Unforeseen circumstances are the norm for a corporate slave, so there’s nothing to be surprised about.
After all, it’s standard for things to happen.
In this case, it was that Nord-kun didn’t send a reply letter.
Normally, the sender would find it suspicious that there was no reply and check on it.
“Nord-kun, that’s bad. Terribly bad.”
I’ve experienced something similar in my previous company.
It wasn’t that I forgot to reply by email to the sender, but rather a near-disaster where the predecessor had received the purchase order and hadn’t touched it at all.
Well, for now, that’s enough about that.
It’s in the past, and I should focus on the present.
“Haa, for now, I think it’s best to postpone Nord-kun’s handling and focus on attending to our guest.”
“I’m sorry. I should have been entertaining you properly, but Nord, I will thoroughly question you about this matter later.”
It’s definitely not good to do nothing when the son of a famous noble family is visiting.
As a family member, I can tolerate some slack, but the other party is not family.
Kaden-san, who had been smiling until just now, glared at Nord-kun with the sharp gaze befitting a patriarch, then slowly turned away.
He was probably going to meet Mr. Mura, who had been shown to the reception room.
What remained were Ms. Eve with a troubled expression, Evia enduring a headache, and Nord-kun, who was trembling.
Well, with this flow, it would be possible to start small talk and deepen our relationship, but…
“Evia.”
“What?”
“Is it possible to meet our guest, Lord Mura?”
“Are you serious!? Gaha!?”
I’m curious about the son of the Mura family, whom I’ve only heard rumors about.
No, Evia, I’m perfectly normal.
I’m not into men, nor am I bisexual.
In terms of romance, I’m definitely attracted to women.
I’ll state clearly that men are not on my radar.
Nord-kun, who doubted my sanity at my statement, was sent flying, and Evia, who sent him flying, looked into my eyes as if trying to read my thoughts.
“No, from what I’ve heard, aside from his peculiar tastes, he’s a capable and kind nobleman, right? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to establish a connection here.”
“Well, it’s not bad, but…”
As a newly appointed general, I need to expand my influence even a little.
“More importantly, I have a feeling it will help Nord-kun reform. It’s just a hunch.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll make arrangements.”
“You decide so quickly!? Wait! Wait, Elder Sister!!”
“If you say that, I’m all the more eager to meet him.”
Above all, I thought that if I used someone who had such a sense of crisis, it might help Nord-kun reform.
Ideally, placing someone one is uncomfortable with in the same workplace is not good for the work environment.
However, by imposing the condition that they not be in the same workplace, they can naturally be motivated to stay in their current job.
Simply put, it’s like having a sheepdog chase sheep.
The sheep try to escape to a safe place because there’s a barking dog behind them.
This is created by the work environment.
In exchange for keeping Mr. Mura away from their workplace, they are told to work.
While Nord-kun clasped his cheeks in panic, Evia, sensing that I had something in mind, called over a nearby butler and whispered a few words.
“Understood.”
“Please do.”
The butler bowed and left.
“You should be able to meet him soon.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
“You two are close, aren’t you?”
“I want to feel reassured that there’s a man who can get along with my elder sister, but considering what’s to come, I can’t honestly be happy.”
Ms. Eve smiled cheerfully, feeling their closeness from such a trivial exchange, but on the other hand, Nord-kun saw that I was about to meet a man who was proposing to him.
He was probably worried sick.
“I won’t do anything that would harm you.”
“Really?”
“Though I’m new, you can think of me, a general, as a shield against your obstacles.”
“!” Thank you, Older Brother!!”
“You’re so easily swayed.”
“Really, where did I go wrong in raising you?”
Depending on the person I’m about to meet, I don’t think anything too strange will happen.
More than half of it is a hunch, but I know best that this hunch cannot be ignored.
“Young lady, the family head is calling for you.”
“Is that so, Jiro?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go to my room, then.”
“No, you must go too. If you run away, you’ll be disowned!”
“Yes.”
For now, Ms. Eve caught Nord-kun as he tried to escape, and we were guided by the butler to the reception room.
Evia walked beside me with her arms crossed, and Nord-kun followed behind, trembling.
“This way.”
When we arrived at a certain room, the butler knocked.
“Enter.”
Kaden-san’s voice came from inside.
Following his voice, the butler opened the door and ushered us in.
As I took a step forward, Evia matched me, taking a step forward as well.
I could tell Nord-kun was hesitating from the presence behind me, but he was urged to come in by the butler and reluctantly entered.
I felt a wry smile in my heart, thinking he should just resolve himself now that he’d come this far, and looked around the room.
In contrast to Kaden-san’s attire, the elegant reception room was decorated with subdued furnishings.
I saw a person sitting opposite Kaden-san, who was seated in the seat of honor.
Hmm?
But when I saw his face, I almost tilted my head in confusion.
According to Evia, there were only effeminate men in the Mura family.
Yet, sitting before me was a golden-haired “woman” who could only be described as a great beauty.
What in the world is going on?
“Ah! Lord Nord!”
“Hiiiii!?”
Hey Nord-kun, even if you’re scared of the other party, screaming like that is a bit much.
