I, Who Only Had Effort as a Virtue, Reincarnated as a Talented Yet Lazy Villain - Episode 10: In the End, a Peculiar Encounter

The day after the entrance exams, the much-anticipated meeting between the Aushstadt Duke’s family and the Barschmiede Duke’s family was swiftly arranged.

In all honesty, labeling it as a “meeting” might be a slight exaggeration. Essentially, it was a gathering intended for Lady Rosalinde and me to meet face to face, with the purpose of getting to know each other better.

During the entrance exams, we hadn’t exchanged any words, and our knowledge of each other was practically nonexistent.

There’s a possibility that what she had mentioned on that occasion was simply a misunderstanding.

…Or perhaps, I fervently hoped that was the case.

Therefore, we must come together, converse openly, and foster a deeper understanding of one another.

Following that, our fathers would then decide whether to move forward with arranging an engagement.

My father and I traveled in a carriage, making our way through the spacious streets of the capital city.

The noble district of the capital featured generously spaced residences, and the streets were designed to accommodate leisurely movement. This was specifically to cater to the needs of even the grandest carriages.

Noble carriages were characterized by their ornate design and substantial size, which served to showcase the wealth of their respective households. As a result, the streets needed to be expansive enough to allow for the passage of such sizeable carriages.

After a roughly ten-minute carriage ride, we arrived in front of an exquisite restaurant.

While it resembled a restaurant more than anything else, the architectural style held a touch of traditional Japanese aesthetics. The grand wooden edifice was enclosed by a wooden fence.

A noren curtain hung at the entrance, accompanied by faint hints of water and the melodious murmur of flowing water emanating from within. It was likely that there was a pond situated nearby.

We had selected this restaurant precisely to avoid any situation where one of our families would visit the other’s residence. Such an arrangement could be perceived as creating an unequal footing, so despite its inconvenience, maintaining appearances was of paramount importance. While slightly troublesome, I was no stranger to the concept of preserving one’s social image from my past life.

Guided by Balan, we disembarked from the carriage and were led by the restaurant’s hostess to a private chamber.

“The members of the Barschmiede Duke’s family have already arrived.”

As we strolled down the wooden corridor, the hostess informed us. Given that the meeting time had been set for precisely noon, and considering the absence of cell phones or wristwatches in this world, the only timekeeping mechanism available was the prominent bell tower that tolled the hours to the city.

In light of this, we had departed from our residence at precisely eleven o’clock, arriving at our destination within ten minutes. Presumably, the Barschmiede Duke’s family’s residence was in closer proximity to the restaurant, allowing them to leave at eleven o’clock and reach the venue before us.

Finally, we reached the doorway to the room and slid open the door.

Indeed, the setting bore a resemblance to a traditional Japanese inn. Filled with wonderment at the existence of such architectural diversity, I stepped inside.

“May we join you?”

My father and I entered the room, offering a slight bow. Balan followed suit, executing a subdued bow behind us.

Inside the room, a stern-looking gentleman and the young lady with whom I had dueled recently were seated at an elongated table. Upon noticing us, they rose from their seats and reciprocated our bow.

“Please, take a seat.”

Guided by a waitress-like attendant, we settled ourselves in front of the man and the young lady.

With everyone seated, my father initiated the conversation.

“We appreciate your acceptance of our invitation. Your cooperation is invaluable.”

“It is our intention to engage in a thorough discussion. We are grateful for the opportunity you have provided,” the man responded.

Thus commenced the formal dialogue.

My gaze briefly flickered towards Lady Rosalinde, but there was no trace of the perplexing expression she had exhibited earlier. Her countenance was composed and refined, exuding nobility and elegance.

Upon sensing my furtive glances, she responded with a gentle smile, acknowledging my attention.

…Yes, she doesn’t appear to possess any peculiarities.

Or perhaps my perception had been somewhat skewed? After all, rumors can seldom be taken at face value.

Following the initial exchange of pleasantries, our fathers prompted us to introduce ourselves.

“Allow me to initiate. I am Benno, the eldest son of the Aushstadt Duke’s family. As you might recall from our previous encounter, Lady Rosalinde and I are of the same age and both entered the academy concurrently. While it remains uncertain if we will be placed in the same class, I look forward to forging a harmonious relationship.”

Upon completing my introduction, Lady Rosalinde straightened her posture and began to speak with graceful fluency.

