This story is from Gordon’s perspective and includes a flashback scene in the latter half.
“Kent, thank you. But what was Josette’s behavior? I don’t understand it, and it’s bothering me.”
Gordon was grateful to Kent, who, despite the disrespect he would normally be restrained for in front of royalty, demonstrated an example to the residents without fear. He was also grateful to Josette for acting similarly, but a different emotion arose just as much.
“Now, this is my job.”
“Lord Gordon, please do your best.”
As Gordon’s motivation increased due to Kent’s actions, Catherine, standing beside him, sent a quiet cheer.
“Sniff, sniff. Ah, I smell Kent.”
“Lord Gordon, what are you making that lewd face for? You mustn’t show such a sloppy face in front of so many people. Pull yourself together.”
“Oh no, I was almost led to another world by Kent’s scent emanating from the uniform.”
Gordon was about to step forward and address the residents when he was drawn by Kent’s scent from the borrowed uniform, making his face appear sloppy and unacceptable in public. Catherine, noticing this, called out to Gordon in a voice unheard by the residents, pulling him back from his near departure to another world.
“Ah, I am Gordon, the 2nd Prince. I apologize for causing you worry and hardship due to this unexpected situation. Our kingdom is currently in a critical state. Normally, such a force could be repelled by our kingdom’s powerful army, but due to a comprehensive training exercise, many troops are deployed, leaving the castle’s defenses weakened. This is an unforgivable and cowardly attack that took advantage of our vulnerability. We have dispatched messengers to recall the units participating in the exercise, but unfortunately, it will take some time for them to return. If we can hold out until then, it will be our victory. Under the command of the Saintess, those defending the sanctuary have sworn to protect everyone’s lives, even at the cost of their own, including mine. While the safety of those remaining in the castle is a concern, our kingdom will not be defeated so easily. Until then, although it is a narrow sanctuary, let us wait for news of our victory in comfort.”
Gordon delivered his speech in simple terms, varying his tone and intonation to reassure the evacuated residents.
“Uoooh!”
“Lord Gordon!”
“Long live the Kingdom!”
When the speech ended, a loud cheer erupted from the residents, who raised their fists in response to Gordon’s address.
“Sigh, not even safety is guaranteed, and yet I am a great liar.”
After his speech, Gordon waved to the cheering residents before leaving the sanctuary and closing the door. He then hunched his back, let out a big sigh, and muttered.
“Lord Gordon, they say sighing like that makes your happiness escape.”
“I’ve never heard that before. Who said something like that?”
When Catherine, who was accompanying him, said this, Gordon became curious about who had uttered such an unfamiliar phrase and asked.
“Rachel.”
“I see. She does have a different way of thinking and acting than others.”
“You know her well.”
“Well, I thought so the first time I met Rachel. Yes, it was last spring.”
The topic of Rachel led Gordon to recount to Catherine the story of their first meeting.
It was during one lunch break in April of last year. Gordon was strolling alone in the academy’s courtyard.
“Sigh, I managed to escape alone.”
Gordon had just finished lunch at the school cafeteria, where he had been surrounded by many female students. Those surrounding him were daughters of influential nobles and famous merchant families in town. These women had gathered due to the school’s rule that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of noble status or commoner background, and their families’ policies to use this to their advantage to get closer to royalty or gain favors. Naturally, they were prepared to offer themselves, and if Gordon had spoken to them, a sexual relationship would have been easily attainable. Gordon’s older brother, Randolph, while enrolled in the academy and engaged, would quietly speak to women who approached him among those who flocked to him, and then engage in private encounters. However, Gordon, while maintaining a dignified facade as royalty, was actually uncomfortable around women and could not bring himself to speak to them and be alone like his brother. For these reasons, he maintained a certain distance when dealing with women who approached him.
“I wish I could eat without anyone bothering me and just enjoy my meal, but that’s not possible given my position.”
Gordon wanted to enjoy his meal alone or with only those he was familiar with, but he understood his circumstances and accepted it as unavoidable. This day, due to overly persistent approaches, he had excused himself with an excuse of having business and managed to slip away after lunch. He found himself sitting on a bench in a garden within the courtyard, where fewer people passed by, enjoying his time alone.
“Hmm? I feel like I’m being watched.”
As Gordon sat on the bench, enjoying his solitude, he suddenly felt as if someone was watching him.
“Where?”
