A Pre-wedding Trip in the Name of a Field Investigation 3
The next day, the Hadren Earl's villa we arrived at in the
evening was a classical stone building.
Its profound atmosphere was reminiscent of an era when it was called
the linchpin of the border. Passing through the arched stone gate, a
well-tended rose garden spread out before us. The path leading to the mansion
also had several arches, though smaller than the one at the entrance, and with
green ivy entwining them and red, yellow, and pink roses blooming in full
glory, it looked like an old castle from a storybook.
Blake-sama, who I was completely sure was
going to travel with us, had apparently returned home a step ahead.
He said it was to inform his parents at the main residence that we were
coming, and to prepare various things for our stay at the villa.
When we got off the carriage in front of the villa, the servant waiting
at the entrance went inside the building, and soon a red-haired young man came
out.
The green eyes peeking out from between his unruly, wavy hair were
round and cute. Looking like a puppy, despite his adorable appearance, he
placed a hand on his chest and bowed with a calm voice and gentle demeanor.
「Ashren-sama, it has been a long time. My older
brother is in your care at the castle. Also, Layla-san, it is a pleasure
to meet you. My name is Blake Hadren. Please call me Blake.」
「It is my brother who is in your care. He is probably forcing
unreasonable demands on him every day anyway.」
「I am Layla Wilbas. Thank you for accepting despite the sudden
request.」
「Originally, my father and mother should have also come to the villa,
but Claude-sama told them it would be fine if just I was here, so my
parents are at the main residence. It is about a half-day carriage ride from
here.」
「We are here this time as part of a field investigation for the
Pharmacology Laboratory. Your cooperation, Blake, is more than enough.」
After exchanging brief greetings and leaving our luggage with the
maids, we were guided to the dining room where our meal was prepared.
The slightly antique design of the chandelier and the stained glass set
into the windows suited the atmosphere of the villa very well. There was also a
large fireplace on the wall, and just as I was wondering about it since I heard
it was a warm climate, he told us that it gets surprisingly cold in the winter.
The Hadren territory is a place rich in nature, and the dishes
used fish caught in the river and deer meat hunted in the forest. The
vegetables were sourced directly from neighboring farmers, and dessert was a
cake topped generously with sauce made from wild strawberries picked in the
mountains.
Blake-san is two years younger than us, but he
is unafraid, full of curiosity, and rich in topics of conversation. His eyes
sparkled as he talked about how he is working on developing special products
and technological innovation to make the frontier land of the Hadren
territory more prosperous.
He is a very fine young man, and above all, a gentleman who asked me,
"I was told by Claude-sama to prepare a room for you to share, but
you can also stay in separate rooms. What would you like to do?" Of
course, I told him separate rooms.
And yet.
「...Why are you in my room, Ashren-sama?」
「We arrived safely at our destination, so I just thought we could take
our time and talk for the first time in a while. I brought black tea and
cookies for a late-night snack, so it should be fine to come in, right?」
Saying so, he slipped past me and placed the tray he was holding onto
the low table in the middle of the room. Next to the black tea were two small
bottles.
*** (Ashren's Perspective)
Pretending not to notice Layla's bewilderment, I lined up the
black tea on the table and sat down, and she nervously took a seat next to me.
There was a sofa on the opposite side, but perhaps because sitting next
to me has completely become her regular spot, the option to sit there didn't
seem to enter her mind. It's inevitable that there's a bit more distance
between us than usual. We usually relaxed in the living room or my office, but
here, there is also a canopy bed.
Inside the transparent small bottles placed with the black tea was the
sap of the Kachi tree. Layla's gaze was poured onto that single point,
and her copper-red eyes began to sparkle. It seems she is interested in all
plants, not just medicinal herbs. Though, any plant has the potential to become
medicine.
「Ashren-sama, is it alright if I eat this sap
just by itself?」
「I thought you would say that. I don't mind. It's apparently delicious
eaten on top of cookies, too.」
When I said that, she eagerly took the small bottle in her hand and
held it up as if to let the light shine through it. A little lighter in color
than the amber of honey, it swayed thickly inside the small bottle.
Was it the fatigue from the long journey that awakened my mischievous
spirit?
I took the small bottle from Layla's hand, opened the lid,
scooped some with a spoon, and dropped it into her black tea. I poured the next
spoonful onto a cookie, and the last scoop I brought to Layla's mouth.
Layla's eyes, which had been blankly looking
at the spoon, gradually opened wide, and at the same time, her cheeks turned
red.
「I-I can eat it by myself.」
「I could scoop it up with my finger instead if you prefer?」
When I said that, I was glared at fiercely. I know; that's why I
endured and used a spoon. When I poked her lips with the tip of the spoon
saying, "Here," they opened slightly as if prompted.
I somewhat forcefully pried her mouth open, put the spoon inside,
turned it over, and dropped the Kachi sap onto her tongue. Sensing her tongue
moving inside her mouth, eventually there was a small gulp sound.
