The busy day came to an end. Just as I was thinking about getting some sleep, I heard a quiet knock on the door.
…Knock, knock…
Who could it be at this hour? Maybe Misha couldn’t sleep and came to visit?
Come to think of it, she used to come to my room a lot with her pillow when she couldn’t sleep or had a bad dream. She hasn’t done that lately, and I was starting to feel a bit lonely about it. Maybe tonight we can sleep together for the first time in a while.
That’s it! I’ll read her a story until she falls asleep, just like I used to!
With that thought, I went over and opened the door.
”Aye, just a sec,” Alfred called out, unlocking the door.
When he opened it, standing there was the head maid, Camilla.
”Huh! Camilla!?” Alfred gasped, his eyes wide. “What’s wrong? So late at night!?”
Caught off guard by an unexpected visitor, he quickly straightened his back.
Camilla gave a slow, formal bow before speaking.
”I apologize for the lateness of the hour, sir. I have something I wished to discuss with you, so I took the liberty of visiting.”
”Eh?” Alfred asked, scratching his head. “A talk… at this hour?”
”Yes, sir,” Camilla replied softly. “Might you have a moment?”
”Aye, I don’t mind,” Alfred said, leaning against the doorframe, “but does it have to be now?”
”Yes, sir,” Camilla insisted. “It is not a matter I can let others overhear.”
Camilla was doing her best to keep a cool face, but a closer look showed her jaw was tight with worry.
”Alright,” Alfred said, stepping back. “So, what is it?”
”That is… well, here is not quite..,” Camilla hesitated, turning her eyes away as if holding back her words.
”Um, then,” Alfred offered, “would you like to come inside?”
”Yes, sir,” Camilla said, bowing again. “Pardon my intrusion.”
With that, Camilla stepped into his room.
Wait wait wait, is it really okay to let a woman into my room at this hour? No, this is definitely a bad idea, right? This is completely no good, right?
And on top of that, if anyone finds out I brought such a beauty into my room, I’ve no idea what they might say. What do I do…
While Alfred was inwardly panicking, Camilla looked around the room without a clear focus. Then she gave a firm nod, as if she had made up her mind.
”May I sit, sir?” Camilla asked, gesturing to the chair.
”Oh, aye!” Alfred blurted out, waving his hand. “Sorry, I didn’t notice. Please, have a seat.”
He offered Camilla the only chair in the room and sat down on the bed himself.
”So, what’s this about?” Alfred asked, leaning forward.
Camilla held back for a moment at his question, then raised her head and met his gaze squarely.
”I have come to give you instruction in the ways of the flesh, Lord Alfred.”
”Pardon?” Alfred stammered, staring blankly at her.
”As I said, sir, I have come to give you instruction in the ways of the flesh, Lord Alfred.”
At those unexpected words, Alfred’s mind went blank and stopped working.
”Uh… um, th-that is..,” Alfred stumbled over his words.
Wait wait wait, what! What is this situation!!
Alfred had memories from his past life, so he knew about that sort of thing too. But sadly, he had no real experience, even in his previous life.
Seeing Alfred start to panic, Camilla continued.
”This afternoon, I held a meeting with your father, Lord Jade. There, he requested that I give you instruction in the ways of the flesh.”
So that’s what it was about when she was called to see Father during the day…
”Originally,” Camilla explained smoothly, “it seems Lord Jade planned to find a suitable person and assign them to you around the time you came of age, Lord Alfred. However, it is not a matter where anyone will do. In the world of nobility, if one carelessly lays hands on a common woman, she may later cause a stir by claiming to be with child, leading to troublesome complications-so it is standard practice to avoid that. Thus, in most cases, the one who provides instruction is a widowed or divorced noblewoman with experience in such matters. However, although Lord Jade apparently made inquiries in various quarters, with all due respect, this village has few people, and there was no suitable candidate…”
”And in that sense,” Alfred cut in, “there wouldn’t be one in neighboring Flour Village either, I reckon.”
