By Zephyria How can I seduce my wife?
To my serious and grave concern, my one and only aide and long-time friend, Gilbert Kruger, said this.
“No, now? You should have finished all that before you got married. Didn’t you leave work yesterday with a bouquet this big?”
“That was… that was because it was Tuesday.”
“Tuesday?”
“Yes. The Young Lady had asked me to give her flowers on Tuesdays and Fridays.”
At my answer, astonishment spread across Gilbert’s usually placid face. I couldn’t point out that the document in his hand was crunching loudly as I watched. Gilbert looked at me once, then at my hands, and then peered back at my face. He then shook his head and carefully smoothed out the crumpled document.
A hollow laugh escaped his lips.
“No… Just how long has it been since you gave her flowers…”
“…I’m reflecting on it.”
“Then, well, you should just do as you always do.”
“As I always do?”
Gilbert, who had placed the document he was holding on the desk, spread his left hand wide. His left ring finger, where the thick ring, the symbol of a married man, was worn, was bent in order from thumb, index, to middle finger. Though I had never paid attention to anyone else’s rings before, the sparkling wedding band caught my eye anew.
“Yes. Dress neatly, stand straight with your shoulders back, and wear a melancholic gaze.”
“…”
“You know I’m joking, right?”
“I know.”
“Or how about subtly offering a drink? After a day’s work, in a dim atmosphere, with candles lit…”
“Me?”
“Sigh, this won’t do. Still, Young Count, you are truly peculiar. Just by looking at your face, one would think you could drink five bottles of wine in one sitting. Then, just like this, subtly pull her wrist…”
Gilbert had married his childhood friend, whom he had known since he was in his early teens. The jokes he made to his lover sounded too trivial and vulgar to my ears, and the methods he suggested were of no help to me at all.
Even if I dress as impeccably as possible, will the Young Lady even notice me?
The Young Lady often gifted me accessories. Whenever I wore a necklace, brooch, or ring she had obtained for me, she would smile subtly and praise me. Her eyesight was so keen that she would notice immediately even if I changed a tiny button.
Because of that, I felt embarrassed and ashamed every time I wore a piece of jewelry I had already worn. How else can I adorn myself? I had no confidence.
Arnold, the attendant who helped me with my every move like a shadow inside and outside the Young Count’s Residence, offered this advice.
“Um… From my perspective. It’s true that you, Young Count, have rarely spoken to the Young Countess first.”
“…Me?”
“Yes… So, how about using a more affectionate tone?”
“An affectionate tone, you say…”
“Smile a little, wave your hand like this… No, that’s not a smiling face. Why are you so awkward when you smile so much these days? And you shouldn’t raise your hand like that… No, just… Add a greeting with a nod.”
“…What should I say?”
“Just something like, ‘Did you sleep well?’ or ‘You are beautiful today,’ you know, things like that.”
“…Why would I say such obvious things?”
“That! That’s exactly it. Please say that!”
“That phrase?”
“Yes. ‘You are beautiful today.’ Just say it as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, and she’ll be happy enough.”
Arnold’s advice still sounded more useful than Gilbert’s.
I deliberately went down for breakfast a little early and loitered in the hallway. When I saw the Young Lady Seiren approaching from a distance, I bowed my head in greeting. As I was about to greet her first, she ran up and linked her arm through mine. I froze, unable to even breathe at her radiant smile.
“Why are you out here today? Not going into the dining hall first.”
“That…”
“Yes, that?”
“Today.”
“Yes. Today?”
“…Did you sleep well?”
“Huh? Yes, I slept well. Why? You didn’t?”
“…No, I slept… well.”
Even after finishing breakfast, I still didn’t know at what point or how to insert the words about her beauty. Instead, I was so preoccupied with what to say that I couldn’t answer the Young Lady’s questions promptly, and I floundered in front of the chattering Young Lady Seiren, who kept asking if something was wrong today or if I had a strange dream.
Furthermore, the butler, Ordrick Littman, known for his harmonious marriage, offered this advice.
“How about showing a little more interest in the Young Countess?”
“I’m always interested.”
“That is… Currently, you mostly answer when the Young Countess asks questions, don’t you?”
“…That’s, true…?”
“Try reversing that.”
“…What questions should I ask?”
“Any question related to the Young Countess will do.”
Since regaining her energy, the Young Lady Seiren had always chirped about herself like a baby bird. She would tell me meticulously what food she liked, what she did as a child, who she received a letter from yesterday, what the current trends in the capital were, and what she was thinking.
What is there about her that I don’t know yet, that I might be curious about?
“My Lady…”
“Yes?”
“What is your height?”
“172cm.”
“…And your weight?”
