"Mm…"
With no one to interrupt and after going so long without a taste of sweetness, Shichen got a bit carried away and went straight further.
Only then did he notice how fine Rem's maid uniform actually felt—silky-smooth, soft to the touch.
After a while, since Rem had never experienced anything like this, she ran out of breath and Shichen let her go on his own.
"Hah—hah—"
Rem drew light, quick breaths; her small face was bright red, eyes dewy, cherry-pink lips glossy.
When she'd recovered a little, she tilted her head up, gazing hazily at Shichen, unable to hide her delight as she scolded in a small voice: "Shichen, you…"
"Ahem, I couldn't help it." At this point he couldn't really deny it anymore, though he still hadn't withdrawn his hand.
"Then… do you still want to?" Rem asked in a voice full of temptation.
"…Not now, and this is someone else's house." Shichen flexed his fingers, but refused.
"Mm… but there's no one here," Rem murmured.
"Rem… you're not getting excited because of that, are you?" Shichen gave her a wry look; her expression wasn't quite right.
It wasn't just the post-kiss flush—there was a different, keyed-up glow, not simply from being affectionate.
"Excited? Mm. Rem is very excited now—Shichen finally made a move on me." She nodded, admitting it.
"…You sure it isn't because we're in someone else's estate?"
"N-no, it's not!" Rem blurted, flustered.
"You're even jealous of Crusch? There's nothing between me and her." He could see where Rem's mind had gone.
The thrill, clearly, was from getting affectionate on Crusch's turf.
Good thing it wasn't a general "being in someone else's place is exciting" kink; that would be… odd.
"Rem is not jealous!"
"All right, given how things are, what's the point of being jealous of her? There'll be plenty of time." He ruffled her hair to comfort her.
"Plenty of time? Then can Rem take the initiative and do something for you, Shichen?"
"Er… don't get too carried away."
"Great!"
"… "
Seeing how excited she was—actually bouncing on her toes—he wondered if she'd lose control and try to push him down right here.
He hoped she wouldn't throw all caution to the wind.
They left the courtyard and returned indoors, then went their separate ways.
Satisfied, Rem headed for the kitchen.
Even as guests, she wanted to make some treats for Shichen with her own hands—and she'd even insist on paying for the ingredients. Since it was what Rem wanted to do, Shichen wouldn't stop her. And at Crusch's place, there was no need to be too polite—especially when their hostess currently needed his help.
Shichen, meanwhile, went to Emilia's room.
As expected, Emilia was a good girl—studying diligently. He watched from the doorway for quite a while and didn't catch her slacking once.
A pity—Emilia wasn't the type you could (or should) distract from studying. With someone else, he might have interfered.
What's the point of studying that hard?
He stepped in and tapped her shoulder.
"Shichen? What brings you here?" Emilia looked up, smiling.
"Came to check on you."
He glanced at her study materials—page after page of dense text, not a single picture—and immediately lost interest.
"Check on me?" Emilia blinked.
"You've been in here studying since lunch and haven't come out. Don't you get bored?"
"Not at all, I have to hurry and catch up with the others."
She meant the other royal candidates.
"We're guests at Crusch's. No need to push yourself right now." He rubbed her head.
Emilia glanced at his hand, pursed her lips into a smile. "But I can't think of what else to do."
"You could talk with Crusch more and build rapport. You want to catch up to them, right? Try learning from her."
"That… sounds like a good idea~"
Her eyes lit up, but then she hesitated: "But won't I be bothering her?"
As head of House Karsten, Crusch had plenty to handle daily. There might not be much free time. Even Felix had left that afternoon for work—he was the kingdom's finest and youngest healer and a member of the Royal Guard, and many sought his treatment.
"What's the problem? She's already asked us for help—why can't you ask her? I'm sure she'll be happy to answer your questions."
He didn't mention the price he would ask for helping slay the White Whale, but a noble like Crusch wouldn't try to freeload. Emilia seeking instruction was exactly the sort of "return" Crusch would welcome.
"Is that really okay?" She still wavered.
"If you're treating the royal selection as a game, forget what I said."
"Honestly, Shichen, you're awful—acting like you don't know I'm serious." Emilia pouted, adorably.
It made him laugh. "What can I say? Without a nudge, you wouldn't make up your mind."
"I get it, I get it. I'm not the type who only worries about others—I'll do everything I can to get what I want."
"That's better." He ruffled her hair in praise.
"Shichen, do you… like head-pats that much?" she asked in a small voice.
"Your hair's just too pretty—and so silky and cool."
"Hair… isn't it all the same?"
"Maybe. But I especially like patting your head."
"Mm… even if someone else also had silver hair?"
"Relax. I like your silver hair, not anyone else's."
"I see…" She lowered her head; color crept into her cheeks and the corners of her mouth lifted of their own accord.
"All right, keep studying. I won't bother you."
"Um…"
Just as he turned to go, she reached out and caught his sleeve.
"What is it?" he asked, puzzled.
"I… Um… Right—should I go look for Crusch to ask questions now?" she blurted, seizing on a topic.
"She's probably bathing. Give it a bit."
"Bathing? How do you know?" Emilia asked, curious.
"She was just sparring with Wilhelm-sama, remember? Of course she'd bathe after working up a sweat."
"O-oh. Right." Emilia looked a little embarrassed.
"Heh—jealous?" Shichen teased.
"Jealous?" She tilted her head, confused.
"…As in, you mind me being close with other women."
"That's jealousy? I—I don't mind…" Her gaze drifted; she didn't dare meet his eyes.
"Going tsundere on me now?"
"Tsundere? You always use such strange words."
"Forget that. Just say what you meant to tell me—you weren't going to hide it from me, were you?"
"You really can't hide anything from you."
"It's because you're easy to read."
"Mm… On second thought, never mind. I don't want to talk about it here."
"Not here?"
"Right. When we're back, I'll tell you, Shichen." Emilia nodded earnestly.
"Fair enough." He didn't press.
"Then I'll go play with Beatrice and the others."
"Okay."
Leaving Emilia's room, Shichen returned to his own and played five-in-a-row with the two little girls. Partway through, Rem brought over the snacks she'd made.
The afternoon flew by.
At dinner, Felix hadn't come back; Crusch arrived late from her work. The rest had already eaten.
Crusch had told the servants that Shichen's group should be treated as they treated her, but not knowing when she'd be free, they started without her. She ate alone and then went back to work.
Rem, too, had learned five-in-a-row. Back in the room, they paired off and played on.
Shichen teamed up with Rem.
Two heads, two sets of eyes, covering each other's gaps—the game stretched on, the board nearly filled with stones.
Before they knew it, night had deepened. Shichen let the three keep playing while he went to soak.
Rem wanted to join him, but he turned her down. If they shared a bath now, he wasn't sure he could control himself—and this was someone else's house. Besides, if Rem came, Est and Beatrice would insist on tagging along, and that scene would be even less appropriate for another's bath.
At this hour the bath was empty. Shichen didn't stand on ceremony—he undressed, slid into the pool, and relaxed.
Crusch's bath was a little grander and more ornate than Roswaal's, but décor didn't interest him.
After a while, when he felt ready to get out—
Footsteps sounded outside.
Soft, bare footsteps—slap, slap—coming closer.