Chapter 217 Nanari’s Night ♡
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ayumu, unleashed by his encounter with Lilina, now set his sights on Nanari, planning a midnight visit to her chamber.
He’d learned shocking truths from Watkins, the elderly House Steward, and Eva, a middle-aged Elandric maid recently transferred from another domain. Their tales of other noble households made Ayumu’s old world’s worst companies seem tame. In those estates, servants weren’t treated as human but as lesser beings—second-class creatures from another realm.
To put it simply, the rigid class system branded lower-born folk with a kind of original sin, a lifelong curse they could never escape. It was as if the gods had deemed them unworthy, destined for hardship. Common belief held that their suffering was divine will, and they should accept it without complaint!
In other noble houses, servants never greeted their masters first or spoke unless spoken to. When meeting their employer in a corridor, they’d clear the way, ideally facing the wall. If a lord or lady entered their workspace, servants had to stand in respect. Ayumu’s casual, “Hey! How’s it going?” baffled them—his friendliness was downright strange.
Servants’ living conditions were grim. Most slept in drafty attics or damp basements, often crammed together in shared rooms. In worse cases, they bedded down in storage closets, kitchen corners, or even bathhouse changing areas. Rest areas were no better—typically a basement near the kitchen with a single table, a few wooden chairs, and perhaps a cheap mirror stand or a basic onr: A simple, low-cost chair, often used by servants. In kinder households, a coconut-fiber mat or a worn-out sofa might be provided. Only the wealthiest estates offered luxuries like a piano or bookshelf for music and reading.
Ayumu’s mansion, with its brand-new coil sofas and a golem-maintained free-drink corner boasting a 15-to-19-bar espresso machine, was unheard of. Meals were another sore point. Even in better households, servants ate their master’s leftovers or dishes made by apprentice cooks for practice.
Upper servants like House Stewards or Butlers might dine on cooled versions of their lord’s meals in private, but lower servants rushed through meals in cramped rest areas, eating simple fare like roast beef, stew, or pudding—often poorly made by trainees.
Etiquette demanded stiff formality, and portions were kept small under the bizarre belief that a full stomach made servants lazy. In the worst cases, a single slice of bread with butter or a lone egg was called a day’s meal!
Yet, some servants grumbled even at decent food like vegetable stew or meaty soup, demanding steak instead—a mindset Ayumu found baffling. Still, his estate was generous, providing herb tea, sugar, and uniforms, though such perks often came with lower wages elsewhere. Ayumu’s fair pay was a rare exception.
His decision to visit Nanari stemmed from frustration. Despite treating his staff better than other nobles, the Birene folk had sabotaged him with coordinated slacking.
Hearing how other lords freely indulged with their servants, Ayumu realized he’d been missing out! Watkins and Eva shared that servant romances were frowned upon, as they could lead to neglected duties or even crimes for a lover’s sake.
In this world’s strict moral code, an unwed woman’s intimacy, even with a lover, was scandalous, shaming the entire household. Yet, love affairs happened anyway. Beautiful maids often caught the eye of lords, their sons, or fellow servants.
Some stories ended sweetly—a maid becoming a lord’s second wife or servants marrying after years of letters with a hometown sweetheart. But darker tales abounded.
A pregnant maid might be fired, her child’s paternity questioned, while men faced no blame, even if they were the lord’s kin. Worse, some lords, servants, or even visitors forced themselves on staff, male or female, with impunity. Hearing this, Ayumu was outraged… and, admittedly, envious.
Why should he hold back? The Birene had undermined him enough! A little indulgence wouldn’t hurt. Thus, he resolved to visit Nanari that night.
* * *
In the dead of night, when even the trees slept, Ayumu crept into Nanari’s room, clutching a self-made magic lamp [T/N: A fictional light source powered by magic]. With a spare key, he set the lamp on her bedside table, its faint glow casting shadows across the room. He slipped closer, his breath warm as he leaned over her, brushing aside the delicate fabric of her nightgown with a trembling hand.
”Mmh…” Nanari stirred, a soft sigh escaping her lips, her face flushed in the dim light.
Ayumu’s fingers traced her arm, his touch lingering as he drew nearer, his presence overwhelming in the quiet night.
”—?!” Nanari gasped, her eyes fluttering open. She threw back the covers, the lamp’s glow revealing Ayumu’s face. “L-Lord?!” she cried, her voice trembling with shock.
”No! Please, stop!” she pleaded, her hands pushing against him. “I have someone I love! Please, no!”
As she twisted away, Ayumu matched her movements, his grip firm, his eyes glinting with selfish desire.
”Stop it!” Nanari begged, her voice cracking. “Please, have mercy!”
”Don’t say that,” Ayumu snapped, his tone sharp with entitlement. “It’s your duty to please your Lord, isn’t it? Heh, I’ll cherish you all night.” His smirk was unrelenting, dismissing her protests.
Nanari’s heart raced, her breaths shallow. “No! Stop! You beast! Yuvus, help me! Yuvus-kun!” she cried, her voice breaking as she called for her beloved.
(Oh? So Nanari’s beloved is Yuvus, my knightly guard?) Ayumu thought, a thrill of conquest surging through him. The thought of claiming her loyalty drove him closer, his presence suffocating.
”No… please…” Nanari whispered, her strength fading, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
For a fleeting moment, she thought the nightmare might end.
”Phew… one more time,” Ayumu declared, his voice low and unyielding.
