The Ugly Orc Strikes Back ~ Reincarnated as the Cruel Crown Prince of a Twisted Doujin Eroge with No Happy Endings, But as an Inexperienced Guy, Cruel Play is a Hopeless Challenge, So I'll Give My Best to Break the Flags and Strive for Survival ~ - Chapter 27: Invitation to a Tea Party

Chapter 27: Invitation to a Tea Party

“Louie-sama, I have brought you some tea.”

“Ah, thank you.”

After finishing the morning training, which was part of my daily routine, and changing into the uniform, Ilse timely brought tea for me.

I always think this, but Ilse is perfect in every aspect, not just her personality, appearance, and combat abilities, but also in her etiquette and maid duties. 

However, I’ve started to suspect that she might be constantly monitoring me, given how she always appears at such perfect timing every morning.

No, seriously. Even that time when I was late getting changed because I was caught up in preparing for class, she still came right after I finished changing.

Could it be that she’s peeking at me while I change? …No, no, that’s impossible. Surely not.

…Well, as an orc protagonist in a sadistic doujin eroge, my partner(son) is truly like an orc, so it’s a bit of a boast.

Even though I despaired as the “Ugly Orc,” I can’t help but think that it’s a good thing I was reincarnated as Ludwig in this regard. Not that I’ll ever have an opportunity to use it. 

Dammit.

“And… there is a letter for you.”

“For me?”

Hmm? I wonder what kind of letter is addressed to me? At the very least, I don’t have any close acquaintances who would send me a letter…

Curious, I opened the letter I received from Ilse while tilting my head.

“Eh…”

The moment I saw the sender’s name, I unintentionally let out a strange sound. 

Well, you see, it’s a letter from Eleonora, after all. It’s definitely about something troublesome.

“Louie-sama, what does the letter say…?”

As Ilse asked me timidle, I took another look at the letter.

“Well… to summarize, it seems that President Eleonora wants to invite me to a tea party.”

Setting aside the lengthy introductory greetings, that seems to be the gist of it. 

But why would she invite me, the “Ugly Orc”…? Actually, I can’t help but think there’s something more to it.

In the first place, the heroine Eleonora to Schwarzenberg is the mastermind behind the revolutionary army both inside and outside the empire in “The Ugly Orc Strikes Back.” She conspired with nobles from the frontier who had distanced themselves from the capital and instigated a coup d’état.

To prevent that from happening, it’s necessary to abduct and confine Eleonora before she initiates the coup, and use my orc to… um, raise her obedience level through certain means. 

By doing so, the humiliated and pleasure-subdued Eleonora would leak information about the revolutionary army and the conspiring nobles… Wait, hold on.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to get closer to her at this time?”

“!?”

The moment I blurted out my realization, Ilse widened her eyes and the tea she was pouring overflowed, wetting the floor.

“…L-Louie-sama, do you… feel that way about President Eleonora?”

“W-wait, Ilse, what’s gotten into you!?”

Ilse, who is usually composed and rarely shows any change in expression, had an unusually teary-eyed look.

Thanks to that, as an unpopular guy with a fragile mental state, I became flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“But… but, Louie-sama, you just mentioned that you wanted to get closer to the Student Council President…”

“Oh? Ah, well… that was just a thought about how it might be beneficial in the long run to have the daughter of the Duke on our side considering our life at the Imperial Academy and beyond…”

It seems that Ilse doesn’t like the idea of me deepening my friendship with Eleonora. Perhaps something happened between them when I wasn’t around…

“O-Of course, if you don’t like it, I won’t try to get closer to her! Moreover, if anything happens to you because of her, make sure to tell me, okay? You’re way more important to me than the Student Council President.”

“Ah… Y-yes…”

Ilse’s expression completely changed, and she blushed, showing me a melting smile.

Wow… When she, who is usually the perfect cool maid, makes a face like this, it’s overwhelmingly captivating.

Seeing an expression she would never show in the game, it makes me think even more. After all, she’s also one of the main heroines…

“A-anyway, that’s how it is. So, regarding the tea party, I will formally decline…”

“Ah… No, considering what Louie-sama mentioned about the future, I think it would be better to establish a good relationship with the Schwarzenberg family. So, it would be best for you to attend the tea party.”

“Huh? Is that okay?”

“Yes.”

Surprised by Ilse’s sudden change of heart, well, if she thinks it’s fine… I wonder if she’s doing this out of concern for me, going against her own feelings.

“Ilse, like I said before, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Your well-being is more important to me than uncertain future considerations.”

“Ah… Of course. I’ll be fine, so please prioritize yourself, Louie-sama.”

We continued the back-and-forth for a while, but it seems that she really is okay with it, so I decided to attend the tea party.

However… It’s definitely not fitting for a gloomy guy like me to attend a tea party. What if there are only girls there? What should I do?

“Just to confirm… Ilse, you’ll come with me, right?”

“Huh!? I-Is that alright?”

“Of course. I’m really helpless without you, you know?”

Indeed, in typical isekai romance novels, tea parties are places where noble young ladies giggle and gossip about high society.

If a shy guy like me is thrown into such a place all by myself, I could become the perfect target or, in the worst-case scenario, I might end up floating in a river due to the shock by tomorrow morning.

To keep my sanity intact, please, I beg you to come with me.

“So, Ilse, I’m counting on you as my partner, okay?”

“Louie-sama… Yes, I will do my best to support you.”

Placing her hand on her chest, Ilse once again showed me a radiant smile.