“Huh? …Is this some kind of psychological test?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Every time I saw her flitting about, I thought she was so small and cute, but she was taller than I expected. It was truly strange. As I marveled inwardly, I made eye contact with Arnold, who was standing a little way behind the Young Lady’s shoulder. Seeing his eyes completely deadened, I realized my mistake.
“It’s just…”
“Yes. Just?”
“…You looked particularly beautiful today, my Lady…”
“Huh?”
Her sky-blue eyes widened, then curved, sparkling as if embracing all the light in the world. She tapped my shoulder with a hand that held no strength, asking, “What is that?” In the distance, Arnold quietly gave me a thumbs-up.
It had been over a month since Michael began his rigorous training.
Today, Michael had promised to spare a considerable amount of time, so we came out for a walk instead of tea time. Unlike the Count’s Residence, the Young Count Ernhardt’s Residence had only seven buildings, but the garden was meticulously maintained for the Young Lady Seiren, and the walking paths were winding and quite long, so it took a significant amount of time to complete a full circuit.
Throughout the walk, the Young Lady Seiren’s gaze never left our cute and impudent son. I yielded the escort duty to my son and followed three steps behind. Behind the two walking in the sunset glow, the trees, beginning to don winter, rustled their crimson leaves as red as the sunset. The scene was like a painting.
Amidst the rustling sound of fallen leaves, the voices of the Young Lady Seiren and Michael mingled affectionately.
“What did you practice today?”
“For a while, I intend to consistently practice horizontal and vertical slashes. My hands still lack strength, so it will likely take another year to fully execute sword techniques worthy of the name.”
“Yes, our son is working so hard, he’ll get it soon. Do you really not need anyone to teach you?”
“No. The knights of the Magnolia Knights are all skilled, but their physiques don’t match mine, making sparring difficult. Basic movements are more efficient and comfortable to practice alone.”
“Then, how old do you think you’ll be when you can stand alongside the knights?”
“…I don’t know… I’m not even at the level of a fledgling yet.”
“You’re not interested in shield techniques?”
“No. Watching them, the sword used with a shield seemed too straightforward to deal with cunning enemies. I have swordsmanship I wish to learn separately, so I intend to postpone it for later.”
“Cunning enemies?”
“Yes. Just in case…”
“Is our son perhaps dreaming of becoming a wandering knight?”
“…Perhaps…”
“Then, shall we go on a family trip?”
The Young Lady smiled softly and turned to look at me. I stopped, surprised. Her smile was so beautiful and radiant that my eyes ached. The words that entered my ears didn’t quite register. Still, I nodded first.
“Yes? Ah, yes.”
“No.”
If Michael hadn’t refused so firmly, I would have declared I’d go to the ends of the earth.
I had never properly traveled before, nor had I ever thought of leaving home. What could be more troublesome and arduous than leaving my comfortable and cozy home to wander through unfamiliar places, enduring hardship? Nevertheless, seeing the Young Lady Seiren, who had been smiling brightly, look crestfallen, I wanted to shout that we would go anywhere.
“What? Why?”
“It is not yet time. As I am too weak to protect my parents, I cannot leave home for now.”
“Even if we go with the escort knights?”
“Yes. Of course, I do not doubt the knights’ skill… but I don’t think they will be sufficient.”
“No, they will be sufficient. The Magnolia Knights are quite skilled knights within the Empire.”
“No.”
I stared blankly at the two who had started bickering. I thought he didn’t resemble me in any way, but his reluctance to leave home must be like mine. However, the Young Lady wants to go so much. While contemplating, I lifted my stubborn son high into the air.
His small body was easily swung around just by holding his waist and lifting him. In a few more years, I wouldn’t be able to lift him like this. Though I had never cajoled a child like this due to my pride, it felt surprisingly natural to tease Mika.
“No, Father!”
“Still don’t want to go? Huh?”
Even when thrown high and caught, Michael rarely seemed surprised. Instead, his blue eyes looking down at me were filled with a sparkling light. Still, he’s a child, so he seemed to be enjoying it. Feeling inexplicably excited, I placed Michael on my shoulder and spun around.
“What is this, still no!”
“Hahaha! Be careful!”
At first, Michael, who had been shouting “No,” soon burst into laughter. Michael laughed, the Young Lady Seiren laughed, and I laughed too. Five times, seven times, ten times, twelve times…
The sound of my loved ones’ laughter mingled with the crisp crunch of fallen leaves. Holding my son, whom I had lifted high, close, I met the Young Lady Seiren’s eyes over my son’s shoulder. Looking at her flushed cheeks, I gently bit and released Mika’s soft cheek.
I felt my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.