”What?! No!” Nanari gasped, her voice a mix of defiance and despair as he pressed closer, his shadow looming over her in the lamplight. “Please… no…”
* * *
Last night’s fervor, fueled by youthful stamina, left Ayumu sleep-deprived. Unlike with Luruna or Lilina, Nanari’s reaction haunted him. She sobbed on the bed, as if saying, “That was cruel, Lord! I never thought you’d force me like this!”
He’d trusted Lilina’s and Nanari’s fathers, who claimed it was fine as long as the woman enjoyed it. What a load of nonsense! Guilt gnawed at him, making him fidget. “Sorry, Nanari! You were just too cute!” he stammered, trying to smooth things over.
Thanks to his efforts, she mumbled, “It’s fine… it’s my fault…” though her sulky tone betrayed her. He’d barely salvaged the situation.
BANG! The door slammed open.
”Ayumu! What’s this about you sleeping with Ms. Lilina and Ms. Nanari?!”
Trouble found him again—Hiyori, his girlfriend, was furious.
”Wait, honey! It’s not like that!” Ayumu floundered, eyes wide. “You never let me do it, Hiyori!”
”Don’t make excuses! ꐦ You want it raw, that’s why! ꐦ What if I got pregnant? We’re still students! ꐦ” she snapped.
”But… leaving heirs is a noble’s duty!” he protested weakly.
”That makes no sense! ꐦ Cheating for ‘work’ is unforgivable! ꐦ” Hiyori fumed, livid at his betrayal.
Tempers flared. “Shut up! Stop acting like my wife over one fling! ꐦ” Ayumu spat, instantly regretting his cruel words.
Hiyori’s eyes welled with tears. “I won’t forgive you… ꐦ” She activated her Heavenly Gift Skill</em, and—where did it come from?—a gleaming, eerie knife appeared in her slender hand. “I’ll kill you, Ayumu, and then myself!” she screamed.
”No! No! Wait! I’ll die! Your love’s too heavy!” Ayumu yelped, panicking.
Yuvus, his guard, tried to intervene. “Lord Sashima, please calm down!” But Hiyori charged, shrieking, “If you love me even a little, die with me, Ayumu-kun! ꐦ”
Ayumu dodged, yelling, “Nooo! I’m anti-violence!” As Yuvus took a stab meant for him, screaming, Ayumu leapt from a third-floor window, landing like a parachutist. “Sorry, Yuvus! I won’t forget your sacrifice!” he thought, fleeing as Hiyori’s enraged cries—”Ayumu-kun! ꐦ”—and Nanari’s wails—”Yuvus-kun! Don’t die!”—faded behind him.
* * *
Escaping like a startled rabbit to the crowded town, Ayumu contacted his mansion via pigeon post and swift horse. Hiyori had been subdued by guard Yahaha, who found her sobbing and easy to restrain. She was now confined to her room, calmed by servants and guards through the door.
The mansion begged him to return, but no way! “I need time to think of an apology and a gift for her,” he said, dodging responsibility. “It’s your job to keep her happy, so do it!” he ordered.
(Phew… what now?) He couldn’t return until things cooled off.
(I won’t grovel! I won’t back down! No regrets!)—though the first two were lies.
Unbelievably, to plan Hiyori’s apology gift, he partied with brothel workers, dating them while brainstorming. After picking a gift, he returned to the mansion by shared carriage.
* * *
”Argh! My brain’s breaking!” Ayumu wailed.
Visiting Yuvus to apologize for his injury, Ayumu found him in bed… with Nanari! Both naked, they stammered, “Lord?! It’s not what it looks like!” But he’d seen it all.
”Nooo! My busty white-haired maid stolen by a younger, handsome knight! Or rather, I stole her first, and now I’m stolen back! This is rebellion! A coup d’état! I’ll hang them both—”
Ping! A sudden clarity hit.
Wait. He’d already taken Nanari’s first time. If she married Yuvus, he’d be free of responsibility. It’d make him look generous, keep his guard Yuvus, and avoid unrest among the Birene folk. Nanari could marry young and be happy. A perfect win-win!
With a serious face, Ayumu declared, “Knight Yuvus, do you truly love Nanari? She’s a gem, and it’s hard to let her go. But if you’ll make her happy, I’ll allow your marriage.”
”Lord! Really?!” Nanari’s eyes sparkled. Yuvus, cornered, stammered, “Y-Yes!” Ayumu promised to waive their first-night tax and fund their wedding.
Nanari was overjoyed—such a simple girl.
The gift strategy worked, too. Apologizing profusely outside Hiyori’s room, Ayumu won her over. When she emerged, they hugged, reaffirming their love.
But then… Hiyori sniffed. Another woman’s perfume clung to him, and a lipstick kiss mark stained his neck. The perfect disaster.
”Ayumu, you idiot! ꐦ” Hiyori’s scream echoed through Keldan’s night sky… or so they say. To be continued.
Notes:
• Yuvus – Human from Domain Army, handsome and disciplined; first in Ch.163; skilled knight swordsman; no family mentioned; rose quickly and was made Ayumu’s young knight; clashes with Half-Elves, especially Myucel, but loyal to Ayumu; cold pride hides strict loyalty.
• Sashima – Family name of Hiyori. A quiet, caring girl from the library committee, empathetic toward Sanai. She followed as a Barrier Technique Adept.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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