Reincarnated As The Only Son (18 years old) Of The Arrogant And Wicked Marquis Family. - Chapter 40: An Important Talk With Shea.

An Important Talk With Shea.

*Knock-Knock*

A few hours later. A knock on the bedroom door.

“Oh, um, …It’s Shea.”

“Hmm? What happened?”

A reserved voice came through the door.

“Well, um, since you were still awake, I thought I’d offer you a good cup of tea to help you sleep…”

“Oh, I’m sorry. For going through all the trouble for me.”

“No! I made it as I pleased.”

“Hold on a sec. I’ll open the door right away.”

She must have judged that I was awake by the light leaking through the doorway.

I did not give her any instructions, but she did so with this act of concern.

I put down the letter and hurriedly opened the bedroom door to find Shea standing there with a tray, wearing a revealing shoulder negligee.

“I-I am sorry for looking like this. I was about to change into my maid’s work clothes, but you had already entered your bedroom, Beret-sama, and…”

“It’s fine. I won’t get mad at you for being dressed so roughly.”

“Thank you very much.”

When I enter the bedroom, it’ll mark free time for Shea. 

If I was angry at Shea for this, I would have been being unreasonable.

As I spoke words of reassurance to Shea, who brewed me a cup of tea, I noticed

There were two cups of tea on the tray.

Why there was not one cup was immediately obvious when I looked up at her and saw her looking at me as if she wanted to say something.

“H-here, please have it…”

“Since you’re here, why don’t you have a cup of tea with me, Shea? If I drink two, I’ll get a big belly.”

“Is that alright with you?!”

“Yes.”

“Uwa…!!”

Shea smiled and bowed her head at the suggestion.

She indeed wants to have tea together with me…

It’s embarrassing that I chose a situation where I mistakenly believe both cups belong to me, but Shea would be reserved if I didn’t say it this way.

“Then come inside.”

“…!?”

“Ah, sorry, I made a mistake. Let’s go to the hall.”

“Hyai!

That’s what it means to be invited to the bedroom.

It can’t be helped that her face turns bright red and she bites her lip, and it can’t be helped that she is upset.

Then we moved to the hall and resumed our conversation once we had settled down.

“How is school these days? It’s been quite a while since I have let you have free time for lunch, but is there anything wrong?”

“No, not really! The reduced hours of service I spend on my schoolwork.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I hope you’ll continue to do so, but not to an excessive level.”

“Yes! Thank you very much!”

We spend a soft time together, sipping tea and enjoying each other’s company.

And because it was a quiet space where no one disturbed us, we could have a serious talk.

Shea is the best overall student of the maidservants. There is no way she is not on the border.

“I know this is hypothetical, but what would… you do if you received a letter of recommendation to the royal court?”

“Of course, I would like to decline and continue to serve Beret-sama as his maid-of-honor.”

“Yeah… I knew you would say that, but are you sure that’s what you want? It’s your life, and you don’t have to hold back, Shea.”

Involuntarily, my expression becomes grim.

This is a turning point in her life. This one choice is something that will definitely change her life.

“Your family has been in our service for generations, but that’s only until they graduate from the academy, right? It’s true that you can take over the job, but a letter of recommendation to the royal court is really valuable and can only be given to someone who has really, really worked hard… I still think it would be a waste, and if you want to go——”

” I don’t.”

“…”

It was the first time. I have never seen Shea interrupt with her voice to prevent me from saying the end.

“A-are you sure you’re not refraining? You’re not lying?”

“…Um, there’s a little something I’m hiding.”

“Right? I’m sure you’d like to work for the royal court, wouldn’t you? It would be a good opportunity for your family to gain some prestige and stability in the future, and the people with great authority who visit the palace might come to like you.”

I was the one who had the obvious opinion, but I learned from her statement that I had made a hasty decision.

“Let me say something without fear of being punished… As you say, there was a time before when I wanted to work for the Royal Court. I wanted to… but not anymore!”

“Ehh? You are refusing? You didn’t hide the fact that you wanted to work there.”

“Yes!!”

“In other words… Is it correct to say that the time you wanted to work for the royal court was the period when I hit you severely, Shea?”

That would mean that she changed her mind before and after she saw the new reborn Beret-kun…

*…Nod*

Shea moved her gaze from side to side in response to my question and nodded her head, as if she was having difficulty answering.

“Well, even so, this feeling has been solidified since I learned that the reason for… your strict guidance was to help me grow!”

“I see…”

But that’s just an excuse to cover up the difference in attitude… So the real Beret-kun had nothing but bad intentions…

The more I deceive her, the more I can’t help but be cautious.

“As for me, it would be great to have you, Shea, around in the future, and I’m glad you are here, but… are you sure you want to kick the royal palace recommendation letter? This is just a guess, but I don’t think even the top five can get a letter of recommendation from the royal court. It would really be a waste, wouldn’t it?”

“I have no problem with that. I would regret it more if I had to leave Beret-sama.”

“M-more… than the royal palace?”

“Yes, I would like to serve you all the time until I become a hindrance to you, Beret-sama.”

Her blue eyes were filled with determination and resolve.

“By the way, what do you mean until you can longer be a part of my life? I don’t think you are any hindrance, Shea.”

“I will be when Beret-sama has made his life partner… At that time, the personal maid of honor will be unnecessary. I’m sure your wife will feel uncomfortable with that.”

“I see… I’ll be sad to part with you, Shea…”

“I am very happy to hear that. I am truly honored.”

Shea, whose eyes narrowed somewhat sadly, sipped her tea as if to ‘drink in’ her current feelings.

“I’ve never asked you this, but do you like anyone, Shea?”

“S-someone I like…?”

“Ahh, I’m sorry, I know this is going to be hard to answer, so I’m going to rephrase it a little, have you ever been asked to marry someone?”

“Well, uh, when I helped out at the… evening party, I was asked three times to become a mistress.”

“Did you turn them all down?”

“Yes, I did. The fact that a lady-in-waiting becomes the mistress of another nobleman is naturally a problem.”

“I see…”

This would mean that she would not even look at a man from another noble family as a love interest while she is the exclusive maid of honor.

‘That’s impossible, isn’t it?’ Some might say, but Shea is a strong-core girl who is known as ‘perfect and flawless.’

It would not be surprising if she could really do it.

“As for me… I don’t want you to just marry someone just because they’re being offered to you. I don’t want to feel like they are using you as a tool. So I want you to find someone you like and I want to use the backing of the marquise to get closer to him. You see, it would be the happiest for me to be tied to someone you like.”

”I’m really glad that you’re taking me seriously, but I don’t think I’ll ever go out with anyone.”

“Huh?”

Shea said, her cheeks turning pink as she kept her posture straight.

“I don’t think there is anyone nicer than Beret-sama.”

 “T-that’s just a correction for being the personal maid of honor.  I’m glad to hear you say so, but Shea, you have set your mind about the maid of honor. You need to work on finding your own happiness now…”

“That’s not true! I am very happy just to serve you, Beret-sama!… Ehehe.”

“Li-like I said… Mou…”

I was already defeated by Shea’s loyalty.

She smiled shyly, and I put my hand on her head and stroked her head a little harder, saying, ‘Why don’t you understand me?’ As if she had gotten a taste of it, she urged me to do it again.

“Oh, Uhmm… I’d like you to stroke me a little more gently. Head, do it this way…”

She stick her head out gingerly to make it easier to stroke.

If she did this, there was no choice for me left but to stroke her gently.