The Young Lady With the Most Powerful Specs Was Just Too Cute, so I Started Teasing Her—But Then She Tried to Trap Me With a Chain, so I Kept Running Away With All My Might

Meeting the Young Lady for the First Time

Walking down the hallway behind the Head Butler, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.

The Duke is the master of this house, the kind of man who makes even active-duty knights straighten their backs just by being there. He isn’t someone a trainee like me usually gets to meet so easily.

I took a deep breath in front of the office door before being shown inside.

In the back of the room, where the evening sun was streaming in, the Duke looked up from his paperwork.

“Excuse me! Trainee knight, Nil Metasura, reporting for duty!”

“At ease. Don’t be so stiff.”

“Yes, sir! I’m not stiff at all!”

My voice cracked the second the words left my mouth.

The corners of the Duke’s mouth twitched into a tiny smile.

“I hear you’ve been working hard.”

“Yes, sir! Thank you! I’m still just a trainee, but I’m learning a lot every day!”

“I see.”

It was a short reply, but it made me feel kind of happy. That’s what I mean. That’s why I like this house. There are people here who actually notice what you’re doing.

The Duke watched me for a moment before finally speaking up quietly.

“There is something I want to ask of you.”

“Of me, sir?”

“Would you spend some time with my daughter?”

My brain just stopped.

“…With the young lady?”

“Yes.”

I mean, “yes” was great and all, but why me? I reflexively looked down at my own chest. Yep, it was still just me. It’s not like I’d suddenly multiplied.

I could understand if he asked a maid, but was a guy like me really okay?

Behind the Duke hung a portrait of a beautiful woman. She was smiling gently in the painting. That must have been the Madam.

“The maids have been doing their best. Many daughters from friendly families have visited as well. But my daughter’s heart remains unmoved.”

The Duke held his head in his hands, looking pained.

No matter how many women talked to her, they couldn’t reach her.

So… he chose me?

“…”

“I thought if it were a boy around her own age, things might be different.”

I hesitated for a second. Of course I did. She’s a Duke’s daughter.

She isn’t someone I should be talking to casually. If I did something rude, I could lose my head. And obviously, I wasn’t thinking about making a move on her or doing anything weird.

I wasn’t thinking that, but I couldn’t get what I heard earlier today out of my mind.

That she was like a doll… and I wondered if there was anything I could actually do.

This house has taken good care of me.

I like this place. So, when someone relies on me, turning my back and saying “I can’t do it” would just feel pathetic.

“…If I’m really okay, I’ll give it a try!”

“I see.”

“Just so you know, I’m not very good at saying fancy things.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

The Duke narrowed his eyes slightly.

“You don’t need to try and teach her anything. I just want you to talk to her.”

“Alright, I understand.”

After answering, a thought hit me.

Just talking, huh? I guess I can handle that.

♢

Lady Oldie’s room was in the back of the mansion.

As I stood in front of the door, the air felt different. It was incredibly heavy, like this one spot was cut off from the rest of the Duke’s house.

A maid opened the door for me.

“Milady, excuse me. I have brought the trainee knight, Nil Metasura.”

“Come in.”

The voice that came from inside was surprisingly quiet and beautiful.

As I entered the room, I couldn’t help but catch my breath.

I thought she was beautiful. Her black hair was like silk, flowing smoothly in the light from the window. Her pale skin looked almost translucent, and her downcast eyelashes were long. Her features were so perfect she really did look like a doll.

But my senior was right.

There was no light in her eyes. Even though she was right there, her face looked like she was somewhere else entirely. She was facing me, but she wasn’t looking at me.

“…I’m Nil Metasura, a trainee knight. It’s an honor to meet you, Milady.”

“Yes. I know.”

She knew who I was? That made me a little happy.

The young lady stayed seated on the sofa and looked straight at me.

But her eyes didn’t reflect anything.

“You came here today to be my conversation partner, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Well, that’s the plan.”

“Then, please sit there.”

I sat down as I was told.

“I will have tea served.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll have some sweets brought in as well.”

“Score!”

The truth slipped out. The maid’s eyes widened just a tiny bit.

The young lady’s face stayed blank.

“What would you like to talk about?”

“Um…”

I was stuck. My senior said she’d answer whatever I threw at her.

But that was it.

If I talked about the weather, it would end with “I suppose so.”

If I talked about the flowers in the garden, it would end with “They are pretty.”

Conversation is only fun because you throw something out, someone catches it, and then they throw it back.

But this young lady just politely took whatever was handed to her and didn’t try to send anything back.

“…Milady.”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you bored?”

“Not particularly.”

“Are you having fun?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is there anything you want to do?”

“Nothing in particular.”

No good. Everything ended perfectly. There was no denial, no anger, not even a hint of sarcasm.

I leaned back in my chair and stared at her.

The young lady stared back at me without even blinking.

She’d probably just do whatever she was told, obediently. But she wouldn’t move on her own.

Then, like when you suddenly think of a prank, something clicked in my head.

“Hey, Milady.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s play tag.”

“…Tag?”

For the first time, a tiny tremor shook her voice.

I let out a grin. Oh, her eyes moved.

“That’s right. It’s a game where you run around and catch people.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve been sitting there this whole time.”

“…”

“You’ve got legs, so it’s a waste not to use them, right?”

I felt the maids gasp. If I were talking to anyone else, they’d probably get mad and call me rude, and that would be the end of it. But the young lady didn’t get mad.

She just watched me quietly.

“Am I… the one who is supposed to chase you?”

“Yep.”

“And you are going to run away?”

“Of course.”

“What if I catch you?”

“If you do… well, let’s see.”

I thought for a second and then gave her a deliberately cocky smile.

“I’ll do whatever you want. Just one wish.”

“You certainly have a lot of confidence… Anything?”

“Anything.”

I figured she wouldn’t actually take it seriously.