Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 47: A Private Study Session with Liese

Chapter 47: A Private Study Session with Liese

Even though I had requested an investigation into Clarice’s situation, there was nothing I could do until the results came in.

The waiting felt endless… I tried to distract myself by focusing on my duties, but no matter how hard I tried, thoughts of Clarice kept creeping into my mind.

Hoping to clear my head, I headed to the study. I spread out a few books on the desk, intending to deepen my knowledge of territorial management and law.

Just as I was about to immerse myself in reading, I heard a faint sound.

Turning around quietly, I saw Liese organizing the bookshelves.

“…Liese?”

I called out, and she turned around in surprise. A light sheen of sweat on her cheeks showed how hard she had been working.

“Oh! Lord Cerios! I’m sorry, the study was a little messy, so I was just tidying it up!”

“There’s no need to apologize. I just didn’t expect to find you here.”

Finding myself alone with her like this made my heart feel slightly restless.

But since we were here, I figured we might as well make the most of the time.

“Liese, why don’t you join me for some studying?”

“Huh… Me?”

She blinked in surprise and hurriedly put the book she was holding back onto the shelf.

Her flustered reaction was, as always, endearing.

“That’s right. As my assistant, having some knowledge will definitely be useful, right? Don’t worry about the difficult stuff—let’s start with the basics first.”

“Studying together with you, Lord Cerios…! I’m so happy!”

Hearing those words, my heart skipped a beat. Seeing her genuinely delighted like that made me feel a little embarrassed.

“Alright then, have a seat. Let’s get started.”

“Yes!”

Liese sat down next to me with a slightly nervous look. The distance between us felt unusually close, and a faint, sweet scent from her hair drifted toward me.

“Let’s start with this—basic tax policies. It’s something you can’t avoid when managing a territory.”

We leaned in to look at the book together. Her face was so close that if I moved even a little, our noses might touch.

“Look at this section. To increase revenue, it’s not just about adjusting tax rates but also…”

“Wow… they calculate everything down to such fine details…”

She whispered softly, and each breath brushed against my ear, making it hard to stay calm. Was I the only one feeling this awkward tension?

“It’s not just about setting tax rates; it’s also important to make sure the residents can maintain their way of life. See, look here.”

As I leaned in a little closer, our shoulders gently touched.

Liese gave a small shiver at the contact.

“Sorry.”

“N-No, I’m the one who should apologize! Was I too close…?”

“No, it’s fine. In fact, I’m glad you’re paying attention so seriously.”

At my words, Liese’s face turned bright red.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling conscious of our closeness. Even as I turned my eyes back to the book, I could sense her quiet embarrassment.

“Lord Cerios… you’re amazing. You’ve learned so much.”

“As a noble, I should have studied more from a younger age and used that knowledge to benefit the territory. But… I can’t do it all alone.”

“You’re doing your best, Lord Cerios!”

“Thanks. But I’d like your help too, Liese.”

“If… if I can be of any help to you… I would gladly support you!”

Her soft words touched my heart.

How could I not treasure someone who was so devoted to me?

“Liese.”

When I called her name, she lifted her gaze.

Her eyes met mine, unwavering and full of sincerity.

“Do you realize how much it means to me, having you by my side?”

“Eh… I…”

“Your presence gives me strength. You’re always there, watching over me, believing in me… I need you, Liese. When I feel uncertain, your words are what keep me going.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, and with her cheeks still flushed, she seemed at a loss for words.

“And… spending time like this with you calms my heart.”

Liese let out a small laugh, her smile so radiant that it left me momentarily speechless.

“I love being with you too, Lord Cerios.”

Those simple words made my chest tighten with warmth.

“…Thank you.”

Before I realized it, I gently pressed my forehead against hers.

Liese’s face turned an even deeper shade of red.

“L-Lord Cerios! That’s… unfair!”

Even though she was flustered, a soft giggle escaped her lips, and I couldn’t help but smile in return.

“Is it? You’re just too cute, and I couldn’t resist wanting to be a little closer.”

“Geez… you’re impossible!”

Despite her words, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned into me, allowing me to stay close.

“Thank you, Liese.”

The moment lasted only for a short while before we returned to our studies, our faces still warm from the closeness we shared.

In the softly lit study, time seemed to flow gently, just the two of us.

It was a peaceful, slightly ticklish kind of happiness—one I didn’t want to break.

But deep down, I knew there was still a line I couldn’t quite cross with her…

A lingering fear gnawed at me—what if crossing that line meant losing everything?

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[Afterword]

Hello, this is Iko.

That’s it for today.

The second arc, woven with unease and uncertainty, brings its fair share of inner struggles.