“I am Rosalinde, the eldest daughter of the Barschmiede Duke’s family. While I may not possess the same strength as you, I anticipate the possibility of being in the same class and would greatly appreciate your guidance. I too look forward to our harmonious interactions.”

…Indeed, these are ordinary words.

Nothing strikes me as unusual.

It’s possible that her earlier cryptic statements and peculiar expression were simply anomalies.

And yet, I’m not exactly inclined towards engagement – at least not at this juncture.

It’s not due to any indifference or enlightened stance. Rather, engagement seems to entail more restrictions and complexities than benefits.

Naturally, I do possess desires. I shall not deny that I’ve been surreptitiously stealing glances at the modest décolletage visible in Lady Rosalinde’s gown.

…However, this doesn’t indicate any predilection towards a Lolita complex. While I do find myself favoring a slightly more modest bosom, this does not equate to a Lolita complex. Absolutely not!

As for Lady Rosalinde, is she being a tad too at ease? She occasionally leans forward to reach distant dishes, creating a genuine concern that I might inadvertently glimpse something improper through the gaps in her loosely draped attire.

Redirecting my gaze each time almost feels like conceding defeat.

Drat it all! I rue the absence of any experience with women, despite dedicating the past two decades solely to kendo…

While our fathers engaged in a discussion without any involvement from us, I whiled away the time alternating between brief daydreams and stolen glimpses at Lady Rosalinde’s décolletage. Abruptly, the conversation shifted its focus back to us.

“Hmm. It’s evident that our primary objective should be allowing the two of them to acquaint themselves. As Baron Barschmiede suggested, it would be most prudent for them to reside together for a time,” my father affirmed, as if aligning with this sentiment.

…Pardon? How did the conversation evolve to this point?

It seems my father was amenable, and likewise, the gentleman representing the Barschmiede family appeared to concur.

…Hold on, I’m a touch baffled by the course this discourse has taken.

“Thank you for granting your approval. Therefore, we propose that they reside together for at least this year, fostering a deeper connection as a couple. This timeline would still permit engagement thereafter,” my father elaborated.

Was this arrangement premeditated, or did our duel expedite its implementation?

If it weren’t for that, the preparations would likely have taken much longer.

Nonetheless, comprehending Lady Rosalinde’s thoughts remains elusive.

Yesterday, my father indicated that Lady Rosalinde might possess a strong will and may be disinclined to engage with someone she had defeated. Yet, she seems to have accepted the engagement without protest.

On the other hand, I appear to be the sole individual who remains perplexed by the situation.

And so, we were transported to a moderately-sized mansion in close proximity to the academy, where we would commence cohabitation.

It seemed that the necessary staff arrangements had already been finalized.

Before the restaurant, a third carriage awaited, with a maid I did not recognize stationed beside it.

“Welcome. I am Anna, the head maid in charge. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir Benno and Lady Rosalinde.”

She offered a respectful bow, gesturing for us to enter the carriage.

The journey commenced soon after we boarded.

Well, it’s merely for a year, and Lady Rosalinde appears relatively conventional. It should be tolerable.

…Are you genuinely at ease with this decision?

Amid my ruminations, Lady Rosalinde unexpectedly drew closer to me, almost touching skin to skin.

“Um… Is this distance acceptable?”

Having closed the communication window with the coachman, she leaned in so close that her breath tickled my neck.

“Heh… Heh… This matches your body temperature, doesn’t it, Benno?”

What’s with the teasing tone?

…Honestly, what a deviant!

Good grief! Who could momentarily believe she was ordinary?

This is unequivocally perversion, thank you very much!

At that juncture, I was oblivious, but Lady Rosalinde was already embracing the situation with an unperturbed expression.

Her emotional fortitude was impressive…

In a fleeting moment, I briefly contemplated whether I had misconstrued her demeanor.

“Um… Is this proximity acceptable?”

Once we boarded the carriage, she closed the window for communication with the driver and leaned in closer to me.

“Heh… heh… Does this align with your body temperature?”

Hold on, what’s with this rationale of closing the gap merely for its own sake?

Although I must admit, it’s not as though I harbor any aversion…

Nevertheless, hang on a moment! Who educated her in this manner? Could it have been her father, perhaps?

Truly, this world exhibits an astonishingly lax notion of propriety!

Then again, who would stand alongside me in this predicament?

It’s over… My second life has concluded…

In this manner, on our inaugural day, my compelling and nerve-wracking cohabitation with Lady Rosalinde was inaugurated.