Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 52: A Sweet and Bittersweet Moment

Chapter 52: A Sweet and Bittersweet Moment

《Cerios’ Side》

As I stepped out of my office, I noticed Liese standing there, looking oddly nervous.

At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but… no, she was definitely waiting for me.

She fidgeted as she spoke, playing with her hair and even holding my hand for a moment.

But then, she quickly tried to pull away, muttering that her hands were dirty from work, as if putting herself down.

“That’s not true!”

The moment I firmly grasped her hand in return, something stirred deep inside my chest.

Her small fingers were a little cold, slightly rough from hard work—yet, at the same time, they felt warm.

Just by touching them, I could tell how much effort she put into everything she did. And to hear her call them “dirty”—I couldn’t allow that.

“There’s nothing dirty about hands that work so hard. Thank you, Liese, for everything you do.”

My voice came out gentler than I expected—even I was surprised by it.

Liese’s eyes widened, and then, as if realizing something, her face turned red, and she quickly looked away.

“I-I don’t know what to do when you say things like that…”

Her voice was soft, slightly trembling—like she was trying to hold something back, or maybe just too embarrassed to respond.

“What do you mean? Is something wrong?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I asked, and in response, her face turned an even deeper shade of red as she lowered her head.

“It’s because… Lord Cerios is being too kind…”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

The way she looked up at me, her face flushed with embarrassment—it was so cute that I couldn’t help but want to tease her a little.

“Liese, I’m not as kind as you think.”

“What do you mean?”

As the main heroine, she had grown more beautiful over time.

Her large, sparkling eyes, soft hair, fair skin… and as she matured, her figure was beginning to change as well. If she took after Maria, she would only continue to grow more stunning.

And yet, this pure-hearted girl genuinely thought of me as “kind.”

But in reality, we were supposed to be a villain and a heroine who stood against him.

The more I thought about it, the stronger the urge to keep her all to myself became.

“Liese.”

“Y-Yes?”

I stepped forward and cornered her against the wall, making sure she couldn’t escape.

Then, I leaned in close, bringing my lips near her ear.

“Whether I’m kind or not doesn’t matter… Watching how hard you work makes me want to do better too. Thank you, Liese. I truly appreciate you.”

“Wha—!?”

Flustered, Liese quickly tried to cover her ears.

But before she could, I caught her wrists and held them gently.

“L-L-Lord Cerios…!”

“You can’t block it out, Liese.”

“O-Okay…!”

Even though she was clearly embarrassed, Liese obediently closed her eyes and waited, as if following an order.

Her expression was both amusing and adorable.

I gently released her hands, glanced away, and continued speaking.

“If you were to collapse, I wouldn’t know what to do… So, please, take care of yourself.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw her lower her head and give a small nod.

That simple gesture made something inside me ache with affection. I wanted to reach out and touch her, but… if I did, I felt like the delicate balance between us would shatter.

So instead, I just stared at my own hand, willing myself to hold back.

“Lord Cerios.”

Liese suddenly lifted her gaze and looked straight at me.

Her eyes shimmered slightly, filled with determination.

“I… I want you to see me…”

“See you?”

“As a woman!”

“Wha—!?”

Wait… No, she didn’t realize.

I had already been seeing her as a woman for a long time.

Her words struck deep, making me pause and think.

“Liese, I do see you as a woman.”

As soon as I said it, she blinked in surprise before breaking into a bright, joyful smile.

That smile was so incredibly beautiful that I had to look away.

There was something mesmerizing about her—a soft, enchanting allure that completely captivated me.

“T-Then, Lord Cerios… may I hold your hand again?”

Her sudden request caught me off guard.

For a moment, I was too stunned to respond—but before I even realized it, my hand had already reached out to hers.

“Of course.”

Liese gently placed her hand over mine.

This time, her touch lingered a little longer, her grip a little firmer.

“When I do this… I feel at ease.”

With a soft, almost teasing smile, she pressed our joined hands against her cheek.

Through the back of my hand, I could feel the warmth and softness of her skin.

Thump, thump. 

My heart pounded wildly.

Her gaze locked onto mine, and for the first time, I felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.

At the same time, a deep affection for her welled up inside me.

It was almost too much, so I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to steady myself.

