Chapter 109
"H-Hiiii~! A-Al, help me…"
Scarlet-sama, rescued from the abyss, pleads with Albert-sama with a face that looks like she’s about to die. She reaches out desperately, but Albert-sama only stares back with an exasperated expression.
To explain her current situation—she’s surrounded by a cage-like formation of women, including me. Scarlet-sama frantically scans her surroundings for an escape route, but upon realizing there’s none, she plops down, trembling like a child scared of ghosts, hugging her knees. She might as well be on the verge of tears.
"Most of the women here are either married or already have lovers. And yet, you still can’t handle it, Scarlet?"
"Fweh?! W-W-Wait, I-I’m not in that kind of relationship with E-kun yet…!"
Mill-senpai, inadvertently revealing too much, turns bright red while sneakily glancing at El-kun. No one mentioned El-kun by name, but since everyone except the two of them knows about their mutual crush, no one bothers to point it out.
"This is quite the predicament, isn’t it?"
How did things end up like this? It all goes back to when Scarlet-sama first woke up.
While assisting Albert-sama with his duties, we received word from El-kun that Scarlet-sama had regained consciousness, so we gathered in the infirmary.
"Are you alright, Scarlet?"
"Al? Huh, you got taller or somethin’!"
"Things happened. More importantly, what went down? I can’t imagine you getting captured unless it was something serious."
"W-Well, y’know, I guess they caught me when my guards were thin."
"I see. Well, I’m just glad you’re safe."
Scarlet-sama’s answer is oddly evasive. Maybe it’s something hard to talk about? Albert-sama looks puzzled but doesn’t press further.
"I kinda remember bits and pieces. You guys saved me, right? Thanks."
Scarlet-sama flashes a bright, grateful smile. Unlike Albert-sama, he’s a different type of pretty boy—flame-red hair and eyes, standing around 180 cm tall with a well-toned body. Though before his demon god transformation, he was only about 170 cm, so that must’ve changed him. If Albert-sama is the princely type, Scarlet-sama is more of the mischievous sort. His easygoing demeanor would fit right in with athletes—definitely popular. No, scratch that, he is popular.
Then, he seems to notice me standing quietly beside Albert-sama. With a cautious expression, he asks:
"H-Hey, Al… The one behind you is…?"
"My wife, Yuuka. Yuuka, you already know, but this is my best friend, Scarlet."
"Pleased to meet you. I am Yuuka, Albert-sama’s wife, his subordinate, and a maid familiar. I hope we get along."
His face morphs into that of a confused cosmic cat. Why is he so bewildered? Then, with a stiff, jerky motion, he turns back to Albert-sama.
"A-AL HAS A WIFE?! That Al?! The guy who seemed like he had zero interest in women?!"
"It’s not that I wasn’t interested. I just had… thoughts after watching my sister."
Yeah, seeing family members being lovey-dovey can be rough.
"Muu~, Al-kun’s at it again… Okay, Mina-kun! Let’s show Al-kun some PDA too!"
"Oookay~"
"Tch, that won’t work on me! Unlike back then, I have Yuuka now!"
Suddenly, Cecilia-sama and Minato-sama start getting affectionate, and for some reason, Albert-sama strikes a triumphant pose. Maybe they’ve had this exchange before.
"Eeek, Cecilia-sama…"
"…? Scarlet-sama? Is something wrong?"
The moment he sees Cecilia-sama, his face twists in fear—well, actually, he had the same look when he saw me, but now it’s even worse. Watching this, Albert-sama sighs in mild amusement.
"Still bad with women, huh, Scarlet?"
"N-N-No, I’m not bad with them…!"
"Oh? Should we test that?"
"Eh? Test?"
"Yuuka, gather all the women in the estate—Mill, Aqua, Yukari, everyone."
"All of them? Understood. Should I include Lir-chan?"
"Hmm, no need for Lil and the other spiritfolk, or Marin (my sister’s child)."
"Then I’ll summon them at once."
"W-Wait, stop—!"
"Hoh? But you said you were fine, no?"
"I-I-I am fine!!"
And so, I return with all the women in tow.
"Alright, Sister, stay with Mina behind Scarlet. Aqua, over here. Yukari, there. Mir and Yuuka, stand in front. Everyone, face Scarlet."
"Is this really necessary?"
"What’s the meaning of this, I wonder?"
Aqua and Yukari comply despite their confusion.
"Ahh, so this is bullying Scarlet-sama, huh?"
"Bullying."
"They must be close. He teases Scarlet-sama like this sometimes."
"Heeeh~"
According to Mill-senpai, this is just friendly banter between pals. How adorable of Albert-sama. As I bask in this newfound side of my fiancé—
"A… A… A…"
Scarlet-sama’s face is now ghostly pale, like a Kaonashi (No-Face). He’s completely lost the ability to speak.
"Come on, you can do it. You did overcome your fear of women, right? So this should be fine, yeah? Yeah?"
Albert-sama smiles like an angel while saying devilish things. Who knew he was such a sadist?
"H-Hiiii~! A-Al, help me…"
And we’re back to the beginning. Seems like his aversion to women is severe. Even someone just bringing tea makes him flinch. This is critical.
"This was Scarlet’s request—training to overcome his fear of women. We’ve been doing this since forever."
"A rather harsh method, isn’t it?"
Are you sure this won’t just traumatize him further?
"I—I have to overcome this! As the next head of the Blaze family!"
"I see. And how effective has it been?"
"………………Impossible."
Scarlet-sama clenches his fists and declares with resolve—only for his determination to instantly crumble. Yeah… this’ll take a while.
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