Gordon cautiously surveyed his surroundings, trying to determine if the gaze was malicious or trying to curry favor, all without revealing that he had noticed.
“Found them! It’s that girl.”
Gordon identified the subject of the gaze. He spotted a female student peeking out from behind a pruned, low tree, watching him.
“She doesn’t seem to have any ill intentions, but I don’t want to get involved in any trouble, so it would be best to move from here.”
In such an isolated place, if something were to happen, he could not call for help. Therefore, Gordon decided to move to a place where people could see him. He stood up from the bench and started walking towards the school building.
“Ah! She’s leaving. This is my chance. I have to go according to the game’s events!”
“What… killing intent?”
Upon seeing Gordon stand up from the bench, the female student, who had been observing him, uttered incomprehensible words and directed a strong aura, similar to killing intent, towards him.
“This is bad! She’s a professional. If I don’t run, I’ll be killed.”
Without his guards, Gordon, who had no means to fight, would be defenseless against an assassin. Prioritizing his safety, he judged the female student to be an assassin and decided to flee.
“Uh, Okay. Bread stolen from my part-time job’s store is in my mouth. Alright, preparations complete. Oh no, I’m going to be late! Charge! Torryaa! Dosukoi!”
Noticing Gordon’s movement, the female student, for some reason, frantically stuffed bread into her mouth and then charged. Her speed was faster than expected, and she closed the distance rapidly. She then collided with Gordon’s back, and they tumbled down in a manner resembling an embrace.
“I was knocked over by her body-check.”
Gordon’s thoughts momentarily ceased due to the impact, but he understood that he had been knocked over by the female student’s charge.
*Funi funi*
“What is this soft sensation?”
Gordon’s palms were holding soft objects. The sensation was so pleasant that Gordon squeezed them repeatedly.
“Ah! Excuse me. I was in a hurry and wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you hurt?”
“No, it definitely looked like she charged at me deliberately, though?”
The female student was below, with Gordon lying on top of her. Normally, the person on top should be the one to express concern, but she spoke first with words of worry. Although the collision had many points to question, even with his discomfort around women, Gordon possessed enough chivalry to care for a fallen lady.
“I am all right. Are you unharmed? Did you hit your head?”
Given their current position, her head was touching the ground, and there was a possibility she had hit it hard when they fell. To confirm, Gordon asked, desperately trying to resist the woman’s sweet, distinctive scent, which made him feel faint.
“Yes. The bread I was holding in my mouth seems to have fallen and acted as a cushion when I tripped.”
“You’re in a mess.”
The female student pulled out the squashed bread from behind her head and replied that this had saved her.
“Waaah, I’m in a hurry, so I’ll be going now.”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
The female student slipped out from under Gordon, who was on top of her, and ran off.
“She seems to be a new student. Perhaps she didn’t know who I was?”
Gordon could only watch the back of the female student as she ran away from the sudden event. Wearing a brand-new uniform, he knew she was a freshman. Therefore, he concluded that she likely didn’t know the status of the person Gordon was.
“Oh?”
Gordon found a handkerchief on the ground where the female student had fallen.
“Is this her lost item? Ah, her name is written here. Rachel. What a nice name. Well, I suppose I’ll have to return this handkerchief when we meet again.”
Gordon put Rachel’s dropped handkerchief into his uniform pocket.
“Speaking of which, I wonder what that soft thing was? Well, it doesn’t matter. Rachel, I’ve remembered your name. Still, she was a strange girl. Well then, I should head back to my classroom too.”
Thus, Gordon and Rachel met, and the progression of their story began with him returning the handkerchief he had found.
“Hahaha. That’s just like Rachel! If a commoner had done something like that, they wouldn’t have gotten away with it unscathed. But she cleverly captured Lord Gordon’s thoughts and made a wonderful escape.”
“But now that I recall, I wonder what that soft sensation was from that time.”
Gordon, having told Catherine about their first meeting, found himself wondering about the soft touch he had experienced then.
“Rachel mentioned something about that. She said that when she first met Lord Gordon, he cupped her breasts.”
(!!!!!!!!!!)
“Lord Gordon, please stay calm! Staff! Staff!”
Upon learning the identity of the soft object from Catherine, Gordon began to tremble violently and collapsed. Noticing this, Catherine hastily called for the Holy Knights assigned as his guards.
I heard that despite the title mentioning “Otome game,” it was barely depicted in the story, so I’ve added just a small episode that seems fitting.