Our hands remained tightly clasped.

Maybe… we were already close enough to be considered lovers.

Even if we hadn’t said the words out loud, I could feel it—step by step, we were drawing closer.

(I want to keep holding this hand forever.)

That thought passed through my mind.

I gently squeezed her hand again and smiled faintly.

“Lord Cerios, I want to stay by your side and support you forever.”

A sweet and heartwarming moment passed between us, unhurried and peaceful.

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[Afterword]

Hello, this is Iko, the author.

That’s all for today.

Unfortunately, I fell ill toward the end of the year. It’s frustrating to step away from writing, but posting continuously has been taking a toll on my health.

Please take care of yourselves as well!

This will be my last update of the year.

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!

I hope to see you again next year as well!

New Year’s Special SS

[Foreword]

Happy New Year!

This is Iko.

Thank you so much for reading my work throughout the past year.

I hope you’ll continue to support me this year as well!

Since this is my very first post of 2025, I wanted to share a special New Year’s short story.

It’s completely unrelated to the main story and is meant to capture the festive season, so please enjoy it as a lighthearted extra!

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 《Cerios’ Side》

There’s always something special about the morning of a new year.

Even though it’s just another morning like any other, the simple thought of “a new year has begun” makes the air feel different—almost more refreshing.

As lord of this land, I’ve done my best to fulfill my responsibilities and ensure that peaceful days like this can continue.

But at least for today, I wanted to set aside my burdens and spend a quiet, relaxing time with the people who have become like family to me.

“Lord Cerios, Happy New Year!”

The first to greet me with boundless energy was Faina.

Her bright smile, as always, felt like a source of strength, filling me with renewed energy.

“Happy New Year, Faina. I’ll be counting on you again this year.”

“Of course! Now, I’ve already prepared breakfast, just as you requested, so let’s head over.”

After Faina helped me get ready, I left my room and made my way to the dining hall.

Inside the spacious room, warmed by a large fireplace, the long dining table was already surrounded by the people who worked in the mansion.

At the head of the table, Arnaud and Maria were seated, with Faina sitting beside Arnaud and Liese beside Maria.

Further down, Kanon and the knights sat near Faina, while Liese was surrounded by the maids, all of whom had risen to their feet, waiting for my arrival.

“It looks like everyone’s gathered.”

My one request for today had been simple—I wanted to share a meal with everyone in the household.

“Happy New Year, Everyone! Once again, Happy New Year. Thanks to all of you, I was able to carry out my duties last year. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done. I hope you will continue to support me in the coming year!”

“Happy New Year, Lord Cerios!!! We will continue to serve the Egrid household with all our strength!”

“Thank you. I asked a lot from the chef, but I wanted to prepare a special meal for everyone today. Please enjoy it without hesitation. Also, for the next three days, I’m giving you all some time off—take turns resting and make sure to enjoy your break. Now, let’s sit down and eat.”

To mark the beginning of the new year, I decided to grant everyone a short holiday.

We would share a meal together, and I would also be giving them a bonus. I just wanted them to enjoy themselves.

Laughter and conversation filled the dining hall as everyone ate.

I wasn’t usually one to ignore formalities, but at least for today, I wanted us all to celebrate the new year in a lively and cheerful way.

“Lord Cerios! Happy New Year!”

Liese stood up and greeted me enthusiastically.

Beside her, Maria stood with a gentle smile.

“Lord Cerios, I’ll borrow Liese’s words and say it as well—Happy New Year. I look forward to serving you again this year.”

Maria’s soft voice made me relax without even realizing it.

She had the warmth of a mother, yet at the same time, it was impossible to forget that she was also a deeply charming woman in her own right.

Today, both she and Liese weren’t dressed in their usual maid uniforms. Instead, they wore neatly arranged dresses, just a little more refined than usual.

Even within the household, they were no longer seen merely as maids—they were recognized as people dear to me. Due to social status, no one explicitly referred to them as my wives, but everyone seemed to understand without needing words.

“Ah, Happy New Year.”

As I greeted them, I noticed Kanon gazing into the fire of the grand fireplace, her eyes narrowing slightly before she smiled.

“My Lord, Happy New Year. You can leave the peace of the territory to me again this year.”