”Correct, sir,” Camilla replied. “And Lord Jade apparently had no connections in the domain capital of Granliger either, so while the search for a suitable person was stalling, he suffered a serious injury and could no longer move as he wished…”
”And that’s where you came in, Camilla?” Alfred asked, blinking.
”Yes, sir, that is correct,” Camilla answered politely. “Though my family has fallen, my noble status formally remains on the books, after all. Lord Jade appears to have grown anxious watching you, Lord Alfred, become the head of the household before receiving instruction in the ways of the flesh and then suddenly start making such grand achievements. When one becomes head of a household at a young age, one immediately attracts interest among the nobility and becomes a target for scheming. Those who think you will be easy to handle will soon try to entrap you. The quickest method is to bring an attractive woman close to you. It is simple, but it is a method that has been used for a long time, and it remains highly effective.”
”I see,” Alfred mused, rubbing his chin. “Everything said in pillow talk ends up bein’ leaked to the other side… huh…”
”Yes, sir,” Camilla agreed. “And if the man in question is a young man with no experience, it is plain to see that he would be easily caught.”
”But I can’t imagine what use there’d be in catchin’ a baron from the middle of nowhere..,” Alfred muttered, shaking his head.
”What are you saying, Lord Alfred?” Camilla countered, leaning forward slightly. “The moment you became head of the household, you invented Reversi and Chess, became close with Margrave Rommel, took under your wing Flora-sama, who is even called the fairy of noble society, and in the blink of an eye you have developed this village this far. I am certain there are already several nobles with keen eyes making moves.”
Flora’s the fairy of noble society, huh…
”When you put it that way,” Alfred admitted, shivering slightly, “it’s kind of scary.”
”That is precisely why, to ensure that does not happen-to give you strength against women-instruction in the ways of the flesh is of great importance, sir.”
”Haaah, I think I get it, more or less,” Alfred sighed, scratching his neck. “But are you okay with this, Camilla? I mean…”
Camilla seemed to understand what he was trying to say, and her face softened.
”Yes, sir,” Camilla replied with a gentle smile. “I have no issue with it at all. In fact, I would be delighted to be of service to you, Lord Alfred. When Lord Jade brought up this matter with me during the day, I found I could accept it with no hesitation or discomfort, strangely enough. If anything, I am the one who feels apologetic that your partner is an older woman like myself.”
”N-no!” Alfred burst out, waving his hands in a panic. “Don’t say that! I mean, you’re very beautiful and lovely, Camilla, and your smile is wonderful… and, um, your shape is really great too…”
It was true. Camilla was slender but had soft curves in all the right places. While her face was usually sharp and calm, the smile she rarely showed would make anyone’s heart skip a beat.
”Hehehe,” Camilla giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “Flattery will get you nowhere, sir. I know myself best, after all.”
”No, no, no!?” Alfred insisted, his face turning red. “It’s true that you’re gorgeous and a grand woman, Camilla!! And as proof, even now me heart won’t stop poundin’ in this situation!!”
”Hehehe,” Camilla chuckled softly, bowing her head. “I am deeply honored to have you say so much, Lord Alfred. Thank you, sir. Then, shall I proceed with your instruction as we are?”
”Y-yes!” Alfred squeaked out, nodding fast. “Please do!”
At that reply, Camilla slowly rose to her feet.
Trivia:
- Alfred’s concern about letting a woman into his room at night reveals he still views himself through modern Japanese sensibilities rather than the standards of this noble society, where such arrangements are expected.
- The political vulnerability Camilla describes means Alfred’s rapid success has made him a target, and his naivety about court politics is more dangerous than his lack of sexual experience.
- Despite her formal dismissal of his compliments, Camilla’s “hehehe” laugh and reassurance about being honored suggest she is genuinely pleased by Alfred’s flustered admiration.