The prosthetic progress was good news.
Faster completion than expected.
Reassured, I focused on the date ahead.
For each woman, I tailored the date to her request.
Mashiro: shopping. Reina: home-relax. Karen: planetarium.
Alice was the only anything-goes.
She said “I’m ignorant, so please leave it to you, Lord Ouga……”
So today’s date evaluation rides entirely on my judgment!
That makes me feel I can’t fail……
“Strange……”
At our meeting spot — Enkalton’s clock tower — five minutes had passed.
What’s keeping the always-punctual Alice……? Then I heard my name from afar.
“M-my deepest apologies, Lord Ouga! I’m late!”
When I looked, Alice — unusually in casual clothes, not her maid uniform.
She arrived, shoulders heaving, listing apologies.
“Sorry! Embarrassingly, I’m not used to heels and nearly tripped many times……”
”…………”
”…… Lord Ouga?”
”…… Sorry. I was staring……”
Alice’s image is the red maid uniform with black apron.
But before me she wore an off-shoulder white knit and a beige long skirt.
Her healthy shoulders and collarbone visible — pure satisfaction.
The perfectly fitted clothes showed her trained body lines more than usual; my gaze was captured.
”…… Yes. It suits you very well.”
“R-really? I’m glad I got Mashiro-san and the others’ help……”
I see. That’s why I was sent outside.
I’d expected some surprise; this exceeded my hopes.
“I’m unaccustomed to such clothes, it feels strange. I noticed more gazes too.”
Agreed. Jealous stares stab my back too.
Don’t stare! Alice may become my bride!
“That’s proof you look beautiful, Alice. I’ll have to thank Mashiro and the others. And the luck to date such an Alice.”
To shake off the lecherous gazes, I took her hand.
Alice has been with me as maid; hand-touching like this is a first.
When I glanced at her, her face was bright red.
“L-L-L-Lord Ouga……” she stammered like a broken recorder.
Watching her shy reaction relaxed my own nerves.
I’d felt pressure to escort properly; now if both enjoy it, that suffices.
“Lunch hasn’t happened? There’s a relaxed terrace restaurant nearby. Let’s settle there first.”
“Y-yes! As you wish!”
Enjoying her unprecedented stiff demeanor, I walked beside Alice.
Thanks to a reservation, we got in.
A vibrant terrine arrived; meal beginning…… but —
“Knife right…… fork left…… huh? Reversed?”
Alice was hilariously panicked.
She’d been weak with such etiquette; Morina’s thorough training brought her to maid-passing-grade.
But all that knowledge had fled her head.
Watching her fluster is fun, but tears welled — time to throw a lifeline.
“Alice. Look at my hands.”
Calmly thinking, copying me is fine.
She blushed deeper, hid her face in both hands.
”…… I want to crawl into a hole.”
“Heh heh heh. Seeing this side of Alice makes me happy.”
“Uu…… embarrassed. To make you mind during our precious time……”
Alice was full of regret; she wouldn’t lower her hands.
Mistakes are cute, but Alice’s mind isn’t lover but maid — failing the master is what hits her.
I can’t see her face like this.
So a spell to remove her hands:
“Alice. Aahn.”
I cut a small terrine piece, brought it to her mouth.
”……!”
She froze, fingers parted slightly.
“If Alice won’t eat, no helping it.”
“Uu……”
“Hmm? Will Alice eat after all?”
”……! ……!”
She made a wanting sound, then violently shook her head no.
A delayed puberty — interesting.
I can’t read her face but her sagging shoulders signal shock.
Her usual deferring is precious, but if I don’t push a step, we won’t reach what she wants.
So I support her advance.
”…… Alice, this is a date. Not maid-mode; out as the Alice who sent me a letter, right?”
“Y-yes, but……”
“Then act as you want. Don’t worry about fitting me.”
“Lord Ouga……”
“Right…… drop the Lord too?”
“I-impossible! Lord Ouga is Lord Ouga!”
…… She shook her head fast enough I thought it’d spin off; forgive her that.
I offered the terrine again.
“Alice.”
“Y-yesh…… I’ll eat!”
She glared at the terrine like an enemy, gathered resolve, bit.
”…… Delicious.”
“Heh heh heh. Good. Choosing here was right.”
“Yes…… ! Thank you, Lord Ouga!”
Past that first hurdle, her nerves eased; she touched her own dishes.
I resumed eating — but the moment I put terrine in my mouth, something clattered.
Alice’s fork and knife had slipped from her hands.
“W-w-wait, that’s an indirect kiss……!”
…… True. Only realizing at her words.
But getting flustered by an indirect kiss…… no, surely not……
A bad feeling — I checked Alice.
Her over-flushed cheeks overflowed; gradually paled.
…… Color drained, pure white.
”…… Lord Ouga…… sorry. My mind can’t hold any more……”
“Alice! Aliiiice!?”
That day, I first saw her knock out.
◇ I started supporter-only advance posts on my activity-notes — one chapter ahead.
Thanks always for comments, ♡s, ☆s! I’m reading them happily.
People’s funny gimmick ideas and predictions made me grin. Truly motivating! ◇