Wow! The Queen was a way better actor than I had ever expected! She had the whole Shy Transfer Student role locked down!
She daintily accepted the offered seat and I swiftly moved to serve her the tea that the Master of Gentlemanly Arts recommended. With all the grace I had, I smoothly poured her a perfect cup as well as arranged an assortment of tasteful companion snacks alongside it. I had to be flawless. My pride allowed for no less!
"This tea!" I smiled when I got the reaction I wanted from her.
"I never expected that I would ever actually have the opportunity to serve tea native to Repard." I explained. It was the high-end tea I got from The Master when I asked for any blends that would be delightful for someone from Repard. "However, I was recommended to keep them and I am glad I did. It's almost like fate that you would come by just as I was going to try it."
"Fate?! You believe in fate?!" The Queen, or just 'Mylene' right now, squeaked out just as she was reaching for a biscuit.
I chuckled and reached out to place my hand on the one that she wasn't using to hold anything. "To an extent. I still put more stock in the belief that we make our own fates, but there are just some meetings where you have to wonder if a higher power had a hand in it."
"We are fated to meet like this…" Oh wow, she was really getting red.
"I would like to think so." I gave her hand a squeeze before withdrawing mine, her gaze lingering on the one that I held. "But please tell me more about yourself, Mylene. I have never met anyone from Repard and I relish the opportunity to know more about you."
The rest of the surprise Tea Party went at a far more relaxed pace after my Big Opener. Mylene became more candid at talking about her life in Repard. I supposed that she was telling me an edited version of her upbringing, obviously leaving out the events that led to her becoming the Queen of Holfort. The thing that started to alarm me as the Tea Party continued was how more casually she smiled, giggled, and touched my hand as we talked more and more. In a complete reversal of our earlier interaction, I was the one who was becoming more conscious of her! After I took a metaphorical step back and actually took in the woman I was speaking to, I couldn't help but realize one unequivocal truth.
Mylene Rapha Holfort was the Perfect Woman.
She was literally flawless in my personal opinion. The way her immaculate eyes crinkled when she laughed, how she would run her fingers through her sparkling hair when she was telling a story, the way her divinely sculpted body would move whenever she reached out to get something on the table. There was only a single impartial conclusion I could come up with after being witness to such a vision:
King Roland Rapha Holfort was the luckiest bastard on the planet!
No! Stop it Leon! She's literally Julius' mom! He trusted you to treat her with respect and dignity! You also promised Angie and Clarice not to try to seduce her! Resist! Resist!
Then she stood up, moved around the table, leaned over, and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you Sir Bartfort, for giving me the chance to live out such a wonderful dream." Crap! Was I falling in love with the one woman I really shouldn't?!
Julius, Angie, and Clarice must never know.
"Y-you too…" I stammered out. She blinked and giggled at me while going back to her seat.
"While this has been quite a joy, I would like to actually accomplish what I came here for in the first place." Ah, she was back to being the Queen. What a damn sham–I mean, that's great! Less complications for literally everyone involved!
"Of course, your majesty. This is about the things surrounding the duel at the end of the last term?" She nodded, her expression becoming more like what I expected a powerful Queen would have. "What would you like to know?"
The next hour was spent with me recounting the events from my perspective, as well as explaining my reasonings for my actions. Queen Mylene listened intently, her expression not betraying anything until I was done talking about my move to ask Duke Redgrave for assistance in the aftermath.
"It was wise of you to immediately seek out an ally." She commented with a nod. "Tell me, Sir Bartfort. Do you hold any contempt towards my son? You are allowed to speak plainly."
Ah, of course she would worry for Julius. "Not anymore. We managed to deal with most of our animosity in the duel itself. After we talked about the situation, we both pretty much have been able to move past it."
"You have been speaking with Julius?" The surprise in her voice was obvious. Huh, Julius never told her?
"Who do you think warned me about your visit?" I asked and saw her brow furrow in thought.