「Is it delicious?」
「...Yes. It has a clean sweetness, and I might like it more than honey.
It's a shame we can't eat this in the royal capital.」
「If it is that delicious, won't you feed me a cookie too?」
「...Pardon?」
I pulled the waist of Layla, who was blushing and hurriedly
trying to put some distance between us, toward me, and held the plate with the
cookies with my other hand.
「You can eat them, right?」
「Unfortunately, both my hands are occupied.」
「I feel your use of 'unfortunately' is strange, though.」
When I smiled sweetly, Layla gave an "Ugh," pouted her
lips, and made a thoughtful face. She's as shy as ever, and I know she's weak
to being pushed. Whenever I press her, Layla will eventually grant my
requests, even while looking troubled.
Though, I do get scolded if I get too carried away.
I was wondering what would happen this time, when she nervously reached
her hand toward the cookies and picked one up. It seems it was within Layla's
permissible range. It was worth spending months gradually expanding that
permissible range.
「Here.」
As I brought my face close to the hand she offered with an unwilling
expression, was it my nature that made me want to trouble her more, or was it
because of the sap glistening on Layla's fingertips? Opening my mouth
with a chomp, I took both the cookie and Layla's fingertips into
my mouth, simultaneously placing the plate I was holding onto the desk.
Grabbing the wrist of Layla, who was trying to escape, with my
freed hand, I licked the sap off her fingertips, and Layla turned so
bright red I thought she might collapse.
While putting strength into the hand wrapped around her waist, I
swallowed the cookie, and Layla's eyes teared up with embarrassment as
if she had reached her limit.
Looked up at by tearful copper-red eyes with bright red cheeks, a
shiver ran down my spine. Sweat oozed damply on my palms, and I naturally
gulped.
"That face has the opposite effect," I thought, and as I was
about to pull the hand on her waist even closer, I stopped myself, thinking
that anything more would truly be bad. I think I am the number one gentleman in
this country. Someone praise me.
When I opened my mouth, she quickly pulled her fingers out, and the
eyes glaring at me were cute in a different sense than before. I don't think I
am a brat who bullies the girl he likes, but since it makes me want to tease
her, it can't be helped.
「A-Ashren-sama!」
「It was so good, I just... you know.」
「Just what!?」
Layla, trembling with anger and embarrassment
with a buruburu, was so innocent that, unable to bear it, I dropped a
kiss on her lips, and it tasted exactly like the sap she had just eaten.
As I deepened the kiss even further, Layla pulled on the hem of
my jacket. I suppose this means anything more is impossible. Thinking it a
shame, I pulled my lips away, and for some reason, the anger had vanished from Layla's
face.
Was she relieved because I stopped? Or did it mean she was surprised,
but didn't dislike it?
If it's the latter... just as I thought that, Layla picked up
the small bottle again.
「U-Um. I was thinking, if we make a preservative, couldn't we transport
this sap to the royal capital? The road leading to the royal capital was paved,
and if merchants pass through often, it's possible to ask them to transport it
to the royal capital, right? A-Also, if we can make a preservative, we can
extend the expiration dates of medicines too. Lucas-sama, ah, the person
I asked to test the hair growth medicine, also said it would be better if it
lasted longer...」
「Alright, alright, I get it, so calm down. I won't do anything else.」
When I leaked a wry smile at Layla, who clearly became talkative
to change the atmosphere of the place, she pouted her lips and complained.
「I can't restrain myself when you make that face, so please stop.」
「I-I have no such intention!!」
Ignoring her reproach, I handed her the black tea, and after taking a
sip, she finally exhaled as if she had calmed down. I also dropped some brandy
into my black tea and took a sip. Yeah, good alcohol.
「You are teasing me, aren't you.」
「You are the one who said it, Layla, that you wanted to try doing
things lovers do. As your fiancé, I am merely sincerely responding to that
request.」
「...You think everything is forgiven if you bring up those words, don't
you.」
「Did you dislike it?」
「...I didn't dislike it, but...」
I almost accidentally dropped the cup I was holding.
To my uncharacteristically muttered "Eh?", Layla
looked away with a red face. This is... just as I thought that, her
passionate speech about how to develop a preservative began again.
Yeah, I get it. This means 'do not step in any further.'
I know when to pull back too. However, I have no intention of letting
go of the hand wrapped around her waist, and when I put strength into it, Layla
glanced at me and then ate a cookie looking embarrassed. I'm probably forgiven.
In that case, I'll stop here for tonight and let the talk about preservatives
bloom.
There is absolutely no sex appeal, but that's very Layla-like,
and anything more would be bad for me too. Now then, what kind of ideas will
she surprise me with tonight? Next to me, unable to suppress my relaxing mouth,
Layla began to talk with sparkling eyes.
A face blushing bright red with shyness is good too, but I am sure I like that sparkling face the most.
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