Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 15: The Days of "I Really Did It"

Chapter 15: The Days of “I Really Did It”

《Cerios’ POV》

“…I really did it… aaaahhhh…”

Morning came, the sunlight was bright and refreshing, and I felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. I was riding a high like never before.

Why are older women so incredible?!

Lying in bed, I clutched my head and stared at the ceiling, torn between euphoria and regret. I knew it was too late to turn back, but I couldn’t calm the storm of emotions inside me.

It all started with Maria last night.

“Just for tonight, may I sleep beside you, Lord Cerios?”

At that moment, my brain short-circuited. 

Sleep together? Wait, what? No, no, no! Maria might be like a mother figure to me, but she’s also an incredibly beautiful woman! Sleep together? What does she mean by that?! 

My mind was screaming alarms, yet her earnest gaze left me unable to refuse.

“…Alright,” I found myself saying, despite the chaos in my head.

To be fair, I did warn her. I told her I wouldn’t be able to hold back. But when she still agreed, well, what was I supposed to do? I’m a man, after all. And, honestly, I don’t have a fiancée or a girlfriend, so if Maria wanted to be with me, what’s wrong with that?

Yeah, it’s fine. No problem.

Except… the guilt is killing me! Making a move on someone I was supposed to be protecting—what kind of person does that make me? I’m such an idiot.

And yes, I remember everything from last night vividly. Too vividly.

“Excuse me, Lord Cerios.”

With those words, Maria slipped under the blanket. She carried the warmth of a mother’s embrace and the softness of a woman, her gentle curves enveloping me in a way that felt both comforting and overwhelming.

Wait—what am I even saying?! Just having her lying next to me made my heart race like crazy.

“Lord Cerios.”

The moment she said my name, my heart practically leapt out of my chest. I hadn’t expected to be this flustered. Trying to maintain my composure, I turned my head, only to find Maria’s kind and gentle face so close to mine.

Am I acting like some inexperienced kid? Okay, maybe I am inexperienced in this world, but mentally, I’m not new to this! Or so I thought… but no, I was already falling for her.

“This is bad. Really bad.”

That’s when it hit me—I was hyper-aware of everything about her.

And then, morning came.

When I woke up, Maria was no longer beside me. She must have gotten up early to prepare breakfast for me. Meanwhile, I was a mess. The events of last night refused to leave my mind.

“Good morning, Lord Cerios.”

At breakfast, Maria greeted me with her usual gentle smile. It was the same warm expression she always wore. But as for me…

“G-Good morning…”

My face burned as I struggled to respond. Not knowing where to look, I focused intently on the bread in front of me, avoiding her gaze entirely.

“Lord Cerios, your face is red. Is something the matter?”

“Oh, ah! It’s just… the heat!”

What a ridiculous lie. Why would it be hot? It’s the middle of winter! Even I wanted to laugh at how absurd that sounded, but I couldn’t bear to meet her gaze any longer.

After breakfast, I found myself alone in the study, slumped over my desk.

“Ahhhh… I really did it…!”

The memories of last night replayed vividly in my mind.

Sharing the same bed with her. No, that’s all it was. We just slept in the same bed! But somehow, even that simple act was enough to push me to my limits.

Think rationally—I’m only 15 years old!

And yet, I slept beside an adult woman like Maria, someone so kind, beautiful, and nurturing. Is this acceptable just because I’m a noble? Or is it more likely that I’ve put myself in a precarious position?

What if Liese resents me for this? What if it escalates to something worse?

“Arghhh!”

I clutched my head again. I’m supposed to grow into a respectable lord, and yet here I am, consumed by these thoughts. What am I even doing?

That afternoon, Maria came to the study with tea.

“Lord Cerios, please take a break.”

“Ah… uh, thank you.”

I accepted the tea with trembling hands, which didn’t escape Maria’s notice. She chuckled softly.

“Fufu, Lord Cerios, you seem a bit off today.”

“N-No, that’s not true!”

“…Is that so?”

Maria’s smile seemed strangely knowing. Could she have noticed how flustered I was last night? No, there’s no way. It’s just my imagination. It has to be.

“I’m simply happy to be of help to you, Lord Cerios. If there’s ever anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask, even at night.”

“…Y-Yeah. I’ll keep that in mind.”

What’s with this kindness?! That nurturing smile, like a mother’s embrace, combined with the soft femininity of a woman—it’s unfair!

I sipped my tea, desperately trying to focus on something else, anything else, to keep from thinking about Maria. But it was pointless.

(…I really did it… I really messed up…)

I screamed internally, burying my head in my hands again.

That night—

Lying in bed once more, staring at the ceiling, I let out a deep sigh.

“Get a grip, Cerios. Calm down. Nothing happened.”

Even as I tried to convince myself, Maria’s gentle voice and the warmth from last night refused to leave my mind.

“…What am I supposed to do now?”

The academy was supposed to bring a fresh start, a new chapter in my life. But my thoughts were completely consumed by Maria. This is bad. No matter how I look at it, this is seriously bad.

“…Get a hold of yourself!”

I shouted, pulling the blanket over my head. If anyone had seen me like that, they’d probably think I was the most pathetic lord imaginable.

The next morning—

“Good morning, Lord Cerios.”

Maria greeted me with her usual smile, but it felt as though she could see right through me.

“G-Good morning…”

It seemed my days of screaming “I really messed up!” internally weren’t going to end anytime soon.