"Yeah, like I told them. The only reason why I hated his highness and Jilk at the time was because of how they treated their ex-fiancées." I continued and thought about my interactions with the guy after we cleared the air, as it were. "He has been a nice guy ever since and it would be stupid if I still held a grudge."
"I see. I'm relieved." God, she's beautiful when she smi–STOP IT! I closed my eyes and took a breath to get my focus back. "I've also spoken to Angie and Clarice. Thank you for helping them through that ordeal. I can tell that you have fully captured both of their hearts."
Oh wow, that made me feel like an asshole. Falling all over myself for another woman when I haven't even settled my feelings for two great girls. "Ah, well. I'm still working out how good of a man I can actually be for them. They seem oddly fine with me taking them both as my wives, but you can understand how intimidating that can be to any one man?"
"I can see that. However, please do not sell yourself short. Your friend Olivia had nothing but praise for you, Sir Bartfort." Ah, yes. The girl who was now more than just the main protagonist of the setting for me.
"Well, Livia is like the best friend I could have asked for."
With the serious stuff out of the way, our meeting had pretty much run its course. I did have one more thing that I wanted to ask her though. It was something my dad told me after I got my new rank.
"I just wanted to confirm, your majesty. Did the crown promote me to the rank of Viscount just so they can tax me more because I beat up Prince Julius?" Oh wow, she just up and stumbled on literally nothing. Good thing she didn't fall over.
"Of course not! That was a legitimate promotion for your achievements!" Queen Mylene exclaimed indignantly, though I did notice her having a bit of a hard time looking me in the eye as she spoke. At least it didn't seem like her intention.
"It was a pleasure to host you, your majesty." I said with another bow when I walked her to the door.
"Thank you for having me, Sir Bartfort." She responded magnanimously.
I coughed into my fist when I remembered something that I said earlier. "The offer I made before was serious, by the way."
"Angie told me how much work you take on. If you need a place to relax and take it easy, I'll be more than happy to host you again. Maybe even have Angie, Clarice, and Livia along for more company." I elaborated when she looked perplexed. Her eyes widened and she suddenly spun so all I could see was her back. Oh no, did I overstep?! Is she pissed off that a kid like me even considered–
"A continuation of my dream?" I blinked at the soft voice I heard from her. Ah, if that was what she specifically wanted.
"Well, I wouldn't mind having tea with 'Mylene' again." I answered and saw her shoulders hitch. She was quiet for a few moments and I had to strain my ears to hear something she was muttering.
"Ah…if only…a dream." I couldn't hear it all but she quickly turned back around and smiled at me. "I shall consider it. If you would excuse me, I wish to visit my son and speak to the girl he has risked so much for."
Queen Mylene then opened the door and walked out purposefully into the hallway, right in the direction where the Host Club was located. Uh-oh. Good luck Julius! Have fun Chibi-Usa!
I was cleaning up everything in the room when I heard someone knocking on the door. That was weird. Angie, Clarice, and Livia should still have been out and about the festival. Julius was probably being grilled by the Queen and the rest of the boys were likely still at the Host Club as well. It couldn't be Jenna because she never knocks. Was it Marie desperate for a place to hide? I walked up to the door and opened it to reveal a girl I had never seen before, one who had long dark blue hair with matching eyes.
"If you're looking for the Host Club with Prince Julius and his entourage, it's down the hall that way." I pointed in the direction of said attraction. I didn't know why she would be lost, there were literally signs for the place.
The mystery girl shook her head and spoke up. "I'm actually here hoping to speak with you, Viscount Bartfort."
"You have a name?" I asked, immediately on edge with the way she used my noble title to address me.
"Of course, Viscount." The girl formally bowed and introduced herself. "My name is Clara Fou Wayne. Our house is a poor Baronetcy and I come before you in a time of great need."
Well, the way she was talking raised all sorts of red flags. I gestured for her to enter the room and closed the door behind her. What sort of nonsense was waiting for me this time?
"Well, if you're planning on assassinating me, this would be the perfect time to do so." She actually looked panicked when I told her that. Hm, actually her name reminds me of something.
