The clink of teacups sounded, and it felt like this tea party was reaching its end.
After finishing the strongberry chopped ice, the two of them relaxed with the tea I brewed, their expressions calm as they chatted idly.
「Haa… I am satisfied」
「Well? This time it’s my win, is it not?」
「Indeed. I shall admit my complete defeat this time」
Hearing the words ‘complete defeat’ from Sicilia’s mouth, Iris grinned proudly and gave me a thumbs-up, as if to commend me.
It seemed both of them were content, and that was a relief.
Now, all I wanted was to drink my tea in peace and be released quickly…
「Still, that is quite a skill you have. And for this to be only a hobby… just how accomplished are you in alchemy, your actual profession?」
「In terms of level, nine. But other than that, I’m just an ordinary alchemist without anything particularly remarkable」
「What, level nine at that age…? I suppose being a drifter must have influenced that?」
「It was simply granted to me as an ordinary skill, but… perhaps you’re right」
「Hm… Seren」
「Yes!」
With a snap of Sicilia’s fingers, Seren moved behind me.
Before I could ask what was happening, her arms reached from under my sides and began touching all over my body.
「Wha-what are you doing!」
Sorte leapt in with a protest, but Iris stopped her.
「Excuse me… please stay still for just a moment」
「W-wait, what? Ah, not there… that tickles!」
Her hands traced from my inner thighs to my sides, then my arms and even my chest.
Startled, I could only freeze, until she finally pulled back as quickly as she had come.
「So… you are not skilled in combat, then?」
「Eh? Ah… yeah, that’s right」
She asked while I was still trying to catch my breath, and I ended up slipping out of polite speech.
But Sicilia didn’t seem to mind.
「I see. Which must mean… you excel more greatly in other fields」
Wait, what exactly was she trying to find out?
「Umu. Iris, I thank you for this fine gift」
「Gift? What do you mean?」
「You’ve sent me a fine talent for the Empire, have you not?」
「If you mean this one, I shall not hand him over! The only thing you may bring back with you are memories」
「Oh? I thought he was meant to be a present from my friend to me」
「Of course not! His sweets will only continue to evolve. There is no way I’d let him go before I’ve tasted them all」
Wait.
Hold on.
Weren’t things just warm and pleasant a moment ago?
Why did the air suddenly grow tense?
「Then perhaps I should ask him directly. Our Empire seeks talent. You, without question, are qualified. Under my protection, you could rise to the top in no time at all. What say you?」
「Too bad for you! He has no interest in such matters. For him, those conditions have the opposite effect!」
「Iris, I was not asking you. So, what do you say?」
The gazes of both royalty and imperial nobility were fixed solely on me.
What was with this strange atmosphere…? Their mouths were smiling, but their eyes definitely weren’t.
F-friends! They’re supposed to be friends, right!?
「A-ah…… like Iris said, I’m not really interested in competition or anything like that… As long as I can live peacefully with everyone, I’m satisfied」
「I see… which means, if peace can be had in the Empire, then there is no issue with living there, correct?」
「Eh? W-well… I’m not really particular about location, and I would like to see different countries, but I also have a home in Einzheil, so it’s not something I can decide right away…」
「Indeed. Your home was only just expanded, after all. You cannot simply move so suddenly」
Ah…!
Could it be that Iris had the house expanded for this very reason!?
I thought it was too extravagant as an apology!
「Hooh…」
「Still, the Empire is quite enjoyable, you know? Imperial lager is superb, and as for Chocoa, it could certainly be used in your ice cream」
「Lager… huh」
That’s right. The Empire had lager!
The alcohol in this kingdom tended to be on the sweeter side, and I had often thought that beer would pair perfectly with the food.
Ugh… but moving just for beer is a bit much, isn’t it…?
And Chocoa… judging from the naming patterns of ingredients in this world, could it be… chocolate?
Chocolate… If I had chocolate, my repertoire of sweets would definitely expand.
Crepes… gateau chocolat… chocolate parfaits, of course chocolate ice cream… even chocolate chips would be fantastic.
「What’s this, you like lager? It does divide opinion, but the lager from one of my favorite shops in the Empire is exceptional. Its sharpness and depth of flavor are on a whole different level compared to others. And the side dishes are so satisfying that even I am pleased」
「Oh…」
If Sicilia, who clearly had discerning taste, recommended it so highly, then it had to be remarkable.
Even if I didn’t move to the Empire, that was information I wanted to know.
