When I Infiltrated the Enemy Nation as a Slave, the Yandere Beauties There Started a Civil War Over Me - Chapter 06: Interest

Chapter 06: Interest

Thanks to Cecifelia’s suggestion, we were about to have dinner. The dish placed in front of me was the same luxurious meat dish as the one in front of Cecifelia.

“Um… I-Is it really okay for me to eat something this extravagant?”

“Of course! I want you to eat lots of delicious food, Luke! Come on, let’s eat together.”

“…Thank you.”

Cecifelia seemed like a completely different person from how she was during the earlier meeting, but I decided not to think too much about it and picked up the knife and fork in front of me. 

I never thought I’d be holding a knife and fork this soon again—I had imagined the next time would be when I returned to the Sandrotheim Kingdom.

And so, we sat side by side and ate the meat dish together.

“…”

This… is really high-quality meat. 

Each bite filled my mouth with rich flavor, but there wasn’t any excess fat, so the aftertaste was clean. It wasn’t the same as the meat served in the royal palace of Sandrotheim, but it was delicious in its own way, and I found myself engrossed in eating. It was truly amazing.

In the middle of the meal, Cecifelia spoke to me.

“Luke, were you born into a pretty good family before becoming a slave?”

“…!?”

Even in that short time, Cecifelia had surprised me multiple times with her remarks, making me wonder if she had figured out my true identity.

But up until then, none of those comments had directly hinted at who I really was. This time, though, was different… She was clearly asking if I had come from a noble family before becoming a slave.

“…Why do you think that?”

I asked, trying to understand her reasoning, and Cecifelia replied,

“Not just the way you held your knife and fork, but your posture and overall table manners were really polished.”

—Table manners…!

That’s right… For the sixteen years I had lived as a member of the royal family, I had been taught table manners from a young age. By then, I had done it for so long that I didn’t even think about it.

It hadn’t occurred to me that having such refined table manners would be strange for an ordinary slave…

It was a big mistake… but not a fatal one.

She hadn’t figured out that I was royalty from Sandrotheim, or even that I was from Sandrotheim at all… so, if that was the case—

“I-I think it’s just a coincidence. Being able to dine in a duchess’s mansion made me feel more focused.”

If she had found out that I held a position of status before becoming a slave, it could have made her suspicious of every action I took from then on. So, I decided to lie.

“Oh, come on! You don’t have to be so tense. You can relax and treat this place like your own home, you know? It’s just the two of us here.”

“A slave like me relaxing in a duchess’s mansion… But if that’s what you’re saying, Miss Cecifelia, I’ll try my best to do so.”

“Yep! Let’s make sure we have fun together!”

After that, Cecifelia and I continued eating the meat dish together.

Once we finished the delicious meal, we walked down the hallway side by side.

“Luke, you looked so cute while you were eating! I could tell just from looking at you that you were really enjoying the food. Honestly, you looked so adorable that I almost wished you’d just keep eating forever.”

…As a prince, I had been complimented on my appearance before, but I had never had anyone say something like this to me. I didn’t know how to respond.

While I was trying to figure out how to react, Cecifelia continued.

“That aside, I’ve been thinking about how I could get closer to you, Luke… Of course, there’s the whole master-slave relationship between us, but I really want to be your friend, regardless of that… So!”

Cecifelia stopped in front of a set of double doors, opened them, and invited me inside.

This was… a dressing room—no way…!

By the time I realized Cecifelia’s intention, it was too late. She said it clearly.

“I’m thinking we should take a bath together, Luke!”

“…!”

—There was no way! I was a prince of Sandrotheim Kingdom, and we were at war with the Elenorde Empire. There was no way I could take a bath with a duchess from the enemy nation!

No matter what, I had to stop this. In any situation, while my people might still have been suffering, it was unacceptable for me to bathe with a woman from the enemy country!

With that firm resolve, I said to Cecifelia,

“If I bathe with you, wouldn’t your future fiancé feel uncomfortable?”

I tried to present it as a general concern… but Cecifelia’s eyes widened, and she stepped closer, her tone turning darker.

“I’m not interested in any man other than you, Luke.”

“…Huh?”

I was a little confused by the sudden change in her mood.

I had no idea why Cecifelia’s attitude had shifted so suddenly, but as she drew closer and met my eyes, she said,

“I’ve had several marriage proposals before, but they were all after my family status, abilities, or looks. Every single one of them was someone I wasn’t interested in, so I rejected them… But with you, Luke, I feel something completely different from any of those men.”

Cecifelia placed both her hands on my face, looking straight into my eyes as she continued.

“At first, I thought it was because you’re a slave… but I’ve met other noble slaves before, and none of them made me feel like this. Of course, none of the noblemen did either. Your beautiful, strong-willed red eyes, the unique atmosphere you carry… Do you understand? I can only see you, Luke. So, don’t say something weird like imagining me with another man, okay?”

There was an intensity in Cecifelia’s words that made it hard to even breathe for a moment.

Claire Cecifelia… I still couldn’t fully grasp her depth.

But for now, I nodded slowly at her words, and Cecifelia removed her hands from my face, smiling brightly.

“Okay then! So let’s take a bath together!”

“…!”

Oh right, that’s what we had been talking about just now…!

Since logic wasn’t working, appealing to her emotions was my only option.

“W-Wait! That is… taking a bath together is just like sleeping together, isn’t it…?”

“I understand that it’s embarrassing for a sixteen-year-old boy like you, Luke. But this isn’t just something that benefits me; it’s also something that benefits you.”

…Benefits me?

If, for example, it meant I could access a place that only a duchess’s authority could allow, then perhaps… for the sake of the Kingdom of Sandrotheim, it might not be so bad to take a bath with Cecifelia…

“If you take a bath with me, I’ll let you see as much of my these as you want!”

“…!?”

W-What is she saying!?

“Even though you’re a slave, you’re still a boy, right? You must be interested in breasts. Mine are pretty big and well-shaped—”

I mean, I am a guy.

If asked whether I’m interested, I’d have to admit I am… but—

—I’m not interested in the body of a woman from an enemy country!!

Telling myself that, I raised my voice and said,

“I’ll bathe later, so please go ahead and bathe by yourself, Miss Cecifelia!”

With that, I bolted out of the dressing room.

“Wait! If just looking isn’t enough, you can touch them too—”

Ignoring Cecifelia’s nonsensical words, I rushed out and closed the double doors behind me.

I felt heat rising in my face—

“No, no! It’s because I ran!”

There’s no way it’s because I was imagining something inappropriate!

“…Tsk.”

She’s seriously throwing me off balance… If I stay here much longer, who knows what will happen to me.

…Tonight.

Tonight, while Cecifelia is asleep, I’ll sneak into the library and find any confidential information or weaknesses about this country. Once I have that, I’ll return to my kingdom immediately.