"I would never do that, Viscount Bartfort! Not to the only one who can give salvation to my family and our people!" Wow, she was being really dramatic over all this. It's been a while since I felt like people were talking the same way as the game.
I sighed and sat down on a chair and gestured for her to do the same. Of course, instead of doing something reasonable like that, Clara instead took a knee right in front of me. "Please Viscount Bartfort. I implore you to save us from a band of sky pirates that has been harassing our territory for over a year now."
Wayne. Sky Pirates. I immediately remembered the event. How could I not? It was the one that officially locked you to a love interest for the rest of the game. On top of that, it was the event that gave you the first of the three Saint relics.
The Saint's Necklace.
I narrowed my eyes as it was something that shouldn't have happened until our Second Year. It was used as a major turning point in the story to reveal the main protagonist's capacity to become the next Saint, as well as introducing the first Armor upgrade for the love interest you chose the route of.
"And you want me to get rid of those pirates for you?" I asked with a raised brow while crossing my legs. "For free?"
"Of course not! My father will reward you handsomely for your service!" I narrowed my eyes at the girl, who started to fidget. I couldn't remember everything about the game anymore, but I did remember that the only real thing you got from that event was the loot from the pirates and the necklace. No actual quest rewards were given out by anyone else.
"Your family has enough resources to give a Viscount a commensurate reward befitting their rank for helping your house, but you didn't think of just hiring Adventurers or Mercenaries to do it instead?" I tore through her reasoning. Nobility weren't guns for hire that others could just pick out for a job. Rank, reputation, and honor were the least that should have been considered before even approaching another house. It was why I was prepared to grovel at the feet of Angie's dad with a small fortune as capital.
On the other hand, a Baronet's daughter approaching a Viscount with nothing but words violated all sorts of protocols, both written and unwritten.
"M-my father…" She flinched when I scowled at her. It wasn't because of what she said. It was because of the temptation of getting a Saint Artifact early. Dammit!
"I'll do it." I ultimately decided.
"Huh?" Clara looked up at me like I just told her the secret of life's happiness.
I sighed and walked back to the door, opening it. "I'll make preparations to deal with the issue during the holiday after the School Festival. The details will be provided to you once I finalize everything."
"Th-thank you, Viscount Bartfort!" The girl quickly bowed and got out of the room. She was probably terrified that I would change my mind if she hung around any longer.
"What do you think, Control? Aside from this being one big trap?" I blinked when there was no response at all. "Control?"
Huh, they must still be out investigating what they told me about last time.
That was fine. I thought about the situation more and smiled to myself. "Well, Clara never said I had to do this alone."
I wondered how Julius and the boys would feel about bullying a bunch of Sky Pirates over the holiday?
…
Mylene Rapha Holfort laid on her bed alone that night. It was a situation she had become used to over the years, with her and her husband having separate rooms in different parts of the Palace. She thought back to the day she had and frowned at all the mixed feelings that it brought forth.
The girl, Marie. The one that Julius had bravely declared to dedicate his life to, even though he could not officially be with her. She had some wit and charisma about her. Not enough to survive court, but the potential was there for her to become more. That she also knew healing magic was a positive. She sighed when she remembered the words her son said about that small girl.
If only Roland showed even a fraction of that devotion.
She tossed and turned in her bed, the silence of the night providing little comfort for her. She felt herself smile a bit when she recalled Angie, Clarice, and Olivia. They were such good girls and were blessed to have someone like Leon with them. Two of them would likely be lucky enough to marry the boy–man–one day.
She lightly touched her lips and remembered that one impulsive action she did. The look on Leon's face was quite adorable and–Mylene shook her head. She had to stop thinking of him like that! He was Julius' age! She was married! He already had plenty of younger women vying for his attention! She–
She only had one thing. Mylene allowed herself one wistful smile as she closed her eyes.
She dreamt of being an ordinary girl who stumbled into true love one sunny day during the school festival.