「Fufu. Nice, Seren. He’s wavering」
「Yes. I would very much like for you to open a shop in the Empire. If the ladies behind you were to work as waitresses, it would certainly be a huge success!」
A shop… huh…
If it were a sweets shop, most of the customers would no doubt be women.
I didn’t dislike making sweets, and it would be visually enjoyable too.
And with everyone in waitress outfits… the male customers would definitely come flooding in.
…Of course, any man who tried to harass them would lose his arm, oh, whoops.
Still, working in the service industry would make it difficult to take long breaks, and my goal was always a life without working.
…It did sound fun, but straying from my goal wasn’t a good idea.
「I’m sorry, but I haven’t been in this world for long, and there are many cities and countries I want to see. Of course, I did think that one day I’d visit the Empire as a tourist… but I can’t decide so quickly」
「Hmm. I see…」
「Fuhahahaha! This one belongs to meee!」
Iris got carried away, laughing proudly at Sicilia, who for a moment flashed the sharp glint of a hunter about to strike.
But when she stood and took my hand, her expression twisted into a mischievous, wicked smile.
What on earth was she planning…?
「…Yes. For example… what if I were to say you may do as you like with my chest?」
「Eh…… wh-what?」
「Like this, you see? It’s fine」
She took my hand and pressed it firmly against her.
So firmly that the heavy softness spilled between my fingers, impossible not to feel.
I tried to pull away, thinking this was going way too far, but her strength was greater than I expected and I couldn’t escape.
…Though maybe twenty percent of it was my own lack of will to resist.
「S-Sicilia-sama!? What are you doing!?」
「S-Sicilia! That’s unfair!」
「Is it? I’m simply making use of the hand I was dealt. How about this then?」
「Nmuu!?」
Th-this time it was my face!?
She buried me in her cleavage, forcing me to experience that softness across my entire face.
I wanted to be grateful for such a precious experience, but I couldn’t breathe, !
But I was happy…! No, I couldn’t breathe!
「Ah… This one just slapped my ass. How insolent… What’s this, do you like butts too?」
That was an accident! I just tried to tap with my free hand and it happened to land there!
I mean, I do like them, but that’s not the point right now!
I was suffocating! I was going to suffocate!
Being smothered to death by breasts might be a man’s dream, but this was way too sudden!
「A-ano… Master is going to die…」
「He needs to breathe! You need to let him breathe!」
「Ahh, I see. My apologies」
「Puhahhhhhhh!!!」
Ahh, breathing really was wonderful.
The way air filled my lungs was truly wonderful.
As I caught my breath, I glared at Sicilia with both gratitude and resentment.
Damn it… I thought I was going to die. But really, thank you so much!
「Grrrnnnn… Showing off your big breasts so shamelessly… Ayame!」
「No」
「I haven’t even said anything yet!」
「No」
「You won’t even hear me out!?」
「You were going to tell me to use seduction, weren’t you? Unfortunately, in my homeland I was told I’m absolutely hopeless at that sort of thing. So no」
「Hm? So you refuse because they said you were hopeless, not because it would be him?」
「Tch… Either way, no!」
Iris and Ayame-san’s conversation was veering completely off track.
Or rather, I was at a total loss on how to handle this and really wished someone would step in to help me…
「So, what will it be?」
「…I understand」
「Nuna!?」
This wouldn’t be settled unless I said it clearly.
I had learned well that if I tried to dodge with halfhearted words, she’d just use the opening to press harder…
「I must firmly refuse」
「Mm…」
「Forgive me, but I already have people I love. More than anything, I think of them first, and I cannot throw away the life I have now」
It was only recently that I had finally been able to share true feelings with Aina and the others.
If my environment were to change before we could even settle into that, I wouldn’t be able to spend peaceful time with them.
Besides, I had many acquaintances in the kingdom.
If word spread that I left for the Empire because of breasts, they’d surely be exasperated with me.
「I see… Understood. A shame…」
「I am truly sorry…」
「Think nothing of it. I got to see Iris make some amusing faces after all. If you ever come visit the Empire, you’ll be welcomed. We shall drink together at my favorite place」
「Yes. I’ll look forward to that」
Well, having seen her expression, I knew all along that this had just been mischief.
Still, playing along with such a prank would only cause problems later.
But… those breasts… were a little, no, extremely, no, unimaginably hard to pass up…
After that, the tea party ended without incident.
As for me, I was taking a short rest before the midnight auction.
On the way back in the carriage, I found myself squeezed between Aina and Wendy, each firmly clinging to one of my arms.
Was that… jealousy, perhaps?
Unfortunately, I was so drained from all the mental fatigue that I fell asleep, and couldn’t savor the situation much at all…
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