The hallway felt strangely long as we walked. "This is the dining hall," I said, gesturing toward the heavy oak doors. "Generally, one of the servants will come to fetch you when it is time for a meal, so you do not have to worry about memorizing the way just yet."
"...Yes," Primeria ¹ whispered.
I was currently leading a tour for the girl who had, only moments ago, become my stepsister. To me, she was more than just family; she was my absolute favorite character from my past life. Normally, such a mundane task as showing a guest around would be left to a maid or a footman. But I would not yield! This was precious bonding time with my idol. Anyone who dared to interrupt could go and be kicked by a Unicorn ² for all I cared.
Or so I had thought.
"This is the grand bath," I explained, my voice echoing slightly against the stone tiles. "Whenever you wish to use it, simply inform a servant. They will explain the particulars of how everything works then."
"...Yes," she replied.
It was a dismal affair. Ever since that accidental touch on her right hand earlier, she had refused to meet my gaze. Had she been avoiding my eyes even before that? I couldn't quite remember.
A cold realization washed over me, chilling like a drafty window. Was my very face considered a form of harassment? I had succeeded in my diet, feeling quite proud of my 'miraculous transformation,' but perhaps my inner creep was still leaking out through my pores. I felt my spirits sink into my boots.
The tour eventually came to a stuttering end. I realized with a jolt of despair that I hadn't heard a single word from her other than that repetitive, soft "...Yes." If this continued, my mental state would be blown into tiny pieces, much like a kapok pod hitting the ground. Spotting Laps nearby, I decided to retreat to my office and leave the rest of the guiding to the servant.
"I shall be in my office until dinner," I said, trying to sound encouraging. "If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to call for me."
Primeria gave a small, silent nod.
I didn't even get a vocal response that time. Her movements were undeniably adorable, but I couldn't bring myself to squeal with delight. Instead, I just felt more depressed. I watched her walk away, following behind Laps, and gave a lonely wave to her retreating back.
The layout of the Duke house ³ was practical but sprawling. The busy offices were located on the first floor, while the private quarters were kept up on the third. For someone who remembered living in a tiny four-room apartment in a previous life, the sheer scale of the mansion was terribly inconvenient.
Just before disappearing up the stairs, Primeria glanced back. Her eyes met mine for a split second before she darted away, scurrying upward like a frightened rabbit.
"Sigh... I can't believe she hates me already, right from the first meeting," I muttered.
"Are you truly being serious, Master?" a voice asked.
I turned to find Heliotrope ⁴ standing there, her face a mask of exasperation. She looked quite beautiful even when she was judging me, which only made me feel worse about my own supposedly 'harassing' face.
"It seems you aren't joking after all," Heliotrope said with a sigh. "If you fail to understand the heart of a woman, you shall surely be stabbed one day. Probably several times."
"Wh-what?" I stammered.
The heart of a woman? That was a foreign land to me. I had spent my entire previous life and this current one without a girlfriend; my streak was perfectly intact.
I remembered a time in my past life when a classmate told me a girl liked me. I had started to feel quite self-conscious, only for the classmate to laugh and say, 'Did you actually believe that? How pathetic.' It was the lie that was pathetic!
And now Heliotrope was predicting I would be stabbed? Multiple times? It was terrifying.
* * *
Back in my office, I threw myself into my work. I signed documents with a ferocity that bordered on madness. If I focused on the paperwork, I could forget the sting of rejection. It wasn't exactly the behavior of a typical twelve-year-old, but I didn't care.
I felt as though I were driving myself into a state of black-hearted labor, but I pushed on. I read through the reports regarding the orphanage. Things were proceeding smoothly. I hadn't visited in a while, so I made a mental note to inspect it soon. The urban planning for the town streets was lagging a bit, but it was within an acceptable margin. Food prices, however, remained stubbornly high. I would need to look into agricultural stimulation policies soon.
Read, sign. Read, sign.
Suddenly, I stopped. Who on earth had submitted this budget? It was blatantly transparent and riddled with suspicious figures. I felt a surge of genuine anger.
"Master, your face has taken on the likeness of an Ogre ⁵," Heliotrope remarked. "Even a love of three years would turn cold at such a sight."
"Right, my apologies," I said, quickly adjusting my expression.
An Ogre was a muscle-bound, monstrous creature. I certainly couldn't let Primeria see me looking like a beastly nightmare. Smile, I told myself. Keep smiling.
I wondered briefly if Heliotrope had made a mistake. Surely the saying was 'even a love of a thousand years,' not three? Even the sharp-witted Heliotrope had her slips, it seemed.
I summoned the official responsible for the sloppy paperwork and interrogated him with a bright, refreshing smile. The man's face turned quite pale, but I was certain it had nothing to do with my cheerful expression.
Summary:
The protagonist attempts to bond with his new stepsister, Primeria, by giving her a tour of the mansion. However, the tour is awkward as Primeria remains silent and avoids eye contact. Feeling rejected, the protagonist retreats to his office to bury himself in administrative work. Heliotrope teases him about his lack of insight into women and warns him of his frightening facial expressions. The chapter ends with the protagonist dealing with a corrupt official while trying to maintain a 'princely' smile.
Character Insight:
The protagonist's internal struggle reveals a deep-seated insecurity stemming from his previous life's social failures. Despite his physical transformation and newfound noble status, he still perceives himself through the lens of a 'creepy otaku,' leading him to misinterpret Primeria's shyness as hatred. Heliotrope acts as a grounding force, though her cryptic warnings about 'women's hearts' only add to his confusion. Primeria's brief glance back suggests her feelings are more complex than the protagonist realizes.
Behind the Scene:
The protagonist's internal monologue references 'Kyama-wawa,' a slang term for 'cute,' showing his lingering modern Japanese sensibilities. The mention of 'kapok' refers to the fragile seed pods of the silk-cotton tree.
T/L:
1 ↩ Primeria: The protagonist's favorite character from a fictional work in his past life.
2 ↩ Unicorn: In this world, they are likely actual magical creatures capable of delivering a dangerous kick.
3 ↩ Duke house: A high-ranking noble residence, usually implying vast wealth and complex layouts.
4 ↩ Heliotrope: A character named after a flower, often associated with devotion in floral language.
5 ↩ Ogre: A common fantasy monster known for its grotesque and terrifying appearance.
Notes:
• Primeria - A main heroine of 'Sword, Magic, and the Cadenas'. Currently the illegitimate child of a Viscount family with high magical power and beauty. Tprotagonist's new stepsister, an eleven-year-old girl described as incredibly beautiful and fragile. She has shoulder-length, soft pink hair and porcelain-white skin.
• Laps - A petite maid serving the Duke's house and an alumna of the orphanage Kraut is sponsoring. She has a cute, protective charm with short brown bob hair.
• Heliotrope - Kraut's exclusive maid, fifteen years old (six years older than Kraut). She has long black hair reaching her waist and a cool, beautiful face. She is a 'slave battle maid' who was formerly a noble lady from a fallen northern country. She wears a Victorian-style long-dress maid outfit.