The presumed guest of the Mura family, who turned to us upon our entrance.
Even seen from the front, Nord-kun screamed before the full smile of a being who appeared to be a magnificent woman, except for her disappointing chest.
I almost tilted my head again, wondering what he meant.
“Ah, let me introduce you, Jiro-kun. This is Mura Mura-dono. He is the second son of the Mura family and a prodigy who can serve as a company commander at this young age within the army.”
Kaden-san emphasized that he was a man.
The more I look at him, the more he looks like a woman…
His attire was also a dress.
It was coordinated in blue tones, and the color balance was perfectly set to highlight his golden hair.
A beauty to whom the word “chaste” would be fitting.
However, he is apparently a man.
“No, Your Majesty. Faced with someone who has risen to the rank of general, the first person in this country’s history, my status is nothing great.”
Although his tone was slightly husky, his gestures and voice were completely those of a woman.
If asked about his gender upon first meeting, even I would mistake him for a woman.
“It is an honor to meet you, Jin’ō-sama. I am Mura, the second son of the Mura family. I am truly honored to have this chance encounter today.”
“Ah, I am Jin’ō, Jiro Tanaka. I came only to pay a formal visit for the engagement, but Lord Kaden spoke highly of the Mura family, so I was eager to meet you.”
“That is an honor.”
His etiquette and manners also exuded femininity.
If I let my guard down, I could mistake him for a woman.
However, upon closer inspection, I could see that his gestures were calculated.
Actions designed to appeal to men, precisely because he is a man.
Can I say that he has an exquisite grasp of the line between seduction and not being vulgar?
His movements are calculated to not give the impression that he is studying men’s gazes.
I see, he is indeed a man.
“I see.”
“What is it that you understand?”
I uttered it unintentionally, having just come to a realization.
It’s natural for him to be curious when I suddenly nod in understanding.
“No, it’s just that I realized you are quite the hard worker. It has no deeper meaning.”
“Is that so?”
His gestures, which lean heavily towards femininity, are likely an expression of his desire to be liked by men.
It could be interpreted as the suffering of a homosexual.
If he simply dressed as a man and said he was homosexual, few men would approach him.
“By the way, may I ask, why are you dressed like that?”
“It’s my hobby.”
I thought to myself, but it seems I was overthinking it.
I’m not going to say that he should dress as a man if he’s a man, but when I asked why he was cross-dressing, he simply stated it was his hobby.
At Mura-kun’s words, my eyes widened, and then…
“I see, a hobby.”
Laughter bubbled up from me.
When told so boldly, I found it quite refreshing.
“Yes, it’s my hobby. As you can see, I’m beautiful, so I’ve tried various things to adorn myself, and this is what I’ve settled on. When I spend my time dressed like this, many gentlemen speak to me.”
“I’m sure they do. When I first saw you, I didn’t think you were a man.”
“It’s an honor that it even convinces a general like yourself. I’m delighted.”
Indeed, combined with his well-defined features, his appearance is striking.
If he were doing it unwillingly, there would be some shame, but he shows none of it.
His reaction to my words, interpreting it as a compliment to his appearance, doesn’t seem like an act.
More importantly.
“Ah, it’s remarkable. Even your movement to keep me at bay, understanding your own abilities, is impressive.”
“…”
He didn’t let me get close.
With his words and appearance, he’s made me feel his intentions, forcing me into his preferred attacking range.
He must know that such behavior towards someone who has attained the rank of general directly under the Demon Lord will not go unpunished.
That’s probably why he handled it with a smile and his appearance, so as not to be disrespectful.
“However, taking a step back, or rather, half a step back with your right foot, was not ideal. Is your weapon a whip, or perhaps a flail? It looks like a mid-range weapon.”
Well, it’s natural to be cautious when a general suddenly wants to meet you, I thought with a wry smile.
“As expected of someone who has risen to the rank of general, you’ve seen through my weapon too.”
And the fact that he showed a wry smile means my deduction was correct.
“Incidentally, the deciding factor was that you couldn’t hide your jealousy when Nord-kun hid behind my back.”
“For me to be so immodest.”
Well, when Nord-kun, who simply screamed, instinctively hid behind my back, I also caught a glimpse of his sharp gaze for a moment.
Mura-kun, who touched his cheeks bashfully, regretting his actions. His movements are so utterly feminine.
“Nord-kun, you hit on him when you met, didn’t you?”
“How did you know!?”
“In training with the army, a woman-like figure making such delicate gestures. All the conditions are met, aren’t they?”
And then, I vaguely grasped how they met, connecting Nord-kun’s infatuation with Mura-kun’s appearance.
“Yes! In training where only men can participate, Lord Nord praised me, saying I was beautiful and lovely! I still remember that day’s memory!”
While thinking that Mura-kun must have mistaken him for a woman by some mistake, it was with that misunderstanding that Mura-kun probably thought Nord-kun was a man who would accept him as a man.
Somehow.
“Nord-kun.”
Towards Nord-kun, who had courted Mura-kun, whose personality was somewhat heavy and to be frank, trembling.
“Guilty.”
I pronounced him guilty.
Today’s word:
It’s enough if you think they’re not bad kids.
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