“I’m counting on you, Kanon. But don’t overdo it. The same goes for all of you knights—I want you all to return safely, no unnecessary risks.”

“Telling us not to overdo it… You’re quite the unusual lord. Well, I’ll do my best.”

As we exchanged those words, Arnaud was the last to stand, clearing his throat before speaking.

“Happy New Year. Let’s continue working together to support the domain. Lord Cerios, I look forward to serving you again this year.”

The table was filled with an incredible feast, all prepared by the chef.

Surrounded by the warm atmosphere, we shared the joy of welcoming the new year together, enjoying our meal in a peaceful, lively setting.

Once breakfast came to an end, Liese suddenly stood up with great enthusiasm.

“L-Lord Cerios, wouldn’t it be nice to do something festive for the New Year together?”

“Something festive? Like what?”

“Yes! A cleansing ritual would be perfect!”

“A cleansing ritual?”

Before I could even process what was happening, Liese, Faina, Maria, and Kanon led me to the bathhouse.

The bath was already filled with warm water, and while the air wasn’t particularly cold, I soon found myself being stripped of my clothes—surrounded by four women.

“Uh… wait. What exactly is this cleansing ritual?”

“It’s a purification practice, of course! In the eastern island nations, they say that when making a wish, people cleanse themselves by pouring cold water over their bodies during winter.”

“Hold on… this isn’t cold water, though. And more importantly, why are all four of you… naked?!”

Even though they were wrapped in large towels, they had all joined me in the bath.

“I-It’s a little embarrassing now that we’re older, but… this is for the cleansing ritual.”

Liese tried to explain, but none of it made any sense to me.

“Basically, since we can’t have the lord catching a cold by using freezing water, we decided to wash you ourselves as a form of purification. Then, once you soak in the bath with us, it’ll ensure good fortune for the rest of the year.”

Even after hearing that, my brain refused to process what was going on.

“Lord Cerios, for now, just relax. Let yourself unwind. I’ll take care of everything.”

With a gentle touch, Maria reached for the towel wrapped around my waist—and began to peel it away.

“Kya!”

Unlike when we were kids and thought nothing of it, Faina and Liese were now flustered, quickly covering their faces with their hands… though I could clearly see them peeking through their fingers.

Surprisingly, Kanon had her back turned, while Maria, smiling as always, casually moved in front of me and began washing my body.

“Does anything feel sore?”

“No, it feels… nice.”

“Fufu, I’m glad to hear that. Now, everyone, please help wash Lord Cerios’s back.”

With Maria taking the lead, the other three hesitantly joined in.

Their faces were completely red as they worked, their embarrassment so intense that I could feel myself getting flustered just watching them.

Once the washing was done, the five of us slipped into the warm bath together.

“I’m really happy to be able to share a bath with you like this, Lord Cerios. Thank you.”

Faina spoke with a bright, heartfelt smile as she relaxed beside me.

I wasn’t sure what to say. If something as simple as this made them happy, then I supposed it was fine… but honestly, I was far too overwhelmed to truly enjoy the moment.

Just imagining if this had been one-on-one instead of a group bath—I wasn’t sure I could handle it.

Maria, without needing to say a word, was effortlessly captivating. The way her breasts floated in the water, the elegant curve of her exposed nape with her hair tied up… everything about her exuded an almost bewitching charm.

Liese, too, had clearly developed—her rapidly maturing figure making itself obvious even in the water.

Faina, though not as well-endowed as the others, had an incredibly well-proportioned and graceful frame.

And Kanon… with her toned yet undeniably feminine body, carried a quiet allure of her own.

With all four of them around me, I had no idea where I was supposed to look.

This was going to be a long bath.

“Lord Cerios! We look forward to serving you again this year!”

As I sat in the bath, still trying to process everything, the four of them suddenly spoke in unison, offering their New Year’s greetings.

Unlike before, this time I didn’t just give a general reply—I met each of their gazes one by one and answered them directly.

“Yeah, let’s make this another good year together.”

I still wasn’t sure how I ended up in such a bizarre New Year’s tradition…

But one thing was certain—this was going to be a happy year.

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[Afterword]

What if Cerios spent his New Year’s like this…?

That was the inspiration behind this little SS. LOL

Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead!