-sama in a sexual way. No woman could remain calm while the man she loved most was drinking with such people.

The only one who perhaps looked sincere was that self-proclaimed imperial Orphan… but I could not let my guard down. Even if she appeared outwardly earnest, it was entirely possible that inside, her lust was boiling away.

“Muu…”

After shaking my head vigorously, I lifted the cup resting on the folding table to my lips. The herbal tea inside had gone completely cold, but I did not care. After ordering an attendant to bring a refill, I crossed my arms and surveyed the surroundings.

At present, I was conducting perimeter surveillance together with the knights under my command. Fiorenza and Dalaiya were not the only shameless fools targeting Al-sama. The elven radicals were in a state where they might erupt at any moment. We needed to maintain the highest level of vigilance.

“…”

And yet, despite the situation, there was one impudent idiot who was not watching the surroundings and was instead glancing over here again and again. Karina. Guarding Al-sama was not originally the job of this cow-girl, but she had been allowed to participate due to her strong personal request. At first, I had admired her enthusiasm, but in this state she was in no condition to stand watch. I let out an exaggerated sigh and put on the helmet that had been resting on the table.

“Karina, is your assignment to monitor me?”

“Pyaah!? N-no! It isn’t!”

She jerked in surprise and straightened her posture. Thanks to the thorough retraining she had received after joining the Liseben Army, even her basic movements had become quite polished. But inside, she was still very much a rookie. Far too jumpy.

“If that’s the case, then aren’t you looking in the wrong direction?”

“Yes, ma’am, superior officer, yes ma’am! My apologies!”

“If you have time to apologize, fulfill your duty. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

She snapped a salute and began properly scanning the perimeter. When we first met, she had been nothing but a rebellious brat, but thanks to military-style education, she had become entirely obedient.

“…So, do you need something from me?”

I approached her and asked quietly, careful not to be overheard. Around us stood more than a dozen knights and elven guards. It would not be appropriate to start chatting openly.

“Eh? N-no, it’s not that I need something in particular…”

Liar. Then why had she been staring over here the whole time? There was no way she had no reason. When I shot her an exasperated glare, Karina let out a pitiful “Pyaa…” and her back trembled. Like a frog being stared down by a snake. …It was almost a little hurtful seeing her get that scared. Well, it was still a hundred times better than being underestimated.

“Now that I think about it, even though we live in the same mansion, I realized I’ve never properly had a conversation with you, Sonia-sama…”

“…”

It was true that I had rarely had any private conversations with this cow-girl. Of course, we spoke when necessary for orders and reports. But that was the nature of a superior–subordinate relationship. Especially since Karina belonged not to the knight corps, but to a general infantry training unit. Naturally, we had almost no opportunities to talk.

“That may be true, but you and I are not friends. Why would there be any need to make small talk?”

“…”

Karina made an openly troubled face. Without a word, I forcibly lowered the visor of her helmet. An officer must not display agitation in front of subordinates. She was still a trainee, but she was nonetheless an officer candidate.

“Ah, s-sorry… Um, well… It’s true that Sonia-sama and I aren’t friends, but since I am Onii-sama’s adopted younger sister, wouldn’t that make you something like my older sister-in-law?”

“…I see.”

When she put it that way, she had a point. Having abandoned the Suolahti name, I would eventually take the name Blondin. That meant she was indeed my younger sister-in-law. Hmm…

Hearing the word “younger sister” reminded me of the two I had left behind at my family home. Twins with completely opposite personalities—interesting girls. I had not seen them in over a year. I wondered if they were doing well. …Now that our base had moved to Liseben, I might never see them again in my lifetime. My homeland, the Nor Frontier Territory, lay at the northern edge of Galea—far too distant from this place.

“In order to strengthen the House of Blondin, I thought it might not be a bad thing for us to deepen our friendship, that is…”

“Hmmm.”

That was certainly true. Though the House of Blondin had risen to the rank of castle count, in reality it was still just a newly established knightly house. The only true vassal house was the House of Prevo under Gilbert, and there were hardly any relatives or in-laws. As an organization, it was far too weak.

Of course, Gilbert and I intended to support those aspects, but… I see. It seemed this one intended to cooperate as well. Well, Karina was originally from a count’s family. Apparently, she possessed at least that minimum sense of responsibility. I revised my opinion of her slightly.

Though she surely had ulterior motives. No matter how you looked at it, this cow-girl was aiming for Al-sama. However, it would be extremely difficult for her to end up with Al-sama through her own efforts. So she likely intended to place herself under me and receive whatever scraps she could.

“I see. That spirit is commendable. However, we are currently on duty. Focus on that.”

“Y-yes, Sonia-sama.”

Karina nodded in a deeply disappointed tone. …Lowering the visor was pointless. Her emotions were completely transparent. If she wished to become a fine officer like Al-sama, she would need far more time and training. …Though even I doubted I could ever catch up to Al-sama, no matter how long I tried.

“…When we return to Carrera City, I am scheduled to have a tea gathering with Gilberto. I will extend an invitation to you as well.”

“Eh—ah!? …Thank you very much!”

As Karina bounced up and down in delight, I could not help but sigh. She really was hopeless. Someone had to properly guide her. …And that role would fall to me, her older sister-in-law.

Well, as she had said, the internal unity of the House of Blondin had to be made as strong as possible. There were countless external enemies, starting with that lustful beast… I mean, my mother, and Chancellor Adelaide. Recently, the threat from the elves had also grown. Perhaps I could afford to make this small concession.

“…!?”

That was when it happened. With the sharp sound of something cutting through the air, an arrow flew toward us. I reflexively took a defensive stance, but the arrow struck the trunk of a nearby tree without hitting anyone. There was no sign of a second or third arrow following it.

“This is… a message arrow.”

A knight cautiously approached the arrow still embedded in the tree and called out loudly. It seemed a letter had been tied to it. …Using a message arrow instead of a messenger, what a dramatic flourish. Frowning, I ordered a subordinate to bring me the letter.

『There are suspicious movements within the village. Remain on guard.』

Those words were written in elegant Galean script. Nothing else was written. There was not even a sender’s name. If someone would go so far as to send something like this… There was only one possibility, the so-called Elf Ninjas. My frown deepened even further.

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