NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19.1
Stage 1-19. Crossdressing Aristocratic Lady
Mmnn!
What a truly refreshing morning.
“I’ve brought your drink.”
“Ah, just leave it there.”
About half a month has passed since the orphanage incident.
Mio and the others successfully relocated to the Vellet territory, and Aliban flew off happily to another district.
Molina, the head maid who serves as both my tutor and reporter, is an old woman who isn’t shy about voicing her opinions to me, the son of the lord.
By now, the children are surely sitting at their desks, unable to complain.
In fact, I had just received a letter from Molina, who wrote, “The moment they stepped into the house, the children started crying.”
I’m sure they were overcome with sadness after seeing the interior of the house.
After all, I had a large room made to resemble a classroom from my previous life, and placed study desks in pairs in the individual rooms.
I prepared a special setup by hurriedly renovating a small mansion that we no longer used, all for their sake.
I’ve also ordered Molina to strictly train them so they’ll be useful in the future.
They’ll never return to their old way of life again.
And… apparently, Mio has been begging to build a small chapel.
Heh, I see.
She must want to confess her responsibility for the children’s futures.
How amusing, truly.
I’ll be keen to see if there’s a god out there who will reach out to her.
Not just Mio, but the children too—I’ll make them all happy.
If someone like that exists, I’d love to meet them.
“Alice, please send this with the noon post.”
“Understood.”
I hand the sealed envelope, with a response penned inside, to Alice.
“Well, it’s about time to head to school.”
I down the coffee Alice made—black, of course, and bitter—before slipping on my academy-designated uniform and leaving the dormitory.
“Oh! Good morning, Ouga-kun! Alice-san!”
Mashiro waves and rushes over as she waits at the entrance.
Mm, such a delightful sway today as well.
That alone lightens my steps toward the classroom.
“Ah, good morning.”
“Good morning, Riche-dono.”
“You’ve tied your hair up today.”
“Yep! There’s gym today, and it’s starting to get hot!”
Mashiro flicks her small tail, which is sticking up.
Her nape, usually hidden, peeks out—very good for one’s health.
There’s definitely a nutrient that can only be absorbed from her.
“Hey, that’s…”
“Is the rumor true…?”
As we walk along the path to the school building, glances occasionally dart our way.
They whisper in low voices, so I can’t catch all the details, but it’s probably about the events of the Inivent.
Imprisoning the poor, fragile children of a rural town within my territory and forcing them through hellish days to create warriors for labor.
I’m truly the most wicked lord.
But it’s an unavoidable sacrifice for the sake of my leisurely future.
Relying on someone like me was their bad luck.
“The rumors are really spreading, huh?”
“Let them say what they want. I’ll keep doing what I believe I should.”
“Haha, that’s so like you, Ouga-kun.”
Mashiro, who’s always by my side, doesn’t seem particularly bothered either.
Given her status as a commoner, she doesn’t have many other acquaintances.
She must understand that it’s better to stay close to me, even if she hears the rumors.
She’s sharp, having made it into the magic academy after all.
“Speaking of, magic practice starts today.”
“Yeah. Mashiro, just like we talked about the other day.”
“Yep, I know. I won’t use compound magic, and I’ll hold back on the power.”
That kind of magic is too strong to show off publicly.
Once people see Mashiro’s magic, there will definitely be those who want her.
That would be troublesome. These breasts aren’t for anyone else.
“That’s good. Make sure not to stand out.”
“Okay! I’ll be careful!”
“Don’t worry about your grades either. I’ll take care of you for life.”
If she’s joining my harem, it’s only natural to support her.
Taking care of them is a responsibility that comes with building a harem.
By that time, I’ll have a system in place where money just flows in without me having to work, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
“…I think catching me off guard like that is a bit unfair.”
“What do you mean?”
“N-nothing, really~?”